Ayita is curious... perhaps unwisely so, but...
Friends, can we find a place where I might try to open the box -- enough away from others that I won't injure anyone else if I flub disabling the trap?
"Ayita, I will not stop you if you wish to do this, but I do not think that the risk is worth it. In my experience, such poisons are difficult to trace. We may have more luck tracking down where these 'gifts' were purchased without the risk of poisoning your animals.
I can start with asking the innkeeper."
Nasir takes the boxes over to Farouk.
"I have a question, my friend. I found these gifts in my room when I went to collect the rest of my belongings. Do you know who put them in my room? Also, do you know any establishments or merchants that sell these types of goods?"
"These were put into your room? I am SO sorry, fidai Nasir," says Farouk, apologetically. "This NOT the service that should be expected at my humble waystop."
Farouk notices Frantino and others looking through their loot and he quietly ushers them into a private room. "For your privacy. You know what the merchant princes of the Empire say, 'Dinars are discussed discreetly.'"
After many minutes and a nice, rich coffee, Farouk brings in Camila Deseque, his day manager. She is appalled by the invasion of Nasir's room and almost immediately gets to the bottom of it. She brings back a chambermaid. "It was a pretty lady, fidai," the maid says. "One of the Taldans, may the Empire's enemies be cursed, <ptew>. Beautiful red hair. She was carrying those packages when she entereted the lobby. She wore a cape with a feather motif. Very bright green and blue. Like a peacock."
Farouk discreetly listens and then shoos the chambermaid and Camila, the day manager, away.
"If you wish to track down these purchases, I recommend visiting the Bazaar of Sails and the Princess. What you wish to buy can be found there. And <ahem> anything you wish to sell can be sold for a good price.
Located in Dockway, in the Shore region of Magnimar, the Bazaar of Sails is adjacent to the waterfront, wedged between the Seacleft and the Varisian Gulf and is nearly under the Shadow of the Irespan. The Bazaar of Sails is probably the busiest district of the city; it is filled with the hustle and bustle of traders from dozens of nations all competing for space, attention and profit. From Osirian spices to Andoren wood to Chelish clothing, the markets are filled with goods of every sort. With such a variety of wealth on display one might imagine the district to be riddled with crime, but it is well policed, though not by the Magnimar city watch. Sabriyya Kalmeralm bears the title "Princess of the Market", which she inherited from her missing father Nazir Kalmeralm; with the title comes the responsibility for keeping the markets reasonably safe through whatever means necessary. Some critics view Sabriyya as little more than Magnimar's most open crime boss, but those who trade in the Bazaar of Sails understand the service she provides even if it sometime requires unsavory methods.
Bazaar of Sails, location D5
IMAGE: Sabriyya Kalmeralm, Princess of the Market
Regarding the items the party gathered, Ezranadir asks,"If you can hold off on selling the spellbook, I would like to take the opportunity to copy some of the spells out of it."
1st level spells: Shadow Weapon, Obscure Poison, Erase, Aphasia
2nd level spells: Callback, Disfiguring Touch, Slipstream, Elemental Speech
3rd level spells: Campfire Wall, Phantom Driver, Sleet Storm, Tongues
The bejeweled peacock feather is an interesting item. From Frantino’s examination, he knows it is a Thassilonian holy symbol and likely of great interest to the right collectors.
Doc and Ezranadir combine their wits to find just the right curiosity shop in Magnimar to sell it. The bargaining is sharp, but fruitful. Oddly, the shop owner closes up and pulls the curtains once he sees the peacock feather.
”I can give you 300 gold sails, but only on the guarantee that you don’t speak of it to anybody. But bring your other treasures to me!”
Ayita picks up on what the maid says... Like a peacock.
She looks at her friends.
"I did not have a chance to get to Viralane as I made my escape. I had to move quickly to avoid getting caught up in her charms again. She must have done something to enchant me and is looking to get me back.
