With the rope in place, it's a relatively simple matter to clamber down and climb back up, and Xanac and Jidai make it across without further incident.
Ahead is the prized bottle, all alone on a shelf by itself, both bottle and shelf covered in a layer or three of dust.
Agis casually grasps the bottleneck, the soft grittiness of the dust squeezing between his fingers. He pulls the bottle to stuff it in his pack, but the bottle only moves an inch with a sudden *click*. The whole shelf swings backward to reveal a hidden passageway in a short stone tunnel!
Beyond, a sturdy silver chain jutting from the ceiling ends in a glowing orb that radiates yellow light across the rectangular room. A simple desk of polished wood, stacked with documents and scattered notes, shelters a pair of wooden chests against the south wall. A series of cracks along the eastern and western walls form accidental entrances into exposed caverns. A thick layer of dust covers just about everything.
"I think our friend Drendle has something else in store for us."
Agis takes his sweet time searching the area.
I've been free to check the thread a lot today, I don't want to drive the action, especially since this is the first run for at least one. I'll lay off.
Reflex 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 Negate? Na....almost all my pbp Wounded Wisp, I fall.
Tsschas is bruised and winded from his fall but all his limbs are still in place. At least he thinks so. Accepting a hand up he looks around and is rather surprised to a hidden passage.
"A hidden hiding place for a safe place? Soft bloods are interesting."
@ S: Our mutual friend Oladon (Mrachni in Everwar) has a nifty browser extension that, among other things, lets you lock a specific profile for each campaign. Helps keep things in order.
"Plan? What plan?" Heryn says in confusion, shaking her shocked expression. "I never knew this was here! What's in there?" Curious though she is, she stays by the stairs, arms already full of garnishes and a couple of bottles.
Agis and Jillia begin dusting off some papers on the desk. 1d6 ⇒ 2 A skittering noise suddenly draws their attention toward one of the crevices--where a small, long-armed creature lithely moves into position to attack!
DC 12 Knowledge (Dungeoneering):
The creature is a choker, an aberration famed for its supreme ability to strangle its prey. One question plus one for every 5 by which you beat the check.
Agis eyes the creature with his ever-raised eyebrow. The Kineticist eyes one of the less valuable looking bottles and wills it forward with shocking speed: Blast:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18. It slams into the beast and shatters. DMG:1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Human Cleric 1 | HP 10/10 | AC 17; Tch 11; FF 16 | F +1; R +1; W +6 | CMB+0; CMD 11 | Speed 30 ft | Init +1 | Unarmed Strike: +4 (1d3+1) | Perc +3
Jidai's expression is mixed as the bottle reveals the secret passage. She no longer looks disappointed with their task, but intrigued and perhaps a little upset with herself.
"My former master would always teach me in a similar way...using small tasks that seemed trivial to teach me great things."
As they file into the secret area, Jidai hears something but does not see it.
A claw tightens on the Iroran's windpipe, cutting off her air! Jidai gains the grappled condition and cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components.
Jillia buries her sword deep in the choker's belly. With a hideous howl, it releases Jidai and falls off the cavern wall. A small puddle of blue blood spills out onto the stone floor. Jidai gulps desperately for air in relief.
Out of combat! That was quick.
The Pathfinders take their time searching the desk for secret doors and the like, and collect a large stack of journals, notes, and other papers that will take some time to sift through. However, it is readily apparent that this room was used by the famed Pathfinder Selmius Foster, a name that is instantly recognizable to all Pathfinders--a founder nearly as famous as Durvin Gest himself. And, while most or all of Foster's known exploits are chronicled in varying detail here, there is one heretofore unknown lead he had been pursuing before his untimely death. Two yellowed patches of paper describe Foster's investigation into a Pathfinder named Elysia. See Handouts.
Tchass drops his longspear as he draws one of the spears from his back and proceeds to jab it into the monster!
Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Human Cleric 1 | HP 10/10 | AC 17; Tch 11; FF 16 | F +1; R +1; W +6 | CMB+0; CMD 11 | Speed 30 ft | Init +1 | Unarmed Strike: +4 (1d3+1) | Perc +3
Jidai remains on her knees gasping for several moments after the creature releases her.
"Thank you...I did not see it," she says. "Without my companions, that thing could have killed me."
She looks annoyed at herself for having missed it.
clw:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Once she has healed herself, they examine the documents.
"This appears to be an important find. I suppose we should investigate these three leads before turning these documents in to the Society. But where should we start?"
NG Female Halfling Street Poet 7 | HP: 60/60 | AC: 23(18 Tch, 17 Fl) | CMB: +8, CMD: 25 (26 v. Overrun) | F: +10, R: +9, W: +5 (+4 v. Fear) | Init: +6 | Perc: +2, SM: +4 | Speed 40ft | Challenge: 0/3 Used | Tactician: 0/2 Used| Panache 0/2 Used | Active conditions: Waiting for Game (???)
Jillia remembers back to the impromptu riddling contest that happened before her confirmation.
