perception 1d20+7
"...." Maeve considers things for a moment, then pulls the ruby hair pin out and hands it over. "Sorry, I don't think I can get Parity to just give back what he took, but..."
Suddenly, as she notices Heng's glance drawn to a few details - the curve of the sword, like the smaller Whispering Shrike, the structure of his face, and the make of his armor, suddenly she pulls everything together and speaks in Tien.
Malnival looks at Kelda, "I realy need to learn this language."
"Me too."
As Heng and Maeve greet the wraith in Tien, the grim determination on his face fades as his open in shock. He freezes motionless for a long moment, then slowly lowers his katana.
"I... know... this... naaaaaammmmmmeeeeee... aaaaaAAAARRRRGGH!", Rokuro Kaijitsu speaks mournfully in Common, before raising his arms up and crying out in dreadful anguish. His long wail is filled with years of madness, sorrow and rage, and when it ends, the spirit is hunched over and spent. Tears of dust run down his incorporeal cheeks.
"Take the Seal away from here - take it to my child - it is no longer safe - and I am no longer worthy of guarding it..." Face turned down and away in shame, Rokuru points to a blank section of wall to your left. Then, with a final agonizied cry, the wraith flies apart into dust and is gone.
Maeve stares at this spectacle, stunned, for several ticks before everything hits her. "....what the hell?" she finally sums up, before looking to the wall. "Well, the third vault is supposed to be hidden..."
And with that, she takes a running start and slams her shoulder into the wall.
"Uh, Maeve, we should probably look for something more subtle, like a hidden latch, before you break your body on the stone."
Perception:
Or take 20 even ... 29.
"Parity is right Maeve, there must be an easier way."
After Maeve bounces off the stone wall, you set about to find a way through. If there is a door there, you figure it is either magically hidden or of some exquisite workmanship - there are no lines or creases in the wall that you can see.
Working away from the wall, Parity finally discovers the switch - a small notch in the right disc depression, cleverly disguised as a chipped corner. With a click, the entire left wall slides across and reveals the secret vault beyond.
Inside, appearing untouched by dust or mold, are three good-sized square chests of oak banded in gleaming bronze.
Maeve walks into the room, blinking, and looking at the chests. "...wow. Guess all the monsters missed this room. And the former owners all seem to be dead, which means..." With a grin she walks over and opens the middle chest.
As Muave slams into the wall, Malnival looks at Kelda and shakes his head. "What she lacks in forethought she makes up for with her beautiful singing voice."
Mal cast detect magic as he looks at the three chest. "Maeve wait!" As the bard touches the chest he throws his left hand up to protect his eyes. "Nevermind."
As Maeve opens the center chest, Malnival detects multiple auras of magic coming from within, one is particularly strong. At the same time, the left and right chests fade into nothingness like a dispelled illusion. Inside the chest, you find a collection of different objects: a exotic outfit made from colorful layered silks, a gray cloak of flexible steel threads, a pair of long strips of cloth embroidered with mystic runes, a golden circlet decorated with the symbol of Sarenrae, and a suit of gleaming mithril armor in a Minkai style.
All of these items seem attuned to the five of you, as if they were left waiting for you to take them... For Maeve, the outfit is a perfect fit and speaks to her dancing sensibilities; for Malnival, the mithril armor seems designed with his elven figure in mind. The gray cloak has an oiled smell that reminds Parity of his gladiator days. The circlet obviously draws the eye of Harlan, and Heng knows the two cloth strips are magical handwraps.
Lastly, with a presence overpowering the other items, is a wooden box painted red and decorated with the image of a golden, serpentine dragon curving around its surface. The box appears to be segmented, as if divided into three layers. This, too, is the item that gives off an aura of strong magic.
You sense no malevolence here, rather a calming sense of peace. But there is an urging for you to open the last box, as if it is something you came here to do.
The elf looks into the chest as a smile creeps over his face. "Well now, it looks as if we have found what we came here for." He slowly reaches in and takes the small wooden box, slowly turning it in his hands as he examines the craftsmanship. "Fascinating. This box radiates more magic than the other items combined." Slowly, he attemps to open the box.
Perception:
"What are the odds of that? That's pretty cool. What do you think Heng, is it safe? Maeve that...dress is pretty."
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Heng considers Harlan's question, "It feels as if the taint of evil has passed. I'd like to think these gifts are from the spirits that have warded this place so many years. I think it is safe." Heng recovers the handiwraps and puts them on.
"Malnival, it appears each of us already has a gift. I wonder if the box was meant for Ameeiko."
Heng feels conflicted about the fey. It is not right to defile the bodies of the dead, but he's not certain that she realizes that.
