Aggah-Shan's journals: Difference between revisions
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* While human, Aggah-Shan was a necromantic researcher in the land of Kem. | * While human, Aggah-Shan was a necromantic researcher in the land of Kem. | ||
* Originally, his research focussed on trying to understand the creation of the world. | * Originally, his research focussed on trying to understand the creation of the world. | ||
* He started sliding into instability when he uncovered a hidden secret of the world: when creatures like demons or angels are summoned into this world, they never actually leave. Interviewing both demons and angels, he discovered that | * He started sliding into instability when he uncovered a hidden secret of the world: when creatures like demons or angels are summoned into this world, they never actually leave. Interviewing both demons and angels, he discovered that they ''can't'' leave. They are trapped here. | ||
* He went a bit nuts when he uncovered the mechanism causing this: an uber god, Præmus, the Creator, constructed the entire world to be a prison. | * He went a bit nuts when he uncovered the mechanism causing this: an uber god, Præmus, the Creator, constructed the entire world to be a prison. | ||
* He became obsessed with finding out why Præmus did this and searched for decades, getting more senile as time went on. When magical means of extending his life to keep up the search began to fail, he became a lich in order to be immortal. | * He became obsessed with finding out why Præmus did this and searched for decades, getting more senile as time went on. When magical means of extending his life to keep up the search began to fail, he became a lich in order to be immortal. | ||
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* The [[book of inverted darkness]] is responsible for corrupting the man who became Eslathagos Malkith (the Dread One). | * The ''[[book of inverted darkness]]'' is responsible for corrupting the man who became Eslathagos Malkith (the Dread One). | ||
* Aggah-Shan wants this book very badly, as he believes it was the key to the Dread One's power. | * Aggah-Shan wants this book very badly, as he believes it was the key to the Dread One's power. | ||
* Aggah-Shan sent a team into the Banewarrens to find the book. They failed. | * Aggah-Shan sent a team into the Banewarrens to find the book. They failed. | ||
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* In the same letters, Khelaeson admitted that he later discovered that one of the chambers he cut loose into the Utterdark likely contained the ''[http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/artifacts/minor-artifacts/staff-of-the-magi staff of the magi]''. Aggah-Shan assumes the chamber still exists, adrift in the Utterdark. | * In the same letters, Khelaeson admitted that he later discovered that one of the chambers he cut loose into the Utterdark likely contained the ''[http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/artifacts/minor-artifacts/staff-of-the-magi staff of the magi]''. Aggah-Shan assumes the chamber still exists, adrift in the Utterdark. | ||
* A big fan of gambling and dice games, Aggah-Shan is fairly certain that the [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/artifacts/minor-artifacts/knucklebone-of-fickle-fortune knucklebone of fickle fortune] was possessed by Ghul and likely lost in the Utterdark as well. | * A big fan of gambling and dice games, Aggah-Shan is fairly certain that the [http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/artifacts/minor-artifacts/knucklebone-of-fickle-fortune knucklebone of fickle fortune] was possessed by Ghul and likely lost in the Utterdark as well. | ||
* Most mentions of Goth Gulgamel are found in the most recent journal. It is clear that Aggah-Shan was spending a good deal of time there. | * Aggah-Shan found one of the cards of the ''[[pandemonium deck]]'' in the remaining rooms of Goth Gulgamel. He suspects more cards may also be lost in the Utterdark. | ||
* Most mentions of Goth Gulgamel are found in the most recent journal. It is clear that Aggah-Shan was spending a good deal of time there, some of it in the Utterdark itself. | |||
| style="vertical-align: top; color: #005; width: 38.2%; font-family: serif;;" |Everyone knows that '''Goth Gulgamel''' rests half-way up the spire that overlooks Ptolus. It is a thoroughly evil place, said to be impenetrable. | | style="vertical-align: top; color: #005; width: 38.2%; font-family: serif;;" |Everyone knows that '''Goth Gulgamel''' rests half-way up the spire that overlooks Ptolus. It is a thoroughly evil place, said to be impenetrable. | ||
When you were in the Banewarrens, you were inside the spire, and managed to get almost half way up. | When you were in the Banewarrens, you were inside the spire, and managed to get almost half way up. | ||
The name '''Khelaeson''' is revered even now in Ptolus as being instrumental to the defeat of Ghul. | The name '''Khelaeson''' is revered even now in Ptolus as being instrumental to the defeat of Ghul. | ||
The '''''staff of the magi''''' is a potent arcane artifact. You know that the Church of Lothian claimed they destroyed it during the inquisitions against arcane casters supporting the Edict of Deviltry. | |||
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* If his phylactery is within the box when the lich dies, he regenerates in a matter of hours instead of days. Further his new body is enhanced in various ways. | * If his phylactery is within the box when the lich dies, he regenerates in a matter of hours instead of days. Further his new body is enhanced in various ways. | ||
