DM Panic |
You were all recently contacted by a curious and capable half-orc explorer by the name of Ulisha. Her note explained that in one of her recent "adventures", she discovered an enchaned sickle. After doing some research, she identified it as Silverhex - a weapon forged and used by druids thousands of years ago.
Her note further explained that she had gotten herself into a bit of trouble and that she was looking to part with Silverhex in order to raise funds which she would use to satiate creditors hot on her heels to collect.
As Pathfinders, always interested in procuring ancient treasures for the Society, you arrived at the meeting place to negotiate with Ulisha, but she was nowhere to be found.
Instead, she left her journal behind with another note attached. This one explained that she knew that you would not be able to afford to purchase Silverhex from her... yet.
As a sign of good faith, her journal contained a half-dozen leads to profitable finds of hers as a sign of good faith. She urged you to seek these items, sell them, and with the gold gained, she would trade Silverhex to you. She curiously ommitted why she could not run down these items herself.
The first page in her journal indicated that you would need to travel to Gralton, a large town in the River Kingdoms, where she indicated some sort of "treasure" could be obtained within Lord Laban Tullivor's mausoleum.
Preg |
A quiet, brooding warrior wearing 4-mirror armor with a great sword strapped to his back looks at the others present after reading the note.
"Hrm..seems we need to go into a tomb now and take a look around"
//Adowyn\\ |
A human woman clad in well worn huntsman garb and studded leathers, with a club swinging at her side and a bow peeking up over her shoulder steps forward. Adowyn absentmindly scratches her wolf behind the ear as she considers the situation. "Well, not quite a double cross, but very presumptous of her, isn't it? I guess we had better get moving, but I really don't like the feel of this. I do not care who offended her, robbing the dead is not a thing that I am very comfortable with.."
DM Panic |
The journey from Absalon to Gralton passes without incident and gives the freshly minted Pathfinders a chance to get to know one another. Farmers and travellers along the way admit surprise that the five of you passed without incident as bandits are known to take what they want from those passing through the River Kingdoms.
As you stroll into Gralton, you recognize it for the bustling city that it is. Shardra points out several facts along the journey, notably it's population has boomed to over nine-thousand inhabitants.
Everywhere you can make out displays of nationalism, nobility and affiliations - this "kingdom" built of Galtan refugees clearly not having lost the spirit that fueled the fires of unrest in their former nation.
Your arrival coincides with sundown. You can could choose to rest and begin the day tomorrow bright and early, or head to any destination you choose right now.
Crowe . |
"You'd prefer to do your grave robbing by light of day? I think the locals may frown on that. Any horrors we find there will be as deadly in the daylight as by night."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Crowe . |
"Sounds good. Now we just need to find out where abouts Lord Tullivor was interned. We could probably go listen in on the local gossip at a tavern. And I could use a drink and a meal before we get down to the nitty gritty anyhow."
Crowe heads off in search of a tavern.
-Posted with Wayfinder
~Shardra~ |
"Aaww, what kinda adventures are ya? Who donah' wanta' visit a graveyard at nightfall?" the dwarf asks.
-Posted with Wayfinder
DM Panic |
Gralton must be a gloomy place as the nearest inn takes you past the large graveyard where the citizens bury most of the Galtan nobility.
As you pass, Adowyn notes from the bottom of the hill that the main gate is not only unlocked, but swings in the light breeze passing through the city.
From up the street, the beckoning sound of music can be heard starting up from a tavern of similar establishment.
Preg |
Untrained Knowledge Local: 1d20 ⇒ 19
"Hrm..It would be unusual for this cemetary to not only be unlocked, but unguarded as it plays host to the nobles of Gralton, and the mausoleums there hold wealth, including whatever treasures we are seeking that Ulisha promised. Then again..it's an unlocked and unguarded gate...we might as well go inside and check it out now"
Crowe . |
Crowe looks longingly towards the tavern, pining for a mug of ale. Then he sighs and moves towards the gate swinging in the wind.
"Alright, let's get this over with. Sooner we have the item, sooner I can get that drink."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Jirelle the Swashbuckler |
"Sure," says Jirelle, climbing the graveyard's gate just for the sheer fun of it. "But I'll bet those guards are up the road, nice and warm, drinking our drinks!"
DM Panic |
It's still daylight, although like most cemetaries, it is gloomy here.
As the five Pathfinders work their way into the cemetary, they observe a body slumped over a small marble pedestal. Fresh blood run from the body along the sides of the pedestal, seeping into the dark soil below.
(The body/pedestal are noted as the blue [b] on the map, northwest of Crowe)
~Shardra~ |
"Ahh! This graveyards got its bodies out in the open! Is this some progressive new burial technique?"
Shardra runs up with the huntress and helps to look over the body.
Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Afterwards, she takes a good hearty look around the graveyard. Kolo, shuffles along her shoulders all the while.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
She takes a closer work at any statues or other stonework that might be around.
Perception-Stone: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
-Posted with Wayfinder
DM Panic |
You all should have permissions to move your own icons on the map. Let me know if that's not working for some reason.
A lot of checks to resolve, here we go...
Adowyn, Shardra and Preg advance to investigate the bloodied body resting upon the marble monument. In order to fully examine the man, they need to turn him slightly and he slips and slides to the ground with a thud.
You then realize the monument was actually a bust of a man.
The bust suddenly animates, speaking aloud (link to WMA file to hear what it speaks).
As you all pause to contemplate the bust's words, Adowyn and Shardra are able to determine the dead man was killed by taking a shortsword to the gut while apparently at the same time being horribly scratched on his face by something like small talons. He is a young man and dressed in noble's garb and the belt that secures his clothes bears the emblem of a badger.
As Preg, Adowyn and Shardra scan the entirety of the graveyard, they realize they are actually standing before the mausoleum of Lord Tullivor, which was their intended destination and the location where Ulisha believed the treasure to be recovered was secured.
As a final note, they also observe than the face of the bust seems to be of the late Lord Tullivor and bears striking resemblances to the murdered body before them - not quite the same person, but related.
Crowe . |
Crowe inspects the pedestal and body that fell from it.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Survival : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
"Someone beat us here." Says Crowe, pointing at the footprints and hoof marks.
"Stay on your toes, they may still be in the area. Looks like they set some sort of hawk to tearing this boy's eyes out."
"Speaking of whom, who wants to bet this here is the "last son" the statue was talking about. Couldn't say if the statue was a real grand bastard that wanted his progeny to follow him immeadiately to the grave, or perhaps just wishing for his kin to eventually be laid to rest in the family tomb. Either way though, mission accomplished it seems."
Crowe lifts the body and rests it back on top of the bust.
Then he casts his eyes upwards, scanning the sky and the roofs of surrounding buildings and branches of nearby trees for any sign of malicious raptors.
Perception : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
But doesn't notice anything in the gathering gloom.
-Posted with Wayfinder
~Shardra~ |
knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
"Aye, Crowe. Perhaps 'twas a crow." Shardra says, not asks as she stiffles back a giggle.
"Ha-ha, only kiddinya! Looks like a hawk's talons did the scratchin' ta' me, as well."
Survival(untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
"Well observed, Adowyn. Do please do as you hunter lot like ta' and lead the way ta' follow those tracks.
DM Panic |
Just as your eyes begin to scan the ground towards the second masoleum, you can make out the name above its entrance as well.
SARVIO.
With a clip clop, a woman of noble bearing emerges from nearby the Savrio mausoleum atop a well-bred horse. She trots ahead as her horse whinnies and she addresses Shardra and M's.
"Whoa, Zephyr! Easy boy..."
As her horse settles down, she gestures towards the Tullivor mausoleum.
"Is there trouble here? I heard talking and.."
She sizes up the varied assortment of weapons, armor and gear among you all.
"..are you... adventurers?"
Crowe . |
Crowe gives the shaft of his weapon a twist, sending the heavy head of the massive earthbreaker spinning as he hefts it in front of himself.
"Well we sure ain't cobblers are we?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
~Shardra~ |
"Aye, that we are. Why does that concern you so?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Crowe . |
"You've got a grudge against Lord Tullivor ehh? Is that why you murdered the poor boy laying slumped over there on the pedestal? "
Asks Crowe, jumping to what strikes him as a reasonable conclusion.
-Posted with Wayfinder
DM Panic |
The woman folds her arms, unflinching at Crowe's suggestion.
"The enmity between the Tullivors and Sarvios is well known, so well known in fact I'm sure the constable wouldn't be surprised to hear a group of tomb robbers attempted to pin such a murder on a Sarvio and make away with treasure in the process."
She touches her chin slightly as if she's thinking.
"And that's if ol' Chalmsey would somehow believe the word of a group of tomb robbers over Lady Rhiannon Sarvio, which I highly doubt."
She finally gestures towards the mausoleum.
"Now, shall we explore our common interest.. or launch accusations at one another while daylight grows short?"
~Shardra~ |
Shardra studies Rhiannon with a scornful eye to see if sense of she's with holding information.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
-Posted with Wayfinder
Crowe . |
Crowe clenches his jaw and tightens his grip on the earthbreaker as the aristocrat talks down to him and attempts to coerce his cooperation.
He does not like being threatened.
He subtly shifts position and rises up onto the balls of his feet, ready to jump to the attack at a moment's notice unless his companions talk the situation down in short order.
-Posted with Wayfinder