GMTrex's PFS [CORE] 6-10 The Wounded Wisp (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Trexler

Me no get it, do we have bottle? Solomon becomes angry and starts to yell and slam his axe on the table.

Clearly annoyed at more games.

So, off to the mausoleum we go, unless anyone has a better idea?

Heryn shakes her head at Dolgrim. "That's my only one..." Her voice sounds a little shaken and awed.

A visit to Dreng himself (at the Grand Lodge, as he has returned from his rainy stakeout) proves inconclusive, and he simply invites enterprising Pathfinders to follow up on what is their discovery, after all. He does ask for all the documents not related to Elysia, however, to be checked against existing records and the Chronicles by other agents.

After this frustrating interlude, the team decides to follow Entorra's suggestion and heads for the Ivy District, where Foster's notes indicate Arkath's tomb can be found.

1d4 ⇒ 2

The modest graveyard currently has only one visit, a woman with a streak of white in black hair that reaches midway down her black and purple robes. A Pharasmin dagger sits on a thin belt around her waist. Arkath's tomb is located on the other side of the cemetery.

"Wow, I've never seen a graveyard so big! The one in my village is so tiny compared to this." She skips ahead of the group, stopping to look at headstones here and there.

When she spots the lone lady she approaches and greets her, "Hi I'm Amelie. We're Pathfinders and here to investigate the tomb of Arkath. Do you know anything about it?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"I see..." the woman answers slowly. "I am called Hadriana, and I protect this holy place." She considers the energetic woman for a moment. "You may view the tomb. Do not take anything from it." She points to the impressive structure at the north end of the graveyard, and follows the party to it.

After removing the heavy stone slab that seals the tomb, the Pathfinders descend a small set of steps to the sunken chamber below. The inside of the tomb is not particularly interesting, so the team peels open the sarcophagus. A careful inspection of the yellowed skeleton reveals a small silver coin tucked in the mouth of the skull.

"That coin is magical."

He then turns to the graveyard guardian.

"We are seeking clues to a centuries-old mystery, one of which was deliberately left here by that tomb's occupant. With you permission, I would like to take a closer look at the coin; I have no intention of stealing it - I just want to examine it properly."

I'll do the honor of casting. Casting guidance followed by detect magic.

Tanariel covers his face as he mumbles to himself and rubs his eyes. He pulls his hands down and regards the coin in the corpse's throat.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16

"I see..." Hadriana replies. "That would be fine."

Tanariel considers the coin for a moment. I'll grant a circumstance bonus for being a Pathfinder. He announces that it is a very special coin, known as a Pathfinder's Coin. When placed above a wayfinder, the coin will play a short message that is then erased permanently.

"Does anyone here have a Wayfinder?"

If not, I am sure we can go and find someone who would be willing to come back here with us, so we can activate the coin.

"Would anyone here have a wayfinder?"

"I was waiting until I finished my first mission and became a true Pathfinder"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Dolgrym shakes his head dolefully. "Nae, I have not quite earned mine either." He strokes his beard in thought as he wonders who amongst those he knows would have one.

Me no know what that is. Solomon stares blankly into the graveyard, a sense of peace sweeps over him, and faint sounds calling to him. "Come home..."

Hadriana listens quietly in the background, but does not speak up.

Plan?

"Well then, shall we see if someone back at the Wisp has one?"

Dolgrym nods in agreement. "Aye, that be the best idea."

"The Wisp is where the Society began so they're sure to have one laying around!"

"Out of respect for the dead, we should return the coin for now," Tanariel adds. Turning to Hadriana, he adds, "You are most kind, and thank you for your services. Not all can do the work you do here. Can we expect you here, keeping your vigil, until we return?"

Hadriana nods.

The Pathfinders find the Wisp much as they left, only a little more crowded. Janira happily offers the services of her wayfinder, which she lends out under the solemn oath from each that they will do all in their power to return it to her without a single (new) scratch.

Hadriana keeps her silent word and is there to greet the party on their return to the cemetery. After carefully removing the coin and placing it atop the wayfinder the coin levitates slightly and spins before a gravelly voice fills the air:

"The path and chamber are complete, hidden behind the nameplate of the requested aspirant and guarded by the word you requested. Fimbrik will add more."

