Adril was killed by a poisoned knife to the heart. You find nothing of note in the room beyond what was already found.
Chime of opening is probably the most noteworthy thing on him.
The gnomes each had a rod of wonder and a spare bead of force. The chumps had crap. Most of this will of course morph into gold. Oddly enough none even had healing potions.
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Samsung nods. "Indeed, let Eliza see to their judgement. Meanwhile," he says, turning to Eliza, "You mentioned that you feared civilians would wander into the maze. Beyond getting lost, what dangers should we anticipate within?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
and now we descend into box text
Eliza and Osprey await you near the entrance to the Maze of the Open Road. Both look somber and contemplative. A smudge of ash on Eliza’s cheek and disgusting stains on Osprey’s already filthy garb hint at the chaos of only moments ago. Eliza turns to you with a wistful sigh as Osprey speaks with a low, scratchy voice.
“This Red Raven struck at Adril Hestram for a reason. The truth is that we have suspected Hestram of treachery against the Pathfinder Society for months. The Decemvirate asked me to investigate personally. The Talespinning was not a prelude to Adril’s promotion, but rather a test of his loyalty.”
“A test,” Eliza says, “Adril Hestram appears to have failed.”
Osprey smiles, his thin lips showing comfort and humor belied by his penetrating, avian gaze. “It remains to be seen whether you, his most trusted field agents, may yet pass. Guilt by association is not fair, but in the Decemvirate’s eyes it is prudent, especially in these dangerous times. Your investigations thus far have proven you loyal Pathfinder agents. Venturing into the Maze of the Open Road and solving the mystery of Adril’s assassination will assure your loyalty to the Society, and will surely gain the approval of the Ten.”
Eliza steps forward, her hand curling into a triumphant fist. “I believe in you. I have since the first day we met. Go into the maze. Learn what you can of the Red Raven’s operation and how it ties in with Hestram. Come back and report to us, and we will coordinate our next move.”
she responds to Samhain's question ""I have not yet had time to explore the Maze myself. It has passages to all manner of places, so it is hard to gauge what might have come through those passages into the maze. "
You are supposed to be hot on his trail according to your impression of what is occurring. The lodge is near a major city in Galt, so purchases are possible.
The tracks of your quarry reveal themselves to your trained eyes as plain as day. You follow them for some distance into the maze.
The shadowy pathways stretch and turn, surely taking you outside the dimensions of the maze as viewed from the lodge’s rear lawn. The leafy walls virtually bristle with enchantment, and the atmosphere thrums with the sense that once inside the Maze of the Open Road, you have somehow left the mundane world behind. At irregular intervals side paths branch off from your chosen corridor, leading who knows where. After several minutes the path widens to reveal a long causeway roofed by crumbling marble arches. Far up ahead the stone pathway opens onto a large plaza containing a handful of ruined stone structures, ancient buildings that look like abandoned temples. An enormous marble colossus of a robed figure looms upon a pedestal at the center of the courtyard, looking down upon a field of lifelike statues arrayed in a chaotic pattern. All bear terrified looks and are posed in grotesque defensive postures, arms out to stave off some unseen danger.
Set yourselves up in marching order.
Ezrek attempts to fly up, but when he gets to the top of the hedges, there is some kind of barrier which prevents him getting any higher up.
It is a inherent property of the place. Something like a wall of force.
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Samhain sees Ezren's attempt foiled by the maze. "This place seems to double back on itself in a most unusual manner, far outreaching what I once thought were its confines. Perhaps this is an element of that mystery." As if to verify his thoughts, he pulls out his wayfinder and holds it in front of him, checking the needle to see how it behaves.
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Once the summons finishes, bringing forth a hound archon (unless something blocks it), Hugo will request it move forward into the maze (double move 80' forward, detecting evil and scent as he goes.)
"Welcome archon. Please scout ahead for any hidden evil. "
Hugo, on his next chance, will cast extended prot v evil circle on himself and move forward as well (40')
The needle on the wayfinder doesn't seem to track to any fixed direction as you are used to it doing. .
I need to know where exactly you are sending the archon. He is able to move ahead in a straight line without anything happening. Let me know if checks any of the side area.
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The archon will move straight ahead and will look down each side passage/area as he passes, but continues unless attacked or senses evil or smells another creature with scent.
"Keep scouting and let us know what you find. We are right behind you."
Hugo will move forward, staying 40' behind the Archon (or behind the others in the party if they are moving as well.
The hedges rise 20' up, and there is the barrier.
The archon advances cautiously peering into the side passages.
The archon follows the trail into the second side passage on the right and then:
A sibilant female voice seems to come from the air around you, snaking its way into your brains without actually making a sound. “Ssssso many visitors! Sssso many men with weaponsss and murder on their minds. For yearssss and yearsss no one would visit Condria’sss garden. Ssssso many years. Ssssso lonely. But now you come in numberssss! With your ssscarlet cloaksss and your ssswords of ssteel. It issss good that you have come, for now you shall never leave!”
and you hear the archon yell out in
I'll need initiatives.
oh goody
You can tell it was telepathic so there is no directionality.
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Ezrek nervously feels for his smoked goggles, warily looking forward. "Albin, you've been awfully quiet, you still back there?"
Ezrek pulls out an extract and drinks it down, then hands one to Savage and Samhain. "Those are extracts of hastening. They'll speed up your movements. And don't forget the shielding exracts I gave out!"
The large ape lays into the dog archon.
rage, power attack
and chunky bits of hound are tossed into the main corridor before disappearing back to its home plane.
PCs are up.