[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 35: A New Year

 

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

When we had rid the island of the giant flytrap and searched the island thoroughly, we left that area behind us and returned to Lorewynd. After we arrived, we were quickly ensnared in the necessities of managing our territory had no time to go out exploring.

Month of Abadius, year 4713

A new year has arrived, the third since we first took up our charter to reclaim the Stolen Lands. We've set Jubilost Narthropple the task of exploring a great circle from south of the Little Sullen River to the Narlmarches to the north of Leveton. At one time we saw the river as our southern border, but as conditions in Brevoy have changed and we've re-examined our charter, we've concluded that we don't need to stop our expansion there, though we do need to ensure that we don't come into conflict with Mivon. We n0w have an embassy in Mivon, represented by Chahana's former chatelaine Fabreze. Chahana has a new assistant, Odanost.

Odanost

We've incorporated some of the area along the foothills of the Tors into our territory, as well as that part of the Narlmarches surrounding Tiressia's tree. An orchard has been planted near Tatzlford and we've given leave for another farm to be started. There was some trouble with bandits over the winter but our patrols dealt with it.

Our greatest challenge has been maintaining the good relationship with our citizens. Some folk were disgruntled by the recent spate of illness plaguing Neotellus and felt that we hadn't done enough or acted quickly enough to prevent more people from falling ill. There were also several disputes over land when some folk claimed they had a right to start farms in areas we have yet to incorporate into Neotellus. But some carefully chosen words were able to ally any fears or anger.

Throughout the winter we kept adding improvements to our lands, constructing a granary near Tatzlford and adding more houses there, and establishing a formal graveyard in Leveton.  Reislin purchased a menagerie of beasts for the entertainment of the citizens. We have drawn up plans to create a second district in Lorewyn, where we intend to build an arena, a temple, and a school or military academy. We've also started construction on a waterfront area on the east side of the river opposite the mills and foundry that already exist on the western bank.

Jubilost sent us a message that he found an unusual and fortuitous discovey on his journey to the south. After hearing some disturbing sounds, his troop sought out the source and found a hillside penetrated by holes that were emitting the odd sounds when the wind blew into them. When the gnomes looked through the holes, they discovered that these led into a source of gemstones. We must manage this discovery with as much care as we've used in managing the gold mine we discovered. Though the mine is south of the river, we have made it part of Neotellus.

Early Gozreh, 4713

Spring thaws came with a great deal of rain this year, washing out some of the roads we've had built. This inconvenience aroused the arguments over land once again and we had to sooth troubled feelings. After the rains decreased we granted permission to establish more farms, and also ordered the building of a monument to the gods of goodness and mercy in Tatzlford, as the town lacks a shrine or temple. 

Disturbingly, we have received a message from Restov that they've lost contact with Varnhold. They sent a small patrol to check on the town and lost contact with the patrol as well. We'll have to investigate that ourselves. We've decided to take Zander's wagon and horses on our journey. It should take us four days to reach Varnhold through the pass. Goldwing will accompany us, but I am still waiting for a response from Iadara about a saddle for him.

As we were passing below the abandoned watchtower over the pass, we encountered trouble. Reislin spied a person up above us, then realized that based on the distance this person must be a giant. Just as she shared this with the rest of us, a large boulder came hurtling down from above, directly at her. We all pressed ourselves up against the cliff face to get out of range, but the giant threw down another rock and crushed Reislin's magically summoned horse. Reislin took flight and avoided being injured herself.

The giant had shouted down at us when he attacked. Zander translated his speech for the rest of us, telling us that the giant was threatening to kill us just as he had killed someone else. We didn't know who he could be speaking of, but worried it might be the patrol from Brevoy, though we had expected them to skirt around the northern part of the Tors and approach Varnhold from that direction. We decided that we were not willing to stand a giant attacking travelers in the pass, so we made our way around to the path that led up to the tower, leaving the wagon and horses at the bottom as we ascended to the abandoned tower.

