Sam growls in frustration as the passageway ahead is quickly clogged with other Pathfinders and instead keeps an eye out behind for more of the Tower Girls. Or anything else in this place that might try to sneak up behind the group.
Faced with the same dilemma as Sam, Umazura holds her position.
With nobody sneaking up on the mustached man just yet, Sam turns on a heel and slips behind the dwarf to get within punching range.
Hearing a battle ensue on the other side of the wall, Axton rushes to the other door and flings it open, hoping to be able to join in from there.
Umazura follows the sorcerer and heads through the door, moving in behind the enemy.
Umazura finds her blade stuck in the door frame.
Ayala is getting hammered, that you all have silver weapons has destroyed her edge, she decides to leave and get her revenge later.
She dodges with great acrobatics past Bharack & Umazura
Slipping into the room you entered from she does take Axton's readied Daze spell though.
And staggers to a halt, eyes glazed.
You can now all act again. Curses!
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Normally Bharak would have called out, giving voice to his appreciation for Axton's magical talents. But he was in the zone, and as such his senses were honed completely on the battle they were in. He moved with purpose, each step taken was in preparation for a swing of his hammer. Starting low, he brought it around and up, striking the gang leader square in the back. It was a solid hit, to be sure. Not the kind that the average person could walk away from.
On the off chance that the wererat is alive and still aggressive, Axton tries to follow up his daze spell with a color spray spell. Right in the face.
The skald steps over in the doorway and strikes at the acrobat.
Sam watches the mayhem and nods appreciatively.
Ayala crumples to the floor in a pool of her own blood as Bharak guts her.
She is the last of the Tower girls.
Loot:
MW studded leather,
Bladed Scarf +1,
MW Composite shortbow,
climber’s kit,
grappling hook with 50-foot silk rope,
MW thieves’ tools,
second-story harness
A second-story harness is a series of straps, trusses, and buckles that can be worn over clothing or armor. A second-story harness allows the wearer to, as a move action, secure herself in place on a vertical surface so that both her hands are free.
The wearer can remain in this position without needing to make additional Climb checks, and does not lose her Dexterity bonus to AC as long as she remains anchored. As long as the wearer is anchored in this way, she cannot move and gains a +5 circumstance bonus on Climb checks made to avoid falling whenever she takes damage.
The wearer can release herself to start moving again as a move action. A second-story harness costs 55 gp and weighs 3 pounds.
Treasure: Heaped on a table are sections of wall mural, ancient coins, pieces of jewelry, gems, bits and pieces of pottery, and more for eventual sale in the markets of Magnimar—all treasures the Tower Girls have scavenged from the Crow.
These treasures are worth 900gp in all.
In addition, several journals on the table, written in Varisian, provide details on Ayala’s history with and plans for the Tower Girls, including her increasing frustration at Natalya’s betrayal.
A small chest under the bed in area B23a holds 87gp and 175sp.
Natalya told you of the secret room she found the Shard of pride in which is B23b. In there you find a skeleton, thankfully unmoving.
Natalya found this room and the skeleton, but fell under the curse to the shard before she could perform a complete search.
Loot:
MW chain shirt,
MW Rapier,
Pendent of the Souk
Silk rope 50'
250gp.
This golden pendant is of Qadiran make. Crafted from gold beaten into the image of a lanner falcon and suspended upon a gold chain, it’s the traditional badge of office for the Prince or Princess of the Market in Magnimar’s Bazaar of Sails—although they are often given as rewards to those who are particularly helpful or well-liked by the Prince or Princess.
The wearer of a pendant of the souk gains a +5 competence bonus on Appraise checks. By holding the pendant to her brow, the wearer can gain the effects of an identify spell once per day. Finally, the pendant grows warm in the presence of illusions, granting a +2 insight bonus on saving throws made to disbelieve existing illusion effects.
The Skeleton must be the earthly remains of Nazir Kalmeralm, former Prince of the Market, who disappeared in 4685ar. After gaining possession of the Shard of Pride in a trade with a strange merchant, Nazir fell under the shard’s curse and became obsessed with tracking down the next shard in the sequence.
He told no one of his plans, and set out that evening to seek the second shard—he made it this far before he was attacked by a hungry fog that
once lived in area B23b. He retreated into this room to try to escape, but the fog pursued him through the cracks around the door and killed him.
