Adventure 04 - It's Going to Get Messy

2016-08-17

4th Month (Oceans), Day 13 and 14

The PCs learn that their shipment to Nix was a decoy by the Trakias Wolf Trade Emporium. The real shipment was not revealed to them, though they were still paid by the merchant guild. It was learned later that evening (after a rain storm moved in) that they were not the only group which was hired as a decoy. Lock, an agent of the mercenary guild called Iron Dragons, suggested that he is quite upset that he didn't get the full story and was used as a decoy. He offered a chance at revenge by suggesting that the PCs join the Iron Dragons in a highway robbery attempt on the caravan heading north toward Aedok. This caravan, is one which Trakis Wolf had offered the PCs a chance to protect for some more pay.

The PCs did not answer, so this will need to be resolved at some point. However, the next morning, the PCs left the Painted House in an attempt to kill time before the caravan leaves (in 2 days), but instead saw a column of smoke in the distance. Wanting to investigate, the PCs found a few people clawing their way out of an access point to the sewer; which is where the smoke was emerging. They are injured, and frightened by some "slimy, bat-like" creature which attacked them. The PCs offered to help by hunting down the threat, but they were approached by a female half-elf offering assistance.

Ewyn Useling, a member of the Cult of the Arcane, brings the PCs to her home to help them equip for the sewers. Instead, she admits that this creature was summoned by her, and she lost control of the creature. She wants the PCs to hunt it down, but wants them to keep quiet about her involvement. She offers some additional gold as hush money for them to not reveal her to the authorities.

The PCs go into the dungeon and faced several dangers. They were attacked by some large centipedes, which were a minor threat. The rat swarms they encountered posed more of a problem, but were still dispatched by the PCs in short order. The most harrowing issue they had was when the water rushed through the sewers (thanks to the heavy rainfall draining through the tunnels) which hampered their encounter with a slime mold. In the end, the PCs were able to dispatch those hazards and continue their search.

They also ran across another group searching for the beast. This group was lead by a man named Kaveed Haern, a peacekeeper belonging to the Hall of Winter. He spoke briefly with the PCs, reporting that he hadn't found the creature yet either. They both moved on separately.

Eventually, the PCs ran across the beast; an ooze mephit. It immediately recognized the PCs as a threat and gated in another mephit to assist. The PCs survived a few acid breath weapon attacks, some stinking cloud attacks (nauseating a few of the PCs), and the sharp talons of the mephits before killing both of them. It wasn't easy, because the creatures were fast healing, and protected from non-magical weapons.

When the PCs emerged from the sewers, they ran across Kaveed again, who was interested in determining what the PCs knew about how the creature had arrived.

Contacts

• Ewyn Useling - Cult of the Arcane member
• Kaveed Haern - Peacekeeper for the Hall of Winter
• Lock - Agent of the Iron Dragons

Information Gathered

• The mayor of Breezeway has been removed from office. I believe the trade guilds are behind this.
• I hear that Fort Haran has been restored, but it doesn’t sound like the Shade Army is occupying it.

Scandiaca Mythology - Pantheon

Scandiaca has a large number of mythologies which cover everything from the foundation of mankind to the creation of the universe. Numerous cultures have their own beliefs and many mythologies have intertwined into a generally unified system. During the Halcyon era, there was a heightened appetite for discovering mankind's role in the universe, and scholars from all over were able to go through the various traditions and rituals to combine them into a singular, connected mythos.

Generally, the mythology of Scandiaca can be seen through four aspects: the Ancients, the Celestials, the Kaezo, and the Umbra.

