As the evening begins to wind down and guests are enjoying the last of the firewords a weel dressed Keleshite man approaches you and asks for a quick word. He introduces himself as Trade Price Aaqir al'Hakam. "Like a fast-spoke djinn, I'll get to the quick. I know where you are going. House Damaq of Qadira claim the ruin, but we are willing to allow you access for the price of a small deed easily accomplished during your adventure. You will be well compensated, I assure you, for profits are most rewarding when shared. I assume treasure-seekers like yourselves are interested in such a proposistion?"
Without waiting for an answer, he continues, his eyes intent and his posture rigid.
"The ruin is Qadiran, which is why we claim it, and we are willing to defend it, but there are really only certain things left in Asad's Keep we are interested in: trade agreements, of which we believe there to be many within the ruins. All we ask that you do is to turn over all trade agreements you find to us as soon as you return to Absalom, as we will be able to hold the signers to them even centuries after their signing. The satrap of Qadira-nay, the entire Padishah Empire of Kelesh-has much to offer the Pathfinder Society, and I personally have no qualms about sharing those resources with you, specifically. Shall we shake on this agreement?"
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@the Andoran: Thank you, sir. I have a new axe that is more than ready to split the bones of the undead...er, free them from their shackles, that is.
Harboth has almost had enough plum wine to tell this Qadiran fool that "allowing" us access to a place he "claims" is no favor at all, but he fills his mouth with more wine before it gets him in trouble.
The rest of the evening passes in peace, with the morning coming earlier than some of your Plum Wine flooded minds would think possible. The trip to the site is arduous; the terrain is rocky and marred with the scars of millennia of wars, making it thirsty work for you to reach your destination, but you encounter no resistance.
At the end of the gully, about fifteen feet above the ground on a cliff face, is an ancient, iron bound door. Its wood is dried and cracked. Directly in front of the door is a steep slope of rubble and dust-crusted debris that, as luck would have it, provides a path-albeit a rough and difficult one-right up to the door. (DC 10 climb check to make it inside...I'm gonna assume everyone's gonna just take 10? Also, give me a Perc check as well now that your at the top of the cliff.)
As you scramble up to the top of the ledge a figure jumps down, forewarned by your sharp sight you are not overly started (if you failed the DC17 perc check, then you are startled and cannot act in this first round). A wretch of a woman scrambles before you, looking more one of the dead than a living woman she addresses you "How long will it take you all to cure, I wonder? You seem so full of life, and I am oh so hungry.".
Ooc: know religion would work to Identify her.
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Spells prepared:
0: detect magic, stabilize, virtue
1st: bless, detect undead, obscuring mist {D}
Marisan picks her way up the ledge along with the others with care.
Upon being confronted by the haggard woman, she quickly tries to ascertain her true nature.
Ooc: 11 isn't quite enough I'm afraid. Anyone else?
OOC: There is a feat you can take if you are 100+ years old and certain races. Breadth of Knowledge...I believe it gives you a +2 to all knowledge checks and the ability to roll untrained...basically, you've lived long enough, and done a little of everything, you can make a passing guess.
Looking over the group of you she spots a simple faction symbol, her head jerks back and her expression softens "Friends, it is I, Maurit Zergo, a Pathfinder as well, even in this horrid form. I can help you, if you will take the help of someone as damned as I." she almost seems normal and living for a second, but soon shambles back to her crooked slouch.
OOC: Jubei, your Detect Evil does come up for her. Marisan, it takes you a while to recall your undead lore, but eventually you recognize her as a very recently created Ghoul...some last visages of life still clings to her...
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Marisan keeps her eyes on the woman while speaking to the group. "She's damned, all right. A ghoul, yet she strangely retains some connection to her former living self."
Marisan draws her trident, then addresses the creature, a guarded, wary look on her face. "My inclination is to aid you by releasing your soul from this unnatural and pitiful condition, so speak quickly - what kind of help do you offer, and what would you ask in return?"
Smileing and getting almost giddy to be of assistance, Maurit does an odd shuffling dance for Rachel and explains "What treasures do you seek in the ruins, hrmmm? I can help, I've been all throughout the ruins! Here, look!" with this she drops low and begins to trace in the dirt of the ledge a rough map, outlining the interior of the ruins. "I ask only that you allow me to try to find a cure for what has ahppened to me, leave me to my devices so I can return to what was."
If you should care to trust her, she might be able to lead you into the ruins and back out, or tell you what awaits you inside. Or, she could be lying and just waiting for that huge pack of ghouls, ghasts and other undead that are sneaking up behind you to attack (j/k)
OOC: VERY rough map:
[15]-[14]-[13]-[12]--|
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[06] [7]-|-[9]-[10]-[11]
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..[05]-[03]----------------[01]
.........[04]
You are in [01]
Ignore the (.) periods, they are just spacers. NOT to scale, and NOT accurate to the real map, but gives you an idea.
15 connects to 14 and 6
14 connects to 15 and 13
13 connects to 14 and 12
12 connects to 13 and 11
06 connects to 15 and 5
7 connects to 9
9 connects to 10
10 connects to 9 and 11
11 connects to a hallway which connects to 10, 3, and where you are now at 1
05 connects to 6, hallway to 7/9 and 3
3 connects to 5, 4 and hallway to 1, 3, 10 and 11.
Marisan does remember mention of a possible cure....but was it a potion, a spell, or true death and the release into the beyond? She should really pay more attention during Seminar class :)
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Elwyn does not like the sight of this thing, he likes the idea of spending another second with it even less. He searches inside himself for his mission. If the others agree, he's willing to make an attempt to save the poor soul trapped in there. But if the ghoulish side takes over or knowingly puts them in danger he intends to quickly dispatch it.
"Yes, the Society can cure me! They have relics buried deep in the the Lodge that will help...But first, come, we will finish your mission and then all return to the Lodge as Heros, you doublely so for saving a lost member!" she says, as she turns to go back into the cave "You come, yes?"
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Blackacre turns to the group, making sure that "Maurit Zergo" never leaves his field of vision. There is something she's not telling us, but she could be of use to us for as long as she can control herself. I say we let her help us, but keep a close eye on her.
He turns back so that he is facing the ghoul. You hear that, Zergo? You take the front, and if you turn on us my axe will turn in you.
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Marisan nods to the half-orc, releases her left hand from her trident to pull a small inconspicuous flower from the braids of her hair. She tucks the flower in a tiny crevice within her holy symbol, a piece of driftwood shaped like a human figure. Still grasping her symbol, she speaks to the ghoul "Very well, then, let's go."
Pushing up against thedoorthewoman looks back expectantly for help to open the heavy door. Assuming she is given help the doors lowly gives to the group effort and opens enough to squeeze inside. The poorlightseepingin from the door reveals.
Attached to the north wall at this corridor junction is the relief carving of a giant face. The relief is that of a Qadiran man with a billowing beard. His eyes are closed, and his lips are parted, as if he were blowing out a flame. His lips frame a deep hole in the wall. The paint once adorning the relief is chipped and faded, but traces of its brilliant blues and pristine whites are still visible here and there. On the man’s forehead is a single Kelish word, carved in a flowing script.
Ooc: If anyone can read Kelish let me know
You are in room 2. With hallways leading west to a larger room and east into darkness. The ghoul/woman has no idea where to lead you to for yourgoal
OOC: to Marisan: Nope, but it isn't a blanket spell for the entire ruins either <insert evil laugh here>