The Shackled City - Golarion Prelude

[Maidhc O Casain]

Valinnan Vapaus - Aasimar Cleric/Bard

"It seems to me we're fairly well thrashing around down here, and that it's likely that any of our three quests - finding the lost children, finding the cure for this strange plague, and eliminating the Mother's rival - are best solved by simply continuing our explorations and staying alert. Given our limited knowledge right now, one direction seems as good as another to me."

 

[Shayuri]

"South," Nia says with some finality. "De only way to definitely fail is to do notting. So we go south. And don't cut corners...de Dark Ones may not attack us now, but dere still be many dangers lurkin' here."

 

[ahayford]

The group breaks camp and heads down the southern passage. The passage is finished dwarven stonework, like most of the original city. As you step close to the dim crystals on the ceiling, they again come to life bathing the passage in a soft blue light. After a few yards, you encounter a stairwell that leads upward, and then levels off again into a passage.

Oddly, you are again surprised to hear the sounds of nature this deep below the earth. You hear a quiet breeze as it whispers through tree branches. A soft, natural yellow light seems to come from the chamber ahead. As you enter, you are amazed by what seems to be a forest. You would swear you were in the wilds above if it weren’t for the tight brambles that marked the walls of the chamber, and the forest canopy that clearly marks the ceiling. Unlike the previous park that appeared to be someone’s attempt to ape nature through engineering, this place appears to be the real thing...though you have no idea how these trees could live down here, nor where the light is coming from.

A bramble archway marks the exit from the room to the south, and north (where you came from). Two piles of stoney rumble mark another exist to the east. The brambles appear to have been cut away here, after the room was built.

 

[jkason]

Caytis Maggerin, half-elf magus

Caytis hisses something familiar, and his eyes once again take on a more serpentine aspect as he surveys the logic-defying natural surroundings.

"Gods, for underground folk, they sure seemed to like what topside had to offer, putting in all this effort."

[sblock=ooc]Detect Magic as he searches the room. Technically, there's a 15% spell failure chance, but since he can just recast without limit, I figured it wasn't worth rolling in a case like this where there isn't combat / rounds to worry about.[/sblock]

[sblock=mini-stats]Caytis Maggerin
HP: 18/18 AC: 15(19) AC(T): 12 AC(FF): 13(17)
(values in parenthesis with Shield active)
Init: +02
BAB: 00 CMB/CMD: 00/12 ACP: -1 ASF: 00 Spot: +05

Conditions: none
In Hand: none

Saving Throw Total Base Mod Misc Special
Fort: 03 2 +1
Ref: 01 0 +2 -1*
Will: 03 4 +1 -2**

* -1 Reflex (Wyrm Blooded trait)
** -2 Will (Crossblooded)
Conditional: Immune sleep, +2 vs enchantments, +4 vs acid

Weapon Attack Damage Critical Special
Quadrens +2 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Quadrens, Spell Combat +0 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Composite Shortbow +2 1d6 20/x3 Range 70 ft.

* Conditional: +1 attack with Arcane Pool enhancement.

Arcane Pool: 5/5 remaining

Spells Prepared (Magus):
* 0 Level (3): Prestidigitation, Message, Light
* 1st Level (2, DC 15): Color Spray, Shocking (Acid) Grasp

Spells Known (Sorcerer, 15% spell failure):
* 0 level (at will): Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mending
* 1st level (3/day): Shield[/sblock]

 

[ahayford]

The enchantments in the room are laid bare before your second sight. Each tree, animal, and blade of crash in the room is a lovingly crafted illusion. The artistry involved in creating such an accurate representation is immense. You detect the craftsmanship of multiple individuals in the intricately crafted illusions. It was likely a community project of some kind.

Curious about how the spells have managed to stay so stable after so many years, you notice that the enchantments appear to be drawing power from veins of energy in the walls and ceiling. These same veins appear to run to the light crystals that have been lighting your path as you explore the city. They appear to be conduits of some kind, transporting magical energy where it is needed throughout the city.

