On the top deck of the Kingfisher floating a week or so somewhere upon the Steaming Sea, Venture-Captain Muesello wipes the grease off his hands onto a rag. The pockmarked mechanist spent the early morning running a chain through a twelve-foot tall clockwork contraption mounted on the deck. Stuffing the dirty rag into his smock, he turns to address the group "Welcome! Thank you for boarding with us swiftly, and sorry I spent the better portion of the trip in my cabin, but, I have an important discovery!..."
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A pale elven woman, with a black ponytail, looks up at Muesello’s announcement. Her right eye is violet, her left eye black. She has long purple nails, and wears a jester’s motley in purple, black and white. Holding a large marotte (jester’s baton), she wears a black cloak with the hood down.
A week prior, when they boarded the ship, she had introduced herself with an elaborate bow.
“Aldonza Delamorte, devil-may-care harlequin! Bringing laughter to my friends, and slaughter to my enemies!
With a flip and a quip,
And some tricks up my sleeve,
I can go toe-to-toe,
And make doubters bereave!”
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"Greetings, Venture-Captain Muesello!" a tall man tips his dark green top hat and introduces himself. "I am Nanoc Evitceted, an archaeologist, at your service!"
Nanoc flexes his three-foot long well-polished wooden walking cane for aesthetic. His top hat is coupled with a free-flowing moss green dueling cape, in addition to his padded armor and long pants of the same color but different shades, accented with dark green well-polished leather shoes. His all-shade-of-green outfit is accessorized with some of his tools and weapons. He has been a fan of wearing everything in almost one color but different shades ever since.
He checks his Esoteric Wayfinder, as if looking for direction before snapping it close. "I just came from Absalom, but before that, I was in Arcadia. The journey is perilous but we were able to convince the people there to help us with our mission." he tells the venture-captain with a wink, not elaborating on the details.
"Now, tell me. What have you just recently discovered? I just received instruction from the Grand Lodge to look for you but they did not give details about the mission with you."
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A maimed orc leans against the rail, he walked with difficulty due to the injury to his legs and hip. His "steed," a magical plant chair that scuttle around with many roots gave him extra mobility on land. One of his eyes had been put out and was replaced by a magical prosthesis. This too was a gift of the Society to whom he has pledged allegiance.
You've heard his sad tale. He was an orc of the Death's Head tribe. He'd had hopes of one day joining the Knights of Lastwall. As a Gozren, he despised the undead and Whispering Way that embraced such an unnatural state. But some of his tribe were swayed by the promise of power in undeath and betrayed him. One day, while on Patrol, the conspirators lured him into an ambush. They left Raash to die in a field bringing back only a tall tale of wild animals tearing him apart. Raash did not die, however and over the next few weeks he slowly made his way to Freedom Town. There he met a venture-captain of the Pathfinder Society who took pity on him.
Muesello looks between Aldonza and Raash, knowing the Society frequently employs those types, so that the "real" agents could get to work doing "Archaeology? Why, Yes!" he walks over and shows Nanoc Evitceted a wayfinder.
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Nanoc raises an eyebrow after being shown with a wayfinder. He also reveals his and compares it alongside Muesello's.
"So this is your important discovery? A wayfinder? Every Pathfinder agent knows what a wayfinder is. What's the big deal?" he says while waving a hand of dismissal.
Did he accidentally trigger it? It opens!
And suddenly a light pulses from the Wayfinder, shining a single laserbeam that spends a few seconds pointing in random directions, finally settling on a single course - due West - and remaining perfectly still and fixed while the contraption sits gently in the investigator's hand - even as the boat itself rocks from a passing wave at sea!
"The expedition team found it near a sealed hatch made out of reinforced skymetal. They couldn’t get in, which might have been for the best..." he drifts off here, clearly lost in thought, then remembers "But don't take my word for it: Look at your own Wayfinders, Pathfinders!"
He awaits the team's acquiesce of his request...
