After the first three attacks an arrow killed the first, a flying sword killed the second and a hook killed the last bug! They all disappear!
After destroying the very weak beetles you move in and peek into the main entry hall.
D1. Living Room
While examining the room you note that despite the lack of dust on many surfaces, no one has been here for years. The carpet and sofa show virtually no wear.
You look to the right (D4) where the gnome was located and you still see him perusing his book collection.
Suddenly, you see a second person walking inside the room to the north-east (D2) ... and that person looks identical to the gnome you just saw reading!
And that second person is walking around and then sitting in a chair and reading a newspaper. To your surprise the gnome in the north-eastern room notices you and smiles. He gives a tip of his hat before continuing to read.
It also seems as if someone has tried to move newspapers dating to years back into the basement, but you realize that ever since the local printers changed the thickness of their publication, the newspapers are left on the doorstep. Maybe because the newspapers could not be pulled through the door slot somebody eventually settled for leaving the newer papers neatly piled beside the door?!
You of course check the room where the assumed inhabitant of the house is reading his books in the study. But the first sentences that you exchange with him reveals that this is merely an illusion.
Also the image of the same smiling gnome in the north-eastern room is only an illusion as it seems that an interaction beyond smiling is not possible.
|
Erashava hurries to the front of the building with Filuvius, but sees the battle over already.
"What happened?" she asks. Seeing no corpses she asks, "Summoned creatures?"
Surprised that the gnome hasn't come to investigate, she calls out, "We're coming in, Fimbrik. We only wish to speak with you."
Then she steps into the home. She moves to the study and strikes up the conversation with the gnome, only to realize he's an illusion. She frowns. "It's only trickery. The gnome's an illusion."
She quickly strides through the rest of the house, finding only another illusion. "The house is empty. It looks like no one has been here for a long time."
Taking a cue from Adowyn, she begins to search the home more thoroughly.
|
"Hey! Save a bug for me to fight next time, you big hogs!" Rosie complains. "I mean... Oh, boy! That sure was scary! I was going to practise a little punching!"
She punches at the air weakly with her tiny fists.
Then she goes into the house.
When she finds out the gnomes are illusions she starts to battle them! But, it gets kind of boring when they don't fight back.
"Auw, man!" She squeaks.
Then Rosie goes around the house looking for clues!
|
"Was that supposed to eat me?" Fuzzzy asks. Then he smiles and looks proud of himself.
He heads into the house and notices the gnome. He sits down on the couch and start to talk with the illusion. The gnome never answers Fuzzzy's questions, but Fuzzzy doesn't remember that he doesn't answer, so the conversation goes pretty good.
Fuzzzy seems to be enjoying the illusory gnome's company.
The set of stairs at the northern edge of the chamber lead to an unused basement filled with stacked newspapers.
The second set of stairs leads up to an unfinished second floor that is completely empty.
You only peek into the meeting room.
D2. Meeting Room
This chamber contains enough chairs, pillows, and desk to accommodate at least six visitors.
While Fuzzy has a very entertaining discussion with the illusion and Rosie does some shadow boxing with Fimbrik you look through the rest of the level and during an examination of the table in the southwest corner Ruslo finds a hidden letter.
--
PLAYER HANDOUT #5: FIMBRIK’S NOTE
Well, you got me!
I’m not here anymore, and my house is filled with an incredible array of illusions to discourage the curious. But you just had to break in. I respect your gumption and assume you’re either a petty burglar or someone looking into Eylysia’s affairs.
I’ve left Absalom to look for my friend, for she’s been missing for some time; however, I’ve attached the name of a particular Pathfinder you’ll want to investigate at the Wall of Names at the Society Grand Lodge. I assure you, it’s quite important, but I’ll leave you to figure out why.
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 a name: Doulgonlir Caskmail
You depart to check the lead involving Arkath. Details left by Selmius Foster indicate the location of Arkath’s burial site: a plot of land in Eastgate operated by the faith of Sarenrae.
A fence surrounds the necropolis grounds, and although members of the faith of Asmodeus and city guards routinely patrol the property, you know that it is still legal to enter the grounds to respect the departed.
Arkath’s crypt is the northernmost structure on the map that you found in Selmius documents.
