All the letters are dated between 4674 and 4676 when Delvehaven was under the control of the House of Thrune. They are summarized as follows and of particular interest:
Mayor Vheed—
Presented below is what I have been able to piece together regarding the Pathfinders who escaped notice after they sealed Delvehaven during the initial riots in the pre-Thrune unpleasantness. After the passage of seventy-some years, it would seem likely that only Sivanshin still lives, and if you wish, I can send my agents north to Nidal to attempt to find him. The use of grave tallow to interrogate those who have been dead these past several decades ironically makes them more available to interview than Sivanshin—provided we can find their remains, of course. I am happy to report that I’ve made some progress in that area.
1. Donatalus Bisby: Leader of Amber Privateers and one of only two survivors of a journey to darkest Mwangi—he has firsthand knowledge of at least one magical artifact that could well serve our needs for control. It would seem Bisby was sealed inside one of Delvehaven’s lower
vaults as the others fled, but I’m unclear if this was a voluntary sacrifice.
2. Ilnerik Sivanshin: Bisby’s chronicler, a half-elf, Sivanshin fled Westcrown a week before Aroden’s Fall. Evidence suggests he fled north, toward Nidal, and with a stolen relic.
3. Coriana Heavenscape: A Westcrown native and, if rumor is to be believed, an aasimar, Coriana remained in Westcrown and organized the Father’s Bulwark, one of many groups of rebels glorious Thrune smashed in the pursuit of establishing order. She was slain and her remains collected by the Sisters of Eiseth—I’ve got them sifting through their
holdings in an attempt to find her.
4. Loremaster Liriam: Delvehaven’s master of lore—no other would know more about the vaults below. Alas, no evidence of his survival has surfaced—like Bisby, his remains might still lie within Delvehaven. I do suspect he was the author of “Cugny’s Wedding,” and if so, your suspicion that it is a cipher may well be correct.
5. Venture-Captain Aiger Ghaelfin: Aiger was certainly the one who ordered the sealing of Delvehaven. My early research indicated that he planned on fleeing Cheliax for Absalom, but further investigation revealed this to be false. He remained in Westcrown and fought
alongside Coriana in the Father’s Bulwark, but was laid low by a Thrune wizard who petrified him and then smashed the resulting statue. Scuttlebutt among the blood bookie circuit is that the remains of the man’s petrified body have been in the possession of one of the lesser noble houses involved in bloodsport, but I’ve not yet determined which
family (I suspect the Luccas). These filthy has-been nobles play well enough when faced with Thrunish agents, but without the direct aid of your allies, master, I’m afraid I won’t be able to learn more…
Lucrezia the box is not trapped and between Faelyn, Areal, and Talbard they can confirm these are Grave candles:
Aura moderate necromancy; CL 10th
Slot none; Price 5,500 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description: Grave candles are magical candles that draw forth spirits from the mortal remains of long-dead creatures, allowing the living to speak to them for a short period of time while the candle’s wick burns.
In order to function, a grave candle must be placed amid the physical remains of the body to be spoken to. These remains can be partial, or even just a handful of ash or grave dust, but a totally destroyed body (as results from destruction or disintegrate) doesn’t leave enough material for a grave candle to function. When it’s lit, the smoke
rising from the candle grows thick, and a ghostly shape similar to the creature’s appearance in life manifests in the smoke. At this point, the manifested spirit (which is as much an echo of the creature
as it is the actual departed soul) can speak—a grave candle does not impart any additional understanding of languages. In other respects, the
conversation with the dead spirit adheres to the rules for speak with
dead (Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook 346), save that the dead spirit
receives a –4 penalty on its saving throw to resist the spell. Furthermore, a dead body can only be successfully subjected to a
grave candle once—the burning of the candle “burns out” the latent necromantic and spiritual energy left behind by the soul’s parting from the world (this does not harm the actual soul of the dead spirit).
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, speak with dead; Cost 2,750 gp
An audible, "Oh my" escapes the pathfinder's lips.
Edit
Just two..Hmm..Well we do know what happened to Illnerik. So there are possibly four sources of information we can track down by using the candles. The question is, who do we choose?
What about this Cugny's Wedding and it being a cipher? It might be something that Orsin can take a look at since he seems to be rather good with languages.
Who would these Sisters of Elseth be? If they are a religous order we might be able to negotiate. If they still exist.
Duncan ignores the jibes from the head. Knowing lawyers or not, careful when ye deal wit devils. They'll keep a bargain, but is the bargain in yer favor? Tell me, ye spawn o hell, do ye want to return to where ye came? Or d'ye prefer yer current state?
