GM Fuzzfoot's PFS #6-10 The Wounded Wisp (Inactive)

Game Master PJP

Simon knows a little about Fimbrik. He is a gnome illusionist, and a member of the Arcanamirium— Absalom’s largest and oldest magical institution. You also know that he was never a Pathfinder.

The home itself is an impressive stone dwelling reminiscent of what one might expect from an eccentric wizard’s home. As Simon peers in the first window (circling the house to the right), he sees study contains a round table surrounded by chairs, and the walls are replete with tome-laden bookshelves. A gnome (you assume to be Fimbrik) is perusing his book collection.

I pause here to see if you want to take another action, or continue your recon around the house.

"Dude!" Simon whispers acidly back to Cathis, "Loudy McThunderfoot! Why don't you take your royal loudness back out to the front door?"

"That's Lord MacThunderfoot, to you..." Cathis grumbles jovially, but heads back to the porch.

Baddacus waits for the Simon to reconnoiter, and chuckles as Cathis cramps his style. Looking at all the newpapers, he wonders if the gnome even lives here anymore.

Simon goes back to his study of the window, frowning at the gnome within. He waits for a few minutes to see what the gnome does.

Does the gnome seem to know we're out here (since we knocked on the door)?
Are any of those books worth Simon investigating? :D

After a while—and wanting to make sure that actually IS Fimbrik—Simon completes his circuit around the house, looking in the remaining windows.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

When Simon returns, Zuriel steps away from the house and motions for the others to come to him, whispering softly.

He clearly doesn't like to be disturbed. And who knows how he'll react if we force our way into the house. I think we should each guard a window or door in case he flees, then send one person in to convince him to open his door. Breaking the door down will send the wrong impression, so maybe we should send Baddacus through the window. What do you think?

Malik raises an eyebrow, "He is an illusionist. Maybe the gnome in the parlour is a trick?" he says.

Murderous halfling through the window--best plan ever? ;-)

Simon circles the house counterclockwise, and returns to report the following 4 windows:

Window 1: As described before. Fimbrik does not seem to notice Simon.

Window 2: This may be a conference room. This chamber contains enough chairs, pillows, and desks to accommodate at least six visitors. It contains a table, desk and small bed as well.

Windows 3 & 4: Both windows are in the same room, which appears to be a bedroom. Fimbrik is peacefully sleeping in his bed with two muscle-bound men standing watch.

"there was that gnome in the tavern..."

N'Neka snorts. "Two Fimbriks! One in the library, one in bed surrounded by his massage boys. Let's just go in there."

”I agree. It’s more than a bit suspect when an illusionist shows up in two different rooms at the same time.” He hammers his fist on the door, ”FIMBRIK! WE KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE! WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU!”

If no one answers the door,[/b] Simon looks at the group, ”Soooo …. anyone know how to pick a lock? Or Zuriel’s window idea has merit.” He shrugs, ”Less loud than breaking in the door, anyway.”

He looks around, considering. ”Go in through the conference room window?” [ooc]Or whichever room is facing away from a major street, really.

Looks at previous post. Where do I go to pick up my Mastery Of BBCCODE badge?

/facepalm

Baddacus volunteers to go through a window if no one is forthcoming with lockpicks.

Zuriel clasps his hands together and crouches down, ready to boost Baddacus up to the window.

Baddacus shrugs and climbs up to break a window.

Simon watches his fellow pathfinders enact this awesome plan ... trying to split his attention to also watch the alleys and roads around them to try to give them warning if anyone is watching.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

You smash a window with relative ease (hardness 1, 2 hp), but it makes a large crashing sound. Simon doesn't see anyone watching.

As you enter the window, you see that you have knocked over 2 potions that were on the window sill.

As you look around the room, you see that the table in the southwest corner as a neatly penned letter. It reads:

Well, you got me!

Oh, and the password. It’s ‘Wiffle.’ You’ll find it important, should you learn where to use it.
—The Illustrious Fimbrik

Underneath the letter is a hastily scrawled note in similar handwriting, which contains the name: Karina Clamp.

N'Neka extends her Spirit Sense.

"Trusting, yet not trusting," she says of Fimbrik.

