*** Inside ***
The thick wooden door withstands the first ram-like hit of the minotaur - but the second causes it to break apart in a shower of splinters, giving way to the inner room of the basement.
A rather small room, air thick with the smell of old books, ink and old wood.
In the center of the room, a stand-desk is positioned, a stack of small notebooks similar to those you have seen in the previous hall are heaped up on the left side. Several pots of ink and different-sized feathers are positioned within reach to the right.
An utterly surprised Quercus is looking in your direction, one hand still holding a long, brown eagle feather loosing small droplets of ink.
*** Outside ***
An elven cleric, you may recognize as Zera Nutrixia, is breaking the chanting and hurries to your side.
"Of course, of course Miss Minara.
Just sit down on that stone and I will call for Kelksiomedes healing touch.
Do you ... do you know what has happened here?
Was it ... an ... accident?"
There is clear doubt in that question.
"Buurarummm-What in the name of Kelksiomedes!
Gosor?! Astrapios?!
Hummm-Haaah, what is this?"
The Ghoran looks terribly old.
His bark-skin has taken a dull grey instead the deep-dark brown hue you know it to be and the leaves that artfully create his facial expressions are crumbled and yellow-brownish.
He appears to be smaller than you know him too and he is leaning on the standing desk for support.
Astrapios halted briefly looking at the very old looking tree-man.
"terribly sorry for the interruption...and the door, old friend. I believe you are in danger. Your garden was attacked and the timing with your renewal cannot be a coincidence!"
He takes a moment to look around the room for any potential entry points. He didn't feel paranoid, but he admitted he might appear as such to the others.
" we need to move to a more secure location."
While reading the Ghorans expression is never an easy task, this time it is painfully obvious that the news are shocking him - he actually looses a few leaves.
"My ... My garden you say?
But ... Hummmm ... Hortulanos was watching over it for me.
An attack-Burarummm?!"
He walks towards you, his wooden body creaking and groaning with every step.
There is no other entrance to the room.
She returns to the ground and approaches the giant cat that fought alongside them, saluting him before extending her hand in greeting, "Welcome to the Pharossi, Ktinos. It's good to have you. What lured you to these fair lands?"
Ktinos regards the extended hand warily and does not take it. "The Pharossi? What are they?"
Ethana's helmet morphs for a moment before turning into an owl that alights on her shoulder, "We are. The Pharossi are the guards of Aelyssos, the protectors of its people. You're more than welcome to join our ranks- you're certainly willing and able to do what it takes."
"The garden was in flames when we arrived and Hortulanos a mindless vine drake lashing out at everyone within range. His enchantment has been dispelled and he is resting now, and the flames are being fought, but the perpetrators have fled to the sea.
"From what I could gather from the Lechy I spoke with it was a man either black in color or wearing black and wielding a silver knife as well as a woman who most likely rode a broom. The man likely arrived first and had found something the size of my fist, wrapped in black. When he showed it to the woman they rode off together and left the chaos that we encountered upon our arrival."
The minotaur frowns at Quercus. "You are not at your full strength now, and I know this is a time that you would be alone, but we both fear for your safety here and need any knowledge you might have. Is your condition for this phase of your reseeding, and do you know what the intruders might have been seeking in your garden?"
The last color vanishes from Quercus face at this summary.
One of his many-fingered root-hands touch his chest unvolunteeringly.
"Help me, friends.
I fear ... Oh-Hummbraah.
Help me to the pavilion.
I have to see it ...
Although I am certain that you are right."
His voice, only a weak, coarse whisper.
Quercus is frightened to the roots.
He is quite literally fearing for his life.
The Ghoran looks, without much exaggeration, like a dead, rotten tree.
All colours faded into brown-grey and has to be supported by the minotaur.
Once reaching the garden, you have to half-carry Quercus, his knees giving way at the sight of his destroyed garden.
What you knew would have enraged him beyond measure in any other time, now causes him to stumble and despair in broken silence.
As you reach the pavilion, the Ghoran sinks to his knees in front of the destroyed basin with the smal heap of distorted earth in the mid and lowers his head as if in resignation.
Without looking up he speaks, his voice now steady and measured.
"Friend Gosor, you had asked me, whether I knew what the intruders have taken from the gardens.
The answer is: me.
They have stolen me.
It was my seed that was buried here.
Starting to grow into a new body while this old shell began to whither away."
"I don't know what happened, unfortunately. But it was no accident, that's for sure. You don't 'accidentally' mind control someone with as strong a mind as the high druid. Whoever is responsible will pay, though. That's for certain."
