lostsole31
  
 
 
  
    Rescue Our Heroes!  

Two nights ago, an investigation into a string of killings that appeared to be related to ghouls brought Sandpoints' favored batch of heroes - no less than Norton Dabney and Draegra and their new friends - to the dilapidated ruin of the Foxglove noble family, following strange scrawlings that seemed to call out Draegra.

That was the last Sheriff Hemlock heard of them, and he was given consistent updates from the group. Though the killings have stopped for now since the heroes cleared out a group of ghouls and a ghast from a local farm, who knows how long it will be before trouble rears its head.

Desperate to keep the populace calm, Mayor Deverin had Sheriff Hemlock contact every conceivable sellsword walking in the Sandpoint area and bring them to a dinner at the Rusty Dragon to discuss making a rescue attempt, or failing that, to put to rest whatever evil might have stilled our brave heroes.

The clock is against Sandpoint, should the killings begin again.
Will Evaro Teodor and Aubrine Udara and their new acquaintances be up to the challenge of protecting the town?
Or, will they fall as well, and let panic run through the streets of Sandpoint?  
  
      DRAMATIS PERSONAE     
     Character
[Player]
  
  Speech Color  
  AL
  
  Faith  
  Race [Ethnicity]
(Gender ID)
  
  Side #1
  
  Side #2
  
  Campaign Trait  
 
    Aubrine Udara
[Clasy Crow]
   
   Teal 
  
 NG 
 Agnostic 
 Half-Elf (m)
[Shoreborn, Taldan] 
 Eclipse 7 
 Investigator 7
[Empiricist]/
Swashbuckler 1
[Inspired Blade] 
 Scholar of the Ancients 
 
    Azel the Vibrant
[NPC]
   
   Dark Orange
   
 N 
 Gozreh 
 Human? (f) 
 Nature-Something? 
 ??? ? 
 Sandpoint Faithful 
 
    Balazar
[NPC]
   
   Purple
   
 N 
 Agnostic 
 Gnome (m) 
 Bard 5/
Pathfinder Chronicler 2 
 Summoner 7 
 Outlander
[Lore Seeker] 
 
    Evaro Teodor
[qazgir]
   
   Blue
   
 NG 
 Erastil 
 Half-Giant (m) 
 Fighter 7
[Myrmidon] 
 Guru 6/
Rogue 1
[Bruiser] 
 Giant Slayer 
 
    Huseina ("Deadeye") Tyrer 
 [NPC] 
  
   Violet
   
 LG 
 Kelinahat 
 Human (f)
[Mwangi: Bonuwat] 
 Gunslinger 7 
 Rogue 7
[Scout] 
 Outlander [Exile] 
 
    Torviruv the Torch
[NPC]
   
   Saddle Brown
   
 LN 
 Pharasma 
 ??? (m) 
 ???/
Sleepless Detective 2 
 ???  
 Merchant Family 
 
    Dgia Bazkrak
[NPC, Balazar's Cohort]
   
   Golden Rod
   
 N (LN) 
 Abadar 
 Gold Dwarf? (f)
 
 ??? 
 ??? 
 Monster Hunter 
 
    Padrig
[NPC, Balazar's Eidolon]
   
   Indigo
   
 CN 
 Unknown 
 Serpentine Eidolon (m)
[Protean] 
 N/A 
 N/A 
 N/A 
 
  
lostsole31
    Fireday, 30 Neth 4707 AR  
Weather:  18/ 10 F. Light snow (1/2"). Winds WNW 20 mph. Medium humidity. Wind Chill:  -7/ -15 F. 
 
One thing you are going to have to do in Sandpoint before heading out to Aldern Manor (called "Misgivings" by the locals) is deal with the freezing cold weather (see above).

Evaro and Aubrine .... will you purchase cold weather gear, or handle yourselves more supernaturally with your abilities?

With the intent today to deal with the cold and travel the 3-mile hike to the reputedly haunted manor, do either of you change anything on your daily lineup?
Qazgir
Evaro

Evaro will purchase a cold weather outfit and keep his daily preparations the same. He will also take three minutes to meditate under the snowy sky, focusing and storing the sun's power within himself, before spreading it into his veils.

