“All right, Pathfinders, you’re going on a little bit of a cleanup mission.” Valsin taps his finger on the map of a familiar island, tracing north and west from the giant star marking Absalom to a sketch of a castle near the island’s western shore. “A short while back, a group of veteran agents ventured into the ruins of Citadel Uromaz, where they defeated the lich Hekoz and stopped the ritual she was attempting. After dealing with the undead, they were called away to handle another issue. Frankly we need someone to go back and do the hard work of cataloging the place. Most of the large artifacts and valuable items have been noted and brought back to the Grand Lodge, but the previous agents described a huge mural carved into the stone, and no one even thought to take a rubbing of it.” Valsin sighs, “So, it falls to you to go in and document the site properly."
But before we get to that, why don't you introduce yourselves?
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Macondi listens to the announcement as best as he can. "Undead. I was just dealing with undead a bit ago." The scatterbrained Gnome tries to guide his attention back to the mission briefing. "Cataloging and rubbing things. Got it."
He turns to the rest of the group once the briefing is done. "Hi, I'm Macondi. A librarian and Oracle." He looks around the group to see if there are any familiar faces.
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"Bah!"
A shabby pale grumpy gnome hobbles in, knobby knees supported by a cane, his other hand holding a lamp, which he shines upon the other gnome first "Oracle. But What can you See?" - shrewdly dismissive perhaps - next the halfling gets the light "Mandy. Not much for Talking" - describing her behavior (or lack thereof) as if to question it's validity - then he introduces himself.
"Fools. I am Swix. But I claim not Sight nor Wisdom. Indeed. For what is more foolish than One who can claim That or The Other? And Twice for Both!"
He seems to think that his words stroke deep, a self-satisfied grin on his bleaching face.
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"Oracle. But What can you See?"
"I can see that your light is bright," Macondi replies while squinting a bit. "Does that count? Do you see more than that? Or with that? Not sure on the wording of what I mean."
"Macondi... Aren't you some author? Someone from the circus once told me of some adventure books... Butisuriri Blue and Bamdimull or something like that..."
"Oh, umm... Yeah. I dabbled in writing for a bit. I didn't know my books would be this popular though."
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"What's the title of your books though?" she asks Macondi.
"Oh, uhhh... Well, the first one was Bitisururu finds an Egg. Umm, Bitisururu and the spider cave. Bitisururu and the Pirate Queen."
"In a crumbly old citadel,
A lich was casting a spell,
the Pathfidners came,
the lich was slain,
and now were wielding ink wells!""Pennypockets" the Goblin bows "I bid you greetings from the Peoples Democratic Republic of Thistletop"
"Oh, hey. That's pretty good." Macondi waves at the goblin. "Greetings to you as well."
"Uhh... Bitisururu and Bamidele: Egg Hatches. That one was pretty good. I started Bitisururu and the Hag's Library but I didn't ever finish that one. I'm sure I've forgotten a few too."
Valsin clears his throat and continues. “I need you all to pop over there, go through and take rubbings of as much of the mural as you can. Everything should be in the central chamber, but if you find any other archaeological finds that are worthwhile? Please note and collect them. Be careful, be prepared, and be vigilant, as usual.
“Any questions?”
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"Basag Bungo, cavalier of the Pathfinder Society." he says proudly and takes his seat for the briefing.
"Oh, hi. Welcome. Cavalier... like, having a horse or something, right? Not the attitude."
“Any questions?”
"Mmm.. the lich was destroyed, right? So no more undead? We just need to rub on everything. Like a cat?"
The Pathfinders are very knowledgeable overall, particularly Swix. They know that the Pathfinders who completed the initial assault on Citadel Uromaz recovered beautiful treasures, including books, tapestries, and even rugs. It’s unclear how many of these items were original to the keep and how many were the possessions of the lich Hekoz.
