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Fairly useless around a cooking fire, and blatantly incompetent at skewering boars, Fingo busies himself gathering cookware and spices as Hancock goes to work. As the boars cook, he sings softly, a relatively obscure ode to the pleasure of the table.
Once dinner has been completed, he softly curses his lack of preparation -- of the Prestidigitation cantrip, specifically -- and goes to the river to clean his plate before joining the gathering members of the party.
The Carnelian Signet starts a firepit to keep warm and sniff the cooked boar.
As the boars are roasting, Maeri shoves two leather flasks into the Pathfinders’ hands. "Gods, you need these more than me."
A crate previously abandoned by a traders’ caravan lies in the ditch beside the road. The crate contains bundles of damask silk and embroidered satin.
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The Pathfinders finally reach the crossroads as afternoon fades into dusk. Devil’s Rest is a weathered two-story log building that overlooks the intersection from atop a nearby knoll. Twin brick chimneys protrude from its bark shingle roof. A vegetable garden and wooden hitching post occupy the yard to either side of the dirt path, which leads to a covered porch. A stable and outhouse are positioned discreetly behind the building.
Having delivered her charges safely to the trading post, Maeri bids the Pathfinders goodnight and unhitches her horses from the wagon before leading them around back to the stable.
Everyone but Kidron notices that the garden’s centermost rows are unplanted, and the earth looks recently disturbed.
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Inside the trading post, the Pathfinders encounter a collection of individuals relaxing in the common room. Art on Slide 4, Map on Slide 5. Each of the individuals introduces themselves.
Annavinia Narikopolus is in all ways the archetype of a Chelaxian noblewoman: composed and authoritative, expensively and smartly dressed, and possessed of unbending pride and unflinching confidence. Annavinia ignores the Pathfinders' arrival, content to study her texts and record information in her own journal.
Dehliana Vought is a medium capable of piercing the veil between the material and the spirit world. She approaches the Pathfinders once they settle in and offers to read their fortunes using a harrow deck.
Nordvick Finnegan is a stoutly built human looks strikingly reminiscent of a 7-foot-tall dwarf, with a barrel chest, broad brow, and
well-groomed black beard. He works at the Devil's Rest, and is at the bar serving drinks when the Pathfinders arrive.
Selik Farheaven is a member of the Farheaven clan and the Society’s contact. Selik is locked in friendly conversation with Nordvick as the groundskeeper pours him a drink at the bar. He invites the Pathfinders to join him.
Kellvan beelines for the bar and orders a pint of ale as he surveys the room.
Bruce is always up for fortune telling and follows Dehliana back to her post and introduces himself with a bright smile.
"Bruce at your service. I would love to have my fortune told. Last time I had one done it was at a carnival in Absolom. She told me to expect long trips, and boy was she right."
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Corona also joins Hancock, Selik, and Nordvick at the bar, always happy to meet new and friendly faces. "Hello!" she remarks cheerfully as she takes a seat. "I'm Corona and it's nice to meet you. Um, do you have any mead? Mead sounds wonderful right now!"
As Nordvick moves to pour her drink, she looks around the common room with interest and then back to the bartender. "It looks like there's a decent little crowd here today. Do you get many customers out here? Ooh, ooh, who have you seen that's traveled the farthest to get here? Have you ever served anyone from Tian Xia or Arcadia?"
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Fresh from a few misadventures in Cheliax, Fingo gives Annavinia a cautious look. Ordering himself a glass of wine, he approaches her.
In his best attempt at a Chelaxian accent -- a skill that he unfortunately hasn't mastered as well as he might think -- Fingo says to Annavinia:
I didn't expect to see a compatriot here! I do hope that you'll allow me to join you?
In a conspiratorial whisper, he adds with a quick wave at the rest of the inn
I could use a more refined company. The trip here was simply dreadful. I do hope the Queen appreciates the sacrifices we make, serving her in this forsaken land.
Annavinia Narikopolus should be fun to mess with. A fellow Chileaxian who needs to loosen up a bit.
Fingo's words immediately bring some concern to Issil. She hopes it's part of an act.
"Ah yes. Absolutely dreadful. But we do what we must for our majesty. We're making sure these Pathfinders don't poke their nose where they don't belong... What is your assignment?"
