The monk bows before speaking. Has anyone been hurt by a ghost?
The King personally hands you a royal writ explaining that you have his authority to investigate all matters related to Queen Ileosa and her supposed ghost sightings.
"You might not want to use it if you want to keep a low profile, but it could open some doors if necessary."
"Not to our knowledge, no. At least no one has told me if anyone has been hurt. So it sounds like you're on the job. Splendid! Here! Take this!"
Black Dhougal eyes the good King with a wary eye. I won't presume to speak for my companions here, but I must ask, your Grace: why us?
"Well, I'll be honest, I don't have the FOGGIEST idea why you. I got a guy. He's also a weird dude. He ugh.... worked for Calistria. It's best if we just leave it at that. Well, I don't have him any more, but he trained some of the best recon men and women in the game. Gwendolyn Ceradiss... he knows things. He told me you were the best ones for the job in the city right now."
The most recent appearance occurred.... HERE... in the throne room in Castle Korvosa only two days ago. A ghostly image of the late queen appeared on the Crimson Throne itself as writing in blood manifested on the walls. The chamber has been avoided since the event. "
Sadlark, being broke, is all too ready to accept a thousand gold. What did the writing say? Might we investigate this room?
Nearly s~*& myself when it happened."
It is rather fortunate you quit doing stretches, your highness.
...an Acadamae student...I know the headmasters there, but he's a weirdo, despite being one of my closest friends."
Tully gives a start, eyes alight, and stifles a smirk with one hand. He can be seen giving a tiny nod of agreement at the king's sally.
His demeanor levels out completely, though, at the mention of ghosts. I'm in on this investigation. If undead are causing trouble, I shall do what I can to stop it.
The raven on his shoulder gives out a firm CAW
Ghosts scare the blazes out of me!
Good thing, too.
"Well, I'll be honest, I don't have the FOGGIEST idea why you. I got a guy. He's also a weird dude. He ugh.... worked for Calistria. It's best if we just leave it at that. Well, I don't have him any more, but he trained some of the best recon men and women in the game. Gwendolyn Ceradiss... he knows things. He told me you were the best ones for the job in the city right now."
Well! That much is true, to be sure, Black Dhougal says with a smile. And not the first time my reputation has preceded my arrival. He drains his goblet and gracefully flips the cup on its rim. Anything that keeps Ileosa in her grave is all right by me. I'm in.
The monk smiles and nods to the others. He is definitely in.
Nakapan also thinks starting here in the throne room makes sense since they are so close.
It is rather fortunate you quit doing stretches, your highness.
"Ha! I like the cut of your jib! Yes, let's start here! We can't dally too long, as we have the high priests funeral procession at sundown, and I have to be there."
The king explains as you head to the throne room, "There was only the normal guard here. Ileosa’s ghost appeared two hours after sundown, sitting on the Crimson Throne, which I never use. She gestured forward as though ordering her Gray Maidens to attack. During the apparition, bloody text appeared on the room’s walls. It was written in some kind of sharp alphabet that the guard didn't recognize. Agonizing pain and overwhelming fear wracked the guard’s body. The ghost and bloody writing faded quickly. Not only was this the most recent of Ileosa’s manifestations, but it’s the first one where a witness reports suffering agony from it, suggesting to me that the power of these events is increasing."
The throne room is designed to command attention. The stone walls bear mosaics, frescos, and hanging tapestries of silk and gold thread, while stained glass panels depict monarchs of the city’s history. In the eastern corner stands a great stone fireplace in the shape of a huge, ancient tree, though no fire burns amid the stone tree’s roots. The focus of the room is an ornate iron throne standing on a low dais at the far end of the room, bedecked with crimson velvet silks and cushions, though the throne looks a bit dusty and the cushions appear unused.
Well, let's start simple...
detect magic
Crowley approaches the throne and take a look around it for any disturbance. "Is the guard able to draw out some of the writing he saw?"
May I?
Sadlark approaches the Crimson Throne with his eyes closed. He rests his hand upon the seat and begins muttering in a forgotten tongue.
Tully gets nothing in the throne room other than the magical flames that illuminate the room.
Hopes turn to Sadlark, but the man's spell leaves him in the dark. There's no tale to tell here.
The king gives some insight, "I find that throne creepy. No one uses it. The guard said she was spectral.... though the writing seemed to be real blood." (Indeed the throne is actually dusty.)
Black Dhougal moves to the throne and gives it the once-over.
Sadlark inspects the throne as well, looking for the telltale signs of chicanery.
+1 circ. vs traps
The monk is not impressed with either of Dhougal or Sadlark’s rolls. He check out the throne.
Perception
Alas, Nakapan also sucks…
Black Dhougal moves to the throne and gives it the once-over.
Perception=19
Black Dhougal moves to the throne and gives it the once-over.
Could Your Majesty show where the bloody runes were seen?
that's where Tully will examine next.
Odric points to a section of wall where Tully takes a close look. There he sees the faintest traces of dried blood! It's too faint to read easily. With a couple of hours the party could likely sketch out what they said, or at least determine the alphabet.
"I can give you a couple of hours here, but the funeral is right after, and I must attend."
I'll work on this. If anyone with a sharp eye would like to assist, feel free.
I may be of assistance.
Sadlark has chalk, and asks for paper and quill.
Sadlark recognizes the alphabet and language, Infernal!
