Talon sighs as they've finally finished off the Tower Girls, and rounded up the rest of them. Seeing as they were bloodied, battered, and probably exhausted, he makes a tactical decision.
"All right, let's check out the rest of the floor, then head back. By my head count, we've got all the Tower Girls, so better to leave and rest up before returning. Take what you can carry, and anything else you can give to me to haul around," He tells the others. "You all did pretty great today. Even our new arrival," He adds, looking at Shadow.
"Nice job, Princess. You know, we could always use somebody of your talents working with the Pathfinder Society. It's lucrative business, you know. Plus the perks are pretty nice as well," He comments, grabbing his silvered weaponry and stowing it along with the two-bladed sword.
Looking at the fresco, Talon wracks his brain on who this might be in Thassilonian history. He nudges Kel lightly with his elbow, grinning at the cleric. "So, can you guess who this charming woman was?"
Your prisoners will tell you that they'd finally located some interesting stuff down the flight of stairs to the southeast, including a set of doors no one could open.
Note on how Crow functions: You entered on the bottom (first/ground/water level) floor, took stairs to the top (fourth) floor, then stairs down one flight (to a third floor) and are being directed one level further (to what would be the second floor). That last(?) floor is where Natalya said she found the shard.
Delkaneth shudders as the healing magics wash over him, and some of the man's confidence returns to the smirk he offers Kelgeah in thanks. That confidence grows as Talon acknowledges his contribution to the group.
The young would-be scholar stands in front of the fresco, a memory gnawing at the back of his mind saying that he should know what it means but not quite being able to place it.
Once the remaining girls are rounded up and handled, he looks to Talon. "Theres a lot of significant pieces here. Id love to spend some time sketching that fresco, and the girls say that the real interesting stuff is on the next floor."
He looks almost longingly toward the southeast. "Regrouping before handling this last bit is probably the wise choice but now that people know about this place it's not going to stay a secret for much longer. Who knows how many other groups already know and are planning their expedition here right now?
Besides, where's your sense of adventure? It's your call of course, but we are so close....."
Talon sighs, rubbing the back of his head. "All right, then, let's check out the last floor then before we head back. Maybe the second piece is there..." He mutters to himself.
"By the way, if you don't recognize the woman in the fresco - that's Alaznist, Runelord of Wrath. Titled aptly for her volatile nature." He'll point out to the others. "And usually ruins that feature a particular Runelord once belonged to that Runelord. So with that in mind, let's take a look at the next floor."
"Runelord of Wrath..."
Kelgeah's voice trails off as she ponders the nature of the depictions, eyes lighting up at Talon's reminder.
"Of course! Lord Heidmarch wanted copies of works just such as these! We need to duplicate that fresco before we the tower; that's our bonus pay!"
Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind having one myself; Runelord or not, it's hard not to appreciate a woman who can hold her own...
She fervently searches her pack, but growls at her chronicling supplies. Ink, pens, paper, and journals; nothing suitable for copying an elaborate piece.
Perhaps I should have taken up painting...
"If anyone can make a rubbing of this, now's the time. If not, keep your eyes open for charcoal and parchment."
Shadow nods to Talon, "Thank you! You fight well as well! And what I enjoy the most is how well you all work together and integrated me into your group. Perhaps joining the Pathfinder Society would be a more ideal organization to join since I believe my current employer does not know exactly what to do with me, mainly because of politics and my previous employer's transgressions? I will need to talk to your Pathfinder Society leader or your leader first. If I like what I hear, I will then need to first officially separate from my current employer before joining the society."
Although interested in some of the gear, Shadow remains quiet of her interest for now. She is mostly sure the group is honorable and will share when it is time to divvy out the non-artifact treasure and gear, especially when she joins the Society.
With the possibility of joining the society and nothing more is found that can help her current employer, Shadow watches the others study and get excited over the artifacts.
As K'nyaz escorts your prisoners and your info back to land, you head cautiously down the stairs, pushing through a damaged door into an oddly-shaped room. A massive pair of double doors dominates the western end of this spearhead-shaped chamber. These doors are made of a silvery metal decorated with images of burning eyes that look inward toward two sets of runes carved onto the face of each door. The walls bear the remains of complex mosaics that once covered much of them, but which have crumbled and collapsed in heaps of colored tiles and debris around the edges of the room.
