"Well done, team! amazing teamwork!" says Esmaralda, shaking everyone's hand with excitement.
Henric is taken a little by surprise at Esmaralda's suddenly boisterous mien, but shakes the woman's hand anyways.
Once the others have found the invisible chest, Henric steps forward,
"Let me see if I can reveal it's secrets without destruction."
He places his hand on the lid of the invisible chest and uses his Object Reading ability.
Henric sees a wizard closing the lid of the chest, locking it, and then putting the key in his robes. He then takes the chest, sets in this room (it looks much more intact and clean, with some furniture), then casts a spell over the chest to render it invisible. It appears that whoever placed this chest here intended to come back for it, but never did.
After about a minute, Henric just shakes his head. "No trigger word or anything. But whoever cast the spell must have been powerful for it to last this long."
He moves out of the way to let Kiley go to work.
Esmaralda backs away quickly upon hearing Henric's object reading. "If this person was powerful, perhaps we shouldn't take a knife to it and wait until we find the key..."
Esmaralda backs away quickly upon hearing Henric's object reading. "If this person was powerful, perhaps we shouldn't take a knife to it and wait until we find the key..."
"Okay," Kiley says before putting the knife away and wrapping the chest in a blanket. Once it's outline is better seen, she straps it to her pack.
"A-are we gonna f-f-fight the ghost?"
"A ghost?!" yelps Esmaralda. "I'm not equipped to take on a g-ghost!!"
With the invisible chest secured, the party begins the trek back to town. You arrive at the ferry shortly before dusk, and Hallen crosses the river to pick you up, since she was about to head back to town, as well. An hour later, as the sun is setting, you arrive in Roderic's Cove. Audrahni, who has apparently been waiting for you, sees you coming and runs up to you. "Did you find what Sir Roderic's ghost asked you to find?"
"I believe we did! not without some major troubles along the way though... oh, I'm so glad to see you again!" replies Esmaralda, giving her a hug.
Tellanya looks at Audrahni blankly, ”hello, Audrahni, we met today, it was nice to meet you.” She extends her hand in a friendly manner, ”we found many things that the ghost will find pleasing but I am not supposed to know what the ghost said.” She cocks her head as if listening, ”at least I don’t think I was there.”
Cam tosses a casual salute. ”Howdy. Think we got what we were lookin’ for. Most notable of the bunch we got is some fancy gauntlet thing and an invisible chest.”
"Hello, hope things have been okay while we were away."
Audrahni hugs Esmaralda back and says, "Good. Perhaps you can go speak to Sir Roderic and find out more about what will bring him peace. You may find it prudent to rest for the night from your journey, but I would beseech you not to delay beyond tomorrow morning to speak with him."
"I will heed to your wisdom and wait for the morn. This last journey has been quite transformative for some of us... Patience is a small price to pay in exchange for the comfort of a proper bed tonight."
You all turn in for the night, which passes uneventfully.
The next morning, you awaken, eat breakfast, and head back to Roderic's Wreck. As you approach the house those of you who haven't seen it before notice that the house slumps visibly towards the water, with one corner edging dangerously into the water. Boards have warped and popped free from their nails, and the front door hangs ajar.
Tellanya rests peacefully, seemingly oblivious to any negative dreams. When everyone is preparing to rest, she seems to focus, and tells a few stories of the Shoanti. If there is any indication that she has a tale to tell of the drow, it isn't apparent, but the tales of the Shoanti seem to be earnestly held creation myths and parables which describe how clever animals outwit oafish ones.
*********
When they approach the house, Tellanya is obviously very excited. As they had gotten ready, she peppered those who had met Roderick before with questions about how they interact with a ghost, what he's like, where he goes when he isn't manifested. When the answers aren't really forthcoming, she seems a little disappointed, but it's clear she's ready to ask the ghost herself when the time comes.
Kiley swallows as they approach the decaying home of Sir Roderick. It takes every ounce of her self control and determination to no turn and run screaming.
Not that Maximus the donkey is going to let her. The stubborn ass headbutts her in the back and sends her stumbling a few steps forward to draw even with Tellanya.
"W-w-we aren't g-g-g-gonna make him m-m-mad b-b-by c-coming, are we?"
After barely touching her supper, Kiley excuses herself and leaves the table. After Esmaralda turns in for the night, she hears a soft knock at her door. Beyond it stands Kiley, looking smaller than ever in her too large night clothes.
"Can I come in, please?"
She shrinks under the other woman's gaze, but she manages to look Esmaralda in the eyes at least.
"How can I help, Kiley?" replies Esmaralda, sorting out a pile of paper with the help of Sunshine. "Sunshine, could you please continue without my help? put these reports in alphabetical order please. Yes, that's right. Like the song, "A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F", "G", and so on. Thank you little buddy!"
She then rises to turn her chair, and offers for Kiley to sit on the chair that's just inside the room next to the door.
When they arrive back to Roderick's Cove, Henric can't help but smile at the sight of Audrahni. He thinks to approach her, but is immediately dissuaded as she and Esmaralda embrace and converse. Instead, he just nods his head at getting some rest before their meeting with the ghostly founder and heads towards his room at the inn.
--------------------------------------
The next morning, standing before the Wreck, he is immediately assaulted by the memories of their first time here, and is more than willing to fill the others in on the details.
Otherwise, he straightens up the collar of his duster and grips his staff before saying, "Guess there's no time like the present", before heading into the leaning house.
