[PFS] 6-10 The Wounded Wisp (Inactive)

Game Master Scott Young

You can't take 10 when aiding another.

Muroi looks at his friends while they open the coffin. "I would help you, but I am not strong. On the other hand, those runes say ARKATH. Does anyone know what is the meaning of that word?"

I don't know if this could help with the meaning of this word.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Lulu grins at Muroi. "That's the name of the fellow in here. He's a stonemason, so I would expect his sarcophagus to be a fine work of art. Say, I wonder if he helped to build the Wall of Names...?"

Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 14

She also helps with the lid, putting her back into it.

Working together, you easily slide the sarcophagus ild aside and place it gently against the side of the tomb. Inside lies a short skeleton with broad shoulders and thick bones. Scraps of fabric are all that remain of the person's clothing, but in the dim light you see a flash of something metallic. A small silver coin lies near the skeleton's neck vertebrae.

Assuming you take due diligence, to speed things along... The coin radiates a faint aura of divination magic, and no traps are evident. As you remove it, you can see that the coin appears to be a very old Taldan coin dating from thousands of years ago, except that it doesn't exhibit the amount of wear you would expect on since an ancient object.

Ahmad - detect magic, spellcraft: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Dismoon - detect magic, spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Muroi - detect magic, spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Therin - detect magic, spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Muroi is able to identify the object as a Pathfinder's coin, a way that early members of the Society could leave hidden messages for each other. If placed on a wayfinder, the coin will hover above it and speak the message recorded into it.

Anyone have a wayfinder?

Muroi extends his right hand and put the coin on it. He is so excited with this old coin. "Well, well, well... This is a Pathfinder coin, the coin has a message but we need a wayfinder to listen to it. Does anyone have a wayfinder? I have always wanted one, but I don't have enough money to buy one.

"We may need to return to the Grand Lodge to borrow one." Natalia suggests.

You did meet a few people at the Wisp who would have one as well...

Lulu snaps her fingers. "Garl and Shrade. Or someone else over there. They'll lend a Wayfinder, if I tell them it involves attacking something."

She nods to the remains. "Shu-kraan, Arkath. Rest well; message received. We should place the lid back."

"Once the lid is back on, let's return to the Wounded Wisp then and figure this out."

Kefilwe greets you as you exit the tomb. "You have found what you came for, it seems," he says, eying the coin. "I will allow you to borrow this item, but it must be returned to me for reburial before the day is out." He pulls out what appears to be a pro forma contract and starts filling it out. "Which of you will sign for the coin?" he asks expectantly.

You're losing your touch--should have pocketed it. Lulu sighs inwardly. "I'll sign for it. The penalty for lateness is...? And can we send a runner if we are otherwise occupied?"

Kefilwe nods. As you see on page four, there is a flat 2gp late fee per day. You can definitely have it delivered if you are occupied." He accepts your signature and looks over the tomb. Satisfied there is nothing amiss, he closes the door again. "I wish you luck in your explorations." he says, and goes back to his patrol.

Where next?

"Excuse me, sir... Do you have a wayfinder?" Muroi said while Lulu signs the papers.

I think we shoild head back to the Wisp...we need to find out what is on this coin immediately.

"Back to the Wisp!" Natalia says with finality and begins to head in that direction.

"He no doubt has a way to track me via my signature..." Lulu grumbles as they leave.

"That's why thievery is only a poor girl's game. Steal something worth anything, and they'll use magicks to track you," she says to the group. "Unless, of course, you have a guild to help you, or a Society..." She lets the last bit trail off with a grin, leaving her morals, or those of the Pathfinders, in slight question.

As before, Soumral remains in the background and lets the others make the decision about the group's next destination. She then follows along.

"How long have Wayfinders been around? The coin is dated from thousands of years ago...I had always thought the compass was a relatively new technology." she asked inquisitively.

Looks like The Society was founded in 4307. Not sure our characters know this. :)

Wayfinders are based on ancient Azlanti technology that predate Starfall.

Kefilwe responds to Muroi's question: "A Wayfinder? Ha, no, I do not - the Pathfidners are very private about such items, and do not allow outsiders to have them."

You return to the Wisp, and see that the clientele has changed over somewhat. Garl and Shrade are still there, and so is Aram bin Kaleel, but the halfling woman with the books is gone and so are many others. The seats are still full, though, showing how busy the Wisp is.

Muroi enters to the Wisp and walks quickly and directly to the bar. You know he doesn't feel confortable with big crowds. "Hello, Heryn. How are you doing?... I was wondering if you have a Wayfinder that you can lend me for a moment. It won't take long."

Lulu walks over to Garl and Shrade. "Still drinking? I was wondering if I could borrow a Wayfinder for a minute or three. On a case." She gives them a wink.

Dismoon balances her fear of undead bursting from the Wisps' floorboards with curiosity of seeing a Wayfinder function; she keeps cautiously close to the coin.

Therin anxiously waits to see ig one of his colleagues obtains a Wayfinder.

Heryn isn't a Pathfinder, and neither Garl nor Shrade own such a silly trinket, but Aram does, and happily offers his wayfinder for use.