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Cal joins Selik for a while, even though he is considering approaching Kellvan in a while to chat about his business. He occasionally glances at Dehliana, wondering whether he should get a harrow reading or chat her up.
"I've never travelled out this close to the Worldwound. Can you tell me a bit more about your clan?"
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"I would love to have my fortune told."
"I would love to." She pulls out a deck and deals a card, face up, to the left. "This card represents your past."
"The Trumpet. It represents an archon who dives aggressively and righteously into danger." She pulls out another card and places it in the middle. "This card represents your present."
"The Teamster. It represents a external force that drives the subject on." She pulls a final card and places it to the right. "This card represents your future."
"The Rabbit Prince. It represents the quiky vicissitudes of melee combat./b]"
She pauses and looks at the cards as a totality. "You have a good heart, you have accompanied your friends on this mission with the most noble of purposes. However, you will never be a full team member. The Rabbit Prince is the personification of the capriciousness of battle, and his broken sword indicates that you will die by the sword tonight."
"I'm sorry, but the spirits have spoken. If you'd like, you can gather your friends after dinner, and we can hold a seance together, to speak to the spirits directly to see if there is anything else we can know."
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"Do you get many customers out here? Ooh, ooh, who have you seen that's traveled the farthest to get here? Have you ever served anyone from Tian Xia or Arcadia?"
"Tian Xia or Arcadia? Not that I recall. But, you know, I've traveled quite a distance to get here myself," he says, with a gleam in his eye to indicate he's got a story. "I'd say I've travelled the furthest to get here ... from the Abyss!"
"I was a crusader, you know. Spent time up in the Worldwound, fighting demons. Got transported to the Abyss itself, and had to claw my way back out. I barely made it here. I was the only one from my squad that made it back."
"Ah yes. Absolutely dreadful. But we do what we must for our majesty. We're making sure these Pathfinders don't poke their nose where they don't belong... What is your assignment?"
Annavinia scoffs dismissively. "I don't have an assignment."
I could use a more refined company. The trip here was simply dreadful. I do hope the Queen appreciates the sacrifices we make, serving her in this forsaken land.
Annavinia seems at ease speaking with a fellow Chelaxian, and her icy facade thaws a little. "I'm sure the Queen appreciates the sacrifices you make. However, I am here on a personal mission."
She shows Fingo what she's been reading, they're journals left behind by a distant ancestor of hers named Linneus Narikopolus. "You know, he founded this very inn." The section that she is reading is a dry account of the construction of the building - the spacing of the timbers used in order for the basement to support the two floors above it.
"I've never travelled out this close to the Worldwound. Can you tell me a bit more about your clan?"
The half elf attempts to engage Selik in friendly conversation.
Selik invites Callistos and Kidron to join him and engages them in lively small talk before swapping tall tales of his family’s exploits around the Sarkoris Scar and listening with awe to the Pathfinders’ own stories.
As only Kellvan remains, I'm going to just roll Perception for everyone.
Everyone except for Corona notices that Kellvan merely pretends to sip on his drink, remaining stone-cold sober despite his active participation in gregarious conversation.
When confronted privately, Kellvan confides in the Pathfinders that he's actively pursuing someone in the inn, although he adamantly refuses to name names, only that they're involved in a string of frauds in the neighboring villages.
Nordvick announces that dinner will be served in an hour, and disappears into the kitchen to prepare a dinner of roast boar (they really are quite rampant in these parts) and root vegetables, while Selik holds court at the bar, passionately discussing reclamation efforts with his new friends over glasses of brandy.
Annavinia, Dehliana, and Kellvan wait for the meal in their rooms upstairs. About an hour later, the smell of spicy parsnips and sweet carrots fills the house, and the group reconvenes to share a communal meal in the common room, except for Kellvan, who retired early.
After dinner, Dehliana places a velvet satchel on the dinner table and retrieves some of her ritual tools, including tapered candles, a silver dousing rod, and a mahogany planchette. She proposes conducting a séance to entertain the group.
Nordvick avoids the group by clumsily clearing away plates and tidying the already spotless common room, but Annavinia reluctantly agrees to take part, and Selik is particularly enthusiastic about witnessing a medium commune with spirits.