The tiles on the doors bear Thassilonian runes in a pattern that resembles the paradox box’s tiles, and when two runes on one door are touched simultaneously, they magically exchange places (runes cannot move from one door to the other).
"...I recognize this," Talon comments, looking at the runes. "Before you all came the Lady Heidmarch tested me, K'nyaz and a few others with a paradox box, using a scramble cipher," He informed the others as he read the runes. "This must be the same - you've got to rearrange the letters, form a different word altogether..."
There are two different sets of runes on each door.
The left set spells “LISTEN” while the right spells “THE EYES.”
hot or freezing cold when found.
Delkaneth ignores all caution as he lightly touches the strange metal. He pulls his hand away instantly with a look of shock on his face. "Its hot..........."
He slowly shakes his head. "I've never heard of anything like this before. And that's......unusual. For me, anyway."
"So you're thinking these letters spell out the command word to open the doors, we just have to figure out what word they are spelling? And its not something silly like putting our ears up to those carvings of eyes?" He shakes his head even as he says the words, realizing just how silly they sound out loud. Slipping his axes into his belt he grabs a dagger out of his boot and begins writing the letters in the dirt.
"This is going to take a while. This box, were there any clues to what the word might have been? Im wondering if there's something here that can tell us where to start."
Note: touching the metal or the runes does 1 point of damage each touch.
"Two things. First, seeing that stuff gave you a rather bad burn there when you touched it, don't do that again until we've figured out a possible combination," Talon tells Del. "Second, and more importantly, if you've got ink pen and parchment get it out and start writing - rearrange the letters and see how many actual words you can make out."
Talon for his part does it mostly in his head. LISTEN, SILTEN, TELSIN, NISLET, ELNSIT, SILENT, ENTLIS, NELTIS...after a minute of thought, he thought he knew the left side at least. He'd compare notes with the others to see if they'd reached the same answer.
Shadow not being much of a Pathfinder yet, watches everyone else observing what they are studying and researching She keeps alert for anyone or anything that peaks her interest or maybe the Pathfinders are overlooking. Shadows observes Talon's notes and replies, "Talon not to be nosy but you are missing Elints, Enlist, Inlets, and Tinsel."
With the left side sure to be decoded before long, Kelgeah turns her toughts to the right.
"They see? Hmm. Can't think of too many word pairings that fit the letters and word size, and I can't imagine the maker intending to waste letters. Just doesn't seem sensible."
Noting how quickly Delkaneth was burned by the door, she tests the runes themselves, switching two letters and noting how quickly the pain from them sets in.
"Well, that stings," she muses, rubbing her finger. "I don't think this door wants to be opened."
One per rune.
re Alaznist: Powerful, yes. Nice...no.
Oh, and yes, this stuff is hot, these are burns. Kinda fits Wrath, after all.
Also, the words do not lock if you get them right. Only with both sides correct will the doors open, though.
"Oh no, Kelgeah. They're going to open." Delkaneth raises his hand again, the urge to touch the metal one more time almost overwhelming. After a pause he pulls his hand away, instead reaching into his pouch for his blank journal.
"Thee yes Or should we be looking at Thassilonian themes like sins? Seethe with rage....and an extra 'Y'."
"If it's even separate puzzles at all....can't think of any single word they spell together." He puts his head down and begins scribbling in the journal.
"...Kel...Del...These runes spell out 'The Eyes'," Talon points out. "And Kelgeah misread that as 'They See'. Which when I think about it, might actually work," He surmises.
"I think I know the combination that will work...but I think we should leave off trying to open it until tomorrow. Who knows what's beyond it - and opening it up and leaving it might let whatever's behind wander out in the places we've cleared."
Kelgeah nonchalantly flicks Talon's nose upward with a forefinger, waving it in his face with a knowing smirk.