Stephen nods in satisfaction.

"Right then. Our first clue. Let's see what we can find at the other sites."

He then makes sure that the coin is replaced, and the tomb closed.

Stephen then bows to Hadriana.

"Thank-you for your forbearance."

He then turns to the others.

"Shall we go to the wall next?"

3d10 ⇒ (1, 5, 4) = 10

The party agrees to Stephen's suggestion and trudges over to the Grand Lodge. In a secluded grove along the northwest edge of the campus, the Wall of Names is a solemn monument built in 4330 AR to honor none other than Selmius Foster himself after his death on the isle of Bhopan. The curving wall of black glass winds its way through shade trees atop a small hill, offering privacy and quiet for those wishing to pay respects to fallen comrades. Carved into the Wall are the names and dates of death of every Pathfinder killed in the course of duty since its construction, and many entries include a brief comment on the agent's greatest achievements or circumstance of death.

It takes some time--many Pathfinders have fallen over the centuries--but the group eventually finds the three names mentioned in Adolphus' notes along an early section of the Wall. They read:

Doulgonlir Caskmail
Deceased 4332 AR
Sought the jade idol of ten thousand faces. Now but another sacrifice to the charau-ka of the Mwangi.

Hollis "Evil Grin" Thorne
Deceased 4331 AR
Sought to brave the Path of Aganhei. Spoiled rations and wastefulness ended that dream.

Karina Clamp
Deceased 4330 AR
Travelled to distant Jalmeray. Failed to maintain the necessary Sixteen Poses.

In each epitaph, some specific words are underlined. It's the bolded ones (Paizo doesn't have a tag for underlining.) So: sacrifice, rations and wastefulness, Sixteen Poses.

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28.

"You know...", Stephen says thoughtfully, "These underlined terms may be references to portfolios of the Failed Aspirants, the motley collection of brave or foolish individuals who tried the Test of the Starstone and failed to achieve apotheosis. Each had a certain profile, a certain area of interest, that might have become their godly portfolio had they succeeded. There is a somewhat mysterious Shrine of the Failed in the Ascendant Court, where some venerate or pay respects to those who died in the attempt. If this assumption is correct, the Aspirants in question would be Demuren, Plokkis, and Oggo."

He then smiles.

"I guess that explains the rather cryptic message that was left on the coin! I guess we now just need to find-out the guardian word... Perhaps Fimbrik has that?"

To Fimbrik's place!

"It seems like we are starting to figure all this out! It's like a giant scavenger hunt, this is so much fun!"

The druid listens attentively at the knowledgeable wizard's words, before tugging at his beard and shrugging, as awkward as such a combination of expressions appear to be. "These clues, if you be calling them such, befuddles me mightily. I be glad you be working it out, as I'd be spinning in place like a pup after its tail, were this up to me."

"To Fimbrik's place it is." With a frown and a puzzled look, Dolgrym adds. "Eh, does anyone know where Fimbrik's place be?"

Knowledge(Local - location of Fimbrik's place?): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16.

Foster kindly provided an address.

The Pathfinders head to the Wise Quarter, armed with another clue. A brick step leads to the front entrance of the richly-built stone house. Numerous stacks of newspapers--roughly 2 years’ worth of monthly copies--are piled around the door and crammed into a thin slot at its base. Each rounded corner of the building has a large picture window.

"Well, that doesn't look good..", Stephen says, eying the piles of newspapers.

He then gingerly moves to peek in the windows, to see if anyone is home.

Although it seems to be a forlorn hope...

"Fimbrik, a gnome, member of the Arcanamirium? Why do I think that we shouldn't trust appearances?"

Tanariel reaches into the stack for a random newspaper. What is the headline? he wonders. Is it a real headline?

Me no like this, I don't get it, we go one place to another. Did we ever get bottle? he asks to the smarter of the party to try and understand the mission.

1d2 ⇒ 2

Stephen peeks through the window east of the door. Inside he sees a rich library, with tall bookshelves, ornate ladders, a polished reading table, and comfortable looking chairs. To his surprise, a well-dressed gnome strolls in after a moment and begins thumbing through a shelf, blue-hair sticking out in all directions from under his purple hat.

