Neppka grabs the papers, and then searches Olga's tent, if he knows where that is.
Vako talks to the other former prisoners. How did you three get captured? Do you know each other? Did you try and talk to them too? What did they want from you? Where'd you learn your magic? Can you show me some new spells?
The red-bearded dwarf says, "I am Festus Flamebeard, at your service!" and he bows low to Vako or any of the others who are part of the conversation. "A simple dwarf in service to the Forgemaster. I was on a mission from my church when these brigands waylaid me. Blessings on the three of you for getting us out of there. Verily!"
The elven woman merely smiles. "I am student of nature, little leshy. The magic I know cannot be taught." She continues by way of explanation. "I was in the woods seeking a friend who often travels this way but before I could meet here, I was outnumbered. I imagine my friend would've freed all of us, if she knew of our captivity."
The last one, the man Candalreth, says, "I know a bit of magic but its in story and song. I can teach those things to you, since it appears you are musically inclined, but the magic of them you will have to make for yourself I am afraid. Just a traveling minstrel, I am, on the road north to Riddleport. Heard that place was full of scoundrels and thieves, but did not expect to meet any this far south."
Olga has a wagon decorated in Varisian style. Most of which is filled with accoutrements of living on the road, but there are some interesting things left behind. A crystal rock about the size of a football, which is highly polished and shines brightly almost as if lit from within, a highly stylized deck of harrow cards which are also over-sized (about twice the size of a normal deck of playing cards), a small wooden box with three small glass vials full of a sickly green liquid, and a heavy iron coffer which is apparently locked. No key is found in the wagon.
The Varisian answers the tripkee as best he can. "I know not. She is our babushka, our shaman, our leader. After he came here, she suddenly started doing what he said. And we are obligated to follow her. We did not kill anyone, just stopped to search them and held them until he could question them. You do not want that kind of questioning, my friend. Believe me."
Neppka leaves things where they are in Olga's wagon for the moment. He'll let Vako and Krrys'tall know about them when there's a moment.
He goes back to listen to the conversation with the Varisians. When it's over, he'll ask Festus if the papers from the glowing dwarf's tent is written in dwarven and if he can tell him what they say.
When did that scary one come? Maybe that's when the problems started? Anyway I think we heard it was just one group of bandits anyway. Problem solved? Do we go back to Sandpoint now?
Problem solved? Do we go back to Sandpoint now?
Krrys'tall pats Vako on the shoulder, more in an effort to focus him than anything else. "Not quite yet, Breden. Le's talk to da men just a bit more, before we start back."
After that Krrys'tall simply smiles and waits for the Varisians to answer the energetic bard's first question.
"Right. There's also some interesting stuff in Olga's wagon. A big crystal, a big harrow deck, some maybe-poison, and a lockbox.
"I don't think we need to steal their wealth, but I don't want to leave anything dangerous with these guys if they're locking up random travelers."
Neppka glares at the closest Varisian as he mentions being locked up.
The Varisian says very emphatically, "There was no trouble until he came here. Olga was a nice old woman who healed us, told the future with her cards, and led us with her wisdom but something happened when he arrived and things took a dark turn. It is not natural." He makes a forked finger sign and spits over his left shoulder to ward evil spirits.
Festus the dwarf looks at the most recent papers gathered by Neppka. "Aye, this is in the writing of my people." He takes a few moments scanning the letters, his heavy brows getting more and more furrowed as he reads. "This can't be!" he says stamping his heavy boot. "Grimbeard's been dead for 100 years." Without further comment he keeps reading, shuffling the papers a bit. Finally he says, "I don't know about this but it appears to be a letter from something called Malgrath to your recently departed friend there, who is, apparently the reanimation of a long dead dwarven warlord named Grimbeard. Apparently this Malgrath wants Grimbeard, the long dead dwarf, to find this stone, I guess the same one they've been pestering travelers for. The stone is purported to be in this area of the Lost Coast but this Malgrath doesn't know exactly where. 'Stop at nothing', it says very plainly." He takes a beat reading the letter again before looking up at you. "What have we stumbled upon here?"
Krrys'tall shakes their head and makes a fearful croak while answering Festus's question. "Bad stuff. Black magic. Guys comin' back from da dead and grans turnin' bandit. We might not have enough mouth for this bug, Bredren."