As we approached the tower, Goldwing circled around it and by means of head motions and wing flaps communicated to me that the giant was behind the tower. I shared this with the others, and Reislin gifted us with speed. Maria ran to the rear of the tower immediately, while Chahana climbed up the ladder to the tower entrance, thinking she might be able to shoot at the giant from within. Zander had taken flight and disappeared around the cliff side of the tower. 

Maria, Zander, and I converged on the giant, who was indeed awaiting us there. He took out a huge club and swung it at Maria but it only struck her armor a glancing blow. I rushed forward and thrust my spear at him. Zander appeared behind him and stabbed with his blades, while Maria's sword slashed the giant repeatedly. Reislin had determined that it was a cliff giant that could withstand some harm from acid and fire but otherwise had no special defenses or offensive abilities. While the three of us pitted our blades against the giant, Goldwing swooped down from above and attempted to claw his head. The giant bore many scars on his legs, showing that this wasn't the first time he had been attacked by beings of our size.

Zander sank his blade into the giant's hamstring, hampering its ability to move. Maria dealt the giant several severe wounds, so much that he went down on his knees. With his torso now easier to reach, Maria thrust her blade into his chest and Zander stabbed him in the heart at almost the same moment. I jumped back as the giant toppled over. 

When the giant was dead, we went into the tower to examine his victims. They didn't appear to be from Brevoy. There were several bags containing items such as silverware with them. At first we thought they might be the thieves who had troubled Neotellus during the previous year, but it seemed unlikely they would have gone into the pass and climbed up to the tower. could they have come from Varnhold?

The giant also had a much larger bag, which was full of various things including the corpse of a pig. Along with the pig remains we found a small potion, a set of armor similar to what Chahana wears but designed for jousting, a ring imbued with a protective charm, a garment that according to Reislin is called a spectral shroud, and a vest that will allow the wearer to access any tool they need with a thought. But the most curious item in the giant's sack appeared to be a large loaf of bread, though Reislin revealed that it is actually a club that can be made to assume the form of anything the wielder desires! 

[Pathfinder] Return of the Runelords, part 10: A Good Night's Rest

 

The deck of the Tyalee's Whim fell silent after both Viraline and Corla dropped. Viraline was genuinely dead, sadly, but Corla had only been rendered unconscious. Captain Sursha was still under the magical compulsion that had caused her to order the water barrels emptied into the ocean. This didn't cause her to turn on us. She simply followed the suggestion she had been given and sent a few of the remaining crew to the island to fetch enough water to last until the ship reached Magnimar.

Before Corla revived she was stripped of her weapons and armor and the pack she carried by Hunter, assisted by some of the crew. When Corla regained her wits, Hunter questioned her. His first question was how she and Viraline had intended to escape the ship after acquiring the sword. Corla said that Viraline had some means to 'teleport' them away. This led to a search of Viraline's body, but that uncovered no teleportation device in her possession. Corla claimed she didn't know how Viraline would achieve this, only that this was what Viraline had told her.

Fox and I then went to Viraline's cabin to search, discovering to our surprise that the cabin was empty and the large trunk she had arrived with was also empty. We returned to the upper deck in confusion, to find that the pack Corla carried was actually a capacious magical container into which they had placed all of their possessions so they could 'teleport' with everything. Would that we could have such a container, as we might be able to hide the sword within it, but the spell on Captain Sursha had worn off by that time and she told us all of the womens' belongings should be handed over to the authorities in Magnimar when we arrived. 

Backpack of Holding

Hunter had continued questioning Corla while I was below deck. Corla didn't actually know much about the arrangements Viraline had made, but she did explain that a strange cult of people in bright clothing had contacted Viraline. As I returned I heard her say that they worshipped a bird. When I asked if the bird was a peacock, she claimed not to know what that was. According to her tale, Viraline had been cursed by the jealous wife of a paramour and had been unable to find anyone who could remove the curse of ill fortune that plagued her. The cultists had claimed they would remove the curse if Viraline acquired the sword for them. Corla seemed to be speaking truthfully and appeared truly grieved by Viraline's death, though some of my sympathy for her was lost when we found she was carrying several vials of poison. 

