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Shenendril frowns and goes back to the bust. "That message was here for some reason and since I don't relish the idea of trying to hunt down all of this guy's descendants and murdering them here, let's hope that it was 'sun' and not 'son'," she points up to the sky then down at the corpse to illustrate her point.
"Let's see if we can move this thing. Maybe if we bury it or hide it from the sun some other way, that'll open the door."
She bends to grab it but is not very strong, to be honest.
The pedestal is well-affixed in place and, you now notice, presently bathed in shadow as the dying light of the day causes the shadow of the spire atop the western-most mausoleum to be cast upon the place where the bust is set.
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Kenji looks at the confused Pathfinders standing in front of the door and starts laughing.
"We are really pathetic! I am usually the charming one but smart ... no that is not me. So let us try to just push the door open. I am quite weak but I can try to aid. So come ... push!!"
So Kenji steps forward and pushes.
Pelagos can perceive nothing outside the usual, beyond the party that accompanied him here.
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Shenendril joins Pelagos in examining the other Mausoleum, looking specifically for any sort of sun or star motifs.
"Maybe we just need to wait. I think that shadow is going to cover the bust and that may unlock the door and disable the trap," Shenendril says, pointing to the moving shadow.
When the bust is fully covered in the shadow of the other mausoleum, she'll help Kenji push.
[ooc}Moved Shenendril's token next to Pelagos. From now on, I will assume that PCs are wherever the token is placed on the map. I will rely upon the players to place his or her PC token in the correct spot on the map. Thus if you post that that your PC is attacking, but it isn't next to the creature, you are essentially skipping your turn. If you want to engage in a "search pattern" or go view multiple objects in a room, please add arrows to the map to indicate your movement.
Can't access the map temporarily? Post something to that effect; your GM or a helpful player will move your character if he (or she) has instructions to do so!
Use in-character talk to figure things out, and if it devolves into mechanics, use the discussion thread. Good luck![/ooc]
Further, while you do not spot the star or sun motif that you were searching for, you do spy a white hawk hiding among the statuary on the roof.
When the bust is fully covered in the shadow of the other mausoleum, she'll help Kenji push.
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Shenendril nods toward the armed woman on the steed. "We're being watched, and given the armament, I assume it is not with beneficent intent."
"This place says it was last to fall and has a hawk motif and there is only one hawk on this one so maybe that's what the riddle is referencing. Maybe we have to place the hawk on the bust."
She points at the hawk statue and speaks to Belthelgior in Auran.
He eyes it with obvious trepidation for a moment but then flies up and tries to pick it up.
The white hawk, being quite the living creature, immediately takes flight as Belthelgior approaches it, and takes up a perch on a nearby tree.
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"Hmm... if the voice said 'when the last sun falls upon this spot,'" Imjah says, "then I would imagine that whatever happens happens before the shadow overtakes the statue completely, which will happen shortly."
Circling the bust, he ponders for a moment then continues. "Also, it certainly said 'receive my thanks.' If I'm not mistaken, that would be a passive act, would it not? Perhaps all that is required is that we be in the right place when the last light falls upon it."
"Oh!" he says when Shenendril points out the mounted woman. "And who might you be?"
"Reveal yourself at once," Pelagos orders as he moves in the direction of the mounted woman. "With what authority do you threaten us?" he continues.
In response, the woman gives Pelagos a glance and attempts to quickly mount the horse, but slips.
She then turns to Pelagos, still holding her crossbow, and questions in a tone more like that of a demand, "What business do you have here at my family's tomb?"
”Can you help us?!“ Kenji asks.
"I was here, praying at my own family’s tomb. I believe I heard something unpleasant just as you showed up.” the woman responds, cautiously, her crossbow still at the ready. "Why? What do you think has transpired?"
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"Peace, child," Imjah says in calming tones at the sight of the woman's readied crossbow. He holds up his hands in an unthreatening manner. "We meant no offense."
"'Something unpleasant' you say? Could you be more specific?" he asks. "Perhaps you heard whoever killed this man."
