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Bregolas responds to Auryn's sudden hug with slight alarm. But he manages to awkwardly pat her on the back before she releases him.
"Indeed," he replies to the summonness. "I continue to wonder about what sort of Society have we joined. In their defense, perhaps the creature was not exactly planned, however..." With that, Bregolas glances upwards again, seeing if there are any cracks or crevices in the ceiling where such a creature might have broken in from.
"Anyway. Let us carry on then." He winces a clutches at his chest though... the fearsome wound didn't close up entirely just yet. Withdrawing his own wand, he motions for Auryn to grasp it. Clearing his throat, "Perhaps you might care to finish my healing, dear?"
As the librarian studies the scrolls, Bregolas glances into each of the four alcoves to ensure he is not taken by surprise again.
The party takes a moment to catch their breath from the brutal battle with the choker. Rengel uses the time to rifle through the papers found on the desk uncovered in the secret room. The papers chronicle the personal exploits of Selmius Foster, a famous Path nder whose name the group recognize from their training as Pathfinder agents. Most of Foster’s more infamous adventures appear here in varying amounts of detail, but it is evident there is another investigation he had been pursuing before he died: the lost records of a Society agent named Eylysia.
Two notes in particular catch Rengel's eye.
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Nodding to Auryn in gratitude, Bregolas reads the parchments for himself. His visage remains stern as he does so, though his eyes open in recognition soon after he begins.
Wrapping up the last scroll, "At last, our actual mission is revealed to us." As another reads the scroll, he generally asks, "Do any of the names mentioned seem familiar to anyone? We will need to find this mausoleum in the Ivy District as well."
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Taking a quick peek down each corridor with Breg, keeping about ten feet back with a locked and loaded crossbow I ponder what I read on on the scrolls.
I still don't trust that halfling slip that sent us down here.
I think we need to take a look and see if there is another way out of this place. I think we were set up to die. My guess is we maybe have half a watch before somebody comes in to check and see if we are dead or waiting to see if we come back up.
I need to think on the names but none are of note to me at least. The Mausoleum may be the best place to start, but if we know the names, I am not sure if anybody else besides us has that knowledge, and it may give us an advantage of finding one of these three malcontents before anyone knows we have even left this building.
After checking the room, the group is confident there is nothing more to discover, they decide to check out the mausoleum. They leave the Wisp and travel to the Ivy district and locate the Eastgate Burial Grounds. The agents arrive at the site and discover a gated cemetery with various plots, tombs and crypts visible. The graveyard is deserted, save for those laid to rest and one female dressed in religious garb but bearing a breastplate and sheathed scimitar at her hip. The woman walks about the area with an intense look and appears to be guarding the area.
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She may know what we seek. May not be wise if we all approach. Who will speak with her? I do not think I will win her over with looks and Bregolas has the same chance with personality. Anyone have better chance? Tsukai waves a hand towards the woman, gesturing for someone to be the representative of the group.
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Bregolas looks genuinely puzzled by Tsukai's comment about his personality. Shaking it off, he nods to Arklore to proceed. He also gestures with an open palm towards the guard to indicate the same.
The warrior remains at the ready nonetheless. He retrieves his bow from his back, and knocks an arrow. But he keeps it lowered, waiting patiently before drawing. He keeps vigilant watch, ready to act should his fellow agent require swift martial assistance.
She may simply be as she appears, an ordinary guard, Bregolas thinks to himself. But the way this night is going, anything may happen.
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Regnel notices Bregolas preparing for battle and he does the same, reaching around to grab his shield off of his back and pulling back his cloak to provide easier access to his sword if needed.
"After the surprise we found in the wine cellar, I'm not interested in getting caught unaware again," he says to his elven comrade.
He also removes his goggles and takes a long, hard look at the woman guarding the cemetery.
Rengel focuses his talents upon the apparent guard. His empathic ability seems to draw something into focus, a moment of her emotions, but he is unable to maintain the focus and before he can glean any insight, the moment is lost.
As Rengel stares at her intently, the woman turns her head and notices he occultists unusual attention to her. Her eyes quickly shift to Bregolas and his drawn weapon. A fierce scowl crosses the woman's face and she closes the distance between herself and the party. Hand on the hilt of her blade, she addresses the party sternly "You there! State your business on these sacred grounds!"
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Breg, how about you lower the bow and unnotch that arrow. Oh hello there! I assume you are a servant to Goddes of the dawn and light. Please excuse my companions. We have dealt with treachery already once this day that nearly killed two of them. We are a bit on edge.
With hands open and up I take a few cautious step forward.
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Regnel raises his empty hands in front of him.
"Sorry for startling you. My name is Regnel. I am a member of the Pathfinder Society, as are my companions. We are here seeking the tomb of a stonemason named Arkath. We are investigating a mystery that already saw us attacked once this evening, which is why my companion reacted as he did. I apologize."
The woman scowls and initially seems very skeptical of the group and their intentions. She seems unusually aggressive, but her tone softens when Rengel honestly and respectfully state's their purpose. Arklore's smooth conversational skills finally melts her demeanor.