Captain Sursha was upset that Viraline had betrayed her and shamed that her passengers had come to harm. We discovered that Viraline had used a tea to place her under the 'suggestion.' 

The following day we sailed into the port of Magnimar. I have never visited there before, though of course I have heard you speak of it, Master Taeral. It is quite an impressive sight, particularly the remains of the ancient bridge that looms over a portion of the city. Hunter says Magnimar is divided into various districts, each of which is specialized in a particular type of business or habitation, which are much like separate cities in many ways. 

After the ship docked, Captain Sursha told us that should we need passage elsewhere in the future we could rely on her. She intended to remain in Magnimar for some time.

We decided together that we should visit the Council first, as our mentors all serve on it and they will know best what to do about a Runelord artifact. The Council lies in the Alabaster District and is also the headquarters of the local Pathfinder Society. With Magnimar being such a large city, it took a long walk to reach the building.

The man who met us at the door wasn't welcoming at all, at first taking us for mere adventurers who desired to join the Pathfinder Society. Even when we told him who we are he didn't lose his dismissive manner. Fox and Lonn resorted to bribery to persuade him to get us an audience with the person in charge, Lady Heidmarch of the Pathfinder Society. 

Lady Heidmarch knew and cared who we are even if her factotum did not. After we told her our story and showed her the Sword of Pride, she immediately recognized it and was shocked that it hadn't been destroyed. At first we considered handing the sword over to her for storage in the Council's vaults, which are so secure that anything contained within them can neither be removed nor detected. 

But as we continued our discussion we all began to feel that keeping the sword will help us to find out who is trying to bring back the Runelords. Lady Heidmarch didn't disagree with this. She also offered to repair the false blade and have it enchanted with an aura that will make it appear to be as powerful as the real sword, so that we may use it as a decoy. 

We also allowed her to hold the real sword, protected by the gauntlets, which she found fascinating and unique. When she held the sword she knew immediately that it is awakening, which she explained means that its master is still living and is waking from whatever slumber or stasis they've been in for these many millenia. We don't know if that master is still Runelord Xanderghul. Lady Heidmarch suggested that it could perhaps be his apprentice.

Our mentors weren't present in Magnimar when we arrived, but Lady Heidmarch did state that she expects some of them to arrive soon, though she couldn't say who would come as they're protecting themselves by keeping such knowledge secret.  

Lady Heidmarch told us that we could stay at an inn in Alabaster called the Gryphine, which is frequented by the members of the Pathfinder Society. Hunter is looking forward to seeing his family. Lonn asked Zinovia if she had met Hunter's family, and she and Hunter cheerfully explained that she had, as the two of them had first met in Magnimar. I haven't yet learned how Zinovia came to Magnimar to begin with, or why she was being mentored by a mage.

The Gryphine Inn

Fox complained about having given up some of his small supply of gold to bribe the clerk at the Pathfinder Society when Lonn had also given the man coins, mentioning it even before we parted from Lady Heidmarch. I think that fellow will be in for a tongue-lashing as Lady Heidmarch appeared quite annoyed. We had to explain to Fox that once a bribe is given one should never mention it again. He only knew that his former master had often bribed people, but he hadn't really understood how bribery works. He is terribly naive.

We didn't go to the inn immediately, as we had promised to accompany Audrahni to perform the ritual to lay her friend's spirit to rest. She took us to a building, where we climbed up on the roof. Audrahni laid out her ritual implements and began to perform a dance in honor of Ashava, the Empyreal Lord she served before she lost her faith.  

Dance for Ashava

We didn't have to participate, so we stood by and kept our eyes out for trouble. Lonn and Zinovia began attempting to follow Audrahni's dance to aid her. But trouble found us soon enough - just as the heavy feeling on the roof began to lift, a darkness fell over us and a floating creature appeared. I recognized it as type of undead known as a choking shade. I could recall that it was an incorporeal undead capable of inflicting negative energy harm and warned my companions. After I said what it was, Lonn remembered that it had the ability to suppress magic around it, and that it was vulnerable to strong winds. It's a pity that I don't know any wind spells at present, but I wouldn't have had any prepared in any case. I was still concerned with protecting myself against living enemies.

