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Ratesh holds his electrified blade toward the goblin prisoner.
Now for you, we were recently in an abandoned house that appeared to have been raided by your tribe, and some trinkets were taken off the walls with chickens left in their place. You're going to tell us about them and where they got off to...
"Um? Do you know if he speaks the common tongue?"
The goblin fearfully eyes Ratesh's sword. "Yeah, yeah, Scorchfeathers leave birds in longshanks houses, all da time! But Gudbum don't get trickets, only big fancy URGLE get trinkets! He say because he ride bird, he get trinkets, or bird eat us! But hah, Urgle got zapped one time an' one time again, and fall down go boom! Hahaha..." the goblin laughs and glances around as he tells his humorous story, then suddenly remembers he's a prisoner and not among buddies.
"Urgle has trinkets, you take, all for you," he magnanimously finishes. "All for you. take. And then we be friends, you let Gudbum go, he go far away, no fight no more. Nice longshanks, nice Gudbum!"
Speaking of loot, aside from some fairly nice (for goblins) horsechoppers and short bows, you find a the vulture pilot has several intact potion bottles. Quick sniffs indicate a potion of barkskin and a potion of cure light wounds. He also has 2 vials of acid, 2 alchemist's fire, and a tanglefoot bag. Tucked into the saddle is what appears to be a long, burned stick with many scorched feathers tied to it. As you retrieve it, the outer coating of ash rubs off on your hand, revealing a solid wooden rod about an inch thick and inlaid with fine silver script.
The rod is a hellfire rod, and its command word is a strange syllable in Infernal. It almost appears to be part of a longer word, and at first you are slightly unsure of the pronunciation.
(This unique item is on the Chronicle sheet.)
Aura faint conjuration; CL 9th
Slot none; Price 6,480 gp; Weight 5 lbs.
This black rod inlaid with silver Infernal script curves slightly, resembling an unstrung bow. Once per day, the wielder of a hellfire rod can speak the command word to create an arrow of burning fire. Treat this as a ranged touch attack identical to the acid arrow spell, except the damage is fire instead of acid.
After a brief rest, you return to meet with Venture-Captain Brackett in Elider. "It's confirmed... the Irricas' "savage angel" was a devil. An erinyes, by the sounds of it. Somehow, they got ahold of the creature's true name, and that's how they were able to stand up to House Thrune. Given the partial will you found, and in speaking to the lady in the portrait you recovered, the erinyes' true name is encoded in four objects left to family members. This rod's command word is one part of the name. But, it's not as easy as just collecting them items... of course." Brackett sighs and hands over several letters.
"According to the will I found, a strange locket was bequeathed to a distant cousin, a woman named Delara Adnen. She is a former Druman Blackjacket mercenary who lives in the town of Valten. You'll need to go there and obtain, or at least examine, the locket."
Brackett eyes you sternly before continuing. "Please refrain from more... questionable methods. The last thing the Pathfinders need is to annoy someone so well-connected."
"I've also learned that the family patriarch, Rutillo, didn't die at the manor house you investigated - he was killed bringing a convoy of supplies to the estate by a band of hobgoblins. Apparently, Rutillo always carried the Irricas' symbol of leadership, a cold iron mace. We think that's another item that carries part of the erinyes' true name. I think there's a fourth item, but I don't know what it is, yet."
"Isgeri historians interviewed survivors of Rutillo's caravan in the town of Umok. I was able to uncover information from Eagle Knight records that indicates the Eagle Knights scattered these hobgoblins but did not recover the family heirloom. If it wasn't recovered by the Eagle Knights, then the hobgoblins still have it. Start in Umok, see who you can find who interviewed the survivors, and track down the hobs. "
Brackett hands over the papers and research he's uncovered (which basically cover the info above). "There's one more thing. Per the family lineage described in the will, there is one Irrica whose fate is unaccounted for. They may still be alive. I shall be looking into this. So be careful."
So, you can go to Druma and try to find the locket, or to the gnome town of Umok on the north edge of the Chitterwood to try and track down the hobgoblins who ahve the mace.
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The rod is a hellfire rod, and its command word is a strange syllable in Infernal. It almost appears to be part of a longer word, and at first you are slightly unsure of the pronunciation.
(This unique item is on the Chronicle sheet.)
Natula licks her lips in anticipation.