"That is a beautiful creature, by the way," he says indicating the hawk. "A friend of yours?"
"'Something unpleasant' you say? Could you be more specific?" he asks. "Perhaps you heard whoever killed this man."
“Perhaps I saw Northis slaughtered by a pack of tomb raiders." the woman suggests.
When the hawk flies to the newcomer, the woman pauses to consider carefully any further response, watching as the man looks the bird over.
Finally, she says, "It is, indeed, a fine specimen of bird. Though apparently it will respond to the call of most anyone, even strangers."
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"Do not threaten us," Pelagos responds, his neutral tone hardening slightly. He adjusts the grip on his halberd as he takes a step closer. "We will not be deterred by threats. Your deflection of my companions' reasonable questions fails to exonerate your suspiciously convenient proximity to what is plausibly a murder."
"And if there was a murder, would it not have been justified?" asks the woman, crossbow still in hand. "I am Rhiannon Sarvio, the last daughter of Lord Sarvio. Northis was a Tuillver." The woman pauses for a moment, as if to assume that her words were more than adequate to explain the present circumstances.
A few moments later, sensing that the newcomers may be expecting more, she explains, “The Tullivor mausoleum contains an object rightly belonging to us--to my family." Then, after making a quick assessment of the party, she adds, "If you help me retrieve it, you may earn the Sarvios’ gratitude."
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”Dear Lady, I believe that you are in an inferior position due to the fact that you are outnumbered and that we are clearly more experienced than you are! I would suggest that we join forces and do whatever needs to be done to find the murder and check out the tomb that we both are seeking out!“ Kenji says with a sly smile.
”And after this little adventure is over maybe you and I can have a drink together in one of the nice restaurants that this wonderful city offers!? What do you say my lady?“ he says and bows.
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I have no desire to tangle myself in local politics and such was advised by our informant. An ally in an unknown place is valuable, however. If she is the murderer, I suspect treachery is in our future. The law will have its due regardless. "Many questions have been left unanswered. I will not forget to continue this line of questioning after we conclude our time in the mausoleum," Pelagos comments.
"Join forces to retrieve treasure from the tomb of the Tullivers?" she responds. "Agreed. All else can wait until our work is done."
She grabs the reigns of her horse and prepares to follow. "Lead the way, strangers. But know this, I have believe the patriarch of those hated Tullivers had entombed himself with a platinum chalice that he had stolen from my family, the Sarvios. Once the chalice is within my hands, what remains you may then divide among yourselves."
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Kenji suddenly starts smiling.
”How wonderful! I have a date after this small adventure and we have a companion that is going to help us to achieve our goal! This is a wonderful day if ... well if there wasn’t the case of an unsolved murder!“ he says with a sad expression.
Then he looks at lady Sarvios and bows again.
”On the way into the mausoleum we should definitely discuss which restaurant you want to pick for our first dinner!“
"You are rather presumptuous." Rhiannon says to Kenji, as she takes the reigns of her horse. "But do come, we have a treasures to retrieve."
Rhiannon leads her horse toward the Tullivor mausoleum. As she does so, the hawk flies to a nearby tree. The woman does not seem eager to speak, at least not to Kenji or Pelagos, during the short trip to the tomb, though seemingly for rather different reasons.
Rhiannon now stands before the Tullivor tomb, its most audacious feature is a sculpted badger that looms, gargoyle-like, above the door. The iron door is decorated not only with the Tullivor name and crest, but also with an elaborate arcane rune. The mausoleum is a 15-by-10-foot structure constructed of superior masonry. Its sole ingress is the locked iron door.
After evaluating the lettering of the motto on the gate, Shenendril suspects that the riddle was most likely referring to something else.
As you follow Rhiannon Sarvio and her horse to the Tullivor mausoleum, you notice that the area is growing darker.
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Kenji is slightly worried.
