PbP Gameday - #6-10 Wounded Wisp - GM NOWRUZ (Inactive)

Game Master noral

know religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6might be a longshot, but can't hurt to try...

No...not a blessed thing,m unfortunately...

Some of the details left behind by Selmius Foster help lead you more specifically to the burial site of Arkath in a graveyard adjoining a mid-sized church. The gate to this small necropolis lies open, and a single attendant patrols the grounds, though he hasn't seen you yet. You know that the Stonemason's tomb lies somewhere in this graveyard, but not specifically which mausoleum, yet.

Is there a chance to rest and recover some of the STR damage Nonalwe took, or is this all the same day?

Same day I'm afraid

Enter the church to see if there is a publicly available ledger which points to the location of Arkath's tomb.

The church is currently locked up tight. Though you could break in or ask the groundskeeper...

Koruda waits for someone less "scary" looking to talk to the groundskeeper.

Gali sends his familiar, a hawk called Bloodwing, into the air to look for the groundskeeper, but also on the chance of spotting any obvious giveaways providing the location of the tomb.

Using Bloodwing's perception:

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

The groundskeeper is far from hidden and is easily found, unfortunately, Bloodwing is unable to quickly spy any signs from the air...

Nonalwe finds the groundskeeper. "We're trying to find a specific tomb; can you help? 'Arkath' is the name we're looking for."

The graveyard's warden greets you with a slow, deliberate nod. "Greetings child. I would be happy to lead you to the tomb of your... loved one?"

As he inquires, he begins a slow meandering path towards one of the mausoleums at the edge of the yard.

"Let's call it a friend of the (extended) family."

Gali eyes the groundskeeper as he follows him, just to make sure he looks like a groundskeeper.

"Have you worked these grounds long? I mean, you would know if there was anything untoward happening around here, yes?"

Go ahead and toss a Sense Motive check, or a Knowledge (religion) check if you're feeling suspicious ;-)

"Hmmm... long by some standards, I suppose. Haven't seen anything that I'd consider untoward, either." He peers curiously at your rather eclectic group.

"Why exactly is it that you need to see this Arkath's tomb?"

As he's continued the walk he's brought you to the front of a mausoleum which in fine carving bears the name of Arkath...

know religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

"It'd bore you. We're... ahh... enthusiasts from a local... ahh... historical society." Nonalwe, barely used to a city like Absalom, has to dig in her mind for just the terms to use to support this bluff. That was awkward... She looks to the other Pathfinders for aid with that fumbling bluff.

Bluff: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Ah, I see, we want to make sure he doesn't follow our path" Wesley winks as he mumbles this to Koruda.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"We're solving a mystery. Looking for clues. Clues in tomb."

"What they said."

The groundskeeper's face slowly drops, "I'm sorry, I fail to see why historical enthusiasm in this case means grave robbing should be acceptable or...

"Oh by the First Vault, are you Pathfinders?!"

He sighs heavily, toying with a large key. "How certain are you that you really need to see this tomb?"

Carlin, between the priest's symbol and oath, you recognize him as a servant of Abadar, god of cities, law, merchants, and wealth. He's likely to have at least some kind of transactional nature to earning his favor.

Koruda, you get the sense that he's not entirely opposed to allowing you to search, but he hasn't heard a sufficiently good reason yet.

My good man, I see we need to have a show if good faith. What could we do for you? One good deed deserves to be returned....or repaid, as it were. A donation to the church in your name perhaps? Carlin says, reaching for her coinpurse.

"A donation should do quite nicely. Say 20 crowns?"

Y'all good to cough up the cash? Or planning on convincing him through other means?

Ahh...another post got eaten....darn web goblins...

Carlin digs into her pouch and fishes out a handful of gold coins.

Sounds like a fair deal, sir. You have a good day.

Nonalwe fishes some coin from her purse 3.5 gp and hands it to Carlin. "Here, that should cover my share."

The priest counts the coins and carefully records them on a scrap of parchment.

"Please follow me."

He unlocks the mausoleum and leads you into an ornately carved, but mostly empty room, containing only a gorgeous sarcophagus.

