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Keiko remembers hearing about this man from some of her society contacts... the missing fingers combined with robes of Asmodeus gave him away.
She whispers to her allies before he approaches to quickly tell them the man's history.
"Durward. Used to be a street thug - now enjoys the prestige of being a priest."
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Tianna doesn't recognize him, but as someone who grew up in Cheliax, the Asmodean symbology is very familiar. She narrows her eyes at him, not quite able to hide her dislike.
Keiko's description doesn't surprise Tianna in the least. She's seen far too many people getting away with far too many questionable things under the trappings of "religion".
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Sophia looks at the man intently.
"Greetings sir. While my companions would like to small talk first, i shall come right to business."
Sophia holds her hands at chest height, fingers against each other.
"A friend of ours is on their deathbed, and asked of us to find a good place to be chosen as their final resting place. Could you tell us more of this one?"
You notice that the man likes to be in control ...
"Who do you want to visit?! And I am asking the questions here you Elf posh posh! Be happy that you are still standing here and have not been blown to bits by Asmodeus' might!"
He looks down to you and steps uncomfortably close to Tianna.
"Do you want me to express my obviously superior thoughts or are you pissing your pants and leaving!"
Durward looks at Kieko ...
"Ha, ha, ha! So you are a submissive one!?" he says with an ugly smile.
The man looks at all of you and his intonation does not change to the better.
"This plot of land in Eastgate is dedicated to the faith of Asmodeus and used as the resting ground for those that have served the dark prince, the most powerful of the nine archdevils that inhabit Hell."
He continues "If you do not respect and obey me here then you are welcome to start a fight ..." and his view wanders to the east where you see two city guards routinely patrolling the area around the property.
The cleric has a dirty smile at first but Sharimus seems to have hit a nerve.
"I will grant you permission to access the mausoleum you seek." he says with a stern look.
"But the sooner you are gone the better!!“ and then he turns around and walks away.
You start walking to the mausoleum.
Arkath must have paid a substantial sum to have his remains guarded here as the mausoleum houses only 24 sarcophagi and the names clearly mark many of the other deceased as nobility.
Arkath's sarcophagus is one of the first you see after entering the mausoleum. It is quite simple but very well made.
His name is engraved in Taldan. There are no obvious religious symbols to be seen.
You believe that some strength is needed to open the sarcophagus but that you can jointly remove the upper section to peer into it.
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Tianna is very glad she didn’t have to either talk to the man, or hit him. She mutters to herself in Infernal as they walked to the tomb. Wishing fervently that the petty man someday gets to meet a true servant of the Dark Prince, and see how far an attitude like his will get him.
She focuses her annoyance into shoving the sarcophagus lid aside:
Together you start to move the upper section of the sarcophagus and it is obvious that some of you are not really happy with this act ... disturbing the peace of the dead sometimes comes with harsh results.
But in this case you find darkness, dust and the skeleton of a humanoid being that is resting peacefully in his grave ... you see that the interior of Arkath’s sarcophagus is otherwise empty.
You assume this to be the stonemason’s long-dead skeleton.
You something shiny behind the skeleton's teeth. You remove a coin from the skeletons mouth.
This apparently is a simple coin and resembles ancient currency. A little chip at the side of the coin shows intricate gold and platinum wires within.
You put the lid back on.
You align on the next steps and choose to visit the Wall of Names. You arrive at the Grand Lodge shortly after that.
WALL OF NAMES
Created in 4330 ar, the Wall of Names resides on the grounds of the Grand Lodge. The monument is a curving wall of black glass that stands atop a small hill at the western edge of the lodge’s grounds. Trees surround the hill, providing ample shade and privacy for those visiting the wall to remember fallen comrades.
Carved into the wall are the name and date of death of every Pathfinder killed in the course of duty since the wall’s construction, and most entries also include a sentence or two summarizing either the agent’s greatest accomplishments or how she died.
Perception
Tianna, you have keen eyes and are able to find the names you were looking for.
Doulgonlir Caskmail
Deceased 4332 ar
Sought the jade idol of ten thousand faces. Now but another sacrifice to the charau-ka of the Mwangi.
* * *
Hollis 'Evil Grin' Thorne
Deceased 4331 ar
Respectfully resigned after losing a friend. Lost to a life among the fish and bountiful sea.
* * *
Karina Clamp
Deceased 4330 ar
Survived the horrors of Nemret Noktoria. Returned to rot from the inside.
---
You believe that portions of each inscription refer to failed aspirants.
You also know that the Shrine of the Failed could have a connection to these phrases.
