|
Zelphari stares slack jaw at Ezaki running back. He looks conflicted between guarding the entry and the possible new danger arising. Finally he decides, running to join Ezaki, but keeping an eye to their back.
In front of the ghost, Zelphari looks on cautiously but retains a measure of collectedness. "My name is Zelphari Caryarus. Of the Pathfinder Society." He says the last line with a particular emphasis as he allows his wayfinder to show.
|
Elfino relaxes a little when Zelphari shows up. If anyone can persuade this ghost to leave us alone, it's Zelphari.
Elfino continues to observe the ghost closely, but says nothing for the moment. His mind flashes back to the scrap of Osiriani they found in the journal after they fought the skeletons. It mentioned a Diggen Thune and the empire whose borders he was protecting. This place was known as Diggen's Rest, and the empire could refer to Cheliax, so perhaps this ghost is all that's left of Diggen Thune himself, or someone associated with him. He racks his brains to see if he can remember anything that could be of use to them in identifying the ghost.
"So... no tea?" he asks as you begin to question him. The ghost sighs a soundless sigh. "“It’s been a decidedly long time since anyone civilized made their way here. Last folks were those Pathfinders about a century ago... Shame how that turned out. I did warn them about the devil in the attic you know. And that was before all the kobolds showed up to worship the damned thing. Don’t suppose I can say much though, given as I’m the reason he’s here and he’s the reason I’m still stuck here.”
He puffs out his chest as he prepares to answer Brunwulf's question, "“I’m a servant of the empire, you know; I was knighted for my efforts in quelling rebellion in these parts. The empire rewarded me with land on the far side of the country and a responsibility to guard this region. Bit of a barbed deal that. How was I to feed and larder troops to protect a keep on the opposite side of the empire from my holdings? Oh, but I digress. I am Sir Diggen Thrune. Not really at anybody's service now except that damned contract."
|
|
Sorry. No tea. Brünwulf shrugs.
Ahh. Diggen Thrune. For a moment, I thought you were Durvin Gest. Anyway, we found a page from a journal that mentions you. Mentions Durvin, as well.
Brünwulf digs through his pockets to find the paper.
Hang on a sec...
After some searching, he pulls the page out and translates the contents to Diggen.
|
|
"A devil in the attic? You don't say." Itka's expression turns sour. She's had quite enough of such evil in her lifetime, and has absolutely no desire to deal with any more. It's time to take the initiative! Her questions come out in a forceful barrage: "Is it stuck in the attic, or free to roam the tower? How many kobolds are here? Are any of them more dangerous than the ones guarding the entrance? ... Look, we're on a mission to gather information, and as you can see..." She gestures to the library. "...there's a lot here. More Pathfinders would love to come here to read these books, and we can instruct them to bring some good tea. But we need to know about the threat level here." As deep as her scowl is, she tries--really she does--to keep her tone civil.
|
|
"“It’s been a decidedly long time since anyone civilized made their way here. Last folks were those Pathfinders about a century ago... Shame how that turned out. I did warn them about the devil in the attic you know. And that was before all the kobolds showed up to worship the damned thing. Don’t suppose I can say much though, given as I’m the reason he’s here and he’s the reason I’m still stuck here.”
Elfino is a little surprised by the mention of a devil. "Sorry to interrupt, but are you saying that there is a literal devil currently residing in the attic of this tower?
"I am Sir Diggen Thrune. Not really at anybody's service now except that damned contract."
Elfino nods to himself as if confirming a suspicion. "Ah, that explains the resemblance I noticed. So, you are a member of the illustrious House of Thrune that currently rules Cheliax? I suppose that would also explain the deviltry."
"Well, that's not very flattering," the ghost of Diggen Thrune sniffs. "I can't really say how many kobolds there are. They breed like goblins, and I've no interest in conversing with their subpar intelligences. And I didn't sign a contract with a literal devil, unless you count the monarch at the time. He tricked me.