"Misread? come now, dear, you don't think my time in the temple was spent in neglect of basic reading skills, did you? Of all the combinations of letters broken into two words, it was the only one which didn't read out in a completely different tongue, if it made sense at all. I get the impression that 'silent they see' is a possible solution, but knowing what I do about ancient magics and power-mad wizards, there's a very real chance that the key phrase is more important than just a combination for a door."
Glancing about at her party, Kelgeah notes the shared burns and various other little scratches accumulated from the day's excitement, and decides to clean up the mess with a wave of positive energy. With a sigh she slumps her shoulders before rolling them a bit.
"I do agree that's enough for today, however. It would be nice to resupply and adjust our strategy a bit, hm?"
Delkaneth briefly looks up from his scribbling, but as Kelgeah responds he shakes his head in the affirmative. Thank you
His gaze darts back up to the doors as she says a possible solution: knowing the door opens by moving the tiles is one thing, but being completely confident that they will not respond to a spoken command word is another. Relieved that nothing has happened, he goes back to writing in the journal.
"I wonder if we have to touch the tiles ourselves to make them change? I can magically lift something small and touch a tile it. I can only lift 1 thing at a time, but if a hand on one and a stick or something on the other works it would reduce the number of times we have to get burned by half."
Since no one replied to her suggestions and it sounds like they are working it out, Shadow continues to watch the group work while on guard.
Talon nods, but at the very least they should clear the back doors first, away from the paradox locked double doors. "Natalya said she found the artifact around here, so there might be something else she missed," He tells the others. She'd said something about it being in a secret room, if he recalled correctly. "We'll take a quick look around, then let's head back to Magnimar."
Upon further investigation on this floor:
Checking the door directly opposite to where you cm in leads only to a short empty, collapsed passage.
The two doors on the other side lead to (B23) one very odd-shaped room. Several pieces of furniture decorate this room, the modern furnishings clashing with the ancient carvings of Thassilonian wizards crafting deformed monsters from dead bodies decorating the walls. Luxurious crimson Varisian drapes have been pinned up in an archway to the southeast. That archway leads to an area (B23a) that has been converted into a well-equipped and rather luxurious bedroom. Another small archway leads off into a large room with one window. Talon, you remember, from Natalya's briefing, that this room contained the secret door to the room where she found the Shard of Pride. It also seems to be where Ayala was storing the gang's treasures.
Heaped on a table in the center of the room are sections of wall mural, ancient coins, pieces of jewelry, gems, bits and pieces of pottery, and more for eventual sale in the markets of Magnimar—all treasures the Tower Girls have scavenged from the Crow. These treasures are worth 900 gp in all. In addition, several journals on the table, written in
Varisian, can provide details on Ayala’s history with and plans for the Tower Girls, including her increasing frustration at Natalya’s betrayal. Also, a small chest under the bed in area B23a holds 87 gp and 175 sp.
DC 26 to locate the secret door for anyone who spoke to Natalya, DC 30 for anyone else. [Note: if you brought Natalya back here, she could locate and open it immediately.]
You might be able to use the Tower Girl's boats. They don't really need them anymore...
Kelgeah's expression lights up at the plush bedchambers.
"Ooh. Lovely room. I wonder who went to all the trouble?"
After a cursory examination she climbs up on the bed and lies back with a devilish grin on her face.
"Well, I know where I'm resting tonight. Anyone care to join me?"
"Kel, as much as I'd love to join you, I should remind you that bed belonged to a wererat. You think she kept herself completely flea free?" Talon tells the elf cleric. "There's plenty of decent beds in the city for you. We'll have to find the secret room tomorrow after we're rested up."
Delkaneth looks at the pile of loot again, then remembers the difficult path they took to get this far into the Crow.
"I don't want to share my bed with fleas either, but have we seen an easier way out of here than the way we came? Zigzagging through the place, secret doors, precarious rope bridges....not a simple road to travel just to find a comfy bed and avoid a few bites." He looks at the cleric lounging on the bed. "Flea bites anyway."
The young man casually picks up an ancient coin from the pile on the table and drops it with a jingling sound. "Not to mention lugging all these goodies out later. Any chance we missed an exit? Hard to believe these Tower Girls didn't have a 'plan b' exit we haven't seen yet."
