Ferabras lays into the false priest with a vengeance approaching righteousness. Egarthis tries to defend himself, but the blows are too much! He falls to his knees with a muttered "Razmir curse your soul, fiend..." as he falls and begins bleeding out!
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Mikail lets out a howl that quickly turns to a whimper as the dog tears into his body, almost ending the kitsune right there. Gathering the last of his reserves, he strikes back. a frail hit, but his sword comes away bloody once more. praying its enough, he takes a step back and draws his potion of healing he picked up earlier.
Mikail's blade thunks home, causing the hound to yelp!
The first arrow goes wide, but the second arrow pierces the hound's skull and in a flash of oily smoke, it disappears!
As Egarthis lies bleeding, you have a chance to look around the largest bedroom. A large plush bed on the south wall, facing a carved oak desk
on the north side, furnishes this large and opulently decorated chamber. In the center of the room, a large carpet, woven with the mask of the Razmir at its center, spreads across the floor.
On a table by the bed lay a small whip, a pair of manacles, two bottles of Andoren brandy, and four vials of exotic perfumes.
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Ferabras considers Egarthis' still form, as his foul blood stains the white mask woven into the carpet. "As much as I'd like to leave him here to die," Ferabras offers, "for what he's done to the people of this city as well as the harm he's caused to the very idea of faith in a proper god, I feel we need to bring him to a more formal justice." He picks up the manacles from the table and binds the priest's hands with them, and tears a strip of sheet from the bed and gags him, then lays a healing hand on Egarthis to stem his bleeding.
When the high priest awakens, Ferabras says, "You'll soon learn what profit there is in serving your false god, as you pay handsomely for your lies and thievery."
Egarthis snarls something into the gag and stares daggers at you.
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Mikail tries futilely to bind his wounds, then waves off Zolarus as he approaches with his wand. "I think this time, the potion is in order, my friend. I don't want to use all of your charges.." and with these words, he drinks heartily from the flask, wincing and grimacing as the magic knits flesh and bone.
Bouncing out of the puddle of blood he created, he turns his attentions to the room, before going over to the downed Egarthis and helping Ferabras. "I don't like you, but you may be able to save us some trouble, and if not, I am sure the city council would like a body to hang.." he says with uncharacteristic seriousness before getting out his rope and binding his hands tightly. [b]"You have ruined a lot of lives, and I am sure that the true gods will have something to say to you once the city is done with your miserable carcass.
You search the room, but it is Hoshiko who discovers the true gem: a hidden latch on the desk that causes a panel to slide down and reveals three ledgers. The first chronicles every copper the temple has taken in since its founding, including detailed notes concerning how it was obtained. Most of the listed transactions are illegal in Tamran, from slave trade and drug deals to blackmail and protection schemes. The second ledger covers how the money is spent, from bribing known officials and guardsmen to paying for illegal goods and services. The tome also records a number of notes of tribute, covering vast sums of money sent back to Razmir for the Living God’s tithes. The third ledger, though mostly empty, covers all of the temple’s exploits in Kassen, including detailed reports from the priests sent there to retrieve the “fragments.” This ledger ends with a short paragraph dated around 2 weeks ago.
It reads: "Now that I have the completed amulet, I shall return to the City of Golden Death to finish what was started all those years ago.
At the time, I thought Kassen was a fool for insisting that we abandon
such wealth, but now I must thank him. The treasure shall enrich the
Living God, so that he will never die. Such is the price of immortality.
Now I must return to the Isle of Terror, and I cannot say that my journey will be without terrible danger. May Razmir protect me." It is written in a feminine hand.
Mikail spends a few moments working on the desk drawer, but pops the lock to reveal a small treasure trove. Inside is a small leather bag with 50 pp, a potion of invisibility, and a silver raven figurine of wondrous power.
All of the sudden you hear a gasp from the doorway! A masked priest looks in, sees the dead heralds and the trussed Egarthis and rushes back toward the stairs screaming "WE ARE UNDONE! FLEE! FLEE" The sound of running feet and opening doors echoes up the stairs.
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"Let them run. We have their names and crimes listed between all of these ledgers." Mikail suggests to Hoshiko. "We have the boss, and it looks like we also have some travelling ahead of us to find out about this amulet. Lets finish searching this place and then go meet up with Reginar." With that, Mikail begins to stuff everything into his pack except for the figurine and potion of invisibility. The potion goes into a belt pouch for later, the figurine he holds up to those with more experience in such things and asks "Anyone know what this is?"
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Ferabras takes a few steps in pursuit of the fleeing priest, pausing when Hoshiko suggests it could be a trap. As Mikail makes the case for letting them flee, Ferabras nods and adds another thought, "And with their names and crimes, as you say, we will see each and every one of them brought to justice." He gives Egarthis a slightly un-paladin-like kick to make his point, then assists the kitsune in collecting the evidence.