 
 Spoiler 

Absorb Radiance: Meditate for 3 minutes to gain a pool of three temporary essence. Invest 2 temp essence into Sprinter's Boots and 1 temp essence into Hardlight Reinforcements.
 
ClassyCrow
  After spending their usual time in the morning shaping their veils and preparing their extracts, Aubrine will look out the window and come to a similar conclusion as Evaro. Aubrine will go buy some winter weather gear. After purchasing some winter clothes, they will spend whatever time they have left researching the Foxglove Family. If Aubrine cannot find any information, due to either lack of time or resources, they will meet up with Evaro and begin their journey.

   
 Spoiler 
  If there is an applicable roll for doing research, Aubrine will use a point of inspiration.  
 
lostsole31
[QUOTE=Qazgir;25924104]Evaro will purchase a cold weather outfit and keep his daily preparations the same. He will also take three minutes to meditate under the snowy sky, focusing and storing the sun's power within himself, before spreading it into his veils.

Evaro will spend 8 gold and trade out wear for the cold weather outfit while tightly rolling and stowing his explorer's outfit in his backpack. That nearly wiped out his funds.

 
 Originally Posted by Clasy_Crow 
   After spending their usual time in the morning shaping their veils and preparing their extracts, Aubrine will look out the window and come to a similar conclusion as Evaro. Aubrine will go buy some winter weather gear. After purchasing some winter clothes, they will spend whatever time they have left researching the Foxglove Family. If Aubrine cannot find any information, due to either lack of time or resources, they will meet up with Evaro and begin their journey.   
 

Aubrine likewise pays the 8 gold but his purse is much heavier than Evaro's own. Because things have to happen right away (rescue mission, remember) there is no time to hem and haw in town for research.  Once they meet up with the others, the pair finds that Balazar is already ahead of them. He spent the latter part of the night drinking and asking around - knowing there would be no time for a library foray in the morning - and it was late enough and the right people were drunk enough (including one Brodert Quink) that Balazar was able to piece together a lot of information, as follows ...
 
 Foxglove Manor is over 80 years old, and has been the seat of the Foxglove family the whole time. Some sort of tragedy struck the family a few decades ago, and no one’s lived there since. Common rumor holds that the place is haunted. 
 Foxglove Manor is known as the “Misgivings” by some locals, particularly by Varisians. It certainly has a bad reputation—sightings of strange lights in the attic windows, muffled sounds of screaming from above and below, and even rumors of a huge bat-winged devil living in the caves below the manor are but a few of the tales told about the place. The Foxglove family lived there as recently as 2 decades ago, but then a fire burned down the servants’ building, Cyralie Foxglove was found dead—burnt and dashed on the rocks below the cliffs behind the house—and Traver Foxglove was found in his bedroom, dead by his own hand. The children, including young Aldern Foxglove, were sent away to be raised in Korvosa by distant relations. 
 Aldern Foxglove recently returned to live in the manor, but he had a hell of a time hiring locals to aid him in the reconstruction and repair of the old building. Until Aldern moved back in, the place was cared for by a man named Rogors Craesby (a retired innkeeper who lost an ear in a bar fight many years ago) who came in 3 days a week from Sandpoint to air the place out, check for squatters, and make minor repairs. 
 Foxglove Manor was built decades ago by Vorel Foxglove, a merchant prince from Magnimar. He and his family lived there for 20 years before the entire family perished from disease. The surviving Foxgloves of Magnimar shunned the place for 40 years, until Traver Foxglove moved back in. 
 The Foxgloves have traditionally been associated with the Brothers of the Seven, a secretive gentlemen’s club based in Magnimar and consisting of merchants or thieves, depending on whom you talk to. Members of the society periodically visited Foxglove Manor at night during the years the manor went unlived-in, perhaps to check up on the building and make minor repairs—or perhaps for more sinister pursuits. 
 

Everyone is likewise bundled and packed up, and likewise several gold lighter.

It soon becomes apparent that Huseina is the most practiced at this type of travel - hostile environments and the deep wilderness. Once she gets a sense of everyone's overall skill, she is rather depressed to find out that very few are trained survivalists. She had hoped to move half-speed, with more practiced survivalists helping a buddy who is less able, but as limited as the group is, it is just better to get as much speed as the group can without hustling (which has its own problems in cold weather survival).

The party begins their journey, as protected from the cold as the North Face (TM) can allow them to be.

