Seeing Starflit hesitate and look down at her starknife when regarding the remaining ooze, Tenebrynn asks hurriedly, ”Anyone know what hurts that- goopy puddle thing? If I shock it will it blow us all up or expand so much we all get swallowed?”
Starflit: 26
Tristain: 20
Albert: 15
Kyffin: 15
Tenebrynn: 5
Antagonist: 5
Starflit quickly announces that it won't blow up or expand, but it also won't do any good for Tenebrynn. If she's right, and this is in fact an ochre jelly, it's immune to electricity, as well as mind-affecting effects and slashing and piercing damage, plus the usual ooze stuff. In fact, it doesn't really have any special vulnerabilities that she can think of. With that realization, she turns her attention back to the golem, and finishes dismembering it.
That allows her companions to focus on the ooze. Fortunately, they don't realize that so little can hurt it, and what they don't know doesn't hurt them in this case. Kyffin bashes it repeatedly with his morningstar, and then Al and Tristain finish it off.
Kyffin will clean ochre jelly off his morning star - a weapon he never thought he'd use. Need to get that made masterwork at least... he thinks to himself.
[b]"OK then, nasty stuff in every room. He'll heal up with the wand, passing around the healing to any in need (roll yourselves as usual and I'll tally charges).
When everyone is healed up, and his favored scimitar is back in his hands, Kyffin will look around.
(heroism)
Tristain will (feather) fall down from above once the hostilities are over. He will help Kyffin explore the room, engaging Detect Magic as he examines the windows, chamber, and alchemicals.
Know (arcana/nature)
"Wow, what a room. And why? Why have an angry golem here? Just why?" Tristain asks as he steps around the various alchemical secretions of the golem.
Tristain detects conjuration magic on one of the stained glass windows.
"Wait!" Al implores Tristain, then sighs while the lad floats down. With help from Kyffin, he rides the elevator back up and retrieves his bow. From the opening above he answers Tristain's questions. "Ain't no sense in any of it, having mechanical versions of yourself, skin people in jars, golems full of wasps, unknown weird things in the attic, it's like a whole series of nightmares in one building. So, why did they pick this place?"
"I think their creator must be a little bit insane." Kyffin replies to Tristain and Albert. He looks around, "Or maybe a lot."
"Plus, it's situated outside of town," Starflit chimes in. "Away from prying eyes, questioning tongues, and uninvited visitors, I imagine."
Tristain continues to focus on the one magical stained glass, trying to figure out if it was a magical object itself, or had magics upon it.
Spellcraft
Arcana
As far as Kyffin can tell, you all have searched the entire house. As far as Tristain can tell, it's some sort of trap on the stained glass, one designed to summon ... something. If he touches it, he could probably find out what.
Tristain isn’t sure he wants to touch around and find out, but does explain the effect to others between bonks on the wall.
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*
”What are we missing? That’s just going to summon in something that we probably don’t want to see, let alone fight.”
Kyffin rests on his blade a moment, leaning in thought. ”I think our next step is to head for the Mysterium in Katheer (link to lead). We’re done with this place I hope. I’d burn it to the ground, but I don’t want to wait around for that to finish, so let’s be on our way.”
Kyffin suggests, now that we’ve cleared the place of evil, that we head out to track down the Necronomicon, our purpose at the moment.
”We have a few things to sell, and maybe a few things to buy too. I suggest we divvy up the loot before we leave. No telling when we’ll have another chance.”
Starflit asks to see the infirmary's deeds to see whose name is on it and when it's dated. She points out that leaving the stained glass window trap active might be dangerous should anyone visit the place looking for Mun; she also points out that if it's another golem and the party activates it, Kiffin and his morningstar might have to eliminate it on their own.
The dirty and slimed inquisitor finds a clean spot on the floor to sit as she digs into her tan haversack. A moment later, a beaming smile shines through the grime as she produces a small book with a blue cover. Its title: "Cayden Carver's Guide to the Wonders of Katheer."
"I've never been there before, but I've got several of these guidebooks in case I'm called to an unfamiliar city in or around the Inner Sea."
This book details the seedier entertainment establishments in one major city. It contains the names of brothels, burlesque houses, and gambling halls in that city. By consulting the book for 1 hour, for the next 24 hours you gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Knowledge (local), Bluff, and Diplomacy checks to gather or use information in that city. At the GM’s discretion, you can use it in settlements near that city for a +1 bonus.
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Despite the name, the book appears to have been written by an elven woman calling herself Wren, and appears to be as much a recipe book as a guide to smut? It's hard to make sense of it.
Still, it may offer some valuable insights as you finish up your business in Cassomir and prepare to head to Katheer.