The Ancients (as they are referred), are the ones who created the universe, the world, and everything in it. The creation myth involves pulling the world from an endless ocean and forming the land from their own physical forms. Epos-Goth is but one of many worlds created by the Ancients (other worlds do exist on other material planes of existence). It is unknown how many Ancients there were, exactly; though the common belief is that there were eight. While the Ancients occupied our plane of existence, light permeated throughout; no shadows existed anywhere in the universe. Once the world was created, the Ancients filled it with life and beauty. They maintained control over their creation for countless years; however, for unknown reasons (there are many theories), they removed themselves from this plane. They retreated behind the sun (believed to be the doorway to Heathandrus, the Ancients' native home and a demi-plane discreetly connected to the world of Epos-Goth), and now only can see us through that portal.

After the Ancients left, they took their omnipresent light with them. The light we see from the sun is the light with which they had filled this plane. Now that it comes into our world only through the sun, shadows now exist where none existed before. This shadow became known as the Umbra. This darkness is where the creatures of the night were born. It is believed that the Umbra was an accident by the Ancients; some people believe it was an intentional oversight which could be used to destroy their creation so that the Ancients could start again. Scholars believe the concepts of jealousy, anger, and malice (among others) were born from the shadows where the Ancients could no longer have dominion.

Without the Ancients to provide for the plane, powerful, out-planar creatures assumed the care taking of this world. They are know by most as the Celestials, though many refer to them as the "new gods". These Celestials are worshiped because of the power they wield - which appears god-like, though it is not decided by all whether they are true gods. Almost all accept that the Celestials are certainly less powerful versions of the Ancients.

(Note: the "new gods" for game purposes are the gods in the Pathfinder RPG universe.)

The Kaezo (usually referred to as "spirits") are everything else in between. Kaezo are generally spirits of other animals, the forces of nature, or the ghosts of sentient beings. Kaezo can be thought of as an embodiment of some aspect of the known world, or the beings within it.They can be seen as spirits of wind, wolves, rivers, honor, fertility, storms, or any other concept. The broad nature of the Kaezo make them hard to classify and difficult to understand. Kaezo are not unified under a specific pantheon, nor are Kaezo even aware of others of their nature. Kaezo even appear differently depending on who sees them. If the Kaezo represents an aspect which is unknown to a creature, then that creature cannot even visually see a Kaezo spirit (though they may be aware of their existence). For example, a Kaezo spirit of honor may be seen differently depending on alignment of a sentient being, or completely invisible to a creature that cannot understand the concept of honor (such as a creature with animal only intelligence).

Adventure 03 - Making the Deal

Adventure 03 - Making the Deal
2016-08-10

3rd month (The Gale), days 28 through 4th month (Oceans), day 13

The PCs spent time in 3rd Moon after they had removed the threat in the village. There, they conversed with Antigonon again, getting more information about a forest fire in Whitebane Woods, and a cavern which might be interesting to explore (Summit Cavern). During the next two weeks, the PCs trained and honed their skills (advancing to level 2).

The PCs then continued their way toward the town of Nix. Along the way, they encountered a number of giant spiders which poisoned a couple of the party before being cut down. The PCs were able to mend their wounds and make their way to town without further incidents.

Upon arrival in Nix, the PCs acquired lodging at The Painted House. Before turning in for the night, they noted that the innkeeper, Morrow, was anxious about a group of soldiers from the Shade Army (the name of the military in Aedok) who had apparently arrived and sold off their armaments. They declared they were celebrating freedom and independence.

The next morning, the PCs went to the Trakias Nix Tradehouse to deliver the goods to Bayari Dashaa and complete their arrangement. When they arrived, they met who they thought was Bayari, but was in fact a member of the assassins guild known as the Tail of the Scorpion. At first, he was able to put on a good show, but the PCs were clever enough to determine that something was amiss. Once Adavari (the agent impersonating Bayari Dashaa) realized that he had been made, he signaled the others to attack while he attempted to run away with the box which the PCs had brought.

The PCs were able to defeat Adavari and one of the guards (the other ran away using some form of invisibility), then they notified Trakias Wolf operative Bali Grantstone about the apparent ruse. Balie recruited the PCs to search one of the known locations where the Tail of the Scorpion operates (Bali would search the other). When there, the PCs found two more guards, a priest (Tullis Firebrand), and a sorcerer (Mantigoth). After a fierce fight within the inn, the PCs were able to remove the threat.