As the party works on finding the outlines, the writing becomes clear, if nothing else....
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Esme takes the more mundane approach, joining the others to look around. When Sadlark mentions that the writing is in Infernal, she attempts to work with his translations to interpret what is there.
Sadlark designates the purported Ghost of Queen Ileosa as his lead. He works on the case, trying to understand what he can with the help of his religious friend.
Are we able to speak w/ the guard who experienced this?
Nakapan would hear the story firsthand if possible.
Questions: How long did the incident last?
What did you feel?
Did the apparition react to anything in the room? (Did it move or just seem like a still picture?)
Could you smell anything?
Any other details recalled?
Crowley isn't able to tell a thing about this infernal writing. "Anyone able to read this writing?"
King Odric excuses himself as you work on it, "I need to be properly outfitted for this funeral. You have easy access to me in this matter. Do not hesitate to check in with me."
Esme and Sadlark eventually come to consensus and conclude that they're looking at... an infernal contract! You get a sneaking suspicion that it might be an excerpt from Ileosa's infamous contract, though she's not mentioned by name. After Ileosa’s defeat, all in Korvosa knew she had signed an infernal contract to gain diabolical power. Her copy of the contract was preserved at Longacre Building.
Word on the street is that it was recently stolen.
Interesting. Scuttlebut says the Cursed Queen's physical contract was stolen not long ago...
Questions: How long did the incident last?
What did you feel?
Did the apparition react to anything in the room? (Did it move or just seem like a still picture?)
Could you smell anything?
Any other details recalled?
another question: did they SEE the writing appearing, or was it already there?
It only lasted a handful of seconds, and I just felt.... dread. It wasn't panic, it was more existential. I didn't smell anything. I watched as the walls started to bleed in the shape of the writing. It was... terrible. The feeling of dread and writing happened together."
Crowley nods in agreement. "That's what I heard as well. Seems someone is a bit more interested in the contract. Maybe we can see if the Longacre Building holds any clues. That is where the contract was stolen."
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Just before King Odric steps out, Black Dhougal has a thought. With your leave, Your Grace, we perhaps might attend that funeral. Seems a good place for a ghost to appear, no?
Sadlark agrees with Black Dhougal. Yes… these events are often a gateway for entities from beyond. Perhaps we might attend as unobtrusive observers.
The party packs it up and heads south towards the Temple of Pharasma .
The procession is a somber affair. A half-dozen Pharasmin priests dressed in dark mourning vestments and veils that leave no flesh exposed pull an elaborate open carriage bearing the bishop’s casket.
Following the priests is a contingent of vocal mourners from a variety of organizations across the city: representatives of other faiths, officers from the city guard and the Sable Company, high-ranking courtiers and envoys, leaders of various city factions, and a pair of heavily armored Hellknights of the Nail. Behind them trails a long crowd of citizens, from wealthy merchants and well-dressed nobles to destitute folk dressed in rags. The procession concludes with a lot of mingling and hobnobbing' politicking never stops, not even for a funeral.
The body lies in state, and you've got a few hours if you want to do some hobnobbing of your own. Otherwise we can call it a night.
Sadlark hobnobs, quickly making impressions while listening for strange ghost knocking or the horrific murmuring of vengeful apparitions.
Using his biographical eye he tries to hone in on wealthy individuals who may be interested in seances.
He tries to hide it but he's disappointed there are no restless spirits. Well it is somewhat expected; Pharasmins tend to be rather boring.
Esme tries to learn information from those who she is most comfortable talking with: Guard and Sable Company members, anyone showing reverence to Iomedae, and anyone else of faith.
Sadlark, despite his skill at inquiry and he's off his game.
Esme does pick up a bit of scuttlebutt. She overhears a neat tidbit from a guard, "Queen Ileosa escaped Hell, and she’s come back to Korvosa as a ghost, but I heard someone from the Acadamae say what we really have to worry about are the devils that’ll come looking for her!”
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Black Dhougal asks around.
He knows a guy (and frequently knows a guy who knows a guy).
Seems like, according to the snippets Black Dhougal overhears, that the siting with the most witnesses is the one that happened at Kendall Plaza, the first one.
Crowley asks around, trying to get to know the people of the city as best as he can. He speaks to a couple Hellknights of the Nail. "What's your thoughts on all of these Queen Ileosa ghostly sightings?"
The monk is quiet and somewhat somber as befitting a funeral. He feels a little out of place.
If there is anyone affiliated with Irori he will try to talk with them. Perhaps they may know something.
Diplomacy
As far as their next step. Nakapan thinks it would be important to speak with this academy student who took responsibility for the first sighting.
Crowley and Nakapan both try their hand, but they seem... out of place. Most of the people they approach seem to be uninterested in striking up conversion.
It's little consolation, but they don't seem to have offended anyone, which is an easy thing to do with both Hellknights and monks of the Aesthetic tradition...
Black Dhougal, is your "guy who knows a guy" reliable? If Kendall Plaza had the most witnesses, perhaps we should investigate that area first, before more witnesses wander away.
"That's a good idea. We need to speak with them before they forget some stuff." Bor is ready to head on out to Kendall Plaza. "Maybe we will get to see this image for ourselves."
"Not often we get to stay in a palace. Should we take the King up on his offer for a room?"
"Staying nearer to the king would also give us a chance to perhaps see the spirit first-hand. Let's do that."