You are right, Ezranadir. We need to be on our guard for more of the peacock fanatics."
”I can give you 300 gold sails, but only on the guarantee that you don’t speak of it to anybody. But bring your other treasures to me!”[dice=sense motive]1d20+6
He seems cautious and suspicious of SOMETHING (someone?). When asked, he tells you of another curio shop with some interesting Thassilonian relics of the peacock variety. The owner is missing. And the relics gone from his shop.
Yes, you’ve scheduled to meet her relatively soon. Reasonably, it would be difficult to shop beforehand.
Ayita realizes that the group could be followed and this shopkeeper attacked...
She asks Ter to help watch for anyone following the group, and plans to do so herself as well. When the group is out of the shop she'll let the group know about this quietly.
"Kaw! Kaw!"
Nasir with help from the rest of the group sells the valuables an excess equipment that the group has.
"It is done. Let us meet up with Audrahni to see what she has to share. We can return here later to look at wares to purchase."
[dice=Ter perception]1d20+18
(Ter is distracted by the kawing of the crows; crows tend to harass falcons)[dice=Ayita perception]1d20+15
(Ayita is distracted by the interesting humanoids around, she's been out in the boonies too long)If Yazhi can tag along with Ayita:
[dice=Yazhi perception incl. scent and hunter falcon focus] 1d20+5+4Yazhi is focusing though!
Ter and Yazhi note an urchin or two following you at a distance. When Nasir changes his coinage they move in closer, ready for a quick snatch and grab. But with Ayita’s warning the well-traveled soldier knows to guard against them.
Frantino is anxious to go see Audrahni and make sure she didn't do something foolish last night. He'll lead the way to the Arvensoar when everyone is ready.
Roscoe pulls up behind his companions. "Hopefully Audrahni has some more information for us. Let's see what she says."
Recalling Audrahni's Story from the time you were on Tyalee's Whim with her, you all expect her to be sad and morose. And she is, when you finally find her.
You have wandered from the market to a corner in Lowcleft along Blackfoss Road. The bakery Audrahni mentioned is long gone, replaced by a cemetery that borders a large lot with rubble and a large stone plinth. Clearly, at one time, it was meant to host a statue of one of Magnimar's heavenly protectors. Now it is nothing but decay and old shattered stone remnants.
Audrahni stands just outside the cemetery's ruined fencing, looking at the plinth.
"Ah. You came, friends," she says with a sad, slightly timid smile.
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Diplomacy DC20 to gather info during your walk here
Hatfield chats with some locals along the way to see Audrahni.
Addressing the party, he says: "Lotta rumors o' tha place bein' haunted. I had some neighbors who love Halloween--an' candy an' parties. I hope it's haunted like candy Halloween, not like haunted haunted."
"Gregory C. Hatfield, what is this Halloween you speak of? Is it some kind of Western ritual? It does not sound like a Sarenrite ritual as it seems to have something to do with spirits. And why would there be a party?"
Nasir turns to Audrahni.
"Is this where the spirit of Ilsynor lays restless? That would explain the rumors of a haunting. Do you intend to cleanse this murderous spirit from this place? IS that why you need our help?"
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Shoanti shamans work with spirits a lot, like wave spirits or lore spirits. Spirits of people, though... one should just avoid those.
She looks uncomfortable.
Perhaps an offering of some sort? I remember, at this tavern, hearing that some spirits like rice offerings, I don't have rice though...
She digs around and brings out some dried salmon. Yazhi sits up in her best "I'm so good!" posture.
(No knowledge religion skill whatsoever)
"Gregory C. Hatfield, what is this Halloween you speak of? Is it some kind of Western ritual? It does not sound like a Sarenrite ritual as it seems to have something to do with spirits. And why would there be a party?"
Nasir turns to Audrahni.
"Is this where the spirit of Ilsynor lays restless? That would explain the rumors of a haunting. Do you intend to cleanse this murderous spirit from this place? IS that why you need our help?"
