Good evening sir. We're here to meet with Mistress Tavvar about her research. Would you be so kind as to direct us to her lab?
"Mistress Tavvar? It is after hours. Unless you are staff or otherwise authorized for special access, then I am afraid you will have to come back tomorrow at opening hours. " replies Chayron.
"Oh, Pathfinders? Why didn't you just say so?" Chayron says, as he opens the door and directs the party to the unobtrusive staircase
in the museum's northeast corner. "Tavvar has been performing her research on the third floor."
Leading you up the steps to the second floor in the eastern edge of the museum near the bathrooms, Chayron grows somewhat troubled.
"I am sensing some odd manifestations in the museum," he says with an uneasy voice. "Though, I assume that Tavvar has matters under control."
He pauses on the steps for you all to pass by, urging you to the proceed up the steps and into the second floor.
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Arturo moves ahead slowly, keeping an eye out for anything 'odd.' He's not particularly familiar with magic, though he's studied it academically, so he isn't entirely sure what 'odd' might be when it comes to the arcane. Seems a bit... subjective, he thinks with a bemused frown.
He moves up to the end of the hall and peers in both directions.
The ceilings on this second floor of the Blakros Museum rise fifteen
feet above you, hedged within stone masonry walls. Even though it is after hours, the museum enjoys normal illumination thanks to dozens of continual flame spells suspended in hanging braziers.
These are now marked "1", "2", "3", and "4" in white on the Map.
A chill draft sweeps through the room, and of a whispery voice echoes from the podium. “...and rather than engage in a responsible, controlled study of the codebook, Yargos Gill decided—imprudently—to simply execute the signals listed therein...” The voice trails off into a looming silence.
"Drinks ahoy! Shall I spice up one for you?”
The shadowy manifestations continues on as if following a predetermined script--one you find familiar.
The spellbook pages and display items are nonmagical replicas of the genuine artifacts, themselves securely locked in the vaults in the museum’s basement.
The shadow then appear to turn toward the shadows cast by your own forms, as if ready to pounce upon and devour them!
The half-orc pays no heed to the Pathfinders, but goes about carrying on her business. As Arturo and Duncan cast their eyes on Calisro, she grows somewhat transparent and the two realize that they are witnessing a shadow manifestation of their own memories here.
As they linger in the room, Arturo sees the figure of Janira Gavix, then that of Eando Kline. Duncan sees the face of Aaqir al-Hakam, hearing the Qadiran man comment on Duncan's passage through the mountains of Isger.
Clearly, what you are seeing and hearing are echoes of past conversations with individuals from the party.
The activities of the manifestations are immutable and they don’t interact with you in any way. However, their existence points to the release or manipulation of some shadowy energy source or sources nearby.
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Arturo frowns. "Seems to me as if perhaps something from Tavvar's experimentation is bleeding shadow energy. Perhaps we should be quick about our inspection of the museum so we may make haste upstairs."
He doesn't want to leave the museum unexplored--partly out of a need to make sure this ritual hasn't stirred up unexpected trouble down here, and partly out of his own insatiable curiosity--but that doesn't mean they should dally. If there's shadow magic leaking down to the next floor, it might be significantly worse upstairs.
With the remainder of this floor explored and few questions answered, the party heads into an expansive gallery where a gigantic reptilian beast is on display, ferociously leering over the collection of taxidermy animals and monsters. Shadows flit between the displays, meandering and shuffling shapes reminiscent of museum patrons. Then a distant shriek echoes off the walls, as the shadow of a stuffed owlbear lashes out at one of the shadow-visitors with its talons. The shadow of the tyrannosaur in the room’s center departs from its source and snaps at the misty image of another patron, tossing its head back and seeming to swallow its meal nearly whole. Other shadows snarl and hiss, scuffling amongst themselves as shadow-guests panic and run toward the exit.
The shadow then appear to turn toward the shadows cast by your own forms, as if ready to pounce upon and devour them!
The effect is very easily unnerving, providing encouragement to hurry
to confront Tavvar on the third floor.