Gathering the things you've found, you head cautiously downstairs, but discover the Temple deserted. Following orders you head over to the Forest Bounty, where Reginar is gladdened to see you. Looking swiftly over the ledgers he nods slowy. "This is... this is incriminating, for sure! I'll inform Forest Marshall Gavik immediately. This should see that damnable cult outlawed for sure. But, this letter and the reference to the amulet troubles me. This 'City of the Golden Death' and the treasure? What evil could these cultists do with such resources? I need a stout band to head there and set things right. How about it? Are you game?"
Reginar is as good as his word, and puts you up in accomodations while the Forest Marshall rounds up crooked guards and cultists over the next three days. On the morning of the fourth day, you're called down to an early breakfast. Reginar looks flushed and it's clear he's been working for a while.
"I have chartered a boat to take you to the Isle of Terror. You leave in an hour about the Black Mist. But first, there are things I need to tell you about the Isle." He sits down and begins to lecture.
The Pathfinder Chronicles state that the City of Golden Death was once a thriving metropolis called Kestrillon, a shining beacon of magical research. Tar-Baphon himself led an army onto the island, conquered the city, and renamed the city Xin-Grafar after the Thassilonian style. He stored his wealth there, protecting it with a nefarious trap.
Later, the Chronicles say, Tar-Baphon used the city as a base from which to build the Wizard-King’s Pit, a trap for the god Aroden. Tar-Baphon lured the Last Azlanti to the island in the hopes that he’d be able to force Aroden to descend into the pit. Aroden would then be sucked to the bottom and deposited on the Negative Energy Plane, where he would succumb to that plane’s energies. When Aroden successfully thwarted the wizard-king’s attempt on his life, Tar-Baphon was destroyed, though he would later rise again as the Whispering Tyrant, one of Golarion’s most feared nightmares. The Wizard-King’s Pit was never destroyed and lies open, connecting the lush, forested island to the Negative Energy Plane—a connection that, over time, has laid waste to the land around it and given the island its current name and reputation.
Reginar is well versed in Isle of Terror lore and warns you never to let your guard down while you are there. He talks of great, island-encompassing, negative energy storms that periodically wrack the middle of Lake Encarthan for months at a time and describes warped wildlife, twisted terrain features, and poisonous streams. Many Pathfinders have explored the Isle of Terror but very few have returned—those who have are often changed by their experience and speak only of dark things that hunted them in the night and bolts of pure negative energy that hounded their every waking moment.
Reginar explains that he needs you to go to the Isle of Terror aboard the Black Mist, find Iramine, and recover the amulet before she can use it to plunder Xin-Grafar in the name of the Living God. Once you have the amulet, Reginar instructs you to seal the city behind you so that no one else can access the city’s treasures. Afterward, you should return the amulet fragments to the Crypt of the Everflame and finally put Kassen’s spirit to rest.
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Mikail eats voraciously as Reginar describes the horrors of their destination. Once the ranger is finished, the fox man lets out a bit of a belch and settles back in his chair. "It is a fine thing, good food. We didn't get near enough of it on that last mission.. " he says by way of compliment. "Anyways, how are we supposed to seal the island? That sounds like something an arch mage or something would have more luck doing."
"Indeed. Seems the Captain's a bit fond of you. And willing to risk his ship on the storms that ring the Isle."
Reginar shrugs. "Seal it any way you can. I suspect that amulet of Kassen's might be part of some sort of key to open and close the place. That's where I'd start. Any further questions?"
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Ferabras listens to the description of the Isle of Terror, its origins and ongoing effect on the world. "This is a mission I'll be happy to take on, closing off such a place to the world. If we succeed at this, I feel we'll have made the world a better place, and what more can one ask? Especially since I've already had the chance to see that cursed Egarthis' face when he realized he would face justice for what he'd done."
The tiefling's fierce face splits into a black-toothed grin at Mikail's excitement, and he says to his friends, "I am also happy we'll be working together again. Though the lightning causes me less excitement than it does for some. If we run into any of it, Mikail, I suggest you enjoy it from behind me, where it might hurt you less."
In an hour you're standing on the docks meeting Captain Walren once more. "Aye, I'd heard ye might be needin' a ride again, lads. And since I'm not workin' at the moment, figgered I oughta give ye a ride to the Isle. Still, usual rules apply. Do as yer told and we'll be fine, eh?"
Walren takes the helm and you bid adieu to Reginar, who waves as you take off. Walren tells you his plan is simple: hug the coast until he can't anymore, then head straight into the storm.
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On their way to the docks, Mikail slips aside into the crowded streets, muttering about being right back. He throws the hood of his cloak up and quietly meanders about the market and streets, trying to discern what he can about the mission ahead of them. He speaks little, but does his best to discover every little tidbit of information he can.
