A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 7–11.
In Kaer Maga, the mysterious and dangerous cliffside City of Strangers in untamed Varisia, the Pathfinder Society will come face to face with a sect of the cult of Lissala who prey upon the city's most vulnerable denizens to increase their own power. To what end do they conduct the ancient Feast of Sigils ritual, and can the Pathfinders stop them before their evil plans come to fruition?
Written by Dennis Baker.
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A straw-blonde, ice-blue-eyed elf in immaculate white physician's garb and carrying a heavy black bag, in addition to a brace of traditional Elven armaments, enters the room with barely a sound. He sits down and takes out a thick notebook filled with tight script, arcane alchemical symbols, and bizarre, sometimes macabre, sketches, and begins writing in it.
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A Varisian man in his early fifties, wrinkles starting to cover his bald head. He has a large rune tattoed on his forehead, one that Thassilonian experts may recognize as the Wrath rune. Many other tattoos, either written in Varisian or Thassilonian, cover his body, including the Sihedron rune on his chest. The man is often seen with his chest bare, a red varisian scarf around his waist and breeches covering his legs. A veil of bone and silk covers his lower jaw and nose, embroidered with ancient symbols and Thassilonian runes. He's leaning on a masterfully carved ebony staff.
He must obviously have some orcish blood in his veins, for the sorcerer's wrathful gaze often turns blood-red as he starts casting his Wrath magic, before turning into a real orc.
"I am Shandor, seeker of the relics of ancient Thassilon. Wrath is my sin, and I shan't be merciful." he says with a rasping voice.
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So, is this the place? I was told ta be somewheres around here somewheres.... A dwarf, well armored and armed, wanders in with a lost look on his face.
Hey! You look smart. Is this the place for the Pathfinder thing? I got this note here... didya get one too? August shoves a paper in front of the elf writing in his notebook.
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A man, garbed in typical Qadiran fashion enters the meeting room. It is obvious to any who know such things, that he has the blood of shaitan genies flowing in his veins, his crystalline skin being a dead giveaway.
"Ah, it's been a while since I set foot in the City of Strangers." His speech is accented in the manner of distant Kelesh. "I do hope the Pharasmins of the Godsmouth Ossuary have managed to get control over their crypts again... Any news concerning our mission in Kaer Maga?"
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Fashionably late as ever, Nel steps into the briefing room a few moments after the Oread and their Eidolon. His skin alabaster white with crimson red hair braided and wrapped around his shoulders, Nel is dresed in form fitting black leather trousers with a black coat edged in crimson and gold over a light mithral shirt. Buckled at his right hip are two paired Rapiers in sheaths matching his coat and he holds a battered note book.
Heading to the wine cabinet, the man helps himself to a fine vintage and when he turns you notice small horns hidden beneath his fringe which, along with his blood red eyes reveals his fiendish heritage.
"Salutations."
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A smiling man walks in, smelling strongly of horses. "My fellow Pathfinders, it is my great pleasure and even greater honor to announce His August Personage, Mighty Dragon of the Sanos Forest, Plunderer of King Xeros of Old Azlant, Beloved Friend of the Fellnight Queen, Savior of Illmarsh, Slayer of Krune the Runelord of Sloth, Renowned Scholar of Lissala, and owner of the only dwarf-proof wand cloak in all of Golarion . . . RIDDYWIPPLE THE SPECTACULAR. And if they believe any of that, I've got plenty of horses for sale.
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A brightly colored faerie dragon suddenly appears in the middle of the room, wearing a snug black cloak that holds a wand beneath each wing. "Fear not, ignoble mortals. I, Riddywipple, an ancient and wise dragon am here to--ooh! I smell cinnamon and icing! Are those--?" And the faerie dragon pilfers a cinnamon roll larger than himself, then proceeds to fly around the room upside down, savoring every delicious bite of the pastry.
I cut meself shaving! HAHAHarharhar! Everyone can tell by his laugh that the "joke" was rehearsed, though not incredibly well as it was likely something that someone had said to him in the past and he thought it sounded good. However, August seems to enjoy telling it.
Wait, I'm August! Who's this here Personage fella?