You don't have a Wayfinder, but if you are curious, may open a spoiler to observe a fellow PC's next to you!
While Muesello's Wayfinder is indeed much fancier (and far older) than yours, you observe that your Wayfinder is pointing "north" in the same direction as the laserbeam: West!
It has never done that as far as you can remember...
You observe that your Wayfinder is pointing "north" in the same direction as the laserbeam: West!
It has never done that as far as you can remember...
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A tall-ish woman with dark blond hair swaggers onto the deck and joins the group. "Francine Quickfingers, at your service. Some of you may know me from my time in the arena. Gladiator combat got boring so I decided I wanna join the Pathfinders for some adventure. If you haven't heard, my younger sister, Shayna, runs an equipment shop in the Grand Bazaar. Next time yer there, tell 'em I sent ya!"
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Nanoc's eyes widen as he sees Muesello's Wayfinder pulsating. "Mine can't do that!" he exclaims in surprise to the venture-captain. Quickly, he checks his own Wayfinder, only to find its needle pointing westward. Casting a glance at the sky, he confirms that it isn't indicating north.
"Okay, that's peculiar," he mutters, lightly tapping his Wayfinder in an attempt to reset its direction. However, it stubbornly continues to point westward. Observing the ruby-red light pulse from Muesello's Wayfinder pointing in the same direction, Nanoc realizes they are both indicating westward.
"Would you mind explaining what's happening to my Wayfinder and yours?" he asks, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"An expedition of Pathfinder initiates recently discovered this uncharted island, . The recruits found some Azlanti ruins, and we have a special assignment for your team." he pauses here a beat, marveling at the glowing wayfinder himself "Your wayfinders - perhaps all wayfinders - point the way. We think it has something to do with a new magical-magnetic signal, but the effect dies off with distance." before answering the question "After a week tinkering with this thing, I still can’t get it to do more than this. Take it with you, just to see what happens!”
He looks around the gathering clue, pausing to answer any additional questions before departure...
You observe that your Wayfinder is pointing "north" in the same direction as the laserbeam: West!
It has never done that as far as you can remember...
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A large half-orc with many tattoos painted over his torso and arms, strides with trepidation up the gangplank onto the wooden deck. "I was told to come to this city on the sea, it takes us somewhere?" he asks of the first person he meets. "I'm Zug, a pathfinder, told to report to this ....vessel?" He pants and breathes heavily as the words come out, in wonder at the wooden ship.
Across his back a wooden shield is strapped tightly, along with a thick seasoned and hardened lump of shaped branch. He rests heavily on a long spear, whilst some javelin points rises above his shield.
He looks a bot distraught at the movement of the ship as it gently rocks on the sea, but as the days of the journey continue, his feet become accustomed to the swaying of the ship.
Over the days of the journey, as he eats with you, you find the weather beaten half-orc, whose arms and chest show scars from his time in slavery, tuck with relish into his bowl of stew. When he eats, he lays on the floor, a large gnarly wooden stick and a round dark brown wooden shield. Pointing down, "Jairsen, my guide told me this is all I need and my wits." he says as he uses the back of his hand to wipe the gravy from his lips and chin. "Jairsen, was a man of the desert, he saved me from death and cared for me. He was a Pathfinder and introduced me. In his honour and to repay him for my life, I became a Pathfinder too, though I am of the mountain and stony places, at home to protect the stone."
When he joins the others and sees the strange behaviour of the wayfinder, he frowns, "Strange magic that, I won't use my wayfinder in case it becomes infected by this magic too."
1) Please Introduce your character!
2) Do you have a Wayfinder? What kind? Any special tricks? Normal wayfinder
3) Anything Special about your character GM should know? Do share. Poison resistance +2, +1 on saves vs poison.
4) How did you hear about this mission, or where were you before? Describe your Journey.
5) What Provisions will you bring along for this Quest? Feel free to declare this after hearing the full briefing...
