Heryn is slightly relieved about Magellia’s answer.
“Ehh .. you’re right!!“
She shows you the next room and the hole in the floor ”Look, nobody had the money to pay to repair the damage, so before I even started here they had acquired a broad wooden plank that serves as a bridge across the fissure. Now go through this room and enter the cellar on the other side. Actually, Dreng asked me to get the bottle and give it to you but … I am afraid of heights and I cannot come with you. I am sure you will need time to find what you are looking for because except Dreng nobody knows this place anymore.” she hands you a piece of paper with the name of a vineyard and a certain vintage (from a year preceding the creation of the Society) and waves goodbye hurrying up the stairs.
Neglected since it was “installed,” the plank isn’t as sturdy as it once was. You have to move slowly to get across or somehow reinforce it with skill (Disable Device).
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Valentin rolls his eyes and starts massaging his temples the moment Heryn leaves. ”Someone remind me to demand a sizable bonus from Dreng. I have half a mind to kick this plank into the abyss. Step aside.”
Valentin makes his way to the front of the group and starts gingerly stepping across the plank.
Valentin is able to to walk very slowly and reaches the other side without any issues, and the others follow this example so that you are now all on the other side.
You walk into the cellar (A12). This chamber is where the Wounded Wisp keeps its supply of specialty wines and ales for important occasions.
You start searching for the wine bottle and it feels like searching for a needle in a hay stack.
Finally you find that particular bottle from a very old vintage in the wine rack.
Finally, Malkor finds that particular bottle from a very old vintage but it is stuck in the wine rack.
Malkor pulls again and gets it out only to realize that behind the bottle a strange lever is pulled simultaneously.
At the same time the complete wine rack slides back. The sound is almost not to hear but the dust that comes down shows that this secret door has not been opened for ages.
You look into a short stone tunnel that leads into a hidden room (A13) that is illuminated.
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Valentin’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise initially but then a devilish grin spr eads across his face as he takes in the new opening, ”Well well well... It seems you spoke too soon. Finally something worth our while.”
Valentin saunters from his usual place in the back, laying a surreptitious hand on each member of the party as he passes by, and walks inside. His eyes dart over the room looking for anything of interest.
Valentin enters the tunnel just a little to see what lies ahead and checks for traps but cannot find anything.
A sturdy silver chain jutting from the ceiling ends in a glowing orb that radiates yellow light across the rectangular room. A simple desk of polished wood, stacked with documents and scattered notes, shelters a pair of wooden chests against the south wall. A series of cracks along the eastern and western walls form makeshift entrances into exposed caverns.
The only light source in this room is a plain rock that bears a continual flame spell and hangs from a chain. The illumination is enough to brighten the room but leaves the connecting tunnels dark.
He examines the light source seeing if he can pull the chain from the wall to use as his own personal torch.
You look at the desk and see that it contains various notes and leads. A first glimpse shows that these were obviously penned by Selmius Foster with later annotations by a certain Adolphus.
Selmius Foster was a Pathfinder who was published in many of the early Pathfinder Chronicles.
Adolphus was a Pathfinder who began his career as the assistant of the Pathfinder Selmius Foster. He published the account of his master's death in Volume 3 of the Pathfinder Chronicles. He went on to found the Pathfinder lodge in Quantium.
"Let me handle that" says Renart as he produces a Dancing Light and sends it down the tunnel.
The tunnels become impassable after a couple of meters.
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”I recognise these names. I have read about Selmius Foster in many of the early Pathfinder Chronicles.
Adolphus was his assistant initially though he went on to found the Pathfinder lodge in Quantium.
He also published the account of his master's death in Volume 3 of the Pathfinder Chronicles.“
Magellia turns her attention to the chests and after checking for traps she opens them
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Niocholu listens intently as the brothers describe the challenges of their upbringing. "Niocholu live to north of present land. Know of hardness of life and threat of killink." Nodding his head solemnly, he says in his native tongue.
He then adds in the common tongue, "Niocholu sorry for badness thinks that happen to you."
Upon hearing of import of the documents found by his fellow agents, the northman declares, "Then, let us be bringink the papers back to the Captain of Venturink! Perhaps, then in exchangink, the wine can be for Niocholu and comrades to drink!"
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"Those names have travelled up to the Crown. I too have heard of their adventures and exploits."
Uoralveren leans down to read the notes. "Have any of you heard these names before? Eylysia? Arkath? Fimbrik? Doulgonlir Caskmail? Mollis Thorne? Karina Clamp? None ring a bell to me."
He reads on. "Looks like this Eylysia was hoarding knowledge. There is a mausoleum in the Ivy District that houses the stonemason Arkath. This mausoleum may hold the key to this knowledge. And looks like Adolphius wants us to find out! We need to go!". Uoralveren is thirsting for adventure now that he's gotten a taste of it.
Perception
Initiative
You are discussing and standing in the silent room that looks like it was not touched for ages.
Suddenly, you hear hundreds of high-pitched squeaks fill the air as a mass of small, carnivorous bats surges forth, all of them hungry for blood.