"They stole your seed? What is wrong with these people? Don't worry, Quer. We'll get it. You rest and stay strong and don't die yet. Who might want your seed and why would they want it?" Ethana asks her friend as she hears what happened.
Gosor nods and lends his bulk to support the even greater bulk of his friend as they make it back to the garden. The movement takes all of Quercus's diminishing energy so Gosor leaves him in peace as they travel, worried at his friend's atypical concern.
As he witnesses the Ghoran's utter dismay and hears his explaination and plea the taurian's features grow tight. "If they have stolen you, then you can count on the Pharrosi to steal you back, friend Quercus. Those who have done this are monsters, be their physical forms monstrous or not, and hunting monsters is our specialty. Soon we will I will leave you to rest, but first you must tell me, is there anyone you know who both bears you such hatred that it would drive them to do this and would have the knowledge and skill to pull it off?"
After listening to his friend's reply Gosor works with Astrapios to call a druid or cleric to tend to Quercos and gather the rest of the Pharrosi who are present to share information and plan their next steps.
Ethana's helmet morphs for a moment before turning into an owl that alights on her shoulder, "We are. The Pharossi are the guards of Aelyssos, the protectors of its people. You're more than welcome to join our ranks- you're certainly willing and able to do what it takes."
Ktinos frowns slightly, thinking. "I... do wish to defend the people, yes," he hesitantly agrees in his deep, rumbling voice. "I would learn more before... committing myself... and perhaps it would be best if you learned more of me first, also."
As the others reconvene, he again points out what he found. "These tracks here were likely those of the thief. It seems they used magic to leave at this point."
Gosor nods at the catfolk as he shares what he has found before sharing what he has learned. "That matches the story that I got from the inhabitants of the garden. It seems that a man either black in color or dressed in black and wielding a silver knife arrived here at some point in the night. He found what is now clear was the seed of Quercos in some way. At some point, likely later, a woman arrived, the man showed her the seed and she gave her approval before flying them both off on what was likely a flying broom, headed towards the sea. It isn't clear whether the man or the woman he met caused the Hortulanos to go on his rampage, but one of the two almost certainly did. I assume that the woman was the leader of the two, but that's just an assumption at this point. I did not learn how the fire was started."
Gosor looks at the heroes who have gathered. "Have I missed any information that anyone else has gathered? And more importantly, can any of you do anything with this information? We might speak to the firefighters and ask for divine help, but tracking those who have fled through the air is beyond my abilities."
"HummHumm, I don't know who has the knowledge or skill to do this.
As for a reason, if evil needs a reason at all, my remaining kin and I have always been protectors of Kelksiomedes and he is not without foes in this world as well as from beyond.
Many seeds have been lost in the long lifetimes since the golden tree blossomed and bore the fruit of our god.
Four were lost during this life alone.
Maybe ... Hummm ... Maybe they try to weaken him by taking us out one by one?"
You recall an old legends about how the Ghorans of Iblydos came into existence - and more importantly: why.
It states that one of the Ghorans which were bron from the same tree that bore the golden apple of Kelksiomedes carried many seeds – which grew into the Ghorans.
The legend holds, that one of those Ghorans would once grew into a new God-Tree, others believe that it is the duty of the Ghorans to safekeep the seed of the god-tree until Kelksiomedes is in danger of dying for it surely holds the ability to restore the powers of the god it once had born.
"Do you know of any pattern in the loss of the seeds, especially of late? Were any investigations done to determine who was responsible? We need leads to follow now, and I hope the others have more than I do, but if this can provide any then that would be something."
Lady Z comes to help.
Humm who could have done this? with the needed skills and look like that, let me think"
"It's the skills that have me stumped, I know the odd evil mage, but no one stands out has having the power to do this level of evil. But the act itself."
She sits thinking for a wile looking at the earth.
"This may seem outlandish but, I think someone may be ether trying to get there hands on the powers of a god or remove them."
She had a stick in her hand and was drawing a tree, in the earth before her.
"You see there is an old legend about how the Ghorans of Iblydos came into existence - and more importantly, why it did."
She added more detail to the tree.
"It states that one of the Ghorans which were bron from the same tree that bore the golden apple of Kelksiomedes carried many seeds – which grew into the Ghorans."
She was almost done
"The legend holds, that one of those Ghorans would once grew into a new God-Tree, and so it is the duty of the Ghorans to safekeep the seed of the god-tree until Kelksiomedes is in danger of dying for it surely holds the ability to restore the powers of the god it once had born."
