Swinging his pick as the creature turns away, Rerois is surprised by the creatures rapid movements. His swinging connecting with air where the dwarf once stood.
John fires another glob at the ice chunk, missing.
Whether it was the cold shock, or her calm nature, it's hard to say, but Faliana manages to get her inner voice to calm down. Much to everyones surprise, she proceeds to do a double back flip, shoving her spear through the block of ice and into the creatures spine as she lands. The undead being begins to fall, crumbling as it does so.
Khardum hustles up to the scene, staring in awe at his companion as Rerois manages to finally connect with the foul being.
Syndra holds off her attack, having realized the destiny of the long dead man has already been sealed; she sees no reason in wasting her efforts.
Syndra
Rerois
Dwarf Ghoul
Uliyara
John
Khardum
Faliana
Chunks of frozen flesh, a kidney and part of a liver.
Some decayed clothing...and...
A dwarven beard clasp!
On the table you find a finely crafted dwarven waraxe (Containing the same sigil as the beard clasp) and a pack.
You find a personal diary, written in Dwarven.
As you search the other rooms, you find nothing of interest. Just some old abandoned bunkrooms with decaying furniture.
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Surprised she was able to pull the manuever off, Faliana gives a slight smile as she watches the ghoul crumble to the ground. "I'm glad I was able to pull that off. I've only done it a few times in practice and almost alway with Gravin," she says, before anybody tries to compliment her too much. She steps up to the corpse and examines it, but only backs away with a disgusted look on her face and hands a small object that had been in the creature's beard to Khardum.
She gives the rooms a cursory examination with everyone else but stays distracted. After they examine the rest of the rooms and return to the hallway, she gives a sigh and says, "Fine, but don't take too long." After this her face convulses and Sasha takes back over. He immediately rushes to the ghoul's corpse and starts a simple funeral ceremony. As part of the ceremony he casts a spell and creates a coouple of gallons of water over the corspe and watches as it freezes over again. When he finishes he turns to the group and gives a beaming smile, "There, his soul should be able to find its way now!"
Faliana takes back over and gathers her things together, stating, "The part of the Sky Key we are looking for is obvioulsy not in these rooms. Should we check the rest of the place for secret tunnels like the one in the entry way?"
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Khardum takes the beard clasp and then goes to examine the rest of the items on the ghoul's desk. He takes his time to scan the journal. "Poor soul. Magrim rest him, now he's free."
He collects the journal, translating the last passages for the others, and the fine war axe.
"The Society will want to see these."
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John helps search the body, checking for magical auras as he does. He then follows after Khardum and listens intently to the translation, "thank you Khardum for translating. Here I was thinking you were just a pretty face on this mission, but you have many other useful skills!" He starts listing the 'many skills' off, including being grumpy, being happy, etc...
You suddenly hear a lot of neighing coming from the direction of the cave opening, followed by hoof stomping.
"Oh no! Your horse is in trouble!" exclaims the Jadwiga woman. Turning, she rushes towards the entrance.
===========================
Syndra
Guards/bear
John
Faliana
Uliyara
Kiryena/elemental
Khardum
Rerois
Syndra spies an ice bear coming down the tunnel towards the horse. Behind the ice wolf, two guards move into the open cavern and level their massive crossbows at the horse.
One of the guards yells out "Under orders of the Baroness, we offer you spies but one chance to surrender! Release your prisoner and you will face justice in court!"
Syndra
Guards/bear
John
Faliana
Uliyara
Kiryena/elemental
Khardum
Rerois
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Faliana calls out back down the hallway, "Oh, Ashava and all the great Empryal Lords above! She's NOT A PRISONER! She's guiding us of her own free will. First the wolf and then this. Sheesh." When she finishes, she looks at Syndra and in a lower voice comments, "As distrustful as your soothsaying may have been, it looks like you were right." With a sigh, she turns to Rerois and lets Sasha give him a quick benediction. As the warrior's wounds start to close, she slides of after Syndra.
Working her way closer to see what's going on, Uliyara cries out "They aren't spies. There's no need for violence here."
A woman's voice comes from the entrance, "Uliyara? Why would you be with such people? You know our ways! Perhaps they've charmed her. Kill them! Save my cousin!"
Syndra
Guards/bear
John
Faliana
Uliyara
Kiryena/elemental
Khardum
Rerois
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Syndra continues moving forward while the discussion takes place. As she moves she pulls out the reagent spirit of wine, and uses it as a power component as she chants words of magic. A pit opens in the floor between Syndra and the guards, however placed so that it does not harm anyone . When the casting is finished, she calmly turns to the guards and starts to speak.