The Shrine of the Failed is a hall of monuments in Absalom's Ascendant Court to those who have failed the Test of the Starstone. It was founded centuries ago, and routinely expanded since by the families of the fallen and other residents of Absalom.
The shrine consists of a series of stone rooms holding shrines that are as elaborate as the caretakers can manage, but are usually no more than a few personal items of the deceased. The shrine's caretakers wear black mourning robes, but claim no divine calling, holy texts, or philosophy.
Most visitors view it as a novelty and leave quickly, but there are occasionally devout worshipers who believe that one of the failed is a god who is merely quiescent.
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At each name, Keiko will wait until there are no passersby and quietly say the word "Wiffle" just to see if anything happens.
if no one suggests any usage or history or the weird coin, Keiko will suggest going back to the bar full of Pathfinder Society agents and asking one of them, maybe the bard, Janira? Or back to the lodge and hiring a spellcaster to identify it for us?
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”It’s a Pathfinder’s Coin,” Tianna explains. ”It will direct us to something if we place it above a Wayfinder and speak the password. We got the password from the Gnome’s letter. Does anyone have a Wayfinder? I did not requisition one before we left the Lodge today, and I don’t own one of my own yet.”
You suddenly see Janira [the Halfling from the Wounded Widp] walking towards the wall of names.
Janira looks at Ouita.
“Oh hello! We saw each other in the wisp and now you are already stalking me? Ha, ha ... no just kidding! Nice to see you all. It is also nice to see that you are paying your respect to the Pathfinders that gave their life for this organization.“ she says with a thoughtful voice.
Janira looks at your coin and is a little puzzled "I do not know whether I completely understand what you are trying to do but I can take a look at the coin ... hmmm ... looks old and potentially magical. Let me cast 'detect magic'."
"Oh wow! You found something interesting here! "
Janira is quite delighted. "I am sure you do not mind using my wayfinder to check the message?!" she says with a sly smile.
* * *
She lets the coin hover above her wayfinder and suddenly you all hear a male voice speaking:
"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."
Janira smiles at Sophia.
”Unfortunately not. And I also have little time to assist you further. Good luck with your investigation!!“ she says and waves goodbye.
—
Know. Local 1d20+6
”It looks like this might be leading us to the Shrine of the Failed as all of these three names refer to Pathfinders might have failed their test there.”
You decide to visit the Shrine of the Failed.
Erected centuries ago by an unknown organization, the Shrine of the Failed is a dour complex that pays homage to those who failed in their attempts to overcome the Test of the Starstone.
* * * * * * *
E1. Antechamber
This monumental chamber stretches eighty feet from end to end, with a ceiling suspended thirty feet from the floor by great pillars.
Seven arched passages lead to humble rooms, each of which contains a polished stone altar dedicated to one of the failed aspirants who attempted the Test of the Starstone.
The columns here provide cover to creatures hiding behind them.
E2a–E2g. Altars of Failed Supplicants
Each of these chambers contains a small stone altar to one of the failed aspirants. Each altar stands upon a raised dais and bears a small brass nameplate identifying the aspirant and the would-be-god’s areas of interest.
* * * * * * *
As you enter the Antechamber you notice that it is quite empty. Three acolytes that are walking by are talking with great urgency.
"Oh dear, I had already heard about Sir Reinhart when I was in the Wounded Wisp, but as I entered the Shrine earlier today I saw Sir Reinhart, a Mendevian crusader, preparing himself. I tell you ... he is intent on becoming a god, and wants to attempt the Test of the Starstone."
The other acolyte looks flabbergasted "Oh dear, I can already imagine the story being told tomorrow 'As the valiant — and utterly doomed—knight prepared to charge his steed across the chasm outside Starstone Cathedral, the inevitable happened ...'"
You do not know what will happen but this occurrence has obviously led to you having almost unrestricted access to the Shrine of the Failed. The city guard and what few caretakers the shrine has have left to watch Sir Reinhart’s potentially ill-fated attempt.
Perception
You check all the names and after 15 minutes Sophia sees that the area E2f holds several shrines, among them those of Doulgonlir Caskmail, Hollis 'Evil Grin' Thorne, and Karina Clamp.
After Ouita’s suggestion, the group starts to check the area where the names are.
Perception
Sharimus starts searching and through great observation also discovers a secret door hidden by an illusion against the room’s west wall, though you can’t see any means to unseal the door.
Due to the fact that Keiko joins the search you also see that something is off with the name plate of Doulgonlir Caskmail.
You look at the name plate again and see that it can be slid aside.
Behind the name plate you all see a miniature chalkboard and a thin piece of chalk.