The table at the center of this rectangular room is completely contained within a rune-inscribed circle set into the floor. Atop the table lies a Kelishite man’s body, spread-eagled and bloodstained. At the far end of the chamber hangs a ragged tapestry torn down its center. A peaceful wood with trampled undergrowth is visible through the tear, though the tapestry clearly hangs against a solid wall.
Four syrinx, their markings and feathers different than the peaceful clerics you met before, surround the corpse solemnly. One calls out, "Aram Zey, he-who-would-be-our-jailor, is dead!" As you approach, it's clear that murder is still in their hearts as they turn towards you and ready their weapons! "Yet more of the pathfinderscum!" Kill them!"
Jillia recognizes these Syrinx as clerics of Asmodeus!
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Relieved that the fire is finally out, Markus spots an obviously fake book on one of the shelves. Picking it up, he sees that it contains a folio of musings and conjecture about the Hao Jin Tapestry. "I think this is what we're looking for," he says as Nella sets about healing the others' wounds. "We should probably go to the Tapestry Chamber and see if there is anything else we can recover before any more Aspis firebugs try and burn everything."
Arriving in the Tapestry Chamber, a group of syrinx, less friendly than the encountered in the Starhall appear to have butchered a human. As they run on the group with weapons raised and murder in their eyes, Markus ducks behind a pillar and launches a hissing sphere of acid at the nearest owlman.
"Rozpustit!"
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Jillia vaults up onto the table, and runs along to the opposite end to fight the syrinxes at their height.
Stop wasting time, Jillia.
Failing to mount the table, Jillia instead closes to Señor Purple.
"What have you done to..." ...Master Zey? Jillia trails off, at a loss for words.
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"Wow, well-spotted Markus! I think the rest of us would've waltzed right by the darned thing again and again if you hadn't spotted it," Nella calls over her shoulder. "And I think you're right, the Tapestry Chamber sounds like the next place we ought to head to."
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As they enter the Tapestry Chamber, Nella's eyes are immediately drawn to the scene laid out in front of them and her eyes grow wide as she realizes that the body lying on the table is human. "What...?" is all she's able to muster before the room explodes into chaos as the bird-people meet them in combat. Opting to go with the best defense being even more defense, Nella calls upon the blessings of her deity to shield Smiley from harm as he wades into battle.
Markus splashes acid in the face of the nearest owl-man and Smiley disarms his opponent's staff, which falls to the ground. Jillia does make it onto the table, giving her a better vantage to see the deep wounds that cover Aram Zey's bloody and still form. He was clearly killed by a variety of weapons and spell effects; it was not a peaceful death.
The two syrinx in melee hold up holy symbols of Asmodeus and release waves of negative energy! The two outside of melee target the front-liners and speak Commands laced with magic: "Flee!" to Kharg, and "Halt" to Smiley!
Smiley Will saves: Channel 1 HP, Command (Halt) DC 14 or Stand in place, make no actions next turn.
Kharg Will saves: Channel 5 HP (DC 12 for half), Command (Flee) DC 14 or Flee next turn.
Jillia Will saves: Channel 1 HP, Channel (DC 12 for half)
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Though not sure of what magic the two birdmen in the back just used, Nella does recognize the unholy waves of energy that pulse outward from the two in the front - the very opposite of what she did for her companions only minutes before. Realizing that these four may pose even more of a threat than the looters they'd just faced, Nella focuses her will on increasing Kharg's battle prowess so that he can put an end to these creatures quickly.
I'm sorry...but I don't think there's a peaceful way to end this!
She then digs into one of the pouches on her pack and pulls out her tanglefoot bag once more.
Let's see you suckers try your magic covered in THIS!
The syrinx recoil as one of their number explodes in a meaty shower of feathers and blood as Kharg's axe strikes true twice, once while it was alive, and once as the body began to fall to the ground unconcious. The now-deceased owl-man's corpse goes flying back in several itty bits.. though it looks somewhat appropriate given the state of Aram Zey's body.
First one, then the others, the syrinx utter fowl foul prayers and suddenly each has a twin standing next to it! They also shimmer briefly in a sickly aura that fades within seconds.
Protection from Good as well.
Smiley's fist crushes right into the the owl-man's face... or at least it would, if it didn't travel straight through the image of the syrinx before him. The image fades away, leaving only the "real" one there.
Jillia, too managed to reduce the number of syrinx, though only an illusionary one!
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"Those were just illusory doubles, but I see they've been dealt with," Markus calls belatedly. With both remaining owlmen being addressed by Kharg, Jillia and Smiley, he carefully moves towards the table. There is blood everywhere, but nonetheless he tries to check if there is any spark of life left in Master Zey.
Kharg continues to demolish the local syrinx population, carving through a second in as many turns with the help of Jillia's flank.
The two remaining syrinx both take a step back, and nearly simultaneously screech and release waves of energy once again. They also shimmer with twins once more. Things are starting to look unfortunate for the owl men, however.
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"Remind me to high-five you when I get a minute," Jillia calls to Kharg as the real wyvaran hits the ground, his copy illusion faded.
Two more, first.
Jillia continues to fight like a rabid gymnast, forward somersaulting under the reach of the Señor Reds.
Coming out of her roll, she sees an opening and tries to stick into one of the wyvarans.
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The spreading pool of blood and the cooling flesh of Master Zey are clear signs that nothing in Markus' power could save him. Too angry for tears, Markus gathers his magic into a ball of acid which hisses and pops as he strides across the room. "You've killed him! You've killed him!" he shouts, flinging the ball of acid at the nearest owlman. "Rozpustit!"