Since then, his vanishing has endured as one of Magnimar’s great unexplained mysteries.
"Hmm. This skeleton seems familiar," Axton says, inviting an aid another roll.
Bharaz shrugged. Axton must have mistaken him for someone with a formal education.
"Right, so grab the loot and the honored dead, head back to town and drink."
"I shall assist you, Axton. Let us see what we can find out together." She then studies the skeleton a moment and assists the healer in determining what information they may be able to derive from it.
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Elena listens to Axton and Uma as they relay the message on the skeleton. She smiles when it turns out to be a great unsolved secret. "I wonder if he had any family? They would want to know what happened to him, I think. As a former prince of the market, there might be a standing reward for any news on him, too."
She then concentrates and feels around the room for lingering traces of magic. "That said... did I miss anything, or is the second shard not here? I thought it was supposed to be hidden somewhere around these quarters. Though... it might just be me, of course. I'm ah, not really used to all this violence and might be a bit out of it right now..." she looks away, cheeks slightly pink.
The current 'Princess of the market' Sabriyya Kaleralm might be very interested in finally finding out what happened to her father. :)
The entrances to the Irespan's internal chambers are well hidden—they almost seem to prefer to be found by accident rather than by design. So when you stumble across a way into the Crow (one of the Irespan's pilings), Sir Canayven Heidmarch becomes excited. Alas, other
responsibilities prevent him from joining you or mounting his own expedition, and so he settles for the next best thing—he'll reward you for every significant new piece of information they can learn about the ancient empire of Thassilon while you're exploring the Crow.
Reward: The following discoveries each earn a payment of 500 gp once they're reported in writing (with illustrations if possible) to Sir Canayven Heidmarch:
Area B19: Image of Alaznist and Thybidos
B19 This was behind the DC25 History check:
The eastern wall depicts a fresco of a tall, redheaded woman with a ranseur standing over a short, hunch-backed man—the ranseur is impaled in the man’s belly, and his twisted demonic hands clutch at the shaft as black smoke wafts up from his face and wounds. With a successful DC
25 Knowledge (history) check, a PC identifies the woman in the scene as Runelord Alaznist—if the result exceeds 25 by 10 or more, the observer realizes that the man on the ground is Thybidos, the Runelord of Wrath who preceded Alaznist. Images of Thybidos are quite rare—if the PCs
make a good copy of this image (with a successful DC 25 Craft or Profession check of an appropriate type) and give the image to Sheila, she’ll give them a 1,000 gp reward for the discovery. This reward is halved if the PCs only report the existence of the fresco.
I thought DC25 was way too high for second level. My character in the live game had Craft Paintings just so she could draw everything the party found. :)
Once you've reported and rested up. And done any shopping or other activities in Magnimar you can head back and work on the door. Let me know when you are ready?
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"Actually... come to think of it, didn't he have a daughter who is the current prince, or princess, of the market? Maybe Sheila can arrange a meeting with her, where we can hand over her father's remains. Might improve relations between the Pathfinder Society and the merchants here if we play it officially?" Elena suggests, then shrugs. "Not really my area of expertise, though."
It was a strange feeling, being at the funeral for a half-orc. He didn't know the woman, and he was a dwarf. These two facts made his presence feel all the more out of place. But...it was not like anyone else seemed to really know her, and given that she was from Koldukar originally and the nomadic Shoanti tribes thereafter, it wasn't like it was possible to send the body back. It didn't even seem like either of the groups would want the corpse, so it was left to the pathfinders to bury their own. For Bharak, he felt an odd kinship to this. Of knowing that when his death would come there would be nobody who would want to claim his body. Knowing that the pathfinders, at least, would treat him with respect, regardless of his past, was enough to instill loyalty in him. He was, afterall, Slagsun, to his own people. But to the pathfinders, he was an agent. If even someone like Gul, a bloodthirsty tusker by all accounts, would be treated with respect, then it meant that there was hope for him as well. That she was buried with her armor and shield was certainly a nice touch. Knowing that haunts existed meant that the dead could care about what happened to their remains after they passed. He hoped that she would approve.
When the funeral was over, Bharak spent his time sampling what food and drink was available. Because a new mission was coming. Which meant gold or death, so why not use some of the latter now?
