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Banterknell is dressed up in wildly colorful clothing, perhaps to compensate for a very slight bleaching that has begun in his hair, though he keeps that mostly hidden under a jester's cap. His mouth is stretched into a wild grin, a bit too wide. He eyes show desperation and everything he says seems like it ends with an exclamation point. During the trip, provided you have the 'opportunity' to travel with him, you may have found him a bit of an annoyance, causing delays as he shouts "Wait!" only to hop out and pluck a petty mushroom and stick it into his lapel or chase a butterfly. At least until, to BK's concern, the coachman seemed to have grown suddenly deaf.
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Periodically wiping the dust from his dark robes, Teneal attempts to enjoy the ride. Coaches are cramped and this one's benches have long had cushions replaced with boards. While not the largest of individuals, his tiefling botttom ached liked everyone else's after the long ride.
Smiling patiently to BK, Teneal keeps an even tone "Yes indeed BK, I do believe it's possible to be rendered deaf for short periods of time. Perhaps the man has been cursed." Fearing his humor may be too dry, Teneal switched subjects,"Where are you coming from BK? I just had a lovely time in the north exploring the lands of the Linnorm."
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BK nods his head vigorously at the confirmation of his suspicions and responds with a colorful description of his recent exploits which include a trapped genie that needed help, the discovery of the lost dwarven city of Raseri Kanton, the righting of the wrongs done to a man falsely accused, and, finally, a grand mushroom hunt. And if there are a few additions to the actual events, at least they are entertaining.
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"It seems you have a knack for finding exciting events, then," says the poppet.
Small for a person, Princess Cover was still quite large for a doll standing at a bit over three feet--taller if one counted the wooden crown protruding from her her curly hair, and likely one piece with her wooden head.
When she had first introduced herself, Clove had explained thoroughly (likely beyond anyone's caring) that her proper name was "Princess Clover," but that "Princess" was merely part of her name and not a title. She was not a princess, nor was she under the mistaken impression that she was.
She had been built, as had many of her kind, for simple labor. As her creator was a toymaker, he had designed her as an oversized princess doll and also used her as a sort of mascot for his shop. "It is not offensive for a poppet to be used. If you've seen some of my kind, as you may have if you've been around any big cities or places where wizards reside, you know that we're usually mindless servant constructs. Sometimes one of us 'pops up,' as they say, and starts thinking for themself, but it's rare. I didn't wake up until after my creator died. Nobody quite knows why it happens to poppets sometimes and never to, say, golems. I think it's because we tend to be closer to people and, well, cuter. We're more likely to receive genuine affection, and I suspect it matters."
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A dwarf wearing a brown leather duster polishes a strange device. The trigger and grip are reminiscent of a hand crossbow, but where the bow would be instead has a single steel tube and a small steel clamp holding a piece of flint in place. "The name's Kazmuk Flintlock, out of Alkenstar," the dwarf says with a slight drawl. "Let's just say I don't need magic to defend myself."
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Outpost VI has started. Please complete any of the record keeping tasks you have not done.
You all arrive at the Pathfinder Lodge in Almas, Andoran.
After you settle in for the evening, you hear shouts spill through the open windows of the cathedral. Several disparate voices can be heard, punctuated by what sounds like incoherent outbursts and the rabble‑rousing of a forming mob.
The voice of the lodge’s head librarian echoes through the cathedral’s interior, calling, “Pathfinders! Get to the front entrance. I think Brackett might need some help out there!”
When you get to the front entrance, you see Venture-Captain Brackett in his nightgown, having a heated discussion in the doorway with a growing crowd of citizens from the East Hill district. The townsfolk speak over each other, each detailing bits and pieces of eyewitness accounts of an incorporeal figure spotted a few blocks from the Pathfinder lodge, as well as other strange happenings.
Pathfinders, can you help VC Brackett calm the crowd?
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"Well now," says Clover, doing her best to look like a cuddly stuffed toy and not a creepy possessed doll and doing it remarkably well. Still in her lovely dress (which was, after all, not actually clothing but part of her body) but without her armor she looked every bit the comforting childhood toy. "That happens to by my specialty. Don't you fret now, we'll get it sorted. Tell us all about it. This is... a new occurrence?"
That seemed odd. A new, sudden haunting?