"I assume you will want to examine the body?"

With your help he gingerly slides the stone lid off, revealing nought but the stonemason's long-dead skeleton - and something silvery glinting from within its mouth, a small, silver coin.

Gali examines the coin, by *looking* with his eyes only.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

We will treat the body with respect, worry not. the priestess says, holding up her hand and concentrating on the room with her divine sight.

cast detect magic

Nonalwe also casts detect magic, focusing her attention on the coin.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Spellcraft, elven magic: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 = 23 if the coin radiates magic

"See, no skin, had his face burned clean off," Wesley says confidently.

He takes a look around the tomb.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

The coin does have a faint aura of divination. Nonalwe recognizes it as a Pathfinder's Coin.

It's a fairly simple magical item that can be used to store a short message or repeat it in the speaker's voice. But it can only be used in conjunction with a wayfinder...

"Ahhh... they told me about these when I got my wayfinder. It may have a message we could learn." Nonalwe brings out her wayfinder and attempts to activate the coin.

Hopefully it isn't coded or in a foreign language...

Agreed. At least someone had a wayfinder to be able to retrieve the message.

Koruda watches as the coin is inserted...

In a rough deep voice the coin repeats, "The path and chamber are complete, hidden behind the nameplate of the requested aspirant and guarded by the word you requested. Fimbrik will add more."

The temple's watchman looks at you all with eyebrows quirked. "Well, this is a good deal more interesting than I would have expected a sanctioned tomb examination to be."

Sooo...?
Rereading the handouts might provide you with some additional information on other leads to run down.

[b]Well, it's something we can follow up on. Let's go...[/b[ Carlin says, scribbling down the information while it is fresh in her head.

Gali looks around the tomb for nameplates.

Gali doesn't see any nameplates in here, but it's possible that an 'Aspirant' might refer to something more specific...

Where are you planning on heading Carlin?

"Ah, Fimbrik, we've seen that name before. A scurrilous little gnome known at the arcanrium. We should head there." He paused a second, "And after that, we should head back to the grand lodge and investigate these false names that Elysia has added to our Wall of the Fallen."

"Truly, my greatest muscle is my brain. I'm smarter than any three men passing on the street."

ah fudge...my edit didn't take...heading to the Wall of the Fallen...

We've got a vote for the Wall and a vote for the Arcanimirium, and a GM vote for not splitting the party! (Though you can if you reaaallly want to.) Anyone care to break the tie?

Gali nods and says, "Let's check out the Arcanimirium."

I vote for the Arcanimirium also.

Fimbrik's address at the Arcanamirium is recorded in Selmius's notes, so it's a pretty simple matter of finding the place.

His house is a relatively sizable one located on the Arcanamirium's campus. A lovely brick step leads to the front door, which is visibly secured with a rusty lock. Numerous stacks of newspapers—roughly 2 years’ worth of monthly copies—are piled around the door and crammed into a thin slot at its base. There doesn't appear to be a back entrance, but there are large windows around the house...

What do you do?

Gali tries to break the rusty lock, using his quarterstaff as leverage.

Strength: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

If that fails, he steps aside for someone else to try, and wanders by a window to see if one is conveniently unlocked.

Seeing Gali step up to try to break the lock, Nonalwe steps up to the door. "Whoa! Why don't we knock first? I know it looks abandoned... but best to be sure. Maybe he's just a recluse." She knocks, loudly, and waits for someone to come. Spoiler opened When nobody comes, she motions for Gali to proceed.

When the wizard fails to open the lock, she joins him at an exterior window, peering inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Peering through one of the windows, Gali and Nonalwe see a cozy little study. It contains a round table surrounded by chairs, and the walls are replete with tome-laden bookshelves. An elderly gnome in eclectic clothing is currently perusing the collection.

He doesn't appear to have noticed you yet.

I can try and work the lock so that it opens, but since someones home it might get a little awkward. Maybe just try knocking harder on the door?

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Remember, we knocked first and when no one answer found the door unlocked and opened the door to see if anyone was home and alright.

Nonalwe taps on the glass, trying to get the gnome's attention.