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Bruce is quite shaken when he learns of his imminent demise; however, when he finds out there is a charlatan in the inn, he feels a sense of relief and a certainty that it must be the fortune teller.
"I would keep an eye out for that Dehliana lady. She must be the one that is involved with the frauds."
Bruce abandons the group for their séance and seeks out Kellvan as soon as he excuses himself, following him to his room or wherever, offering his services in bringing the woman to justice.
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Hancock is not interested in a séance. The idea that the dead might speak to him is disturbing, particularly considering how many he has killed. Instead he goes over to the bar and gives Nordvick a better reason to sit it out, sipping a beer or two and giving the man something to clean up.
The Carnelian Signet smiles when Annavinia dismisses her. "Ancestry is quite important. Especially your own..." and certainly not a buffoon like the Empress. She chuckles as Fingo manages to charm the woman over. "Oh my, more roast boar." She grins. "I'll see you in a bit. Toodles!" She waves them both goodbye and takes the hour to relax for a bit. She'd love to dress down to Issil, but that would raise even more questions.
The Carnelian Signet sits at the table and smiles as Dehliana sets up, crossing her legs and remaining quiet but eager to see the results.
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Fascinating Fingo answers Annavinia, with a wink towards the departing Carnelian Signet. Your ancestor was an enterprising one, to build a refuge for those traveling these dangerous lands.
Fingo gives the documents a quick look, in case anything in the plans seems out of place with what he sees around him. Without much hope, given his limited understanding of architecture.
As the seance approaches, Fingo enthusiastically joins in, peppering Delhiana with questions about her choices of herbs and foci.
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Though Corona is clearly curious and eager to participate in a séance, she also seems to be approaching it with a thoughtful demeanor.
"Hmm...that's true, but aren't spirits sometimes friendly or helpful?" Corona remarks to Kidron as she moves to take a seat at the table, Settie sitting atop her shoulder. "And sometimes they want help with something! You just need to balance being careful but also being willing to listen."
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That has been my experience as well. Creating undead, I would not condone of course, but listening to lingering spirits is a different story. We may learn from them, or help them move on to their next destination... as long as we do not hold them here against their will, I think we are in the clear.
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As far as Hancock is concerned, the dead should stay dead. That is his plan, and woe to anyone that tries to revive him. What point is there in a glorious death if someone just raises you to life again?
...
But what if it is an inglorious death? Now there is a conundrum.
Bruce abandons the group for their séance and seeks out Kellvan as soon as he excuses himself, following him to his room or wherever, offering his services in bringing the woman to justice.
The Carnelian Signet sits at the table and smiles as Dehliana sets up, crossing her legs and remaining quiet but eager to see the results.
As the seance approaches, Fingo enthusiastically joins in, peppering Delhiana with questions about her choices of herbs and foci.
Cal, who has an interest in the occult and maybe learning more about his past, will join in.
Though Corona is clearly curious and eager to participate in a séance, she also seems to be approaching it with a thoughtful demeanor.
Hancock is not interested in a séance.
The half elf looks up as the fortune teller attempts a seance. Do not call upon the forces of other planes,even for amusement and entertainment, undead or what have you, they are a power beyond our ability to control.
Dehliana lights the final candle and settles into a chair at the head of the table. “Place your fingertips on the planchette. The spirits will speak to us through this quill. Remember, friends, I am here as nothing more than a guide,” she murmurs, gesturing for the participants to follow her lead. Her shoulders relax and she rests her fingertips on the planchette. “Spirits, make your presence known and enlighten us from beyond the veil.” The room is silent for a few moments. The table rattles as the sound of unintelligible whispers gathers in the air.
Dehliana gasps when the planchette moves beneath her fingers, tracing a lazy path against the parchment beneath it. “Spirits, are you with us?” She inquires. The planchette twitches and jerks of its own volition, darting out from under Dehliana’s fingers. In shaky, cramped handwriting, it scrawls the word, Y-E-S.
Dehliana smiles and turns to face the group gathered around her. “If you have questions for this peaceful spirit, now is the time to ask.”
"I have to admit, I've never spoken to spirits much. My employer speaks highly of her grandmother, rest her soul..." The Signet relaxes a bit and feels her other life starting to mix in.