"Please do not intend this as a means of doing you harm. As you know with magic I could have put this anywhere with intent to harm you. However, this is merely just a defensive measure intended to create some distance between us while we talk. I mean you no harm, and as proof, I shall lay down my weapons. I'm interested to know more about those that the honorable baroness sent after us, and if it is your wish to try us for crimes, I will defer to the baronesses wishes after this spell dissipates."
Obviously a bit confused by this turn of events, the guards move a few feet forward and train their weapons at Syndra. However they don't fire.
"Kiryena, they...uh...seem to be surrendering...Kind of..." mumbles the one closest to the pit.
One whistles to the icebear, who stops at the edge of the sloped area, growling.
Syndra
Guards/bear
John
Faliana
Uliyara
Kiryena/elemental
Khardum
Rerois
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John moves up and stands just in front of Syndra, providing some cover if the guards change their mind. He speaks forcefully, "I agree, we aren't exactly surrendering. But we are willing to talk." He points his dagger at the crossbows and bear, "if you are willing to stand down then perhaps we could have a civilized conversation. As my allies and our friend, Uliyara have said repeatedly, we have permission from the Baroness to be here.
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Taking note of what the rest of the group is doing Faliana hustles closer, but still unable to see their attackers. She then takes off her backpack with it's longaxe and scarf as well as dropping her long spear. While she does she adds a few words of her own. "As my friends have said we are here with proper permission, that we obtained with witnesses." This last note is accompanied with the sound of her longspear hitting the ice.
Uliyara hustles up to John, holding a hand out towards the would be attackers "They tell the truth. I am not harmed or charmed. I am here of my own desires! Let us have a civil conversation please!"
Turning towards the adventuring party, she adds "Please, hold any hostilities. They mean well, even if misguided."
"Stay your attacks, for now." Growls the woman. Dressed in all white, the symbol of Dalun showing clear on her robes. She seems remarkably comfortable in the elements, even though she wears no furs and is barefoot. "We'll here what you have to say, but if I don't like it, we'll take you prisoner!"
The small block of ice takes flight and soars across the pit, but does nothing else upon landing nearby.
Syndra
Guards/bear
John
Faliana
Uliyara
Kiryena/elemental
Khardum
Rerois
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Khardum slowly scrambles over the icy floor. "I need some of those cleats," he states as he grips the corner of the hall with his free hand for stability.
"We just finished saving Haltani from some cursed dwarf-ghoul. And that was after some winter wolf tried to take her to Saarboten. It didn't go well for the wolf. Why would we want to hurt her?"
One of the guards turns to point his crossbow at John. Neither guard says a word as they wait further instructions.
Syndra
Guards/bear
John
Faliana
Uliyara
Kiryena/elemental
Khardum
Rerois
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Leaving her weapons and bag where she dropped them, Faliana slips, figuratively and sometimes literally, into place next to Syndra. She then gives the group a calm smile and looking over before noticing one of the guards who had been guarding the Baroness. She gives him a small wave and exclaims, "See, one of the people who witnessed our interactions with the Baroness is here. He should be able to verify that we used no magic on her other plain old words. If we are pursuasive enough for that why resort to charms on her daughter?"
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John slowly slides his dagger back into the sheath, then points at the guard. ”You there, good sir. We met back at the Baroness’ estate. You can vouch that we were given four days to do our business and return to her.” He turns to Kiryena, ”our business here is complete. You are more than welcome to confirm our account as to our actions, however we are not willing to disclose anything further except to the Baroness. We would also be happy to be ‘escorted’ back to the Baroness to accept her ruling in this matter, but we will not be disarmed. Our group has already been attacked by the wolf outside and a ghoul in here and are unwilling to leave ourselves at the mercy of further attacks.” He bows briefly to her, ”we heavily regret the death of the one outside and are grateful that you are listening to us instead of attacking. Thank you.” John ends with a friendly smile, waiting for a response.
The white faced woman eyes you warily, glaring at Uliyara. "Fine. Regarding that wolf, it was from a rival nation. It's death was the right thing. Once this pit disappears, we'll have a proper conversation."
Smiling Uliyara turns to Joh and whispers "I suggest you not show my mother that journal. She would likely confiscate it. Just keep this in mind."
Loudly, as the pit dissolves, she continues. "I would very much like to thank all of you for such an exciting adventure. It would be fun to become a pathfinder I think. With a little training, you think I could handle it?"
Stopping suddenly at the request, Kiryena's glare intensifies. 'After what the pathfinders have done to our nation...she wants to become one?!' Though, she says nothing.
As the group approaches you, the guard you'd seen previusly mumbles "I was sent...your mention of the royal daughter raised concern...especially since she wasn't present in our negation with pathfinders..."