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It was a strange feeling, being at the funeral for a half-orc. He didn't know the woman, and he was a dwarf. These two facts made his presence feel all the more out of place. But...it was not like anyone else seemed to really know her, and given that she was from Koldukar originally and the nomadic Shoanti tribes thereafter, it wasn't like it was possible to send the body back. It didn't even seem like either of the groups would want the corpse, so it was left to the pathfinders to bury their own. For Bharak, he felt an odd kinship to this. Of knowing that when his death would come there would be nobody who would want to claim his body. Knowing that the pathfinders, at least, would treat him with respect, regardless of his past, was enough to instill loyalty in him. He was, afterall, Slagsun, to his own people. But to the pathfinders, he was an agent. If even someone like Gul, a bloodthirsty tusker by all accounts, would be treated with respect, then it meant that there was hope for him as well. That she was buried with her armor and shield was certainly a nice touch. Knowing that haunts existed meant that the dead could care about what happened to their remains after they passed. He hoped that she would approve.
When the funeral was over, Bharak spent his time sampling what food and drink was available. Because a new mission was coming. Which meant gold or death, so why not use some of the latter now?
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Elena lingered near the back for most the Gul's burial, wondering if she could have done something different to spare the half-orc this fate. She'd seemed to strong, untouchable in a way. But in what felt like an instant, the tables had turned on her and she was gone.
That was the life of a Pathfinder, she supposed. Danger could be everywhere. Exploring dangerous ruins and such often came at a high cost.
But... she had to live it. For her brother. She was already well on her way to becoming a hardened adventurer like him, it seemed, judging by the trail of bodies behind her these last two days.
"Rest well, Gul. May you find the recognition for your skills that you didn't find here in the afterlife. Please forgive us."
After the ceremony, she approaches the other members and Sheila. "We should find the princess of the markets and let her know of her father's demise. And if we're at the center of commerce anyway, we can resupply there and head back quickly, before someone else has a chance to open the door. Unless anyone has a different suggestion?"
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"She was a fierce warrior," Axton said of Gul at her funeral. "A warrior who was driven to excel in her craft and express her pride in her skill. Speaking of skills, she wanted to pursue acrobatics. She never told me this directly, but she dropped a few hints. She wanted to round out her already impressive physical capabilities.
"But as we all know, the life of a Pathfinder is unpredictable, and none of us predicted how this Pathfinder's life would end. But I like to think that she's out there in the appropriate afterlife where adventurers of questionable morality are welcomed, learning from cartwheels and handstands from her ancestors.
"Amen."
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When you are ready you return to the Crow. This time several boats accompany you. Several scholars are overjoyed to be seeing new Thassilonian relics and workings. They will be studying where you have already been while you continue deeper into the Crow.
The party returns to B22.
B22. The Siccatite Doors
A massive pair of double doors dominates the western end of this spearhead-shaped chamber. These doors are made of a silvery metal decorated with images of burning eyes that look inward toward two sets of runes carved onto the face of each door. The walls bear the remains of complex mosaics that once covered much of them, but which has crumbled
and collapsed in heaps of colored tiles and debris around the edges of the room.
These double doors are stone sheathed in a layer of hot siccatite, one of the seven types of skymetal.
There are two different sets of runes on each door. The left set spells “LISTEN” while the right spells “THE EYES.”
To open the door each doors word or words must be rearranged to spell something else. What are you trying?
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Elena is a bit uncomfortable about all the scholars and their guards following them on the way back, but as far as she knew, there was nothing they could really do to stop them. Unless they decided to interfere with their mission and the group had to fight back, that was.
Once at the top, she takes a while to think about the anamgrams.
"Inlets? Tinsel? Silent? Enlist?' The first one has lots of possibilities..." The priestess thinks out loud.
"The second part has less meaningful ones I think? 'They see?' 'Yet hese'? Is 'hese' a word?" she wonders. "'Seth yee'? I think he is an Osirian god so that doesn't make sense...'These ye'? 'Sheet ye?' Hm..."
She shrugs. "Silent they see?" "Enlist these ye?" Those seem like the best ones I can come up with now. I'd say we try Silent They See first as that sounds more spooky. ...Though the second one implies forced servitude so maybe that one is too..."