"Buttersnips, you are certainly a skilled and innovative artist, however, do you realize that it is wrong to use the bodies of sentient humanoids. Many would be upset to see their loved ones used this way. I dare say they would not be appreciative. We will let you be, but we must have the bodies. I am certain Parity would be happy to return your treasure."
"This place is obviously connected to Ame. I hope this box contains what we need to heal her. Open it, Mal ... please ... let us know what's in there." Parity's voice reaches a surprising touch of emotion uncommon in his every day interaction with people.
Parity considers the cloak, feeling it with his hands. "Such nostalgia ... what sort of magic brought these here, attuned to us as such? Some arcane divination/conjuration based on us arriving or is this something prophetic?"
"Buttersnips, you are certainly a skilled and innovative artist, however, do you realize that it is wrong to use the bodies of sentient humanoids. Many would be upset to see their loved ones used this way. I dare say they would not be appreciative. We will let you be, but we must have the bodies. I am certain Parity would be happy to return your treasure."
Buttersnips looks sideways at Heng, confused at first, then slowly nods in understanding. "Ifyouwantthepiecesyoucantakethem," she says in a quick but serious voice. As Maeve hands over her jeweled pin, Buttersnips recieves it with a smile, flipping it between her hands, even making mock thrusts with it as a small weapon. "Thankyou. Idon'tneedtheotherbitsback."
Maeve smiles. "Very well. Sorry we bothered you." And with that, she departs herself.
Maeve's eyes land on the outfit...and light up brightly. "Oooooh...." She grabs it. "'scuse me a sec." And she bounds back towards the outer vaults with it.
Malnival pulls back the lid of the box, and you see inside a jade statuette of a dragon sitting on a square pedastal inscribed with Tien glyphs. You also feel a burst of relief, like air after a long-held breath, as the spirit that was inhabiting Ameiko returns to its rightful place.
As that happens, a surge of awareness jolts you, as everyone between Ameiko and the statue - you, your friends at the caravan, Kelda, Zaiobe, Buttersnips - are connected in shared rapid-fire visions.
You recognize Amatatsu Tsutoku as Rokuro Kaijitsu, Ameiko's late grandfather.
You do not realize that you had blacked out until your normal vision returns a few moments later.
Back at Sandru's caravan, Ameiko's eyes fly open and she sits up, her face a look of shock.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
Maeve stops in the middle of what she was doing, her jaw dropping slowly open. It takes her a very long few moments to process everything she's just seen. She opens her mouth to speak once, then twice, before finally she screams "CLOSE THAT BOX!!!!"
Maeve nods to Heng. "Right. Last time that thing was opened they sent a small army to ransack this place. No more time to explore, we have to get out of here and get the caravan as far away as possible by nightfall. We have no idea how fast they can move."
Parity sits down and holds his head in his hands, "She ... she ... she's going to be empress."
Malnival still standsholding the box, a dazed look on his face. At Maeve's words he slams the box shut and shakes his head. "I agree, I think we should be away from here my friends." He slips the box into his belt pouch as he walks over to the chest recovering the mithiral armor.
"Huh. Well, we better run. I think the oni will take care of Buttersnips."
Harlan grabs the headband and makes tracks as fast as he can limp.
After wrapping up things in the castle, you head outside with a new sense of urgency. As you emerge, the first rays of dawn break the horizon, and you can see the oppressive overcast of the last couple days is clearing out to the southwest, leaving the open air crisp and cool. You gather Prugk, confused and hungry, from where you left her just outside the castle gates and make the long trek through the woods back to Sandru's caravan.
When you arrive, your friends are just sitting down for tea and breakfast. Your appearance elicits cheers, laughter and many questions, but above all they are happy to see you back intact and healthy.
"Ho! It was a joy to see you step out of those woods!" Sandru claps Harlan on the shoulder with a laugh. "I've made do with the meals, but I think we'd have a mutiny soon if you hadn't come back!"
"Who's this one?" he asks, nodding at Kelda.
As you step into camp, Ameiko comes over quickly, giving each of you a strong hug in turn. She is perfectly healthy, but you can see she nearly quivers with nervousness and uncertainty. Her smiles to you are warm and she pushes back tears from the corner of her eyes. With a sigh and low chuckle, she shakes her head in wonder.
"I don't even know where to begin. Do you... do you have the Seal?"
When Maeve sees Ameiko, she doesn't even bother to wait, practically running to the older woman and throwing her arms around her. "I'msogladyou'reallrightIwasreallyscaredyeswehavetheseal." After a moment's hesitation, she looks to Mal for confirmation, since he had it last.
As the group passes the church, she looks around. "I'll catch up. Want to check something Heng mentioned."
With that she walks over and peers in the gate. "Uhm...hello?"
