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Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, Jussa gets an idea. "Hey guys: I'll keep looking in this window , and you go look in that other one . Give a thumbs up if you see the guy and a thumbs down if you don't." Unless he has an identical twin or an illusion, only one of us should see him at a time. While she's waiting for someone to comply, she makes a silly face at the guy in the room before her to see how he reacts.
There no reaction at all from the first gnome and the second gnome just greets you over and over again.
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"I wonder if he's sick or hurt--the real Fimbrik. As elderly as he must be after all this time, he may have shattered a hip or something. We need to make sure he's okay." Whether Jussa truly believes what she says or is using it as a cover is unclear (even to her, as she studiously avoids thinking about that). What is clear is that this group must break into the house, and she's the one with the lock picking experience. Not bothering to be sneaky about it, she marches up to the front door. Just as she's about to begin picking the lock, she remembers that this is a wizard's house, and the door may be trapped. She spends a moment checking for traps before settling in to disable whatever she finds and pick the lock.
Jussa is able to open the rusty lock quite easily.
As soon as you open the door you suddenly see a magical circle sparkling and only a fraction of a second later three fiendish looking beetles appear next to the sofa and try to attack you.
You are utterly surprised when the beetles appear out of thin air.
N Small fiendish vermin
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
DEFENSES
AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+1 natural, +1 size)
hp 4
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor)
Melee bite +1 (1d4)
Fort +2 , Ref +0, Will +0
SR 5
Fiendish – Resist Cold and Fire 5
Immune mind-affecting effects
Special Attacks Smite good
Base Atk +0; CMB -1 ; CMD 9 (17 vs. trip)
Skills Fly +2
SQ luminescence
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Luminescence (Ex) A fire beetle’s glowing glands provide light in a 10-foot radius. A dead fire beetle’s luminescent glands continue to glow for 1d6 days after its death.
Smite evil 1/day as a swift action (adds CHA bonus (+0) to attack rolls and damage bonus equal to HD (+1) against good foes; smite persists until target is dead or the fiendish creature rests).
]
~
Initiative
Darzus
Beetles
Abdi
Kaliban
Malluma
Sabah
Jussa
Bold may act!
Darzus casts a spell.
The red beetle steps forward and all try to attack you. Two miss Kaliban and last one misses Jussa.
You are all up!
The red colored beetle is smashed and immediately vanishes!
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"Whoa! Choke point!" Believing that her compatriots are likely better able to squish these bugs than she is, Jussa decides to try to slip around behind them. Once she's stepped carefully past the nearest beetle and Kaliban, she ducks low to hide behind the sofa as she works her way around it. I do better when I'm poking things in the backside. There are fewer teeth on that end. Usually.
The projectile lets another beetle vanish.
Sabah tries to trip the beetle but it has a strange form and so many legs so he eventually fails!
The beetle uses the opportunity to retaliate but misses the oracle!
The last beetle disappears.
You look around.
D1. Living Room
While examining the room you note that despite the lack of dust on many surfaces, no one has been here for years. The carpet and sofa show virtually no wear.
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?!
~
During an examination of the table in the southwest corner Darzus 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
* * * * * * *
* * * * *
Additionally, Malluma finds two long-forgotten potions sitting on the
northwest windowsill.
Potion of cure moderate wounds
Potion of lesser restoration
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Rather grateful that she doesn't have to wipe beetle guts off her blade, Jussa immediately sets herself the task of finding Fimbrik. This *is* a welfare check, after all. I really hope those beetles didn't hurt him! She checks every room, calling out: "Fimbrik? Are you here? Are you hurt?"
"Well, he's not here. Or if he is, he's too well hidden for me. But I noticed something odd about the newspapers. All the older ones are in the basement. The newer ones out front are thicker, so they don't fit through the mail slot, though. It's like someone who can't go outside was in charge of moving them out of sight." Her eyes narrow as a thought occurs to her: Maybe it's not some*one*, but some*thing*...magical. That though unnerves her, since she has absolutely no idea if there's some delayed-reaction magical threat here. Probably not. Right?
To distract herself, she steps up beside Darzus to peek at the letter he found. "Wiffle? And Doulgonlir Caskmail? Why do I get the feeling we're being sent on a wild goose chase? Regardless, clearly he's not here and isn't going to be back for a while. We should leave and lock this place back up so petty thieves don't steal everything. Oh! I'd better move those newspapers inside so they don't know the owner isn't home." Jussa busies herself with this task.
|
Malluma, completely ignoring the magical fancies and cryptic clues, holds up two potions from the side of the room. "Cure Moderate Wounds and Lessor Restoration!" She huffs and tosses them to Sabah. "Legendary pathfinder like him, he probably left these here specifically for us to use in our investigation." She nods firmly, confident in take. "Fimbrik, thank you for your assistance in our mission. Wherever you are." She helps Jussa with the newspapers before preparing to leave. "Seems like this mission is more like a series of long-lost communications between elder pathfinders."
You search the rest of the house and find nothing.
You return to the Grand Lodge but Dreng is not available currently.
But well … here it is … the wall of names.
|
"Doulgonlir Caskmail," was the name on the scrawled note attached to his letter. We can verify the name is or is not on the wall, but then what? Will the names next to theirs be important?
He places a thin finger on the wall, marking his place as he begins a search. He looks back at the group.
Um, maybe one of you starts at the other end?
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.
+++++
You 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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Malluma nods solemnly after reading Sabah's note. "Your knowledge seems bottomless, Sabah." She takes in the grave scene, giving it the utmost respect. Then an odd look passes the nagaji's face before she leans in to Caskmail's epitaph and whispers "wiffle". Feeling silly, she takes several steps back and looks off into the distance. "Who would know more about Doulgonlir's passing? I know nothing of the Mwangi... though Adolphus mentioned all three of these agents, didn't he?"
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Darzus nods, concurring with Malluma's observation.
If we didn't have your knowledge, I do not know how we would move forward sometimes.
He flashes her a warm smile before hearing the nagaji utter "the password." At that moment, his eyes widen and he backs up to see what happens. He halfway expects it to trigger a trip if and where it works.
[b]Maybe it will work at the Shrine of the Failed?[b/]
Nothing happens when the password is spoken at the Wall of Names.
|
Sabah smiles and gives a slight nod to her companions. She Gathers her things before setting her magic to work on a message on her palm.
"without my companions I would have no one to share it with. Perhaps we should head to the shrine of the failed? I have hunch we will find some answers to our questions, or at the very least we will absorb some of the culture.
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.
Based on Kaliban's suggestion, 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.
++++++
Jussa starts searching and she 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, though you can’t see any means to unseal the door.
Due to the fact that Darzus joins the search he 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.
The board is a magical trigger to open the secret door - given one knows the right password and writes that password on the chalk board.
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 s 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 s 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.
+++
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Abdi stares dumbfounded at all the accumulated Pathfinder Society lore sitting before the group. "This is... This is a worthy find that will one day grace the pages of the Chronicles, my friends! Do any of you speaking this language?" He frowns as he looks at the pages without any understanding of their words.
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Proceeding through the cave, she moves little faster to catch up to the lead if the group. She keeps a tight grip on her staff, making sure it's oil reservoir is full and it's wick is lit.
As the group files into the repository, Sabah spreads put some of the papers on the desk.
She turns her head to oneside, furrowing her brow, before neatly restacking the papers. She turns her attention to the crystal instead.