"So...we start digging? There has to be someone in this city who speaks Terran that we could hire to interpret for us. This would be a lot easier with a team of elementals to do the work for us."
"I could mix up an extract of comprehend languages, but I'm afraid I've only prepped identify extracts..." Carina sighs. "Even then, we'd only be able to understand Terran, not speak it..."
"It probably wouldn't take too long if we just grabbed some shovels. And probably cheaper than hiring an interpreter too."
"We could give it a try..."
Some examination determines that there is no tunnel beneath. Besides which, the mud wouldn't be especially suitable for tunneling. Anybody trying to move through it would have quickly become mired in the mess.
"Well...this seems like a dead end. We've learned a bit, but no new leads. Unless I'm missing something obvious?"
"Someone think they could wing it maybe? I've always heard terran wasn't so different from dwarven."
Carina despondently pokes the earth with her boot.
"Aww... I liked my theory..."
Farrukh has seen these tracks before, in empty caves and, occasionally, in deserts during his journeys. These are spider tracks, about as old as Crump indicated (a day or two after the fire). There's just two things wrong.
First, the tracks are enormous, spanning the whole eastern portion of the fair-sized house. The spider would have had to have been the size of a horse.
Second, the tracks make it seem like the spider was walking, but there are no further tracks. It's as if it just appeared there for a split-second...and then vanished once again.
"Huh. There was a bigass spider in here a day or two after the fire. At least, that's what these tracks look like. It just popped in here, walked around a bit, and popped out. The tracks just DISAPPEAR."
"How the hell do you track something like that? And what would it be doing here?"
Farrukh shrugs.
"Who knows? Maybe if we knew how it disappeared then we could track it."
Laslo, the local apothecary, had his home and shop destroyed in the fire. The next night he reportedly threw himself into the Millstream.
Much of the furniture, especially the heavy objects, has sunk into the floor in the three houses. This is likely from a transmute rock to mud spell, a hypothesis supported by the heavier pots and pans that can be found completely buried when the party tries digging. It should be noticed that transmute rock to mud is a rather powerful spell that only a high-level sorcerer, wizard or druid can cast.
Varda was paranoid shortly before his death, believing something to be "festering" within the city. He was preparing for some sort of attack the day before the fire.
Varda had few close friends, but interacted fairly often with his fellow Kordian, the manager of the Shrine of the Weeping Woman, Forwell Hog.
The community has been greatly shaken by Varda's death, and the church's silence on the matter. In response, many have turned away from Kord, and Anlathi and Forwell have both been dealing with many more townsfolk of late.
Mistress Crump, a local beggar, reported hearing a strange giggling that made her think of "chittering" when within the home of Laslo. This is where the tracks of a giant spider were found—a spider that seemingly appeared and disappeared. This event took place only two days after the fire.
"I guess we should go check on Forwell. Maybe he'll know something about the fire and whatever had poor Varda so shaken up."
Farrukh paces around, thinking for a minute.
"You know, this sounds awfully familiar..AHA! Phase Spiders. Pp between the Material and Ethereal anytime they please."
"Didn't think one would actually come into the city. They're kinda big. Stick out like a sore thumb when they're hunting in a place like this."
"So, we know a high level spellcaster, and a Phase Spider were involved. I just don't know HOW. Or why."
"Maybe they're of a rival faith? People HAVE been turning against Kord since. Is that the plan?"
"What if another sect of the Ebon Triad set up here in the city and wants to slowly wipe out worship of the good gods? Or at least destroy the temples and kill the priests."
"Though that doesn't explain Laslo." Farrukh sighs.
"Or why they're going around turning people's floors into mush."
"Not to get too creepy with this, but what if we tracked down Laslo's body? And then Astraden... does that horrifying thing where she speaks with it?"
"Speaking of...was Varda's body ever recovered?"
Varda's body—what remained of it—was interred in a small crypt underneath a larger Kordian shrine.
The party leaves the site of sadness and heads to where they've heard can be found the Shrine of the Weeping Woman.
Tucked under a bent yew tree of great age is a small, unassuming shrine. The little building houses a statue of a female angel that purportedly cried actual tears some six years ago. A number of priests examined the statue after the event but decided it to be nonmagical. Identification of the angel itself or of the statue’s mysterious sculptor escaped the priests as well, and they eventually cataloged it as a hoax.
Six years later, the shrine is a site of worship managed by Forwell Hog. The adventurers see him coming out to greet them as they approach—a tall, thin man who walks with the aid of a stick. He has long, stringy hair and sunken eyes, and wears a ratty gray cloak.
"Good afternoon, friends," he says, giving a smile that seems to stretch his skin a bit further than it wants to go. "Are you hear to pay homage to the Weeping Woman?"
Several elderly folk are gathered around the shrine right now. Most of them can be recognized as members of Greyhawk's homeless community.
Tanith offers a brief prayer (the only prayer he knew for the Weeping Lass). ”Kord, show favor to those that lived lives of strength and honor even after the years have left them frail and bowed.”
He offers the thin man a nod and a hearty, if measured, handshake. ”I’m afraid it’s a bit more than that. We were hoping to talk to you about the fire than took poor Varda’s life.”
Tanith gives the prayer he's heard others in the Muddle speaking, as he himself is unfamiliar with the Kordian sect.
