You make your way to the rich estate of Grand Councilmember Dremdhet Salhar, and are greeted by a guard as they reach the tall, wrought-iron gate. Opening the gate the guard gives a small bow, Greetings Pathfinders. Please follow me. Unfortunately Councilmember Salhar is not present, called away on important Council business, but his most trusted adviser is available to negotiate any business you may require.
The Guard leads you down well decorated hallways, past expansive rooms. After a few minutes, you arrive at a simple study near the end of a long hallway. Inside a tan-skinned old man sits behind a desk flipping through pages in a large tome. Scraps of paper jut from the book marking over two dozen different places. Before the guard is able to announce your arrival the man silently gestures the party into the study with one thin hand, while closing the tome with the other.
Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, adviser to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming; I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject. Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom’s Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family’s vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here.
Before you depart though, I must impress upon you the gravity of this courtesy Master Salhar is bestowing upon the Society. Osirion was the first great nation to rise from the chaos of Earthfall and at its peak it was the center of all learning, culture, and invention. The knowledge and advances that came from Ancient Osirion rival that of any nation past or present. We permit the society access to Master Salhar’s family vaults not so they may plunder its riches but so they can rediscover the glory of the past.
As ancient Osirion began to decline in its First Age, an order of sages formed to catalogue and preserve its wonders for a future dynasty. Unfortunately the order, as well as many of their secrets, were destroyed during the Kelish occupation a millennia ago. Very recently though the order has been reestablished and we seek to work with the Pathfinder Society. It is our goal to seek and preserve the wonders of old civilizations, such as ancient Osirion, so that we may disseminate that lore to modern innovators, sparking a new golden age of thought and advancement.
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"So he just wants us to get a map from his vault, or am I misunderstanding?" Roscoe gives a slight tilt to his head when asking the question. Seems a little too easy, and something they should be able to do easily enough on their own.
"Is there something else inside this vault we may happen across? I don't do well with surprises, especially with the explosives hanging by my side you know?"
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The Sapphire Sage’s eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book. The guard will lead you to the basement and show you the room.
Gleek dashes around the desk then back to Akvius' side, disappearing behind his robe.
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"While I am excited to be part of the beginning of this golden age of thought and advancement, I must concur with my collueagues hesitation. There must be more to this than simply retrieving a map. Could you elaborate on the circumstances preventing someone in your employ from getting it for you? Or why you might need tohe assistance of outside help to do so?
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Theon huffs indignantly at his comrades' questions, but does not say anything. He simply offers the Sage an elaborate bow. "While my comrades question your request, I shall be waiting beside the door."
Unless further detained, Theon will back step towards the door. Once the group had reassembled he shares a look with them. "This is likely some sort of test. Otherwise he would have simply handed it over. Besides, I am ready for some sort of worthy challenge beyond chopping up rodents! Perhaps we go to face a djinni!" He grins widely.
The Sage looks up from his reading and looks at Akvius. A small challenge awaits you downstairs. Nothing dangerous, for those with keen intellect.
Amenopheus then nods to the guard who escorts you out of the room and though the estate to nondescript stair case leading down. At the bottom a stout wooded door opens to a plain stone room. inside you see three chests:
a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood
a red lacquered chest
and what looks to be a cube of solid steel.
Behind the chests sits a low table holding a clear glass jar half full of liquid and a covered wicker basket.
The Guard holds the door open and motions for the party to enter.
gleek darts in. surveys a few different areas, then positions himself just inside the dorr, awaiting the rest of the party to enter.
Once everyone is in the room the guard gives you a nod closes the door. Soon after you can here the click of the door being locked and you see a piece of paper pinned to the door which reads:
Within these cases lies your quest and your way out.
As Akvius and Ky'ang move about the room examining the items Maldrek just starts trying to toss the chests around the room. Unfortunately for the brawler this is harder than it looks. At the first chest his hands pass right through the sides and he grabs nothing but air. Frustrated he moves on to the second but this one seems to be bolted to the floor and after a few futile moments of staring he give up on that one too. The third chest presents a different problem as there do not seem to be any handles or even a lid. Giving it a good shove he is able to move it a little, the metal screeching horribly against the stone floor.
Here is what you can discern:
copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood - the Chest is actually an illusion and contains nothing
red lacquered chest - seems to be bolted to the floor
cube of solid steel - heavy
clear glass jar half full of liquid -
covered wicker basket -
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Theon takes a moment to examine the situation before Maldrew rushes in and begins pushing around items. The initial shock of it all gives the warrior pause; however, before the large tiefling can get over to the jar and wicker basket, Theon rushes over. "Steady, Maldrek! A B-Knight must have patience at time. This is an intricate puzzle, which he have already helped thus far." He hopes his presence between Maldrek and the table with halt the tiefling's destructive puzzle solving skills.
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"Anyone able to figure out what the liquid is?" Roscoe pipes up from behind the clutter. "Probably best we know what it is before Maldrek smashes into it."
"If you let me," Roscoe says as he tries to squeeze past the group. "If it is some kind of potion I'm sure I can identify it, you know with my knowledge of such things." The halfling flashes a grin as he reaches for the jar full of liquid.
As Theon rushes over to stop the Maldrek Roscoe is able to squeeze by and get to the jar first. The first thing the gnome notices is that sitting at the bottom of the jar is a jeweled brass key. The Second thing he notices is the pungent smell coming from the liquid. His Alchemist training tells him...
it is actually a concentrated ammonia solution and fairly caustic.
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Roscoe will dump the ammonia onto the floor and retrieve the key. "Anyone see a keyhole on any of the chests?"