As you go, Balazar says,   "Sheriff Hemlock told me that as we get to Misgivings, we will be met by a woman who prefers to go into town as little as possible. Some type of wilderness ...er, type. They call her Azel the Vibrant, which I understand is a an appellation of irony. He warned me that while she has agreed to help and she has many powers that might be useful, still she does not take kindly to chatty folk who want to get to know her under any pretense - not personal, not professional, and she is even proof against the 'but if we work together...' rhetoric.  She says what she says when she says it, and will say no more. He also told me that those who tried her patience just saw her walk right off of a job without a kernel of guilt. So, the 'tl;dr' .... I think that's what the kids are saying these days ... is to just let her be and let her help as will, but leave her alone otherwise."
  
The 3-mile hike actually takes an hour-and-a-half what with Balazar's small frame and Evaro's heavily-armored one. To her credit the heavily armored Dgia moves as quickly as a normal human. The hike ends with everyone's cold weather gear having protected them well, though Evaros was just beginning to feel that spidery tingle.

Though the manor looms through the gray not far off, a very tall (6'4"), very stocky muscular woman (235 lbs) and of a savage mien with wolf-pelt headress, some furs, but NOT dressed for the weather awaits you by a much smaller wreck. She waves you into the dilapidated structure. It provides meager protection from the wind, but that is better than none. It’s impossible to tell how many floors the outbuilding that stood here once had, for all that remains are the sooty, scorched stones of its foundation. To the east, a four-foot-wide stone well sits, partially collapsed, in the corner of the ruins.

The woman with brown eyes and gray hair - but seeming to have the presence of both youth and experience - and possessed of strange, non-Varisian paints on her face, says,   "I am Azel. This is the old servant's quarters. I shut one of the doors to the manor that the last group must have used to enter. Our first order of business is our own survival. There will be a fireplace, we must make a fire with what is available. This is no scientific exploration to save papers, Pathfinder,"   she says, looking at Balazar,   "we must save your own skins. Gozreh protects me, but your chattering teeth tell me you are not so blessed. You will also need light sources. I suggest lighting them now."  

Do either of you have any type of light you want to begin lighting? Now that you are just about to enter Misgivings, is there any type of change or buff or the like you wish to make? And when all done, what do you have in hand?
lostsole31
Balazar  spends a minute in concentration, performing an arcane ritual, at the  end of which a terrifying/comical (you tell me) rooster-snake from parts  unknown appears. When it does so, a rune forms on Balazar's forehead  that appears on the rooster-snake's head as well. You also note there is  an exotic riding rig meant for a Small creature on this Medium-sized  monster.   "This here's Padrig, my friend and eidolon."  

Balazar  then wears his wayfinder about his neck, activating the light before  mounting Padrig. He then ties his quarterstaff to his mount and equips  his gnome-sized light crossbow. As he does so, Dgia readies her shield,  but takes out no weapon.

Torviruv takes out a torch, and without  equipment or a spell but concentrating on it the torch comes to fiery  light. He then equips his shield.

There are two entrances, apparently. The proper double doors to the manor to the northeast, and the servant's entrance to the southeast. Which entrance do you take?
Qazgir
Evaro

Evaro speaks a command word, and a directed light will shine from his Ioun gauntlet. Drawing his sword, he will address the group,   "unless we know that either entrance is more dangerous than the other, I suggest we take the main entrance, and avoid getting caught up in tight servant's passageways."


  
lostsole31
The party enters the manor's main doors (the southern set, sorry), coming into the Entrance Hall. The sound of the house straining and creaking gives this long, high-ceilinged room an additional sense of age and decay. The place smells damp, the unpleasant tinge of mold lacing the air as surely as it stains the wooden floor, walls, and furniture in pallid patches. Moldering trophies hang on the wall to the northeast: a boar, a bear, a firepelt cougar, and a stag, yet they pale in comparison to the monster on display in the center of the room. Here crouches a twelve-foot-long creature with the body of a lion, a scorpion’s tail fitted with dozens of razor barbs, huge batlike wings, and a deformed humanoid face.

Everybody (except the eidolon) hears a woman's sobbing from ... somewhere ... deeper in the manor, but you can't quite pin it down.