Bali revealed that they paid the PCs to take a diversionary package to Nix; one of several that they sent recently. This was done to distract anyone from stealing the more important package that was to be delivered.

Reputation Modifiers:

• +1 reputation for the Trakias Wolf Trade Emporium for delivering the goods and assisting in recovering their agent, Bayari Dashaa.
• -1 Reputation with Tail of the Scorpion for foiling their plans.

Contacts:

• Mantigoth / Tullis Firebrand / Adavari - Agents of the Tail of the Scorpion
• Bali Grantstone - Enforcer for the Trakias Wolf Trade Emporium

Information Gathered:

• Whitebane Woods had a massive forest fire recently. It started deep in the woods and is believed to be started from lightning which have been active in the area recently. It is strange, though, because there has also been plenty of rain, which should have prevented the fire from growing so large and persisting so long.
• There is a cavern which exists along the eastern fork of the Brawlings riverway known as Summit Cavern which Antigonon has yet to explore.
• "You couldn’t pay me enough to travel through Soulspine; not with those sisters haunting the woods."

Adventure 02 - 3rd Moon Village

Adventure 02 - 3rd Moon Village
2016-08-03

3rd Month (The Gale), days 17 through 27

After learning where Lyte resides, the PCs made for his villa in order to make him answer for the caravan attack. Two members of the party successfully moved into the access way of the house using stealth. The other three party members moved forward to confront the guards.

After an attempted parley with the guards, the two hidden within the villa attempted to sneak into the house only to find three guards on the inside. A melee proceeded between the guards and the PCs. The PCs were successful in defeating the guards, and thus, proceeded into the manor.

Once inside, they confronted the elite guard Kegus and one more guard before forcing Lyte to surrender (after the last of the guards fell). Lyte was handed over to the Silver Tree Witchdom and the PCs returned to breezeway.

Once resupplied, they headed north towards the village of 3rd Moon which was consumed by the wilderness during the feral age more than 500 years ago. Before arriving, they met a Plant Folk Druid named Antigonon (or "Thatch"). He warned the PCs that dangerous plant life had been seen in 3rd Moon and that caution should be observed. He also warned the PCs that not all plant life in the village was to be destroyed.

The PCs moved on to explore the village. While there, they met some Leaf Leshies in the Brandy House (a "bed and breakfast"), but avoided combat. However, they also ran across some Yellow usk Zombies, and eventually, the Yellow Musk Creeper itself. They managed to defeat them and pacify the town. They also found an item known as the "Mask of Fools" (see below). It had an inscription on the inside of the mask (written in Eruben)...

They laugh and they smile, entertained for a while,

As you sing and you dance for the crowd;

Make them feel, make them cry, with a wink of your eye,

Hear the cheers from the patrons grow loud;

Act the role, play your part, use your skill, use your art,

On this stage you can make all o' the rules;

They laugh and they smile, entertained for a while,

It's your time on the Stage of Fools.

The PCs are now going to make their way to Nix with a shipment of goods offered by Keyvoos, a merchant from the Trakias Wolf Trade Emporium. They are to meet a man named Bayari Dashaa at a specified location.

Reputation Modifiers:

• +1 Reputation with the Hinterland Wardens (for removing the Yellow Musk Creeper by not attacking the Leaf Leshies)

Contacts:

• Keyvoos - Trakias Wolf Trade Emporium
• Bayari Dashaa - Trakias Wolf Trade Emporium
• Antigonon ("Thatch") - Hinterland Wardens

Special Treasure:

• Mask of Fools (1,500gp) - A mask found in 3rd Moon, this mask radiates transmutation magic. One effect learned is that, when worn, the user gains a +1 bonus to any Performance skill check. The other effect appears to be location-locked and suppressed.