Hunter attempted to cast a spell and was thwarted by the shade's magic suppression aura. I also failed to cast my missiles at it. Fox managed to cast 'mage armor' on Hunter, realizing that incorporeal creatures can't get through magical armor as easily as corporeal armor. Zinovia tried to hit it with her enchanted sword but missed her first strike. Hunter manifested his blade and warned Fox to step back, but Fox remained where he was, intending to cast his spell on Zinovia next. I attempted to scorch the shade with a fiery ray, but although I was able to overcome its aura to cast my spell I missed my aim and the flames shot over the edge of the roof without touching the shade. 

Fox and I backed toward a chimney, Fox pulling Grumble toward safety with him. I stepped closer to the edge of the roof and sent a bolt of lightning at the shade. It hit but the shade avoided some of the energy. I realized I was exposed and withdrew to take cover behind the chimney. Fox kept doggedly trying to cast 'mage armor' on Zinovia until he finally succeeded, but at that moment she struck the shade two blows and it disintegrated into a cloud of ash.

Audrahni had managed to maintain her concentration on her dance ritual this entire time, and shortly after the shade was destroyed she ceased dancing and began to pray. We all joined her in prayer. I prayed to Pharasma as I know more of the tenets of her faith than of Ashava. 

Beams of light fell on the rooftop, accompanied by lively music. The lights fell at our feet and we sensed a positive energy surrounding us, which I thought might be similar to the effect of a priest's 'hallow' spell though of course I don't know divine magic so well as arcane. I felt as if Ashava had touched me with her blessing. The spirit of Audrahni's friend could finally rest. I was glad we'd been able to keep the shade away from her so she could complete the ritual.

We were all tired after our long day and made our way to the Gryphine after that. Audrahni confided in us on the way that Ashava had restored her clerical powers to her, which we were very heartened to hear. 

Audrahni

When we reached our rooms at the inn, we all discovered that in each room was a parcel tied with a black ribbon. Fox and I were both immediately suspicious and took a moment to check the packages for magical auras, but Lonn and Hunter opened theirs and Lonn was engulfed in a cloud of green smoke that poisoned him rather badly - not a fatal poison, but one that left him foolish and clumsy. Zinovia shouted out a warning and that kept Fox and I from opening our packages after we found no magic. Lonn and Hunter both took antitoxins, but we had to appeal to Audrahni to use her newly restored priestly magic to help Lonn as he'd inhaled so much of the gas. The gas dissipated quickly afterward.

The other items in the parcels were candies and tobacco, which were not magical and as far as we could determine not poisoned either. Each of the packages had also included a note describing us as the "New Heroes of Varisia" and telling us to enjoy the items enclosed. Fox and I had no desire to enjoy these gifts and would have burned them, but the others entreated us not to, saying that we could use them for bribes or sell them. We handed our shares over to them. 

Grumble had also been poisoned by the green gas as he stayed in the same room with Hunter and Zinovia, so Lonn volunteered to care for him overnight once his own weakness had been largely removed by Audrahni. Fox went downstairs to complain to the inn manager. We decided to set watches that night, Fox taking the first watch, Zinovia the second, Hunter the third, and I the last. Fox assumed his fox form and settled down in the corridor outside our rooms.

Grumble

I was resting in my room when noise from the hallway roused me. There was a flash of light visible from the gap under the door. I got up and looked cautiously outside to see a bugbear facing Fox, who was now in his human form. There were scorch marks and bits of ash on the floor. Fox shouted for help. The bugbear vanished for a moment, then reappeared as he attacked Fox. Then Zinovia's door flew open and she rushed out, her face flushed with fury. She swung her sword once and the bugbear fell.