What do you do?
ClassyCrow
  Aubrine will look at Evaro and say quietly,      “I assume I am not the only one hearing that?”      Aubrine will turn to the rest of the group and still quietly say      “Well, give me just a second before we move forward.”      After a brief moment of contemplation Aubrine will hand Evaro a potion and alchemical vial,      “Remember to drink, then drink, then spit, not: drink, spit, drink, that is just wasteful.”   
  Aubrine will then take a moment to focus, close their eyes and breath deeply. After Aubrine opens their eyes again, they seem calmer with pupils dilated. Then Aubrine will start drinking a variety of different vials from their pouch. After drinking the final vial, their skin smooths to almost a scale-like quality, their neck slits open slightly and they gain a more intensely fish-like quality in their appearance.  
  Aubrine will then quietly ask the group,      “We going in loud and proud, or do we want to have the quieter of us scout ahead?” 
  
 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
  Hand Evaro Alchemical Allocation &amp; Barkskin Potion  
  Use Extracts: Barkskin (+3 Enhancement Natural Armor at 10 min./level) &amp; Heightened Awareness (+2 perception and trained knowledge, can be consumed for +4 ini bonus. 10 min./level)  
  Consume Mutagen (+4 Dex -2 Wis +2 Natural Armor. 80 Mins)  
  Essence Investment:   
  Darkvision = 2E  
  Gloves of Master Thief = 1E  
  Pooling Black = 2E  
  Superior Reflexes = 2E  
  Cufflinks of Telekinetic = 1E  
 
Qazgir
Evaro

Evaro will take the potion and vial, and say  " yes, yes, I've got it"  . He then drinks the extract, and quickly drinks from the potion before spitting the liquid back into its container. He rubs his hands together, and his leather boots seem somehow more leathery. After Aubrine has finished drinking, Evaro answers their question,   "I could use a free minute or two if someone wants to scout, but it might be in our best interest to stick together."

   
 Spoiler: Action! 

Essence Investment:

Unicorn Feathering -&gt; 0E
Sprinter's Boots -&gt; 3E
 
lostsole31
  Aubrine looks at Evaro and say quietly,      “I assume I am not the only one hearing that?”     Aubrine will turn to the rest of the group and still quietly say,      “Well, give me just a second before we move forward.”   
 Round Tracker ... Off-Round 2 ... 
 OR2T23:  Deadeye (Huseina) takes out a pepper box.

 OR2T22:  Evaro delays, listening to Aubrine.

 OR2T21:  After a brief moment, Aubrine will take out a  potion and then do final mixing on a chemical vial before inserting a  bit of their supernatural selves into that vial for its readiness, and  holds it out to Evaro and says,    “Remember to drink, then drink, then spit, not: drink, spit, drink, that is just wasteful.”   
 OR2T20:  Evaro will take the potion and vial, and say,  " Yes, yes, I've got it."   
 OR2T19:   Torviruv puts his torch in Deadeye's off-hand, before casting a  protective spell upon himself. He then moves forward quietly while  taking out a strange blade, something like a fancy short sword that you  may have seen wielded by foreigners from Tian Xia.

 OR2T12:   "Padrig, forward. Let's take a look,"    says Balazar, and astride Padrig the two slither along the opposite  side of the large trophy from Torviruv, getting to the far end of the  entrance hall. The rooster-snake whispers something and Balazar calls  out,   "There's a dining room to the east. Looks like a window was left open for some fool reason."  
 OR2T11:  Azel steps forward and spins her  quarterstaff in readiness. You hadn't really gotten a good look at her  armament, as she cut quite a figure herself when you first saw her, but  her staff i s a beautifully ornate darkwood staff. Her left hand is  sheathed in a cestus with beautiful embroidery and stitching. There is a  an equally ornate tribal club at her side, and a bow that looks like it  was strung with such tension as to have what more likes a bow cable  than a bowstring. She seems to concentrate, obviously listening past the  babbling of the party for the source of the noise.

 OR2T10:  Torviruv stops in his tracks and sniffs and says,   "I smell ... burning."  
 OR2T1:  Dgia moves forward to Balazar, and then takes a listen.

 End Off-Round 2, Begin Off-Round 3 ...

  OR3T23:  Deadeye moves to the other end of the entrance hall so the torchlight has greater reach.