"You hush! We've no need to explain ourselves. We were under the orders of the ruler of this land!" barks Kiryena. Looking over her cousin thoroughly, she laments "I see you have not harmed Uliyara. I suppose your story is likely on the up and up, which is surprising coming from such...such people. We'll escort her home. You are free to join us in returning to Dalun if you'd like. From there, you can find passage back to your kind."
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John thanks Kiryena for her judicious decision to listen to them before assuming the worst. He does not answer any questions about their 'adventure' from their escort.
As they leave the site, John assists Faliana with the burial, mumbling something about "I couldn't save it from it's fate, but no intelligent being should be left to the scavengers.
On the way back he talks at length with Uliyara about joining the pathfinder society, going over the training and help he was given. He suggests that she would be an excellent pathfinder and hopes she can have the opportunity as he looks forward to working with her again.
In Dalun, when they are alone, he speaks with the group about hiding the journal and not mentioning it if asked.
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Khardum needs no prompting to keep the journal and clasp hidden from the Irriseni on their return trip. The shield and war axe prove impossible to hide, but he carries them naturally.
"Lass, you're as skilled or more as many Pathfinders that I have met," the dwarf encourages Uliyara, "I'd be honored to adventure alongside you again. Shame we didn't find any pieces of that key."
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Syndra continues to meditate until the pit ends. Once the group has made peace she gets up, and starts forward. "As I have foreseen. The Baroness sent you to spy on us, but we come only in peace between your kingdom, and the Pathfinders. Perhaps now the Baroness will believe that what I told her before was true, and our acceptance and care for Uliyara will bring continued strength between us." She bows to the guards, and to Uliyara. As they return to Dalun, Syndra talks to Uliyara about working together in the future, and her excitement for her to join the Pathfinders.
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Glad that the group was able to avoid coming to blows, Faliana helps support John with talking with Kiryena and the guards. When they come to a acceptable arrangement, she heads back to her bag and gathers her things. She then heads out of the caves ad oves over to the fallen wolf, explaining, "We killed him without knowing anything except he was threatening us and Uliyara. As the one who sruck the killing blow, I feel I have to take care of his soul and body. Expecially so that he doesn't come back as an undead."
She gladly accepts John's help as she lets Sasha cast a few create waters to create a small tomb of ice. Finished, she gathers up her hammer and warms it in her hands before strapping it onto her pack.
On the way back to town, Faliana tries to get a moment with Uliyara out of earshot of everyone else.
Faliana gives Uliyara a warm smile. "I know the rest of us have given you plenty of advice and things to think about, but I do think you have what it takes to be a good, no, amazing Pathfinder. Even a good leader, if it should ever come to that." She pauses for a moment, slightly anxious, then continues. "I know who have little interest in ruling, but I'm part of a group that keeps an interest in supporting many of the nobles across the Inner Sea area. If you're interested, the leader of that group would be able to provide advice, support, and a well of information about possiblities for trade." Faliana gives her another sympathetic smile and hands her a piece of paper with Lady Gloriana Morilla's name and adress on it. "Feel free to call on her if you ever need to. Also I hope you hav the best of luck with your goals and with the society as well!." After a moment, the half-elf gives her a warm hug and leads her back to the rest of the group, calmly talking about many of the interesting points of Absalom.
In Dalun, when John starts talking about the journal, Faliana gives him a confused face. "I have no idea what you are talking about." With a slight smile and a wink, she turns to Syndra and starts chattering away about that contaner the elf had pulled out before casting a spell.
Though unhappy to hear you found no relic, Baroness Nadya is thrilled to have her daughter returned. She seems skeptical of the potential training or joining of Uliyara with the pathfinder's society, but laments she'll consider the option.
Turning to John as you are preparing to disembark, Uliyara thanks each of you in turn. "I truly did enjoy our time together. Perhaps we'll do it again! If any of you find yourselves up this way again, look me up."
Your trip back to the Singing Pixie is uneventful, though cold. Once back aboard, you are promptly escorted to the captains cabin for a debriefing.
As you detail the events of your trip, her face shows her obvious disappointment at the lack of a piece of the Sky Key. Upon mention of the journal, she sighs "Well, just let me see that at least."
The woman's eyes light up with excitement as she reads the last entry. She reads it again...and again. Finally, she jumps to her feet. Venture-Captain Benarry’s face breaks into a wide smirk, and she laughs heartily.
“To think, Naldak’s piece of the Sky Key has been in the Hao Jin tapestry all along! Well, easy enough. I’ll just have to have a chat with the Master of Spells about sending a group of agents in to pick it up. The tapestry is vast, and we never would have known where to look if it weren’t for you. To top that off, studying the section of Naldak’s Point that Hao Jin’s magic narrowly missed ripping out of Golarion could teach us more about the tapestry itself. Well done, Pathfinders!”