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"oww... What happened?" Zavra groans as she wakes up.
She shakes her head as she remembers what happened, then quickly reaches into her pouch for the haunt siphon. She jumps to her feet and looks wide eyed around the room.
As soon as she realizes the threat has passed, she puts the siphon away and pulls out an extract.
"Thank you Lya," Zavra expresses her appreciation for the healing.
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You can tell by the violence, size, and more importantly duration of this haunt, that it's immense and it's being powered by some kind of lingering magical essence in the Tri-Towers yard. You're not sure that there's anything at this time you could do to destroy it or lay it to rest.
J. composes herself, looking as much a Pathfinder as any of you. She nods and looks at all of you expectantly, "Well?"
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Lya opens the door with a click and you head underground. The necropolis is not large, and it's clear that a group of Pathfinder Archeologists have done some clearing and buttressing of the walls. The reek of death chokes this narrow stone corridor, where a trio of corpses slowly rots into the stone.
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Zavra scans the room carefully, looking for any sign of recent activity.
Clearly a bit on edge after her recent experience, Zavra fidgets with her pouches and vials, the siphon and her bombs, not sure which she wants in hand if anything goes wrong.
"This is a necropolis, so those bodies are supposed to be here... Right?" she asks, looking for some reassurance.
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Kirin huddles for a minute after the earthquake before standing and dusting off her robes. Thinking better of it, she casts Prestidigitation on her gown to clear off any rubble. She frowns as the blood seeping out of her wounds dirties her newly cleaned clothes.
"Could I get a heal, Lya?"
After burning through Lya's wand charges, Kirin will frown. "I owe you..."
Kirin then cast Prestidigitation again on her gown, again. And on Lya's clothes, as a small gesture of appreciation.
Kirin will then follow underground.
"Anyone need me to cast light on something?"
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Kirin does notice that it is dark down here, so light is needed for any humans and with low light vision.
Lya detects a dim aura of evil in the area. It's as if it almost permeates the air.
Zavra and Lya lean over to look at the bodies. Of note, none of the three bodies do not have Wayfinders. You sift through the bodies and discover each of them is wearing a suit of leather armor and wearing a short sword at their hip. They carry with them a collection of excavation tools and sundry items.
Pulling the magical items from their dead fingers, you discover : three oils of magic weapon, two potions of cure light wounds, a scroll of remove disease, a wand of lesser restoration (6 charges), and a wand of protection from evil (18 charges). Each of these magic items is inscribed with a glyph of the open road, indicating that it is property of the Pathfinder Society itself.
As they go through the bodies, Zavra notices that only one of the three bodies has any wounds, and that these bodies are roughly two months old.
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Zavra chimes in as she looks over the bodies, "I haven't learned how to use most wands yet, but I did find this amazing headband in the Mage's Emporium over in the Merchant Quarter that would teach me everything I need to know, and how to speak Aklo! With the money my recruiter told me a Pathfinder field agent can make in a year, I figure I should have enough saved up in a couple weeks."
"It may not hurt for me to hold onto one of those healing potions. This is my first mission, so I haven't bought a healing wand yet. I don't think I would use the oil, but I suppose it would work on my crossbow if I ever need to use it."
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"Zavra, please take two of the oils and J the third."
"Have we determined how the one man died? What are his wounds? Swords? Daggers? Spells? The other two. There are no obvious signs of violence? Most distressing, this. Possibly there is another haunt nearby that caused the two to die of fright."
Echo begins to look for tracks to see whether the men were coming or going. She also looks for secret doors. Then she remembers there is a former student with the group.
"Lady Dacilane, Master Grishan, are there any secret passageways in the school? Any means of getting around undetected?"
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"Sorry Echo, I'm not a doctor. I can tell that only one died of wounds, not what caused them or where they were wounded. The haunt idea makes sense.". Zavra thanks her for the oils and tucks them into a pouch, pulling out her crossbow while she is thinking about it.
Ready to follow the group if they have a direction planned.
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"Well, let's note down the position of the bodies, and the like... we should probably keep moving. We shall have time to identify them, and mourn them properly, but we should probably keep going." Just in case, he casts detect magic once more, and pays special attention to the bodies, just in case there is anything more there to be learned.
Now more concerned than he was before, he pulls out his wand of mage armor and taps himself with it. He looks at Echo and asks, "Would you like me to armor you up, Echo darling? Wouldn't want anyone harming that luscious little body of yours."