Standing she dropped the stick.
"So if get your hands on the god tree even in seed form and your evil, could be a bad day for all."
There is of course the possibility that some hidden cult of Ousmariku had something to do with this.
Such cults spring up from time to time, despite anyone's vigilance. They surely account for gruesome, hideous acts in the past - but you never heard of a cult that organized before.
Plus, they are usually short on coin and support - and the quality of the alchemical items used in the attack, seems forbiddingly high for your off-the-mill cult.
Quercus follows the explanations of Lady Zal with sleepy eyes.
"Humm-Yah. I heard that legends many times.
It was one of my kin who first told it.
Old-Pine Darkwood was it.
He was seeing many things and always wanted to know why something came into being...
If there was a pattern, you ask, friend Gosor...
Hummm-naa, not that I noticed.
Two were killed in a dark forest, not far to the north-west, trying to drive off the dark creatures breeding there.
All we found, were traces of their fight and their empty trunks, their seeds ... missing."
At this point, the old Ghoran is growling deeply and anger seem to swell in him, but it does not find a hold in his weakened body and he simply continues in a rather monotonous voice.
"Wild and feral things hunt us since the moment of our first growth.
Our seeds are ... HummmBarrr ... a delicacy to them.
...
Another one went missing without a trace whatsoever as he travelled to the city of Hoimpeira.
And the last, Lady Cherrytree ... ahh, how lovely her branches smelled as the first light of the day touched them ...
She fall to an illness of mind, no mortal could cure ... and before Kelksiomedes could help her, she jumped off a cliff and into the roaring sea in the darkest hour of night.
A young cleric of the temple saw her but could not reach her in time..."
"Now that is interesting, humm"
Ktinos folds his arms and frowns in thought. "Whatever their reasons, what can we do to find those who did this? Is there magic that could help? I cannot track magic or flight."
Gosor frowns, the easy, exciting part of the day apparently over already and an old friend in mortal peril. "So we could travel to Hoimperia to try to find a long cold trail, try to question a young cleric about Lady Cherrytree, or try to find some other leads on an evil out to capture ghoran seeds attempting to harm Kelksiomedes or make a grab for power on their own." He shakes his head. "These are all too slow and their links are too tenuous. We need a better approach. Now. How is the High Druid? Can we question him on what happened here last night?"
Astrapios was listening, but didn't have any useful ideas so far.
"I could run into town and grab a scroll for a finding spell. I'm not overly knowledgeable in the arcane arts, but I've done it before. With Quercus as the conduit I imagine, it could work well to find the sappling."
As Gosor looks around he sees the old druid leaning against a burned tree trunk, a well-build man bowed down to him, obviously speaking to the druid.
The figure oozes power and as he lays a hand on the old druids head, a green and golden shimmer is flaring up and even the tree behind the druid starts to live up again, sprouting leafs spontaneously where only ash remained moments before.
Kelksiomedes has come in person to tend to one of his oldest followers.
The hero-god feels your gaze and waves you closer.
He speaks softly, the powerful voice lowered to a level barely above whisper.
Maybe to not disturb the healing druid in his curative slumber.
Maybe because he does not want anyone but you to hear his words.
"Thank you all for coming and helping.
I know that you have gone to great lengths to spare my friends life, despite he trying his best to harm you.
I have looked into the mind of Vetos.
He did not see the attacker coming.
There was only this incredible pain as he was stabbed in the back and then ... nightmares.
Terrible dreams beyond anything he ever knew.
Even now, his dreams echo from the horrors he lived through...."
He stops for a moment, as if listening to a sound coming from far, far away.
"My heart tells me, that whoever did this atrocity was betrayed.
Betrayed before he even got out of sight of my city.
Search him. The betrayed have no reason to hold true to their former masters.
I will tend to Quercus.
I know a bit about the Ghorans life cycle.
The seed only grows into its true form, once the old body died.
I will keep his old trunk alive for as long as I can.
You will have a few days, before the the seed sprouts, you have my word."
Gosor nods at the words Kelksiomedes speaks. "Thank you. If you can keep our friend here alive we will find the seed and return it. Should you learn anything else that will help, please let us know." The taurian bows slightly before turning to the gathered heroes, "Let us begin our quest to save our friend, each helping as we can. I will search in the direction that we think the the thieves have fled, outside of the city as well as check my contacts at the docks to see if there is any word on someone appearing suddenly who might be our betrayed culprit. I will be back here by dusk tomorrow to share anything I have found. Any who would like to accompany me are welcome, but all should follow the leads that they feel most likely to bear fruit."