Forwell's expression darkens. "The fire? That's a painful subject, Mister...?"
Tanith hesitates, hoping he recited the prayer correctly.
"Tanith Creed", he answers while proudly displaying the Brawler’s mark tattooed across his pectoral. "This is Carina Viera, Astraden Limhaare, Eben Macteague, Rodrigo Dantares, and Farrukh. They’re not worshippers of Kord but they’re good friends. We’re looking into the fire and Varda’s death. We’d heard Varda shared his worried with you before the fire that took his life.”
Carina nods and steps forward. "I understand this is difficult, but... could we please ask you some questions, sir?"
Astraden's been quiet throughout the detective work - apparently disinterested, but still paying attention. Suddenly, something clicks, and she jerks her head towards Tanith, ignoring Forwell. "Tanith . . . what if Varda didn't give up? What if he was stuck? What if the spell sunk his legs up to his knees and he couldn't move?"
"Ah." Forwell frowns. "I fear that dear Varda's visits grew fewer and fewer towards the end. He seemed...afraid. Afraid to drag me into something that, frankly, would have been beyond me."
He beckons, inviting the group into the shrine. Grass and wildflowers grow around a statue of a young girl, perhaps thirteen, with great feathery wings and her head in her hands. The Weeping Lass. Symbols of Kord are painted crudely on the walls, and several weapons hang lower-down. A simplistic mural depicts an old man standing over a younger man who has fallen, warding off a great red dragon.
"He seemed to fear some sort of corruption," Forwell says sadly. "He didn't trust his church, or his community. Strength find me, but it seems he was right to doubt. The Brawler watches over him now. I knew not what his true fears were, and now I may never know."
Astraden's been quiet throughout the detective work - apparently disinterested, but still paying attention. Suddenly, something clicks, and she jerks her head towards Tanith, ignoring Forwell. "Tanith . . . what if Varda didn't give up? What if he was stuck? What if the spell sunk his legs up to his knees and he couldn't move?"
[dice=Knowledge (planes) phase spiders]1d20+6
[dice=Knowledge (religion) Forwell Hog]1d20+11
[dice=Knowledge (religion) Varda because I never though to try it?]1d20+11
[dice=Knowledge (religion): is Anlathi spiritually pure enough to cast transmute rock to mud?]1d20+11
You haven't much idea about Varda or Anlathi, but the more you listen to Forwell's prayers, the more you look upon his shrine and hear his mannerisms, the surer you are of three things.
First, there is no such saintly figure as the Weeping Lass. You aren't a Kordian, but you're sure you would have heard of such a servant.
Second, this statue truly has nothing to do with the Brawler. Forwell may seem sincere, but the statue is not associated with any god as far as Astraden knows.
And third, you don't know who or what Forwell Hog is worshiping. But it is definitely not Kord.
"Why was he right to doubt? You think someone in the community was involved in his death?" Astraden asks helpfully, contrite after her disruption.
Tanith frowns but nods in understanding as Forwell speaks. When Astraden interrupts he hesitates as he considers the facts.
”That would makes sense with what we’ve heard. He wasn’t kneeling - he was mired in the earth after the ground was turned to mush…”
Noticing that the conversation probably had their host at a loss, Tanith gives Forwell his attention again. ”We searched the ruins and saw signs that a monster called a phase spider had been through the area and that powerful magic has been used to turn the stone floors of the buildings into mud which was baked by the fire. If Varda had been inside when it happened he might have become trapped by it. What did Varda say about this corruption he was worried about?”
Astraden catches Tanith's eye and glances at Forwell, but does not now give her suspicions voice. Need to talk away from him, she tries to convey.
”Farrukh, why don’t you tell him everything you know about these phase spiders. I’ll be back in a minute”, Tanith suggests before excusing himself.
"I don't think the church was responsible, but...well, it's disappointing that they haven't gotten involved in this. I don't interact much with their lot, of course. I deal with those they tend to turn away." He scowls.
When Tanith speaks up, he listens with keen interest. "Phase spiders and druid spells? Varda never said anything about that. He seemed suspicious of the Muddle, though. Thought there was some 'madness' afoot." Forwell's expression turns thoughtful. "I heard he got in an argument with Anlathi the night before the fire, though I doubt that means anything. Anlathi doesn't have the stomach for killing, I'm sure."
As the two leave, Forwell bows and turns to Farrukh expectantly.
Stepping back outside, Astraden steps close to her friend and whispers what she knows. "Tanith, he's not part of your church. I don't know who the Weeping Lass is or if she is even "who" rather than "what," but after coming here and seeing her, and seeing that painting inside, I am more and more sure she's not actually a saint in any religion. Definitely not Kordian. Farwell Hog worships something else, and he may be playing on these peoples' vulnerability."
Carina turns to follow Tanith, unless Astraden or Tanith stop her.
Tanith frowns as the revelation. Astraden’s information seemed impossible but he was more like to trust her judgment over someone like Farrukh.
”Are you sure? Why would he make that all up?” he asks with anger in his voice. ”If it is true, we’re going to need proof. Take Farrukh and search the grounds. I’ll keep Forwell talking.”
”Do you think he might have something to do with the fire and Varda’s death? That was some pretty powerful magic. I guess I could see him as a mage…”