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Victoria
Knowledge Local
You remember reading a book on Alchemy some time ago that mentioned something called the "First Fire", within the same book there was a story about a chest that was used to house many powerful magic items that were created by Alestia Fornol, a sorceress and Faraban Kagestos, a cleric of Niveral, the god of secrets. They had tried to harness the power of the Five Lost Lores which included the First Fire. They had some success with this but were never able to master it. They placed the items they created into a chest before one last attempt to harness the power of the First Flame. Sadly they failed and were both incinerated in the process as well the chest was seared by the powerful flames so as to make it impossible to open. You are sure this is said chest from the descriptions you remember in the book.
Knowledge Arcana
You have heard of a minor artifact know as Neverin's All-Key, you came across mention of it sometime ago but never thought you would need it. Essentially it will open any lock regardless of the magic sealing it. This could be useful in opening the chest.
"Hmm. So is this adventuring? No loot, just another thing to find. Anyone heard of where to find this Neverin's All-Key?" The half-orc pirate comments and asks trying to get a handle of this adventuring profession.
Why don't we just break it open?
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Doran you try to pry the lid of the chest open with all your might but no matter how hard you try it will not budge.
The rest of you give it some thought...You are all fairly sure the best course of action would be to do some research on the All Key perhaps you could find out who last had it and track it down from there.
"Neverin's All Key?" Kelwyn says out loud, but more to himself than to his friends.
"I can't say that I've heard of it or would have any idea where to find it."
"Well then, where can we find information on the All-Key?
"Back to the Minstrel? We owe Kelwyn some drinks." Orsal offers
"Back to the Minstrel? We owe Kelwyn some drinks." Orsal offers
"Not a bad idea," Kelwyn says. "Surely someone there knows of this key."
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So back into the streets you go. The ever present rain has subsided quite a bit and the gutters that were once gushing rivers are now just small creeks along the sides of the paved streets. It takes 20 or so minutes to get back to the Minstrel. When you arrive the party is still going though its looks like a quarter of the people who were there was before you stepped out have left. Illumater is still at the table you left him at however he has a barmaid on his lap and mug in his hands and they seem to be being quite friendly with each other. Beyond that the Minstrel seems much as you left it roughly an hour ago. You do notice though that the woman that tipped you off to Kellisan and his ogres is not among the tavern goers nor is her halfling friend.
Once back at the Ghostly Minstrel, Kelwyn works the room, buying beers and slapping backs while talking to people and prodding them for knowledge of the All Key.
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Kelwyn
You work the room for awhile buying drinks and chatting up the locals, after awhile you start having a conversation with an Shoal Elf adventurer from the Delver's Guild. He looks like he has been around the block a few times and has his share of scars to prove it. Your conversation eventually turns to discussion of the rumors and the All-key. At first the elf is resistant to giving information because of the public nature of the conversation but after another few rounds of elven wine (paid by you), he lets his secrets slip. He tells you that he has heard that cult known as the Crimson Coil, whom no one is sure who they worshiped, last held the All-Key. They supposedly kept it in their no abandoned base, which was previously a brothel known as the Pythoness House which is in Oldtown.
Kelwyn make the rounds of the room, and can be seen spending a significant amount of time drinking with one well scarred Shoal Elf in particular. After sometime and numerous drinks, Kel rejoins the group. Although he has the blood shot eyes and slightly unsteady gait of someone who has been drinking too much, his face also sports a grin.
"I think I may have a lead," he says. "According to the Shoal Elf I was drinking with, the last to hold the All-Key was a cult known as the Crimson Coil. No one is sure who they worshipped, but they supposedly kept it in their now abandoned base, a former brothel known as Pythoness House in Oldtown."
Well what are we waiting for? Wait, never mind. I think we should probably be sober.
"This adventuring is awesome!" Orsal exclaims with toast of his magically improved ale. "Now a brothel! How do we find out more about this brothel and the crimson coil?" He asks finishing the last bit in a menacing whisper.
"Excellent sleuthing Kelwyn," Vaelus praised, his spirits seeming to have lifted considerably with the lighter rain and even moreso at the somewhat less crowded Minstrel.
He scratches his head for a moment, considering the Pythoness House.
"Indeed, Kelwyn, that was well done. Here sit before you fall down." Jesset says , pulling out a chair for the inebriated Elf.
As he does so, he tries to think of whether he'd heard of the House , and comes to the conclusion he has not.
"A cult in an abandoned brothel? Things are looking up!" Grinned Tony as he warmed up with some mulled wine.
"Ah, yes, Pythoness House. I have heard of this place. Pythoness House was once a manor home, built before there was a Nobles’ Quarter for the rich to occupy. It has changed hands many times, eventually becoming a brothel before being abandoned. "
"How long before you guys sober up enough to explore the House? Night time is usually best for these things in my previous life." Orsal asks the conspirators.
"Yes, let's," Kelwyn says. "I could use some fresh air."
Tony thumps down his wineglass.
"No time like the present. Especially with the rain to cover us."
Tony winces as he redons his still damp cape.
"And where do we stash our crate while we are out?"
Well I guess there's no avoiding it. Let's go.
