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Canayven adds, “Davorge. If anyone would know what’s been going in the district of Ordellia, it’d be him. He’s a mystery cultist. He’s also an expert in supernatural matters, particularly those tied to Ordellia. Look for him in the tavern next to the Rose and Rake Theatre. He eats lunch there often. If he’s not there when you arrive, you might find someone who knows where to find him.”
Sir Canayven frowns upon hearing you wish to go to the Cenotaph first. ”You are free to start wherever you think best and you will indeed need to investigate all three monuments; but I would strongly recommend you heed my earlier words and start by meeting Davorge in Ordellia…I think it will save you time in the long run. However, you may do as you wish and good luck,” he says before leaving you…
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Although Ordellia lies on the opposite side of Magnimar from Heidmarch Manor, it’s relatively simple for you to find the Rose and Rake Theatre. The Rose and Rake is a large, open-air playhouse which frequently hosts town hall meetings and other large gatherings. In the playhouse’s shadow is a well-kept tavern known for its dashing waitstaff and their slick, trimmed uniforms. A sign above the tavern depicts a rose and a small garden rake.
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Upon entering, you inquire about Davorge; a young serving wench eyes you for a moment, then holds out her hand, palm up. Upon dropping a couple coppers in her hand, she nods her head to the back…
Sitting near the back of the tavern you see a dark-haired Varisian man wearing a flowing tunic and trousers, both with silver embroidery. After being pointed out, the cheerful man waves you over, introducing himself with flair…
”Greetings, my new friends, I am Davorge, mystery cultist extraordinaire; I always ask any newcomers entering this establishment if they know a ghost story they would be willing to share. So, do you?” he asks with a warm smile…
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"Of ghosts, I know quite a bit, some even by my own experience. My most recent adventure involved one such soul, forced to murder unsuspecting gnomes to preserve their still living family..." Ushi spins the tale of tracking down the murderous necromancer that enslaved the spirit for his sinister ends.
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Listening to Pachouli’s tale, Davorge smiles throughout nodding his head encouragingly as she speaks. ”Very nice, m’Lady,” before turning to hear Ushi’s ghost story…
The flamboyantly dressed Varisian becomes more animated as Ushi goes into his story, eyes growing bigger during the scarier parts and then exploding into applause at the tale’s end…
He rises and bows, with a flourish, to Ushi. ”Bravo! The Corpses of Kalsgard, indeed! Very well told, my friend,” he says in a melodic voice. ”Almost felt like I was there with you! Lucretia!” he hollers to the serving wench you met earlier, ”…please bring drinks for my new friends here…”
As she hurriedly moves to get your drinks, Davorge turns back to you. ”So tell me, what brings you to our neck of the woods? Are you here for business or pleasure?”
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Davorge arches an eyebrow, a sly smile forming on his lips…
“Hmmm…you say you’re looking for strange happenings here, in Ordellia?” Davorge laughs, a merry ringing with no hint of malice. “My friend, what’s strange to you is commonplace here! After all, we happen to have our own resident ghost—the ghost of one Ordellia Whilwren, in fact, whose mortal abode happens to be ‘round the corner from where we sit. You see, I’m something of an aficionado of Ordellia…
”I greatly admire Ordellia for her role in founding Magnimar and her continued vigil over the city. She died most tragically, all too soon; she was murdered by two Chelaxian merchants. They were associated with a Skinsaw cult murdered her as part of a failed conspiracy to discredit local Sczarni merchants. The Mistress of Angels was erected in honor of Ordellia, right outside her townhouse…
“I’d love nothing more to see that poor, lost soul move peacefully from our life to the next. But lately, I’ve heard strange reports about her. She appears lost, scared, desperate even. I was going to investigate the matter myself, yet now that you’re here I wonder if our dances are, in fact, a duet. What do you say? Care to investigate the matter together?”
Waki senses no deception from Davorge; he seems most sincere in his offer to help investigate…
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Davorge smiles broadly, exclaiming, "Most excellent, my new friends! Might as well start now, don't ya think?"