I think we go back to Sandpoint as heroes! Vako says. No more attacks. We're done. Yay.
Neppka has heard of Grimbeard before. Long ago, and far away near the Five Kings Mountains, there was a dwarven warlord by that name who led a revolt against the established rulers. Grimbeard left the dwarven society taking with him a faction bent on dwarven rule of the surface world, and the subservience of all other ancestries on Golarion, including elves and men.
Ultimately, when his faction attacked an Elvish settlement, they were defeated, but Grimbeard the leader's body was never found. But since he was never heard from again, until now apparently, the elves assumed he perished somewhere during the fight.
He was quite a prolific warrior by all the old stories but his intolerance of others unlike him led to his undoing. Neppka had not heard of Grimbeard doing magic, especially not teleportation magic, like you just witnessed.
As Neppka relates what he knows about Grimbeard to the others, Festus nods along in agreement. "Dwarven pride is sometimes over-sized, and that was the case with Grimbeard of old. The Father of the Forge teaches us to accommodate strangers and celebrate the different gifts elves and men (and tengu or leshy or tripkee) can bring. It is not the dwarven way, nor was it ever."
He finally looks at the papers written in dwarven that Neppka left with him right before the fighting started and looks awestruck as he reads, his face turning ashen pale. "Where did you find these did you say? I must go there at once!"
Neppka has heard of Grimbeard before....
"Well, dwarves are long-lived, right? If the battle with the elven settlement was 100 years ago, it's possible he'd still be alive, then.
"Well, whatever. With nothing else to go on, the best thing to do would be to go back to Sandpoint," Neppka cocks his head in acknowledgement of Vako's suggestion, "and let that innkeeper Ameiko know what happened. That way, if Grimbeard or Olga cause more trouble, then people know about them already."
Neppka raises a feathered arm and points at the remaining Varisians. "You guys. You're free to go, or you can just wait here until we go. You locked innocent people in a cage without questioning why. You got what was coming to you." Neppka indicates the dead Varisians.
Neppka brings out the big crystal, harrow deck, and vials he found in Olga's tent. He asks Vako, Krrys'tall, and the other former prisoners if they know what any of them are for.
He finally looks at the papers written in dwarven that Neppka left with him right before the fighting started and looks awestruck as he reads, his face turning ashen pale. "Where did you find these did you say? I must go there at once!"
"At a graveyard nearby. We'll take you there; it's on the way back to Sandpoint.
"What's going on?"
Do spiders grow back fast? We weeded some at the graveyard!
Hoping that Vako is correct, and that the job is truly done, Krrys'tall nods and helps the others gather their belongings for the journey back.
The Varisians tell Neppka that the harrow deck is what Olga used to tell the future in certain strange occult rituals. The green vials she offered to clansmen who were hurt and they magically became better. The crystal, they believe, is just a valuable art piece.
The surprised dwarf exclaims: "It's my brother Fingrin! That's why I am here, to look for him. He was sent by my leader here months ago, but then never came back. These letters are from my temple giving him orders to come to Varisia and search for something called the Brown Stone, which was believed lost in this area, maybe centuries ago. Have you heard of the Brown Stone before?"
The quieter Varisian say: "Ja! The Brown Stone, that vhat dwarf mate us searchink for." She motions with his hand a round stone about the size of a grapefruit maybe. "Ve never see dis stone, ja?"
Krrys'tall shares a concerned look with Neppka, as Festus reveals the dead dwarf is probably his brother.
Ohhh... I see. Vako sits down and starts making a mudball.
The quieter Varisian say: "Ja! The Brown Stone, that vhat dwarf mate us searchink for." She motions with his hand a round stone about the size of a grapefruit maybe. "Ve never see dis stone, ja?"
Neppka squawks in annoyance. "He didn't make you do anything! He and Olga told you to lock people in cages, and you just decided to blindly follow orders instead of think for yourselves!"
Neppka takes a moment to compose himself. He takes a deep breath and starts speaking again.
"Whatever. Olga's got a lockbox in her wagon. You can keep it and the harrow cards. We're leaving.
"Are you ready to go?" Neppka asks Festus. And then to the other former prisoners, he asks, "Are you all good? We're making our way back to Sandpoint. You're welcome to come with."