"Rowboat, actually" Muesello answers Nanoc's first question "Use it to get to the island, then just follow that wayfinder. The reports didn’t mention anything dangerous, but you never know, and the first team didn't go deep”
"If there are no more questions, I've things to attend to. Cheerio!"
□ Aldonza
□ Fran
□ Nanoc
□ Raash
□ Zug
"Officially, we are on the books for a fishing expedition" Muesello notes, smirking with mischief "But if it were Azlanti, wouldn't that be interesting?" he winks at Zug “But it's best for you all to go in clean, without any preconceptions of what you might find. And let’s just say the Decemvirate are very interested in this site.”
He looks around as if to field at most one more question before beginning his retreat into his quarters...
□ Aldonza
□ Fran
□ Nanoc
☑ Raash
□ Zug
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"Rowboat, actually" Muesello answers Nanoc's first question.
"Oh." Nanoc says, not sure if he would be disappointed or surprised. He also gets ready for the mission.
Worn Items: Dagger, +1 Shortbow, Arrows (in Quiver), Padded Armor, Basic Cane, Brass Ear, Compass, Dueling Cape, Repair Kit, Infiltrator's Thieve’s Tools, Backpack
Stowed Items (in Backpack): Climbing Kit, Bedroll, Chalk (10), Flint and Steel, Rope, Rations (2), Torch (5), Waterskin, Soap
Slotted Boon: One Who Waits boon (from Q4), Expert Hireling boon - Conan, Esoteric Wayfinder boon
Anyway, I would like to introduce to everyone my assistant." Nanoc says with confidence. He looks around and finds his assistant busy looking around the ship. "Conan!" he calls him.
"Oh, dear." the old man mutters and rushes to the area where the Pathfinders are being briefed.
"Yes, sir. I am here." he responds to Nanoc when he finally arrives. "The ship's..." he says but is interrupted.
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"Everyone, this is Conan. Conan, meet the Pathfinders for this mission and Venture-Captain Smine." Nanoc introduces him to the others, while the old man profusely bows to each of them.
"Conan has a background in engineering stuff, he might be helpful for our mission!" he boasts to them, while Conan is slightly embarrassed, scratching his bald head for being introduced like that.
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Zug nods to Conan, "Engineering, hmmmm... so you know how to shape stone then?"
He doesn't wait for an answer, but moves to look to the rapidly approaching land, "At last, stone beneath my feet."
Items Hide, Backpack, Bedroll, Chalk (10), Flint and Steel, Rope, Rations (2), Torch (5), Waterskin, Soap, Holly and Mistletoe, Healers Toolkit, Wayfinder, Alchemists Fire(Lesser), Elixir of Life(Minor), Scroll pf Breathe Fire, Hide Shield (Hardness 4, HP 20, BT 10)
Primal Prepared Spells DC 18, attack +8;
2nd Dispel Magic, Oaken Resilience;
1st Heal, Create Water, Shattering Gem;
Cantrips Detect Magic, Vitality Lash, Ignition, Scatter Scree, Stabilize
Focus Spells (2 points)
Pest Form
Untamed Form
Untamed Shift
Animal Form
Muesello introduces himself to Conan "An engineer, eh? That they could pay you what you are worth! Who else has an understanding - or a best guess really - at what these Ancient Astronauts may have buried? I mean..." he catches himself "You didn't hear it from me. You see:" he points to a massive clockwork contraption "That is a automatic fishing rod. Yes. We are "officially" on an Fishing Expedition..." and grins "...but if we happen to discover anything along they way, well..." Leaving the rest to your imagination, he pivots to another foot, anticipating another rock of the ship by gentle wave.
"Well..." Conan is about to respond to Zug until the druid shifts focus. He sighs in relief; the old man isn't confident about his skill, unlike Nanoc's boasting about him.
He then turns to Muesello. "Well, paid enough to have a decent living, I think," he says while glancing at Nanoc. Thankfully, it seems like Nanoc doesn't react, or perhaps haven't heard him at all. When the venture-captain mentions the automatic fishing rod, it piques his interest. "Oh, fishing! I haven't done that in ages, but I used to enjoy it. Too old now for such activities, a frail old man like me. But if it's automatic, that would make catching easier, I suppose?" he says and carefully inspects the clockwork contraption before they leave for the mission.