Bugbear 

When the bugbear's body was searched, we found a short note from someone named Hira Doss. It read: "once we return from our duties in the Forsaken Mezzanine.” The brevity of the note confused us until we realized it was probably a response to some other message, similar to a conversation held through a 'sending' spell.

Fox wanted to go and complain to the inn staff again, but a few moments of discussion made us all recognize that a dead body in the scorched hall could look very bad for us. Zinovia grabbed the bugbear's corpse and took it downstairs after we packed up all our belongings with the intent of seeking another inn. The manager was horrified and very apologetic. In the course of this Fox commented that the bugbear was a ninja, as he had a sword of a kind found in Tian-Xia. Zinovia thought ninja were only a tale until I assured her they were genuine warrior-assassins. 

Lonn explained what had happened to the guardsmen who served the inn. We decided not to remain there in case whoever sent the bugbear ninja had other assassins in their employ. The manager gave us a writ good for healing at the temple of Sarenrae as an apology for our experience. I was very annoyed at being disturbed because I wouldn't have any opportunity to write any new spells in my spellbook, and I'd been prevented from doing that during most of our sea voyage as well. Zinovia was concerned about moving Grumble, who was still recuperating from the poison, but she decided that since the goblin was no longer in danger of dying, moving for our own safety was more important than his rest. We took everything we had and the goblin and went off to find another place to spend the night. I don't even recall the name of the second inn. I did manage to get enough rest to be able to prepare spells the next morning.

The next morning we discussed what we should do about assassins pursuing us. Who could have sent the ninja? Were there other ninjas seeking us? Hunter wondered if it had anything to do with the Brotherhood of Seven that had slain most of Audrahni's fellow clerics. Audrahni unfortunately knows little about them. We decided instead to try to find out about the Forsaken Mezzanine mentioned in the note the ninja had carried, as well as about Hollow Mountain where the Runelords were supposed to rest during Earthfall. Hunter's sister is a librarian, but he suggested that the Council's library is the most comprehensive, so we returned to the Pathfinder Society Lodge to seek it out. 

When we arrived we found the council chambers shut. Welben Orry, who had been so rude to us the previous day, greeted us with more courtesy this time. We were told that members of the city government were meeting with the Council regarding something serious that had just happened, and that we wouldn't be allowed to go in. Hunter tried to intimidate Orry into opening the doors for us but he wouldn't. Finally we told him to send for us as soon as we could speak with Lady Heidmarch and went off to research in the library.

We split into two groups, myself with Lonn and Fox to look for information about the Forsaken Mezzanine, and the rest seeking to know more about the Brotherhood of Seven. It took some time, but my group eventually learned that the Forsaken Mezzanine was a tomb on the southeastern side of Hollow Mountain, which had no known entrance. A research team had gone to Hollow Mountain a month earlier to seek a way in, but hadn't reported back during that time. We also thought we now know where Hollow Mountain is - to the north of Magnimar near a bay or cove known as Old Man's Launch, which lies almost as far from Magnimar as Roderic's Cove, though it is on the opposite side of the Varisian Gulf. 

The other team had abandoned researching the Brotherhood and instead looked for information about the Peacocks, since they seemed to be more than just an organization of people in Roderic's Cove. They learned that the Peacocks have existed in Magnimar for a century as a secretive group, at least some of them known to be prideful and quick to anger, but it seems not all of them are such. The location of their meeting place or headquarters isn't known. 

Just when we had garnered this information, a messenger came from Lady Heidmarch asking us to go to the council chamber. 

Characters are now 6th level.

Next: part 11, Old Man's Landing

[Star Wars] New Centurions, Episode I: "Graduation Exercises"

On Dantooine the new apprentices at the Jedi Academy settle into the training routine. They join others in observance of the Jedi ideals, and in service to bringing justice and light to the dark corners of the galaxy. 

Mastering new skills and the Jedi Code, they find the instruction challenging and rewarding. As the 1st year ends, they begin to learn the use of the iconic Jedi weapon, the lightsaber….

