Most of the drawers in the workstations and the storage bins are empty, since many were left ajar, allowing the room’s flowing acid to destroy their contents. However, after about 10 minutes of searching the lab, you come across a closed drawer with surviving contents. The drawer contains an orange prism ioun stone, and an amulet of proof against detection and location.
There is also a door to the west...
Map updated.
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Hugo flies closer to the door for a look.
If anyone remains in this lab, this door appears to be our only path. Let us hope it is not a broom closet
He performs a visual inspection for traps (or buckling as might be caused by a door holding back a bajillion gallons of acid)
He can have the inevitable open the door unless others want to do so. It may be the final act for the little guy.
Ready?
No traps, and no noise from the inside.
Hugo opens the door carefully. Crumpled in the corner of this cramped space, a dark-haired woman weakly raises her head. A flicker of sarcasm crosses her bruised lips, though the expression visibly pains her. “You’re not... Oh, good. It gets better.” More words begin to raggedly emerge, but a coughing fit overtakes her, and she pauses before continuing. “Whoever you are, you’re going to want to heal me. This place is about to fall down on your heads, and only I can tell you how to escape. I built this place, you know.”
She's barely conscious. If you want her to answer questions, it'll require some healing first.
She nods in thanks at the healing. “If you’ve come this far without knowing, then I am apparently the lesser of two fools. I’m Professor Inphira Kramolag, proud inheritor of the scientific tradition of getting killed in the name of progress.”
"And before you ask," Kramolag grimaces. “My role was strictly coerced. I had and have no interest in the Korholm Agenda beyond its use for minor field tests, and even that was my making the most of a bad situation. If I had my way—“ she looks around with disgust “—and clearly I can’t have that, I would have wanted nothing to do with the Agenda or the hellion Suliji Peshar.”
“Suliji’s the one who started it all—she and her withered patron. What do you know of what the Korholm Agenda’s done?” Kramolag then smirks and continues. “Suliji knows how to manipulate. She pulled together a group of six of us. Some she lured with a chance for revenge, others with the promise of profit, and me with the looming specter of blackmail. We did her bidding, coordinated her attack on the Grand Lodge, and ultimately suffered when the Society began attacking to avenge itself. No doubt you’ve felt very proud every time you executed another Korholm leader? We’ve learned the hard way that Suliji uses those happy feelings as a smokescreen to operate with impunity, letting you think you’ve won every time you kill a decoy. No doubt she sold me out because I looked too deeply into her real plans.”
"If you made it here, you've definitely seen everything. What will you do with me?"
That is a deal I can accept. I warn you though, you're walking into something much more dangerous than you realize. Suliji’s an ambitious woman, but she covers her tracks well. I found that she returned to Ostenso regularly over the past two years—and not to check in at the Aspis headquarters. Instead, she was sneaking into the mausoleum of Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn. He is—or was—one of the Consortium’s founders who died more than a century ago. He was practically an informal saint of the Druman Kalistocracy by the time he died, so she might be smuggling his wealth out. More likely she’s found some other advantage within, possibly one tied to the Consortium’s early days that she could hold over the Patrons’ heads or use to tear the Consortium apart.”
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I believe that it is random this go around, and sorry, I could have sworn I'd posted this already.
DarthBeckett@Gmail.com
Thank you, this is pretty cool.
“Suliji’s the one who started it all—she and her withered patron. What do you know of what the Korholm Agenda’s done?”
"Who is this "withered patron" , "and what can you tell us of this Suliji?"
“I know nothing beyond what I've told you of her. Her withered Patron is Alexayn himself. Go to Ostenso, break into Alexayn’s crypt, and learn what Suliji plans next if you're that curious. Assuming she’s not just aiming to give every child a puppy and a free education, you’ll probably want to stop her.”
“I'm not sure I can say anything that will make you believe me, but look at it this way. I have been outmaneuvered by a half-orc, bested by a glob of godsnot, and rescued by a band of no-names, but that doesn’t deprive me of my dignity. Suliji pushed me down a slippery slope that ruined my life’s work. If you can deny her whatever she’s planning, that’s enough emotional solace for me to write this off as merely another of life’s disappointments.”
