Mission brief begins incoming tonight.
You are relaxing in the Grand Lodge when you receive notes from a fellow explorer named Ulisha. She explains that she has information concerning a millenia old Druidic item known a Silverhex, a silver, magical sickle used by Druids in the River Kingdoms many years before. She is vague on the details, but is offering to sell the item as a steep discount in exchange for some assistance.
You arrive at the meeting place, expecting to find the half orc there, but Ulisha is nowhere to be found- the innkeeper at the inn she'd directed you to waves you over and greets, you, "Are you them Pathfinders what was coming to meet Ulisha then?" he asks, "She isn't here, but she left this for you."
The package the half-orc explorer left for you contains her journal. As you scan the journal, it is steep with many leads towards where Ulisha may be, and other items that may be worth it to you, and the Pathfinder Society, to recover.
The first entry reads:
The only thing worse than working for a Galtan nobleman is working for two Galtan noblemen—in my case, Lords Tullivor and Sarvio, both of whom are happy only when the other is not. I made a tidy sum recovering their heirlooms, but when Laban Tullivor tasked me to steal a platinum chalice belonging to the Sarvios, I took my leave (and the cup), and they’ve been hounding me since. Now Laban’s deceased, and it’s rumored his mausoleum in Gralton’s cemetery harbors a treasure. I hope you’ll not balk at tomb-robbing. Remember, these are aristocrats. I say, a plague on both their houses.
From context around the entry, you can deduce a particular Gralton cemetery that Ulisha is referring to.
Before heading towards your travel arrangements, you survey the other Pathfinders who have joined you on this chase, admittedly hoping that wild geese don't end up being your quarry. . .
|
Sittomg upright in her chair, the young Chelixian woman finishes reading the journal entry and closes the book. She looks up at her fellow Pathfinders, curiosity in her eyes, but a mild disgust on her lips. "I don't know this Ulisha by anything but reputation, but it seems rather rude to summon us here, only to flit away and have use chase after like a bunch of love-drunk boys. And through a cemetery, nonetheless." She straightens out her traveling dress, watching bit of dust come loose. A small smile spreads across her petite features, her oddly-colored red eyes seem to pulse with light briefly. "I am interested in what all the fuss is about, though. Who doesn't love a little treasure hunting."
"How rude of me," the woman declare, standing smoothly from her chair and gives a slight curtsy. "My name is Zera Vieth. I recently joined the Pathfinders to help in guiding my disgraced family name back into some semblance of light."
"This particular task, though," she continues on after only a brief pause, "is probably best left to those more willing to get their hands dirty. I will be sending... a friend... in my place. It wouldn't do for a lady of a noble house to be seen traipsing through a graveyard, after all."
|
"What did you expect?" a horned man says from the shadowy corner. "She just wants to use us, same as we use each other." He scowls as he leans on his staff. "You can call me Torku. I'll keep undead in mind during my preparations today - best you all do the same. Most likely inhabitants of a graveyard after all."
|
|
"So quick to discount worms," croaks a crow-like tengu in response. He is enshrouded in a ratty brown cloak. "If that was the case, cremation would be on the rise. And understandably so."
He gives as what seems to be his best at a chuckle. "But that isn't important. I am Davor, humble Iroran and fellow Pathfinder. In the pursuit of knowledge, I suppose even this sort of task must be done by someone."
|
The young and good looking Chelaxian man enters into the room. He is dressed in crimson and gold with a bastard sword on his hip and a shield on his back. A holy symbol is proudly displayed on his chest. The symbol depicts a red wing with a bastard sword on it.
I am Festivus Hispanicus, follower of the General of Vengeance. I am here to help in ways that I can, by bringing justice to those who are in need of it. he says with a bow to Zera
My lady he states.
You undertake your travel and arrive in Gralton. . .
When you head to the cemetery, you notice that the gate is ajar. . .
As you approach the Tullivor Mausoleum (area A2), they notice
a human form slumped over a small marble pedestal. . .
|
|
Before arriving at Gralton, Zera finds a secluded area out of eye- and ear- shot of anyone that happens to travel nearby. "Time to go to work, it seems," she says with a smile of anticipation.
The transformation takes only 30 seconds, but within the dark fires of the lower hells that engulf her, she changes from nearly human to a full-fledged tiefling woman. She has crimson-red skin and dark hair, protruding horns emerge from her head. Garbed in armor with a curved dagger at her hip, rather than a gown and jewelry. Shortly after, she emerges from her hiding place and travels the rest of the way to meet her companions, hoping to arrive before them. After all, she still appreciates a grand entrance.
When the others arrive, she is looking over the human body, seeing if there is any life left, or at least how it was killed. "Glad you could make it," she says to the first person who arrives. She doesn't look up from her examination immediately, but after a moment she stands. "I am known as Obsidian Rose, but Rose will do. Lady Zera sent me to help you here. I arrived and found this person here."
The body is that of a young human male dressed in a noble’s outfit with his hands bound with rope. The dead man is wearing a belt buckle with a badger on it, and he somewhat resembles the bust. When you move the body it reveals a bust of Laban Tullivor atop the pedestal.