 OR3T21:    Aubrine  then  takes a moment to focus, close their eyes and breath deeply. After  Aubrine opens their eyes again, they seem calmer with pupils dilated.  At the same time, dark, supple, magic gloves appear on their hands; they  seem to wear a magical mantle; their footwear now seems to have a  darker shadow around them, and even cufflinks appear on their chemise.  The darkness from the boots glow, until a much larger area all around  Aubrine now seems to be dim light, instead of the normal torchlight,  which actually plunges the western 10' area of the entrance hall into  actual darkness now that the torch is on the far side of the hall, at  least for those that don't have low-light vision.

Aubrine then  drinks from a vial they take from their pouch. Their skin takes on a  deeper, rougher hue as they quietly ask the group,      “We going in loud and proud, or do we want to have the quieter of us scout ahead?”   
 OR3T20:   Evaro then drinks the extract, and quickly drinks from the potion  before  spitting the liquid back into its container. He rubs his hands together,  and his leather boots seem somehow more leathery while the thick fur  that had coated his armor and arms seems to disappear. After Aubrine has   finished drinking, Evaro answers their question,   "I could use a free minute or two if someone wants to scout, but it might be in our best interest to stick together."  
 OR3T19:  Torviruv shouts in alarm,   "Everyone! a great darkness has swallowed up the half-giant and his friend!"  

All  eyes suddenly snap to where Aubrine and Evaro are ... and either they  look directly at the two, or in their general direction because they can  no longer see them.

 OR3T12:    "It's okay!"    calls out Balazar with a surprisingly commanding and calming voice. He  speeds along on Padrig to get closer to the Aubrine and Evaro, and in so  doing the light from his wayfinder increases the darkened area back to  dim light from darkness.   "See? It's  not a ghostly force. Maestre Aubrine decided to use a power of darkness  without warning anyone else and with no regard for the visual acuity of  the rest of their team. Please diminish that darkness from your  Pooling Darkness , Maestre Aubrine."  
 OR3T11:  Azel doesn't do anything, but looks at Aubrine, annoyed, shaking her head.

 Initiative Counter Ends  ...
ClassyCrow
  "My sincerest Apologies."   Aubrine states through the dark, while suppressing their veil.   "I am unused to traveling with those who I have not warned about my abilities. I suppose my mistake has probably cost us any aspect of subtlety, given how I surprised Torviruv."   As Aubrine finishes talking, they continue to drink from their various vials.


 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Suppresses Pooling Black (Whoops)

Attempts to drink Other extract and mutagen
 
lostsole31
Aubrine's form grows lean, monstrous and inhuman even as their pupils dilate to take in more light and detail.

  "There are enough of us here, and I fear that even were there trouble that no other room connection will be as big as this entryway to the dining hall,"   says Balazar.   "I recommend we split up to cover more ground and to not step on each other's toes. What do you think?"  
Qazgir
Evaro will nod in agreement,   "I think that is a worthy idea. I say we split into two groups. Your point about fewer toes is a good one, but we don't want so few toes as to be ambushed one by one. I suggest that I go with Huseina and Toviruv, while you and yours go with Azel and Aubrine. Does anyone have any complains with that arrangement, or have other suggestions?"  
lostsole31
All the NPCs seem fine with that.  Aubrine , how about you?
ClassyCrow
  "That sounds like a good plan."   Aubrine nods to Evaro, and looks to their group,   "I'll try and be a bit more useful from this point."  
lostsole31
[For ease of play, and because PCs should make major decisions ...]

 Evaro , in what direction/ door/ room will you have your team begin moving?

 Aubrine , same question.
Qazgir
Gesturing at the door next to him, Evaro speaks up   "well then, let's head this direction."


   
 Spoiler 

Evaro's group will head into the door going North, located 5' East of Evaro.
 
lostsole31
 Evaro's Team 
 
 Spoiler: Evaro's Team 
Huseina shoos Torviruv away from the door.   "I've never met your equal in senses EXCEPT when it comes to traps, my love."  

She checks the door carefully, and then opens it, revealing the western extent of an east-west hallway, and a door facing immediately north. She calls back so that both teams hear:    "All non-external doors stay open so we can hear each other!"   