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Nel raises an eyebrow at Huritt's extravagant entrance and shrugs, finding a seat in which to lean back and savour the fine wine pilfered from an unsuspecting Venture Captain. Cracking his knuckles he rests the glass on the floor before pulling out a battered notebook and flicks through the pages, finding a blank space amongst the seemingly chaotic scribbles.
"Anyone aware of why we are here? Thssalonian nonesense I have heard rumours of, but I put little stead in rumours."
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Huritt smiles at Argust, "The 'personage' you speak of is my familiar, Riddywipple. He's a rather friendly and helpful fellow, as long you're nice to him. And by nice, I mean flatter him incessantly and excessively. And sugar helps. The more the better. Don't let his size fool you, faerie dragons can consume 20 times their weight in sugar per day."
"Oh, and don't ever try to touch his wands. Even if he tries to turn your beard purple and orange with them. He's very defensive about his wands. Or was it purple and yellow? Hmm . . . I can't remember . . . ."
Huritt mumbles on for a moment, then notices Nel's question hanging unanswered, "Ah yes, I spoke to Venture-Captain Ifar Ted'Ha privately. He had a sensitive mission come down the pipe unexpectedly, and asked me to deliver the briefing while he attends to a private matter."
"Five prestigious Pathfinders disappeared recently--big surprise, eh? They're presumed dead, but it's important that their bodies be recovered. And of course they died before completing their mission, which is why the Decemvirate is sending us. Anybody can retrieve a few bodies, but only we can be trusted to complete a mission so secret and sensitive that nobody is even quite sure what these Pathfinders were doing when they disappeared."
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"I am afraid your note is irrelevant to this mission."
The ever noble Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch strides gracefully into the room. Behind her, the well armored Venture-Captain Ollysta Zadrian follows.
"Thousands of years ago, a group of insanely powerful wizard kings ruled Thassilon, a vast world-spanning empire. Many of the great monuments in Varisia, including the Irespan here in Magnimar and the Storval Stairs, are relics of this forgotten age. The wizard kings wielded powerful rune magic and declared themselves rune lords. The Thassilonian empire was destroyed by some immense cataclysmic event, but the runelords were prepared and entombed themselves in hidden, well protected chambers and put themselves into deep, magical sleep.
“Until recently, we thought the secret of the location of these chambers and methods of waking the runelords of Thassilon was forgotten. However, recent findings revealed that a powerful group of Lissalan cultists knows where Runelord Krune is sleeping and are working to waken him from his long sleep. Awakening a powerful and ambitious wizard like Krune would have a massive impact on Golarion the Decemvirate would prefer to avoid.”
Sheila nods to the armored woman next to her. “Ollysta has been actively pursuing the activities of the cult. She just got a lead about a powerful branch of Lissalan cultists operating in Kaer Maga. We need you to track down the cultists and find out what they are planning and disrupt their operation in Kaer Maga.”
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"I'm aware of the Lissalans' goal, and I fully intend to stop them... " groans Shandor. A smug, self-satisfied smile adorns his face.
... and claim their age-old artifacts for myself. Once more I will wield the powers of Thassilon! They're as good as mine already.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"I see . . ." Huritt steeples his fingers as if in deep thought, "Myself, I do not study such musty and evil things as lost and forgotten cults, but . . ." he pulls some books from a bag, "If one of you might be so inclined, Riddywipple has several texts on these Lissalans. He is absolutely fascinated by all sorts of boring things like that."
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Nel leans back and savours his wine as the Venture Captain gives her briefing. A dark smile graces his face and he leans forwards, making the odd note in his journal. Flicking through the book the Investigator ponders what he might know.
"The Cult of Lissala eh? What an interesting group of folks. Now Captain what do we know of their operation so far? Any leads on who is in charge?"
Ollystra responds “Several weeks ago a friend of the Society in Kaer Maga sent me a letter asking for help with a criminal element in the City of Strangers. She realized that they were tampering with foul magic, and that we were her best chance to find help. You’ll meet her at or near the Blushing Rose brothel. Ask for Miss Feathers. We’re not sure how embroiled in this she is, so make sure she’s doing well. She can be a valuable contact in the city.”
15+ She is the corrupt goddess of runes and knowledge, and her holy symbol is the Sihedron.
20+ Lissala’s high priest was Krune, the Runelord of Sloth. In spite of the fact that she has vanished and her high priest is sleeping, a cult survives dedicated to returning her influence to Golarion.