A magic mouth on the pedestal speaks, “When the last sun falls upon this spot, receive my thanks”
Zera, you can tell from examining the body that he was stabbed with a short sword and has scratches on his face.
|
|
"A cruel person who boasted of treasure, a trap to guard it, and a bypass mechanism," Torku muses. "Both his boast and this bust mention 'thanks', whatever that means. Perhaps the 'last sun' it speaks of was misunderstood as 'last son', which is how this poor sop ended up dead here." He shakes his head. "Fool."
|
|
"Perhaps the 'last sun' it speaks of was misunderstood as 'last son', which is how this poor sop ended up dead here."
Rose looks up at Torku inquisitively, "As corny as it sounds, that makes some amount of sense, if in a morbid kind of way."
She takes a closer look around the bust, seeing if there is anything hidden that may help them further.
She also tries to glean whatever information she can about the Tulliver House.
Davor- you do not see any magical auras in the immediate vicinity.
Festivus- no evil auras either.
Zera- you know that the Tullivor and Sarvio families were rivals in Galt before they were exiled and fled to Gralton, but not much else, or nothing else that seems currently relevant.
This baroque marble tomb clamors for attention like a gaudy flag
waving for a once noble house. Its most audacious feature is a
sculpted badger that looms, gargoyle-like, above the door. The iron
door is decorated not only with the Tullivor name and crest, but
also with an elaborate arcane rune.
The door is locked.
Knocking appears to have no effect. There is a lock that could be picked, but it seems likely to be difficult.
Torku: As you look around, the line to the sunlight at twilight seems to be blocked by a spire on another mausoleum- one at the area marked A3. . .
You are seeing mild abjuration and evocation auras- upon examination, it's clear that this is a trap that will go off if you attempt to break down or attack the door.
|
|
"If this way is blocked, perhaps exploring elsewhere would be more profitable than beating our heads against the door," Torku suggests. "That building over there - the spire would likely cast a shadow here at twilight. If nothing else, we can be at this spot when that happens. In the meantime, that building might hold the key we're seeking."
If nobody objects, Torku sets off to investigate the other building .
This alabaster tomb evokes a past age of Galtan architecture, including a ten-foot spire atop a broad dome. Its awnings teem with sculpted white raptors. An iron gate bears the motto, “Last to Fall.”
The woman steps out from the shadows, "Hail, strangers! I was here visiting my family's crypt, but I am done now. I was startled to see others come here- this place is usually deserted!"
She mounts her horse as she finishes talking.
Zera- this tomb belongs to House Sarvio, who motto is "last to fall".
Zera- you can tell that she is lying
Festivus- she definitely has evil intent.
“I was here, praying at my own family’s tomb. I believe I heard something unpleasant just as you showed up.”
|
|
Rose looks to the others and gives a perceptible shake of her head as she maneuvers around the woman, trying to cut off any attempt at escape. "You believe you heard?" she responds to the woman, a clear note of disbelief mixed with a bit of cynicism in her voice. "I think you had best tell us the truth, miss. What reason would you have to lie, unless you are involved more than you admit."
As she speaks, Rose slips the dagger out of it's sheath and holds it in a reverse grip.
"Or. . ." she furrows her brow and responds, “Perhaps I saw Northis slaughtered by a pack of tomb raiders, dressed identically to yourselves. The testimony of a Sarvio would outrank your version of events.”
She lightens up and tries to change tact again, “The Tullivor mausoleum contains an object rightly belonging to us. If you help me retrieve it, you may earn the Sarvios’ gratitude.”
|
|
"Tomb raiders dressed identically to ourselves," Torku repeats. "That would prove difficult to convince anyone of, given that none of us are carrying a short sword such as the one hanging from your hip, and none of us are accompanied by a hawk such as the one above you, and that the dead man has slashes and scratches from such tools." He snorts. "If you seek to intimidate us, I might point out that there are five of us and one of you. But I'm glad to see the Sarvio honor is just as peerless as ever." He gestures with his sap at the gates of the mausoleum. "The exit is that way."
|
|
Rose grins at Torku, then turns that grin to the woman. "I don't care for needless bloodshed, but I am always willing to make an exception to see justice done... even for the not-so-noble." As she makes her threat, she emphasizes her point by summoning a dark, violet, unnatural-looking flame around her right hand.
You see her reach to draw her own sword, determined to fight rather than surrender!
Round 1
Turn Order:
1 & 2. Zera and Torku 22
3. Eroandel 16
4. Festivus 16
5. Rhiannon (bad guy) 15
6. Davor 9
7. Hawk 9
|
|
Rose grins at the prospect of action, though inside she feels more than a little sorrow. [i]"Why is it that the noble always take the road of the fool? Why do they so callously through away that which is supposed to make them noble?"[/b]
She takes a step back to get a bit of distance, dagger in her left hand to deflect attacks, hellfire blazing in her right. She sends a bolt of fire hurtling towards the young Sarvios.
Round 1
Zera's mystic fire strikes the noblewoman, and Torku's sap as well!
His roar demoralizes her!
She slashes back at Torku with her blade-
Turn Order:
1 & 2. Zera and Torku 22
3. Eroandel 16
4. Festivus 16
5. Rhiannon (bad guy) 15
6. Davor 9
7. Hawk 9
Rhiannon- 7 damage +8 nonlethal, demoralized