Aye lass, this be the Pelican’s Wing. Renamed of course for the Over Wave still sails these seas. I call her the Lover’s Lament now and hope that she is tribute enough to Akaya and her mad search. If she ever comes across this ship and recognises it for the ship that once stole away her beloved. Bastion was abducted by pirates who then stole the Pelican’s Wing and took to the Inner Sea. A messenger boy was sent to the Taldorian capital and a message delivered to Akaya that if she ever wanted to see Bastion alive she would need to release a number of the pirates compatriots.
The pirates had underestimated the Admiral’s resolve though and she took to sea with a group of loyal marines in the Over Wave. The chase lasted months they say before the marines started to drop to dehydration and disease. The pirates travelled with two priestesses, one devoted to Gozreh and the other to Besmara some say that Akaya stood no chance against them and so it seemed it was true. The last sighting of Akaya alive was from a Cheliax slaver known as the Four Chains. They swear that the galleon was sailing with only the visible support of Akaya and two marines to the North of the Eye of Abendengo.
The sightings of Akaya since are not a pretty picture. They say a Captain will come across a large older style Taldorian galleon listing as if taking on water. Two of the masts will be snapped and signs of some sea dragon or demon having ravaged the ship will abound but the ship lays silently now and the Captain eventually will board looking for the spoils. Not a soul rests on board the decks but they will come to the quarters of the Captain and there pinned beneath a beam broken from the roof where the mast crashed through they will find a regal Taldor Admiral resplendent in her uniform. She reaches out a hand and looks to her would be rescuers. “The pirates of the Pelican Wing killed him. They butchered him before even leaving port. Burn those curs eyes from their skulls and we will rest easy…” And with that she disappears, the ship with her! Leaving all to the sea.
Tis also true that those who have seen her seem to be quite changed by the event. Some speak of a curse and others of violent deaths. All I know is I bought the ship from those damned pirates and did not know it. Keep it to your breast girl for if ever anyone finds out they may burn it down to the waterline in a hope of being free of Akaya’s lasting spirit! I as a merchant could not afford the loss. So, will ye Captain her?
Pathfinder Encounters: Lover’s Lament CR 7
Today’s (very late) Pathfinder Encounter follows the tale of Admiral Akaya who gave up everything for love. A fallen Paladin as she turned her back on the needs of her order she chased pirates who had kidnapped her lover. Or so she thought. The pirates had hoped the Admiral would pay up and so murdered her lover and threw him in the sewers of Taldor’s capital and awaited payment off shore. Against orders Admiral Akaya commandeered a ship with a group of dedicated marines and chased the pirates. She had cut herself off from the order of Iomedae and Iomedae turned her back on the Admiral as she put herself ahead of the order.
The ship itself went through the worst luck and it was not until it was just the First Mate and Akaya were left and she found that her First Mate had indeed betrayed her and had been sabotaging the voyage. He informed her of the untimely death of her lover as he left the ship on sighting the Pelican’s Wing. The magicians aboard that ship called up creatures from the deep to destroy the Over Wave.
The spirit and anger of the Paladin cause her to appear and lull crew aboard where she touches them and gives them her quest, to destroy the Pirate’s of that day or to burn the Pelican’s Wing to the waterline. Only in these ways will she finally be free. She never uses her touch to harm, instead her touch uses the power of Fatal Fate to set the target on the path of her redemption.
This is more of a mini adventure idea for your parties but I present Admiral Akaya, a starting point for a tale of love lost and evil championing.
Admiral Akaya CR 7
XP 3,200
Female human ghost paladin 6 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 144)
LG Medium undead (humanoid, human, incorporeal)
Init -1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +15
Defense
AC 15, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (-1 Dex, +6 deflection)
hp 73 (6d10+36)
Fort +13, Ref +1, Will +9; +4 bonus vs. channeled energy
Defensive Abilities channel resistance +4, incorporeal, rejuvenation; Immune fear, undead traits
Offense
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Special Attacks corrupting touch
Paladin Spells Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +9):
Statistics
Str —, Dex 8, Con —, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 22
Base Atk +6; CMB +5; CMD 21
Feats CosmopolitanAPG, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Profession [sailor])
Skills Diplomacy +12, Fly +15, Heal +8, Knowledge (history) +8, Knowledge (nobility) +8, Knowledge (religion) +8, Perception +15, Profession (sailor) +14, Sense Motive +9, Stealth +7; Racial Modifiers +8 Fly, +8 Perception, +8 Stealth
Languages Common, Elven, Thassilonian, Varisian
SQ divine bond (weapon [1/day] 1/day), mercy (mercy [diseased], mercy [staggered]), variant channeling (disease variant channeling)
Special Abilities
Channel Resistance +4 +4 bonus to save vs. Channel Energy.
Corrupting Touch 7d6 (DC 19) (Su) Touch does 7d6 damage from aging, ignoring most resistances (Fort half).
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Disease Variant Channeling (±2 Sacred) Heal ability damage/Sicken
Divine Bond (Weapon +1, 6 mins, 1/day) (Sp) Weapon shines with light and gains enhancement bonuses or chosen properties.
Fatal Fate (DC 19) (Su) Curse the living to undertake a task.
Flight (30 feet, Perfect) You can fly!
Immunity to Ability Drain Immunity to ability drain
Immunity to Bleeds You are immune to bleeds.
Immunity to Critical Hits You are immune to Critical Hits
Immunity to Death Effects You are immune to death effects.
Immunity to Disease You are immune to diseases.
Immunity to Energy Drain Immune to energy drain
Immunity to Exhausted You are immune to the exhausted condition.
Immunity to Fatigue You are immune to the fatigued condition.
Immunity to Fear (Ex) You are immune to all fear effects.
Immunity to Mind-Affecting effects You are immune to Mind-Affecting effects.
Immunity to Non-lethal Damage You are immune to Non-Lethal Damage
Immunity to Paralysis You are immune to paralysis.
Immunity to Physical Ability Damage Immune to ability damage to your physical abilities.
Immunity to Poison You are immune to poison.
Immunity to Precision Damage You are immune to Precision Damage
Immunity to Sleep You are immune to sleep effects.
Immunity to Stunning You are immune to being stunned.
Incorporeal (Ex) You aren’t quite here.
Mercy (Diseased) (Su) When you use your lay on hands ability, it also removes disease, as per the remove disease spell at a caster level of your Paladin level.
Mercy (Staggered) (Su) When you use your lay on hands ability, it also removes the staggered condition. This does not help if the target is at 0 HP.
Rejuvenation (Su) Ghosts can return after a few days.
Undead Traits Undead have many immunities and use Cha in place of a Con for all effects.