"The tower was staffed by a devil. Not so bad, I thought, as far as troops go. Hah! No food, no morale issues, and you don’t need to worry about paying them until the job is well and truly done. How was I to know that agreeing to be bound to the beast until the empire’s control of the region was reestablished and peace was returned was going to leave me stuck here for all eternity?
"However, if you're interested in securing this tower and its contents for your Pathfinder Society, I have a proposition for you. I cannot leave this keep under my own power for as long as the devil is free upstairs, and he can’t be sealed back up in that throne of his by anyone other than me. So here’s my proposal: I’ll seal myself up in one of your wayfinders or another magic item of your choice. You head on upstairs and confront that infernal bugger. Best him in combat, and when it seems he’s destroyed, he’ll be weak enough to bind.
"What matters is that one of you place the item containing me against his throne and speak the proper words, which I will teach you. That’ll seal the bugger back up in his throne and put him at the service of the keep’s proper owner. Once he’s sealed up, place both of your hands against the object you seal me in and speak the same phrase; I’ll be free to travel on to the afterlife I’ve earned with my service to the empire. Once I’m gone, you’ll be the keep’s proper owners, with your own bound devil to oversee the place. What do you say?"
|
|
"... What do you say?"
Elfino is instantly suspicious of this offer. Especially the mention of the "proper owner" of the keep. Who would that be? Didn't old man Strickmund say the Society had bought the deed to the keep from his ancestor?
If being bound to the devil results in spending eternity in the tower, how would that work if the Society was the "proper owner". Perhaps the "proper words" he mentioned transferred ownership to the person sealing the devil in the throne. If so, he wasn't interested in carrying out the deal; at least not personally. He suspected that Diggen wasn't telling them the whole story.
Elfino's curiosity gets the better of him, "And who, pray tell, is the proper owner of the keep these days? I'd hate to bind them and their future ghost to this place without their permission."
Perhaps it might be best to agree to the arrangement if only to seal Diggen's ghost away in a wayfinder. That way he wouldn't cause them any more problems or get in their way. They could then discuss the issue freely among themselves without risking the ghost's wrath.
He doubted that the Society would need or even want a tame devil overseeing the place anyway. If they were going to have to almost kill the creature for this deal to go through, then why not just finish the job and rid themselves and the Society of the devil altogether? Wouldn't that also free Diggen's ghost to travel to the afterlife?
So many questions; so few answers. He searches through his memories to see if he'd read anything about this that might be of help in finding answers.
You would need Diggen to explain the ritual, but, in general, unless you literally sign the contract yourself, you would not be bound to the terms of an infernal contract.
"I am the current proper owner. Oh, no, no," Diggen says, shaking his head and sighing sadly. [b]"I signed the contract with the Thrunes, not you. Binding the devil will allow me to break my contract. I assure you, I am not trying to trick you into taking my place for eternity. I have far too much to make up for as it is; I do not want the torment of your souls on my conscience."
"Me? No," Diggen says. "If it has survived the ages, I'm sure it is is in some historical archive in Cheliax somewhere."
|
|
It would satisfy Itka greatly to destroy a devil. Eventually, she is satisfied that the ghost isn't tricking the group. Now, on to the next set of questions. Holding the book she had been reading at the ghost's appearance to her chest as if protecting a baby, she issues another barrage of questions. "What can you tell us about how to defeat that devil? What are its strengths, weaknesses, resistances, and preferred tactics? What traps or ambush points do the kobolds have set up? Do the kobolds have any mages?"
|
|
Elfino is satisfied that Diggen is not trying to trap them. He was usually pretty good at telling if people were being evasive, and the ghost seemed to be on the up-and-up. He has one more question, though, "What happens if we accidently kill the devil before we can seal him up in the throne?"
Elfino leans over to Zelphari and whispers the following in Goblin, hoping that if the ghost happens to overhear, that he won't understand what was said.
"As a summoned being, you cannot kill him but merely deconstitute him," Diggen says forlornly. "If any of you happen to be able to fully banish him to Hell, then by all means!"