You place the coin on top of the device, and for a moment nothing happens. Then, the coin slowly rises above the surface of the silver compass, hovering and slowly turning. A faint voice from the past begins speaking, barely audible over the din of the bar.

"The path and chamber are complete, hidden behind the nameplate of the requested aspirant and guarded by the word you requested. Fimbrik will add more."

After speaking, the coin floats gently back to the wayfinder and stops moving.

The only thing that makes any sort of sense is the word, "aspirant". An uncommon word, in Absalom it most often refers to those who aspire to the Test of the Starstone - in other words, people who wish to become gods. Only three aspirants have ever succeeded (Iomedae, Norberger, and Cayden Caillean), but there are hundreds of failed aspirants, who are memorialized in the Shrine of the Failed, a temple near the Starstone Cathedral.

Soumral watches the wayfinder play the message with great interest.

I must certainly acquire one of these devices. They have great utility, and possession of one seems to open many doors and create opportunities where there are none otherwise.

"Hmm...'nameplate'...could that be referring to the Wall of Names? But if we don't know the 'aspirant's name..." Dismoon gets lost in thought, glancing back over the notes.

"Oh, there was the mention of how Eylysia was caught adding names to the Wall: Doulgonlir Caskmail, Hollis 'Evil Grin' T horne, Karina Clamp...perhaps we could visit the wall and check those names?"

"Yes, that was one of the places me must visit. Perhaps we should go there first, then on to the Starstone Catherdral. If we are looking for name inscriptions, we can collect them all with those two trips for cross-referencing."

Muroi looks perplex to Dismoon and Soumral. They are so smart.

"Well... Let's go friends. Let´s find those names. Wait a minute, are we going to bring back the coin to the cemetery?"

Perhaps "Arkath"is the word that the message us referring to....

"Lords of all the elements, let's do get this coin back to the cemetery, or that Abadarian is going to hang my picture in the Abyss," says Lulu. "And thence to the Hall of Names. But...how many Pathfinders have been aspirants? I'm not sure they are the same thing."

The tough little Keleshite palms the coin in one tanned hand and grins. "One thing at a time, though. I must pay my debts. And this Shrine of the Failed sounds interesting."

"Oh, you're right. Look...Aldophus wrote that those three names were not "true" Pathfinders...how can you be a false Pathfinder? Perhaps he meant they were walking the wrong path...concealing knowledge like Eylysia?"

"Actually, I think we should visit the address for this Fimbrik, since it sounds like we might find more information on how to open this nameplate chamber if we can find him or someone who knew him." Natalia suggests after considering the clues for a few moments. "But if your hearts are set on visiting the Wall or Hall of Names first, then I'll follow along. Cooperation is part of this whole Pathfinder thing, right?"

"I agree Natalia, if it is 'guarded by a word' there might not be a way to circumvent it without knowing it outright...I change my vote, we should find Fimbrik before we go to the Wall."

Aye...Fimbrik might have information we need for this endeavour.

"That is fine."

"I am with you, Natasha. Let's go, my frineds." Muroi arranges its clothes and follows to the others.

You head back to the graveyard and return the coin to Kefilwe, and then head to the address of Fimbrik the gnome wizard. (Absalom map is updated with new locations.)

A brick step leads to Fimbrik’s front entrance, with a pair of glass doors. Numerous stacks of newspapers—roughly 2 years’ worth of monthly copies—are piled around the door and crammed into a thin slot at its base. Each rounded corner of the building has a large window, and the main door has two large windows as well.

Don't worry about icons on the map at this point, just describe what you'd like to do.

Muroi stands on tiptoe to look through the windows if there is someone inside. He puts his hands on the forehead to adjust the amount of light to improve his vision. After that, he comes back to the main door, moves his hands and pronounces some words "DETECTAR MAGIA."

Muroi casts Detect Magic on the front door area.

Part of map revealed...

A large sofa sits awkwardly near the entrance, facing toward the center of the room. Sets of chairs and tables are arranged throughout, and statues of grandiose gnomes occupy the corners of the room. A set of stairs at the northern edge of the chamber leads up and down. The carpet shows no signs of wear, and the tables and other surfaces are immaculately clean and free of dust. A set of double doors on the left and two single doors on the right are closed.

After peeking through the window, she knocks hard on the door glass "Anyone home?" she shouts.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

"Bah. I can't tell if there are any traps on this door. Can someone else check? I'll get us in...after someone else looks."

"Wait, are we breaking in? Who would put a trap on the front door of their home?" as she asks, she takes a closer look in curiosity. take 20 for 23

There is no response to your knocking. A minute's searching confirms that you can't see any traps on the front door.

"I don't see anything weird, Lulu. What are you expecting? Oh wait, could it be a trapdoor from the floorboards below? I didn't check down there."

Perhaps we should just enter? If we have to we can explain ourselves.

Muroi puts his arm in front of Therin, blocking to him. "Therin, wait a minute. There are 3 auras in that room. I can only identify the source of one of these auras. Let me try to see what are they. Give me a minute." Muroi focus on the room and tries to determine what spells are those.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14