As far as you can tell, this place seems safe to rest in.
You can always place guards.
"Well, I'll put this at least to vote. If you guys would rather stay here, I'll get K'Nyaz to ferry our prisoners and loot to the mainland - we can ask him to bring the loot to the Society, and bring back whatever else we think we need. We might want to think about shaking the sheets out, though."
He looks about the room. "Personally speaking, as we've cleared this section out, I don't see any reason we can't make this our base camp for delving deeper into the Crow. But I vote that we head back now so that we all can properly resupply whatever we need. Who knows what else lurks behind that door."
Kelgeah's grin turns to annoyance with a slight hint of disgust at the baleful reminder of blood-sucking insects.
At least wasps know how to sting you and be done with it...damnable fleas...leave it to good sense to ruin the fun.
She rises from the bed with a defeated sigh.
"You're right, of course, Talon. Dear Delkaneth does have a point, however. Even for a bunch of thieves and rodents, I can't imagine them not having a more practical exit from their hideout. I do think we should avoid bringing any bulky or obvious treasures back with us. We're sure to draw attention carrying things like that down the street, and if anyone in the know happens to be watching us, we'll tip them off and leave our real prize exposed for the night."
Shadow nods to Talon, "I vote to also go back but my desire to go back is based off retiring from my current employer who does not know what to do with me and joining up with the Pathfinder Society to feel I have more purpose in my life. In addition, it wouldn't hurt to recover a bit from what we have done this far, regroup, and bring supplies to clean and secure this room up a little for a small base of operations?"
"All right, I think that's everyone in favor for leaving for today - we can pick up back her first thing tomorrow. Let's grab what we can carry and get out," Talon tells the others.
Your return to Heidmarch Manor is -seemingly- uneventful.
Your patrons are extremely interested and impressed by your discoveries and offer to send along a team of their guards to protect the site while you explore beyond the doors.
[Note: they are just guards, you guys will still get the credit (and pay) for anything found.]
You all rest, heal, refresh spells, stock up and meet at the Manor for further plans, and for the new folks to meet the Heidmarchs.
You arrive back at Heidmarch Manor and present your findings so far.
"This is fascinating." Sir Heidmarch says."As Venture-captain, I have far to many responsibilities to go there myself. Please keep me posted on what you find and bring me drawings if at all possible. As I noted previously, I will pay extra for any and all information on these Runelords and on Thassilon."
Lady Heidmarch looks over the expanded group. "And who is this? A new recruit? Have you worked with any Pathfinder or Lantern lodges before?"
Sir Heidmarch seems to be thinking deeply. He goes to a bookshelf and picks a small, old-looking volume. "Hm. You say that, along with statues of her, there was a mural of her stabbing someone? A male? maybe hunch-backed?" he asks, rather excitedly. "That may be an extremely rare image of Thybidos, her immediate predecessor in the rank of Runelord of Wrath. One that celebrates her...acquisition...of the rank, I suppose. Please be sure to make a copy of that, if at all possible!"
Kelgeah is all too eager to exchange new info and updates, listening with keen interest at Sir Heidmarch's story of power changing hands between Runelords.
"A previous Runelord? Now that is something I most certainly want a copy of myself. I'll need to find some charcoal and parchment to make a rubbing though; sadly, visual art doesn't seem to be prominent in our skillsets. Copper for your thoughts on our rather...standoffish door?"
"We think we already know the combination. Unfortunately, putting it in involves burning our damn fingers off - I guess that I'll do that myself. Also, this is Shadow - she was cleaning up the Tower Girls on her own and aided us. Seeing as she's a freelancer and she proved her skills, and that she's interested in aiding us, I'd like to vouch for her. Considering the slightly sensitive nature of our goal."
The speed of Delkaneth's recruitment had caused his initial exposure to Sir Heidmarch to be brief, so the young man is also eager to hear the learned man's updates and theories.
He is about to speak up in agreement to Kelgeah's comments about the scribing supplies but quickly stops himself at her mention of the door. Good call, he must have some idea of how to work it!