"We should at least tell the guards about the stained window trap, would be a shame if something terrible happened because we did nothing." While the party is shopping Albert finds the guards that have been following them and explains the threat.
Tristain is ready to leave this strange place of alchemical weirdness and return to town...and then hastily depart because he just wants to find a nice quiet place to be safe and safely bonk in safety, with no monsters or bad memories.
The guards look at you curiously, Al.
"So you're saying you broke into his house ... ?" the leader asks. "Very interesting. Why don't you come with us and tell us everything. Where did you say your friends were?"
They don't look like they're very interested in taking no for an answer, Al.
At the talk of destroying the building, Tenebrynn shakes her head. ”Too much effort. Not just a house, otherwise would be doable. Part of a prison, would take lots of time and effort to tear down. Maybe just make use of the deed we have? Literally make it ours. Maybe condemn it then?” She shrugs at the idea, then watches as Al marches off to speak with the authorities. She turns back to the others and hooks her thumb over her shoulder. ”That won’t go well.”
Tristain wonders if he’s going to need to bust Al out of prison, but waits for others to explain the need first. Instead, he’ll return to the Inn for a bath and food and thinking and bonking, the most important bonking.
It’s time to bonk and think and reflect.
”Not sure I want that place. Maybe we can sell it or something. I dunno how it works that we can walk in and steal the deed and then it’s ours? I dunno.”
Kyffin wonders how Al's conversations with the guard are going to work out, but from a distance, he doesn't like the body language. He hopes they won't be fleeing town with the law on their case.
”Not sure I want that place. Maybe we can sell it or something. I dunno how it works that we can walk in and steal the deed and then it’s ours? I dunno.”
"Yeah, I think the deed is just evidence of our crime. Let's leave it be."
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"So you're saying you broke into his house ... ?"
"I never said such a thing! Don't tell lies about a follower of Erastil!" Al proclaims loudly while shaking his holy symbol. "You go and check the door of the building, you'll see it's not broken at all! We were guests! How dare you treat us this way! I'm warning you guards that something terrible could happen there, stop wasting time and protect these good people!" Albert gestures to the gathering crowd. Like it should be expected, he stalks away with an air of righteousness.
It occurs to Tristain that even if Al is locked up, he wouldn't be for long. Al probably has ways to escape. Probably.
"C'mon, he'll get out or we'll come get him in a bit, but mostly, we should get to selling and preparing," Tristain notes.
The deed does indeed have Miacknian Mun's name on it, and is likely of little use to you.
Al's words with the guards seem to sway them, and they agree to check the door -- where they find it is in fact not broken. Eventually he's able to talk his way out of the situation, though the guards let him know they'll be continuing to keep an eye on him.
Still, since the rest of your business in the city is legitimate (to a degree; some of the goods you're selling were stolen from the house, of course), you hope you can avoid any further entanglements with the law.
Kyffin, glad Al so smoothly talked his way out of that one, sells off what he can to the enrichment of the group.
For his own part, though he’s dearly trying to save up for some decent armor, he knows he needs a better backup weapon, so he buys a magical bow (Longbow, composite +1, magic +1, adaptive (3.5k)). He’ll also pickup a variety of high quality arrows for the thing. He hopes he never has to use it…
Tristain goes shopping when there is time. He borrows money from Tenebrynn (or Kyffin or Al), and gathers enough to buy a fancy headpiece to which he affixes some padding so it won't get damaged when he bonks. While the headband will help with thinking, so does the bonking, so both would need to work together.
After a day of rest, he supposes he's ready to move on.
"Nice headband there Tristain." Kyffin admires his new protective gear. For his part, he doesn't spend much time with his bow - he doesn't expect to use it much.
So he waits for the others. Once everyone is ready to go, "Let's get this show on the road. We've a 'Necronomicon' to obtain for Tristain to read and explain to us." he grins widely, his teeth shining in the light.
Albert struts around in his fine, new boots. "Have you all ever seen such a nice pair of boots? These are amazing! The arch support is fantastic and it really holds the heel well! That cobbler is a wizard! Literally."
A bath is Starflit's #1 priority upon returning to Cassomir. Once she's scrubbed the grime of the golem's blue whatever and Al's healing dirt off her, she feels human again. She visits a weapon vendor and purchases a silver light mace so she won't find herself without a blunt weapon again.
She examines Tristain's new headband, nodding when she sees some padding on it (though it could still use some more). Then she compliments Al on his new boots.
"I just wanted to make certain you want me to travel with you all to Katheer," she says eventually. "I feel our business with Munn is far from finished, so I'd like to accompany you all...if you'll have me."
