|
The River Kingdoms is a tumultuous land of bloodthirsty bandits, treasure laden ruins, and self-proclaimed kings, and for years it has been the subject of study for Ulisha, a curious and capable half-orc explorer.
Shortly after performing a heist that enraged the local nobility, she came across a collapsing stone circle and discovered Silverhex, an enchanted sickle used by druids millennia before. She did not have long to admire her find, though, for the nobles had posted a bounty to end her meddling for good.
Unable to deal with her pursuers on her own, she has contacted the you, who she's heard about from common acquantainces from Taldor. If you can raise enough money, she’s willing to sell you Silverhex at a steep discount and then pay off her bounty.
By the time you arrive at Ulisha’s meeting place, she is nowhere to be found. However, she left behind her journal full of profitable leads as a sign of good faith. Using her journal as a guide, the PCs can explore the region, seek their fortune, and earn enough gold to buy the ancient relic.
|
|
Ulisha's journal led you to Gralton's cemetery. This particular River Kingdom was founded by a bunch of nobles who managed to escape Galt's Red Revolution with their heads upon their shoulders. They consider themselves in exile and have been plotting for their return ever since, thus far with no discernible success.
Be as it may, you are not involved with political maneuvering this time, but with a standard "search and rescue" mission. You just need to find Ulisha's and convince her to sell you the "Silverhex" a rumored artifact and that's exactly why you are waiting near the entrance of this creepy Graltan's graveyard, whose gates you find ajar. Besides that you note how there's no trace of guards at all. With detachement you also consider how for a small city, Gralton boasts an ostentatious cemetery, with the tombs of wealthy Galtan refugees evoking their lost glories...
Kyra eyes the cemetery thoughtfully. "Odd spot for a meeting." She offers. "Though I suppose if one is trying to avoid the authorities..."
"Ulisha certainly picked a bad country to ruffle feathers."
"Yes. Almost as much turmoil in Galt itself as at the borders of Taldor and Qadira," Zadim muses, "But at the same time, that chaos makes it easy to get lost and conduct business outside of scrutiny."
Later...
"Where is she?"
I fear something may have gone awry. Too often evil lurks in such places.
|
|
Seelah readies her sword and shield against any unpleasant surprises and walks into the cemetery, approaching the tomb closest to the gate.
Kyra will follow Seelah in, frowning slightly. "I can't say that robbing from one noble to pay off a thief's debt to another is the most advisable of tactics." She says sarcastically.
"Seems like its more likely to just get yet another noble house after your hide."
"Well, I suppose our hides in this case." She adds, with a grim chuckle.
Zadim searches the ground for a sign of what happened to the guards. "Someone should be here. They've had plenty of time to come back from relieving themselves."
Seelah concentrates for a moment as she stares at the body, the symbol of the Inheritor gleaming against her breastplate.
"Or the missing guard." Kyra offers, letting the others lead the way.
|
|
Seelah does not detect any evil coming from the dead body. Valeros realizes the corpse is that of a young human male, dressed in a noble’s outfit with his hands bound with rope. He wore a belt buckle resembling a badger. The corpse is resting on some sort of marble bust and Valeros notices how the deceased’s facial features somewhat resemble the bust’s but he can't be sure because with the the dead body covering its features comparison is impossible. The corpse will need to be moved to be further investigated.
Seelah's stern expression softens as the body is revealed to be a victim rather than a threat.
Iomedae guide you to your just reward.
She kneels beside the body, hoping to find some sort of identifying mark to his identity or his attacker's.
"You don't suppose Ulisha is responsible for this, do you?" Kyra asks, hesitantly, as she kneels beside the dead man, trying to determine how he died.
She then looks around, for clues on who might have done it, or where they may have gone.
"I doubt Ulisha would murder someone in cold blood like that," Zadim says as he examines the scene.
|
|
As Valeros moves the body away from the pedestal it was resting on a bust of an old man is revealed. It bears the inscription "Laban Tullivor" under it. As Valeros stands right in front of it an otherworldly voice fills the air:“When the last sun falls upon this spot, receive my thanks” it says in an ominous tone. It seems some sort of riddle.
"A bird of some sort." Kyra offers, indicating the scratches. "One of the smaller raptors, I'd guess. A hawk perhaps."
She glances up into the sky reflexively, looking for birds flying overhead.
Well there's no doubt that there was foul play of some kind. Seelah points at a wound on the body, this sword-thrust is what killed him.
Seelah walks up to the adjacent mausoleum and examines it to see if it is unsealed.
"The murderer may still be around," Zadim cautions, "It may be worth looking around the cemetery."
|
|
Valeros and Seelah approach the mausoleum with Zadim in tow.
They note how the baroque marble tomb clamors for attention like a gaudy flag waving for a once noble house. Its most audacious feature is a sculpted badger that looms, gargoyle-like, above the door. The iron door is decorated not only with the Tullivor name and crest, but also with an elaborate arcane rune.
It's pretty obvious this is the Tullivor's mausoleum and given the badger's iconography here you suspect the dead body was someone affiliated with that family as well.
The mausoleum's sole ingress has a locked iron door. A very stursy looking iron door to be precise.
Zadim looks over the area warily.
Does anyone know what this rune signifies?
"My purview is the divine. The arcane I have not yet mastered." Kyra responds, looking at the rune anyway.
"Might only open for family members?" Kyra offers, hesitantly. "Though not sure how it would tell."
She continues to keep a wary eye out.
"Does anyone have a mirror?" Zadim asks. "The statue said that we will receive his thanks when the last sun--sunset--falls, and the rumor Seelah heard said the treasure would be obtained by one with Tullivor's thanks."
Kyra glances instinctively towards where the sun is in the sky, at Zadim's comment.
Dusk does seem to be the solution. For now though, we should search this cemetery for any further clues to this murder and, perhaps, to this riddle.
Suiting action to words, Seelah begins to search around the other tombs.
"I agree," Zadim says before joining the search.
"Can't say I want to hang around here for five hours." Kyra sighs.
|
|
Realizing their lack of better options the party starts searching the cemetery. It's not long before Zadim spots two sets of humanoid footprints surrounding the pedestal upon which the dead body was laid. The tracks seem to lead to another mausoleum not far from the one the group just visited. While searching the cemetery the group walks back towards the entrance of the graveyard and Valeros notices a matching set of prints near the cemetery gates, accompanied by hoof prints.
Seelah follows closely after Zadim. Well spotted, my friend.
"Suppose we check that one out over there then?" Seelah's asks, looking at where the footprints lead. "Awful lot of activity for a cemetery."