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“Rachikan has been discovered!” exclaims Venture-Captain Adril Hestram as he peers up from a collection of ragged maps, dusty tomes, and tarnished coins from behind a massive desk within the Grand Lodge in the heart of Absalom. His excitement quickly fades and Adril gestures toward an elderly man sitting by the hearth. “May I introduce a former Pathfinder and respected friend, Benton Grone. This gentleman has suffered a great loss to bring a grand discovery to us and he has agreed to trade all rights to his claim of locating lost Rachikan in return for locating his missing nephew. Go with him and make haste; he has agreed to guide you to the Pillars of Anferita in Cheliax.”
Seven days at sea end at a view of the Pillars of Anferita bursting from the Chelaxian coastline, waves crashing against their rocky flanks. The central pillar’s curves, flora, and shape are perfectly represented on the discolored Jistka coins Adril sent along with the expedition. As sailors from the hired vessel row toward the central column, a second rowboat in tow, Benton Grone breaks his silence.
“It’s got to be here; the coin says so. Look at the picture on the back: A temple-foundry high atop this pillar awaits to be discovered. If old Rachikan of the Jistka Imperium is inside, then my nephew must reside there as well. Please hurry—find my poor Eldis.”
As the sailors row away from the pillars, taking Benton Grone with them but leaving behind a rowboat to return to the waiting ship, the waves slowly begin to push higher up the rocky harbor, signaling the beginnings of high tide. An unguarded, well-maintained rope stretches up the cliff, beckoning to the plateau high above.
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Anferita.
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Well, I guess introductions are in order, I'm Captain Noro Kasuri, known in the Shackles as The Iron Maiden. Captain of the Malevolent Grace.
Noro is shorter than one would have expected, standing a short 5'5" wearing simple clothing covering a chain shirt. a Captain's overcoat and a tricorn hat. She is obviously part Tien in ancestry as well as a hint of Varisian.
Before heading out Noro orders her ship to follow, lay anchor not far from where the group makes landfall, be ready in case of trouble. One can never be too careful in Cheliax waters.
Once at the location, Noro signals her ship that all is well. she then takes in the locale.
I hear that there was a rather large purchase of mining equipment bound for here, we may not be the only ones interested in this venture.
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Seeing that introductions have started, the young female halfling stands up to her full 3ft height and gives a graceful fancy bow despite her mithral chain shirt and two scimitars strapped cross wise across her back, "I am Marra a follower of the Dawnflower, at your service."
The bard comments "I don't recall much about the history, but historians suggest a stern society called the Jistka Imperium helped advance Golarion during the Age of Anguish. At their height, they spanned parts of Cheliax, Rahadoum, and Thuvia. Remnants from this once great empire include a numbering system still used today."
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An atypically-tall Gnome in rich Qadiran garb lounges across a freakish, otherworldly serpentine monster like a living divan as she stares at the scenery, barely paying attention to the briefing.
"I understand that one of our fellow Pathfinders was spotted in Macini - that's in southwestern Cheliax - spending coins minted in ancient Jistka. The bold fool started talking about finding an ancient treasure hoard...and has since disappeared."
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A taller human ripped and lean with only his robes and a few magical items, bows when it's his turn for introduction.
"My name is Xiaobo, but people call me Feng. It would seem that this other pathfinder has a clue of where to look. I would suggest we start there. We should also look to not start trouble, I think we can manage this without any violence."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"And I am Kyra. Faithful servant of Sarenrae. I am no scholar of history, but when it comes to keeping people well, and fighting the unliving - I hold my own."
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The base of the central pillar is a haven for gulls, seals, and other wildlife that chirp and bark in the distance. Salty air assaults the senses, burning the nostrils on each deep inhalation. The wet surface of the pillar offers many nooks and crannies creating a dimpled appearance suitable for climbing up the pillar’s edge. High above, the top of the pillar can be seen cresting to what must be a great plateau. Somewhere up above, a rope, in excellent condition, is anchored and runs down the cliff to the rocks below. The pillar looks to have plenty of handholds, ledges and outcroppings as it stands 200 feet tall.
"Gentlemen before ladies.." offers Kyra.
"To be honest, I don't like heights that much.."
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Xiaobo takes off up the wall and rope .
"I will scope it out and be right back"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Kyra waits for the others to indicate how tough the climb is... She looks dubiously at the ladder.
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The group makes it about 100 feet up the 200 foot cliff face as Xiaobo catches a flitter of movement out of the corner of his eye. He sees a pair of black wings jet out from the top of the cliff and descends down on the party as they climb. Some calamity has befallen this angelic warrior. Wings stained black shear the air as her merciless eyes search for a target with her flaming longbow.
Xiaobo
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Marra is impressed with Xiaobo's super leap and grapple! She cast Good Hope {link} on herself and Those near her.(anyone within 30')
Then she tries to think what she knows about the black winged creatures as she tries to climb accelerated.
