None of the windows are open.
Disable device needed or just breaking a window.
You enter the house.
It also seems as if someone has tried to move newspapers dating to years back into the basement, but you realize that ever since the local printers changed the thickness of their publication, the newspapers are left on the doorstep. Maybe because the newspapers could not be pulled through the door slot somebody eventually settled for leaving the newer papers neatly piled beside the door?!
You of course check the room where the assumed inhabitant of the house is reading his books in the study. But the first sentences that you exchange with him reveals that this is merely an illusion.
Also the image of the same smiling gnome in the north-eastern room is only an illusion as it seems that an interaction beyond smiling is not possible.
During an examination of the table in the southwest corner Sandi reveals a neatly penned letter.
--
PLAYER HANDOUT #5: FIMBRIK’S NOTE
Well, you got me!
I’m not here anymore, and my house is filled with an incredible array of illusions to discourage the curious. But you just had to break in. I respect your gumption and assume you’re either a petty burglar or someone looking into Eylysia’s affairs.
I’ve left Absalom to look for my friend, for she’s been missing for some time; however, I’ve attached the name of a particular Pathfinder you’ll want to investigate at the Wall of Names at the Society Grand Lodge. I assure you, it’s quite important, but I’ll leave you to figure out why.
Oh, and the password. It’s ‘Wiffle.’ You’ll find it important, should you learn where to use it.
—The Illustrious Fimbrik
--
Underneath the letter is a hastily scrawled note in similar handwriting, which contains a name: Doulgonlir Caskmail
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”It looks like someone had been pulling the newspapers through the slot in the door up until a couple of years ago when the thickness of the paper was changed which meant the couldn’t do that anymore. There are years worth of old editions in the basement. I wonder if there is still someone here in a hiding place?”
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”Good spot Twitchy. According to this letter Fimbrik is off looking for Eylysia, and we should go and investigate one of the names she added to the Wall of Names.So I guess that’s our next logical stop…Although, I do wonder if there is any more to find here, like what’s going on with these newspapers, is there still someone in the house? We should also try and patch up poor Fimbriks window before we leave if we can.”
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Kalak nods in appreciation to Twitchy, thank you again my friend. I imagine we could get a bunch of newspapers from the basement to patch up the window. And we could see who’s been pulling them into the house? kalak proceeds to look around the rest of this floor as well to make sure they haven’t missed anything.
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”Good spot Twitchy. According to this letter Fimbrik is off looking for Eylysia, and we should go and investigate one of the names she added to the Wall of Names.So I guess that’s our next logical stop…Although, I do wonder if there is any more to find here, like what’s going on with these newspapers, is there still someone in the house? We should also try and patch up poor Fimbriks window before we leave if we can.”
"To be honest, straightening the exterior just a touch is a very smart idea. No one notices a mess, and no one notices it's gone ... except someone who is noticing. Watching. It would send a very subtle message in case the gnome or Eylysia are keeping an eye on things.
Evindyl thinks for just a moment
"and if we had a way to leave our own note, here in the house, I would do that also. Something, 'Message received ... and we will be back to finish fixing the wondow.' something like that"
Additionally, you find two long-forgotten potions sitting on the
northwest windowsill.
Potion of cure moderate wounds
Potion of lesser restoration
The basement is empty.
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.
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"The three names Eylysia added were Doulgonlir Caskmail, Hollis 'Evil Grin' Thorne and Karina Camp. Lets see if we can find them, especially Doulgonlir, as that was the one Fimbrik specifically mentioned we should look into."
Thaelen then starts scanning the wall for the three names.
Evin takes a different section and does the same ...
Perception
Twitchy and Evin have unbelievably keen eyes as they 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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"Yes, Yargos Gill the historian mentioned to me that Sir Reinhart is going to attempt the Test. He also mentioned that he had been researching failed aspirants and had been looking into some recent discoveries. Perhaps he may be able to shed some more light on the inscriptions? From my conversation with him earlier I got the impression that he is likely to be more responsive if we frame any request as an opportunity for him to be involved in an important discovery and to learn about ancient secrets, rather than a simple request to help out the society."