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Lya will lead the group on with Kirin's light guiding those without darkvision.
She will also take the opportunity to whisper to J. "This must be hard for you. You are an inspiration just having survived this place, let alone have the courage to face it again. But you are not alone... if you are feeling overwhelmed by fear, just ask and I will help see you through it."
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J. looks to Lya and gives a simple, "Thank you.
The corridor widens beyond the hallway with the dead bides.
A young girl with blonde hair sits in the center of the room. She ignores you until J. enters. She then stands up, her legs trailing into ghostly nothingness. "I've been waiting for you a long time Junia. Waiting for you to come back. Why did you leave me? Won't you come back to me? Then we can all be friends again."
J. is paralyzed in fear. She only begins to mutter, "Cassiel, Cassiel, I'm so sorry, please forgive me..." again and again.
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Kirin walks forward and gently places her hand on J's. If J allows Kirin will gradually guide her back out of the room into the hallway, Kirin positioning herself protectively in-between the blond girl and J, blocking view. Kirin will try to make eye contact with J and ask quietly "What happened? We're here for you."
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You sense that the ghost is getting agitated not by you comforting J. or protecting her, but that she is being ignored. You sense that it's about ready to attack because of it.
J., swallows a good portion of her fear, but you can still see she is gripped by some other emotion. She continues to mutter, "I didn't mean to, I'm so sorry..."
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J. interjects, tears streaming down her face, "These Pathfiners are right, I had no choice. I was rescued, I didn't walk out. It wasn't my fault that I lived and you didn't Cassiel. I didn't know that ring would keep me alive. I watched you die. I watched you and Grishan die. I couldn't do anything about it." At this point the words muddle in with sobbing, "What do you think that did to me? So just LEAVE ME ALONE."
You sense as J. lets go the spirit's darkening form begins to lighten and the air becomes less claustrophobic. Whatever evil had gripped the spirit of Cassiel dissipates. "Thank you....thank you so much." And with a whiff of ectoplasm, disappears into the ether.
As you walk out of the Necropolis, Grishan appears beside J. and gives a knowing smile. J. also brightens up, "That's it, I'm going to do what you do. If I can help even one more spirit move on, then I'll be happy with my life."
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As you leave and head out of the Precipice Quarter, you hear Junia mutter under her breath, "brother is here." You see Grishan instantly disappear.
A man in a uniform similar to Junia's, but with more medals and polish, emerges from a side alley at a brisk pace. "Finally, I found you. I heard around the lodge that a team of Pathfinders was headed into the Tri-Towers Yard." Colson bows his head. "My brother was one of many children who died when the earthquake hit. As a result, I take great interest in expeditions leading into that cursed site. The last Pathfinder expedition seven years ago found his body, and as a result, my family was able to give him a proper burial. Those agents also found some..." Colson pauses, and then continues delicately, "reports about my brother's after-school activities that would have been quite embarrassing if made public. Did you, but chance, find any information about my brother?"
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Lucius gives a hearty smile to Andoran officer. "Colson Maldris, you old sod! So glad to see you lately, did you not like the last girl I sent you? You asked for something exotic, and I thought I came through for you with flying colors. Sure, she's a bit rough around the edges, but I did suggest that she keep her calm.
"I figured you would be man enough for a Boartusk woman... She is quite the lusty lass!
"But enough about business, or was that pleasure? Anyways, be assured that if we did find anything, we are taking they utmost care in seeing that it protected. By top people, mind you.
"Oh, did you know that your brother is not quit gone? Apparently he tragedy that say his mortal body perish caused a great disturbance in spirit world, and you brother has become quite attached to our little J. here... Perhaps she should explain..."
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With the first comment about Grishan, a flash of fury crosses Major Maldris' face.
J. shoots Lucious and Zavra a look that could fell an elephant, you can see her teeth grit in anger.
Colson sees the look and you watch his tone soften. He whispers, , "G-Grishan?"
Grishan doesn't emerge but J. begins to speak in a voice tinged with a tone that is not her own. "Brother, not yet." Tears begin to roll down J.'s face.
Major Maldris looks completely distraught, "I am so sorry my brother that I couldn't be there to rescue you. It was my fault for not trying hard enough." In an obvious emotional state, he turns to the PCs, "And since, by your tones and this information I know you have found something that is mine that Grishan would have wanted in my hands. I demand you hand it over immediately."