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Nella hisses with pain as more waves of unholy energy pulse outward from the two remaining owlmen, but thankfully the damage doesn't seem too severe on herself or any of her companions. Markus' cry of anger only strengthens her resolve to keep fighting and get to the bottom of this attack.
"You can't win! Surrender now and you may not end up like your two friends over there!" she calls, taking a step back as she grants Jillia protection from the owlmen's attacks.
Jillia's roll is executed perfectly as she tumbles behind the syrinx! It can barely turn to react to her sudden movements before her righteous blade strikes true, driving deep into the actual copy! The illusionary figment fades out as the owl-man falls to the ground unconscious, leaving one(ish) remaining murderer to deal with.
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Kharg winces in pain as more waves of negative energy wash over him. He is nearly overwhelmed by the pain, but, through sheer determination, he works through the agony, a sheen of perspiration appearing on his face due to the effort. He moves to the last owl-man, standing over Jillias's dispatched foe.
Showing amazing teamwork, Kharg and Smiley moved towards the remaining syrinx with precision, striking out at the magically doubled owl-man with body and axe almost simultaneously. While later they could bicker and argue about who killed who, for the moment the most notable thing was that their enemy fell to the ground (though there is a suspicious looking axe wound on the owl-man!), leaving them surrounded by 5 broken and bloodied bodies, one of which is the Master of Spells.
Using the notes you found from the Library, you can shut off the portal, preventing further reinforcements or possible escape by the Lodge's invaders.
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When the most immediate threat to the group's lives is pacified, and the portal into the tapestry is closed, there's time to survey the wreckage.
It doesn't match up.
"Stay on guard. This is just a hunch, but I don't think these syrinxes here killed Master Zey. He's the freaking Master of Spells! I'm not sure a flock of angry birds, Clerics of Asmodeus or not, could have done this," Jillia thinks out loud, more to calm herself down than to convey any real information. There is no hint of the typical joy in her voice remaining.
"The Grand Lodge will not fall today," she whispers a promise to Aram Zey as she closes his eyes.
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As the last owlman falls Markus' anger subsides, and is replaced by a terrible sadness. "I didn't know Master Zey personally, but he was always nice to me. I can't believe that those owlmen could have done this, Master Zey should have roasted them," he says, wiping away a tear.
"We need to find out what's going on here. I agree with Jillia, something isn't right."
In the aftermath of the battle, you're able to examine the syrinx corpses and find a total of 4 Cure Light Wounds potions. Nothing else really seems of note in the area aside from the body of the Master of Spells and the Hao Jin tapestry hanging on the wall of the room.
With Detect Magic you also determine that there is a lingering Necromancy aura on the corpse of Aram Zey.
Although you're not familiar with the specifics of what spell or effect was used, you believe that some sort
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"Jillia's right, if we were able to take down these syrinx things then there's no way that they were the ones who killed Master Zey," Nella agrees, her demeanor subdued for the first time since the group first met up at Table 224. "But that means whoever did might still be here in Skyreach somewhere. We'd best be careful."
Though she's loathe to simply leave the Master of Spells behind, she knows that there's still the Sky Key chamber to check before they head back to report to the higher-ups. "We should close this gate and then get going and check the Sky Key chamber, see if we can find anything else out. Once that's done, we can head back out and report. I know it sounds harsh, but...I don't think Master Zey would want us to stand around crying over him when there's still a job to do," she says quietly, her thoughts straying back to what few direct interactions she'd had with the man during her training.
In fact, he'd probably call us sentimental fools if we did.
Following the notes you rescued from the library, you successfully close the portal. The Tapestry, which previously showed a vibrant meadow, swirls with color a moment and fades to a muted, painted rendition of the same scene.
Not content to rest on your laurels, after some much needed healing, you continue on towards the Sky Key Chamber.
This tall library is ringed by a walkway around its perimeter, which provides access to a second level of towering bookshelves. A broad Qadiran rug leads to a short pedestal within a tall glass case that itself sits within an inscribed circle—all cordoned off by a velvet rope suspended by brass poles. Several plush chairs and a few low tables bearing curios line the lower floor, and two decorative suits of armor stand at attention, each with a crossbow resting against its shoulder. Heatless torches blaze with remarkably even light in sconces throughout the room, and a tall pendulum clock against the eastern wall ticks each passing second as its hands move erratically.
A ghostly image of a Pathfinder appears in the center of the room, where his likeness eerily begins to slide through the display case. His voice echoes as he speaks to an unseen party. “Oh no, they’ve stolen the Sky Key. It also appears they disrupted the auxiliary stabilizer, too.” He pauses before continuing. “Do you feel that? I feel kind of sick all of a sudden. I hope they didn’t try to disassemble it—or worse, bring it too
close to the tapestry. Wasn’t that why Zey kept them so far—”
The figure’s words go unfinished as he begins to scream and dissolve, fading from view in a matter of seconds, before exploding in four eerie beings, humanoid torsos fading into ropey tendrils of ooze.
Jillia and Nella recognize the creatures as Ectoplasmic Humans: undead composed of ectoplasm. They are resistant to non-slashing damage.
Smiley stabs at a rather suspicious looking flicker of light cast out by the room!
Just prior to Nella's channel, Jillia's assault causes one of the ectoplasmic humanoids to explode into a shower of goo that quickly dissolves into the air!
They all give a concerted shriek, with green wailing the loudest!
Blue shrieks at the application of acid! The otherworldly humans lurch forward, striking out in insane rage at the party! Green charges at Jillia, blue moves to return the favor to Markus, while purple strikes at Kharg!