"Yes. I haven't prayed to Ashava in a very long time, but now is the time to begin my atonement," she says. She moves up to the empty plinth and stands among the rocks and other rubble.
Frantino moves over to stand by Audrahni. "Good morning, Audrahni. We look forward to helping you address this guilt you feel. When you are ready, please tell us exactly what happened on that day long ago, and what you have heard about this site since then."
Frantino moves over to stand by Audrahni. "Good morning, Audrahni. We look forward to helping you address this guilt you feel. When you are ready, please tell us exactly what happened on that day long ago, and what you have heard about this site since then."
She recounts her story again.
"I haven't been in Magnimar since. When I asked about the site this morning, I was told it was haunted. This confirms my worst fears. Ilsynor has not moved on."
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Ezranadir moves forward some. He says, "Haunts can be a bit tricky. There are several different types as I'm sure the good Doc can attest to. There could be a Spiritual echo based on a tragic death. There could be a Ghostly haunt or Curse but from your description, it will more likely be a Spiritual Haunt. As for how to put the soul to rest..." he ponders. In the meantime, he will cast Mage Armor on himself.
Frantino nods in agreement with Ezranadir's assessment. "We dealt with a haunt or two in Sir Roderic's house back in the Cove, but none of us had any experience dealing with them prior to that. Mostly we had to back away and wait them out, but I suspect that may not work here. Audrahni, in your visions does it seem that his spirit is only active at night, or does it seem like he could appear during the day, too?"
He'll cast see invisibility and heightened awareness on himself, say a quick prayer with Audrahni, and search the area for clues.
Audrahni begins to pray to Ashava for the first time in many years and Frantino joins her. A few moments after Audrahni begins to pray, her words have a startling result. The rubble shudders and the debris rises up in gusts of dust-laden wind and churning bits of... bone?
These are bits and pieces of Ilsynor, rising up as a vague humanoid shape composed of whirling dust and shards of bone that hovers menacingly in the air.
"YOU!" the things says through grit and flying bone. "I died because of YOU, Audrahni Ashava-blessed! Join me now, choking on the dust and debris of your sainted Sazzleru, FOREVER!"
Frantino, based on his knowledge of religion and the unrestful dead, realizes this is a rare type of shade, choked to death beneath dust and grit, unable to gasp a single breath as the life flickered out of it.
When Frantino, Nasir and Ezranadir here the words emanating from the thing's broken and decayed skull, they feel the desperation Ilsynor must have felt as the statue-works fell upon him, crushing and choking him to death!
—------------------------------------------------
Ezranadir:
Nasir:
ILSYNOR:
Frantino:
Roscoe:
Doc Hatfield:
Ayita:
may go!
STATUS
-----------------------
Ezranadir || SHAKEN
Ayita ||
Yazhi ||
Doc ||
Frantino || SHAKEN
Roscoe ||
Nasir || SHAKEN
Ezranadir moves forward some. He says, "Haunts can be a bit tricky. There are several different types as I'm sure the good Doc can attest to. There could be a Spiritual echo based on a tragic death. There could be a Ghostly haunt or Curse but from your description, it will more likely be a Spiritual Haunt. As for how to put the soul to rest..." he ponders. In the meantime, he will cast Mage Armor on himself.
[dice=Knowledge religion]1d20 + 10 + 2[dice=Perception]1d20 + 15 + 2
There is nothing quite like the desperation of a suffocating creature, frantic for one last, sweet breath of air to fill deprived, aching lungs; it is a terrible way to die. There are so many ways to die of suffocation: asphyxiation in a fire, being buried alive, crucifixion, disease, drowning, strangulation—the list seems endless. Sometimes, the terrible imminence filling a person as life ends in so cruel a manner is enough to cause the doomed soul to rise from death.