25+ During holidays in Thassilonian times, the followers of Lissala practiced a ritual called the Feast of Sigils, which emphasized indulgence and excess.
30+ The ancient Lissalan Feast of Sigils was a ritual of power in which participants would sacrifice a small part of themselves and in return gain great power.
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Shandor grunts. "Miss Feathers ? Sounds like a name for a cheap prostitute. What do we know of her? Is she reliable? "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ollystra frowns at Shandor's question. "Yes i said brothel. i also said 'valuable contact'."
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Huritt casts prestidigitation to clean his face and clothing. "If you had the concentration to pay attention to the whole conversation, you might actually understand what's going on, instead of merely jumping to false conclusions like a drunken frog."
"Besides, you'll be with me the whole time. And not only would a frail, fallible human like myself never, ever be able to fool a wise, perceptive dragon like yourself--but your trustworthiness and faculties of judgment are beyond reproach." Ha! Poli asks me every time I go out on a mission, "You're taking that faerie thing with you, RIGHT?".
"When you tell Polikwaptiwa that I was true to her in the face of such temptations, she will know beyond all doubt that you speak the truth. In fact, your testimony will only prove to her how much I love her." Because of all the Varisian jewelry I'm going to have to buy now, thanks to you!
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Nel leans back in his chair for a moment before smiling darkly and clearing his throat.
"Fascinating, this Cult follows the once goddess of runes and knowledge, though she long since became corrupt. At the heigh of her power she called the Runelord of Sloth her High Priest of all things." He finishes off his wine before continuing.
"She has vanished and her High Priest is in slumber as the rest of the Runelords but a small group of fanatics remain. Their 'Feast of Sigils' is an unholy rite focusing on excess and involves sacrificing a part of yourself to gain ultimate power. How Cliche. I concur, let us visit this brothel and see what our contact knows before pressing on further, these extremists do seem a tad irritating."
Getting to his feet and slinging his pack over his shoulder the Tiefling indicates his readiness to depart.
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"Sacrificing a part of you to gain power? That sounds like the Lissalans I know. Been there, done that. It has been... very profitable, to say the least. I'll do it again any day." grins the power-hungry sorcerer.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The team heads out, following Nadil directly to the brothel by the fastest possible path.
Upon arrival at the Blushing Rose, and asking for Miss Feathers, the front desk girl, in a tiny skirt, smiles fondly at you "She is likely across the street, on her break. We could certainly find you an alternative?" she offers suggestively.
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"Oh! Before I forget--do any of you sword and armor folk appreciate protective magic? I have an old spell, a cantrip really, that hardens your skin for a couple of hours and protects you from damage. It's rather expensive though, and I am but a simple horse trader. But I would be happy to enchant your skin, if you provided the diamond dust."
Huritt answers Nel as they walk the streets of Kaer Maga, "Well, I guess that depends which version of the ritual you perform. Strictly speaking, it is a personal endeavor, but Riddywipple is constantly offering his help and persuading me to undertake the Dragon's Sacrifice. I am a humble man though, and do not seek power beyond my mortal station."
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As they approach the Brothel, Nel pulls out one of the flasks and necks the contents, spotting a coffee bean back into the vial before stowing it. His battered journal in hand, Nel surveys the brothel from beyond the desk, to see if anything comes to his attention, or anyone paying attention to the group any more than can be expected for such a menagerie.
"My colleague is correct, our party just have to meet her, it is our friend's greatest wish." he indicates the strange sorceror. "Please forgive our intrusion"
The girl pouts flirt-ily at you "it's a vice of a different color....... a tavern." she explains after a moment of blank faces.
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Nel sighs at August's naivety and thanks the woman, stepping away from the brothel and sweeping the dirt of Kaer Maga off his coat. It had been a while since he had been in a Varisian city and he wasn't enjoying the nostalgia it summoned.
"Well, a tavern seems to be more our...speed." he states as he heads across the road, before stopping and heading back to the woman, slipping her a few gold coins."Whilst I am sure she pales compared to your beauty, would you perhaps tell us what Miss Feathers looks like?"
The girl smiles a little, taking the gold. "Tall muscular. You can't miss her when she stands a head above the crowd... If you're into that sort of thing."