While the gates into the necropolis are left open to those paying their respects, the doors of the mausoleums are sealed with sturdy stone slabs.
You depart to check the lead involving Arkath. Details left by Selmius Foster indicate the location of Arkath’s burial site: a plot of land in Eastgate operated by the faith of Sarenrae.
A fence surrounds the necropolis grounds, and although members of the faith of Sarenrae and city guards routinely patrol the property, you know that it is still legal to enter the grounds to respect the departed.
Arkath’s crypt is the northernmost structure on the map that you found in Selmius documents.
While the gates into the necropolis are left open to those paying their respects, the doors of the mausoleums are sealed with sturdy stone slabs.
You all join forces and are able to enter the mausoleum with strength. You look into the mausoleum.
Arkath must have paid a substantial sum to have his remains guarded here as the mausoleum houses only 24 sarcophagi and the names clearly mark many of the other deceased as nobility.
Arkath's sarcophagus is the first you see when looking into the mausoleum. It is quite simple but very well made. His name is engraved in Taldan. There are no obvious religious symbols to be seen.
"Halt!"
You suddenly hear a shout and turn around to see a female in robes and a large pendant with the holy symbol of Sarenrae approaching. She already has her scimitar drawn and looks quite angry.
This seems to be a mid-ranking cleric of Sarenrae and based on your knowledge she has the responsibility to watch over the tombs of the honored remains of friends of the church. You also know that especially for clerics of Sarenrae guarding the sanctity of the tombs is the cleric’s primary responsibility.
You know this woman! This is Onyeka. After rampaging orcs destroyed her home in Lastwall, she came to Absalom in search of a new life. Not fully able to quench the fire in her soul, she found solace only in the teachings of Sarenrae. Onyeka is savage in her persecution of wrongdoers, adhering to a more militant interpretation of the Dawnflower’s teachings.
The woman approaching shouts out loud "Who goes there?!"
|
|
"Really?! A cleric of Sarenrae? How delightful! My owl tells me I was once a paladin of Iomedae until I died." He smiles. "Have you ever died before? I imagine its quite unpleasant. I can't recall quite how it felt... It's all sort of.... fuzzy."
He shrugs. "But then, of course, everything is fuzzy these days. I think."
|
|
Unfortunately, despite keeping an eye out for approaching clerics, Erashava is completely caught off guard by the appearance of the woman!
Taking a deep breath, she approaches the woman, hoping to keep her away from the tomb.
"Greetings, Priestess. I am Erashava of the Concordance of Elements, representative of the Elemental Planes. I have come to pay my respects to the stonemason Arkath. Is this not acceptable in your cemetery?"
Filuvius sloshes after Erashava with a dopey smile on its face. It's tentacles reach out to touch the woman.
|
|
Erashava gently pushes down Filuvius' tentacle and turns to speak to him.
"I'm afraid not. If she wanted to share with you she would not have drawn her sword. See that it's sharp? That would hurt most beings." Then she switches to a foreign tongue that sounds like waves and bubbles.
Erashava looks back at the cleric. "This is Filuvius of the Plane of Water. It desires to learn the secrets of your cemetery so that it no longer causes you offence."
Filuvius' smile widens. At Erashava's words it's face holes move up and down along its head and orb-like chest. Clearly it is trying to nod in agreement, but instead of moving its head and face, it only moved its facial features.
"Yesssss.... Teach me... wayssss...."
The female cleric of Sarenrae is still about sixty feet away from you and is approaching slowly.
When she sees that you have opened the Mausoleum and that two of you are entering she shouts again.
"You will all come out of the Mausoleum and present yourself! Immediately!"
The cleric is still approaching with her scimitar and speaks with barely restrained hostility although you see that your words have calmed her down.
"I hear you talking and you sound as if you have many reasons to enter a tomb that I have to protect! Tell me what you want in this Mausoleum exactly!"
You can detect patterns in her speech that are uncharacteristically aggressive for a servant of the Dawnflower. Obviously, this servant of Sarenrae knows of her patron’s lessons of compassion but in this case chooses to ignore them.
The cleric itches for a fight, and if you act in a manner that gives her any justification, she will surely spring to attack.