Jedi Academy

Planet: Dantooine

Location: Training Academy of the Jedi Order

Trainee Assessment

Compiled by: Jedi Knight Kin-Ya Dosun

The cohort now code-named Century Flight have completed a training skirmish on the training grounds, observed by Masters Grakon Del and Beq-Abig. 

Master Grakon Del

Master Beq-Abig

Trainee Ashretta has been observed exhibiting excessive anger and will spend additional time in meditation. Trainee Ouda has also offered to spar with Ashretta. I have been given responsibility for Century Flight.

Jedi Academy training ground

Location: Varvrona system

Mission Report compiled by Jedi Trainee Elashi Tanisho, Century Flight

We were in pursuit of  Ace of Flasks, a ship suspected of conducting slave transport activities on behalf of the Kazarac guild. We located the vessel in orbit near planet Varvrona. 

Ouda Secura sent a transmission to the Ace of Flasks instructing them to stand down. They responded by claiming they were traders but appeared to make little effort to be convincing. Weapons fire did not do any serious damage to their vessel. They also inflicted some minor damage on one of our starfighters. Dihan deployed the ion cannon, after which they stood down.

Century Flight boarded their vessel, finding that they were transporting the enslaved persons in carbonite. One member of their crew claimed they were merely transporters and were not responsible for enslaving those individuals or attempting to sell them as property. Dihan warned that this person was attempting to distract us. 

One individual attempted to fire a slug-thrower at our group. I stunned him with my blaster pistol. After a brief firefight we were able to subdue the slavers and place them under arrest before handing them over to the Rangers of the New Republic. Among the individuals preserved in carbonite were also several persons who had outstanding warrants from various law enforcement agencies. We also found Bivo Snuko, the individual we had previously rescued on Dantooine, among their prisoners.

Ace of Flasks

Jedi Starfighter

Slaver

We have been asked to review the tenets of the Jedi Order and meditate on the events of our mission after Trainee Yaz expressed romanticized views of fighting while we described our combat with the Kazarac slavers.

Jedi Trainee Elashi Tanisho - personal log

I have completed my Trial of Spirit, facing the Dark Side in the Mirror. I had always thought myself fearless, yet the Mirror held something to cause fear in me. I would not welcome experiencing that again, but I have passed through the trial. My fellow members of Century Flight have also succeeded in overcoming whatever fears the Mirror made them experience. We have not spoken of what we saw in the Mirror.

We traveled next to planet Illum to seek crystals for our personal lightsabers. Ouda did not go with us, as she has a lightsaber that once belonged to her grandfather. He was not a member of the Jedi Order, but there is no requirement that the possessor of a lightsaber be a Jedi.

Illum

The crystal I felt through the Force lay in a location that required me to leap across a crevasse in the ice and climb a stalacmite to reach it. I miscalculated the jump over the crevasse and fell to the bottom, suffering some painful bruises. I spent a few moments meditating to compose myself and I was able to resist the extreme cold enough to work my way along the bottom of the crevasse until I found a place where I could climb out safely.

Crystal cavern

Once I climbed up a stalacmite to the crystal I had intended to claim, I found it was still out of my reach. Then I realized that there was a second crystal that was closer, and this was the crystal the Force had actually been guiding me to. 

Personal journal - Jedi Knight Kin-Ya Dosun

While most of Century Flight were on Illum acquiring their crystals, trainee Ouda Secura was invited to a private visit with Master Taanar. Ouda has not spoken to me of what Master Taanar shared with her, but it's my understanding that Master Taanar told her stories about her grandfather and Choj's grandfather and certain events that occurred while they were members of the Antaran Rangers. 

They then began to meditate together, and Ouda then heard an unusual sound which caused her cease her meditation and look to see what had caused the sound. She found that Master Taanar was gone, but her robe and lightsaber lay on the ground where she had been sitting. Ouda stated that just prior to this occurrence, her sense of the Force became much more intense. 

Master Taanar Ryl has become one with the Force. 

a 

Jedi Master Taanar Ryl