DM Rah's "The Wounded Wisp" (Inactive)

Game Master Kobash

"A mystery, it seems, lies before us - and one that may result in much new knowledge for the Pathfinders! I think we should follow these leads, and see what we may discover."

"So, that old goat Dreng must have known we'd uncover these letters. We'll have to investigate, of course."

Nevryn sets the missives back on the desk and stares off, trying to determine the best next move.

"Shall we start with the Wall of Names? "

"Hah!", Trill joins in a moment of cheer at the demise of the scorpions, "That wasn't too horrible. Yes, let's have a read at this..."

"The mausoleum may be the best place- some sort of key?", Trill advises, "Maybe there's more here before we go".

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Good idea. I'll help."

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

"I agree with Nevryn. If we have two leads, and one has a key, perhaps the other has a lock? We could split up, but this seems like an old mystery, and perhaps Dreng planned this as a group exercise, so let us stay together."

The group rifles through the study one more time but discovers nothing new.

So, to the mausoleum?

Dunkel nods in agreement.

"Ah-greed. Should we drop by n' give ol' Dreng 'is bottle first? See if th' ol man knew what we'd find?"

Dreng first

The bottle is not a real bottle of wine. It is attached to the wine rack like a lever. With that in mind do you still want to report bak to Dreng first or head to the mausoleum?

"I think Dreng must have known about this and left it for us to followup. It seems to be a simple enough mystery - I don't see much harm in us taking up the lead. In fact, I think it would be considered 'the Pathfinder way.'"

Ranor shifts uncomfortably in his armor as it creaks and moans. He then decides to head towards the mausoleum. Mausoleum it is.

"Agreed."

Nevryn slings his spear across his back and follows Ranor to the mausoleum.

Taerel follows to the mausoleum.

Details left by Selmius Foster indicate the location of Arkath’s burial site: a plot of land in Eastgate operated by the church of Asmodeus. A fence surrounds the necropolis grounds, and although members of the faith and city guards routinely patrol the property, it is still legal to enter the grounds to respect the departed. While the gates into the necropolis are left open to those paying their respects, the doors of the mausoleums are sealed with sturdy stone slabs.

1d4 ⇒ 2

Walking the grounds is a woman in a silver-trimmed robe with vials of holy water jingling along a rope belt. She has somber features and a streak of white in her otherwise dark hair.

Kn (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"Probably the grounds keeper. She's a servant of Pharasma," Nevryn whispers to the others. "Should we talk to her or try to sneak by?"

"I am not good with first impressions, but I do think we should ask her for help. I don't feel like being a grave robber, and I think if we explain the situation, perhaps she can help. Although, if she decides to be unhelpful, we could be shooting ourselves in the foot..."

If we talk, Taerel is pretty lacking in the social skills, so someone else will have to do it.

"She might be helpful", Trill says with no certainty, "Let's go greet her" but doesn't move.

"Alright. I suppose it would be pretty rude to sneak around in such a place...even if it is to avoid a dour Pharasmin."

The young man realizes after he speaks that he was judging the priestess by her somber demeanor and looks down in shame.

"I could try to talk to her," he offers in penance, trusting in his natural charm more than any practice. "We should try to find the beauty and love in everything and everyone, regardless of the gods they keep."

Despite offering to greet the cleric, Nevryn hesitates, hoping there might be someone better for the task.

Dunkel mumbles something about Pharasmins, but shrugs to the others indicating he suspects they should indeed talk to the priest.

He ensures all his weapons are properly stowed so he bears no hostile appearance and follows along behind someone more apparently social than a diggin' dwarf.

Not exactly the most subtle party of Pathfinders, the woman soon notices your group loitering about the entrance to the grounds and makes her way in your direction.

"Greetings." She nods politely. "What is your business in Pharasma’s domain?"

Too late for procrastination, Nevryn introduces himself with a curt bow.

"I'm Nevryn of Greengold. My friends and I have come to see the final resting place of a fellow named Arkath."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Still a little shy, Nevryn fidgets as he greets the Pharasmin, possibly seeming quite a bit more suspicious than his intentions really are.

"Yes, we think he's turned, you know", Trill was really bad at lying, but dead pan diplomacy was all well, "-undead. We're here to slay him,...again.".

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"I see..." The priestess replies to Nevryn, looking at first unconvinced, but when Trill speaks up and mentions the possibility of an undead menace, she nods and steps to the side. "I see... try not to leave a mess."

The interior of Arkath’s sarcophagus is empty save for the stonemason’s long-dead skeleton. Inspecting the corpse you discover a small silver coin inside the skeleton’s mouth.

Dunkel stands on his toes behind the more magically inclined Pathfinders.

"Eh? What's tha' inside th' skeleton's mouth? Some sort o' coin?"

Hmm. must be a left over gold coin to pay passage for the dead

Ranor takes a look around the sarcophagous

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Taerel also looks around, to make sure they aren't missing anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"So what's that? A coin? Interesting thing to find. Let me take a look..."

Tearel casts Detect magic, and then examines it.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"Very interesting... see this intricacy? I believe this is a Pathfinder's Coin. And I don't think it was placed here accidentally. Does anyone have a Wayfinder?"

Taerel looks around, and if someone presents one, he will demonstrate. Otherwise, he just explains...

"When held above a Wayfinder, this coin can deliver a message from the original user, in their own voice. Perhaps this chap had a message to share from his deathbed? We will only get to listen to it once, I think."

Nevryn looks at his feet abashedly.

"I haven't earned one yet. Maybe someone back at the Lodge? I think we should ask around about these three names wherever we go."

Would the Grand Lodge or the Wall of Names be closer to the mausoleum?

I've added a Map of Absalom at the top labeled with all the relevant sites. The Wall of Names is on the grounds of the Grand Lodge.

