After some struggles with the tentacles, they eventually disspipate and you are able to explore the room.
The skeletons have masterwork chain shirts, lucerne hammers and (for some reason) 175gp each.
The gnome necromancer has a spellbook with many spells.
Also, apotion of barkskin +2, potion of blur, +1 gnome hooked hammer, amulet of natural armor +1, belt of incredible dexterity +2, cloak of resistance +1, headband of vast intelligence +2, ring of protection +1, spell component pouch and 130 gp.
A thorough search of Ellux’s pockets reveals, in addition to the gear he is carrying, the following note: “The time for the king’s ascension draws near sooner than anticipated. Prepare your army to march south as quickly as possible. Do not agitate the warriors of Kalsgard; let your passage south be a whisper.”
Beyond that, the room appears to be a space for experimenting with various way to create undead.
Of course, being curious Pathfinders, the group examines the inner chamber as well.
This small room contains a dirty but soft bed with black silk sheets, a desk and chair, a nightstand, a dresser, a bookshelf, and a chamber pot in one corner. The desk is quite tidy, but bears an open book next to an inkwell and quill. A dust-covered but fine rug fills the center of the room.
It further goes on to describe his vision for a kingdom of the gnomes, and the fact that he believes the Lands of the Linnorm Kings’ close ties to the First World makes the land the rightful property of the gnomes. Frustrated at his inability to find traction with this scheme amongst other gnomes, Ellux turned to necromancy to build an undead army (comprised of gnomes and traditional gnome allies, of course), and claim the kingdom by force.
After a hundred pages or so of Ellux’s frustrations and failures in the art of necromancy, the journal picks up again when the gnome records meeting with a mysterious gnome who introduced herself as Niosh. Niosh offered Ellux training in necromancy in exchange for providing an army of undead minions at a future date. The power-hungry gnome agreed, but quickly began to regret his decision as Niosh proved a demanding creditor, soon forcing Ellux to increase his production of undead far beyond the rate he had been capable of and threatening dire consequences should he fail to do so. The last few weeks of the book detail how Ellux happened upon the ghost of Humush Mum, attempted to control her magically, failed, and ultimately resorted to kidnapping her family and holding them hostage to ensure the ghost’s obedience.
Although most of the furniture is of cheap construction and all of it has seen better days due to time spent in this earthen cave, the surprisingly lush carpet in the room can be sold for 300 gp if the dirt is shaken off.
|
Sleeping Sword sheathes his blade with a prayer of thanks to Shizuru. After making certain that the rest of the pathfinders are safe, her turns his attention back to the necromancer. He sighs sadly as he flicks through the journal.
"It is misguided folly to believe that one can control so much death. Ellux's destination was inevitable. Now, we must find this 'Niosh' and the would-be king in the south.
Let us inform Quill of our findings. Perhaps she knows who Niosh might be?"
With that, he leans on his scabbard and closes his eyes. "Zzzzz.....zzzzz"
As you return to the land of the living, you visit Quil to inform her of your success. As you arrive, before you can speak, she applauds you all, "Well done, well done! Hummush Mum's spirit felt Shost's soul depart and she too was freed from this mundane realm. She appeared to say farewell to her family and she asked me to pass on her thanks, and that I will!"
The gnome is giddy with joy and hugs each of you in turn, "Thank you, thank you, thank you: we owe you and your Society a great debt of gratitude!"
---
After all of this, you cross the river back to the Iceferry Lodge and are met by Venture Captain Bjersig Torrsen. He congratulates you on your success and keeps hold of the journal, "I will do what I can to investigate this Niosh: any news will go to you, you can be assured of that."
---
Finally, as you depart the Iceferry Lodge, you notice a large throng of people milling about and chattering excitedly. When you head over to investigate, you discover that the crowd has grown up around a crier from Kalsgard, across the river, who is loudly repeating the following message:
“Hear ye, hear ye! Thira Ash-Eyes, the youngest daughter of the mighty and wise Linnorm King Sveinn Blood-Eagle, has just returned to Kalsgard triumphant after a mighty quest! She was seen bearing the head of a ferocious linnorm through the gates of the city, announcing her claim to her father’s throne!”
Each time the crier finishes, an eruption of questions and comments bursts forth from the crowd: cries of jubilation; cheers for the new Linnorm King; angry cries that it’s a trick or that Thira cheated; demands to know what type of linnorm it was, if she was wounded, how her siblings and father responded to the news; and so on. But the messenger has no further information to provide, which does nothing to quell rampant rumor and speculation. Exaggerated stories spread through the town like wildfire, such that by the time the you are boarding your boat to head home, you hear rumors that Thira has been proven a fraud, that she has slain all her brothers and sisters, that her father had disowned her, and that she has already taken the throne as her father plans for his final quest.
