"The Ardocs, you say? Yes, yes. Follow me..."
Seelah adds: “Help us help you and bring us to Talbren.”
"Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah. Not so fast now." he says with a puzzled smile before leading you into the guildhouse and down several hallways.
"Don't you worry. Talbren's office is just down these halls.""May I get your names?" the guard asks as he leads you through a maze of hallways and stairs. After introducing yourselves, he continues,
"It's nice to meet you. Half of the city's been on edge ever since the attacks."
After a couple minutes of traversing hallways and stairs, he comes to a stop at an office door and knocks lightly before opening it.
"Visitors, Miss Talbren. Sent on behalf of the Ardocs."
The guard waves an arm gesturing for you to enter. He gives a nod and a smile to your group as he takes his leave, closing the door behind him.
A half-elf ranger woman with long, wavy brown hair looks over maps, reports and missives on her desk.
"We're always glad to have competent help around here. Things have definitely seemed more riled up than usual down by the Undercity," Talbren says as she stands from her seat behind her desk. "I heard Sheila had reached out to Regnald and a group had arrived earlier to meet him, but I was not aware it would be to assist us. I can't deny I'm glad she got someone's attention, even if it was Regnald's. How can I help, Pathfinders?"
She answers some questions you might have:
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Damiar studies the list of vaults, comparing it with what she remembered of Nuregore's words.
Nuregore places the coins in her belt pouch.
“I can tell you something of where you should go,” says the troll, who then gets out of the lotus position and kneels forward, draws a long knife from her belt and, with a powerful swipe, slices the blade across her belly. She carefully reaches inside her abdomen and draws forth her glistening internal organs, lifting them to her eye level. She does not respond to the powerful odor that wells forth, and instead studies her intestines intently. “They change colors,” she breathes quietly, “shifting about in the light.” She looks intently at the party. “The place you search for. A place beneath and below. But there is more here,” she turns her head to the side like a curious bird. With the claw on her smallest finger, she pierces the intestine and watches carefully at what oozes out. “The waters are changed.” She shivers and hesitates a moment, “They carry something from far beyond.”With careful skill, Nuregore places her innards back into her belly and presses the skin together. Her greenish hide knits together quickly and she stands. “Those are the visions I see.”
Damiar looks to the others. "Nuregore spoke of colors shifting in the light, a place beneath and below, and changing waters, right?" She points at the description of Scintillating Halls. "Do you think this is it? They describe a 'greenish gray glow to the water' and large crystalline structures.'"
She spreads her hands. "What do you all think?"
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Iovo looks over the list of locations and says “I agree, sis. The Scintillating Halls is the only location that combines water and changing colors. That is assuming that the name of the location is because the crystals change colors.” She looks to Talbren for confirmation of that.
Iovo then asks Talbren “Do any of your reports include victims being paralyzed? We believe at least one of the monsters is some sort of tentacled beast that can paralyze people.”
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"Duskwardens..." says Farlen wistfully seeming to be lost in though for a second or two with a slight smile on his face. "Wow, what an exciting and wonderful job." Farlen fires off several irreverent questions, like "Do you get weekends off? How much is the pay? Is there a pension pay?" But before anyone can answer any of them, he shakes his head, "Nevermind all that. Damier, tell this courageous and noble servant of the city the rumors we heard please. Perhaps she might make more out of the blue men. After all she is privy to all the reports and possible dangers in the tunnels and sewers." Farlen smiles eyeing the officer with respect and admiration.
Farlen looks over the maps of the vaults, "I'll be darned, that messy troll's words do kind of align with the Scintillating vault...go figure."
The paladin nods. "Well, if you recalled the augur's words correctly...I was kinda distracted... then the Scintillating vault seems our best bet."
Talbren thinks about Iovo's question for a moment.
"I did hear about the man's paralyzed face, however, there was no official diagnosis that I know of. It could have been paralysis due to a venom, however, it could have just been paralysis due to fear. The rumor mill is pretty big in this city."
"I have not heard any reports about little blue men... yet. Creatures escape the Path every so often and find their way into the sewers and eventually up onto the streets. It's not unheard of people seeing strange creatures in town every once in awhile."
"Well, then. It sounds like you've discovered where you need to go." Talbren says with a look of approval. She appears quite impressed by your investigations.
"There are a few shops in the area if you need to purchase any supplies. Whenever you are ready, I will personally guide you to the entrance of the Scintillating Halls."
Seelah mentally checks her gear, then turns to the others.
"Well, I have a couple of sunrods, but otherwise no light source. We do not know if there will be enough light down there in every place. Better buy some torches - and maybe also some Alchemist's fire... Did I miss something?"