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"Thinking about it, if we can work out which failed aspirant each of these inscriptions relates to, perhaps if we investigate the associated shrine it may provide us with some further information. I specifically think we should investigate the shrine linked to the phrase related to Doulgonlir Caskmail."
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 have left to watch Sir Reinhart’s potentially ill-fated attempt.
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Thaelen waits for the three acolytes to leave before whispering to his companions.
"Much as I would love to watch Sir Reinharts attempt at the Test of the Starstone, I think it may provide us with a unique opportunity to investigate this place in private. Let’s take a look at these shrines and see if any of them contain information which links them back to the lines on the wall of names. I also just realised that some of the words on the Wall were underlined, 'sacrifice', 'fish and bountiful sea' and 'rot', perhaps these link back to specific interests of some of the failed aspirants? If so we should look for the one linked to 'sacrifice' as that's the word underlined for Doulgonlir Caskmail."
Thaelen then walks towards the nearest shrine to investigate it.
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Thaelen waits for the three acolytes to leave before whispering to his companions.
"Much as I would love to watch Sir Reinharts attempt at the Test of the Starstone, I think it may provide us with a unique opportunity to investigate this place in private. Let’s take a look at these shrines and see if any of them contain information which links them back to the lines on the wall of names. I also just realised that some of the words on the Wall were underlined, 'sacrifice', 'fish and bountiful sea' and 'rot', perhaps these link back to specific interests of some of the failed aspirants? If so we should look for the one linked to 'sacrifice' as that's the word underlined for Doulgonlir Caskmail."Thaelen then walks towards the nearest shrine to investigate it.
Evindyl will follow his companions into the shrines.
Perception
You check all the names and after 15 minutes you see that the area E2f holds several shrines, among them those of Doulgonlir Caskmail, Hollis 'Evil Grin' Thorne, and Karina Clamp.
++++++
Twitchy starts searching and he finds the plate with the name Doulgonlir Caskmail 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 Thaelen joins the search she also sees 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.
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"Oh, look, this name plate has got a small chalk board behind it." Thaelen whispers to the others. "I wonder if this is where we need to provide that password? Shall we check it for traps and then give it a go?"
Thaelen waits to see that everyone is ok with that and also any trap checks. Then checks for traps himself, and if it all looks clear writes ‘Wiffle.’ on the chalkboard with the chalk.
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Kalak nods at the skill in which his fellow Pathfinders located the information and were able to piece together the clues. He stands by the others inspecting the doorway, and watches as Thaelen writes on the chalkboard, unlimbering his hammer from his shoulder where he seems ready to react.
Truly, the spirits have blessed each of you in seeking and deciphering these codes. I am far more at home on the Storval Plateau, but I see the worth of what we do here. he adds in admiration for the others.
After the initial idea to write Fimbrik's magical word on the board you proceed and this dispels the illusion concealing the door and causes the stone portal to open.
++++
E3. Cavern
The cavern beyond the secret door is made of stone. Although the cavern has the aesthetic of a natural cave.
You recognize the walls are not natural; rather, someone cleared this area using the stone shape spells.
This cavern is dark but there is some illumination coming from further ahead.
++++
E4. Repository
Several desks are arranged along the northern and eastern edges of this small stone alcove. Whereas the stonework leading to this chamber is rough, the walls in the alcove are polished. A single gem rests among the neatly filed papers on the desk, emitting a soft magical luminescence that brightens the small room.
The gem on the desk is a cut alexandrite worth 550 gp.
You all start searching and looking around.
The paperwork on the desk is a priceless collection of Pathfinder Society lore and information describing dozens of unexplored sites. Most are written in an Azlanti dialect further encrypted using an old cipher employed by the Society centuries ago.
Although it is clear to you that this collection is very important, you have a hard time understanding the documents as they are mostly encrypted.
You would assume that the discovery requires several weeks of careful study by researchers at the Grand Lodge.