(The Dr. is female :-))
After returning to Absalom with a prisoner in tow, you fill out your after action report and relax until the next mission. You don't get much of a rest.
At the bidding of the Master of Swords Marcos Farabellus, the you set out from Diobel on the west coast of the Isle of Kortos toward the Chelish port of Ostenso. By that point, Farabellus had informed you that you are headed to Ostenso for a highly sensitive incursion into the Aspis Consortium’s backyard, in case you want to make any purchases before departing. He also informed you that he would meet up with you along your journey to Ostenso.
Several dozen miles outside of the port, a Thuvian ship out of Merab hails the your vessel, and Marcos Farabellus waves to the you from its deck. As the two ships approach, Farabellus activates a magic item and flies over to you to provide more information about the task ahead.
Marcos Farabellus rests one foot atop a coil of rope while flicking open a thin leather bag to double-check the dozen pages inside. “I haven’t traveled this much this quickly in a long time,” he confides with a tired grin. “Fortunately, it’s nearly at an end. Thanks to Professor Kramolag’s testimony, we’ve identified the last of the Korholm Agenda’s ringleaders. I recently dispatched a team to deal with the boss in Thuvia, but it sounds like there’s far worse afoot in Ostenso. Kramolag seemed convinced that the lady we’re after is a half-orc named Suliji Peshar, and she’s gotten rich and powerful by smuggling coin out of the tomb of the Consortium’s richest founder, Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn."
“I’ve tried to secure any information about her schemes, but had little luck. Kramolag seems convinced that Suliji is planning some attack on the Aspis Consortium, which seems a little far-fetched, but after what we’ve seen the Agenda do so far, it’s still within the realm of possibility.” The Master of Swords rubs his beard with one hand in thought. “The Consortium may not be our friends, but they’re a known quantity. Hell, even if such an attack only killed off a leader or two, that half-orc’s proven canny enough that, for all we know, she might be planning to frame the Society for an attack against the Consortium’s home turf—or all of Cheliax itself!”
He hands over the leather case. “The crux of the matter is that we don’t have enough facts to decide how to proceed. Professor Kramolag’s story seems to check out so far, and my usual inside informant Three Rings has disappeared altogether. Something momentous in the works, and the whole thing stinks of Aspis. But without more details, I can’t tell you what to do. It’s going to be up to you to figure out how best to serve the Society’s short-term and long-term interests in the coming crisis. I want you to get to the bottom of it and confront Suliji Peshar. If, as we suspect, she plans to frame the Pathfinder Society, you need to stop her, and otherwise, you’ll be well-placed to take decisive action to gain us leverage over the Consortium toward a peaceful resolution of hostilities. Our best lead at the moment is the mausoleum of Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn.” Farabellus winces at the long name. “It’s on Ostenso’s outskirts, and I understand Suliji’s visited it numerous times over the past year. Check it out, find what clues you can, and take whatever actions you deem appropriate. I’ve already sent your teams ahead to learn what news they can, so once you know more, consider them at your disposal. Questions?”
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Hugo listens to the long account.
Do we know anything of the defenses or configuration of this Mausoleum of Jhandorage Vaulnder Alexayn? If not, we will want to know where or how to contact the teams and obtain their reconnaissance report before making our next plan.
He pauses and asks a few more questions.
And of this Three Rings? Do we have a description or is he not expected to be in the area?
And what of transport to the Mausoleum. Are we to make our own arrangements?
"This is an area we have no intel on. It's also why we're sending YOU. If you associate the Aspis Consortium with being rich, it’s because its co-founder Alexayn set that trend. He died just before Aroden did, and among his many monuments and public works in his hometown Ostenso was his immense mausoleum. He was both respected and feared in his time, but the Consortium’s come a long way since his death. Everyone in Ostenso knows a building or two named after him, but otherwise he’s just a little-known name in the history books. This means that there are likely to be few exterior defenses, but who knows about what's inside.”