"My...my apologies. I suspected you were a gang of grave robbers, but I respect your Society and I see your words are true. Perhaps the Dawnflower tests me, but you have put me back on my proper path. So shall I see you to yours." With that, the cleric shows you to the stonemason's crypt.
After a quick search, Rengel discovers a small coin lodged in the stonemason's skeletal corpse.
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Good eyes, Regnel. Anything interesting about coin? Tsukai then looks to Arklore and grins If only a coin, I say next round on Regnel
Tsukai steps away from the rotted remains and begins looking about the crypt Maybe more light help? Tsukai then slips his wayfinder from one of many pockets and activates the ability of his handy gadget
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Wary of religious types, the elf unnotches his arrow very slowly as the others work their social graces. But his own demeanor remains stern and suspicious.
Inside, the elf assists in the search. The lighting is ample for his elvish eyes, though he accepts the nagaji's additional lighting anyway with a condescending shrug.
The group examines the coin. Rengel cannot be certain but he believes the coin may be a famed Pathfinder coin, a device referenced in the group's training that holds a recorded message and may be retrieved via a wayfinder. The party discovers nothing additional of interest or value inside the crypt.
Rengel places the coin into his wayfinder. To his surprise, the coin fits perfectly. Closing the device, Rengel can hear and feel the coin begin to spin inside the wayfinder. After a moment, a voice is heard emanating from the device.
"The path and chamber are complete, hidden behind the nameplate of the requested aspirant and guarded by the word you requested. Fimbrik will add more."
The message is short, but clear.
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Regnel considers the message for a few moments.
"It sounds like the stonemason created something like a hidden room or chamber for Eylysia. I wonder if the 'requested aspirant' has something to do with the names Eylysia added to the Wall of Names? Not sure what the aspirants were aspiring to, though? Joining the Pathfinders? Or maybe aspirants to the trial of the Star Stone, like the crusader we heard about earlier? We'll definitely need to track down Fimbrik to find out the rest of this mystery."
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Auryn considers the question.
"But now that we're real Pathfinders, isn't our job to do some investigation, too? Don't we need to do a little more exploring before we report? I don't know...I think we should go find this Fimbrik fellow. Maybe Dreng will be even more impressed if we have some more information we have found!"
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"Indeed," Bregolas agrees with Regnel and Auryn. "Eylysia has apparently done this a number of times. We would best find this Fimbrik fellow, see if he knows which of the nameplates we should seek." Looking at Auryn, "Unless anyone has a clue who this Fimbrik fellow is, Master Dreng may know his whereabouts. Or we could return to that tavern and pry the information out of the drunkards..." Pondering this possibility unfavorably, judging by his sour expression, "Let's seek out Dreng then."
The party takes a moment to reflect on the new information uncovered. As they plan their next move, Rengel recalls something in the writings and notes found in the basement of the Wisp that referred to Fimbrik's residence...
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Regnel reminds the group that Fimbrik's address was among the papers discovered in the tavern's basement. But he agrees with Arklore that it wouldn't hurt to look around the tomb for any nameplates or graves that match the names from the papers. After searching, he proposes heading to the address and trying to track down Fimbrik.
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"Ah," the elf says as he now reads the page with Fembrik's address for himself. With stern but relatively mild chastisement he looks at Regnel, "You didn't show me that page earlier."
He tolerates a brief check of the place for nameplates, but otherwise states, "Let us be off to see this gnome, then."
The party makes a quick sweep of the graveyard but no one finds any names or other matters of note. After a brief discussion, they agree to head to Fimbrick's address in the Wise Quarter.
Their trip to the Wise Quarter is uneventful and they eventually find the home of Fimbrick the gnome. It is an impressive stone structure with a bricked walkway leading to the front. As the party approaches, they see numerous stacks of newspapers on the front step with several more stuffed into slots near the door. The party does not see anyone near the home as they approach.
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Nobody home for some time. I will check the side of house. Regnel seems to have front door covered Tsukai attempts to quietly slip away and looks in any of the lower windows for signs of activity. He will lightly lay a hand upon the windows to check if any move or can be easily opened
Rengel tentatively approaches the front door of the house. He tries the door which is indeed locked. Moving the various stacks of paper around and checking the nooks and crannies of the entryway, he does not locate any hidden key or device to aid him in opening the door.
Meanwhile, Tsukai skulks about the exterior of the house. He does not find anything unusual.
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Nothing interesting around side of house and no way to get in Tsukai kicks at the pile of papers Guess nobody home either. Think we find answers inside? We may have to find other way in. Tsukai watches as Auryn pounds on the door and he smiles I guess knocking is good. Sometimes simple answer to problem is best
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Though he too immediately wonders about the papers and how long they've piled up without anyone home, Bregolas patiently waits as Auryn does the most logical thing first. She does have elvish blood in her after all.
He carefully listens and, if one is there, peeks into the window if nobody can be heard or seen coming to the front door.