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Bertha's sling bullet flies off and hits Caboose's head. There's nothing of importance there though, so no harm's done.
Then...
Ker-splat!
Wha-bam!
Ka-
Caboose's sword goes up high and comes down fast and hard, hitting the ghast to devastatingly, it takes a while to see what really happened to the undead creature. All that's left is the crown left spinning on the floor until it comes to a full stop.
Nothing seems to threaten you anymore.
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Jarlaxle soon finds out all but one of the sacrophagi are stuck and require some strength to get open. It takes some strength to slide open the sarcophagi, but eventually the pathfinders manage to open all of them.
The lid of the frontmost sarcophagus in the northwestern alcove slide aside with the sound of a grinding millstone. The well-preserved body of a young girl lies inside, stringy black hair obscuring the face. Her atrophied limbs are drawn up like folded sticks against her torn school uniform.
The other five sarcophagi have mummified remains including a lot of valuables. A set of polished silver plates each with the decorative bust of a Taldan noble rising from its center like a man from a mercury pool, and a gold-plated, ceremonial longsword.
The crown worn by the ghoul is merely a prop made to look like an extravagant king's crown.
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"Hmmm... Well, I don't know about the value of those plates, but that sword is probably worth about 250gp as a collector's item."
He then nods to the mummified girl in the school uniform.
"Looks like we have another one... strange that this body is less well preserved, despite apparently being better protected than the other one?"
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As the ghoul collapses, Caboose seems to calm down. He looks around quizzically, as if surprised to find himself inside the chamber. He speaks again, it is in his normal, slightly-confused-but-cheerful voice.
"What happened? The last thing I remember was a very mean kitten. And then we were in the janitor's closet! ...and my throat hurts alot."
He looks around a little more and notices Jarlaxle looking over the well-preserved body. None the wiser, he sheathes his sword, walks over to the girl and shakes her gently.
"Hello! Why are you sleeping in here? Is it comfortable in there? You look like you could use a big sandwich. Are you hungry? Are you hungry? Are you cold? Do you need a blanket? Little girl, do you want some hot dogs in a blanket?"
ROFL I didn't read the spoilers till after I typed up the above post. XD
If no one else realises the girl is alive, this could get very interesting. XD
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"I don't think you can make salads with that," Caboose objects doubtfully, "but maybe if you gave mister Dreng that instead, he will be so happy he forgets about how hungry for salads he is."
"Why don't you just ask the girl for her ring when she wakes up?"
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Jayori ignores the valuables, merely frowning slighly as they are looted, but will examine the girl when she is uncovered, with a puzzled look.
"Though that is indeed the uniform of the old school, does she not appear a bit old to be have been a student there?" He asks, looking at the skeletal figure in the coffin.
Like everywhere else, he gives her and the ring the detect-evil-once-over before anyone does anything too rash.
He does not, however, notice her condition, nor does he pay much attention to Caboose, who has thought every dead person to date has been alive.
"We should probably return her to the surface with the Maldris lad." He adds, sadly. "Their families will want their remains returned."
He glances around the ocean-tossed chambers with a speculative frown. "It would appear we have explored the extent of this necropolis." He observes hesitantly. "Anything else seems to have been swallowed by the sea."
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Jarlaxle easily pulls the ring off the girl's fingers.
Jayori doesn't detect evil, again. The girl's body does look to be around 20 years of age.
As the pathfinders ponder their options, they begin to hear a very distant echo, as if multiple people were talking over each other. There's nothing to make out of it. The noise is getting closer albeit slowly.
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Jarlaxle turns to the others, bemused puzzlement clearly etched across his features.
"Curious... She looks about 20, albeit an anorexic 20... It is almost as if this one kept aging... I don't suppose there is even the remotest possibility that she is actually still alive, is there? Why on Golarion would she have stayed in a sarcophagus for 20 years, and why didn't she starve!?"
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"Caboose, my friend, you've been hurt. You should get some healing. There was a healing wand in the backpack, was there not? I cannot use such a thing, but I'm sure one of our friends can."
"Oh, don't worry. I am ok. I've been injured many times before and I've always come out... fine, both physically and..."
