"My good sirs," Seamus begins with a smile. "We are hoping to see the Caliphas Cathedral, and we have been led to believe that this is the place to find it. Judge Daramid has written us a letter of recommendation, and we were hoping to gain access. Might that be possible?
Yes, the told us that we really should pay a visit.
The man looks at you, the disbelief in his eyes blatant. He takes the proffered letter of recommendation and scrutinises it carefully.
"I shall talk to Master Modd, sirs. Please wait here."
Ten minutes later the man has not returned and another visitor arrives. This gentleman is a little pudgy, smiles widely and wears silver spectacles that seem to defy gravity by perching on the very end of his nose.
Abraun Chalest, the curator at the Qauterfaux archives of Caliphas.
Abraun Chalest, a noted Osirian scholar who recently wrote the book "The seven lost Pharaohs"
Ahh, Master Chalest, so good to finally meet you in person, I follow your knowledgeable work most studiously. I just finished reading The Seven Lost Pharaohs. You quite outdid yourself. Most informative.
"Jennix. Letter."
"Oh? Oh! Thank you young man! Are you a member? I don't recall seeing you before..."
No, good sir. Not a member, though I aspire to that esteemed position. We do possess a letter of recommendation from Judge Daramid.
"Daramid? From Leipstadt? Well, well. A year or two probation and I'm sure she'll make you members of the Leipstadt chapter."
Well,we were hoping to access the library for some research that we need to do.
"Only if that is alright with you, of course. We don't wish to be a burden." Seamus flashes a grin at Master Chalest.
Hopefully he doesn't see us as a threat.
"The Vaults?" Master Chalest seems taken aback
"Few have access to the Vaults. Possibly for a fellow scholar, I suppose... Perhaps... I could talk to the Master. Are you well published? Jennix Letter, wasn't it?"
You can tell your charming smile and Jennix's appeal to academic vanity seem to have bought you some leverage.
Most scholars live or die by their patrons. Some patrons seek an advisor, but most seek famous scholars. Scholars achieve fame through writing insightful books, being talked about by other scholars, and making important discoveries.
"Ha' ya ever heard o' the Elfstomper Giant tribe? They rule way out deep in Belkzen, thriving on a reputation for slayin' a group o' elven warriors and their trained war mounts without taking a single casualty. O'course the story's bogus, but there's some belief these were not just ordinary elves. Some say they were dark elves, evil & twisted from livin' some dangerous place with no sun."
"Fascinating - I would love to hear more about the interior of Belzken, so much history goes on in our savage neighbours' lands that we know nothing of. Do you have any evidence or artefacts of the true story?"
Reknarok, only slightly versed in the common local knowledge, and a few sparse informations about the nobility of the region, decided to stay silent, letting his more cultured companions do the talking - he assumes a martial posture, keeping watch on the surroundings.
"Sadly, no, the only things I brought off the plateau were weapons, scars, and stories. Perhaps we could discuss things inside?"
Master Chalest and Jennix engage in some quite spirited conversations on the nature of Osirian funeral architecture.
"No, no, I simply must disagree with you. You must see my exhibit on..."
Master Chalest trails off
"Oh. Bother. Come with me young man, we'll see the Master about this and then I'll prove to you why you're wrong! Bring your friends." Irritably waving the Guards aside he proceeds inside.
Master Chalest talks extensively with the master of the Order in Caliphas, Edjureus Modd. Master Modd had been intending to deny you entry, but Master Chalest's entreaty convinces him - grudgingly - to allow access to the Vaults, albeit under Chalest's strict supervision.
Piles of statuary, pottery, paintings and art fill these chambers, clustered around large wooden crates, barrels and narrow bookshelves full of ancient musty tomes with only narrow, meandering pathways between them. In the final vault to the east a large worktable lies half-buried under a pile of scrolls, books and clay tablets, illuminated by magical work lights overhead.
The poem is a formula to create a magical elixir to create a lich. It is specific to a person, but you cannot identify who.
The poem refers to items already acquired by the Whispering Way, though you have reclaimed the Raven's Head.
The strange amulet you found is probably a Moribund Key - an arcane object used by senior members of the Whispering Way.
Each Moribund Key bears an engraved skull with burned out ioun stones for eyes. Small openings line the outer edge of the Moribund Key. By turning the skull an inner plate filled with runes lines up with the openings on the outer edge.
There are thousands of combinations of settings, and these match symbols set on objects of great importance to the cult such as statues, paintings and doors. The proper arrangement of these runes activates stored spell effects in such objects, including powerful wards, programmed images or releasing arcane locks.
The amulet bears an engraved skull with burned out ioun stones for eyes. Small openings line the outer edge of it.
It bestows a negative level on any good creature holding it.
The skull's eyes glow red when undead are within 60ft.
The bearer can cast message at will, and spectral hand and vampiric touch 3/day each.
you find a chronicle of several items the whispering way once kept in Caliphas, including a gargoyle statue reputed to show believers the way to the cult's hidden stronghold in the city.
+2 full plate - you can have that Gratis ;P
Hate to poke, but given your only clue seems to be this statue...
Master Chalest, looking over Jennix's shoulder remarks upon a description of one of the items
"I believe I recognise that Gargoyle. I think I've seen it down here, in fact." An exhaustive search later and he uncovers it in a far-off auxiliary store room.
Half-covered by a fallen tapestry, a hideous stone Garogyle crouches upon a solid block of rough hewn black granite. Its wings lie folded over its back, their sharp spurs reaching almost to the ten foot ceiling overhead, The statue's claws, teeth and strangely protruding rubs all appear crafted from iron. A carved necklace with a skull shaped medallion bearing curious runes along its outer edge hangs upon the gargoyle's chest.
What do you make of this boys? Reknarok questions, turning to his much more scholarly companions.
Jennix begins examining the statue. This is supposed to be a map of some kind.
"Statues as maps, secret cathedrals in playhouses, and orders of hidden societies. Sounds like my kind of place. The Master guides."
Jennix begins examining the statue, running his hands along it and retrieving his magnifying glass to look at some smaller details. He keeps coming back to the necklace on the statue, comparing to the amulet at hand. These appear to be or represent the same thing, like I said the statue is supposed to show the way to the Whispering Way's stronghold here in the city. Hmmm..I wonder how it is accomplished?
The only difference between the two amulets is the gargoyle's amulet has different runes showing.
"I have some skill in magical devices," Seamus says, holding out his hand. "Mind if I give it a try?"
Jennix nods at Seamus. Of course, you have already proved your expertise with magic items. I am thinking that we need to turn the runes so that they match one or the other, but I trust you will find a way.
"Well, here goes nothing."
Seamus runs his hands along the outside of the statue, trying to find a way to activate it.
As the now matching amulet is placed over its twin upon the gargoyle’s chest the runes on both momentarily flash blue.
Suddenly a few things happen.
The air in front of the gargoyle flashes and suddenly it is holding between its hands a map of Caliphas, strange floating symbols above it.
At each cardinal point stands a skeletal figure in a pristine scholar’s robe and bone staff, harsh whispers asking in unison:
”What is the fifth catechism?”