"I'm beginning to miss my cooking too Sandru! I think if I do any more of this adventuring stuff I'll wilt away to nothing. I'll let the others tell the whole story, but we found out some very interesting things about that place and about Ameiko. I think she'll want to learn from Heng and Maeve first. There were some strange people in there too, but we left most of them behind one way or the other. I think we should be ready to move out by tomorrow, and avoid some of the main roads if we can. What's the closest town."
After Harlan finishes he plops down on a nearby log and promptly starts to snore.
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"Slow down Maeve, you are beginning to sound like Buttersnips. It is good to see you well again, Ameiko."
Heng helps rearrange the bodies into as natural a position as possible on a gurney he rigs up with Malnival. Once in the graveyard, he calls to the butterfly spirit he glanced a few nights before, "Gentle Spirit, reveal yourself. We have vanquished the taint of evil that occupied the Brinewall Castle and recovered some bodies that need proper burial. May we have your assistance in finding a proper location for them?"
As Malnival enters the camp he searches for Shalelu, smiling as he sees the elven ranger and giving her a slight nod of his head. He apears a little taken back at the hug from Ameiko, but quickly recovers and withdraws the dragon decorated box from his belt pouch and holds it out towards the bard. "I beleive this belongs to you."
When there is a moment away from the rest of the party, Parity will approach Ameiko, "Ame, I was so worried about you. It is such a relief to see you up and healthy. And I had no idea that your family had so much history and lineage! It's ... well, simply amazing. It seems such a departure from adventuring and innkeeping, no? I don't know what it is you intend to do from here on out, whether you intend to go reclaim your birthright or not." Parity kneels to the ground and pushes his blade into the dirt, "But whatever it is you do, I pledge my sword to your service and my life to your defense as long as you should live ... that is if you're willing to take an ex-gladiator sorely lacking in education and discipline." his mouth twists wryly as he finishes his sentence, waiting with a slightly held breath.
Nothing responds to Maeve or Heng.
Finally, just as you're about to walk away, you hear a whispered voice in the space between you. "Thank you. Leave them at the gates and they will be taken care of."
Ameiko's eyes widen as Mal brings forth the warding box. She intakes a ragged breath, as the reality of the whole situation hits her. With trembling hands, she takes the box from Mal. After a minute of thought, she looks around the group of her gathered friends. "I'm not sure what to do. Its a bit of a heavy burden to lay on all at once. I'd appreciate any advice."
As Mal acknowledges Shalelu, she returns it with a proud smile.
To Ameiko's request, she speaks up first, "Whatever you decide, seler, I will be at your side. We must assume that the oni or whatever it is that hunts your family will have noticed the box's re-opening. You will be sought," she finishes, grimly.
"I'm not sure what to do. Its a bit of a heavy burden to lay on all at once. I'd appreciate any advice."
Parity speaks hesitantly, "I'm neither the brightest nor most worldly of our party let alone the average person, but there's one thing clear to me. They won't stop hunting until you and any of your family are dead. I'm not one for wrathful vengeance, but I do believe in facing things head on. Let's take this to the source. If we return to Sandpoint, you risk bringing the oni down on the town and I'm certain there will be collateral damage."
"Thanks ... I think." Parity lets a genuine grin show.
"All the way to Minkai?!" she replies with an exasperated laugh. "I don't even know how far that is, but its no jaunt to the market. And... none of us has been there. I mean, how do we even get there? And what do we do when we do get there, if we even make it, that is. I'm not an empress! I'm not even a good noblewoman. Can you imagine me in that getup? I run a tavern, I like to drink, and play music... and relax... and adventure." Her words lapse into silence.
"Relax, child," Koya says in a soothing voice. "You yet have some time to decide."
Ameiko sighs, nodding. "Okay then... we can go halfway across the world to Minkai, and... do whatever it is to do there. Or, I go into hiding somewhere. I guess going to Sandpoint is not a good idea; like Parity said, I would only endager the people there."
"Any other ideas?"
Maeve thinks for a few moments. "Well, if you really wanted to hide, they know where you are. I would probably suggest making way back to Tian-Xia, but by the southern route around the continents. You'd probably be able to fit in with the locals more easily there, but still be far enough away to be safe, while they're looking here." Although she suggests it, it's obvious right away Maeve sees some disappointment with the idea because it doesn't make her happy. "In any event, I think we should probably recover Suishen and get a clearer idea of the situation before we make any final decisions on what to do about it. The longer we wait, the harder that will be, and in a generation it might not even be possible."
So far standing in the back silenty, Kelda steps forward cautiously, "My home, Kalsgard, lies at the end of the Path of Aganhei, which goes over the Crown of the World to Tian Xia." She looks like she may say more, but appearing embarrased, she clamps her mouth shut.