Someone rows the boat to Burozi. The water is... strangely calm...
Arriving through the mist onto the strange island, the party hikes up a steep mountain towards the partially-exposed structure at higher elevation.
The excavated ruins of a tower rise from halfway up the island’s sloping peak. All that remains of the tower is a semi-circle of white wall. A Skymetal hatch lies dead center in the tower’s foundation. The 5-foot-wide hatch is decorated in thin silver filigree resembling gears in the shape of an eye.
At the center of the eye is a that is exactly the same size and shape as a handheld compass...
The wayfinder Muesello gave you - still shining it's Bright Red laserbeam - now points straight into the socket!
Go ahead and open his spoiler - you see it too!
Your wayfinder now points straight into the socket (instead of north)!
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"The water, it is so calm that one can easily row it." Nanoc observes and then volunteers to row the boar towards their intended location.
"I am not sure if it is a good idea for me to trek this mountain." he is somewhat complaining while his assistant silently follows him.
Upon their arrival at their destination, he investigates the details of the hatch. "Hmmm... Not sure if this is familiar to me."
Checking on the wayfinder from Muesello, "Look! The beam is now pointing into this socket!" he points it out to them with awe in his face. He then pulls out his wayfinder and finds it is acting the same way.
"Check your wayfinders and see what happens to them! This is intriguing! What could this wayfinder be?"
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Zug nods to Nanoc, "Yes the water is rather nice." Hlets a hand fall over the side of the boat and feel the blue water, warm on his hand. "We can take an oar each, and double our speed."
Zug picks an easy route up the mountain, feeling at home amongst the rocks. "What a pleasant walk, breathe the air, it's such a lovely island this. I wonder why no-one has ever come here to settle."
Zug gingerly opens his wayfinder, hoping it hasn't been infected by the strange magics of the others. His face drops, "No, see it is not working, but pointing at the socket!"
Aldonza dances up the mountain while Raash wheels, Zug hikes, and Nanoc strides - Fran takes up the rear but arrives too!
No Peeking!
The "thin silver filigree resembling gears in the shape of an eye" belong to some Azlanti god whose name you think begins with an "A"...
The "thin silver filigree resembling gears in the shape of an eye" belong to Amaznen, the Azlanti god of magic!
As the party stands before the ruins, all is eerily quiet...
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"I remember now!" Nanoc exclaims as if he had a eureka. "You see these gears in the shape of an eye, it is related to Azlanti god. I think it starts with the letter A," he thinks hard.
"It is on the tip of my tongue." he says before sticking out his tongue for real to check it out.
Whether he remembers it or not, he tells the group, "This wayfinder seems an exact fit to this circular pocket." He points out the circular pocket at the center of the eye.
"What if we put this Wayfinder into it?"
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"I remember now!" Nanoc exclaims as if he had a eureka. "You see these gears in the shape of an eye, it is related to Azlanti god. I think it starts with the letter A," he thinks hard.
"It is on the tip of my tongue." he says before sticking out his tongue for real to check it out.
Whether he remembers it or not, he tells the group, "This wayfinder seems an exact fit to this circular pocket." He points out the circular pocket at the center of the eye.
"What if we put this Wayfinder into it?"
Aldonza shrugs. ”Sure, give it a try!”
Nanoc inserts the wayfinder...
~ The sound of an engine starting reverberates!
~ It grows louder by the second!!
~ Some Azlanti phrase!!!
~ An ancient system of numbers begins a countdown!!!!
The red laserbeam in the wayfinder propagates down silver circuits 100 feet in each cardinal direction before reaching panels built along the perimeter of the ruined structure - the entirety of the circuitry basks the ruins in radiating ambient ruby red light. Your ears pinpoint four different "actuators" that seem to be "communicating" with the inserted wayfinder and that correspond to the geometry on display.
