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As the others crowd around the notes, Javon tries to silence the murmurs. "We should show this to Dreng at once! He may know more about what Eylysia did after Selmius died. It's been over 100 years! Who knows what she was involved in? We need to learn more about her."
"After that, it seems the simplest avenue would be to check on Arkath's grave. Unless his grave has been plundered, whatever Selmius suspected of being there should still be there."
"Gerald, gather my things! And put away that oversized knife. Knowledge is the key now."
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So we´re involved in a counter-conspiracy Says Guinfa excited.
Mr. Copperpot's eyes go wide. "Finally! Someone believes me! But what about the conspiracy to counter the counter-conspiracy!?!?" the gnome says excitedly. "Surely you suspect that, as well!"
Looking through the notes, Mr. Copperpot says "We should visit this gnome first. Gnomes are always knowledgeable about this sort of thing!"
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You have NO idea, Alexis thinks privately in response to the apparently-demented Mr. Copperpot (of course, there's the dementia that comes from being blinded by garish lights, and then there's the dementia that comes from knowing the Truth).
"Anyone serious about keeping a secret will take it with them to their grave...therefore, I suggest visiting the grave first."
Details left by Selmius Foster indicate the location of Arkath’s burial site: a plot of land in Eastgate operated by the church of Abadar.
A fence surrounds the necropolis grounds; the gate on the eastern side of the wall is open. According to Foster's notes, Arkath's mausoleum is due west from the gates.
A garundi man marches around the grounds just past the gates, traveling counter-clockwise at a steady pace. He wears a wooden key around his neck.
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Mr. Copperpot looks carefully at the man marching around the compound.
"Abadar," he says. "Deity of law and order. It's likely a disguise of some sort, but if it's not, then we probably don't need to worry. Much anyway."
The gnome thinks of what they need to do. "We need to get into the burial site. We could either just ask to be let in, or we could try to sneak in. But either way, the conspiracy to counter the counter-conspiracy must be our first thought."
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Rgulblux stares at Mr. Copperpot for a long minute, then shakes his head.
... Conspiracy to counter the counter of the counter conspir... ah, screw it.
The half-Orc looks to his fellow Pathfinders, "I prefer the direct approach. Not that being sneaky isn't valuable at times, but well, it's cowardly..."
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Before entering into the tomb, Guinfa puts his hand on Grax´s elbow to pick is attention.
Look at me a second. Yes, at my eyes.
I know you´re a good warrior, but sometimes is better to let someone to help you. No matter if it´s real or not if the enemy believes it.
With a clap in his shoulder he lets Grax go. Think on it when you have a moment
------ Once near the tomb ------
I´m with Javon, we should explain him what are we doing here.
Any of you have any preference on what are our reasons here or I can tell him whatever I prefer?
He doesn´t even wait the answer before going to the garundi man speaking to him in their common languaje.
[b]Greetings brother. Can you help me?
My group and I have been sent here to clean a tomb, but they forgot to aske where´s exactly located.
I know, I know, it´s so stupid that it looks irreal, but look at them. One even talk with a bird!
We´re looking for Arkath´s tomb, can you tell us we're it is?
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Grax turns to look at Guinfa, suddenly entranced by the Garundi's eyes. "Wha.." The half-orc stares at the man, nodding as he explains. "Right. Help is better." He steps back when the man lets go of his shoulder. "Right, sounds good."
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Grax watches Guinfa approach the priest and speak in a strange language. "I guess they have a common bond. He should be able to get us inside." The guardian glances over to Javon who is flapping nearby.
The priest hails Guinfa and listens stoically, nodding at Guinfa's words.
That's an odd request, and no one has informed me of any cleaning to be done. You can be sure I'll speak with the authorities about this matter--the resting dead should not be disturbed for such matters. Come along, then, I'll show you where it is.
He waves to the others to accompany him, walking to a mausoleum across from the gates and unlocking it for you.
I'll be nearby should you have any need of my services. With that, the priest continues on his patrol.
Inside the mausoleum is a sealed, unadorned sarcophagus.
Alexis senses faint divination magic emanating from within the sarcophagus (but not the sarcophagus itself).
Rgulbux does not find anything else of note within the building.
Rgulbux slides the lid off the sarcophagus with a grunt to reveal a long-dead skeleton. Inside the skeleton's mouth is a coin, which Alexis determines is a Pathfinder's Coin.
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Javon frowns. "Mine was lost when my unfortunate transformation happened...I think. But we have been debating reporting what we've found to the Lodge. Perhaps now is a good time. Any one there would have a Wayfinder to activate the coin. We can report the notes we found and discover the coin's message. Alternatively, we could head back to the Wisp. There are plenty of Pathfinders there who might help too."
The Abadaran priest gives you a curious glance as you leave hastily, no doubt wondering how you were able to "clean" the mausoleum so swiftly, and without any equipment. He approaches Argath's tomb as you leave, but you don't see him following you throughout the city.
Back at the Wisp, Janira is finishing a drink, standing and pushing herself away from the table as you arrive.
Welcome back! I heard about the hidden room--that's amazing! Where'd you all run off to? Find anything interesting?
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"Indeed we did!" Javon flaps over and lands on a chair back. He bows and begins rambling. "Hello, my dear, I am Javon. And this is my porter and guard, Gerald. Rgulbux has the right of it. We found some notes in a hidden room that led up to a tomb. We believe this coin bears a message to a gnome woman named Eylysia. Have you ever heard of her? She was a Pathfinder at least a hundred years ago." He pauses, thinking. "Mr. Copperpot, could she still be alive today?"
How exciting! I can't say the name is familiar, but let's see what the message says.
She places the coin in her wayfinder and it floats just above it, spinning around. A voice sounds from the coin:
The path and chamber are complete, hidden behind the nameplate of the requested aspirant and guarded by the word you requested. Fimbrik will add more.
Janira smiles at your discovery and wishes you good luck at Fimbrik's house, taking her leave of you.
Foster's notes record Fimbrik's address, a residence on the campus of the Arcanamirium in Absalom's Wise Quarter.
You find the gnome's residence with ease. A brick step leads to Fimbrik’s front entrance, which is locked with a rusty simple lock.
Numerous stacks of newspapers—roughly 2 years’ worth of monthly copies—are piled around the door and crammed into a thin slot at its base. Each rounded corner of the building has a large window, allowing creatures to look into the structure without difficulty.
There is no evidence of magic or any signs of danger on the door (though it is locked).
Guinfa looks through the window on the SE wall and sees a study. It contains a round table surrounded by chairs, and the walls are replete with tome-laden
bookshelves. An elderly gnome with blue hair jutting out the sides of his green and purple bowler hat faces one of the shelves, perusing his book collection.
Javon notices that after observing the gnome for a couple minutes his actions repeat in a pattern (the way he looks at a certain shelf, examines a book, puts it back).
The papers are roughly two years worth of monthly newspapers that have, apparently, been delivered to the door but never brought inside.
The gnome appears to be a real person, but the repeating pattern of his movements is definitely odd, especially since he does not respond to Alexis' knocking.
Any attempts to knock on the door are met with a similar non-response.
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Rgulbux steps up to the door and knocks upon it with his club. Listening for any sound of someone answering him, he knocks again... a little louder. Frustrated, he pounds the door a third time causing it to rattle the windows on the first floor of the house, "Fimbrik, we need to talk with you... sir... please... GRRR!"
There is no response to any knocking, however forceful.