Your shopping done, you're able to book passage on a ship to Katheer. It's not luxury accommodations, but they're suitable, and the voyage passes without any incident -- or red-sailed ships, which is a nice change from your last boat journey.
Finally the ship, Serenity, arrives at its destination. Before you is one of the greatest cities in the known world: a sprawling mass of glittering buildings, side-by-side with ancient creations that struggle to remain standing. By comparison, Cassomir is a village. Thousands of vessels ply the river, darting in and out of Katheer’s port. Countless laborers, sailors, and merchants infest the port, and in places the river is so thick with boats that it almost seems possible to cross it without getting wet feet.
Disembarking, Tristain explains that Katheer, the capital city of Qadira, towers on the banks of the Pashman River. A seat of education and trade, Katheer has a long and illustrious history, and stands as the furthest western reach of the Kelesh Empire. If you hadn't just shopped, you're certain the city’s markets could provide nearly anything you might want. You have no trouble finding lodging; indeed, you're almost overwhelmed with options as traders, guides, and perhaps some less savory people attempt to help you.
Tristain tries to avoid freaking out from the hustle and bustle of the very big city. He wants to bonk, of course, but also worries some of the walls might be claimed by other wall bonkers and wouldn’t want to intrude on claimed bonking wall.
”Maybe we can find someplace quiet and not loud and more quiet?” Tristain asks, looking at Starflit. For some reason, he assumes she will be understanding about why he wants this, and that she might be able to help.
”Then maybe we can find the weird library of weirdness.”
During the last part of the ship voyage, Starflit began to examine her blue book guide to Katheer in earnest, in preparation for any information-gathering excursion that might be required upon arrival. Now, as she walks through the great city with the others, the inquisitor is indeed wide-eyed. She's been in Absalom before, but that metropolis wasn't as crowded or bustling as Katheer. As the party makes its way through the throng, Starflit continually tries to surreptitiously check to make sure she's still got her belt pouch (though nearly all her accumulated wealth is tucked away inside her magical haversack).
She makes eye contact when Tristain speaks and seems to agree with his assessment. "Yes, perhaps a large inn with some interior rooms so we won't hear the clamor of the streets," she suggests. "Then we can decide upon our next move."
"I just wanted to make certain you want me to travel with you all to Katheer," she says eventually. "I feel our business with Munn is far from finished, so I'd like to accompany you all...if you'll have me."
"Agreed. There is much yet to do, and you would be most welcome. Thank you for accompanying us."
Ahhhh.... Qadira again!
Kyffin only dimly remembers passing through Katheer on his way out of Qadira. In his other life. His evil life. He tries not to think of the things he may have done in that life when he was here last.
Instead, he tries to enjoy it - especially the smells!
"Yes, let's get rooms squared away so we have somewhere to sleep tonight before we get busy and otherwise entangled." he grins and helps the group find somewhere appropriate before they go seeking the library.
The enthusiasm that briefly lights Tenebrynn's face after finally getting off another horrifically boring river voyage evaporates just a quickly at Tristain's mention of a library. "Ugggh! More books? All we do is stumble from one hell into another."
Her mood begins to lighten again though as they disembark and all the new sights and smells and sounds of a Qadiran port push the thoughts of the boring voyage and future library from her mind. She tugs on Kyffin's pant leg, returning one of his colorful scarfs to his hand without comment as she does so. "Have you been to Katheer before, Kyffin? Where's the nicest place we could possibly stay?"
Tristain looks around, trying to keep his cool as the party tries to find a place to stay. ”We need a base of operations, really. This place is huge. It might take us weeks to find what we seek.”
Al just smiles his old man smile at Starflit's question. "Of course, you're one of us now, 'til the end of this journey."
"Yep, we do need good lodgings, and something that will allow us to learn the city before we stumble into trouble." Looking for an affluent traveler, Albert spots an individual that looks like a comfortable traveler in the city and approaches them. "Friend, would you have any guidance or recommendation for a first time visitor to this metropolis?"
Her mood begins to lighten again though as they disembark and all the new sights and smells and sounds of a Qadiran port push the thoughts of the boring voyage and future library from her mind. She tugs on Kyffin's pant leg, returning one of his colorful scarfs to his hand without comment as she does so. "Have you been to Katheer before, Kyffin? Where's the nicest place we could possibly stay?"
Kyffin takes the scarf back with a chuckle, and adds seriously, ”Well, I wouldn’t know really. When I was through here before, I had scarcely two silver to rub together. Not much comfort to be had in the big city with so meager a purse.”
”Besides, I didn’t stay long, hiring on a ship soon after arriving in town. So I really don’t know the place.” He looks around in wonder, ”But I mean to if I can. Maybe once we’re done with our adventures I can come back here and settle.”