"Oh my lady, I did not want to offend you! So let us discuss the dinner after our adventure. By the way ... did you notice the growing darkness in the area ... it is the result of lengthening shadows. While the rays of the setting sun strike nearby portions of the cemetery, the shadow of the spire from the other mausoleum now completely covers the bust. What does that mean? What is going on here?"
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Pelagos takes a look at the bust again while the others engage their temporary ally. We have wasted much time here and allied with a suspect character. This venture better prove fruitful.
Uncomfortably, he approaches Rhiannon. "There is a trap on the door. Are you proficient in manipulating locks and traps?" Please leave out the details of where you learning such skills too.
"While the rays of the setting sun strike nearby portions of the cemetery, the shadow of the spire from the other mausoleum now completely covers the bust. What does that mean? What is going on here?"
"That spire proudly rests atop the mausoleum of my clan, the Sarvio family." Rhiannon responds with suspicion. "Just what is it that you suggesting?"
Imjah can easily tell that the trap on the door is in the process of recharging after having been tripped earlier, but does not appear to have yet stored enough of a charge to cause injury. However, when he tries the door, he finds it locked.
Uncomfortably, he approaches Rhiannon. "There is a trap on the door. Are you proficient in manipulating locks and traps?"
"I am a woman of noble birth!" Rhiannon responds indignantly. "Why would I be schooled in the base arts as thievery?"
"You all seem better suited for such methods." The woman then points to the weapons with which the party carries. "Given your numbers and armaments, it would seem that the lot of you should be able to beat down this gate quite handily."
Pelagos steps forward and begins hacking at the iron gate with his halberd.
As he does so, Rhiannon takes her steed by the reigns and moves toward the other side of the mausoleum for a closer look.
For well over a minute, Pelagos hacks away at the hard, iron door, rending metal and chipping away small metal shards. Each strike seems to bring joy to Rhiannon and she seems to delight in the destruction of the barrier set up by the hated rivals to her family.
Once the last of the twisted metal remains of the gate fall away, those at the entrance of the mausoleum get a clear view of the contents within it.
Within the mausoleum, you see five sarcophagi, each bearing the names of the Tullivors interred within. Above Laban’s casket, a gleaming tapestry depicts the Tullivor crest and the family motto: “Never in Shadow.”
Peering into the mausoleum, Rhiannon Sarvio cries out, "Where is it? Where is the chalice?"
"All this wretched place holds is that accursed tapestry, honoring that accursed family!" she seethes. Suddenly, over-swept with rage, she rushes past the sharp protrusions of iron and tries to make her way into the mausoleum to grab the tapestry.
Rhiannon falls to the ground as her steed stamps the ground restlessly behind Pelagos.
Initiative Round One Begins
T'Shar
Blooming Flower
Rhiannon (prone)
Imjah
Shenendril
Kenji
Pelagos
T'Shar looks on.
"It is you who are reckless, or perhaps simply clumsy." Rhiannon sneers from the ground. "Zephyr!" she calls out to her mount. "Shield!"
The horse stomps the ground in response.
The Lady Sarvio then tries to get to her feet.
Initiative Round One Cont'd
T'Shar (delaying)
Blooming Flower (readied action triggered if lethal force used)
Rhiannon
Zephyr (readied action)
Imjah (may take AoO + full round of actions)
Shenendril
Kenji (may take AoO + full round of actions)
Pelagos
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Shenendril sighs as she approaches the tomb and sees the chaos going on at the entrance. "Why do so many of these things end up in pointless violence?" she muttered to no one in particular.
"There is no need for unpleasantness!" she calls out to both the stranger and her fellow Pathfinders.
"You say you are searching for a silver chalice, Lady Rhiannon? Please, be our guest and look for it. If you find it, feel free to take it with our blessing. But please leave everything else for us to investigate."
When Pelagos attacks the Lady Sarvio with his halberd, the noblewoman's steed acts to defend her as it has been trained.
The bard begins to sing.
Initiative Round Two Begins
T'Shar (delaying)
Blooming Flower
Rhiannon
Zephyr
Imjah (delaying)
Shenendril (delaying)
Kenji
Pelagos - 3 HP