The headline of Tanariel's random daily reads LORD GYR PURSUING DIVORCE, ABSALOM NOBLES FEAR SHAKEUP.

"If we want to know if anyone's home why don't we just knock and find out? That is the polite thing to do after all." And with that she pushes her way to the day and gives it two loud raps.

Amelie waits at the door expectantly. No response comes. Stephen reports that the gnome in the window does not seem to have noticed the knocking.

Stephen tries tapping on the glass of the window, to see if he can get the gnome's attention.

Me get us inside.Solomon just barges in the house. Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

"Solomon... May I suggest that breaking down doors is possibly not the best way to introduce ourselves...?"

The gnome ignores Stephen long enough for Solomon to simply smash his way in. Before the half-orc can make introductions, a summoning circle in the living room activates and three buzzing creatures appear, mandibles clacking angrily!

Round I -- bold may act!
1. Amelie, Tanariel, Dolgrym, Solomon, Stephen, Entorra
2. Bugs

Hm, that is my kinda solution. Break first, ask questions later.

Entorra, enters the premises as there has already been something sprung. She draws her curved blade, and tries to slice one of the beetles in two. Her blade, cuts through whatever skeletal structure the beetle thinks it has and goo covers her blade.

Remind me to clean my blade off after this, preferably with the drapes from this tacky home.

Elven Curveblade: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 for slash damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Entorra dutifully slays the beetle! It poofs into nothingness.

Round I -- bold may act!
1. Amelie, Tanariel, Dolgrym, Solomon, Stephen, Entorra
2. Bugs

Stephen sighs.

"This is why breaking down doors should never be the first option..."

Nevertheless, he moves to assist, by tossing a blob of acid at one of the beetles.

Acid Splash (Ranged Touch): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13, for 1d3 ⇒ 1 Acid damage.

"Please, Entorra, let's not be rude. I've got a perfectly good old newspaper you can use for the purpose."

Tanariel moves near the door to the east. As he pulls out his crossbow, he calls out, "Excuse me, Mr. Fimbrik, sir? We apologize for the door. The Pathfinder Society will mend it for you. Would it be too much to call off your guards?"

Dolgrym trails the group into the room, and hastily extracts his scimitar as he eyes the summoned beetles warily. "Oho! Why be so hostile? We be but paying you a visit, eh?"

Solomon moves up and attacks the other beetle. Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 121d12 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

1d20 ⇒ 20 The gnome ignores Tanariel's entreaties. And pretty much everything altogether, actually. Perhaps his books really are that interesting.

Solomon smashes another beetle and Stephen damages the last carapace with some acid! Dolgrym prepares himself for combat in alarm.

Round I -- bold may act!
1. Amelie, Tanariel, Dolgrym, Solomon, Stephen, Entorra
2. Bugs (1 dmg)

"I don't think it's polite for us to barge in like this! But I can't stand around and let my new friends get hurt either." Amelie is hesitant about entering the house uninvited but wanting to help her allies, she draws her bow and steps inside.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 81d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Amelie's bow spears a couch cushion! The menacing beetle advances on Solomon and bites angrily into his green toes!

Bite @ Solomon: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 HIT Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Round II -- bold may act!
1. Amelie, Tanariel, Dolgrym, Solomon (8/11 hp), Stephen, Entorra
2. Bugs (1 dmg)

Ow! Me no like bugs! Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d12 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Entorra, move u next to the aggressive beetle and takes a jack at it.

1d1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 for slash damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"He's not here, it's just another illusion," Tanariel calls despondently. "I'll just see what other traps he might have set up around here."

Cast detect magic and look around.

Stephen tosses another blob of acid at the beetle.

Acid Splash: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3, for 1d3 ⇒ 1 Acid damage.

The party ably lays waste to the last beetle. Stephen acrimoniously singes the plush couch.

Out of combat!

Tanariel's magick detects two auras that emanate from liquid vials long forgotten on the sill. One contains a blue liquid, the other clear. Spellcraft checks!

A search of the property does not take long, as the proprietor has left any visitors a rather cute message on the table in the next room (along with another illusion). See Handouts.