He finishes off his drink with a hearty chug, leaves a couple of gold on the tables for the drinks, before turning to you with a cheerful look, saying, "Come along now, follow me to the Mistress of Angels!"
Davorge leads you on a very short walk from the tavern. A small crowd has gathered in front of the Mistress of Angels, a marble statue of a Chelaxian woman with flowing hair and plain clothing. The statue carries a butterfly emblem in her right hand and a starknife in her left, and her eyes stare out over the sea to the north. Behind the statue is a large wooden townhouse. A brass plaque labeled “Ordellia’s Townhouse” marks the building’s southernmost entrance.
As you approach the monument, you notice an official there interrogating 'witnesses'; Davorge whispers to you that this official is none other than Inspector Theodorus Ichonvarde, whom Lady Heidmarch had previously briefed you on. He has lined up five folk and is in the process of questioning them for information regarding the disturbances. Among them are a pair of women—one Chelaxian and the other Varisian—holding hands, a Chelaxian man who appears bored with the exchange, a young Varisian man who looks close to tears, and a Varisian woman in dancer’s garb glancing impatiently at a nearby sundial...
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That's the great Ordellia, is it? Seeing the butterfly and starknife featured on the statue, Levin quickly swaps his holy symbol of Shelyn for one of Desna, making sure the butterfly symbol is displayed prominently on his chest.
"Ho now, what's all this? Not to interrupt the pursuit of justice, Inspector, but are there by chance any new developments in the case of the--" Levin takes off his extravagant wide-brimmed hat and waves it toward the Mistress of Angels-- "fine figure before us?"
Before the Inspector can utter a word, however, Levin holds up a hand. "Oh you're right, I'm terribly sorry. The name is Levin Hessel, of the Pathfinder Society. My associates and I have been sent to investigate the, ah, strange goings-on."
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Before the Inspector can utter a word, however, Levin holds up a hand. "Oh you're right, I'm terribly sorry. The name is Levin Hessel, of the Pathfinder Society. My associates and I have been sent to investigate the, ah, strange goings-on."
Inspector Theodorus bristles at Levin’s words, clearly indignant. ”By whose authority? I am Chief Inspector Theodorus Ichonvarde, personally selected by the Lord Mayor to investigate these psychic disturbances; I will not allow interference from rank amateurs to jeopardize my investigation…”
Patchouli would like to assure to Inspector Theodorus Ichonvarde that the Pathfinder just want to help out, and by no mean is trying to hinder his investigation or disrespect his authority in the matter. It's all for the embetterment of the people's life in Magnimar...
The Inspector appears to be slightly mollified by Patchouli’s good manners. ”That’s well spoken, girl, you appear a kind soul, but what qualifications have you to investigate cases such as this? I’ve solved many such for the Lord Mayor, a personal friend of mine by the way…and who did you say authorized you to investigate?”
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Patchouli will signals whoever that carries the Varisian Council Writ of Authority to shows it to the inspector. "The Varisian Council of Magnimar, with their power granted by the people, have authorized us to aid in the investigation. Since there're multiple locations for the supernatural incidents/sighting, and the reality that their best investigator in town..." gesture to Theodorus, "...cannot be at all three places at the same time, the city council turn to the tried and true method of..." gesturing to the Pathfinders team, "...throwing more bodies on the task, so that the city might be relieved from the problem sooner."
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"The Lady Heidmarch dispatched us at the request of the council and we have been granted legal authorization to make our own inquiries." Ushi interjects as smoothly as he can. "We are more than happy to assist as you see fit, or pursue parallel avenues, as our perspectives as outside elements may lead to unexpected insights."
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Listening to Patchouli and Ushi explain their authority to investigate, Theodorus reluctantly desists from his protests; upon seeing the writ, he frowns, sighs, and seems slightly deflated…
”Well…yes, of course…you are authorized…and I am professionally obligated to assist you as I can…
“The general timetable of these crimes is as follows…first the Mistress of Angels 2 weeks ago, followed by the Founder’s Flame last week and the Cenotaph 4 days ago. I will allow you to question my witnesses, but only under my supervision of course…you may proceed if you wish,” he says haughtily.