Neppka is keeping the three vials and the crystal. At some point, he'll ask someone who can tell such things if it's magical. After they leave, he'll give one vial to Vako, another to Krrys'tall, and keep the last for himself.
Krrys'tall smirks approvingly at Neppka's rough response to the ruffian.
Festus and the others gather their things. The elven druid Melaria says, "I will not be joining you as I intend to meet my friend still even if somewhat delayed. May the Sea and Sky watch over you. I owe you all a debt for freeing me." She bows low, and then as you watch, she changes shape into a large raven and takes flight leaving you all behind.
Candalreth shrugs, "I've got nowhere better to go, and Sandpoint has a place or two to make some coins on stage. Sure, I'll come along."
Festus says, "I will see you rewarded if you help me find my brother, and perhaps the Brown Stone he was seeking, and these others are apparently after. I would be more comfortable if that were in the Temple of the Maker rather than in the hands of some creature claiming to be a long-dead warlord."
The harrow cards are not magical just used to tell fortunes for those who understand such things. There is no psychic traces on them unfortunately. The crystal is not magical either, but is worth 25gp if sold.
The three potions are all minor healing potions.
Leaving the Varisian camp behind, along with at least a couple of former captives, the group, along with Festus and Candalreth set out back towards the Pauper's Graveyard, backtracking their steps along the Lost Coast Road.
It takes the better part of two hours to get back to the place where you can see the overgrown resting place and the broken-down gates and fence that mark the outline of the place. No flash of metal is visible this time, as the spider who was trying to bait you before are now killed.
The sun is starting get low in the sky now however, and the cemetery, which is heavily tree-covered is in darkness. It does not look particularly inviting from the road and Candalreth lets out a low whistle. "You want us to go in there in the dark? Can any of you make lights? Or shall we wait until daylight?" It's pretty clear he is leaning towards the latter option.
I can have sleepy time. I Like doing things in the sun anyway.
Neppka agrees to find a place to camp for the night. But... not too close.
Krrys'tall agrees wearily. It's been at least 4 hours since they had a nap, after all.
The group of 5 sets up camp for the night, and they each take turns keeping watch, and stoking the fire. While the spooky graveyard in the distance looks imposing, there is no drama during the night. The party wakes up in the morning rested and refreshed.
Festus seems quite excited to find the remains you described and verify if it is in fact his brother who has been missing for some time.
Leaning back on his pack near the fire, faced so he can see any threats from the graveyard in the distance, Neppka looks at the minstrel in their company.
"So, Candalreth. What's your story? How did you come to be caged in a Varisian camp?"
Krrys'tall lazily raises an eyelid for a moment, then lets it fall shut once again. There's just enough movement to indicate they are indeed awake and listening to the chatter of the group and enjoying the precious moments before having to do anything today.
"Not much to tell really," yawns the bard sleepily. "Grew up in Magnimar, made some money, gambled it away, been traveling up and down the Coast Road trying to make a gold crown here or there. Times are hard for an honest man," he says with a grin. "I've seen some things," he says again with a shiver, "But I've never seen anything like the ghostly dwarf back there."
Neppka nods at Candalreth's summation of his life, and then turns his head so that he includes Festus, Krrys'tall, and Vako.
"Ghostly? I don't know. Do we think that was really a ghost? He didn't seem very ghost-like. He just glowed. If he was a ghost, why would he need his own tent? And then he seemed to need Olga for some reason. And he wasn't haunting anything."
Festus avers with some surety. "Not a ghost, I'll warrant, but not a normal flesh an' blood dwarf either. If Grimbeard died a century ago, then who 'r what was that thing? Doon't know. Doon't really want to have to find oot. Unnatural to be sure, but a ghostie akin the stories for wee bairns, doon't think soo."
Candalreth shrugs. "Looked like a ghost to me. Maybe just a half-ghost, but would rather pass. He didn't speak to you all like he did me. It was like ice in my brain. No, I am glad he went somewhere else. Hopefully not into that burial ground." He lifts his chin in the direction of the Pauper's Rest.
.
If he gets his brown stone maybe he'll go back to rest? Vako says as he continues to work on his mudball.
Krrys'tall is nearly asleep in a nearby tree, before the others even finish the conversation. They nod along in agreement to Vako, not comprehending a word he said.