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Attempting to build on his companion's successes, Teneal shifts to a conciliatory tone. "We understand your distress and you are rightful to be concerned and I am happy you sought out the Pathfinder Society. As Princess Clover mentioned, we are quite adept at these types of manifestations. Pausing slightly, Teneal continued with a bit more flourish, "We are well armed, well trained, and with the Venture-Captain's endorsement, ready to serve you and your neighbors."
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I haven't met a ghost yet I couldn't blow away with my gun.
That gives the Group 5 successes.
After your successful interventions, the crowd calms down and some of the people on the periphery start to disburse.
Suddenly
A harsh wind stirs, sudden and cold. As if in response, the cathedrals bells begin to toll. Just behind the crowd, smoke rises and coalesces into the form of a young human woman, one arm outstretched toward the cathedral’s entrance. Her single, gasped word cuts through the din of bell and wind alike:
“Pathfinders!”
The spectral woman fades as quickly as she appeared. As the figure vanishes, the chill in the area dissipates, and the bells and the crowd fall into a hushed silence.
After the ghost’s appearance, Brackett insists upon the townspeople return to their homes for the night.
Brackett ushers you inside one of the cathedral’s interior meeting rooms as he goes to get refreshments. After a few minutes he returns and offers you some hot tea.
Venture-Captain Brackett has a slightly disheveled look on his face. As he finishes passing out tea, he takes a seat at the head of the wooden table and takes a quiet moment. He speaks in a hushed voice. “Pathfinders, I don’t recognize that ghostly figure who appeared, and it’s obvious that the locals are skeptical about our involvement. To be honest, I might be too if I were in their position. I lay no blame upon the people for their worry. Unfortunately, with the current legal case in place with the church of Iomedae, we can’t afford any blows to our reputation with the people of Almas.”
Brackett brings a hand to his head for a moment before continuing, “In normal circumstances, I would investigate these occurrences myself. However, I can’t spare the time. I ask that you forgo any tasks you had for tomorrow and focus your efforts on finding out who that ghostly figure was, where she came from, and why she seems tied to this lodge.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see the townsfolk continue to take issue with us. If this happens again, I insist that you do what you can to resolve the situation peacefully.”
Do you have any questions?
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The Cathedral of Aroden is located in the section of Almas known as the Avenue of the Gods. After it came under the ownership of Venture-Captain Brackett, the Society renovated it. The lodge now has numerous guest rooms, meeting rooms, laboratories, and a library staffed by homunculi.
When a mortal dies through particularly violent means, or without closure of personal business, they may linger on in the world as an incorporeal undead known as a ghost. These undead maintain strong ties to the Material Plane and can’t depart until their unfinished business is somehow concluded.
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"Something made me think t might be a hoax," says Clover, "but the apparition largely dispels that. You said you didn't recognize her, Venture-Captain; do yo know of anything that did happen recently?
"I'm still not quite sure if that was a memory of someone yelling at the Pathfinders, or if she was aware of her surroundings and calling for our help."
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"Indeed Princess Clover, this appears to be no hoax. That was a true apparition even if it's the first I've ever seen. She must have some unfinished business as I'm sure we've had heard of a violent death in this area." Cocking an eyebrow, Teneal leaves the statement as a question to Venture Captain Brackett.
Holding the pose for a few seconds, Teneal loses his nerve and laughs nervously at BK's alliteration. "Does the lodge know anything about the Cathedral's history?"
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The Cathedral of Aroden had a long history before the Society purchased it, but none of it involved ghostly apparitions like the one we saw.
East Hill Investigation - Ways forward
When you exit the lodge, rain begins to move in from the Inner Sea, putting a damper on an already dreary day. Outside the lodge, the stone of the East Hill district is dark from rain, with earthly scents filling the area. Citizens roam the streets, visiting religious sites and making their way to their daily labors. You have two immediate leads to follow up on in the district:
Ghost Sighting: You all saw the ghost last night and, as Venture-Captain Brackett suggested, you can perform a more thorough investigation of the alley.
Canvassing Locals: You can choose to speak with the locals to learn more about the ghost.
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In a rare subdued tone for the hyperactive gnome, BK muses out loud
"Well, though the VC does not know who she was, and we certainly don't, perhaps the locals do. One would think that if the ghost lurks in the neighborhood, whatever is driving her to lurk happened here too."
[b]"Time to ask questions!,"[b] he announces loudly, the moment gone, and he marches out to do verbal battle with the locals, or at least that is how he sees it.
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BK can't get anyone to take him seriously.