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"Sparlegrim and blue men seems likely too. I wanted to see a derro or maybe a dark stalker...'
"I would like to get an insurance spell, for emergengies, and a few other items." "Would an hour be enough time to get your very brave and tallented self together to lead us, Madam Duskwalker? Where would you like to rendezvous?" Farlen smiling widely at the city Officer.
"An hour is fine. Return here to my office when you are ready."
"As for a street performance area," she turns to Iovo, "The Oriat district is where you want to go. It's renowned for its theaters, music, nightlife, bardic college, and youthful exuberance. Be sure to be back here in an hour."
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Farlen hustles to the market and picks up the few things he needs. He then hurries back to see if he can pick the Senior Duskwarden's brain about possible creatures that the group could encounter.
As the woman preparing, Farlen asks, "So what sort of beasts are common to run across in the tunnels?" "What are common and what are the rare that you have experienced."
"You already spoke to the paralysis of the smith's face, but could you talk to the discription of the small blue humanoids with white pupiless eyes?" Farlen listens to her answer. "Could they have possibly been dark creepers? Maybe a new varient? Or maybe Derro, but the size is not right."
"You all go deep into the tunnels on recon patrols, what weird things have you have seen?"
Farlen continues to try and get the Duskwarden to tell old war stories, but without the alcohol usually needed to pry such things out.
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Damiar and Iovo find a pub in the Oriat district where they can perform outside. Damiar starts off with an old favorite, and then takes requests.
♫ Welcome to the Oriat
We're all glad you're here
My name's Damiar
What, you can't say that?
Have another beer!
I'm here with my twin
The bouncy Iovo
She leaps, she bounds...
All who try to catch her
Find that they're too slow!
We're playing in the Oriat
So lend us all your ears
Or perhaps some coins
We thirsty performers
Need to buy some beers!
We'd love to hear your stories
As you drown your tears
So gather round sweet dearies
(But maybe not that close
Really, not that close)
Why don't you buy more beers? ♫
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Farlen hustles to the market and picks up the few things he needs. He then hurries back to see if he can pick the Senior Duskwarden's brain about possible creatures that the group could encounter.
As the woman preparing, Farlen asks, "So what sort of beasts are common to run across in the tunnels?" "What are common and what are the rare that you have experienced."
"You already spoke to the paralysis of the smith's face, but could you talk to the description of the small blue humanoids with white pupiless eyes?" Farlen listens to her answer. "Could they have possibly been dark creepers? Maybe a new variant? Or maybe Derro, but the size is not right."
"You all go deep into the tunnels on recon patrols, what weird things have you seen?"
Farlen continues to try and get the Duskwarden to tell old war stories, but without the alcohol usually needed to pry such things out.
"It could be dark creepers, derro, or even those little fae known as mites that do the jazz hands thing when casting their spells." she mimics the jazz hands gesture.
"We've encountered all types of creatures down there; those that you mentioned as well as aberrations, oozes, magical beasts, just to name a few. Best to be fully prepared."
Before their perilous excursion, Damiar and Iovo earn a bit of coin from the captivated townsfolk enjoying the show. Damiar's cup is brimming full with copper pieces. Iovo didn't get nearly as much, but, 10 coppers is better than nothing.
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After making your final preparations in the city, you meet back with Talbren in her office.
Talbren gives you permission to travel the Halflight Path and guides you to the vault’s entrance. During the journey, which takes several hours, Talbren insists that you remain silent to avoid drawing unnecessary attention from lurking monsters.
As you arrive at the entrance to the vault, Talbren stops the group. She raises a hand and stops abruptly. Reaching in to her uniform pocket, she withdraws a handful of glowing crystals on leather cords. She whispers, “These crystals are called Halflight charms. Each of you should carry one with you. They provide a bit of light, but that is not their primary function. If you find yourself in dire straits, clutch the amulet and call for help. The nearest Duskwardens will learn your location and come to assist.”
The Duskwarden leans closer.
“Do not call for us lightly. The disturbance in this vault provides me and my fellow Duskwardens with an opportunity to see the mettle of the Pathfinder Society for ourselves. However, if your life is truly in danger, don’t let pride get in the way of good sense. Activate the charm and flee.”
She bids you farewell and good luck before taking her leave back to the surface.
Natural stone steps lead slightly downward for about 50 feet and opens into a cavern, its ceiling 10 feet high.
A cool breeze flows from a hole near the center of the floor here, sounding a mournful wail as the air forces its way into the cavern. Just southwest of this hole is a shallow pool of water that glows faintly with a blue-green light. Within moments after entering the cavern, you all feel a slight tingling sensation on your skin.
