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«Phew, well done Ulena. I didn't expect you to be so strong. I guess you were one of Master Farabellus favorites, he taught you so well!», says Dimira with a cordial smile while weeping the sweat from her forehead.
«So...Seems like these beetles were not original denizens of this place. Although dusty, it's not that old....right?», says Dimira, almost speaking to herself while she searches the room seeking something relevant.
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Ulena blushes at the compliment but shakes her head.
"I just got lucky. I haven't had any formal training, sometimes I think I must look like a brute hacking with this thing!"
Cleaning off her blade Ulena steps cautiously around the rest of the furniture and heads toward the stairs, she stops at the top and listens for anything that may be below.
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«Um...Hello?», says Dimira as she steps in the chamber along with Zarina. She looks around for a split second, then she spots the elderly gnome sitting at the table reading a newspaper. Uhm, this is strange! Why is he reading newspapers? How can someone inhabit an abandoned house. Forthermore, that pile of newspapers outside just don't make this likely...Wait! Magic, perhaps?
With a cunning shine in her eyes, Dimira suddenly stops and with her right hand tries to stop Zarina too. «Wait a moment, Zarina...». Dimira then begins concentrating and moving her hands in a reasoned manner she speaks a magical formula in Draconic: «Erkennen galdur!»
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Confused by the unfinished second floor Ulena returns to the bottom floor and walks toward Zarina and Dimira.
"What are we all lookin- oh! You must be who we came to see!"
Ulena smiles and waves her hand at the gnome in the room and walks up to him, hoping to engage him in conversation before she needs to explain how they entered the room.
"Hi, my name is Ulena, I represent the Pathfinder Society, I was wondering if you could answer some questions we have about an old colleague of yours. Did you not hear the fight that just happened in the den. Oh are you deaf? I met a deaf man on my confirmation! Maybe if you stop reading your newspaper you can read my leaps?"
She crouches low and waves her hand in front of the gnomes face.
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Bryzaglo bristles at Zarnia's lack of patience but let's it slide since the door did not explode in his face. The Half-Orc stands and moves into the room with the others.
"Hello Sir, just the man we have come to see. My companions and I have some question we would like to ask you. Can you spare a moment?"
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Rendala reaches over to grab the paper and for a moment it appears to be todays newspaper. But then she quickly notices the words don't appear to make any sense and suddenly the truth of the illusion becomes clear - there is no one sitting across from her and the entire setup is a façade - suddenly the entire basement full of newspapers comes into sharp focus - this is all some sort of ruse.
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Bryzaglo opens the door to find what appears to have been a guest bedroom/office for the gnome. There are papers scattered about a desk and all over the windowsills. There are a dozen chairs and little surfaces - it seems this may have once been where the old man entertained.
You see a copy of Fimbrik looking out the window waving at passerbys.
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Confused, but no less determined, Ulena eyes the gnome cautiously as she searches the room they've found him in. She's not willing to risk speaking to him and making a fool of herself again, so she just focuses on the task that brought them here.
I'm starting to understand fathers frustration with gnomes.
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Ulena purses her lips and considers the name Karina Clamp, sure she's never heard it before then flips the page over and reads the letter.
"According to this, we might find more information at the Wall of Names about someone named Karina Clamp. There's also a bit here about a password for something. It's 'wiffle'. What's a wiffle?"
She looks to her companions and hands the letter over to see if they can make heads or tails of it.
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Bryzaglo helps the Paladin search the northern room.
Once Ulena finds the letter Bryzaglo takes it out of her hand quickly reading it. "Once again being led around by the nose." He throws the latter on the desk. "Well let's go to the wall and see what clue will show it self next." ... this feels like a child's treasure hunt that is made just for us ...
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Turning to the bard. "Yes, Yes I remember but I feel like we are being led. By who or for what reason I know not. Is it for sport or something worse?" He stands silent for a few moments running ideas thru his head. "I think we should search the rest of this house to find anymore clues that might help us unravel this mystery"
Bryzaglo retives his tool once again and inspects the west set of double doors.
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«Illusions...Yes, that sounds reasonable. I wonder why the gnome wants to let others believe he's at home when he's not. There's something wrong with this behavior, something worth investigating perhaps...», she thinks out loud as the other search the house.
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When Bryzaglo produces the potions he has found, Dimira carefully examines them. «Erkennen Galdur!», she says again, activating her magical abilities.
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«We should go to the Wall of Names. It's somehow strange to me that Frimbrik has given us a lead, but still...we have no other option, so we'd better go to the Wall of Names and find out who's this Karina Clamp».
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Dimira successfully identifies one of the potions - the first is a potion of ??? but the second is a potion of lesser restoration.
As the group returns to the Wall of Names, they do indeed see that the name is on the wall - which you already knew as you came here and took notes on it. It's just a name with a simple inscription, which you have already jotted down.
You also begin to hear clamor - one of the Mendevian crusaders, a Sir Reginald, has declared that he is going to be challenging the Test of the Starstone in an attempt to change the face of the outcome of the ongoing war against the worldwound by becoming a god. Word is that everyone is going to be headed over to watch his attempt soon - which might leave the Shrine of the Failed unguarded.
You also have the sinking suspicion that you have another lead in one of the letters you could follow up on if you feel you need more information.
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As the group makes their way to the mausoleum they eventually discover that Arkath the stone mason is buried in the portion of the necropolis run by the church of Abadar.
The tombs are gilded and you are quickly greeted by a middle aged man Ho there, what brings a group - and a heavily armed one at that - to the great resting place of the Great Builder. He had very specific instructions regarding his resting place so... The man thinks for a moment as if picking out the correct words from a list So please state your business
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After completing the search at the gnome's house Bryzaglo agrees with the others that the crypt of the stone mason is the next best lead to follow.
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The Half-Orc steps up to the man. "Hello, we are here from the Pathfinder Society to search for a lost agent. We believe that the crypt of the great builder may hold a clue of where this agent has disappeared to and we would like to search it."
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Ulena walks up beside Bryzalgo and smiles warmly at the man.
"We wouldn't be here if we didn't think it was important. If you know of anything in the crypt that might help us, please let us know, otherwise we may need to inspect it ourselves."
Ulena keeps the smile plastered on her face, hoping it may help grant them access.
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The man scoffs lightly clearing his through. Well the man left VERY specific instructions that nothing be taken from his tomb...but I will let you in if you just want a look.
The golden-robed man unlocks the tomb and allows you in.
The interior of Arkath’s sarcophagus is empty save for the stonemason’s long-dead skeleton.
As the group begins inspecting the corpse discover a small silver coin inside the skeleton’s mouth.
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«Oh, wait a minute...that coin must have some relevance...», says Dimira thinking out loud. Short thereafter, she turns to actual inner thinking: Mmmh, I guess this coin is important, somehow. Why to specify not to allow anyone to take anything from his tomb, if nothing worth of note is contained therein? This coin is actually the only thing in here, so the stonemason must have had some concerns about its meaning.
Before Bryzaglo can pluck the coin out of the skeleton's mouth, Dimira whispers to the half-orc: «Wait a second Bryzaglo...». She exhibits herself in her now usual hand gestures and words: «Erkennen Galdur!»
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