As you near the top of the steps of the third floor, droning voices echo off the mahogany walls and domed, plaster ceiling of a luxurious room. The sumptuous furniture has been pushed to the sides of the room, making space for eldritch markings and mystical paraphernalia laid carefully over the plush carpet. The chamber seems muted and dim despite the crystal chandelier overhead, and a bonenumbing chill seeps through the space along with a metallic scent. A ritual is obviously underway here, but it doesn’t seem as though it’s working as planned. Shadowy energy lashes out from a twisting breach in the center of the room, and indistinct shapes flit and scuttle along the walls.
Larger map of 3rd floor now on Slides with PC tokens placed in Marching Order.
A scholarly, white-haired woman, who you surmise must be Tavvar, stands at the head of the circle, her face twisted in a determined grimace, while her assistants each frantically continue their gestures and chants.
Pictures of Tavvar and her assistants are now on Slides.
This group appears to be involved in a ritual, one that is obviously wearing them down and has them too occupied to engage with you in any way. The flawed ritual emits surges of shadowy energy and opens tiny breaches into the Shadow Plane. Seven flaws have appeared in the ritual circle, dancing like shadowy flames. Upon your arrival, the process seems to accelerate and stir up the shadows even further!
You are able to repair one of the flaws in the ritual!
THROWING SOME SHADE AROUND! - Round One Begins
Arturo
Duncan
Ritual (hazard)
Materius
Callie
Tavvar (green) 21 HP
Assistant (blue) 14 HP
Assistant (red) 14 HP
Assistant (yellow) 14 HP
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Seeing that one of the assistants is shockingly young Arturo rushes to try and help him first, looking over the strange tear in hopes of doing something to stop it.
♦ Stride 25 ft.
♦ Stride 20 ft.
♦
"The flaws!" he calls. "We must seal them or the ritual will kill the participants! Look out for wisps!"
Seeing that one of the assistants is shockingly young
Arturo quickly assesses the situation. Confronted with the horror before him, Duncan has difficulty dealing with the ritual at first, but soon manages to repair one of the flaws.
Suddenly, a surge of shadowy energy erupts from the flawed circle, sweeping through its participants including Duncan who has now meddled in the ritual!
Tavvar and her assistants each cry out as the negative energy overtakes them!
As Arturo anticipated, the ritual’s surge of energy brings a shadow wisp into the room.
The wisp's dark shape flies toward Duncan and lashes at the Pathfinder with a shadowy tendril repeatedly!
THROWING SOME SHADE AROUND! - Round One Cont'd/Round Two Begins
Materius
Callie
Arturo
Duncan
Ritual (hazard)
Tavvar (green) 15 HP
Assistant (blue) 8 HP
Assistant (red) 8 HP
Assistant (yellow) 8 HP
Callie moves to the top of the stairs, where she can now see what is going on. Spotting the Wisp attacking Duncan, she unleashes a Ray of Frost at the Wisp.
Callie's ray strike true, chilling the wisp considerably!
Arturo jumps in front of the young man before the blast can hit him.
Arturo takes the brunt of the shadowy energy, protecting the young assistant but throwing off his attempt to repair the ritual.
Son of a...
Duncan, too, takes a wave of shadowy energy, throwing off his attack as well as his attempt to repair the ritual.
THROWING SOME SHADE AROUND! - Round One Cont'd/Round Two Begins
Matherius
Callie
Arturo -6 HP
Duncan -12 HP
Ritual (hazard) -1 flaw
Shadowy wisp -14 HP
Tavvar (green) 15 HP
Assistant (blue) 8 HP
Assistant (red) 14 HP
Assistant (yellow) 8 HP
Matherius heads up the stairs, moving to help one of the assistants.
The Pathfinder then tries to bolster Tavvar's confidence in order to repair the ritual. "Due not hesitate, Tavvar. We are here to help. You have what it takes to see this ritual brought under control."
He manages to repair another flaw just as another wave of shadowy energy overtakes the ritualists.
As the shadowy wave continues, a second wisp emerges from it!
The initial wisp concentrates its efforts on Duncan.
A shadowy tendril reaches out and wraps around Duncan.
The tendril slips and the creature attempts to snare Duncan a second time.
The second wisp flies toward Arturo and attempts to wrap around him.
