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"Well there you have it! If he doesn't mind all that business with his windows why should we? Oh!" A thought almost visibly backhands Pietro. He pushes up one sleeve revealing an inexpertly scrawled note on his hairy arm. "Ahem. 'Excuse me dear sir or madam, have you imbibed the holy spirit of Cayden Cailean today? If yes, would you care to make a small donation to his church? If not, might I interest you in a small nip? Then ask if they would like to make a small donation as above.' Hmm?"
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Carini follows the noise of confusion into the room with the others. "What's this all about, then?" She too approaches Fimbrik at the bookcase, observing everyone's confusion and the gnome's indifference.
"Is he a ghost? Are you a ghost?"
not getting a response, Carini begins investigating the room, looking for any papers related to their investigation, or perhaps a hidden panel or door.
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Gratius is pretty sure the gnome is real, but insubstantial and unaware. Carini has heard of ghosts and this looks a lot like one, although you can't see through it.
Untir looks in the next room..
This chamber contains enough chairs, pillows, and desks to accommodate at least six visitors. An examination of the table in the southwest corner reveals a neatly penned letter...
Underneath the letter is a hastily scrawled note in similar handwriting, which contains a name "Holli "Evil Grin" Thorne.
On the windowsill Utir also finds a couple of potion bottles
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Untir thinks the potions are cure moderate wounds and lesser restoration.
Well, you got me!
I’m not here anymore, and my house is filled with an incredible array of illusions to discourage the curious. But you just had to break in. I respect your gumption and assume you’re either a petty burglar or someone looking into Eylysia’s affairs.
I’ve left Absalom to look for my friend, for she’s been missing for some time; however, I’ve attached the name of a particular Pathfinder you’ll want to investigate at the Wall of Names at the Society Grand Lodge. I assure you, it’s quite important, but I’ll leave you to figure out why.
Oh, and the password. It’s ‘Wiffle.’ You’ll find it important, should you learn where to use it.
—The Illustrious Fimbrik
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You make a noisy exit from the house, with the damage once again being repaired by an increasingly frustrated pathfinder-mage...
Outside the weather has really set in. It has gone from damp to wet. The cobbled streets and pooled with water and in places where they have not been well maintained it is muddy.
Slogging through the rain the cold wetness runs down your backs giving you all some chills.
Eventually you make it back to the Grand Lodge and the Wall of Names.
Created in 4330 ar, the Wall of Names resides on the grounds of the Grand Lodge in Absalom. The monument is a curving wall of black glass that stands atop a small hill at the western edge of the lodge’s grounds. Trees surround the hill, providing ample shade and privacy for those visiting the wall to remember fallen comrades.
Carved into the wall are the name and date of death of every Pathfinder killed in the course of duty since the wall’s construction, and most entries also include a sentence or two summarizing either the agent’s greatest accomplishments or how she died.
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"I said, stop breaking the windows! They open!!!"
On the way back to the Grand Lodge, Untir repeatedly stares into the sky in wonder and annoyance. Used to rain coming once a year with a sudden deluge then ending just as suddenly, it is amazing to him for rain to pour continuously the whole day like this.
When the party reaches the wall, Untir stops first to look at the magnitude of the construction and more specifically, at the multitude of the names carved into the wall. I hope my name doesn't get on here anytime soon. At least not before I find them. He then begins to methodically check through all the entries, especially the earlier ones, looking particularly for the name 'Holli "Evil Grin" Thorne'.
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The weather continues and darkens and eventually overcomes Zootloot's inherent cheery mood. "What is with this cold and wet weather?" He breaks into a sneezing fit. Each sneeze being strong enough that it lifts the small gnome off the ground.
Eventually they find the wall. Normally Zootloot would be thrilled with the history of the wall but his discomfort distracts him.
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We already went to the stonemason's mausoleum. But, do you remember the talk about someone wanting to take the test of the Start Stone ? A Sir ... something.
It may me think about the Shrine of the Failed, like you explained us earlier Untir a place to remember those who failed trying the test, unlike your god Pietro.
May it's there that another clue is hidden ? May be the epitath or the name could help us find something there ?
Says Gratius.
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And so to the Starstone cathedral and the Shrine of the Failed heads out intrepid pathfinder team.
The rain continues to pour down. The streets are surprisingly full, but the flow of traffic is only in one direction...towards the cathedral.
The word on the street is that Sir Reinhart is sure to pass. He has conquered demons without number in the World Wound, and more than one maid has been heard to comment on his hansom countenance.
Even the guardians of the shrine seem to have taken some time off to enjoy the spectacle, although given their nature, they seem a little less confident of his impending ascension.
You carefully duck under the ropes at the entrance and head down the stairs...
Erected centuries ago by an unknown organization, the Shrine of the Failed is a dour complex that pays homage to those who failed in their attempts to overcome the Test of the Starstone. The building houses numerous altars,each dedicated to a specific failed aspirant.
This monumental chamber stretches eighty feet from end to end, with a ceiling suspended thirty feet from the floor by great pillars. Seven arched passages lead to humble rooms, each of which contains
a polished stone altar dedicated to one of the failed aspirants who attempted the Test of the Starstone.
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The first altar to the right has an altar with the inscription
Emuren: Sought the jade idol of ten thousand faces.
Now but another sacrifice to the charau-ka of the Mwangi
The next:
Gobru: Respectfully resigned after losing a friend.
Lost to a life among the fish and bountiful sea.
And so on
Mellag: Survived the horrors of Nemret Noktoria.
Returned to rot from the inside.
And so on
Oggo: Travelled to distant Jalmeray.
Failed to maintain the necessary Sixteen Poses.
And so on
Plokkis: Sought to brave the Path of Aganhei.
Spoiled rations and wastefulness ended that dream.
Muted God: Wrote in solitude for 101 days.
Lived a long life of silence and serenity.
Yepyari: Followed the last Linnorm King to Valenhall.
Lost at sea, last seen in a great tornado.
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Untir stares at the chalkboard, not quite sure what he expected, but almost certain what needs to be done now. He steps out of the room, and waves for the rest of the party to join him.
"It's this room. We found the note with the name of 'Holli "Evil Grin" Thorne' at Fimbrik's place. At the Wall of Names, the portfolio of the Muted God, Silence and Serenity, was attached to this Holli Thorne. And Arkath's coin told us something is hidden behind the nameplate of the aspirant." He then points to the chalkboard he found behind the nameplate.
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Gracius remembers some fact about the edifice and says to his comrades This place was erected centuries ago by an unknown organization, the Shrine of the Failed is a dour complex that pays homage to those who failed in their attempts to overcome the Test of the Starstone. The building houses numerous altars,each dedicated to a specific failed aspirant.
After his comrades found a chalk board behind the plate of the failed aspirant he says
Well done comrades ! May be it's time for us to call for the Venture-Captain ? looking at his comrade's faces he understand they want to continues without telling the venture captain.
He then adds Ok, ok... In this case, I remember that the code name was "waffle" if there is a chalk bord, is there a chalk ? It seems logic to write the name on it, don't you think ?
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As Wiffle appears on the board, the wall to the side changes, and suddenly a dark passage is revealed, heading further into the hillside.
Pressing through the natural cavern, you spot light ahead.
You press on further, finding yet along hidden office. You really do wonder how much time pathfinders of old had on their hands.
Several desks are arranged along the northern and eastern edges of this small stone alcove. Whereas the stonework leading to this chamber is rough, the walls in the alcove are polished. A single gem rests among the neatly filed papers on the desk, emitting a soft luminescence that brightens the small room.