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Sir Heidmarch begins a lecture on Thassilonian history. ”The history of the Runelords begins in Azlant, where, it seems, tradition held that rulers of nations must abide by the “seven virtues of rule”, the seven qualities a leader must engender in his people and personify himself, lest his state collapse and fall into ruin. In practice, this philosophy never quite lived up to its promise. No ruler and no nation of Azlant ever managed to excel at all seven virtues, and more than a few failed to uphold even a single one. The seven virtues of rule (charity, generosity, humility, kindness, love, temperance, and zeal) appealed greatly to Xin, a powerful Azlanti wizard, but in a more intellectual manner than an emotional one. Xin believed that the seven Azlanti schools of magic flowed from these virtues (the school of divination stood outside the rest in Azlant arcane society, viewed as a “universal” school that no wizard should ignore). More than anything else, his exhaustive work developing methods of wizardly specialization earned him his extensive network of apprentices, followers, and admirers. Xin also believed that the Azlanti should work together with other races in Avistan and create an even greater empire than the one found on Azlant. His ideas were declared heretical by the ancient mystics who ruled that lost continent, and he was exiled. Most of his contemporaries were more than happy to see Xin’s “ridiculous and stubbornly deliberate misinterpretation of magic” leave the realm. He took his research and network with him when he was exiled from Azlant and he and his group, having made the perilous journey across the Arcadian Ocean, founded the settlement of Xin-Bakrakhan after landing on what is now known as Hollow Mountain. Though exact dates from the time before Earthfall are hard to gauge exactly, sages believe that Xin began the formation of the Thassilonian Empire in the latter days of the Age of Legend, probably around -6530 AR. Xin quickly expanded to the east, coming into conflict with local human and elven tribes living in what is now Varisia. These peoples did not resist him for long, fearing Xin for his powerful magic, but also seeing the technological advances an alliance with him could bring. Within a short time, Xin had founded not only the states of Bakrakhan, Edasseril (on today's Ironbound Archipelago), Cyrusian (in Southmoor and northwestern Varisia), Eurythnia (southern Varisia), Shalast (central and northern Varisia), and ultimately Haruka and Gastash (records are uncertain as to the location of those last two...they may have been destroyed in the destruction caused by the Earthfall).”
” Xin worked to create not only his empire but many orders of knights and wizards, even helping foster monastic orders. His goal was to create a civilized paradise within his empire. To do this Xin bargained with mighty and powerful creatures, ancient dragons and inscrutable outsiders. These creatures granted knowledge of rune magic, said by some to be the language of creation itself, and worship of the goddess of rune magic Lissala. Xin used this knowledge in many aspects of day-to-day life within Thassilon.”
” Eventually the empire got too large for Xin to control and he created a group of magistrates, to help him govern the empire, dividing it into those seven states. Each of the which were to represent one of those 'virtues'.
Lady Heidmarch interjects ”That worked about as well as you might expect. Unfortunately, and possibly predictably, these 'virtues' became corrupted into the seven 'sins' (greed, lust, pride, gluttony, envy, wrath, and sloth) and these 'Runelords' as the most powerful magistrates would be called, eventually went on to supplant and subvert Xin's empire.”. ”
Lord Heidmarch ignores the interruption and continues. ”Xin wasn't as concerned about this as one might expect, possibly because it kept the Runelords fighting each other, rather than trying to depose him. From all indications, he became obsessed with his studies, leaving the rule of the states in the hands of the Runelords and the nation itself in his son's hands. Not long (historically speaking) before the Earthfall the rulers of the various states were:
Alaznist, female Runelord of Wrath, ruled Bakrakhan.
Belimarius, female Runelord of Envy ruled Edasseril.
Karzoug, Runelord of Greed, now (hopefully permanently) deceased ruled Shalast.
Krune, Runelord of Sloth ruled Haruka.
Sorshen, female Runelord of Lust ruled Eurythnia.
Xanderghul, Runelord of Pride ruled Cyrusian.
Zutha, undead Runelord of Gluttony, ruled Gastash.”