'Everything can have more than one meaning,' Markus would insist.
"You don't think 'Arkath took his secrets to his grave' really means 'Arkath is buried with something important,' do you?" Jillia asks the rest of the group. "Maybe those other three, too? I agree that the fake names are a good place to start as any," she adds on excitedly.
Her companions fill in Jillia along the way--there is a literal Wall of Names in a secluded grove of the Grand Lodge, a 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 along an early section of the Wall. They read:
Doulgonlir Caskmail Deceased 4332 AR
Fought up all but one of the Storval Stairs. Blade shattered at an inopportune moment.
Hollis "Evil Grin" Thorne Deceased 4331 AR
Followed the last Linnorm King to Valenhall. Lost at sea, last seen in a great tornado.
Karina Clamp Deceased 4330 AR
Administered to the mind-menders of Ustalav. May they overcome the screaming fear.
In each epitaph, some specific words are underlined. It's the bolded ones (Paizo doesn't have a tag for underlining.) So: Blade, great tornado, screaming fear.
DC 15 Knowledge (history, local, or religion):
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.
"I can understand losing our life due to weapon breaking but I do not understand the others......Why do they play with forces beyond their understanding...." As he wanders around looking at the names.
NG Female Halfling Street Poet 7 | HP: 60/60 | AC: 23(18 Tch, 17 Fl) | CMB: +8, CMD: 25 (26 v. Overrun) | F: +10, R: +9, W: +5 (+4 v. Fear) | Init: +6 | Perc: +2, SM: +4 | Speed 40ft | Challenge: 0/3 Used | Tactician: 0/2 Used| Panache 0/2 Used | Active conditions: Waiting for Game (???)
Are we pressed for time? If not, we can take this research to the Grand Lodge Library and I can have Janira help me out (just an extra +1 bonus- -not likely make-or-break).
Jillia takes a moment during the research to silently honor those lost in the recent defense of the Lodge.
'Impressive defense,' they said. Even still, the losses are paramount.
Coming back out of her reverie, she calls to the group. "Blade, Great Tornado, Screaming Fear, More Riddles."
Knowledge (local):1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Knowledge (religion):1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19If two skill checks are allowed. (I'll wait to peek until I've got a yes or no).
Human Cleric 1 | HP 10/10 | AC 17; Tch 11; FF 16 | F +1; R +1; W +6 | CMB+0; CMD 11 | Speed 30 ft | Init +1 | Unarmed Strike: +4 (1d3+1) | Perc +3
"Why would these words on the epitaphs be underlined?" Jidai asks inquisitively.
She looks upon them for a moment, then her countenance brightens.
"These underlined terms may be references to portfolios of the Failed Aspirants," she muses. "This is 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. What a way to achieve perfection..."
Two checks are fine. I'll specify if I'll only permit one check. Jidai beat me to it though :)
Jillia concurs with Jidai's shrewd assessment, and quick visit to Janira confirms their suppositions with her usual excited encouragement. "Ooh, yes! I think that sounds right! Very bright, the both of you! Study pays off, after all..."
The Ascendant Court is especially crowded, as throngs of folk vie for a good spot to watch Sir Reinhart's upcoming attempt at the Starstone Cathedral. Shuffling into the Shrine of the Failed, a black-robed acolyte offers to guide you to one of the many, many altars to Failed Aspirants throughout the complex. "To which Aspirant might I direct you?" she asks politely. Jidai and Jillia name Silmor, Yepyari, and Zimpar--the Aspirants most closely associated with the underlined words. "Silmor and Zimpar can be found on the lower level. Yepyari is on this floor, straight ahead."
In each hall, a monumental chamber stretches eighty feet from end to end, with a ceiling suspended thirty feet from the floor by great pillars. Several arched passages lead to humble rooms, each of which contains a polished stone altar dedicated to one of the failed aspirants who attempted the Test of the Starstone.
Tsschas sweeps his eyes across the area, wondering if there's anything out of place in this already mysterious building to him.
Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
NG Female Halfling Street Poet 7 | HP: 60/60 | AC: 23(18 Tch, 17 Fl) | CMB: +8, CMD: 25 (26 v. Overrun) | F: +10, R: +9, W: +5 (+4 v. Fear) | Init: +6 | Perc: +2, SM: +4 | Speed 40ft | Challenge: 0/3 Used | Tactician: 0/2 Used| Panache 0/2 Used | Active conditions: Waiting for Game (???)
"Well, if this is a puzzle, we should make sure we have all of the pieces," Jillia states, combing the area for objects of significance, following Xanac and Blackfang's lead.
Agis, not sure how to proceed, aids by way of pointing out anything that; doesn't match, is asymmetrical, has a joint that shouldn't, looks fake, etc. Perception aid:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
After a minute's evaluation, the crew determines this to probably be a dead end (literally). No magic is detected, no secret doors, no out-of-place clues, and the driftwood seems to be actual driftwood.