'don't you dare put me back in the box or I WON'T help you...EVER!" she hisses at the dwarf.
Stop picking on the Erynies, Duncan, This portfolio has valuable information.
Andrea brings over the book and points out the passages. So it seems that the candles can be used to talk to the dead and there are supposedly four dead pathfinders we can talk to for information on Delvehaven. Two seem to remain in the lodge and two that might be in the possession of two groups in the city. Considering how old this report is both groups might no longer exist though.
"Oh the nympho mentioned Delvehaven, I've lived there once when Vheed was renovating the Mayor's Mansion." The devil seductively bats her eyelashes.
"Whatcha thinkin' bout luv." the friendly entertain whisper's in the elf's ear.
John when you make it back to your mentor's grounds are lit by dozens of candles. There are several ornate carriages and fine looking stallions tethered at the stable.
For the first time you notice the writing above the doorway leading into the manor: "Without Culpability Chaos Reigns"
So it looks like we might be able to help each other. I must say that anything that can restore you will no doubt be very expensive and thus you will have to remain a head for the foreseeable future. However, being out of the box is no doubt quite the relief Hmmm?
Andrea looks at the others.Perhaps we could bring her along with us into Delvehaven.
Hellknight Titles:
Hellknight orders are first and foremost military organizations, and as such, they share a system of ranking individuals based on their skills, experience, and exemplary enforcement of their order’s tenets.
- Armiger: A Hellknight in training; a squire.
- Hellknight: A typical soldier in a Hellknight order.
- Maralictor: A mid-level Hellknight officer, similar to a lieutenant.
- Signifer: A Hellknight arcane or religious spellcaster.
- Paralictor: A high-ranking Hellknight officer.
- Vicarius: A scholarly leader of a Hellknight order.
- Master/Mistress of Blades: A marshal commander of a Hellknight order, second to a lictor and equal in rank to a Paravicar.
- Paravicar: A leader of a Hellknight order’s signifers, equal in rank to a Master or Mistress of Blades.
- Lictor: A general of a Hellknight order.
"Hey, you...pointy ears, not you girl <smirking at Lucrezia>, you boy come over here, my nose itches feel what real power is like." She scoffs at Faelyn. "I do ONE, count em ONE, little misdeed and the archdevil gets peeved. That's what 300 years of faithful service will get a girl." Her eye begins to twitch.
Janiven lean over to Duncan, "I think she needs a refresher restoration spell...that one didn't seem to completely clear her head." She chuckles under her breath.
Has anyone heard of the Sisters of Elseth? As well as the Luccas nobles and the 'blood bookies'
Wasn't suggestin puttin ye back. Though that be an option if it comes to it. No, I meant dismissin ye to yer home plane. Would ye prefer that ta jus' being a head on the material with no body?
She is visible unsettled at this suggestion, she begins to mutter and talk to her self again incoherently. one eye has rolled back so only the reddish tinged white of the eye can be seen.
You mean you wouldn't reform whole? Don't summoned beings just reform back on their home plane if they die on the material?
Areal casts another spell and the devil calms down immediately.
Talbard casts a silence spell on her and the room quiets, he rubs his temples to relieve the throbbing headache.
Areal then motions for the group to follow to another room.
Andrea follows
Talbard is the first to get to the keg of ale, he pours himself a tankard drinking it at the keg. He refills his cup, "She can drive a man to drink."
"Bet her unending talking and insults is why she lost her body."
Duncan follows them out.
Looks like I hit a sore spot there. Might be something ta threaten her with. I ain't one fer givina damn devil a new body so she can harm people again. We should a killed the one in the knot as well.
More likely she was driven crazy being locked up in there for so long. Anyway, we seem to have gotten some leads on how to get information on what lies inside Delvehaven. As well as a big concern concerning a certain Pit Fiend underneth the mayor's house that seems to be getting ready to do something. Andrea drinks a little ale herself. 'Tap into' I wonder what that means.
Andrea looks over to Duncan. She did say she was in Delvehaven with Vheed. We might be able to get valuable information about the lodge.
Talbard step away from the cask to permit others access. "Anyone have any ideasof what happened to her? We should discuss that then come to a conclusion on how to talk to her about it."He then waves to Areal.
Arael says, "She know a lot of information both about where she came from in Hell and Mayor Vheed. She was obviously around during the fighting and shadowbeasts." he shakes his head, "We all would like to take a warhammer to her head but we must resist that temptation."