There is a long drawn-out pause as it appears that Caboose might have more to add to that statement. Eventually, however, it becomes apparent that that was all he had to say on the topic.
"Stop! That girl isn't dead, or even undead. She appears to still be alive!"
"Not un-dead. Wait, she's not dead, and she's not not-dead? Is she like a zombie? She must be a friendly zombie! Because she's not trying to eat... my... that thing that's inside my head. Hello friendly zombie! How are you today? Are you going to wake up soon? You must have gone to bed really, really late last night."
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At Bertha's pronouncement that the young girl is still alive, Jayori looks just as confused as the rest.
He quickly goes to confirm what the druid said.
"Most unusual." He exclaims, not quite ready to believe she might have been down here for over a decade, but clearly not sure what explanation actually fits best.
"Perhaps Riceak is correct, and she is a recent addition." He looks at the poor girl again thoughtfully. "Though in very poor health it would seem."
He nods in agreement as Jarlaxle suggests seeking out a temple. "Yes, we should seek out someone more knowledgeable." He frowns for a moment, before adding. "Though if it is this place keeping her alive, removing her may do her more harm then good."
As Riceak points out the sound slowly approaching, he seems to make up his mind. "Though whatever approaches, it is unlikely to be a better option."
"Let us be off."
He stows his weapon and shield, and as gently as he can, picks up the young woman.
"Convincing Deris to come might prove problematic however." He adds as he starts towards the exit.
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Caboose tries his best to follow the conversation, then suddenly has a flash of inspiration. Or at least what passes for inspiration where he's concerned.
"Maybe...the salad-maker that she's wearing was making salads for her, and feeding she's been eating salads while she was down here! My mom always told me that I had to eat meat to grow big and strong. She looks like she has not been eating meat for a very long time. We should bring her to that party we were invited to! Then she can eat all the meat she wants and grow big and strong again!"
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The pathfinders eventually decide to make a hasty exit, Caboose carrying the unconscious girl. Deris is adamant about not following the group, and stays down in the necropolis.
They resurface to the topside world, and nothing really has changed. The rain has turned into a light drizzle; the storm weakened when hitting the coast. The pathfinders make their way to the nearest legitimate church or temple, presenting the unconscious girl to medical care. The female clerk is a little mystified.
"Good evening to you, travelers. I see you brought a... girl. What happened to her?" she asks, starting to prepare a bed for the girl to sleep on.
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"Well I wouldn't do much with dead corpses," the clerk says absent-mindedly, starting to examine the girl, "malnutritioned, but alive. Thanks for bringing this girl here. Oh, and it would make my work easier if you could tell me where you found her, and if possible, a name."
Regardless of the answer, the clerk nods and begins to revive the girl.
The pathfinders then make way to the Grand Lodge for a well-deserved night's rest, dropping the ruby ring to Dreng's office—in which the captain resides nearly all the time—on their way. Some might twist and turn in their sleep after witnessing some underworldly horros, but most murderhobos pathfinders are attuned to such terror they sleep soundly in any environment, be it in the middle of the Worldwound or in Hell itself.
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The next morning greets Absalom with sunshine. Drandle Dreng has left a message that he has received the item and is pleased how efficient the agents were.
The team also knows they have a banquet to attend that evening. The invitation spoke about the importance of dress code and attendance, so they should probably do something about those things.
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Sharien attends the banquet if only to rub shoulders with some higher-ups. She delicately dances around the area, watching for any high-ranking Pathfinders or diplomats to whom she may ingratiate herself. If she finds a suitable-looking man, she may dance with him a bit, but tonight is business for her, not pleasure.
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At the banquet lady Miranda Dacilane welcomes all those who accepted her invitation, but her disdain towards vagabonds and those ill-fitted to the event is apparent. She masks it to the best of her abilities.
The manor is over-the-top; the courtyard is surrounded by a tall, wrought-iron fence and overly decorated in statuary, fountains, and a carefully landscaped garden. Inside there are gilded furniture, painted ceilings, gold-spun wallpaper, valuable Chelish rugs, anything gold can buy.