The hole in the floor is 5 feet wide and drops 3 feet before narrowing to a fissure too small to fit a hand through. A natural spring slowly refreshes the shallow, glowing pool.
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Quietly, Iovo thanks Talbren for the amulet. It seems she is able to stand still and be quiet. This is the first time she has shown any indications that she can.
Iovo gets her rapier out and looks around, trying to figure out if the tingling on her skin is something more than just the change in temperature and humidity.
Shining your light sources about the cavern, you notice a 6' tall tunnel leading east. To the southwest, on the other side of the small pool, a smaller passage only 4' tall leads south.
Shining your light in the direction of the pool, you notice tiny, pale cave frogs leap into the water while a few others remain at the edge as they search for insects.
Salvio takes a look around using detect magic to scan the area. Although nothing in the cavern radiates a magical aura, as he gets closer to the pool, he notices that the tiny cave frogs have two sets of eyes and small, whip-like tentacles growing from their heads.
Salvio identifies the cause of this mutation as an unknown magical energy, which could also be causing the strange tingling sensation on your skin.
Salvio also notices that if the group takes the narrow southern passage, they would need to crawl through.
“Thank you, Duskwarden Talbren. We will not use them lightly.”
Seelah puts the Halflight charm around her neck, then arms herself with sword and shield.
As people are searching, Iovo says “Southwest passage when we are sure the coast is clear here?”
“Do you really like to crawl? Shouldn't we first take the tunnel to the east?”
As the group advances into the dimly lit eastern passage, with Seelah in the front, you glimpse a set of natural stone steps ascending roughly 30 feet ahead. Simultaneously, your attention is drawn to an adjacent tunnel curving southward before vanishing from view.
The distant yet unmistakable sound of rushing water gains prominence as you peer down the south tunnel.
Seelah suddenly puts up a hand and a finger to her lips to shush the group.
You slow your breathing and strain to listen for any sounds coming from the east. Whatever it was that Seelah heard seems to no longer make any sound. Perhaps whatever was there noticed the approach of a not-very-stealthy group of adventurers.
The only thing you hear is the sound of water rushing in the distance down the south passage.
Seelah whispers: “I heard quiet mumblings of a strange language and also rumbling of stone coming from the east. But now it's gone. Maybe they heard us approach?”
Markus listens to Seelah for a moment, before nodding at Iovo to see what she can see up there, and follows her up.
[dice=Stealth]1d20+5
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Noticing that Marcus is waiting for her to move, Iovo shrugs.
First she casts a spell so she can talk to Seelah, Marcus, her sister Damiar and Salvio. She whispers “This will allow us to communicate. If I yelp, please come running!”
Then she goes up the stairs with Marcus, trying to be reasonably quiet.
Iovo points to the natural stone stairs ahead, then mimes walking up them and looking down.
Seelah slowly raises her thumb, then points to herself and shakes her head even slower. She's trying not to make noise by moving too much in her full plate armor.
Then she goes up the stairs with Marcus, trying to be reasonably quiet.
[dice=Stealth, take 10]10+8
Iovo casts a message spell and takes the lead to head up the ascending passage to the east. Markus and the others trail close behind...
The air in this room is musty and still. At the eastern end, it opens into a larger chamber with ceilings reaching 20 feet high. Small brown fungi grow along the floors and walls, and a patch of purple crystals is embedded in the ground near a still pool in the northeast.
The moment that Iovo reaches the top of the steps that lead into the cavern, she can see 3 small humanoids with bulging white eyes and wild hair hiding in the shadows of the dimly lit cavern with crossbows pointed directly at her. However, it appears they don't even notice her in their attempt to ambush the group!
Iovo charges forward with her rapier pointed straight ahead. The tip of her blade pierces the dark creature's shoulder, nicking the bone. Its eyes go wide as it reels in pain.
Surprised by the sudden attack foiling their ambush, the little creatures bark at each other in a strange language, accusingly pointing fingers at one another.
Iovo:
Purple: -16 hp
Cyan:
Orange:
Damiar:
Markus:
Farlen:
Salvio:
Seelah:
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Quick as can be, Iovo strikes at the same creature a second time.
Crit 18-20
As she strikes, she advances into the chamber a little more so there is room for others to attack. She waves her free hand and says a single word to the creature as she does so.
Iovo jabs her blade again at the surprised creature, this time in the heart. The creature's eyes go wide again in shock. It drops to its knees, then keels forward flat on its face. A pool of blood forms around the lifeless creature.
The other two creatures glance at each other with puzzled looks then snort with laughter in amusement at Iovo's strange gestures. One of them snortles in a strange language to the other,