Pathfinders! You have been ordered to report to the lodge in Kaer Maga. It's a long trip, and therefore there's plenty of time to get to know each other.
You arrive Kaer Maga’s newly founded Aeon Lodge, a nondescript building off Nestus Street previously used as a hideout for thieves. The building’s facade is disguised as a thoroughly mediocre sundries shop. Pathfinder agents in the guise of employees identify you and bring you to the back of the shop, where a teleportation circle is hidden and warded against intruders. Via the teleportation circle, the agents escort you deep below the city into the Aeon Lodge proper, which is now outfitted with all the accoutrements necessary for a proper forward base. There, you see Venture-Captain Zinthyra, an energetic sprite who flits to and fro on her insect-like wings, eager to begin the briefing.
After a brief round of introductions, Zinthyra dives headfirst into the briefing. “Hmm, what do you need to know?” she begins. “Well to start, this mission will occur in stages. You’re part of a larger expedition that will explore the site in full, but in recognition of your skill and outstanding service to the Society, you’ve been chosen to be the first to actually enter the vaults.” Zinthyra pauses, giving her words a moment to sink in before squealing, “What an honor! If I weren’t a venture-captain, I’d be tempted to go with you!”
Zinthyra composes herself before continuing. “Let’s see, what else? Oh! According to my research, you’ll be entering a place called the Corridor, the proverbial threshold of the vaults and where Lesolethe, thewizard who first discovered the place, staged her studies of the area. Look for any research Lesolethe might have left behind, in particular her aeon recorder. These vaults were ancient even in Lesolethe’s day, and if we can find out what she learned about them, we’ll be that much closer to uncovering their secrets.”
Zinthyra’s grin widens even further, a feat that seemed impossible before she started speaking. “Any questions before you get started?”
The quiet but observant varisian introduces himself when he arrives, "I am Fernardo Mattero. I am a Wizard of the 9th order. Please to meet you all."
After listening to the briefing Fernrado tries to recall what he can...
...he then shares with the group what he thinks he knows.
Fernardo doesn't seem to have any insight, but Zinthyra has some insight.
"Lesolethe? She was an Azlanti mage, born long before the founding of ancient Thassilon. She and her daughter Elosalo were among the first mortal wizards to truly master teleportation magic. Together, they traveled the world uncovering the secrets of Golarion’s then-ancient past—which is saying something, as Lesolethe and Elosalo lived over ten millennia ago! The passages we discovered beneath Kaer Maga last year were one of Lesolethe’s many outposts, from which she studied the complex. Nobody knows why she abruptly sealed the entrance to the vaults proper."
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Arnina is a squat dark-skinned gnome with blue hair. Fitting right in Kaer Maga she wears a flag bearing the symbol of Besmara around her neck like a cape, and has a bundle of cattails shoved into her belt loop along with a strong gun-like weapon that looks like the head of a fish spitting.
"Right so I'm a druid and a river pirate, not sure what they were expecting me to do with any of this but I did learn that Azlant fell underwater ages ago and then it was even more interesting to learn that they apparently used to have crazy psychic fish that controlled some of the kingdoms so I guess I learned a few things."
"Are we sure she specifically sealed the vaults and someone else didn't come by more recently and do it?"
Arnina confirms everything the VC has said, but doesn't have any additional insight.
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Keiko, a young red haired Minkaian woman with an air of nobility about her, notes the Venture Captain with a hint of...annoyance? Though doing her best not to show it.
"It shall be interesting to work with you again Zinthyra. I presume your performance review went well?"
She thumbs through her notes on her previous venture, closes it lightly and continues.
"Anything in particular we're looking for in this vault?"
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Mingmei, a mature woman from Goka with a practical bun and sense of fashion that announces 'trying to be the fun mom' to the world, takes a moment to offer a sympathetic nod to Keiko, as if to project a reassuring 'I know, sweetie' in Keiko's direction, as the eccentric self-styled Runelord overflows with a personality that isn't for everyone and a misunderstanding of Runelords that could take months or even years to correct. It would wear on Mingmei's patience more dealing with this Pixie if she hadn't already had years of practice with her own teenage child.
Despite already knowing several faces in the room, Mingmei introduces herself anyway: "Mingmei Jiang, channeler of spirits and expert on the Celestial Court. I've also dealt with matters Thassilonian and Azlanti before, to some extent.
Phrasing her questions in classical Thassilonian with only a hint of Gokan accent, Mingmei inquires, "Have wards and traps already been assessed or is that where we should begin?"