Even the dinner service is exuberant; you are told it is a 10-course affair made by the best chefs in Absalom.
There are some guests from various noble families, all wearing colors of mourning. They begin with a speech that brings tears to people's eyes, touching tales of young talents robbed from their mothers' by the hungry sea. Eventually, towards the end of the dinner, lady Dacilane herself tells the story of her daughter, who was lost and never found. The lady presents a large portrait of her beloved, deceased daughter.
It is then when those who attend realize the girl in the portrait is the same girl whom they found from the sarcophagi and delivered to a local church for recovery.
"My daughter Junia was one of so many children lost. Hundreds of them pinned under the rubble in that sinkhole. The black water rising—the kids screaming." She quiets for a moment. "None of us could get to them."
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Jayori will attend the party as well, along with Sharien. He would 'encourage' Caboose to find other distractions, fearing the unintentional insults the big man would undoubtedly cause.
He takes time during the day to stop in and check on the young girl from the day before, as well as to pick up some more appropriate attire.
At the banquet, he does his best to represent the Pathfinders in as good a light as possible, chatting up the various guests and being properly diplomatic and respectful, given the sombre tone of the event.
He is quite surprised to see that the portrait of the Lady Dacilane's daughter is the very same girl they'd rescued the night before, if a younger version.
He glances at Sharien to ensure that she too noticed, then motions her over and attempts to get to the Lady Dalcilane for a more private conversation to relay the news... not believing blurting out this sort of thing, amidst the crowd of people, appropriate.
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It was not entirely clear during their last conversation that Caboose completely understood Jayori's words to him, but then it is never clear that Caboose understands anything (the only thing that can be potentially clear about Caboose's understanding of anything is the lack of it). However as the evening progresses, Caboose's continued absence gives the paladin some measure of relief... until just a few seconds after the portrait of Junia is revealed.
Almost as if on cue, a commotion is heard outside. Soon after, one of the attendants comes flying through the double doors of the banquet hall screaming "whhhyyyyyyy........" as an all-too familiar voice says in a helpful tone "be careful." It is followed by the weak voice of a young woman, or perhaps a teenage girl, giggling.
As heads turn towards the double-doors, a large man in blue armor appears in the doorway, a familiar emaciated but now-conscious young woman in his arms.
"Yeah I'm pretty sure this is where the big party was and there will be lots of food here and you're going eat all you want and grow big and strong...," Caboose declares cheerfully as he enters the room. Junia giggles weakly as she taps on Caboose's helmet with her fingernails, making a series of soft ringing sounds that seem to amuse her well enough for the moment.
"Heeeeeyyyyy... ... everyone is looking at us! Hello everybody!" Caboose calls out as a silence descends on the room.
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Jarlaxle feels perfectly at ease at the banquet, thoroughly enjoying both the fine food, and the company. He is, however, extremely surprised when the woman reveals the image of her daughter.
"My Lady, I don't know how to break the news to you, but your daughter is alive (albeit barely). Whilst searching the ghoul-infested necropolis that was below the former school, we discovered her, comatose and and atrophied, within a sarcophagus. Not knowing whom she was, we took her to a local church to see if they could aid her return to consciousness..."
His voice trails off as Caboose arrives, and he inwardly groans.
Not the best way to bring her back...
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The crowd gasps as the girl is brought in, everyone looking at the portrait and the girl in turn. Although lady Miranda Dacilane is furious about this intrusion—she didn't expect pathfinders to behave themselves anyway—she's overjoyed to see her daughter alive.
"It's a miracle!" the lady exclaims with a high note. The whispers, the sudden burst of chatter become deafening, as the guests begin to realize their own children could be alive, trapped underneath the rubble and debris.
Chaos ensues as all the nobles start to move about, almost panic, demanding their servants to get them home quickly to assemble a search party right away. In the disarray the pathfinders have little say or chance to intervene, and it's not long before every guest in the banquet has left in a hurry, leaving a real mess behind, much to their own embarrassment. Lady Miranda Dacilane looks dumbfounded as it all happened so quickly. She first orders her servants to start cleaning, then coming over to her daughter. "Junia... it is really you?" The girl seems childish, but at the same time confused about what has happened; being in a coma for a decade does weird things. "I'll order my best doctors and scholars to help you back on your feet. Indeed, she's at a point where she is too weak to stand up on her own, hence Caboose has been carrying her. A pair of servants appear, clear their throats to raise Caboose's attention and gently take Junia elsewhere.