The tendril misses and the creature lashes out a second time.
Arturo artfully avoids the attacks!
THROWING SOME SHADE AROUND! - Round Two Cont'd/Round Three Begins
Matherius -6 HP
Callie
Arturo -6 HP
Duncan -14 HP
Ritual (hazard) -2 flaws
Shadowy wisp -14 HP
Shadowy wisp (white)
Tavvar (green) 11 HP
Assistant (blue) 4 HP
Assistant (red) 10 HP
Assistant (yellow) 4 HP
Arturo's shot misses the newly-arrived wisp and his efforts fail to fix the flaw.
THROWING SOME SHADE AROUND! - Round Two Cont'd/Round Three Begins
Matherius -6 HP
Callie
Arturo -8 HP
Duncan -14 HP
Ritual (hazard) -2 flaws
Shadowy wisp -14 HP
Shadowy wisp (white)
Tavvar (green) 11 HP
Assistant (blue) 4 HP
Assistant (red) 10 HP
Assistant (yellow) 4 HP
Staving off the wave of negative energy, Duncan decisively downs the wisp. As the wisp dissipates, so does more of the ritual's energy.
The effect is enough to allow Tavvar and her assistants, each of which is has been struggling to keep a flaw in the ritual contained, to gain control. The shadowy energy within the room retreats to a singular point, then disappears.
Exhausted, Tavvar nearly falls to the ground, but manages to recover herself long enough to say, "Th-thank you, whoever you are! Your arrival here was well-timed and your help controlling the ritual are much appreciated. Were there some way that I could repay you, I would gladly do so."
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"What was the ritual supposed to accomplish, anyway?" Arturo asks. He pulls out his two elixirs of life and hands one to Duncan. He intended to drink the other himself, but upon noticing the extent of Duncan's injuries, he hands the swashbuckler both elixirs.
He then opens his satchel. "Come on out, Anansi, I need your help for a moment." the weird mech/meat spider pops out of the bag and skitters onto Arturo's arm. A small compartment opens in its chest with an unhealthy squelching noise, releasing two small vials of some murky gray liquid. Arturo takes one and puts the other back, prompting Anansi to whir happily before skittering back into the satchel. Arturo pops open the vial, deftly adds what looks like hair and a toothpick to it, shakes it violently (dissolving whatever he threw inside) and with a grimace, he downs it.
"What was the ritual supposed to accomplish, anyway?" Arturo asks.
”I’ve been working on a ritual to create partially real shadow illusion manifestations of existing and residual memories drawn from people, places, and things for the purposes of allowing them to be viewed by others.” Tavvar explains. ”However, the ritual at present tends to pull an unpredictable amount of shadow energy from the Plane of Shadow, which—as you may have noticed—tends to drag other material—or creatures—along with it. I’ve been testing the ritual’s effects in the Blakros Museum, both due to that location’s longstanding ties to the Plane of Shadow and because the museum has an intricate series of wards and protective measures to guard against a variety of supernatural mishaps. Although, after that ordeal, it would seem that the museum could use to have a few more safeguards in place.”
Watching the party reach for their elixirs, Tavvar produces one of her own. “This is a lesser mistform elixir. I used thisshadowy elixir as a focus for the ritual, but the items remains unharmed. I am sorry that I have nothing more to offer you, but please, take it.”
While the timing is incredibly fortunate, the reason for our visit is fairly mundane. We are here to extend a formal offer from the Pathfinder Society for you to come join us.
“An offer of membership within the Pathfinder Society?” Tavvar replies, clearly unable to hold her excitement. “Why, yes! Of course! I would be honored to accept and most grateful that you would find me worthy of such esteemed membership.”
With the offer accepted, it is not long before Fola Barun is notified. Trusting your judgement, she hopes that Tavvar will be a valuable member of the Society.
With only the task given to the party by Gorm Greathammer remaining unfinished, the party heads to Precipice Quarter. En route, Duncan asks around, uncovering rumors that the Mavedarus estate was built generations ago, and that a series of disappearances and deaths in and around the house began before it was even completed. The house remained in the possession of the original Chelaxian family--said to be skillful soulbound dollmakers--and was passed down through the generations until it was abandoned after the earthquake that shook Absalom in 4698 AR, sending most of Beldrin’s Bluff into the sea.