"Tell me, spirit: do you find this land to be restless? How could we calm it down?"
"Are my birth parents dead? That's what I'd like to know."
A card comes flying out of the harrow deck, landing face up on the table. It is The Eclipse, the lawful evil card of wisdom which represents loss of faith and purpose.
Y-E-S.
"Tell me, spirit: do you find this land to be restless?
Y-E-S.
How could we calm it down?"
G-E-N-E-R-O-S-I-T-Y.
"Are you happy?"
Y-E-S.
As the planchette moves, however, Corona catches a feeling of magical power being exerted - not from otherworldly forces, but from someone at the table.
Would you like to share with us some events of your past life?
T-O-O-M-U-C-H-H-U-R-T.
Fingo gets a decent look at the planchette as it moves around, and is convinced that Dehliana’s tools are expensive replicas of common divination items.
Corona and Fingo might be just about to voice their suspicions about the seance being a fraud, but suddenly, a gust of wind blows through the common room, extinguishing all nonmagical light sources. The building shakes, rattling the windows and doors and knocking the planchette off the table.
The brass candelabra on the mantelpiece flickers back to life and reveals a wizened man draped in bloodstained robes standing in the center of the common room. The apparition bellows, “Beware the devil who haunts this place!” He raises a trembling finger to point at each guest in turn. “For it serves a cruel master and is responsible for my death! Even now its master lurks within these walls! None shall escape until this night’s end, or till the devil is revealed and the one responsible for my death is brought to justice!”
Corona and Fingo look at Dehliana, whose face is pale. This doesn't appear to be part of her plan. A red-hot poker from the fireplace flies across the room and burns Dehliana’s hand before embedding itself into the table. Dehliana cries out in pain.
The exterior doors and windows of the trading post seal themselves shut immediately following the ghost’s pronouncement.
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Hancok leaps to his feet in surprise, his maul flying to his hands. Looking about wildly, he shouts, "Rvlslf."
Though he had been paying absolutely no attention to the séance, the appearance of the apparition and its ominous pronouncement catches his attention and fast. The mention of a devil draws his attention to the only member from the devil worshiping country of Cheliax, Annavinia and he observes her for a reaction. The fact that she was oh so interested in the building and the fact that the apparition mentioned that some devil haunts the building only solidifies his suspicions and his eyes narrow as he glares at her.
"Generosity... well, that I have plenty of!" The Carnelian Signet leans back, clearly enjoying her time. Fingo and Corona seem like they are about to speak when a new guest enters, covered in blood.
The Carnelian Signet stands up as the walls and windows seal themselves. She watches some of the patrons try to escape in vain. "Ah, it's never that easy. Besides, he wants a show. He'll get a show."
She tries to get a good look at the wizard before he disappears. Any insignia? Is his clothing modern? A family crest, perhaps? This must be the same murderer Kellvan mentioned.
...where is Kellvan?
"A devil among us! We never should've come here!" Settie squeals from atop Corona's shoulder before pointing at Dehliana. "Your fault! You woke it up!"
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"Oh my!"
Corona looks around the now-sealed inn with obvious surprise and shock; she wasn't sure what she'd expected but it wasn't this. As Settie starts yelling and pointing fingers at Dehliana, she quickly reaches up to give her poppet friend a reassuring pat on the head. "Shh Settie, it's okay. We'll sort it - and I won't let anything happen to you, okay?"
"Besides, I don't think this is New Acquaintance Dehliana's doing. She seemed happy just having a bit of fun with us with her seance shenanigans," she adds with a smile. But then the smile fades. "That said, you shouldn't say stuff about people's parents if you don't know if it's true or not. That's not nice at all."
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Fingo, likes Hancock, hears devil and immediately think Cheliax. Hard not to, after his recent experience in that country. He instinctively moves to Annavinia's side. Remembering his act, he asks with feigned nonchalance
Well, that's not my devil, I'm afraid. Do you think it could be yours or you ancestor's, my Lady?
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"So this place is haunted, there has been a murder and the murderer serves someone or something else? This is going well. I hope there are no pits." Cal looks around with an annoyed expression. "I don't suppose anyone is going to come clean so this goes more quickly? Otherwise, I think we're going to have to do some digging into the past and present of everyone here."