Looking over the original configuration one last time, she nods. "It has a nice ring to it. "Listen - the eyes, Silent they see."
With a few moments of muttering and puzzling it out Elena rearranges the runes and you watch as the slab separates, becoming a door not an obstacle.
B24. Abandoned Foyer
The Thassilonian murals here are as vibrant as if they were painted
yesterday. A dusty, cobweb-choked corridor runs northward.
This room has lain undisturbed since Earthfall, but holds little of interest. The stairs to the north descend to area B25.
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"Well done, lass." Bharaz said. "If I had to figure that out, most of ye would have died of old age. Ach. This place is as dusty as a forgotten mine."
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"Thanks, Bharak! That means a lot to me, coming from an experienced Pathfinder like you," The half-elven priestess responds, beaming. She'd only seen him one-shot enemies thusfar, usually with massive overkill. In her mind, Bharak seemed on a way higher level than the rest of the team. "Just, ah, don't move ahead too far, please? I don't want to round the corner to find another of my teammates dead..."
"These murals are ancient, yet incredibly vibrant and detailed. Masterfully painted... the loss of this artist must have been a painful one to Golarion. Though at least their work endures," she continues, studying their work with the eye of a fellow artist.
Axton is silent as he stared wide-eyed at the ancient Thassilonian murals. It seems as if he's trying to glean more lore from them than they can offer. It's a good thing he's not leading the way.
B25. Ancient Bath
A green, scum-covered pool extends across the far end of this room. Passages exit to the sides, and curving stairs rise to a balcony over the south end of the room. The floor and walls are streaked with dark smears of guano in thick layers.
The pool was once a heated bath, but now holds only 3 feet of filthy, algae-covered water—and something more. The pool is the home of a pair of giant amoebas. These oozes feed on the bats—they snatch a few every dawn
and every dusk as the bats fly in and out of this room.
What are you doing now?
"Careful." Bharak said, rejoining the group. "Stale water down there has giant gooey monsters. Looks like they eat the bats here, and I wouldn't be surprised if they mistake us for a snack as well. Let's sneak around, if at all possible. Isn't worth picking a fight with mindless and treasureless monsters, aye?"
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"Yeah, you're right. And if we can sneak past, maybe they would deter people out who wouldn't survive further inside," Elena suggests, then tries sneaking about. She unfortunately wasn't that good at it despite her elven heritage, but the Sihedron shard she was carrying seemed to steer her a bit, which she hoped would be enough.
"Well done, Elena. Now let us see what we have uncovered." With her shield and sword in hand, she moves in with the others.
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Elena flinches as an ancient bit of loose stone cracks under her boot and the oozes notice her.
Fortunately, they turn out to be very weak.
"Ah... sorry, everyone," she says, blushing slightly. "Thanks for your assistance, though!"
She decides to take a look around with her senses and detect magic now that the room is empty anyway, then suggests checking the south room first.
"The southern room it is." Umazura then heads that way after the others.
B26. Cistern
This room is littered with desiccated fish carcasses and a few larger bodies, and the ground is a thick, sticky sheet of webbing. A narrow tunnel exits the chamber to the north, while to the southwest, the room opens into a forty-foot diameter silo-like chamber from which the sound of sloshing water can be heard.
Any efforts to remain stealthy are pointless, the two Giant water spiders feasting on a recently captured dolphin have felt the vibrations of your foot steps and are ready for you.
Both the vermin attack as Bharak enters.
Their over eager attacks both miss wildly.
The Party may now act!
”Fall back!” The dwarf called out. ”Mindless beasts they be. Make the choke point work for us!”
[ooc]Would like to attack and 5ft step back (can do that, right?) but need party members move. If space can be made then I’ll go ahead with it[/oox]
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Elena nods and makes use of her experience fighting in those same narrow corridors thusfar. With a very, VERY *ever* so careful thrust, she brings her many-ended spear to bear against the eastern water spider, steering it harmlessly past Umazaura.
Unfortunately, the spider was too quick and dodged the blow.
Where to now?
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"Good call there, Bharak," Elana says as the party wipes their weapons of spider blood through mundane or magical means. She can't deny being slightly disappointed at the lack of any significant findings in the room she suggested, but such was life. "Well, that leaves only one way for us to go to. Up north it is!"