The Pathfinders begin the adventure approaching the gates of Dacilane Academy in the late afternoon. J Dacilane, a man in his early twenties with a military bearing, gazes wistfully past the gate at the building, where students bustle about. When he becomes aware of the approaching agents, he snaps to attention.
But before we get to that, why don't you introduce yourselves?
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Khaul, a dwarven man of some statue approaches the gates. The heavy armour the bedecks his frame slows him not a jot, while the hefty hammer at his waist swings in time with his marching. Upon his shield is the image of a rune carved throne.
"Greetin's to ya good Sir." he says, extended an armoured hand to the man at the gate. "Khaul of the Irontoes bein at yer service."
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A small figure in a large, for the figure, muted green cloak makes his way up the path. It is difficult to see details of who is underneath. As he approached within twenty feet, two blue scaled hands reach out of the cloak to move the hood back without completely removing it, before the hand vanish back under the cloak. A smiling blue scaled kobold face looks out. With a slight bow, he says in a thick Osirian accent.
“Greeting, I am Pikkuket, but you may call me Pik.”
Pik looks for signs of alarm, hostility, or racism towards him by those gathered.
(Sorry I don’t know how I actually role in PBP)
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A very tall, stocky, Varisian human man with Bushy brown hair and a medium cropped beard, dressed in farmers overalls, a floppy hat and carrying a scythe approach with a young grizzly bear meandering closely behind.
He stops short and plants his scythe in the ground, smiling says "Howdy, y'all! I'm "Wild" Darel Walton, notta be c'nfused with ma other brothers, "Tough" Darrell, "Pious" Da'ryl or "Devout" Dare-L. And this 'ere is Da Bear." He hitches a thumb towards the young grizzly bear. Now that he is closer, chainmail armor can be seen worn under his overalls. "Unfortun'ly, ma brothers couldn't be 'ere. Anyways, nice ta meech ya'll!"
The iron gates of Dacilane Academy shut the school away from the bustle of Absalom’s Foreign Quarter. J Dacilane stands with the military posture of an Eagle Knight by the gate, checking the time and fiddling with a key on a red ribbon.
“Welcome,” J says with a warm smile. “I appreciate that you took the time out of your schedule to meet me. This may seem like a strange request for field-trained agents, but I need you to investigate the school. There’s a rumor that Dacilane Academy is haunted.” He winces as he adds, “Or cursed.
“The pupils assembled a list of legends about the school for you. Apparently, there are seven secrets of Dacilane Academy. Honestly, most sound like urban legends that the students have picked up from their parents. But, when someone says that they’re in danger, it should be investigated. And a more formal report from the Society would be a great opportunity for the students to see Pathfinder skills in action!
"These reported hauntings began long before the supposed curse, so I’m sure they’re mostly mundane occurrences. You’ll probably find the foundation settling, old drafts, and the like. If there’s something more to it, try to excise any spirits or other beasts that stalk the halls. In addition to the transcribed legends, the pupils provided a ghost-hunting kit for your investigation.” J shakes his head as he hands over a leather bag and a thin folder.
“You’ll have this evening to do as you please. The school grounds are in use until sunset for extracurricular activities. I don’t want to incite more rumors or scare any of our more promising pupils with armored agents in the halls.
“Oh, and one final thing—please try to limit any damage to the facilities. Be careful.”
The notice on the "Seven Secrets of Dacilane Academy" says:
The Walking Statues: Every Wealday morning, we run in the yard. The next morning, the statues stand in different spots and in different poses—almost like they’re trying to get in our way.
The Blank Books: Watch out if you ever leave your projects until the night before—the books in the library sneak around! They like to move between shelves or hide under the desks. When you do find the right one, the insides are blank!
The Wailing Bathroom: Did you hear? Decades ago, a boy died at the school! His ghost is bound to the northeast bathroom. If you find the door locked and press your ear against it, you can hear him crying for help. Knock three times and promise to help him, then he’ll grant you a wish.
The Haunted Shack: Just past the main building is a shack that no one ever enters or leaves. Despite this, you can hear someone moving inside and see the flicker of candlelight.