After a brief rest, you return to meet with Venture-Captain Brackett in Elider. "It's confirmed... the Irricas' "savage angel" was a devil. An erinyes, by the sounds of it. Somehow, they got ahold of the creature's true name, and that's how they were able to stand up to House Thrune. Given the partial will you found, and in speaking to the lady in the portrait you recovered, the erinyes' true name is encoded in four objects left to family members. This rod's command word is one part of the name. But, it's not as easy as just collecting them items... of course." Brackett sighs and hands over several letters.
"According to the will I found, a strange locket was bequeathed to a distant cousin, a woman named Delara Adnen. She is a former Druman Blackjacket mercenary who lives in the town of Valten. You'll need to go there and obtain, or at least examine, the locket."
Brackett eyes you sternly before continuing. "Please refrain from more... questionable methods. The last thing the Pathfinders need is to annoy someone so well-connected."
"Gotcha." No witnesses.
Your travels to Valten near the Druman border are without incident. Valten is a small but bustling town, and locating Delara’s estate is easy enough. Past the houses and shops clustered at the town’s center, a large mansion stands on a hill overlooking the river. A wrought-iron fence encircles the beautifully maintained grounds of the estate, its gate standing open and adorned by a family crest.
A knock on the door summons the butler, who asks your business before ushering you in to an elegantly-decorated parlor. You wait only a few minutes, admiring the Chelish artwork adorning the walls.
The door opens and a muscular, middle-aged woman with graying hair strides in. She regards you thoughtfully before speaking.
“Good day. I am Delara Adnen. My butler informs me you all wish to see me, though he neglected to give your names. Have a seat, and we can discuss your business.” She sits in a comfortable embroidered armchair, though you notice a few things that belay her noble appearance. She sits lightly, as if ready to spring up at a moment's notice, and she places herself near the door but facing it, with her back to the wall.
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Junko smiles and bows before taking a seat in the closest chair. Once everyone is settled, she leans forward to introduce herself.
"Thank you for welcoming us into your home, Lady Adnen. My name is Junko Kataribe, and my companions and I are agents of the Pathfinder Society. We're searching for an item of some historical significance, and our investigation so far has led us to a locket we believe was bequeathed to you by a distant cousin of yours. We think it may contain a clue to the next step in our investigation, so we wished to ask you for the opportunity to examine it."
"If that is agreeable to you, you will have not only the thanks of myself, my companions, and the Society, but you'll have played an important role in improving our understanding of the Goblinblood Wars."
Kalas remains quiet as well, hanging from the inside of Natula's short cape.
Delara greets each of you, and motions to you to ahve a seat. She rings a bell for refreshments, and makes small talk until the food arrives. She seems interested in the Blakros Msueum, having heard of some of its more... unconventional exhibits.
A servant enters, and sets a cup of tea and a plate of confections in front of each PC before departing, after which Delara moves to the point of your meeting. "I always find business is best conducted on a full stomach, don't you?"
"Now, this locket. Interesting you should mention that. I've never understood why my cousin willed it to me, as we weren't especially close." She taps her finger thoughtfully on the chair. "And you believe it contains a clue to your investigation? What exactly are you investigating, might I ask?"
"Indeed, my dear. You know, I think the idea of an interactive museum might have possibilities..."
"Indeed, Ratesh, I completely agree. And yet, you came to visit me, and you still claim to be unprepared? If that is true, your investigation must involve some sense of urgency. Just what was my cousin involved in, I wonder, if her hand-me-down locket drives Pathfinders to such haste?"
"Of course. And I see that you aren't interested in sharing any details of your investigation. Very well." She stands abruptly and rings the hand bell again. "Jabez will show you to the hall, where you can wait while I see if I can locate the item you've expressed interest in." She turns on her heel and marches out of the room, past the butler who slides out of her way in surprise.
As he motions you to the doorway, he whispers, "That didn't take look. Most folks at least get through the cookies without upsetting her..."
After a lengthy wait, Delara returns with a small box. "Here is the locket. Please try not to damage it." She hands it over to you and stands watching.
The locket is of silver, shaped like a heart and on a fine chain. It has a clasp which allows it to be opened, although the clasp is tarnished and doesn't look to have been opened anytime recently.
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Junko leans forward with an excited expression. "I believe it's a cache of legal documents, genealogical records, and things of that nature. As you probably know, many of those records were destroyed, lost, or looted by goblins during the fighting, and so we've got quite a gap in the historical record."