| style="vertical-align: top; color: #005; width: 38.2%; font-family: serif;" |Reading this, you realize it is likely that Aggah-Shan may have already regenerated and may be more powerful. (On the other hand, loosing the ''remnant crown'' and some of his other magical items will weaken him.) | | style="vertical-align: top; color: #005; width: 38.2%; font-family: serif;" |Reading this, you realize it is likely that Aggah-Shan may have already regenerated and may be more powerful. (On the other hand, loosing the ''remnant crown'' and some of his other magical items will weaken him.) | ||
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== The Pandemonium Deck == | |||
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* Mentions of the ''[[pandemonium deck]]'' are scattered throughout the journals. | |||
* Over is long unlife, Aggah-Shan has located twenty of the cards of this deck, the most recent one in Goth Gulgamel. | |||
* Several centuries ago, Aggah-Shan's body was destroyed by another group of adventurers while in possession of 14 of the cards, which were taken by the adventurers and have since been scattered. | |||
| style="vertical-align: top; color: #005; width: 38.2%; font-family: serif;" |The '''harrow deck''' is a deck of 52 cards used by fortune tellers, similar to the tarot deck. Nearly all such decks are perfectly mundane, but have a reputation strange power (again, similar to tarot cards). | |||
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You recognize the multi-leveled as the one you destroyed. | You recognize the multi-leveled as the one you destroyed. | ||
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[[campaign::Dissolution| ]] |
Revision as of 21:23, 8 February 2013
Aggah-Shan kept detailed notes on his magical research, hidden in the accounting ledgers of his businesses. When a special leaded ribbon bookmark is placed in one of these ledgers the pages turn "inside out", revealing this research. Though the journals are organized chronologically, the following outlines what can be learned from them in a more organized fashion. Each category contains two columns, one with in-game facts found in the journals and one with metagame commentary on those facts. (The campaign recap may shed more light on some of these references.)
Path to Lichdom
|
Kem is a desert land, with a feel similar to ancient Egypt or Persia.
Neither you, nor anyone you know, has ever even heard of Præmus. Most have not heard of the Galchutt, but you have. Raising them from sleep was the point of that ritual you stopped: the Night of Dissolution. |
Ultimate Goal
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The Vallis moon is the magical moon that briefly reappeared during the ritual you stopped.
Wuntad is the demon-like boss guy running the ritual you stopped. You will recall that Eslathagos Malkith, before he became evil, created the Banewarrens. Ghul is a kind of "mini-me" version of the Dread One, who claimed to be his son (though he wasn't). He was still a badass, though. Among other things, Ghul twisted elder and shoal elves into harrow elves. |
The Book of Inverted Darkness
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Almost everyone knows that the Book of Inverted Darkness corrupted the Dread One, but no one you've ever met has much to say about what it actually does. |
The Entropy Sphere
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The Entropy Sphere is said to be the creation of the Dread One. |
Jabel Shammar
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Everyone knows that Jabel Shammar rests at the very top of the spire that overlooks Ptolus. It is a thoroughly evil place, said to be impenetrable. Even flying too close to it is considered a bad idea. |
Goth Gulgamel
|
Everyone knows that Goth Gulgamel rests half-way up the spire that overlooks Ptolus. It is a thoroughly evil place, said to be impenetrable.
When you were in the Banewarrens, you were inside the spire, and managed to get almost half way up. The name Khelaeson is revered even now in Ptolus as being instrumental to the defeat of Ghul. The staff of the magi is a potent arcane artifact. You know that the Church of Lothian claimed they destroyed it during the inquisitions against arcane casters supporting the Edict of Deviltry. |
The Dark Reliquary
|
All Ptolus residents know to stay away from the Dark Reliquary in the Necropolis, as it is home to demons and devils. |
The Banewarrens
|
Most people (including Cassiadora thought that the return of the Vallis moon is what caused the seals on the Banewarrens to fail. The journal makes it clear that Aggah-Shan entered even before that happened.
The team Aggah-Shan was the team you dispatched in the White House, led by that deathknight. Aggah-Shan was wearing the remnant crown when you defeated him. The other items were nowhere to be found. Nor was the banewarrens key. |
The Remnant Crown
|
You recovered this crown from Aggah-Shan's body. |
The Malady Lock
|
You quickly recognize the Malady as the zombie infection that is raging through Ptolus.
The description of the lock is very thorough, with detailed drawings. This would be enough to target the lock with a locate object spell, if you were close enough. |
The Osseous Redoubt
|
Reading this, you realize it is likely that Aggah-Shan may have already regenerated and may be more powerful. (On the other hand, loosing the remnant crown and some of his other magical items will weaken him.) |
The Pandemonium Deck
|
The harrow deck is a deck of 52 cards used by fortune tellers, similar to the tarot deck. Nearly all such decks are perfectly mundane, but have a reputation strange power (again, similar to tarot cards). |
Phylactery
|
You didn't find this object anywhere in Aggah-Shan's sanctum under the White House. |
Arcane Bond
|
Binding to an item like this is a choice all wizards can make. It provides benefits, but has drawbacks if lost.
You found the most recent arcane bond on Aggah-Shan's body (giving a +3 profane bonus to saving throws). |
Chaositech
|
You recognized designs of some the funky magical technology that has been grafted onto to the bodies of some of the people and creatures you have fought.
You recognize the multi-leveled as the one you destroyed. |