Disappearances are rare in Almas. East Hill is particularly close-knit community, so most people know when someone goes missing. The most recent disappearance was a woman in her early 20s who went missing almost a week ago. Reports vary as to her name: “Alice, Eloise, Eleanor? Something like that” citizens exclaim.
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"Now, I know some of you are concerned about the recent ghost sightings, but not to worry! We're on the case and no harm will come to you. Any information you have, anything at all about the sightings or any recent... tragedies that might be related... well, anything can help, you know! You never know what will help lay a lost spirit to rest."
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After getting hopelessly lost in the crowd for an hour, Teneal circles back to the others. Finding the haunted alley, Teneal gestures to the others "Surely there must be some remnants of this manifestation. Shall we explore together?"
Entering the alley, Teneal allows his low light vision to adjust to the surroundings. He had not paid much attention to the alley the night before with the apparition keeping his focus. Kneeling here and there, Teneal hopes to find some trace of the supernatural.
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BK investigaes the alley locates a brown leather satchel that has fallen into some nearby bushes.
The satchel bears the initials “E.J.C.” Beside the satchel rests a torn piece of crimson fabric and a shattered bolt from a hand crossbow that struck the ground.
You also turn up a second, gruesome clue: though storms have drenched the area, some small patches of earth underneath the bushes still hold spots of
dried blood.
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Your group has reconvened a few blocks from the lodge to compare notes. With an abrupt flash, the darkness caused by the cloud cover is overcome with a blinding light, as lightning strikes the ground only a few feet away. A thunderous boom echoes throughout the streets, shaking the ground as the cathedral bells chime once again. Where the lightning struck now stands a spectral form of a woman, glowing with energy. Her eyes are still cold as she raises her arms again before repeating her single, gasping utterance: “Pathfinders!”
The ghost disappears after speaking. The wind picks up, swirling violently through the streets while picking up debris. Stones and wooden planks begin colliding with citizens in the street, violently jarring them from their shock at the appearance of a ghost. Amidst the maelstrom, one citizen regains their composure and points an accusatory finger, “This is the Pathfinders’ fault! It’s time you all leave East Hill!”
Teneal realizes the Ghost’s energy has activated a Haunt in the area.
Initiative Bold May Act
NOTE: These are everyday Citizens who are confused and frightened by the phenomenon. They will be using non-lethal attacks to try and subdue your group for questioning.
Killing any of them will result in Infamy.
Clover
Commoner2
Kazmuk
Teneal
Banterknell
Commoner1
Hazard
◆◆BK Tries to Calm the Storm
◆ Cast Shield
But BK isn't able to calm the storm.
◆◆ Kazmuk also tries to calm the storm
◆ Then he will try to Demoralize Commoner2
Making Commoner2 Frightened 1
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Commoner1 moves up to throw a rock at Kazmuk
◆ Stride
◆ Pick up rock
◆ Throw rock at Kazmuk
The Hazard goes, send a storm of telekinetically flying debris flying through the Quadrant you are in and the quadrant clockwise from there.
Creatures in the quadrant take (DC 15 basic Reflex save).
Bold may act
Clover ,
Commoner2 ,
Kazmuk ,
Teneal ,
Banterknell ,
Commoner1
Hazard ,
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Clover still ignores the bystanders for the moment. They may be threatening, but they don't seem all that dangerous. And it's likely they and the haunt are feeding into each other. Likely? Maybe. Possible.
She tries to figure that out for a moment before continuing her appeal to the spirits.
"I think we're all scaring each other, but if we can work together we don't need to be upset or angry."
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The citizens will attack as long as the haunt remains active, as the unnatural energy exacerbates the citizens' emotions.
Clover can't keep the Haunt's attention to calm it down. She does manage to avoid most of the damage from the flying debris.
Commoner1
◆ Picks up another rock
◆ Throw rock at BK
◆ Picks up another rock
Bold may act
Clover
Commoner2
Kazmuk ,
Teneal ,
Banterknell ,
Commoner1
Hazard ,
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Teneal also ignores the Commoners having no way to quell their actions without injury. Burning them won't do us any good, but no rocks to my face please!
Making several quick gestures and low spoken muttering, Teneal manifests a small force shield and then shouts to the howling winds "We are not your foes. We are here to pacify these disturbances and bring balance to East Hill, work with us!"
◆◆ Kazmuk also tries to calm the storm
◆ Then he will try to Demoralize Commoner1
Success on both actions