The needle is spinning furiously!
The needle is spinning furiously!
~ The engine skips - then recalibrates!
~ It begins to purr!!
~ Another Azlanti phrase!!!
~ The ancient system of numbers continues the countdown!!!!
♠️
The magical energy flowing off this actuator is traveling in the wrong direction...
Arcana or Occultism (both DC 18) checks to reroute the energy.
♥️
A fuse on this actuator is broken...
Crafting vs DC 18 to fix; or alternatively, Azlant Lore or Engineering Lore (both DC 16) checks to repair the fuse. Instead of rolling a check, a character may Aid using Thievery.
♦️
Access to this actuator is physically blocked...
Acrobatics checks to squeeze through narrow gaps in the rubble or Athletics checks to clear it and reach the actuator (both DC 18).
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The fuses on this actuator have become dislodged, and putting them back in place is a delicate operation...
Azlant Lore or Engineering Lore (both DC 16) checks to put the fuses back in the proper place. Instead of rolling a check, a character may Aid using Thievery.
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Zug expecting the ancient gods to send some sort of retribution for tampering with this nasty metal hatch. He quickly moves to the south and is able to pick up even the largest rocks and stones (Hefty Hauler feat) as he moves them out of the way making a path to the Actuator. He is able to do this more quickly than he thought, the island stone seems so give him even greater strength than normal.
The South Actuator completely stabilizes, supplying a safety signal to the center hatch - the engine churns with a new low grade sound - the countdown continues!
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"It's going crazy! Oh no!" Nanoc is in a state of semi-panic, and upon checking his own Wayfinder, it is also spinning furiously!
"It's a trap! We need to stop it!" he exclaims and proceeds to one of the actuators that catches his attention first.
He finds the north actuator not doing its work to properly flow the magic within it. He quickly investigates what is odd about the object and he tries to work it out from there.
He continues doing the fixing so that he can totally make the actuator work.
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Aldonza heads for the East actuator. ”Hmmm, looks like it needs a new doohickey”, she muses.
She pulls out a repair kit and tries to fix it, but the work is too fine. She frowns, peering at the metal filament, when inspiration strikes. Reaching into her bag again, she grabs a sewing kit, and sorts through the needles. She trims one down to size, and replaces it in the existing fuse.
”Here goes nothing!”
Consulting his Tome, Raash finds a sampling of an electrical schematic inside of similar make as that of the Western Actuator - he completely reprograms the circuit board to better utilize the wayfinder’s electro-thaumaturgic frequency to vitalize the internal capacitor!
Meanwhile, Nanoc correctly deduces that certain microchips are attenuated to certain traditions of magic, and unscrambles the board to better monitor the abjurative fields around the entire network - he stays through the next countdown to extend his work to multiple housings of chips while his party races around him!
Aldonza jerryrigs a special doohickey, bridging the short expertly, and causing the entire system to rattle and shake the ground like a gentle earthquake!
~ The engine kicks into overdrive!
~ A new alarming sound?
~ Another Azlanti phrase!!!
The ancient system of numbers nears the end of the countdown!!!!
A security protocol adds a countermeasure to the North and West Actuators as the Ancient Ruins tries to Lock Out the meddling Pathfinders!
♠️♥️♦️♣️
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Fran walks up and... kicks it! The stuttering sound smooths over somehow, and some more red lights spontaneously illuminate!
Initially, the central processing unit seemed to reject Raash's programming - whole crops were lost - but looking deeper into his tome, he observes a subroutine that prevents new code from fully overwriting the old - and making quick work, finds a workable solution that strikes an even balance!
While Zug looks around and marvels at the technology, it dawns on him that he could help out by handing someone the tools they call out quickly
~ Stalling a moment with increasing gaps!
~ The engine downshifts into low hum!!
~ A final Azlanti phrase!!!
The ancient system of numbers indicates it's final character!!!!
♠️♥️♦️♣️