Swix also knows that Citadel Uromaz was once a thriving keep dating back to the earliest settlers on the island after Aroden raised the Starstone, nearly 10,000 years ago. While it is unclear how long Hekoz held the citadel, the land surrounding it has been blighted for long enough that the lich may well have stayed there for centuries.
This information makes the Pathfinders more wary for possible danger .
“The Welt's a blighted land where no plants grow," says Valsin, "Thanks to the efforts of a group of heroes a few years ago, it’s been shrinking. Nowadays, it’s not inherently dangerous to people or animals, but its lack of settlements still makes it an attractive place for those who want to escape notice. Like Hekoz, for example.
“We believe all threats have been taken care of, based on the information reported to us by your fellow Pathfinders. You can never be too sure, though, so please make sure to go prepared for a fight, just in case."
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"A beetle?! Oh, that's nifty," Macondi answers just as excitedly. "I have never been able to keep pets of any variety. You ride it and everything?"
"Oh, yes, she is my mount. You should see her!" he answers Macondi with the same excitement.
He then turns his attention to Valsin. "It looks like threats are taken care of, though we should still be prepared of course. And an easy task to take rubbings of the murals that we might find?" he confirms. "I think we are good to go." he announces, as if deciding for everyone.
As the Pathfinders seem to be finished with their inquiries, Valsin provides them with sufficient paper, ink, quills, and charcoal to do the rubbings twice over, as well as several torches. He has arranged for horses (but realizes that the only one large enough to comfortably ride one already has a mount, and so arranges for alternatives) to take them to the site, as well as a map that will lead them there. These mounts are purely for transport and have no combat training. Valsin’s supplies also include three weeks of provisions for the field agents and their mounts.
The previous group had not yet made a map of the complex, as they were focused on fighting the lich and her forces, so Ambrus tells the Pathfinders that they’ll likely have to do a bit of exploring to find the large ritual chamber.
The journey west from the bustling streets of Absalom across the Isle of Kortos begins peacefully. At first, the roads are well-populated with travelers, guards, and caravans. Plains give way to forests and then farmland. A thin ring of fertile soil occupied by a partially constructed barn divides the fields from the barren lands of the Welt. Within the Welt, the weather takes a turn for the worse. Gray clouds fill the sky and a chill, misting rain pervades the air. By the end of the journey, the sky overhead is nearly obsidian, illuminated only by flashes of greenish lightning.
As the team approach the ruins, they feel a palpable sense of unease--the lingering result of unholy rituals performed here? Salagubang seems uneasy, though Basag is able to coax her forward. The area is quiet, as no other animals seem to be approaching--including the borrowed mounts, which absolutely refuse to approach within 20 feet of the entrance to the catacombs.
The catacombs are entirely underground, carved out of dull gray bedrock. Ceilings are 10 feet high. Dim light blankets the area, though it has no visible sources, and light and shadows dance across the chambers of their own accord. The colors of everything in the citadel, including the Pathfinders and their belongings, fade into muted hues.
This entry hall walls are carved with ornate skulls and funereal adornments. The only features of note are a corridor leading to the west from the north end of the room, and a collapsed stairway to the south. An unlit torch sits in the sconce nearby.
The stairs to the south that would lead upwards to the main complex have been completely blocked by debris. This is somewhat alarming as... didn't the group just come down those stairs? They weren't like that a minute ago.
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"Where are we?" she whispers to Macondi, who appears to be the one she's most comfortable with at the moment. Halfling sling staff in hand, she reaches into a pouch and fingers a sling bullet...
"You've been adventuring before. How do you deal with this?" She feels that leaving the circus may not have been such a good idea...
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Basag slowly draws his weapon and shield after sensing such unease. He can feel that Salagubang is somewhat trembling at first, but he manages to calm her mount down.
"in an eerie place, I should say." he comments at Mandy's question of where they are actually. "So how are we going to get out here later?" he asks after noticing the stairs to where they just come from are now covered with debris.
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"You've been adventuring before. How do you deal with this?"