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You set out from the Minstrel again this time only 3 hours before dawn. The rain is still coming down but it is only barely qualifies as such now. The trip toward Pythoness takes almost and hour. When you arrive you are greet by this site. Pythoness House is a square keep with a tall western tower, an exterior walkway connecting keep and tower, and an impressive gatehouse with twin guard towers. The entire structure sits atop a hill overgrown with weeds and shrubs amid the tall, unkempt grass. The hill is surrounded by a wrought iron fence in poor repair. In the front, a gate in the fence swings in the wind. Behind the house sit piles of rotted wood debris, the remains of a balcony that collapsed long ago. There is no door or gate on the keep between the two guard towers which strikes you all as odd but as old as portions of this building looks the wood could have rotted and been drug away for all you know.
Jesset crouches by the corner of a nearby tenement, "A keep. I did not expect that. "
His keen eyes traverse all of the structure's surfaces, seeking ....
Perception
"That's quite the house," Kelwyn says as he looks over the place for anything unusual.
Tony approaches the entranceway stealthily.
Orsal says, "Nullam venenatis." His eyes flash blue as they adjust to seeing the magic.
"Let's go. No sense getting cold feet now." Orsal says to the group and tries to herd them toward the front gates. Hopefully, any trap-finders and melee specialists want to walk in front. He takes his whip from his weapon's belt and holds it coiled in his hand.
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Tony
Tony you stealth up to the entrance and look in, before you is a empty courtyard. You see rats and mice scurry away into hiding places among loose stones as you look into the overgrown courtyard. The walls are so high that it almost seems like an interior chamber, except that it lacks a roof. Mosses and fungi cover the stones more so than weeds or grass. Everything feels damp, and there is a palpable chill. An open archway ahead and to the left leads into the structure, its door long gone.
Victoria
You know a few things regarding the Pythoness House from rumors and stories you have heard.
First:
It was built approximately 250 years ago, The building that would eventually be Pythoness House was built by a wealthy human woman named Darma Kollotis. This was her manor home, and after she died, the house passed through a number of her descendants until it was attacked by brigands seeking the Kollotis family jewels some 190 years ago.
Second:
Five years ago two human women, Maquent Dellisaria and Radanna Scalth, set up Pythoness House as a popular albeit illegal brothel with an odd twist. The prostitutes working here claimed to be able to see the future during sexual intercourse; members of the clientele frequently pay “reading” of their future during their visits with the ladies.
Last:
The Knights of the Pale raided Pythoness House, killing most of the people working their three years ago, claiming they were cultist (most likely the Crimson Coil, that Kelwyn had found out about earlier) and summoning demons that could put Ptolus at risk. Radanna supposedly died in the attack, those few who did not die simply fled. From what you heard the Knights were intent on pursuing those who escaped and due to this rumor has it they did not scour the house as thoroughly as they might have; The rumor is some sort of powerful, singular spell was place on the house by allies of the Knights, as no one has been back since.
Kelwyn you notice nothing much more than Jesset from where you guys are standing.
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As the group approaches the empty archway where the gate doors should be you look in, before you is a empty courtyard. You see rats and mice scurry away into hiding places among loose stones as you look into the overgrown courtyard. The walls are so high that it almost seems like an interior chamber, except that it lacks a roof. Mosses and fungi cover the stones more so than weeds or grass. Everything feels damp, and there is a palpable chill. An open archway ahead and to the left leads into the structure, its door long gone.
Kelwyn moves into the courtyard and then the archway to the left.
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Kelwyn
Before you is a damp room filled with leaves and refuse blown in through the open doorway. A red carpet, dark with moisture and grime, covers most of the floor. The walls are bare stone, most of it rather crude, although upper portions were rebuilt with greater skill. There is a staircase along the northwestern wall that leads to a ledge twelve feet above to the north. Beyond that you don't see much else, smell is awful in here due to the heavy amount of mold and there is debris left over likely from the raid as well as whatever else has blown into the room since. As you look around you hear whispering all around you as if the room is full of people talking softly. One particular voice stands out it is what sounds like a male voice saying Come to me.....
Orsal leads from behind stepping from shadow to shadow toward the front gate and scanning for magic energies.
A sobered up Kelwyn returns to the group. "This place is . . . Interesting," he says, "and I think I may be hearing voices. Regardless, the inside looks to be as much as a mess as the outside."
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As soon as everyone enters the courtyard a sense of foreboding falls over the group. Everyone can sense that something is off. This is confirmed by the look on Kelwyn's face when he tells you he is hearing things. Shadows seem to move all around the courtyard when ever anyone looks away just out of the corner of your eyes. And then it happens, Orsal you are scanning the courtyard from the shadows and looking toward the open archway Kelwyn just left when you turn around and notice that where you guys had entered the courtyard there is a magic wall that glows intensely with evocation magic. Everyone else sees a barely visible simmering wall. It is as tall as the gate archway and just as wide preventing any passage through.
Perception for Orsal Hort:
Perception for Jesset:
Perception for Doran:
Perception for Vaelus:
Perception for Tony:
Perception for Kelwyn:
Perception for Victoria:
Everyone who got ten or above:
As you look around you hear whispering all around you as if the courtyard is full of people talking softly. One particular voice stands out it is what sounds like a male voice saying Come to me.....
Orsal you are to caught up with the simmering wall to notice anything else..
Although he lacks any formal knowledge of arcane arts, Orsal concentrates on the shimmering wall attempting to determine its spell at best and school of magic at worst.