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Janus leans in close to the smooth-talking nagaji, Ushi, and whispers
"The inspector's pride is wounded by our sanctioned presence; he might prefer that we fail before he succeeds. Yet his vanity may allow you to loosen his tongue with flattery, and share all he knows, for he is certainly holding back."
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"I am most interested to hear the inspector's keen insights, but if you will permit me a moment to speak with the witnesses, I think that will give a fuller picture as to this case." Ushi moves to address the captive audience. "Please let me offer apologies for the delay. If you will bear with us, I would like to hear what you have told the inspector so far, so that we may all be on the same page. Could you please begin, ma'am, so that we can be done with this as soon as possible?" He gestures to the impatient dancer.
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The dancer smiles, just slightly, at Ushi. ”Finally, some one with manners…I am Ysandre…”
Ysandre recalls that after her last performance at the Rose and Rake, she spotted a group in dark cloaks headed west away from the Mistress of Angels. There was a faint smell of decay in the air as they passed, like rotting vegetation. Out of curiosity she inspected the area, only to find it marred with some sort of strange graffiti that reminded her of the Thassilonian runes that have been appearing in museums over the past decade. She admits that she has no genuine experience with Thassilonian lore, however…
”Now can I go?”
The Varisian man cries out at Janus’s query. ”Unnerved? You’d be crying too if you had been questioned for hours carrying two bags of heavy groceries! I should’ve never moved to this city!”
Behind you Theodorus smirks haughtily at you as you question the witnesses…
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The Varisian man cries out at Janus’s query. ”Unnerved? You’d be crying too if you had been questioned for hours carrying two bags of heavy groceries! I should’ve never moved to this city!”
"I can assure you, good sir, this is not at all normal for this part of the city," Levin says apologetically, despite having the impression that it's completely normal for this part of the city.
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"Anyway," the halfling turns to Ysandre, "after your performance, did you by chance-- hang on," he interrupts himself, looking at her costume, "did you say you were at the Rose and Rake? Torag's toes, you're Iridia aren't you? The enchantress in the newest play!"
Levin puts a hand to his chest in an exaggerated gesture of pleasant surprise. "I've seen the show twice, your duet in the second act simply steals the stage. You know..." He then launches into the chorus of "Mine Alone" and pauses when the enchantress's part comes in-- hoping to all the gods Ysandre's garb is in fact Iridia's dress from the play and not simply one that looks like it.
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Ysandre blushes at Levin’s praise…but her growing smile makes no secret that she is also pleased…
”My, my…thank you kind sir, you are too kind…and a follower of Desna as well. Your kindness and shared devotion has freed my memory of something else that might be helpful to your investigation…”
Ysandre recalls that whatever the runes did, they seemed to have reversed the monument’s blessings. Instead of invigorating the heart, they now seem to fill it with doubt and indecision.
Janus senses that the Varisian man’s strength is fading; you think he could use some help with the bags…
Waki confirms that while the Inspector is vain, he is afraid the Pathfinders will solve the case before him…and the only thing he can read on Ysandre is that she very obviously reacts well to courtesy and praise…
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Softened up even further by Levin’s singing and praise, Ysandre responds well to Patchouli’s line of questioning, telling you the following:
Last night, Ysandre saw the ghostly visage of Ordellia Whilwren appear before her at her namesake theatre. The ghost is an uncommon sight around the city, but Ysandre notes that she seemed distant, terrified, and desperate for help. Ordellia left abruptly without saying anything—an unusual occurrence.
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"Thank you, darling, you've been most helpful." Levin reaches up to pat Ysandre on her hip. "We'll be in touch if we need anything else." He doesn't specify how or when.
"Now my dear sir," he says, turning to the Varisian man, "I can tell these events have been most upsetting for you so we will be brief. Before we get to what you've seen and heard, can you please tell me your name and what brought you around here?"