“Three Rings is an informant— maybe several informants—who appears in a different guise every time we talk to him or her. The only consistency is the three rings worn on one hand, hence the nickname. Thanks to Three Rings’s sudden disappearance, I’d say it’s either one of Suliji’s allies or one of her latest victims. Three Rings is a friend to the Society and has been invaluable in our efforts this year. If Suliji is allied with Three Rings, it might mean there’s more to her actions than we understand, but if she’s hurt Three Rings for betraying the Consortium’s secrets to us, she has earned our ire.”
"Getting there is up to you, but I have some intel about that at least." He hands over a satchel with a map of Ostenso and it's marked to guide you to the mausoleum. "I’m bound for the Grand Lodge to coordinate what I hope are the last efforts to mop up the Korholm Agenda. If things go absolutely sideways, feel free to contact me magically.”
It's reasonably easy to get into Ostenso without making a scene as the eastern city is very busy. As of this moment your agents are all undercover. Remember, Pathfinders are personae non gratiae.
It's a simple matter to find the mausoleum. The mausoleum is a mansion of a crypt that towers more than 40 feet in height atop a low hill on the edge of the city. Surrounding the structure sprawls a modest park that has benefited from only infrequent maintenance. A broad set of stairs leads up to a looming, recessed stone door partially obscured by the forest of columns that circumnavigates the crypt’s facade...
the mausoleum incorporates architectural flourish and motifs from throughout the Inner Sea region, though the architects managed to incorporate these into an overall flattering tribute to a world traveler rather than a gaudy display of cultural appropriation. Furthermore, the broad lines carved into the structure would have once been embedded with precious metals that are now noticeably absent.
You notice weathered signs of tampering, including places where someone repeatedly attempted to force the door with a crowbar.
It's hard to get a clean look at the details though as it's extremely crowded right now.
If you're headed in now, you find the door locked. Getting that close to the doors draws some looks, but no one seems to stop you.
The look looks incredibly difficult to pick (DC 40).
Who wants to try it?
Any takers?
Roos casually walks up to the door and pops the lock with little effort. The crowd watches, murmuring as they see people actually enter the mausoleum.
Inside it's a bit of a maze. The mausoleum has three floors, a basement level, and more than a dozen rooms. Among these are painted chambers that commemorate Alexayn's early adventuring life (including him slaying a blue dragon), later business successes, and greatest philanthropic works in Ostenso. Another room is covered floor-to-ceiling in effusive testimonials of Alexayn’s accomplishments, credentials, and generosity from important figures of the age; several of these quoted names are scratched out with the word “Betrayer” or “Liar” inexpertly carved nearby. In some places, the tables and stands clearly once held grave goods or trophies but are now empty. Wherever Alexayn is depicted, he appears as a handsome Chelish man with shoulder-length hair (later with a receding hairline) and a rapier worn at his hip.
Eventually you come to an impressive room. Faded tapestries show Alexayn’s greatest combat victories with more than a hint of artistic license. A preserved dragon head here is clearly genuine, having once likely belonged to the old blue dragon in earlier art. In addition to the elegant weapons and chests of foreign coins scattered across the ground, a score of swords and shields from across Golarion hang from the walls.
Shuffling among the strewn items is a man at work. When you arrive he turns.
Whatever you were expecting, this was not it.
The man is hardly a man at all. He's a preserved corpse. he stands, takes a reflexive swig from an empty goblet, and glowers at you, without malice or aggression before saying, “So, has Suliji tired of working behind my back and has finally sent thugs to drive the dagger home?” His voice is gravelly and dry.
He bows with style at Roos. "Then allow me to introduce myself. I am Alexayn, and a founder of a group who has gone much astray. This amazing place is my home.... my forever home. If you're not here to kill me, and you haven't looted the place. I'm guessing....Suliji the Wretch is your target. If that is the case, and I do believe it is, how can I help you take down that traitorous whelp?"
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"Much astray, indeed," Atum comments without a hint of sarcasm. "You are aware that we are Pathfinder agents, are you not? Our agencies have had many disagreements over the years. But if you want us to help you dig out the rot from your fledgling Consortium by taking down Suliji, then you need to tell us what her plan is and why we should trust you more than her."