Junia listens to the discussion studiously. "Well Mister Starstrike, I'd like to meet your friends at the docks, but it sounds like everyone else thinks the Coins is a better idea. So let's go there! You can tell me all about your adventures while we walk!" Her wide grin holds the innocence of youth.
The day is still drizzly and overcast, but the wetness does nothing to dampen Junia's spirit. Sure enough, the Coins district is packed, vendors calling out all sorts of wares for sale. Imported cloth and spices from Tian Xia, strong arms and armor from the Five Kings Mountains, fruits and nuts from Jalmeray, all creating a cornucopia of sights and sounds.
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Etna will hum merrily as they walk together, trying to keep her parasol from poking anyone in the sides as they walked. Once they finally hit the market though she would quickly scurry off, before coming back with snacks. Nuts, a variety of fruit, and a strong drink. She would look for anything Dwarven brewed for now. She would get back to the group as quickly as possible.".... Anyone want a snack?
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"I need to make a couple quick purchases before we continue. Always good to be prepared!"
The gnome bounces off into the market, and returns a short time later, stuffing several containers of liquid into his backpack.
"Alright then, ready to go." Looking at Etna, Henrik smiles, delighted. "I would love a snack! Never turn down an offer of food, so I've been taught."
"Me too!" Junia mashes a handful from Etna's offering as they make their way through the crowd. A side street offers a shortcut around the throng, but as the party makes their way down, a second group turns into the passage. Impressively attired in flowing silks with turbans, heavy makeup, and jewelry, these are clearly men of means.
As they draw close, the party hears them calling out loudly. "Look at this cowardly abolitionist!"
The young men begin to press in towards Junia, jeering and scowling. The wonder on her face is replaced with confusion as the men target her with imprecations.
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"These fine specimens appear to be of a well-to-do Keleshite house," Draklor messages the others. "Might explain their dislike of the Eagle Knights. Well, it ain't a perfect world, I'll set them straight."
Out loud he says, "If you want to call one out based on what they wear, go back to Qadira. But then again, your words and dress make you seem the sort to keep slaves." He uncoils his whip, swirling it threateningly. "So scuttle along, unless you want a taste of your own medicine. We're on important business."
The Kelishites scoff at the threats thrown back at them, but step back a pace as the party draws close in around Junia. A few pass glances between one another, apparently unaware the Pathfinders were all the young noblewoman's entourage. "Rabble should know their place!" one of the men shouts in parting as the group turns and moves back out of the alley.
"That was...unpleasant..." Junia hesitantly observes. "Thank you all for scaring them off before something bad happened." A bit of her previous excitement peaks out in the small smile she offers you all.
Finally, the Pathfinders charge brightens from the reassurances. "Yes! We should get to our adventure, whatever it will be!" The walk out of the Coins and along the Merchant Quarter is much less eventful, full of the mundane sights of the bustling city.
A tall, wrought iron fence surrounds your destination, but for once Drandle Dreng's words do not fail you. The iron key matches the lock and grants the party entry. The grounds of the old Tri-Towers Yard have been cleaned up in the last several years, and several old ruined school buildings that stood too close to the cliff’s edge were demolished. All of the gnarled old trees were removed and new flowering bushes and trees have been planted in their place. Despite these efforts, the few ruined classrooms that remain look sad and forgotten. Just inside the gate sits a small, locked storage shed marked with the Pathfinder’s Glyph of the Open Road.
Junia raises a hand, subdued once again. "Just...a moment of silence...I think?" The yard is clearly full of memories, and it takes her a moment to compose herself. Then with a decisive nod, she speaks. "There's something in the classroom." Her gaze is fixed on the single standing structure remaining. "I need to see it, to...learn it..." She begins to stride purposefully towards the doorway.
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Henrik looks fascinated at Junia's actions, and all kinds of excited as she begins to make her way toward the building. "I wonder what's in there. Maybe it'll be a ghost; I've never met a proper ghost before."
At Lucky's words, Henrik pauses for a moment to retrieve a wand and casts a quick spell on himself . "Being prepared is probably a wise idea..." He then stows the wand and continues to follow Junia.
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Etna will look towards the doorway and then back to her before quickly running up to take the lead in front of her. "Now now what did we say before? We don't mind being the meat shields. Just give us a warning before you go walking towards the haunted spooky area's!"
She will have her weapon drawn as she takes point in front of her, ready to jump in way of any possible harm.
"Meat shields? Those don't sound very useful at all." Junia is clearly puzzled at the colloquialism. "You're right though, we should be prepared for whatever we find!" She waits as the Pathfinders approach the storage shed, which appears to be in disrepair. An iron lock hangs broken and useless on the door. Baphos detects a faint aura near the floor of the shed.
On opening the unlocked shed, you find it surprisingly (or unsurprisingly, perhaps) almost empty. Clear spots in the dust and dirt attest to there having been tools of some kind here before, but now all that remains is a yellow-painted box and a note on the back wall.
“Entry to above ground structure in the ‘Yard is strongly discouraged. It contains a dangerous supernatural force. Items in the yellow box are for emergencies only.
Signed, V-C Dreng."
The magical aura appears to be coming from the box.
Like the shed, the yellow box is mostly empty. The interior has compartments that appear designed to hold parchments and vials, some of which hold empty cloth bags. Only two vial slots are filled, a folded note in the slot above them. Pulling them out, they are made of glass with what appears to be cold iron casings, within which wisps of white vapor can be seen.
These vials are magical devices for dealing with the effects of haunts. Twist open the cap while suffering the manifestations of a haunt and it will siphon away the negative energies, hopefully protecting you from harm. It can then be used as a thrown weapon.
On further examination, the vials appear to be the source of the magical aura, naturally.
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"Let me have a look"
Henrik casts Detect Magic as well, and tries to identify them.
"These vials are haunt siphons, a rather handy tool for dealing with haunts. Simply opening them can hurt a manifested haunt, if you do it quickly after they appear, and it has a handy indicator for whether or not it successfully finished off the haunt - it glows green."
Junia nods, and allows the Pathfinders to lead the way across the yard. Very little stands in your way, and the doorway looms in front of you in short order. The small classroom is all that remains of a once great school. School benches and chairs are scattered about in a haphazard fashion and a chalkboard hangs crooked from a single nail on the western wall. The sound of the ocean beating against the cliffs in the distance is the only thing that breaks the silence.
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Hennet shrugs.
I don't mind going first. I usually do anyway, when it comes to this kind of stuff.
He draws his rapier and makes sure the holy water vials in his bandolier are loose and ready to be chucked if need be.
And I wouldn't worry too much about our rapiers not being useful. Last time I was in here, it was mostly bugs and zombies. We probably have enough holy water with us for a ghost. Besides, we have Desna with us as well.
The young priest pats his holy symbol with a satisfied smile as he speaks.
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"Ohhhh if Hennet is going first then I will go second. Usually I have to worry about being to shirt to see past some one in front of me so this will be a nice change of pace. I won't lie, it is now to have a holy member of Desna's faith with us. Always a great idea to have a holy man with you when heading into the thick of things."
Junia nods in agreement. "I'll do my best." she promises before the Pathfinders move into the dilapidated structure. The floor creaks softly under your feet, competing with your breathing to fill the void. Along one wall are a number of portraits, wilted flowers left in memorial. Drawing close, you are able to read the names under the images. Badru Ahnkamen, Grishan Maldris, Cassiel Marlinchen, Stilonius Morilla, Anaretta Nimz, and Jaran Shamyyid stare out at you with youthful smiles. As the party studies the area, a slight tremor runs through the ground, although Etna and Junia don't seem to feel it.