”As he approached his 110th year, he finally became concerned about his subordinates and began to create what is now known as The Shattered Star. At that time, the item was known as the Sihedron—a seven-pointed star made of the seven skymetals infused with powerful magic. His death was as exceptional as his life. As he aged, Old Xin (as he was called in his final years), started losing his grip over the realm and his magical abilities. Rather than succumbing to the ravages of age or disease he was consumed by his own magics which immolated himself and his would-be killer in crimson flames and destroyed much of his palace. After his death, Xin's oldest son was placed on the throne, but at this point rule of the empire effectively fell to the Runelords. Xin's son was a mere puppet kept on the throne for the sake of tradition. He was imprisoned in the city of Xin were he could be effectively watched and controlled. After the Runelords rebelled, the Sihedron was broken into seven parts (at least, according to the legends), each runelord claiming their representative shard for their own. In the 10 millennia since Earthfall and the end of Thassilon, the shards have shifted locations, yet they have never been reassembled into the Sihedron. We believe” here he looks over at his wife ”that, given the recent indications that at least some of the Runelords survived, that finding the pieces and, if possible, reassembling them, will provide Varisia with that same protection.”
After Talon vouches for Shadow, Shadow courtesies to Lord and Lady Heidmarch, "Well met, my Lord and Lady. It was my pleasure in helping your team accomplish their objectives. In addition, it would be an honor if I can continue to assist them."
Shadow listens carefully to Lord and Lady Heidmarch's lecture on Thassilonian history with eye contact and head nods of acknowledgement.
Lady Heidmarch nods. "I would be delighted to have you assist them. Hm. Normally, it takes three years of training to be granted the rank of initiate. However...in certain circumstances, a field promotion can be granted. The information you've already provided, along with your aid to my group I can deem sufficient, though, of course, such an action will ultimately need to be approved by our training branch. I suspect, though, that if you continue to assist us in finding the missing pieces of the Shattered Star, and further information on Thassilon -and, buy extension- Azlant, that would be a mere formality. Welcome to the Pathfinder Society, initiate. she smiles.
Shadow courtesy bows, "Thank you my lady for bestowing this great honor to me, letting down royalty and even commoners is not in my vocabulary. I will embrace more training for I already know what my weaknesses will be if I do not address them in your training branch."
Shadow courtesy bows one more time, "Thank you again my lady."
Lady Heidmarch returns the bow to the correct depth, then continues "What little information we have indicates that, due to their proximity, Alaznist Runelord of Wrath and Karzog, Runelord of Greed were bitter enemies. From all indications, the shard you seek there is the shard of greed, stolen from Karzog and hidden just before Earthfall brought down Thassilon and Azlant. I believe that the shard of greed is made of black adamantine requires an ioun stone in the form of a pale blue rhomboid. I've requested one from the society's stock and it should be here within days. I leave it to you as to whether you wish to continue the search or wait until the stone arrives to do so. I'm not sure just what the curse on that shard will be...though I suspect it will make further negotiations...interesting, to say the least." her she smiles, amused.
"We'll probably start scouting out the rest of the ruins starting tomorrow," Talon says to Lady Heidmarch. "If we do happen to find the shard, we can just be sure not to actually touch it until we've gotten the ioun stone needed."
He turns to the others in the group to address them. "So, anybody else have any questions? Because if not, I think that we can regroup at the docks tomorrow morning for heading deeper into the Crow. Lady Heidmarch, would the Society be able to reimburse us for several of the discoveries we made there?" He asks, pulling out the ampoule filled with coins from his pack to start.
Delkaneth furiously scribbled in a small notebook as Lady Heidmarch speaks, including making a tiny sketch of a rhomboid shape in the margin.
He looks up at Talon's questions. "Any other gear we might need? The parchment and things Kelgeah mentioned should be enough to bring back images of the frescos, maybe some extra empty sacks and such to carry back other things we find."
"What about activating the runes - Im sure the magic is too powerful to be avoided by something as simple as the heavy gloves a blacksmith uses, but are there any scrolls or oils we can use to protect our hands? I'm hoping I can use magic to tough one rune while we touch the other, but we should have several ideas available if that doesn't work."