GM Redelia |
You look into the side crypts. One of them is labelled as holding to remains of the villagers who died with Kassen, defending the town from attack. The other is labelled to hold the bodies of the raiders. You find Asar's original resting place here. Next to Asar's empty sarcophagus is a dead man. The dead man is wearing gray robes and an iron mask that covers his face. The stench of rot hangs heavy around him.
From the mask, you know this man is a follower of Razmir, the living god whose cults have sprung up all around the Lake Encarthan region. There are rumors of a cult opening up a headquarters in Tamran, the capital of Nirmathas.
GM Redelia |
Having otherwise explored everything there is to explore, you respectfully approach Kassen's tomb. The lid has been removed from his sarcophagus. His body appears to be undisturbed except that there is a broken chain around his neck. As you light your lantern from the magical flame right over his tomb, a ghost rises up from the body.
He chuckles gently. [b]"Good job, friends. Asar was always trouble. We were comrades once. We found a great treasure, and split the key to get back to it into three pieces. I kept one, Asar kept one, and Iramine kept one. We went our separate ways, and I founded the town that has come to be named after me. Asar wanted my amulet, so he attacked the town. We were both killed in the battle, although the town successfully repelled the invaders. We were buried with our amulets. A few weeks ago, a band of ruffians came here and stole my amulet. They also stole Asar's, which is why he reanimated and had to be dealt with.
Any questions you want to ask Kassen's ghost? There is a picture of him on the side of the map.
Lauranna Cindel |
"What's the afterlife like?"
Anyone need healing?
Dylph |
Dylph, in awe of Kassen, bows. "C-c-can you tell us...anything about...the raiders? W-w-what happens if the raiders get all pieces of the key? And whatever happened to Iramene and her piece if the key?"
Aerian |
"Where was the treasure locked away at? I'm sure the ruffians have or are trying to get the third key... If we're to stop them raiding the treasure, it's best we know where it is... or was."
GM Redelia |
"A few centuries can make a person's memory remarkably fuzzy about little details like maps... And Iramine is probably still alive, so she probably still has her amulet. If the tomb raiders get all the pieces, they can return to the treasure. We never finished exploring the area, so I don't know exactly what that would mean."
Kassen smiles brightly at Lauranna's question. "The biggest problem with being dead is not seeing smiling faces like yours, my dear."
Just to be clear, that last bit was in a kind, grandfatherly voice, not a dirty old man kind of voice.
Aerian |
aww...and here I was a imagining a fat, paunchy, orange-skinned, wispy-haired, double-chinned, leering fellow trying to grab her pu... well, no need to go on.
Purnel Yull |
"Wow, I guess there was no evil cleric. Just some dead animating curse by Asar."
What happened to this guy?" Purnel points at the dead iron masked body. "Was he with the raiders?"
Syllyn |
"Asar was indiscriminate. He was all too willing to kill us too. Unlife will do that to you. Why are you not like Asar? You seem pretty friendly for someone who is undead. Or are you actually undead?
GM Redelia |
"Yes, I am undead. However, I am a ghost, rather than reanimating my body, like Asar. I do not know why undeath took us differently, although I am very glad to have not been made evil. Perhaps it is our manner of death. Asar died angry, vengeful, and frustrated, shaking his fist at the heavens that he could not have what he wanted. I gladly laid down my life if needed to protect the people of my town. The ending is also different. Asar needed to be put down like a rabid dog. When we are done speaking, I will lay down with my body and return to my rest."
Lauranna Cindel |
Kassen smiles brightly at Lauranna's question. "The biggest problem with being dead is not seeing smiling faces like yours, my dear."
Just to be clear, that last bit was in a kind, grandfatherly voice, not a dirty old man kind of voice.
Lauranna beams.
aww...and here I was a imagining a fat, paunchy, orange-skinned, wispy-haired, double-chinned, leering fellow trying to grab her pu... well, no need to go on.
Spiked armor. Gets 'em every time.
Healing? Going twice....
Syllyn |
"I hope my death is as honorable as yours. And thank-you from taking time off from what must be a wonderful afterlife to help us out. The villagers are going to be mighty jealous of us!"
"Iramine... tell me about this Iramine. Looks, gender, race, preferences, skills, whatever you have. Was this person more like you or Aser and what should we expect?"
Syllyn will also take time to verify some of the legends if given a chance after the mission critical questions are asked. Nothing like an actual witness to set the record straight and he is, after all, a skald.
GM Redelia |
Kassen happily answers Syllyn's questions the best he can recall. Then he lies down in his tomb, sighs contentedly, and the ghost is gone, leaving only the body.
You find your way back out of the crypt, carrying the lantern with the everflame. You stop to drink water from the fountain on your way, healing any damage and any other dangerous conditions you may have.
You make your way back to the town, and tell the mayor about what you discovered. He and the rest of the town's residents are shocked and grieved, but grateful to you for putting Asar to rest.
The Pathfinder Society arranges for your transport back to Absalom. You explain your findings to the Venture Captain. He congratulates you on a job well done, and suggests that you take a few days to rest. He thinks it likely that you will need to go to Tamran to investigate these tomb raiders further.
============================THE END===============================
Thanks for playing, guys. I'll leave the campaign active for a few more days so that discussion is available for any reporting issues or questions about where we are going from here.