(+14 Society for Mingmei)
Mingmei nods in confirmation. Grog and Keiko have one final bit to add. Lesolethe was a devout follower of Lissala, the Azlanti goddess of runes, fate, and loyal service. Lesolethe’s faith seems to have caused some rift between herself and her daughter Elosalo.
"Don't think I've forgotten that you were there for my elevation Keiko. Thank you! I'm excited that you're here for this!"
With a nod of confidence, Zinthyra leads you to the door that seals the entrance to the vaults.
She hovers before an iron door covered with glowing runes, her eyes twinkling in anticipation. “The wards on this door defied all of our attempts to enter,” she explains. “Luckily, we tracked down these.” Zinthyra withdraws from her cloak three interlocking amethyst rings. “They’re keys,” she explains, “recovered from Lesolethe’s secret lab on an island in the Arcadian Ocean. With these, we can unlock the wards and finally enter the vaults!”
Zinthyra touches the rings to the door, and the runes covering the portal’s surface suddenly flare in intensity. When the light fades a moment later, the rings have separated and each has changed color: one is now yellow, one purple, and the third an aquamarine not unlike the color of Zinthyra herself.
“Fascinating!” Zinthyra gasps as she ogles the now-separated rings. She raises a finger, as if only now realizing something of great importance. “But not entirely unexpected!”
Opening the now-unlocked door reveals a stairwell that descends another 50 feet into the earth.
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Out of need and habit, Fernardo casts a spell from his staff. A bright pale-blue orb comes to being 18" to the left of his head. "Would anyone else like one? I can cast up to 4 total."
Range: 120' Duration: until your next daily preparations
You create an orb of light that sheds bright light in a 20-foot radius (and dim light for the next 20 feet) in a color you choose. If you create the light in the same space as a willing creature, you can attach the light to the creature, causing it to float near that creature as it moves. You can Sustain the spell to move the light up to 60 feet; you can attach or detach it from a creature as part of this movement.
You can Dismiss the spell. If you Cast the Spell while you already have four light spells active, you must choose one of the existing spells to end.
Heightened (4th) The orb sheds light in a 60-foot radius (and dim light for the next 60 feet).
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Ghirka blinks. If one looks closely enough, you can tell that she is wearing amber cat-eyed lenses. "I should be good."
As the group descends down the stairwell, Ghirka takes a moment to be still. Her head tilts each direction for a moment, checking for unusual signs of movement or activity. Whenever there seems to be a flash, either real or imagined, Ghirka's head moves toward it. Her hand curls into a fist defensively for a moment. Once it's determined to be nothing, Ghirka's posture relaxes and the surveying loop repeats itself.
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"A pale white will be fine. Strange colors could make details hard to make out. As for position..." She thinks for a moment, trying to decide what spots would least likely blind her or reduce visibility.
"If it could float above and behind my head that would probably work best". She waves a hand to signify the position.
With the potent blue light on Fernardo's staff, you can see that there are two rooms close to the bottom of the stairwell...
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Which way Pathfinders?
To the west is a large room. A circle of glowing runes covers much of the floor of this oddly shaped room, filling the area with pale yellow light. A three-foot-tall stone pedestal stands beside the circle. A hand-shaped impression atop the pedestal glows with the same yellow light as the runes.
In an alcove near the entrance is a point of interest. A stone sarcophagus fills this square-shaped alcove. The lid of the sarcophagus is flat but covered with both inscriptions and a carved rune of strange design.
After a bit of conferring, you decide (pretty conclusively in Keiko's case) that the rune is "HUMILITY", which the Thassilonians came to see as "PRIDE".
Those who speak Thassilonian have no trouble with the inscription below:
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Mingmei visibly stiffens. "Be on guard. We may be dealing with complex hostile magic here. It reads, 'To the reader, I beseech thee to lead a humble life free from the sin of pride.' The Runelord of Pride was one of the most dangerous wizards ever."
Turning to Fernando, she asks, "Can you be a dear and check for magical resonances? They might prove... tricky in here."
Fernardo concludes that the sarcophagus itself is not magical, but something within it is.
Keiko moves over to the pedastal. Other wonders flicker into sight towards the center of the complex. Dust on the ground reminds you that this comes from an era before the magic virtues were supplanted with sins.
The pedastal is an exact match in color for the yellow amethyst ring Zinthyra gave you...
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Mingmei turns back to the hall and says to the apparently empty space in the corner, "No, this has nothing to do with volcanoes, shush!
After she finishes admonishing a spirit, she backs away to ready herself for whatever might happen next, scrolls in hand. "Zinthyra never handed me a ring. I'm ready to proceed, anyway."