Talbard step away from the cast to permit others access. "Anyone have any ideasof what happened to her? We should discuss that then come to a conclusion on how to talk to her about it."He then waves to Areal.
For her to survive like this. The devils we fought promptly died when dealt a wound like that so it might be a kind of curse.
"She may be able to help with the Delvehaven mystery and the missing pathfinders." Her voice calm, "Perhaps we can let her rest for the night, then ask her a few pointed questions in the morning."
Andrea is suddenly clicks that she is undead and that is how she survived so many years in an inter-dimensional space. She obviously worked for an powerful archdevil, maybe you can ask for some divine spell assistance during your next prayer.
Yes, I can pray for some spells that can help clear her mind. Andrea lets others read the portfolio. We can also start checking out these leads from the portfolio as well.
edit: It just came to me! This is an undead devil. That is how she managed to survive as a head inside the Crux. She has no need to eat or breath. I can pray for some restoration spells in the morning, I wodner what else I can pray for. This is all new to me.
Talbard states, "This is an unexpected situation, I need to see what type of divination spells that I have in my books." he looks over at to Faelyn,"Don't normally focus much attention on divination."
edit: here are some choices
3rd level: Channel Vigor(+4 on Knowledge skills) Speak with Dead,Prayer(+1 skills)
2nd: Ancestral Communion(+4 bonus on Knowledge skills),Calm Emotions(Calm down the Head),Soothing Word(Ditto),Lesser Restore
1st:Cultural Adaptation(Good for scchmoozing),
0: Guidance
I have some ideas for miracles. I am able to pray for a spell that will let me speak with the dead. Well....I do't know how people here will feel about it but if we dig up Vheed we can question him on some things.
Arael looks up, "Vheed disappeared...at least that is rumor...no body to dig up. I heard the knot got him but that is just hearsay on hearsay."
"Things are getting exciting but there is danger out there everyone. The brotherhood is growing but we can not rest on our past good deeds, we need to push forward." Janiven's eyes beaming with pride, "We need to be careful too, this is the safehouse, it is warded well and a place of refuge."
Arael gets Andrea's attention and motions for her to follow him.
We have been doing well but I belive we are getting swelled heads as well and are drawing attention that we shouldn't. At the Grotto, several Hellknights entered and one made a very pointed comment at us. Andrea indicates herself and the ones she has been adventuring with. About 'Spending time in the sewers and knowing where we like to hang out. That made be believe they are very suspicous about us and we need to choose a more discrete place to talk, perhaps even change places now and then if we need to talk.
Andrea nods to Orsin and Faelyn. I am willing to let people drop by my apartment if you would be willing to put up with us now and then.
Andrea looks over to Areal, straightens her back and follows. Well here it comes.
"I know you all don't know me well and have risked yourselves on deeds I've requested." She nods solemnly, "I thank you for what you have done. I would like to remind everyone when Arael and Janiven founded this group it was to weed out corruption in the government and take back the nights for the shadowbeast." She looks each person in the eyes,
"That is worthy cause to fight for it is equally important to respect the law. I worry about the group and I know Arael and Janiven have concerns. You have a member, John, who will be inducted into the Hellknight of the Scourge tonight a high honor. He is a rigid person who must obey the tenets of his philosophy to deftly seek out lawlessness
in its own most organized form, combating those who would prey upon society’s vulnerabilities, whether they be structured criminal ventures, cults, or flagrantly corrupt governmental groups or officials." She pauses as the words sink in. "The Law, order, and structure is everything to that young man."
Arael walks Andrea into a small office that he has down the hallway. "I wanted you to have a couple items, perhaps they will help you and he hand you two scrolls and a box of 12 potions" "Wish I could do more."
Andrea accepts the items. Thank you.
Andrea pauses. I have been a major b+$%@. Because my life has been torn to shreds and I have lost too many friends and I don't want to lose any more. I can't say that I will stop being a b$+#& but I will keep struggling to end the threat of the Shadowbeasts.
Andrea places 500 gold next to Areal. Use this to help start up The Lantern Bearers and encourage Fiosa to join. They are not something to start trouble, but to help people get home and as you have said, help people have pride in Westcrown again.
Andrea will then silently rejoin the others.
"You have suffered Andrea, you have taken the deaths of comrades and friends harder than the others, a mother's touch you have. that will always follow you, that is one of the reasons your were chosen, your humanity is much appreciated." He lays light fatherly touch on hand.
Andrea nods in return. My future is pretty much all I have now since I have lost my past. As horrid as it was, I still had my mother.