"...Since the Wall is at the Grand Lodge, anyway, we can take a look at it while we're there. Just, let's not ask Ambrus; every time he sees me, I end up mopping a floor."

Dunkel scratches an itch hidden somewhere behind his beard.

"Eh, we aren't far from the Wisp right? Lots o' Pathfinders there. Tha' gnome lass seemed like th' Ah'm-always-prepared type. Betcha she might 'ave one."

Dunkel smacks his lips.

"An' we can get a drink which ah think is well deserved after fightin' them crabbies."

The wall of names is a sound call. Let us head there. Ranor heaves his shield onto his back as he heads towards the wall.

We can loop back towards the Wisp if we have anymore questions.

"I do think Dunkel has a good idea, but I agree with Nevryn - the Grand Lodge is where we need to go anyway, so drinks should wait. Let's head there and find out what message this holds, and then visit the Wall."

Created in 4330 ar, the Wall of Names resides on the grounds of the Grand Lodge in Absalom. The monument is a curving wall of black glass that stands atop a small hill at the western edge of the lodge’s grounds. Trees surround the hill, providing ample shade and privacy for those visiting the wall to remember fallen comrades. Carved into the wall are the name and date of death of every Pathfinder killed in the course of duty since the wall’s construction, and most entries also include a sentence or two summarizing either the agent’s greatest accomplishments or how she died.

Since the Wall of Names stands on the grounds of the Grand Lodge, it is not difficult to find a Pathfinder willing to loan his wayfinder to activate the magic coin while you are there. When placed atop the wayfinder, the coin rises and slowly begins to turn. A moment later a husky voice speaks a short message.

"The path and chamber are complete, hidden behind the nameplate of the requested aspirant and guarded by the word you requested. Fimbrik will add more."

3d10 ⇒ (8, 2, 10) = 20

***

Examining the Wall of Names, you soon find the three fictitious Pathfinders listed in the note left by Adolphus. All were added in the first few years after the Wall was built and are so are not far from one another near the beginning of the list.

Italics indicate underlined words.

Doulgonlir Caskmail
Respectfully resigned after losing a friend.
Lost to a life among the fish and bountiful sea.

Hollis “Evil Grin” Thorne
Wrote in solitude for 101 days.
Lived a long life of silence and serenity.

Karina Clamp
Administered to the mindmenders of Ustalav.
May they overcome the screaming fear.

Dunkel scratches his chin under his beard.

Knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"A-yep. Ah can tell ye tha' th' monument here is solid..."

To illustrate his point, Dunkel taps on the black glass and shows it's not likely to fall over in a strong wind.

"Not tha' tha's what any of ye wanted t' know..."

The dwarf thinks back to the voice he heard when the coin kissed the wayfinder.

"Now what d'ye all make o' this Fimbrik fella's involvement in whatever tha' gnome was plannin'?"

Curious if there are any other clues here at the Wall of Names, Nevryn casts detect magic and searches the area surrounding the false names as well as the ground in the area for anything strange.

He speaks the names and underlined passages aloud, both to determine if they are activation words and to commit them to memory.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Nevryn detects no magical auras and speaking the words has no effect.

Trill writes downs the three name and rhymes. ”I think this is yet another riddle, and we'll need key another key to solve it. There's nothing left here. Let's move on, Fimbrik's house next?”

"Well, I'm pretty sure that there's nothing else to be found here. Fimbrik's house does seem like a good idea, though. Maybe we should ask around on our way about these three names. Should we get going?"

If Trill or another confident diplomat wants to take the lead, I'll assist. Otherwise, I'll ask around on the way

Agreed - let's talk to this Fimbrik.

I will take your word for it. Ranor commits the words to memory as he says a small blessing in their stead. These were all good Pathfinders at once. Maybe one day my name will make this wall

Foster's notes record Fimbrik's address, which is on the campus of the Arcanamirium in Absalom's Wise Quarter. The home itself is an impresses stone dwelling reminiscent of what one might expect from an eccentric wizard's home.

A brick step leads to Fimbrik's front entrance, which is locked. Numerous stacks of newspapers-roughly 2 years' worth of monthly copies-are piled around the door and crammed into a thin slot at its base. Each rounded corner of the building has a large window.

Knock, knock...

"Wow. I get the feeling that Fimbrik isn't home."

Nevryn looks defeated by the locked door and apparent evidence that they've come to a dead end. After a moment, though, he perks up.

"This Fimbrik fellow is probably a clever one. Maybe these piled papers are a decoy!"

With that, the young Pathfinder begins to search the porch, door, and around the door for hidden entrances or anything else that might gain the group access.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Dunkel does a full circuit around Fimbrik's home, searching for signs of recent use or anything of note.

"Ah 'aven't been a Pathfinder for more'n ah week... what exactly's th' laws o' Absalom if we let ourselves in for a closer look?"

Nevryn notices nothing unusual about the door except that it is locked. The lock seems simple and rusted.

Dunkel moves around to a side window and looks in on a bedroom. There he sees an old gnome peacefully sleeping in the bed with two muscle-bound men standing watch nearby.

"Perhaps the newspapers are just a decoy?"

Trill peeks over Dunkle's head, ”Why does he need bodyguards to watch him sleep?”

That does sound odd.... Maybe you did not knock loud enough?

Ranor moves to the door and pounds on it as hard as he can.

Dunkel regroups with the others and describes his discovery.

"Maybe we should go over to th' window and get th' attention of these guards... one o' ye friendlier types."

Ranor knocks very loudly, but no one comes to open the door. Peeking in the side window shows the gnome still asleep and the guards standing around as if they didn't even notice the knocking.

"Yoohoo?", Trill waves gayly and taps the window, "Greetings!"

-Posted with Wayfinder