The Cheater’s Whisper: If you can’t figure out what to do in lab, just whisper a question under your breath! You’ll hear the answer in your ear. Be careful, though; a lot the answers are wrong.
The Disappearing Door: If you’re walking alone to the lab, a door appears just before it. If you’re walking with anyone else,
though, the door doesn’t exist!
Student #19: Have you ever noticed how there’s no student #19? The roster skips straight over them. I hear they only appear to someone who’s seen all six mysteries, but once you see their face, they scare you to death and take you away!
-Collected by Sab, Ayen, and Voxi, students of Dacilane Academy, 4720 AR
The ghost-hunting kit created by the students includes a vial of holy water, an oil of potency, a handmade protective amulet made from air-dry clay with a sigil painted on in gloppy ink (likely produced in the school’s art class), and two ghost charges.
"Any questions I can answer for you?" asks J.
"Er, I sincerely doubt it." J shakes his head. "The school is named for my family so I do feel a sense of responsibility and I've arranged for your team here, but I'm not strictly affiliated. I only know what's in the students' notes, which were confiscated by the Headmaster, Primula Rosedell."
Silien knows that the Pathfinder Society purchased the mansion that serves as the school campus several decades ago. During the purchase, the sellers stated that the building was not haunted, a standard disclosure in Absalom real estate transactions. Khaul remembers the same thing.
Wealday is today, so in theory the statues may move tonight.
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Darel states, "Perhaps half o' these legends can be shrugged off as student pranks but we'll check 'em out, nonetheless. Do you know o' any secret passages or tunnels 'bout the grounds or have documents such as a map laying out the academy and the buildings? How's about a set of keys to access rooms an' such. Any areas off limits we should know about?"
"By the way, how old is this place an' has it always been a school? If not, then what was it before?"
J is thoughtful. "I don't know about the roster. The students would know that part, so they probably wouldn't have written it if it wasn't true. But a skipped number could just be a student who was enrolled to start but never did or something. It's a school for children of Pathfinders, so things can be a little in flux.
"I don't know about any secret passages. I doubt it, but it's not impossible. The place will be locked up for the night, but the key I gave you should open any--" J stops and looks at the key dangling from the red ribbon in his hand and offers it over, looking a bit embarrassed. "--the master key I'm giving you now should open any doors in the school."
"As for the school's history... it was a former mansion purchased by the Pathfinder Society and converted into classroom space. The school was established 4643 to educate the children of Society agents. Many agents and venture-captains were concerned about the educational prospects of children being moved between countries on a regular basis. I don’t know the history prior to that, but it’s probably not anything too peculiar."
J shakes his head. "I think they've all gone by now. I was hoping to send you in after dark when nobody else is there. I have a few reasons for that." He counts off on his fingers. "First of all, we don't want to be disruptive. Secondly, while I do want the concerned students to know we're taking them seriously, and I definitely wanted to call in an actual Pathfinder team to do a real investigation just in case, I also don't want the rest of the students to get scared seeing you all go in with weapons ready and think there's something dangerous there when there probably isn't. I know, conflicting motivations. I have to do my best.
"Finally, if there really is a haunting or a curse, well, a lot of those are more active at night when there are only a few people around, right? Oh, the lights. All the rooms in the school have magical lights. They'll have been put out, but I can give you the command words to light them and put them out again."
He fishes in his pocket and hands Haka a small piece of paper with two nonsense words with several syllables written on it. "I know what you're thinking: 'Why are they like this?' My understanding is that these commands were chosen because if they used normal words the lights would flash on and off if anyone ever had a conversation about the wrong subject. These strings of syllables were chosen on the basis that nobody would ever say them accidentally. I'm sure they'll roll of the tongue in no time, even if they take a minute to memorize.
"Ah, I'm sure you can find a roster in the building, though. You have free reign of the place tonight."
“After my grandmother passed away last year, I wanted to memorialize her. Given the Pathfinder Society’s assistance in my childhood, I opted to donate a portion of my inheritance to this school. It was renamed after my family in recognition. I hope that the funding helps provide opportunities for more students. Since the rumors are older than the recent renaming, it can't logically be connected... but it's certainly contributed to the recent interest in the old rumors, I think."
