Greetings Pathfinder,
I hope this letter finds you well. The Pathfinder Society has found itself in dire need of agents in the Gravelands region, so I am requesting your help for a mission. My home lodge in Vigil is, shall we say, inaccessible at the present time, so please meet me in Caliphas at my temporary headquarters in the Vodavani Lodge and present this letter to me upon arrival.
Destination: Goldenflame
Thank you for your assistance,
Venture-Captain Evni Zongnoss
Caliphas, Ustalav
Grey fall skies and a chill wind mark this dusky city, now packed with refugees fleeing the return of the Whispering Tyrant.
Quickly finding the Vodavani Pathfinder Lodge, you are met with a cacophony rising from dozens of Pathfinders discussing missions, sharing documents, and gathering supplies for their quests. At the center of it all is Venture-Captain Evni Zongnoss, a harried gnome clad in a blue turban and matching robe decorated with golden crescent moons and butterflies. She scurries through the crowded Vodavani Lodge, delegating tasks to various Pathfinders, appearing resolute, despite the destruction of her home lodge in the capital of former Lastwall, Vigil. Evni is in the swirl of activity at the center of carrying out her tasks from her temporary headquarters here in the Vodavani Lodge. She nods to you, recognizing your entrance, and finishes directing the various Pathfinders surrounding her and delegates tasks while simultaneously preparing weapons and gear for her own quest.
She issues a warm smile. “Ah, thank you for coming. Gather around over here, please.” Evni motions over to a nearby table upon which rests a parchment map stuck with a miniature flag partly obscuring the label “Lastwall.”
“Apologies for the out-of-date cartography, but it’s the best we can do at this time. The re-emergence of Tar-Baphon dealt a devastating blow to the Society, so we’ve been scrambling to consolidate resources. The Society is focusing on missions into the Gravelands for two reasons: to track down the whereabouts of Pathfinder agents who went missing when the undead hordes struck, and to recover the fragments of history and culture that yet survive. I believe you all should have received a letter from me containing your assigned destination.”
She nods at the presented letter and points to a flag in the southeast portion of Lastwall, “Goldenflame was an idyllic place surrounding a college sponsored and supported by the church of Iomedae. Fortunately, most of the town was able to evacuate swiftly, but we know that some residents stayed behind out of a sense of civic duty to defend their home against evil. Goldenflame College is known for its documentation of the history of both southeastern Lastwall and the activities of the church of Iomedae in the region, as well as its collection of invaluable local curiosities accrued over time. Those relics and stories—if they can be recovered, then Lastwall can live on.”
Evni excuses herself and shortly returns with a bundle of paper. “These dossiers contain information on all known Pathfinder agents in the region surrounding Goldenflame. Although we must hold out hope, I cannot truthfully say I am optimistic. Nevertheless, closure is important, and we can properly mourn for their loss and celebrate their lives if we know their fates. Perhaps these documents could be of some use to you in this quest. I’ve also completed and signed travel documentation stating your reasons for being in the Gravelands. Present this document to the border crossing, and you can then be on your way.”
Evni walks over to a nearby bench to a relatively massive pack, where she begins sorting through its contents. She pulls out a bundle of sacks. “Here. These are for you to transport any items or—” she bows her head “—remains you might find. I know it is a sad and gruesome task, but retrieving those fallen Pathfinders would bring closure to their loved ones.”
Evni then closes the pack and shoulders it. “I’m also heading into the Gravelands myself. May Desna guide us all on our journeys. Hopefully, we can find what we seek.”
What precautions should we take to ensure safe travel through the Gravelands?
“Tar-Baphon’s legions are constantly patrolling and are mighty indeed, so I recommend avoiding fights with those troops. Try to identify the paths the undead patrols normally take and travel elsewhere. Covering your tracks would be wise as well. Although I would like you to be as thorough as you can in your investigation, do keep in mind that spending too much time in the Gravelands increases your likelihood of being found, so don’t linger.”
What kinds of things should we be looking for?
“Be on the lookout for any religious texts and historical records—hopefully the troops of Tar-Baphon have overlooked them. You might also find items of cultural or religious significance: things that Goldenflame could be remembered by.
Will mounts be provided for the trip?
Evni shakes her head. “Unfortunately, the Society is stretched thin at this point in time. Goldenflame is not far from here, though, so a round trip should be possible in a single day.” If the PCs look to buy or rent mounts in Caliphas, they find that due to a combination of high demand and already low supply in Caliphas, they are unable to find any suitable mounts—at least not ones they could possibly afford.
Before the PCs leave, Evni gives them detailed instructions on the roads they should follow to reach Goldenflame. At this point, the PCs can make whatever purchases they would like before they leave Caliphas, and they can slot their boons for this scenario.