He looks back to Ikta and says, "Well, devils are well known to be resistant to fire and obviously susceptible to holy energy . He wields a glaive, but I doubt he's had any reason to use it in hundreds of years. As for the kobold's traps, I don't know. They're stupid. I can't imagine they'd have any wizards. I'm stuck here in the library unless you allow me to possess one of your magical items and take me with you."
|
|
After listening to Diggen and everyone's comments and objections, Brunwulf pipes in.
I'm all fine with the situation. Best a devil in combat to become the real owners of this keep? That will be one hell of a story to take back home. Sign me up. Brünwulf grins.
He glances around at his companions.
Umm, I don't think any of us bothered getting a wayfinder ever since we started our adventuring careers. If you don't mind hopping into one of our healing potions, I think that's the only way we can get you up there.
"Ah, no. A potion isn't powerful enough to hold me," he apologizes. "There's a wayfinder there, though." He points at the satchel and its dust cover, spilled contents. You will have to take his word for it given the amount of dust.
|
|
Brünwulf runs over to the satchel and its spilled contents. He scoops everything inside while clearing the dust off the items. He grabs the wayfinder which he picks up last after slinging the satchel over his shoulder. Wiping the dusty wayfinder on his jacket to clean it a bit, he jogs back over to the ghost of Diggen.
Alright. Here's the wayfinder. He says holding it in front of Diggen.
What now?
|
|
Zelphari simply nods at Elfino, seemingly distracted paying attention to the ghost although the slight wink indicates he understands.
"Here," he utters as he pulls out his wayfinder. "You can use mine." Just in case there is still some deceit he's planning.
"If indeed this devil has been vexing this ruins, it is our duty to rid of it. Claiming this keep is merely a bonus. And it seems you have won the trust of my teammates, so I am willing to go along as well."
Finally, Ikta has excluded all of the magic from her detection spell.
"Well, once I possess it, time will lose meaning to me, so I will require you to release me from the wayfinder," Diggen says. "I'm putting a great deal of trust in you."
The old Chelish ghost then proceeds to explain the steps involved in the ritual to bind the devil to the throne once his energies have been disbursed and the following steps that will free Diggen from the wayfinder as well as from his contract.
"Ready? Now, remember, after you've bound the devil, you place the wayfinder on the throne and perform the second part of the ritual," he says. Once satisfied that you understand the steps, his form flows into Zelphari's wayfinder like smoke being sucked into a bellows.
The contents in and around the satchel include an archaic wayfinder. Both the satchel and the wayfinder are similar in style to the ruined ones you found in the haunted clearing but fully functional. Furthermore, there are several documents of note. One is a deed signed in 4617 ar by a Chelaxian magistrate noting that ownership of the keep known as Diggen’s Rest was legally and officially transferred to the Pathfinder Society . The second is an envelope that radiates magic dated 14th Neth 4091 and addressed to Gregaro Voth.
|
|
Once Diggen Thrune is safely trapped in the wayfinder, Elfino lets out a breath of relief. "Ghosts are such fickle creatures. I for one am glad that he's locked up and no longer a danger to us."
He pauses a moment to think. "I still do not fully trust him. We do not know for sure what he will do if we let him loose with his devil nemesis sealed away in a throne. He may well turn around and try to finish us off or maybe destroy the keep. My vote is that regardless of what we do with the devil, we leave Diggen in the wayfinder and take him back to Venture-Captain Brackett with us. He'll know what to do with the trapped ghost."
Indicating the satchel contents, he adds, "Same goes for all this. I'm not sure that we want to be in the business of unsealing magically protected envelopes. It tends to be a life shortening habit."
|
|
Brünwulf pats the albino elf on the back.
Nah. You're just being paranoid, lad. No need to worry. I highly doubt that ghost will betray us.
He flips the archaic wayfinder in his hand.
This is nice. I'll hang onto to this if nobody minds.
He drops the wayfinder in his coat pocket.
Zelphari, if you're uncomfortable carrying a possessed wayfinder, I have no qualms about carrying it. If anyone else doesn't mind carrying it, go ahead.
He then reads the deed.