Uoralveren and Valentin are utterly surprised when the swarm of bats enters the room through various tunnels.
The others on the other hand heard the screams a little earlier and are ready to react.
BAT SWARM CR 2
N Diminutive animal (swarm)
Init +2; Senses blindsense 20 ft., low-light vision; Perception +15
Speed 5 ft., fly 40 ft. (good)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +4 size)
hp 13 (3d8)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +3
Defensive Abilities swarm traits; Immune weapon damage
OFFENSE
Melee swarm (1d6)
Special Attacks distraction (DC 11), wounding
Wounding (Ex) Any living creature damaged by a bat swarm continues to bleed, losing 1 hit point per round thereafter. Multiple wounds do not result in cumulative bleeding loss. The bleeding can be stopped by a DC 10 Heal check or the application of a cure spell or some other healing magic.
Surprise round - Standard or Move action only
MrBadger
Swarm
Renart
Niocholu
Malkor
Bold may act!
Round 1
MrBadger
Swarm
Renart
Niocholu
Valentin
Uoralveren
Malkor
* * *
The swarm of carnivorous bats suddenly fills the room and makes breathing difficult. Niocholu and Malkor and MrBadger are filled with terror as the swarm engulfs them and the young Pathfinders' bodies start to bleed.
, , .
-
Surprise round - Standard or Move action only
MrBadger
Swarm
Renart
Niocholu
Malkor
Magellia
Bold may act!
Round 1
MrBadger
Swarm
Renart
Niocholu
Valentin
Uoralveren
Malkor
Magellia
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Niocholu barely winces as the swarm descends upon him. "Fear not! Niocholu has dealt with swarms before." he declares as he reaches for a vial of acid. "You may wish to back up." he adds as he prepares to release the substance on the swarm.
The Pathfinders move out of the swarm and throw splash weapons at the blood drinking bats! Niocholu misses but Malkor is spot on!
Magelia's efforts are in vain but you can now see that Malkor's acid melted huge parts of the swarm ... dissolving bats create a stench in the room.
The swarm of carnivorous bats continues to eat Niocholu!
* * *
Bold may act!
Round 1
Swarm, -9
Renart
Niocholu, -4, bleeding
Valentin
Uoralveren
Malkor, -7, bleeding
Magellia
Round 2
MrBadger, -6, bleeding
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Valentin looks at the swarm with a stunned expression before finally sprinting into action. He takes his greatsword and starts swinging through the bats wildly until he sees an opportune moment to run through the them and catch up to his brother.
He skids to a stop next to Magellia and looks to his brother with genuine concern, ”Good to see you standing, brother. I’m not sure how to kill them; like swatting at gnats.”
Settling into a battle-ready stance, he side eyes Magellia with an inquisitive brow , ”Any chance you have a fancy fireball in your repertoire?....... A man can dream.”
Magellia does not find anything!
The swarm of carnivorous bats continues to eat you!
* * *
Bold may act!
Round 2
Swarm, -9
Renart
Niocholu, -5 bleeding
Valentin
Uoralveren, -5 bleeding
Malkor, -8 bleeding
Magellia
Round 3
MrBadger, -11, bleeding
Renart realizes that these bats are so tiny that physical attacks are in vain against the swarm!
You smell burnt flesh as a portion of the swarm burns away!
But the swarm is not gone, yet!
Malkor's bleeding stops with Valentin's support!
Malkor and Magellia try to stay away from the swarm.
The swarm of carnivorous bats continues to follow Niocholu!
* * *
Suddenly, the aftereffect of Uoralveren's alchemist fire becomes visible as more bats start to burn!!
You see black, dead bats everywhere and the smell of burned and dissolved flesh is almost nauseating.
Combat Over!
You check all tunnels but they are too narrow to follow after a while and you cannot find anything more of interest in there.
You are certain that there is nothing to be found beyond the documents of those legendary Pathfinders.
* * *
You start to look at the documents in more detail.
The papers chronicle the personal exploits of Selmius Foster, a famous Pathfinder whose name some of you recognize from their training as Pathfinder agents.
Most of Foster’s more infamous adventures appear here in varying amounts of detail, but it is evident there is another investigation he had been pursuing before he died: the lost records of a Society agent named Eylysia.
You find two very interesting documents, which detail Selmius’s thoughts on the matter, and an appended note from Adolphus.
Together, these reference three major leads Foster had found. But it seems as if they never had time to investigate properly as the thoroughly compiled notes just stop at some point.
* * *
You decide to leave the cellar and the secret room and return to the upper level.
The kitchen personnel is a little astounded to see you again, especially with some of you having blood stains on their clothes. And although Heryn Gale is quite busy when you return she notices that you obviously were in a fight.
"Oh my god, what happened to you?!" she asks with great concern and wants to run down to see what is going on.
When you explain to her that you found the secret door she obviously is very surprised about what you found.
Heryn then says "That is truly unbelievable and I agree with you. But to be honest such a matter has to be discussed with a Venture-Captain to align on the next step. I do not know what you want to do now but good luck to you! And please come back and inform us what to do with the room ... I ... I am still in shock ... unbelievable."