Immunities1: Undead immunities
Special Ability1: A humanoid creature killed by suffocation resulting from the shade's attack rises as a similar spirit in 1d4 rounds.
Defensive Ability2: It is incorporeal.
Move Action + Standard Action: Hatfield double-moves to get closer. He draws his rod on the way.
Free Action: "Y'all! Y'all!! It's a _____. It is vulnerable and/or susceptible to _____"
Gregory Hatfield shouts out, "Y'all!! It's a shade created from dying from asphyxiation! It is vulnerable to high winds! They'll blow it away!
Special Ability1: A humanoid creature killed by suffocation resulting from the shade's attack rises as a similar spirit in 1d4 rounds.
Knowledge Religion25
...
There is nothing quite like the desperation of a suffocating creature, frantic for one last, sweet breath of air to fill deprived, aching lungs; it is a terrible way to die. There are so many ways to die of suffocation: asphyxiation in a fire, being buried alive, crucifixion, disease, drowning, strangulation—the list seems endless. Sometimes, the terrible imminence filling a person as life ends in so cruel a manner is enough to cause the doomed soul to rise from death.
Special Ability3: The shade can enter the lungs of an adjacent, shaken creature. Affected creature cannot breath or speak. Fort save to cough it up.
Defensive Ability2: It is incorporeal.
Although shaken by the undead creature, Nasir's training kicks in and drives him to the front of battle. As he moves toward the creature, he draws his sword and shield and strikes the creature with both as positions himself between the creature and Audrahni.
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Gregory Hatfield shouts out, "Y'all!! It's a shade created from dying from asphyxiation! It is vulnerable to high winds! They'll blow it away!
** spoiler omitted **
Hatfield will share this additional info.
Free Action: "Watch out! Those suffocated and killed by the shade could rise as another undead in moments!"
Although shaken by the undead creature, Nasir's training kicks in and drives him to the front of battle. As he moves toward the creature, he draws his sword and shield and strikes the creature with both as positions himself between the creature and Audrahni.
[dice=Scimitar]1d20+11-2-2 [dice=Dmg]1d6+4
[dice=Shield Bash]1d20+10-2-2 [dice=Dmg]1d3+5
Nasir's scimitar goes wide and his shield wooshes straight through the shade!
Frantino will call out, "It's an incorporeal undead so only magical weapons and spells will affect it, especially force magic."
On his turn (after the shade) Frantino will expend a point of transmutation mental focus to put legacy weapon on Nasir's scimitar, making it +1 for the next minute. As a swift action he'll expend a point of abjuration mental focus to erect a mind barrier to block the next 10 points of damage, and then swing around so that he is adjacent to the shade but doesn't provoke.
The swirling mass of dirt and bone ignores the impact of the magic missiles from Ezranadir and reaches its two undead limbs towards Nasir.
And then in sinks beneath the stone rubble, vanishing.
—------------------------------------------------
Ezranadir: magic missiles - hit!
Nasir: miss with scimitar and shield. NEED Will Save DC17
ILSYNOR: Attacks Nasir, then drops into ground
Frantino: legacy weapon on Nasir's scimitar; swift action abjuration mental focus to erect a mind barrier 10 points of damage
Roscoe:
Doc Hatfield: Hatfield double-moves to get closer. He draws his rod on the way.
Ayita:
Yazhi:
may go!
STATUS
-----------------------
Ezranadir || SHAKEN
Ayita ||
Yazhi ||
Doc || SHAKEN
Frantino || SHAKEN
Roscoe ||
Nasir || -13hp SHAKEN - Need will save
Since it disappeared, Frantino will still make Nasir's weapon magical and put up a mind barrier, but will instead move to the other side of Audrahni, assuming Doc is going to alter his path to a point closer to Nasir in order to heal him, if he has enough movement left.
"It's probably going to attack Audrahni, the target of his anger, so we need to be ready. Nasir, I suspect you were just in the way of his true target."