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This smooth, red lacquered chest looks devious. The solid metal plate surrounding the gaping keyhole pulses with glowing amber runes.
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This smooth, red lacquered chest looks devious. The solid metal plate surrounding the gaping keyhole pulses with glowing amber runes. When this key is placed within the keyhole of the red lacquered chest, the chest opens without the key needing to be turned.
When this chest is opened, Opal can feel that the opened lid triggered... something...
A series of mechanical sounds follow--the sounds of clicks and pulley wheels spinning emanate from hidden spaces. The sounds start behind the chest, continue through the floor, climb up the wall, and even across a portion of the ceiling!
A small, golden key pops out from a slit in the 15-foot-high ceiling. It is suspended 6 inches down from the ceiling.
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Just as Alek prepares to strike the snake hiding within the basket he suddenly stops when Van starts speaking with the creature. He listens intently and nods to the gnome when he handles the situation with ease. "Well done, Van. Most impressive."
Cinderpaw becomes bored and lays down on the floor, watching Alek closely and occasionally sniffing the air; however, when Opal turns the key the wolf jumps up and perks his ears up as he follows the sounds behind the wall with his head...
Alek stares up at the key, dangling from the ceiling. "So, we have opened one chest, determined the other is an illusion. We now have two keys and a solid hunk of metal... Also, perhaps rather than attempting to shooting down the key how about this? We move the table to directly underneath the key, I stand on the table, and then one of you stands upon my shoulders and I'll hoist you up to retrieve the key?"
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The Copper Banded Chest was an illusion.
The rune etched key from the viper basket opened the Red Lacquered chest which clicked and released the gold key from the ceiling.
The jeweled key from the acid jar crumbled to dust when used in the steel chest.
You have yet to try either the scepter key from inside the red lacquered chest, or the gold key from the ceiling. The scepter key is too big for the steel chest.
So... Let's say you eventually try the gold key in the steel chest.
Just as Opal is ready to turn the key, she notices that it seems to be trapped! Something will happen when the clasp mechanism of the chest is released/opened/unlocked.
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The scepter key does, indeed, open the door.
As they exit the room, the party catches several servants unprepared. From the large chalkboard around which they all seem to have been haggling and making wagers, they did not expect you to get out of the room so quickly.
(An easy perception check shows that the betting heavily favored you all remaining stuck in the room for at least 30 minutes.)
The servant who led the group into the room is among those waiting on the other side. "Ah, Pathfinders. We did not expect you to finish so quickly! You can keep the map and wand, but please give back any keys you may have."
As he addresses you, the other servants whistle nonchalantly as they try to move the chalkboard out of sight.
The viper follows, his recent deal with Van fresh in his mind. But, when he sees the servants, he pauses, hisses, and slithers back to his basket.
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Van shakes his head at Opal's suggestion as his snake friend returns to the room, but he does say to the guard, "Hey, bud. That snake there requires a rat and female company. Be a pal and ask the turban guy to set that up for him. Thanks."
The gnome then nods his agreement with Opal's suggested itinerary, "Yeah, sounds like a plan. I have short legs so there's no reason to do any backtracking. Unless one of you cats can use it, I guess I should hang onto the wand."
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The fourth task on the PCs’ list is to retrieve an item on loan from the Pathfinder Vault. Paracountess Zarta Dralneen is an influential diplomat from the nation of Cheliax.
Arriving at Paracountess Zarta Dralneen’s townhouse in the Ivy District (one of several homes the noblewoman keeps around Absalom) the party comes upon a magnificent gothic structure three stories in height. The ebon lacquered double doors wrought with gleaming silver fixtures greet the characters, a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door chime. Moments after ringing it, a servant in loose casual attire opens the door, greeting the Pathfinders as if expected.
"Hey, y'all. Y'all look like Pathfinders. I can tell because y'all look like an ad for the "United Colors of Absalom." Well, come on in. My mistress will answer any questions you have once we reach her quarters."
Led through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, you finally arrive on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta’s personal study, which lies beyond her bedroom. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door.
A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table.
Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zarta dralneen regards you with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing to address the group:
"Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks."
"It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh-faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you."
Zarta points at Caranthir.
"I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore. On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits."
"Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order."
As the paracountess talks, a cacophony of booms and crashes sounds from beyond the room’s west door. She sometimes pauses at an extended eruption of these noises before continuing with the conversation.
"A servant is greatly misbehaving. You’re going to have to deal with it in order to get the trinket. You might need this to get it to submit."
She goes over to the desk in her study, opening a drawer and drawing out an exquisite silver letter opener shaped like a dagger (treat as a masterwork silver dagger).
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Sir Dydimus shows meets back up the the party just as Opal rings the bell. Chomping down on the remains of a toffee covered apple he smiles at the group, Sorry I forgot were we were going. He tosses the rest onto the street before entering the building.
Entering the study Sir Dydimus gives the Paracountess a small bow. After the paracountess is done speaking the halfling looks around at the other members of the party with a confused look on his face. Turning back to the Paracountess, So...there is no thieves guild involved then?[b] he asks hopefully.
When Van volunteers him to lead the way he leaps forward and draws his sword, [b]I am ready to vanquish any... did you say a 'misbehaving servant'? He looks back at his companions with that same confused look.
Muttering Whatever, he shuffles off in the direction the paracountess indicates.
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"Sure thing lady, Sir Dydimus will be happy to go in first. What is the thing we're looking for exactly?"
"You'll see," Zarta replies as she opens the door to her bedroom and, with a smile, gestures for you all to enter...
Zarta's bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax—ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large "X" made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.
A tiny creature is throwing a box around the room. In the process, he's smashing things and causing a ruckus. It is very obvious that creature desperately wants inside the box and hopes to smash the thing open. Though dented, the case doesn’t look like it will be opening anytime soon.