Finding your way to the estate, you find the remnants of what was once a grand, three-story structure with a rooftop veranda and manicured grounds. Now, only the first floor remains standing, the second and third stories having collapsed during the earthquake, and in the years of neglect since, the grounds have grown into a wild disarray.
Map of estate now available on Slides.
This old home might have once commanded the respect and envy of its neighbors, but the remaining story is cracked and crumbling. Whatever upper stories it might have once had have long collapsed, scattering stone and debris across gardens grown wild and weedy. Two curving staircases lead to a broad veranda bereft of its railings. Two openings that might have once been doors lead into the faint remnants of a solarium, while two more doors lead further into the creaking house itself. A whiff of rot and decay seeps from the structure.
Duncan pauses to chat several times as the group grows ever closer to the wreckage.
Duncan draws his sword and pushes past at the top of the stairs.If you'll excuse me, I need to be a touch closer for whatever horror is bound to spring out at us.
Matherius follows close behind the others.
The party makes its way to the doors to the crumbling estate, seeing they have various rooms that they can explore.
The six rooms that can be explored are now numbered in yellow on the map.
Exploration Mode marching order
To get to the doors to two of the inner rooms, both Callie and Arturo pass through a small portion of a much larger room , which contains a marble-tiled floor.
All who pass through this portion can glimpse portions of the larger chamber, which includes ornate columns and sweeping staircases. This once-grand hall evokes a distinctly Taldan aesthetic, though the finery has suffered greatly over the past years. The marble floor tiles are cracked and filthy, and the statuary lining the walls has been smashed. None of the three staircases climbs beyond head level before ending abruptly, debris from their fallen upper reaches scattered across the floor.
Callie will move to the doors to room 1, but wait for someone else to join before entering.
Callie opens the door before her, which leads into the remains of an expansive parlor . A large, long-cold fireplace stands in the east wall, but the furnishings within the room are all rotted. A dank stench of mold lingers in the air. The ceiling overhead has collapsed, leaving the room open to the sky. The floor in the room’s southern end has followed suit, leaving a gaping hole into darkness.
Arturo nods at Callie. "Not a bad idea. Let's split up, but keep within shouting distance in case of trouble." He moves to the room just north of the doors Callie is standing at. "Matherius? Mind joining me?" Once the bard is by his side, he steps into the room to take a look around.
Upon opening the door, Arturo spies the remnants of what was a once-fine dining room . The furniture in this room has been crushed by the debris falling from the floors above. What remains is sodden and mostly unidentifiable.
Callie will cast Light and approach the colapsed floor, moving slowly incase the floor starts to give way.
The sharp-eyed Pathfinder notices more rotting boards are around the edges of the pit, ready to give way.
As Callie exits the room and re-enters the hall , she begins to hear faint scratching sounds coming from beneath the floorboards. The scratching makes a hollow, clinking sound reminiscent of wood hitting against porcelain.
You recognize the scratching sounds as indicative of a haunt. Applying the appropriate rites, you are able to exorcize the spirits. As you do so, tiny, illusory hands covering in rotting flesh tear from the floorboards, attempting to claw at your legs. Flesh flaking off the rotting reveals smooth porcelain underneath.
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Arturo lights a torch of his own asks if Matherius has a torch or light spell. Once he has a light source, he scans the room, stepping up to the two northern doors, checking them over before looking over the sofa.
After finishing his inspection, he beckons the bard to follow him back out into the much larger hall .
He shakes his head. "Maybe? This old mansion is very creaky, it's hard to say."
Callie will move across the large room (3) to just outside the door to room 4.
As soon as Callie exits the room, entering into the hallway a second time , illusory, rotting hands tear upward, coming through the floorboards! Flesh flakes off the rotting hands reveals smooth porcelain underneath. The phantasmal hands burst out from the floor beneath Callie, tearing into her legs, clawing at them, and leaving real wounds, which begin to bleed!
FAILING TO KEEP ONES HANDS TO ONESELF! - Round One Begins
Callie -8 HP
Duncan
Arturo
Matherius