Well, we are Pathfinders, which means we are the owners of this keep. The proof's right here. He holds up the deed, waving it.
|
|
Zelphari frowns at Elfino. "That is rather unworthy, wouldn't you say? Much as he is a ghost, he has thus far proven himself trustworthy, and given us no reason to doubt his words. It is only fair that we reciprocate accordingly?"
He turns to the Brunwulf, briefly considering before handing over the wayfinder. "Yes, perhaps you should hold on to it. You seemed most experienced among us and hopefully be able to prevail should the rest of us not."
He glances at Ezaki, once again questioning himself what is wrong with the youth. Or youth in general these days.
|
|
Brünwulf pats the albino elf on the back.
Nah. You're just being paranoid, lad. No need to worry. I highly doubt that ghost will betray us.
Zelphari frowns at Elfino. "That is rather unworthy, wouldn't you say? Much as he is a ghost, he has thus far proven himself trustworthy, and given us no reason to doubt his words. It is only fair that we reciprocate accordingly?"
Elfino shrugs. "Do as you wish. I just feel easier when the undead are locked away safely, even the 'friendly' ones."
The elf levitates down to the floor, and says, "Well, if we're all done here, I guess we can go find the devil and finish things up. I believe I saw a stairway at the end of the hallway." He then goes to stand guard from cover at the top of the stairs.
Nothing explodes when Ezaki opens the envelope. Inside, he finds a letter of academic interest that the Society will most assuredly find of value, but no immediate clue to the current situation in the tower .
A narrow, twisting passageway, clearly built for defense over convenience, winds its way north from the stairwell. The ancient stones here are solid and free of dust, though a few of the sturdy blocks comprising the floor seem to have shifted or settled during the centuries since the tower was first erected.
Encounter Mode. Round 1. Bold may act.
Brunwulf
Elfino
RD
R
YD
RR
B
Itka
Elfino
Ezaki
Blue Dash
Zephari
|
|
Elfino follows behind Brünwulf. As he approaches the final bend, he spots several kobolds in the room ahead.
Taking a second to examine one of the kobolds, Elfino tries to see if his usual opening is available...
"Yes indeed. There it is," and proceeds to put another arrow into the kobold's head. "Sorry Brünwulf. No time for squeamishness I'm afraid."
Shortbow: (19) + 4 + 3 = 26
Brunwulf slips down the hall and stops as he peers around the corner, spying seven kobolds: six warriors like you have encountered before and one wearing a robe with trinkets tied around his rope belt.
Elfino comes down the hall, seeing the woodsman pressed against the wall and peers between the open space. His elven sight allows him to clearly see a fraction of the kobold force. Opting for a swift and decisive opening move, he raises his bow and fires it past the front line and into the chest of one of the kobolds in the rear.
This does alert the kobolds to his presence and there is a peal of hissing and chittering. One kobold slings a stone at the elf, but it bounces off of the corner of the hall. The warrior skitters off into the hall. Two more move into his line of sight and fling their stones before move on into the hall. One of the stones strikes his shoulder painfully. The robed kobold moves into Elfino's view, speaks a word of power and sends a missile of force into his chest before he moves into the hall himself. One more kobold warrior moves into view, flings a stone that the elf narrowly ducks under, and runs off into the hall.
Encounter Mode. Round 1. Bold may act.
Brunwulf
Elfino (8/14)
Y (e)
RD (e)
R (e)
RR
B (e)
Itka
Elsha
Ezaki
Blue Dash
Zephari
|
|
Puffing slightly from the climb up the stairs, Itka's cane clacks on the stone floor of the hall, its echo announcing her arrival. She weaves through the bottleneck to see what's going on, and finally spots one lone kobold in the room ahead. Knowing their propensity for retreating, she draws and calmly holds up a sling bullet, maintaining a small, knowing smile and eye contact with the kobold the whole time.
The kobold slings his stone at the half-orc, which she easily ducks, and then runs down the hall.
Encounter Mode. Round 1. Bold may act.
Brunwulf
Elfino (10/14)
Y (e)
RD (e)
R (e)
RR
B (e)
Itka
Elsha
Ezaki
Blue Dash (e)
Zephari