Taking Fimbrik's message, Baddacus climbs back out the window and rejoins the other Pathfinders.

"The gnome's long gone. Left this however, which points right at the Wall of Names if you ask me."

Did the potions break or are they still good? Baddacus would take them if they are.

Malik raises an eyebrow. "What an odd web of intrigue we have been thrust into!" he says. "Best mission I've had yet! Starts with a drink, and who knows where it will end? But what if those thugs and the Gnome in bed aren't illusions?"

"We got the information, Malik; do you really want to interrupt his…personal time?" says N'Neka with a wink. She stretches. "This reminds me…I have not had a good massage in a while."

The potion bottles did not break.

"Well, what now? The Wall of Names? We should probably move on, before we're mistaken for common burglars."

"Well, what now? The Wall of Names? We should probably move on, before we're mistaken for common burglars."

Yes, we are certainly in an awkward position. And I would prefer the Wall to a Boneyard, so let's make haste.

"Works for me," Simon says, "... to the Wall!" He shrugs, "Might be worth seeing if Dreng has made it back to the Lodge by then, too ... he may be able to shed some light on all this."

"Karina Clamp, and a password, but perhaps we do not use the password there...perhaps at the cemetery? Well, to the Wall now; we'll save the boneyard for afterward--you know, when it gets dark," says N'Neka with a morbid chuckle.

Created in 4330 AR, the Wall of Names resides on the grounds of the Grand Lodge in Absalom. The monument is a curving wall of black glass that stands atop a small hill at the western edge of the lodge’s grounds. Trees surround the hill, providing ample shade and privacy for those visiting the wall to remember fallen comrades. Carved into the wall are the name and date of death of every Pathfinder killed in the course of duty since the wall’s construction, and most entries also include a sentence or two summarizing either the agent’s greatest accomplishments or how she died.

Simon begins searching the Wall for the the name Karina Clamp, taking as long as necessary to find it.

When he does find it, Simon tries to think if he’s ever heard the name before.

Knowledge: History (or arcana or planes, if they’re also appropriate for knowing of Karina)
Know: History: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Secondarily, as this is just a memorial wall, would the Grand Lodge have records on all the deceased Pathfinders that Simon could use to research her?

N'Neka also searches for Mollis "Evil Grin" and Doulgonlir.

Simon finds Karina Clamp:

Karina Clamp
Deceased 4330 AR
Sought to brave the Path of Aganhei.
Spoiled rations and wastefulness ended that dream.

N'Neka finds Hollis "Evil Grin" Thorn and Doulgonlir Caskmail.

Hollis "Evil Grin" Thorn
Deceased 4331 AR
Sought the jade idol of ten thousand faces.
Now but another sacrifice to the charau-ka of the Mwangi.

Doulgonlir Caskmail
Deceased 4332 AR
Enjoyed the many excesses of Katapesh.
Ended by a drug-induced hallucination.

"Good work you two!" Baddacus congratulates his companions. "Soo... Not sure how this helps us. Should we copy this down and head to Arkath'a tomb?"

"Good work you two!" Baddacus congratulates his companions. "Soo... Not sure how this helps us. Should we copy this down and head to Arkath'a tomb?"

Zuriel is impressed with the expediency of Simon and N'Neka's search. He nods at Baddacus' suggestion. Yes, perhaps he was buried with some knowledge of how to interpret this information. Foster's letter seemed to imply as much. Unless one of you has a better way to discern the meaning of this? The soldier looks at young Simon, specifically.

Id' need an answer to my questions above to get any kind of decent response to your question from Simon. Fuzzyfoot?

Malik remains somewhat silent during this part of the search, but he does speak a short prayer to the fallen at the memorial. "It sounds like a riddle might be involved." he says afterwards. "Good idea to write down what we find."

Sorry, Simon - I thought I answered, but see that I did not! This might help...

No problem. It’s easy enough to do. :)

Simon frowns in the middle of his scrutiny of the Wall, seemingly oblivious to the team’s words. ”Huh.”

He walks back over to Hollis’s inscription, tapping on the word ‘sacrifice’. ”Mmm.”