Meeting back up with the party on the docks, he eagerly jumps aboard and greets the Captain. "Hi there!! Its so good to see you again, Captain! I am so excited about the Isle.. Have you been there before? Have you seen this lightening they told us about? Hey, are we going to have crab stew again? That was really good last time!" Mikails incessant chatter continues through the long day as he helps as he can around the ship. Some of the sailors are agreeably tolerant of the kitsune, while others cant wait to empty a water barrel or two so they can have somewhere to stash the jabbermouth. That night at dinner, he relays to the others all he heard while moving through town.
Over the course of the day you see several fishing boats and trading vessels on Lake Encarthan, as well as what you believe is a Razmiran Faith Barge, a boat known for hijacking other vessels for the glory of Razmir. However today they stay away and knowing your time crunch, you don't pursue.
As the evening falls, however, Captain Walren aims the boat toward the stormy horizon and you're soon engulfed by heavy rain and storms. "Should take about a day!" The Captain calls over the noise of thunder and the crashing waves. You head into the captain's cabin to wait out the worst of it. However, you've barely fallen into a storm-tossed sleep when a moan wakes you.
Standing in the doorway is the shape of a man. He's soaked to the skin, pale and shivering. He looks like death, which is appropriate, because you can clearly see that he disappears from the knees down... It raises one hand toward you and water flows from its mouth, disappearing as it hits the deck.
Round 1:
Ghost
Heroes!
The ghost throws its head back and moans loudly, a sound that drips with smothering lake water and despair.
Heroes are up!
A sudden chill wind, perhaps driven by the ghost's presence here, passes over you and you remember the brief detour you took before setting out to stop Iramine and the cult of Razmir!
...
Forest Marshal Gavirk looks tired and weary as he calls you into the small dining room. Forest Marshal Weslen Gavirk heard of the Molthuni incursion against Fangwood Keep through his Chernasardo scouts, and is looking for a small group to fix the problem before it gets out of hand. Much blood has already been spilled over Fangwood Keep, and Gavirk hopes that by sending a neutral party to reclaim the castle, he can stem further violence surrounding the fortification.
Gavirk has learned that a rogue Molthuni commander has taken Fangwood Keep and slain numerous Nirmathi soldiers in the raid. He informs you that the Molthuni soldiers bore the sign of a mailed fist grasping a broken arrow, but otherwise possesses no clues as to the troops’ specific station within the Molthuni military. His scouts report that the force was about 30 strong, and that its apparent commander is frequently seen alongside a changeling spellcaster of some sort. He advises you to use stealth during their mission, since taking on the entire Molthuni force all at once would almost certainly result in defeat.
He does inform you of secret entrances on the keep’s northern side (areas A2 and A4), and tells you to look for a stone engraved with four interwoven circles as a marker for one of the secret entrances. Once you eliminate the Molthuni force occupying Fangwood Keep, Gavirk gives you orders to hold the fort for several days while he and the other Nirmathi leaders organize a larger force to garrison the base.
As a bonus Gavirk gives you two elixirs of hiding, a scroll of knock, and a scroll of hold portal, and allows you to purchase additional supplies from the quartermaster before embarking upon your quest. When you're ready he has a wizard standing by who can teleport you near the Keep. He's apologetic, but he needs good men and you're the best he's got.
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Listening to the Commander Hoshiko asks, "So you want us to sneak in and take over this Keep from an armed force of 30 men, and then hold the keep from assault by ourselves for an undetermined period of time until you can come to our aid....sounds suicidal. What else dl you know of this spellcaster?"
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Ferabras listens intently as they're briefed on the mission, confident that right will prevail as they take on the small garrison that has seized control of the keep. His deep red skin pales a bit, however, when the Forest Marshal advises them on a strategic approach. We're to sneak in? Hmm, I won't be any good at that. I'd best prepare.
He has no further questions for Gavirk, though he makes a point of visiting the quartermaster for more of the potion that makes it easier to move unnoticed.
Gavirk looks thoughtful for a moment. "I have... certain contacts in the Molthuni army. We've been at war so long, that, well, men of war often recognize honor across the battlefield. We may differ, but I trust him. He tells me that this band are renegades. They'll receive no aid from Molthune. But Molthune cannot openly evict them, not from a Nirmathan fort."
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Soran shrugs.
At least we'll be outdoors there more than we were in that compound. I'll buy some things before we head out and hopefully we won't have too much trouble. I should be able to sneak in unnoticed, if we decide to try and scout the place first.
The tiny clockwork dragonfly flits around his head as he speaks, and he rubs his chin thoughtfully as he watches it for a moment.
Perhaps we'll need as many things as we can to increase our ability for subterfuge in this one. It won't be easy to pull an all out assault, so guerilla tactics are our best bet.