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Maldrek, if you want to throw either the glass jar or the basket I'll need a reflex save.
What are the rest of you doing?
As Roscoe examines the jar the others look over the chests. The solid metal plate surrounding the gaping keyhole of the red lacquered chest pulses with glowing amber runes. Upon closer inspection of the cube of solid steel has only the faintest crack where its lid meets the base, and would be completely featureless save for its narrow keyhole.
Here is what you have discerned:
copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood - the Chest is actually an illusion and contains nothing
red lacquered chest - bolted to the floor, glowing amber runes around key hole
cube of solid steel - heavy, narrow keyhole
clear glass jar half full of liquid - Caustic, Key at the bottom
covered wicker basket -
Its a little distorted by the liquid but it looks like it might fit either lock.
Giving up on the jar Maldek walks up and attemps to round house kick the basket into the corner. The kick hits the backet at its base and instead of sending it into the corner it flips end over end in the air sending it contents flying all over the room. most of what comes out of the basket is crumpled up green fabric but mixed in the spray of cloth is a a blue stone key and a small black viper. The snake amazingly lands right on Maldek's shoulder where it tries to bight the teifling before sliding to the floor and slithering out the door.
Looking over the two keys you can see that the one from the jar is made of brass and encrusted with jewels, the one from the basket is made of a strange blue stone with runes carved in to it.
Here is what you have discerned:
copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood - the Chest is an illusion and contains nothing
red lacquered chest - bolted to the floor, glowing amber runes around key hole
cube of solid steel - heavy, narrow keyhole
clear glass jar - was half full of Caustic liquid
Keys-
Jeweled Brass key
Rune covered blue Stone key
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"If I had to guess, the key with the runes is meant for that chest," Roscoe says pointing to the red chest. "The other key should fit in the other keyhole."
Roscoe will move to the chests and try the keys based on his observations.
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Gleek chases after the viper only to come to an abrupt stop as the viper slithers under the door and Gleek runs full force, headfirst into the door.
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Akvius shows a sign of concern when Gleek hits the door, but then changes to a smile as he sees Gleek shake off the blow to his head and look back at Akvius with a confused look.
"We've got 2 keys and 2 boxes with keyholes. Who would like to do the honors? I'm anxious to prove our worth in this test of intelligence!"
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Theon gives a start when the viper suddenly lands on Maldrek's shoulder and tried to bite him; however, he then lets out a sigh of relief as the snake slithers away. He also cannot help but chuckle as the little familiar slams into the door. "A little too much energy can, at times, be counterproductive. Eh, Gleek?" He awaits patiently while Roscoe tries the keys on the different chests.
Roscoe does see that the Key is etched with runes similar to the glowing runes surrounding the keyhole on the Red chest. When he places it into the key hole the rune on the chest glow brighter and the key begins to glow as well. As the key turns in the lock you feel it catch and the runes on the chest and key flare to an almost blinding brilliance. All around you there is the sound of gears spinning, mechanisms clicking, and bolts sliding into place. The lid slowly raises on its own revealing a small compartment surrounded by clockwork. The compartment holds a key forged into the end of a jeweled scepter.
During the Cacophony of mechanical noises a panel in the center of the ceiling slid open and a small golden key fell out and is now dangling on a string about 15ft off the floor.
The Jeweled brass key barely fits in the narrow keyhole in the steel chest. Just as Akvius starts to turn the key he can feel it catch on the mechanisms but instead of a click their is a and the key crumbles to pieces in his hand.
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"Akvius, do be careful. I'm sure these keys aren't readily available elsewhere."
Roscoe turns his attention back to the jeweled scepter. Before reaching for the scepter, the noises of gears still moving catches his attention.
"Maldrek my large friend, could you retrieve that key," the little halfling says pointing to the key dangling from the ceiling.
While Maldrek retrieves the key, Roscoe slowly abd carefully removes the scepter.
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The septer does not seem to have any moving parts but you do realize that the gems are just glass costume jewels and its painted gold not made of gold.
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"AHHHHHH!" Roscoe screams as flails his arm in midair, flapping in a bird like fashion. The halfling focuses long enough to reach out and grab the key.
"Not what I meant Maldrek. And next time, please warn me before throwing me. I'm not a bird and with all these bombs," Roscoe says looking at his belt, "I'm quite likely to go boom upon landing."
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Roscoe is able to snag the key as he flys through the air, landing heavily on the ground.
The Septer key does not fit in the steel chest but the gold one does. Placing the key in the lock you all feel a rush of energy wash over you standing the hair on your arms on end and giving you goosebumps.
Everyone need to make a DC 11 will save
The tips of your fingers start to turn blue. Not the kind of blue they get from being cold but brilliant blue like you dipped your fingers in ink. The color slowly starts to creep its way up your arms all the way up to your elbow leaving you looking like you are wearing bright blue theater gloves. The Color stays despite any attempt to wash or rub it off.
The chest holds the map of the Salhar burial vaults beneath Sothis, a sealed letter addressed to Venture Captain Valsin, and a wand.
Wand of Knock with 11 charges
The key attached to the jeweled septer opens the door. The Guard is standing out side and smiles, as he looks at your arms. Follow me please. He leads you back to the main gate and gives you a bow as you leave.
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"Not very funny to send us down here only to have my hand look like this," Roscoe says staring at his now blue arms. "Looks like we found the map though."
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"I think we'll gladly follow you. Though I would like to know what can be done about this, " Roscoe shows the guy his arms, and gives the guy a questioning stare.
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