Delara seems assuaged by Junko's admission of your mission, and visibly relaxes.
"Well, interesting as that may be, I can't add anything to the story. As I said, I wasn't close with my cousin. She died quite young, of a broken heart, after her fiance killed himself. Quite the scandal, frankly. He was a cousin on my mother's side, and coincidentally I inherited some of his effects as well. I sold them, though.There's something wrong about wearing jewelry from a man who took his own life."
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Junko scratches her head, puzzled, and says to Ratesh, "Wouldn't hurt, though I don't think someone would go through all the trouble of putting a death curse into some jewelry and then willing it to a distant cousin. It could be magic to preserve something inside of the locket itself from degradation, though. What do you think, Natula?"
She listens to Delara politely, and responds, "I don't blame you, it's the sort of thing that could make anyone uncomfortable. Do you remember who you sold them to?"
"Actually, I do, since it was just the other day. I disposed of a bunch of old jewelry I never wear the other day, to a merchant caravan that just came through Valten. I think they'r still in town, or perhaps they were leaving yesterday...?"
As you attempt to open the locket, the clasp seems to melt into the metal of the locket's edge, sealing tight. On the polished outer shell, you can see the apparent reflection of a ghostly young woman, dressed in a nightgown.
“Please, do not disturb my locket. It is precious to me, and I would like to keep the memories within to myself. Who are you, strangers? Have you come to bring me peace at last?”
In the silence that follows, Delara mutters, "Well, that's unexpected..."
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Exasperated that another portion of their quarry might be getting away because of a lot nattering, and an insubstantial waif she probably can't even fireball properly, Natula stops and looks through the ghost at the locket before looking at the ghost herself.
"Why is it women never die in their day wear?" she growls.
The translucent girl weeps, and replies to Juxian's query. "I am Althea Irrica. My fiance died in the goblin attack on my uncle's caravan... "
Delara whispers, "Althea owned the locket. She was found dead in her room just after her finance's death... they say she killed herself in grief."
The spirit continues to address Juxian. "I believe I could move on, if I could just feel his presence one last time. Fetch my engagement ring, it should be with my other jewelry on the night stand. Touch it to the locket, and I should be released."
It seems clear that the spirit doesn't really know where it is, and assumes it is still in her original bedroom. Delara looks at you and mouths, "I sold it..."
Althea's spirit continues to weep, asking over and over for her engagement ring.
Delara takes Natula aside and speaks in a low voice. "I sold that ring and all the other Irrica jewelry to the caravan I told you of." She scribbles a few lines of text onto a notepad and etars the sheet off. "If you catch them, give them this. I've instructed the caravan master to give you the ring and to deduct it from the value of my account." She hands Nutala the note. "If you can make this right for my cousin, I'll be grateful."
She gives them a note that instructs the merchants to give the bearers the ring and deduct the ring’s value from her account.
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The translucent girl weeps, and replies to Juxian's query. "I am Althea Irrica. My fiance died in the goblin attack on my uncle's caravan... "
Delara whispers, "Althea owned the locket. She was found dead in her room just after her finance's death... they say she killed herself in grief."
Natula rolls her eyes as if to say like that's any sort of excuse.
Delara takes Natula aside and speaks in a low voice. "I sold that ring and all the other Irrica jewelry to the caravan I told you of." She scribbles a few lines of text onto a notepad and etars the sheet off. "If you catch them, give them this. I've instructed the caravan master to give you the ring and to deduct it from the value of my account." She hands Nutala the note. "If you can make this right for my cousin, I'll be grateful."
She gives them a note that instructs the merchants to give the bearers the ring and deduct the ring’s value from her account.
"Sure. Where did you last see this merchant caravan?"
Already more than a bit impatient, Natula takes the note, and the answer to her question, then spins on her heel to leave.
"Yesterday, they were just starting to pack up at the square. They may not have left the city yet."
You find the caravan has left town, but manage to catch up to it only a half-dozen miles down the road. Four wagons are clustered next to the road, pulled off to the side so as not to impede traffic. Next to the wagons, several people mill about chatting, while a few armed guards keep an eye on passing travelers.
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Juxian approches the caravan, Spots at his side, "Greetings! I am Juxian Blakros, of the Absalom Blakros'. I've been sent to reclaim a ring that was sold to you. I believe I have some paperwork about that somewhere, let me check..." Juxian says as he pulls out the note, "Ah, here we are." he says handing over the paperwork.