Lady Miranda Dacilane attempts to keep a straight face while looking at Caboose, but his eyes send a clear message: You rude, uncivilized beggar. Her words are a lot kinder though. "Thank you for saving my daughter. I had lost hope of ever seeing her again, yet... you bring me a miracle." She seems disgusted about talking so much to Caboose and turns to the other pathfinders, who have been dressing properly and behaving according to the occasion. To them she repeats the words albeit with a softer, friendlier tone. She reveals she didn't think much of the Pathfinder Society—a rag tag team of vagabond misfits—but this event has proven them to be resourceful. Lady Dacilane promises to put good word on the streets about the agents' deeds, which will undoubtly be essential when dabbling in Absalom's politics.
Since the banquet ended to abruptly, the lady asks the pathfinders to leave so she can spend time with her long lost daughter, Junia. To Caboose, who arrived late and didn't get his fill of the dining, Miranda turns up her nose and order her servants to fill a sack of leftovers, mix it all up, and give it to him. "Consider giving him a straw as well," she adds nonchalantly, and closes the door after the servants have thrown the doggy bag on the ground in front of Caboose. The texture and color are not very appetizing.
Back at the lodge the agents get a further report from Drandle Dreng. The ruby salamander ring was in a ring of sustenance, which would explain how Junia had maintained alive in the necropolis. Furthermore, the venture-captain tells there are numerous groups flocking to the Drownyard, and he scolds the pathfinders a bit for creating such a stir. Still, the mission was a success and he dismisses the pathfinders to continue their endeavors elsewhere.
The pathfinders also hear reports the following days that another search party found a dead man's body in the necropolis. He died of starvation, and only the pathfinders are able to identify him as Deris Marlinchen. Looking up to the issue they learn Deris was the last of Marlinchens, as all others of his family tree were perished in the earthquake.
A letter arrives to each participated agent; it's from Junia. She thanks them from the bottom of her heart, and explains how she managed to hide and survive all these years. She and her friends had found the necropolis before the earthquake, and kept it as their own secret place where they'd gather to tell stories. When the quake hit, the debris trapped the kids underground. Junia had found the ring well before, and had to watch her friends wither due to lack of food and potable water. Soon knowing no one would come look for them, they began to freak out. Strange whispers started to come through the walls. Junia's friends were too weak to escape, when a horrible ghost came from the walls. Junia managed to run away, had to leave her friends to their cruel fates, and hid inside a sacrophage in hopes the ghost would find her. Eventually though, the horrible ghost pierced the stone. She screamed at the top of her lungs, and then it all went back.
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Jarlaxle can only shake his head at the high drama that unfolded itself at the banquet.
Not something you see everyday... the noble classes acting like a common mob...
He bows low to Lady Dacilane.
"I am glad that we were able to be of such help, m'lady. To find something so dear, once thought lost forever, is a truly once-in-a-lifetime occurrence!"
Days later, when the letter arrives from Junia, he can only shiver as he reads it.
What a horrible thing to happen to a child - trapped in the dark, with no way out, and terrible creature stalking your friends one by one... until it came after you. At least, for her, there was a (relatively) happy ending...
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Caboose, completely missing Lady Dacilane's disdain for him, replies, "Oh her name isn't Mira, her name's Junia! She is my new best friend. See we were on this adventure, and then there was some stuff, and then there was some other stuff, and then we found her sleeping and Sharien thought she was a zombie but then I decided she was a friendly zombie and then we brought her to the nice lady with the white robes and..."
Caboose continues talking for awhile, oblivious to the fact that Lady Dacilane had stopped paying attention to him some time ago. As the servants take Junia from his arms, he accidentally knocks a couple of them to the ground before handing Junia safely into their care.
"Goodbye Junia! Take good care of her! Remember to give her lots of sun and water her 5 times a day!"