He nods along with Tristain. ”Oh, good call Albert. Right person to ask. Great idea.” Kyffin adds as Albert searches for information.
The man Al approaches looks you up and down and promptly directs you to the Visitors’ Center, a gold-and-white building in ornate Keleshite style.
"You'll want to register there to receive your proper benefits and protections, not to mention avoiding trouble with the law," he says.
After that, he directs you to a modest inn, called the Desert Oasis, where a veiled woman greets you. "Ah, rooms is it?"
"Yes, rooms. We need nice rooms with...uh, nice padded walls and soft pillows. That's what we need," Tristain answers, hoping for the best, and totally not noticing any pillows that the woman might have with her.
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Kyffin chuckles at Tristain's deepest desires - a padded room. Like the first one... with the corner.
He shakes his head of such morbid thoughts and adds to the request, "Some of your finest rooms I should think! Let's celebrate! Nothing has tried to kill us for days!"
Starflit averts her eyes briefly when Tristain and Kyffin make their...unorthodox...comments. The expression on her face tries to convey Yes, I'm with them but I'm new.
She offers to pay for the accommodations.
"After we get our rooms we should register at the Visitor's Center. No need to start trouble with the law around here if we can avoid it. And we need a map of the city, maybe they got a few?"
The woman collects your money, and shows you to several finely appointed rooms. At the Visitors Center, a gold-and-white building in ornate Keleshite style, you're asked if you have a patron. Having no positive answer, you're told the fee is 10 gp per person, which will allow you to legally conduct business in Qadira.
You know Mun and Lowls planned to steal the Necronomicon from a part of the Mysterium known as the Soul.
Kyffin pays the 10gp, for why not. It seems high to him, as they are unlikely to be doing any ‘trade’ in the city per se, but it’s cheap enough considering the sorts of wealth they’ve begun to see in their travels.
”Do you think we can just walk into the Mysterium? It’s an occult university and the ‘Soul’ is the library, so it may be we can just loiter a bit and check it out. It would be good to get at least a first glance at what we’re up against.”
”Do we all need to buy licenses? I’m not sure I’ll be transacting much, and if I do, why can Kyffin just transact for all of us?” Tristain pennypinches, but will pay up if pressed. He’s not used to big city businesses, the doesn’t think.
Starflit pays her 10-gp fee, hoping that hunting down and eliminating cultists of the Dark Tapestry counts under the heading 'doing business' in the city. Having spent some time leafing through her blue book on Katheer, the inquisitor's itching to do a little investigatory work, such as asking around about the Mysterium.
Starflit spends some time checking around and poring through her book, letting her figure out where the Mysterium is: in a stout sandstone building topped with a pyramid and decorated with statues of angelic creatures on its four corners in the University District on the edge of the campus of the Venicaan College of Medicaments and Chirurgery.
She also learns that the Mysterium is presently closed, and the Stewards’ guards are stationed outside the library’s doors -- rummors suggest a group of thieves recently entered the place, triggering something terrible within. Locals say the guards are now trying to keep the something in, rather than keep people out.
"It might be that we can look to see if there is an open window that we might get ourselves into," Tristain says hopefully. "I can get some of us in, but not all of us."
"That's great information Starflit - great stuff!" Kyffin thinks a moment.
"If the guards are fighting to keep something in, maybe we can hire on as adventurers to go take it out. If we fail, they don't have to pay us (and no one local will care about our deaths), but if we succeed, all their troubles are over..." He grins.
"You think you could sell that Al?" he asks the more diplomatic among them. "If it doesn't work, we can break in somehow. Maybe Tristain gets a few of us in and we open a back door or window or whatever to let the rest in."
Kyffin is ready for whatever, and suggests they do so today, now. Strike while the iron's hot!
”That’s a good idea, Kyffin. Might earn us some goodwill with people here too. If they turn us down, though, I’m sure I could find a window somewhere that’ll work.”
As you approach, you find a squat sandstone pyramid sits atop a blocky building. Angelic statues stand at each of the building’s corners. The walls of the building are also carved with smiling angels, some armed with spears and shields. Angels bearing frowns and concerned faces grip a curious round, ocher-rusted, iron doorway set into smooth sandstone walls. A braided copper bell pull hangs nearby.
Six Nethysian guards stand alertly in front of the building.
You notice they seem far more worried about the building than anyone approaching.
As you try to persuade them to let you enter, they quickly tell you that you'll need to go talk to Elder Thyrr, who lives in the apartments across the street. One gestures vaguely in the direction they want you to go, even as she looks nervously again over her shoulder.