"Trust your team," Macondi replies while pulling out his shield strapped across his back and getting it settled into place, "and don't die."
He looks back at the stairs that they just came down - which are now covered in rubble. Then looks around at the changed colors of everything. "Pennypockets is right. I don't know what this place is, but I don't really like it here." He glances back at the stairs. "No going back that way. Have to find another." He moves out with the rest of the group, trying to stay out of point position.
Physically, darkness is merely the absence of light. Where there is no light there is darkness and where there is light there is no darkness.
That makes the darkness around here rather strange. It isn't absolute, and those who can't see in the dark can still see here, if not perfectly . Meanwhile it's oddly... assertive. It resists the light of Swix's lantern, which for a moment fails to light at all. When it does, the brightness seems dampened.
Pennypockets remembers stories of a place with muted colors and lack of vibrancy. It suggests the Pathfinders have found their way on to the Netherworld, a shadowy mirror of the familiar Universe. The erratic behavior of the shadows and light in the citadel is unusually pronounced for the Netherworld: it suggests that there is a portal back to the Universe nearby.
Basag notes, easily visible among the rubble, a bag containing assorted gemstones.
As the team reaches the end of the short hallway that opens into a larger chamber, they hear a screech. Several shadowy humanoids rush to attack them!
Basag, in the lead, sees them coming. He notes that two of them seem more formidable than the rest. They were slower to react than the rest, but there's nonetheless something more confident in the way they hold their daggers, something more practiced in their stance.
Basag's turn.
Initiative:
Basag (34/34)
-Salagubang (26/26)
Shadowborn Stalker D
Shadowborn Stalker E
Antiquarian Swix Harlequin (39/39)
Macondi (26/26)
Shadowborn Stalker C
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy the Monkey (17/17)
Shadowborn Stalker F
Elite Shadowborn Stalker A
Elite Shadowborn Stalker B
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"We have company!" Basag declares. "I thought they have eliminated threats here?! Are they threats though?" he readies his weapon just in case anyone attacks him or any of his allies that will be within his reach.
slashing damage
He raises his shield.
◆◆ Ready
◆ Raise a Steel Shield
↺ Shield Block (if he takes more than 10 damage) or ↺ Attack of Opportunity
The first of the shadowy creatures approaches Basag, and is promptly sliced in two by his axe. It's not just a spirit, there's something solid there, but it still disperses into into nothing as he defeats it.
This immediate destruction doesn't seem to scare the next one, which approaches hissing. It stabs him once, but he deflects a second attempt with his own weapon.
Swix and Macondi's turns.
Initiative:
Basag (30/34, Shield Raised, reaction used)
-Salagubang (26/26)
Shadowborn Stalker E
Antiquarian Swix Harlequin (39/39)
Macondi (26/26)
Shadowborn Stalker C
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy the Monkey (17/17)
Shadowborn Stalker F
Elite Shadowborn Stalker A
Elite Shadowborn Stalker B
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"Threats and threats and bigger threats," Macondi says as he steps forward to get a better look and to be in closer range for spellcasting. "Definitely not no threats."
He quickly casts a spell. The deep sound of a gong begins ringing. The noise quickly increases in volume to the point where it becomes uncomfortable. For those near the spell's source point, it becomes painful.
Focus: 2/2
1st: □ □ ☑
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Macondi's spell blasts away two more of the creatures.
Swix, Pennypockets, and Mandy's turns.
Initiative:
Basag (30/34, Shield Raised, reaction used)
-Salagubang (26/26)
Shadowborn Stalker E
Antiquarian Swix Harlequin (39/39)
Macondi (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy the Monkey (17/17)
Elite Shadowborn Stalker A (-4)
Elite Shadowborn Stalker B (-4)
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Penny wanders to a better position to better see what is happening, and where all the enemies are.
"Basag kills you with an axe
Smashed your friends with two good whacks!
Macondi summoned gongs a-ringing
Broken bodies they sent flinging!