 

[jkason]

Caytis Maggerin, half-elf magus

Caytis whistles softly as his enhanced vision explains the room.

"None of it's real," he announces. "The whole park's some kind of illusion. But what might be more useful to know: it's feeding off the same magic conduits that turn on the lights, and that seem to be connected to our amulet. If there were some kind of ... centralized area that monitored all this, we might actually be able to find where folks were by what areas drew the most magic."
[sblock=mini-stats]Caytis Maggerin
HP: 18/18 AC: 15(19) AC(T): 12 AC(FF): 13(17)
(values in parenthesis with Shield active)
Init: +02
BAB: 00 CMB/CMD: 00/12 ACP: -1 ASF: 00 Spot: +05

Conditions: none
In Hand: none

Saving Throw Total Base Mod Misc Special
Fort: 03 2 +1
Ref: 01 0 +2 -1*
Will: 03 4 +1 -2**

* -1 Reflex (Wyrm Blooded trait)
** -2 Will (Crossblooded)
Conditional: Immune sleep, +2 vs enchantments, +4 vs acid

Weapon Attack Damage Critical Special
Quadrens +2 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Quadrens, Spell Combat +0 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Composite Shortbow +2 1d6 20/x3 Range 70 ft.

* Conditional: +1 attack with Arcane Pool enhancement.

Arcane Pool: 5/5 remaining

Spells Prepared (Magus):
* 0 Level (3): Prestidigitation, Message, Light
* 1st Level (2, DC 15): Color Spray, Shocking (Acid) Grasp

Spells Known (Sorcerer, 15% spell failure):
* 0 level (at will): Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mending
* 1st level (3/day): Shield[/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

Nia glowered at the room as if it had just insulted her.

"Idiot hill-children," she mutters. "So in love wit' dere magic pictures...dere always be a cost to magic. Not just energy. What is taken, must be returned. Dis is the rule beneath the rules, de one all odders come from."

She lets her breath out, a long, slow sigh.

"We must find de place from which dis energy comes. Dere, I tink we will find our answers. And maybe our salvation...if dere is one to be had."

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Val looks around in wonder at the garden beneath the earth. "So none of this is real? But what an accomplishment! Nia, I trust what you say about magic having a cost, but to be able to do something like this is wondrous . . . and not a waste at all, I think. I can't imagine living my entire life underground, but to be able to come here and feel as though I were on the surface would make it much more bearable.

You're also right about finding the source of the energy, I think. Any ideas where to look?"

 

[Shayuri]

Nia looked ready to argue the point about it being or not being a waste, but visibly restrained herself and looked at the wall.

"De power is in de walls. If we ken follow de power, we will eventually follow it back home. But if dis power be tainted some way, den we ken not use it widdout risk. Easy for now, but if de gnomes made magic doors, or magic bridges, wit magic controls..."

She sighs and shakes her head.

"When you choose to live in a dream, and forsake what is real, is it such a shock dat you become a dream yourself?"

With that the witch hissed siblant syllables, and her eyes gleamed with a strange green glow as she inspected the walls, trying to see what Caytis had...and to see if she could determine the direction power flowed from.

 

[ahayford]

To all outside observers, Nia's eyes go milky white as she lifts the astral veils and attempts to trace the power conduits to their source. To her trained eyes, the magical energy flows like water in a canyon. The roots of various enchantments hang lazily in its cool waters, feeding like thirsty mangroves. The waters originate from the south-west corner of the room, flowing out from a segment of the wall. They orbit the room once, before heading out the room the the south.

As you examine the segment of the wall the conduits originates from, you notice a round, gear shaped door, much like one you saw earlier. It is shut tightly with no obvious means of egress. A carved dragon head with its mouth open in a snarl is crafted into the wall next to the door. A small, round hole, sits within its open mouth.