Then his steps pick up as he moves once again to Doulgonir’s inscription, and a smile turns up the corner of his lips as he traces the words ‘drug-induced hallucination’. ”Huh, indeed.”

He turns to look at his teammates. ”Still haven’t heard of any of these three names,” he says with a smarmy ’I know something important’ look, ”But I’m fairly certain their epitaphs don’t refer to Patfinder events at all.” His grin widens as he enjoys his moment in the spotlight. ”They refer to failed aspirants … at the Shrine of the Failed.”

HIs smile fades, though, as he shrugs. "No idea how it's connected to Eylisia or the stonemason, though." He frowns back at the wall, once again getting sucked into the mystery of it all. "Or how the password plays into any of this."

"The key clue. The apprentice's letter mentioned a key clue buried with the stonemason."

"Simon, are those phrases referring to particular aspirants? Do you know which ones?" N'Neka ticks off facts on her slender fingers. " So…get a key at the mausoleum, and we have a password…then return to the Shrine of the Failed? I wonder why one needs a key and a password. Two different things to open, I suppose, one magical, and one mechanical," says the druid, tapping her cheek.

"I don't think we should waste time here; let us go visit the dead. With luck they are sleeping peacefully," she says, flexing her eyebrows and winking.

Ah, gotcha. Thanks.

As they move off towards the graveyard, Simon continues to fill everyone in on what he's pieced together.

"'Spoiled rations and wastefulness' actually refers to Plokkis. 'Sacrifice', under Hollis's name, to Demuren. And 'drug-induced hallucination' under Caskmail to Spuchasta." He looks at his teammates expectantly, seeing if anyone can connect the dots. "They're failed Aspirants ... to the Starstone Test ..." He now looks like he's talking to particularly thick-headed children. "The same Starstone test some idiot is going to try today in some ridiculous attempt at god-hood."

He looks around, then sighs in exasperation, "Seriously, guys, pick up a book sometime.'

Baddacus displays his greataxe to Simon. "Got my hands full."

Ah, gotcha. Thanks.

As they move off towards the graveyard, Simon continues to fill everyone in on what he's pieced together.

"'Spoiled rations and wastefulness' actually refers to Plokkis. 'Sacrifice', under Hollis's name, to Demuren. And 'drug-induced hallucination' under Caskmail to Spuchasta." He looks at his teammates expectantly, seeing if anyone can connect the dots. "They're failed Aspirants ... to the Starstone Test ..." He now looks like he's talking to particularly thick-headed children. "The same Starstone test some idiot is going to try today in some ridiculous attempt at god-hood."

He looks around, then sighs in exasperation, "Seriously, guys, pick up a book sometime.'

Hmm, do you think that Eylisia had some knowledge of the aspirants that she kept hidden from the Society?

"I don't think we should waste time here; let us go visit the dead. With luck they are sleeping peacefully," she says, flexing her eyebrows and winking.

Very well--best to get it over with.

N'Neka snorts at Simon. "Primeval, ancient knowledge isn't found in any book, dear Simon. And if it is, it's probably written by that fellow who runs Cheliax, whom I shall not mention...but he's known to prevaricate."

She winks and follows the barbarian and bloodrager away from the memorial.

”Hmm, do you think that Eylisia had some knowledge of the aspirants that she kept hidden from the Society?”

Simon shrugs, ”Maybe her dead stonemason knows.”

He can’t help but laugh at N’Neka’s tone, nor can he help replying. ”We’re not exactly talking about primeval knowledge, now are we? I mean, I knew the answer.”

"If it makes anyone feel better, that kind of knowledge isn't found in the school of hard knocks either..."

Details left by Selmius Foster indicate the location of Arkath’s burial site is a plot of land in Eastgate operated by one of the more popular faiths. A fence surrounds the necropolis grounds, but the gates have been left open.

Visual of necropolis

You are outside the gate, but do see a priest of Asmodeus patrolling the grounds.

"Gah... priest. Should one of us distract them, or do you prefer a more direct approach?" Cathis polls the team.

Simon gives the groundskeeper a flat stare, "It would have to be an Asmodean. I can't think of a single reason he would want to help us. Unless one of you is exceedingly persuasive."

"Can anyone put him to sleep?" Malik asks.