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Marra gives everyone around her hope. Craning her head around she sees that the angelic creature is in fact a devil called an Erinyes. From what little she can remember they have a resistance to acid and cold damage.
Xiaobo uses the wall of the pillar and leaps at the Erinyes. His outstretched arms flail in the air as he begins to fall. At the last moment he manages to catch ahold of the Erinyes legs and holds on tight. Though his grapple burns the devil it has no effect on her.
The Erinyes, looks down, displeasure on her face as she sees the monk clinging to her. She maintains her flight and kicks her legs while swinging her bow at Xiaobo to try and dislodge him from her and break the grapple.
She isn't quite able to get the monk off of her but she is able to stay aloft.
Marra (100 feet up)
Xiaobo (150 feet up and 20 feet away from cliff; grappling Erinyes)
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Erinyes (150 feet up and 20 feet away from cliff; flying; grappled)
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Lucija (100 feet up)
Noro (100 feet up)
Kyra (100 feet up)
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At 4th level, as a swift action, a maneuver master may spend 1 point from his ki pool before attempting a combat maneuver. He can roll his combat maneuver check for that maneuver twice and use the better result. This ability replaces slow fall.
Xiaobo will use reliable maneuver and try to pin the creature. Seeing that the fire dmg didn't work he won't use that ability.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"Nope. Got it. Be back in a minute"
he says as him and the enemy start their decent
-Posted with Wayfinder
Kyra just continues to slowly climb the ladder.
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Lucija knows a small bit more about Erinyes. She knows that the devils see well enough in the dark. Have decent damage resistance unless struck by a good weapon. Immune to fire and poison and have a very good spell resistance.
Though the Erinyes is grappled she still puts up a decent fight and only one of Lucija's spear thrusts makes it through, though it doesn't do nearly as much damage as she thought it would have.
Noro, Marra and Kyra continue to make the perilous climb up to the plateau. Xiaobo climbs further up the devil and gets a better hold of her. She yelps as he grabs her wings and they both plummet to the ground with a crash.
Xiaobo manages to use the devil to cushion the majority of his fall as she grunts in pain and tries to free herself from being pinned to the ground.
With a few broken bones the Erinyes barely manages to break free. Seeing her opportunity she takes to the air once again. Her injured wings take flight as she tries to frantically get away from Xiaobo.
The fall seems to have grievously wounded the devil but she still looks to be in the fight.
Good Hope
Marra (145 feet up)
Xiaobo (44/59; Ground 20 feet from cliff; grappling Erinyes)
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Erinyes (-61 ;50 feet up 20 feet from cliff; flying; pinned)
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Lucija (150 feet up; 20 feet away from cliff)
Noro (115 feet up)
Kyra (115 feet up)
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Naghamadi zooms down to get closer to the fight...
...and once in range , Lucija sprays the fiend with one of its few weaknesses.
[dice=acid splash, using flask of acid as power focus, firing into melee]1d20+4[/dice]
Kyra continues her slow and careful climb.
"I should have waited at the bottom."
She looks relieved and somewhat surprised that Xiabo is not badly damaged from the long fall.
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"I said I got it."
Xiaobo calls up to the group
Once tied up and calmed down Xiaobo will try to ask questions
"Why are you here? Why are you attacking us"
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Lucija sprays the devil with acid, momentarily distracting it as Xiaobo leaps up and grabs ahold of her ankle once again. Yanking down he slams the Erinyes onto the ground, pinning her as he begins to tie her up. The acid had no effect as the devil's resistant skin absorbed most of it.
She bares her teeth at the monk. Her eyes glare pure malevolence as she hisses. I am here to watch you suffer. Keep you alive long enough before I eat your entrails while you watch!
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"I am sorry to hear that. I was hoping this would end with little to no violence. We're you here all along or did someone summon you."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Devils are beyond redemption..." calls down Kyra from above.
"'Killing' it now will just send it home. But at least it would need to be resummoned to bother mortals once again. "
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"I cannot just just kill this creature. Good or evil I do not kill helpless creatures."
Xiaobo will knock the creature unconscious and then head back up to his comrades
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Using her spear Lucija sends the devil back to it's plane in an eruption of fire and smoke. All it leaves behind is its +1 Flaming Composite Longbow (+5 str bonus).
The rest of the climb up is rather uneventful. Arriving atop the pillar’s plateau, a plume of thick, black smoke chokes out the horizon to the north. Sounds of clanking, banging, and chanting echo in the distance. Many emaciated figures in ragged clothing work furiously around a large wooden building. A single patrol of armed men direct the camp’s activity.
The plume of thick, black smoke comes from a makeshift camp about a half-mile from the edge of the plateau. The camp is a series of orderly but run-down tents surrounding a single large wooden building
from which the smoke emanates. Approaching the camp, you notice 20 slaves buzzing about, erecting tents, working on the wooden building, and doing many other smaller tasks. A single patrol of armed guards secures the campsite.
"Perhaps we may learn more by watching, or talking with some slaves?" wonders Kyra.
"It would seem there are preparations of some type going on..."