Ktinos hesitates a long moment, then decides to follow Gosor. After all, he will not look quite so out-of-place in company with a minotaur, and since he seems accepted, perhaps others will not notice Ktinos's own somewhat monstrous appearance.
Gosor nods at Ktinos. "Good. You've proven yourself a warrior and a tracker, and one not afraid to enter the unknown head on. Gosor Proudhoof welcomes you as a companion. I wonder, while you were following the tracks of our quarry earlier, did you learn his scent? That could help us know if we run across his trail later."
Ktinos nods shortly. "I would remember it. But it is hard in cities."
"Good. We will start our hunt out of the city. That was the plan anyhow. Others here have connections in the city and have other ways to hunt for the thief should he have fled there after being betrayed."
"You want me, Gosor? If you're good, I'll search the city for the betrayed." Ethana offers, "I can get a pretty good bird's-eye view either way."
"Hmm, yes, we should have physical eyes on the city for anything out of place. If you can do that from above that might be best. Start there and then use your judgement as to how to proceed."
"Well, it is said then. As suggested before, I will hit the joints and press some people."
With this he left and was quickly out of sight.
Before going to town, he passed his home and changed into clothes that didn't smell like barbecue. The places he could visit during day time require some etiquette. His first stop would also be the local magic shop, where he bought a Scroll of Scrying. Might need that eventually.
Then, after breakfast he started at the bath house as Aramyros.
The bath house was a meeting spot for the middle and upper class. It was in the eastern part of the city, where the hot springs have been found many years ago and is therefor fed with mostly natural hot spring water.
Aramyros comes here regularly for many political decissions are made here, bare naked, face to face.
It is obviously not a building he can visit in his other identity. But his standing in the town and his connections in these circles might give him valuable information either from the noble guests or from the staff.
hours
He had very prune fingers, when he left the bath house and compiled his notes. He was certain that he gathered everything the honest townsfolk knew about the ghorans, their seeds and who might be potentitally dangerous to them. Whether it was worthwhile was the question.
The fire in the garden of the Thousandborn are the topic this day.
A lot of rumouring is shared. The legends of the Ghorans is retold in like three slightly different versions.
A list of enemies of Kelksiomedes is compiled, ranging from cultist worshipping the world-destroying leviathan over political factions outside of Iblydos to a list of powerful, local enemies and their varying grudges.
Most intriguing are three stories:
- The underworld boss Zuliman Arktos. He and his ring of dealers, smugglers, paid thieves and murderers was a grave spot of unrest in the city several years ago, before the Hero-Gods and the Pharaossi hunted them down. Zuliman made his escape the moment his last hideout was attacked with the help of an unknown black-skinned mage. As the teleportation took hold of him already, he swore vengeance and cursed Kelksiomedes and the leader of Pharaossi operations against him: no one else but Quercus.
- A decade ago, a young woman became known in the city for her unnatural skill in tailoring. Every noble was her customer and no one could resist the lure of her art. Everyone but the Hero-Goddess. She was picky and refused a couple of the fine clothing, not because she did not liked them, but because they were too unpractical for the military minded Goddess. Arachnia, as the woman was called, did not take this refusal lightly. She cursed the goddess and as her anger swelled, everyone who was wearing one of the fine clothes, was wrecked by fear, uncontrolled fury or - if he was sleeping - terrible nightmares. Before anyone could react, Arachnia, now revealing her true, terrible spider form, summoned a unnatural darkness and vanished from the city, never to be seen again.
- In recent years, a powerful alchemist named Juri Alexandros became know in the streets. His fame reached far for his elexiers and brews are of a rarely seen quality and potency. He was in high esteem - until a well-guided research and shadowing operation revealed him to practice the most fuel experiments and blood magic in the depths of dungeons build in secret underneath his laboratory. Kelksiomedes himself ordered the man's execution - so terrible were the sights to be seen in Juri's dungeon. But rumours have it to this day, that the executed Juri was only a clone, some wicked form of false life and not the true body of the evil alchemist...
The two of you follow a faint trace of scents down the hills, towards the sea until you reach a sharp cliffside not too far off the harbour district. The faint scent trail leaves off to the open sea and you have to stop here.
Gosor leads the way down to the port, to ask Captain Bestor and his crew whether they saw anything of interest.
As you reach the Fleeting Gull, there is a commotion.
The Captain and a couple of his man are just now returning to port in a small longboat. The sailors are wet with seawater and they lift a black-clad body to the quay which looks like it was pulled from the sea.