Camellia sleeps well the night before. This whole new endeavor certainly feels exciting, even if she’s still not quite sure of what the endgame of it will look like. She sleeps in her armor, as always. You would think it would feel uncomfortable, but she would liken it more to a warm embrace. Ira always ran a little hot.
”That’s quite a house. One bad tide and a rainstorm away from being a houseboat.” She glances to the others. ”Need me to go in first? Or this a bit more casual of a visit?”
With Camellia in the lead, the party walks back into the house. The floorboards creak beneath them, but no stirges appear this time to suck the blood from the group. Remembering that they encountered Sir Roderic upstairs, they return to the master bedroom, looking about.
After a few moments, the ghostly shape of a drowned man appears before them. Looking at them, the ghost says, "You have returned. Did you find my map? Did you find the stone house?"
"We found the stone house, but I am not sure about a map. Would you describe it please?"
Kiley follows along, jumping at every little creak and groan the house emits. When Sir Roderick appears before them, she lets out a squeak and shuffles behind Henric in a vain effort to hide.
[url=https://paizo.com/campaigns/v5748p75ivk88/gameplay&page=26#1263'Link to the start of the scene that Kiley's referring to if you need a refresher.[/url]
Kiley comes in, rubbing her arm as she looks to the chair. She hesitates and it's clear from her posture something is eating her up.
"I... I don't know how to start. I just... I shouldn't have been such a jerk to your earlier," she says. She still doesn't meet Esmaralda's eyes.
Esmaralda appears confused for a few seconds, then nods in remembrance. "Ah, that! Do not fret over that! Making group plans always involve reaching a consensus. Opinions must first be aired out and positions must be demonstrated before a plan can even take place. I have not taken anything you said personally, and I am hopeful I have not made personal comments in regards to you. Criticizing my approach was fair game. It could have gotten us killed if these men would have been more dangerous or ruthless. I fully understood the risk involved with charm magic, and it is mostly a risk unto our persons, but in general, it is better for most folk the next morning than... well... being cut in half. That... method tends to be... irreversible. Do not worry though: I have studied long enough to differentiate most sentient humanoids from thoughtless, always hungry monsters: I will not try to talk down a bulette!"
Tellanya simply waits as the others speak with the ghost. She seems to be watching the interaction curiously.
Henric is startled by the appearance of Sir Roderick's spirit, but tries his best to hide it, for Kiley's sake, if not his own.
"Yes sir," he replies. "We found your map, and the stone house, as well as some interesting contents inside. But why? What does this all mean?"
"P-p-p-please don't antagonize the g-g-ghost." Kiley cowers behind Henric and hopes her voice is soft enough to avoid drawing Sir Roderick's attention.
Cam taps the side of her helmet.
Stop that.
”Trying to get your attention, Ira. Thought maybe you’d be able to have heart-to-heart with the nice ghost, seeing as you two seem to have similar circumstances.”
I don’t do the talky stuff. ‘sides, he looks like some sad stiff. I used to punch guys like that just to get ‘em to stop looking mopey. I could try punchin’ him if you like?”
”’spose I’ll pass then.”
"Did you find the vault? Did you enter it? I should have taken the gauntlets, but I fled. I was a coward. Baraket. It will consume them! It will consume you! The gauntlets? Have you the gauntlets!?"
The ghost seems agitated and possibly a little confused.
Esmeralda shows the ghost the gauntlets they found, presenting them with deference and respect.
Sir Roderic looks at the gauntlets with sorrow. "Would that I had the courage to take them, but the flames were too great. Baraket. Once it lay in a case in my study, but the woman found it. The woman with the skirt of blue and green feathers, like that of the strutting bird. She knows not what evil lies within it. She knows not what it does to her. Find it! Find the danger to my Cove, and be gone with it!" Sir Roderic then fades from sight, disappearing.
It sounds like the feathers and strutting bird he's referring to are peacock feathers, which are quite popular with the Order of Resplendence.
Tellanya watches, and raises her finger as if to ask a question, but then Sir Roderic disappears. "That was very interesting!"
She thinks for a moment, "I remembered that the feathers which Sir Roderick is thinking about are peacock feathers, and I pointed out to everyone that said feathers are quite popular with the Order of Resplendence."
Esme nods at Tellanya's conclusion, then Sunshine asks "Baraket? What was that?"
Baraket is also known as the Sword of Pride. Said to have been forged by the Runelord Xanderghul himself, it is a basket-hilted rapier with an invisible blade, causing it to appear to be broken. It is reputed to have several other properties, such as allowing it's user to strike quickly and having the ability to cast spells. The weapon is even rumored to be intelligent.
Tellanya doesn't know what Baraket is, but even with her slightly broken mind, she does remember something, "this word, this - 'Baraket'" She puts her finger on her chin, "we heard it before. I think that Camellia will have had a good insight, yes?. Or we will hear of it after the past. Have any of you heard of it at all"?
She closes her eyes and focuses, "the spirits - we must be mindful of the past - and we must concentrate to gain understanding"
She opens her eyes, and they've changed color slightly, or at least the left one has, turning blue for a moment. She has grown grave, and speaks through clenched teeth "I believe that the spirits are guiding us. We need to find Baraket. It is important. Such a thing - the Order of Resplendance has taken it."
She closes her eyes, and the opens them again, the color having reverted. "Can someone remind me where we went to start looking?" She looks embarassed.
"I-if we looking for the Order, then we should p-p-probably start with Peacock Manor," Kiley stammers from where she hides behind Henric.