We go stick-stick-stab-bash-break
Til you nap-nap, never to wake!"
Performance (Song)
◆Stride
◆Inspire Courage on the Party (+1 to hit and damage)
◆Lingering Composition - Pass - 3 rounds.
Assisted by Penny's magical music, Mandy's sling bullet nearly misses--but heavily strikes the creature's shoulder instead.
Swix's turn.
Initiative:
Basag (30/34, Shield Raised, reaction used)
-Salagubang (26/26)
Shadowborn Stalker E (-5, bloodied)
Antiquarian Swix Harlequin (39/39)
Macondi (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26, lingering inspire courage)
Mandy the Monkey (17/17)
Elite Shadowborn Stalker A (-4)
Elite Shadowborn Stalker B (-4)
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Scuttling under the large beetle "Fool to Ride That down Here!" he complains before coming into contact with the strange Shadowborn Stalker which has already sustained damage. He decides to strike it down with his cane instead of study it.
Pounding it into dust, he turns to study the larger "elite" creature, "Let's See what we can See! Are you Strong? Will you Flee? Tee hee!"
Esoteric Lore
Your experience with the unknown, as well as the tales you've exchanged with other thaumaturges, has taught you about strange phenomena of every kind. You become trained in Esoteric Lore, a special lore skill that can be used to Recall Knowledge regarding haunts, curses, and creatures of any type, but that can't be used to Recall Knowledge of other topics. Unlike a normal Lore skill, you use Charisma as your modifier on Esoteric Lore checks. You also gain the Dubious Knowledge skill feat.
Dubious Knowledge
You're a treasure trove of information, but not all of it comes from reputable sources. When you fail (but don't critically fail) a Recall Knowledge check using any skill, you learn a bit of true knowledge and a bit of erroneous knowledge, but you don't have any way to differentiate which is which.
◆) Stride
◆) Strike vs E
◆) Esoteric Lore vs A
↺) Empathetic Plea
Trigger You are attacked by a creature that you haven't yet acted hostile toward. You must use this reaction before the creature rolls its attack.
The way you cringe or use those puppydog eyes you've been practicing elicits an empathetic response in the attacker. Attempt a Diplomacy check against your attacker's Will DC.
Critical Success The creature pulls its attack, wasting its action, and can't use hostile actions against you until the beginning of its next turn.
Success The creature takes a –2 circumstance penalty to damage on the triggering Strike and all its Strikes against you until the beginning of its next turn. The penalty is –4 if you're an expert in Diplomacy, –6 if you're a master, and –8 if you're legendary.
Failure The creature's attack is unaffected, and the creature is temporarily immune to your Empathic Pleas for 24 hours.
Humanoids native to this plane, the shadowborn aren't known for being quick--Reflex is usually their worst defense.
Swix's shot eliminates another of the shadowborn. The first of the leaders moves up with a hiss, stabbing at Salagubang and Swix. And misses both.
The last darts forward. Positioning itself in the middle of the Pathfinders it stabs at Swix's back and stabs him before slipping away again from its terrible position.
All PCs' turns.
Initiative:
Basag (30/34, Shield Raised, reaction used)
-Salagubang (26/26)
Antiquarian Swix Harlequin (31/39)
Macondi (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26, lingering inspire courage)
Mandy the Monkey (17/17)
Elite Shadowborn Stalker A (-4)
Elite Shadowborn Stalker B (-4)
The bullet thuds heavily into a second of the shadowborn. Wisps of shadow begin to trail away from it like smoke.
Basag, Swix, Macondi, and Mandy's turns.
Initiative:
Basag (30/34, Shield Raised, reaction used)
-Salagubang (26/26)
Antiquarian Swix Harlequin (31/39)
Macondi (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26, lingering inspire courage 2 rounds)
Mandy the Monkey (17/17)
Elite Shadowborn Stalker A (-4)
Elite Shadowborn Stalker B (-14, bloodied, Frightened 1)