His black leather armour, hood and cape are all but soaked from water.
The only thing that seems out-of-the-ordinary at the moment, is a commotion at the harbour. You can see Gosor and the newcomer rush towards it just now.
Otherwise, most of the city is returning to normal daylife after the fires are quenched.
That was quite an informative morning in the bath house, Aramyros concluded. Need to forward this information to the others.
He sat in a the back corner of a small tavern were he could compile his notes and write them down without disturbance.
"Hey, boy. Come here!" he shouted to one of the servants. "Here are two silver coins. One is for you, one is for your master, because I am borrowing your services for an hour. The minotaur and member of the Pharossi Gosor Proudhoof is somewhere at the docks. I need you to bring him this letter as fast as possible. If you find Ethana Minara, you can give the letter to her, too."
Remember underworld boss Zuliman Arktos?
Kelksiomedes and Quercus took operations down a few years ago.
He swore vengengeance.
Had help of unknown black-skinned mage. Maybe same man that leshys saw this morning?
Will investigate further.
A
Aramyros went to the bathroom, changed clothes and left the tavern as Astrapios unnoticed through the back door. He decided to dig deeper in the less comfortable areas of the city and started his walk towards the shady part of Aelyosos.
From real-world examples, we know that the area not far from the harbour is usually a place where shady trades are happening as well as the more run-down establishments can be found for the newly arrived sailors to spend their coins.
Another region of shady people will usually be found a few streets off the main market area where goods of less lawful origin are to be found and purchased.
As Ktinos left with Gosor, it occurred to him that none of the Beasts had tried to attack the hero-god. Perhaps, for all their hatred, even they were cowed by the power of such a being when in his presence.
When they near the Fleeting Gull, the cat-man looks at the commotion with astonishment. "Surely we cannot be so lucky as to arrive just as our prey is fished from the water?" he rumbles incredulously.
Gosor glances at Ktinos as he speaks and then shrugs. "Perhaps, but if the betrayal happened over the water and our quarry were cast to the sea, the the seafarers here would be the ones to find him if any were. Having said that, the sea washes up many things, so let us investigate further."
Gosor raises his voice to hail the captain and announce their presence on the scene. "Captain Bestor, my friend and former commander! Gosor Proudhoof seeks permission to board the Fleeting Gull with a companion! We have news and seek information!"
Astrapios made his way to the side streets near the main market quickly. He knew the city like the back of his hands, although he usually stalks them at night. Furthermore, he wasn't sure whom he would meet during daytime.
The buildings here are very old and due to the questionable neighborhood was never renewed. The alleyw are small, the scent is awful. Astrapios decided on the Porneio, a high grade whorehouse with a large customer base, especially traveling merchants. He knows the receptionist Aella, a very discrete source of information. She can always direct him to the right girls that have the right customers.
After some discrete talks with the girls and a few gold later he left and went on to a bar frequented by smugglers. This place was apparently dark even in the middle of the day. There was no window and only a few candles. The guests looked at him with a mix of fear and aggression. Getting them to talk would require a lot more effort and cost a few drinks. His main interest was the alchemist Juri Alexandros and any rumours of his prized creations...
+++ Gosor & Ktinos +++
The old captain turns at the call, a smile quickly appearing on his face.
"Arrrh, there is my favorite Ungulate this side of a smoked Qadira hourse sausage!
How'r ya doing, old friend?
Missing the sea already, yarr?
And who's yer furry friend?"
On your questions he replies:
"This, oh this is an unlucky bastard some fishers pulled out of their nets half an hour ago.
Guess what, they told us that he simply fell from the sky!
And once they got to him, he had already drowned.
He apparently not even tried to swim.
Simply drifted face-down in the sea.
Here, come over and help us with him."
+++ Astrapios +++
You don't have nearly a pleasurable time gathering intel here, than in the bath of the noble ones before.
The talk is soo much dirtier around here, and lots of people (including the barman) glare with open hostility at your arrival.
There are several faces here, you remember to have helped getting arrested for varying illegal actions in the past. Were it not for the fact that they know your strength, you would probably not get of the bar unharmed - and even though the know you to be too strong for either one of them, you can see it in their eyes, whether they should try to overwhelm you with numbers …
You are nearly ready to leave, with not too much accomplished, as a dark-haired, white-skinned half-elf (you suspect some drow-blood running through her veins) approaches you. She is dressed in red and black silk, leaving very little to your imagination, her gaze is … transfixing and enchanting. She passes by your table, winks you and leaves upstairs, looking back over her shoulder as she takes the first few stairs upwards.