J’s face contorts into a grimace. “Yes, there’s a rumor that the school is cursed. I’ve lived through some hard times and rumors get around. When the academy was renamed in honor of my family, some people said that the name itself was cursed.” He sighs. “I would be much obliged if you could clear my family’s otherwise pristine name.”
J goes on to explain that when he was 11 years old, his school flooded and he disappeared in the chaos. Ten years later, Pathfinder Society agents investigated the school and discovered him in unaging stasis inside a sarcophagus. That brief taste of adventure stayed with him and, as a young adult, he underwent field agent training. This proved fortuitous, as his work with the Pathfinder Society came to the attention of the Eagle Knights and he quickly transitioned from awkward young lady to a handsome captain.
"Ever since Society agents rescued
me as a child, I’ve been interested in the work you do. While I did complete part
of the agent training, I found
my path into the Eagle Knights
instead. If it weren’t for the Society
rescuing me as a girl, I don’t think I’d
be the man I am today!”
Once the Pathfinders have had some time to complete any preparations or purchases they have in mind, they approach the academy that has grown quiet.
Dacilane Academy sits in the Foreign Quarter of Absalom, only a short walk from the Grand Lodge, nestled behind an ivy-draped stone wall with iron gates. The schoolhouse, a former mansion purchased by the Pathfinder Society and converted into classroom space, provides an idyllic setting for pupils to learn.
A single-story brick building sits beyond the iron gates. Brick walls and an ornately carved main door give the front entrance a stately appearance. Manicured topiaries and a well-kept lawn provide ample green space that continues between the building and the outer walls to the rear of the estate.
Three stone steps and two ramps ascend to the front entrance.
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Khaul hefts his shield. "And I'll stand between yer all and any more material threats."
"I'm going looking for this lonesome door. I'll suggest yer all stick close but not too close, or mebe it'll be too shy to show itself."
So saying he stalks off toward the lab.
"And if it don't be showin up fer me, I'll just whisper me a question about how to find it. Two mysteries with one trip."
Pip doesn't detect any magic outside.
The doors are currently locked, but open with a satisfying click.
Bright lights shine in sconces on the walls of the wide hallway. Double doors lead to the outside to the north and south, while large windows reveal the grounds of the school to the east and west. Thin wood doors provide access to interior rooms.
About 25 feet down the hall, it branches in for directions. Ahead of you apart to be smaller rooms and then the rear exit. To the right looks like the main classrooms. To the left, the hall bends around a corner towards the south.
Signs hanging in front of each for state the name of the room in Common.
The door to this storage shed doesn’t shut fully, leaving it
swinging slightly on squeaky hinges. The dusty interior looks to be full
of all manner of clutter, including exercise equipment, tools and
broken furniture.
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Fully opening the door, Khaul sighs as the rest of the team try pushing past his shield.
"Oi, if yer do that, and a chomper comes at yer, dunnie be blamin me for not getting between yer tender flesh and the big teeth."
"And if yer be yappin, then we no be able to hear th' whispers. Wasn't ther somat about a candle light too? "
Pik doesn't detect any unknown magic here, either.
As Khaul opens the door, most of the group catches sight of something scrambling to hide behind furniture and shelves. Possums--huge possums nearly as large as Pik--poke their heads out and begin to hiss and bare their teeth menacingly at the dwarf who has intruded into their space.
Haka recognizes that while the possums are clearly threatening him, it is ultimately a defensive posture. He notes signs that they've been nesting in this shed for some time. Clearly the groundskeeper has made some kind of peace with them.
And he's able to do the same, keeping the animals calm and safe while he appears nonthreatening.
The possums placated, the Pathfinders are able to conduct their investigation of
“Just past the main building is a shack that no one ever enters or leaves. Despite this, you can hear someone moving inside and see the flicker of candlelight."
Perhaps the presence of the possums explains the mystery? Or there may be more clues that could be discovered by someone climbing the shed, or shifting some of the heavy objects inside?