In the morning, a low mist hangs around gathering especially heavy in the shade of boughs of the trees surrounding the abandoned graveyard. It seems like that might be as good as your going to get for sunlight for a little while, so your small group moseys on over. You recall the low stone wall, and the ruined gates of the resting place, and the tree and shield set up the spiders had used to lure prey in. You don't see spiders this time but the shiny shield still rests against a tilted headstone where you left it.
It doesn't take much poking around to re-discover the corpse of the fallen dwarf, presumably Festus long lost brother, the unfortunate Fingrin. No flesh remains on the bones, just armor slowly rusting, and ruined pack lying nearby. The pack still has nothing of real value, but Festus says, "It seems this is me poor brother. T'appears ta be his armor though his ring is missin'. An' his shield which oonce had ta family sigil bears it nae longer. Why is he fallen in this place then? Off t'beaten path in t' middle of lost Varisia. Care tae help me look fer anythin' oot of sorts?"
Krrys'tall sighs, having been roped into more work, but keeps their mouth shut out of respect for Festus and his deceased brother. They climb around to look in places that may have been missed the first time this decrepit graveyard was searched and use their tripkee grippers to reach crevices humanoid hands might have trouble finding purchase.
I remember for us the spiders showed us shiny things to get us to come closer and then ATTACKED!
"I looked for personal effects like a ring or something similar when we first found him, but I didn't see anything other than the scrolls I gave you and his holy symbol."
"And the only shield we saw was that one," Neppka points to the shield that the spiders were using as bait.
Despite his assurance that he had already done so, Neppka helps search the area for the items Festus is asking about.
There really does not seem to be anything else of note about the corpse itself, but as the group scours the surrounding area, they find something they missed (or just weren't interested in) the first time they were at Pauper's Rest. Among the fallen gravestones and general overgrowth of the area, a set of doors, is uncovered. A headstone or two, years of fallen leaves, and other general detritus cover these doors which are set nearly flush to the ground, a perhaps a 10 degree angle up. They are made from some metal that has resisted rust over time, but could not resist the layering on from above of vegetation, dirt, debris.
Clearing the debris, you see the doors have a sigil etched into the front of a mailed fist holding a flaming warhammer. Festus takes out a pendent showing the same sigil, with the flames represented by red-orange precious stones, and the metalwork of gold and platinum. "Tis me family crest," he says surprised as anyone. "T'honor the Great God of the Forge, me Lord and Maker Torag the Wise, blessed be his name. Doon't knoo what is in here, but if Fingrin died here, I can expect tis somethin' worth dyin' for, aye!"
The doors have a locking mechanism which appears to be still locked, though pry marks are evident on the outside. It does not appear whoever was trying to enter, was successful.
Do you have a key for your family doors? Vako asks.
Festus shakes his head sadly. "No, leafy fellow. No key, more's the pity as I'd really like to knoo what's doon there. Can any of ye pick locks?"
Neppka turns to Festus.
"I don't think any of us know how to pick that lock. We can try and pry it open, but it looks like that's already been tried. Plus, we don't really know what's down there, nor how large it is.
"Why don't you come back to Sandpoint with us. We have something we have to report in, and maybe you can find someone who can tell you more about what's down there, and maybe even someone who can help open it.
"There's a guy there, Brodert Quink, who knows lots of things, or he can hopefully point you in the right direction."
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Festus looks rather longingly at the vault that is laid out in front of him, but eventually shrugs his shoulders. "I ken we have need of a burglar then eh? Can you find one in wee Sandpoint? Ar do we 'ave to goo all the wee to Magnimar? Seems like we could easily find a ne'er-do-well in Riddleport if we keep movin' north."
Candalreth says, "There are plenty of shifty sorts in Sandpoint, if you know the right places to look. You offer a cut of what's in that vault, and you'll have plenty of roguish fellows lining up to join you. What about you lot, are you in to come back and see what's inside?"
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YES Vako jumps up and down. I want to see what's behind the door. But we need to tell people we destroyed all the bandits first.
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Neppka nods at Vako. "Let's head back to Sandpoint, then. We'll report in, and then we'll see about what to do about this crypt."
Assuming nobody disagrees, the party heads back to Sandpoint.