You get the sign and follow her up, to the amusement of some of the locals - their dirty laughter follows you upstairs.
The woman waits for you in a small room that seems to consist entirely of a massive bed.
After introducing herself as "Peccatia" she answers some of your questions with her beguiling voice - and then offers you to stay for some "deeper insights"…
She tells you that no one she knows - and she assures you that she knows a lot of people - ever heard more of the alchemist. But, she had spent a lovely evening a few months ago with a poor town guard who had discovered a hidden warehouse not far from Juri's laboratory filled to the roof with extracts, flacons and locked boxes - all with the sigils J-A. But before the authorities could clear out the warehouse, it was somehow emptied by a group of mysterious strangers in dark clothes and masks and the poor guard got a sleeping arrow to knee and was unable to see her for weeks!
Ktinos glowers at the corpse. Here, in front of this stranger, he does not wish to say much. Not that the minotaur is much more familiar to him, but he did at least already know the situation.
As Gosor helps haul the body onto the deck he introduces Ktinos and explains briefly the raid on Quercus's garden. "This man could be the one that we're looking for. We have reason to believe that he was betrayed after fleeing with the woman on some flying device. If she somehow paralyzed him and pushed him off the device while over the water it would probably look like what happened to this one. For now let's see what we can do to figure out what he was up to. Ktinos, can you see if his scent matches that which we were following. I know he's been in the water for a short time, but if we can get that confirmation then it'll be some evidence we're on the right track."
Gosor steps back to allow Ktinos to examine the body for any lingering scent. As he does so the Minotaur calls to the spirits that he works with for guidance and looks for any telltale signs that the man might have been a member of a demon cult, mostly out of habit.
Once Ktinos finishes his examination of the corpse, mumbles another call to his spirits to help to see anything arcane or divine, and then does a rough search of the body, looking for a silver knife in particular, or any clues that might tie the body to any organizations the taurian is aware of.
Ktinos sniffs at the corpse, trying to match the scent to the one he'd picked up in the garden... while ignoring the Chimera's urging to take a bite.
The corpse wears a blackened leather armor of remarkable quality and some protective magic woven in beneath the black cloak.
In a belt, a pair of silver daggers is secured and in several pockets of the cloak you find small glass vials with various liquids, three of which ping as magical. Some or broken others are still intact.
Turning the man over, water floods from his mouth - so unless any hidden magic or poison has killed the man, you would guess that he simply drowned.
On his back, he has a strapping that may have hold a crossbow at some point of time but the weapon is missing. Several bolts are stowed in a pocked at his hip.
A handful of coins in a leather bag and a single ring with a red stone on the right hand completes the equipment found on the man.
Getting an impression of the man's scent is difficult. Having to fight with the chimera does not exactly help either.
You would not bet your left paw on it, but it is not unlikely that this is the man you smelled earlier.
Ethana lands at the harbor as the others are examining the body.
"This our guy?" she asks, looking over the body.
"There doesn't seem to be anything else around the city, at least not obviously."
+++ Ethana +++
Cloak: non-macical (you maybe meant his leather armor? it's a simple +1 leather armor)
Potions:
- CMW, CL6
- non-magical, so something alchemistical
- invisibility, CL6
Ring: non-magical, but a closer inspection ... ... uncovers a well hidden, tiny triggering mechanism that causes a dark silhouette appear inside the red gem.
It seems to be some kind of animal. Probably an insect.
With some imagination it looks like a mantis.
You may now check against Know. Local DC25. DC20 if you are with the Pharaossi for some time already.
... a red mantis?
This is the name of an underground organisation of professional thieves, murderers, cutthroats and rogue-spellcasters.
They have been suspected to be responsible for a lot of illegal activities in the past but their professional organization is difficult to uncover...
"It seems likely that this was the one who was betrayed, yes. We should take the body with us to see if we can get if the spirit of the departed is willing to pass on any information." Turning to his friend he bows. "I thank you for your help, Captain Bestor. As always you've been a tremendous help. If I might I will call on you again when this is resolved so we can share stories of better times, but for now I must take this body for our investigation. Once the investigation is done you and your crew will have the rights to all the equipment on the corpse as salvage, but for now I will need them for evidence."
Without waiting for an answer the Taurian hoists body over his shoulder and turns to Ethana and Ktinos. "Come, let us waste no time in getting answers. We've hit upon a stroke of luck and we can't squander it."