Moving into the hallway, she checks and listens at the next door before opening that as well. Torviruv follows in behind her as he has her torchlight, leaving Edaro at the back of the trio. She then checks carefully and then steps into that space beyond, and narrates what she sees there initially.

This oak-paneled chamber must have once been breathtaking, but is a sad sight now—the floorboards are warped with moisture and the paneling scratched and spotted with mold. A grand piano, its surface splotchy and keys warped, leans tiredly in the southeast corner.

 Evaro , since this isn't about deep exploration, but is about a hopeful rescue - exploration can come later if necessary - Huseina only wants to do a quick check in here. It will end up taking 2 minutes for a quick search in here. Do you wish to do anything in here?

Team Elapsed Time (2:18 min.)
 
ClassyCrow
  "I think trying to leave no stone unturned would be best, so let's do this sequentially."   Aubrine says while gesturing to the other door in the same room. While Aubrine walks to the door, they will examine the door, going through a checklist in their head. First, does the door have anything obviously wrong with it like traps, spikes, scratch marks, blood, etc.? Second, does the door have any unusual features, like being particularly ornate or reinforced. Third and final, they put their head up against the door to see if there are any obvious noises from the other side. If there isn't anything particularly out of place or worrying, Aubrine will open the door.

 
 Spoiler: Spoilers 
Aubrine will go to the door 10' south of him.
Will not use inspiration for any perception rolls. If Aubrine discovers any traps, they will use a point of inspiration on a roll of 7-11 to deal with any traps.
 
lostsole31
 Aubrine's Team 
 
 Spoiler: Aubine's Team 

This cozy-looking drawing room is marred by the unnatural dampness and the thick sheets of mold that cling to the curtains closed over the southern window. There is a door to the east.

What do you do in here?
 
Qazgir
Evaro will watch as Huseina searches the room. When she is finished, he will survey the room once before speaking,   "you've got a better eye for hidden and notable things than I do, so if you two are satisfied we can move forward, let's continue through those doors"  . He gestures towards the double doors as he finishes.
lostsole31
 Evaro's Team 

Huseina scratches her head and says,   "It's the outside doors, but okay for completeness."    She knows they are exterior doors, but just in case she checks everything safe before they are opened. Sure enough, it is snowing outside and there is snow in the ground.
ClassyCrow
Aubrine conjures a small shadowy hand in the air. The hand floats gently towards the mold, poking it delicately and then removing a piece of it. While keeping the sample at a safe distance, Aubrine examines it attempting visually identify any properties it might possess.   "It's weird it's only over the windows right? This dampness as well... it's quite unusual."   Aubrine half mutters half says to the others in the room.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Aubrine will summon a telekinetic hand using the Cufflinks of the Telekinetic. Aubrine will stay at least a foot away from the mold while examining, especially if there are any obvious spores. Aubrine will pause this process at any point if the mold seems dangerous.
 
lostsole31
 Aubrine's Team 

Nothing happens when Aubrine's telekinetic hand doesn't poke the mold so much as softly press against it to try to pick up mold ... which it cannot do.  It has no ability to exert "poking" pressure, only the ability to lift singular objects up to a certain weight. That said, the mold seems ... like mold. One of many varieties of normal forms of mold that grows from rotting materials as can be expected.
Qazgir
Evaro chuckles and pulls the doors closed,   "that they are. I guess this place has me a bit more jumpy that I thought. Oh well, there's only one door left, so let's proceed when you're ready."  
ClassyCrow
Aubrine, realizing the failure of their magic hand, draws their rapier and use the tip of it lift the curtain in order to gain better understanding of the source of the moistness and mold.   "The water can't be coming from the outside, it's too cold outside for mold to grow if the window's open."   Aubrine mumbles under their breath.
lostsole31
 Evaro's Team 

 
 Originally Posted by lostsole31 
 Huseina scratches her head and says,   "It's the outside doors, but okay for completeness."    She knows they are exterior doors, but just in case she checks everything safe before they are opened. Sure enough, it is snowing outside and there is snow in the ground. 
 

Evaro chuckles and pulls the doors closed,   "that they are. I guess this place has me a bit more jumpy that I thought. Oh well, there's only one door left, so let's proceed when you're ready."  

The outer doors are shut to keep the cold out, and Huseina moves to the door to the east, doing a full safety check and then opens the door. This is a simple washroom. An ancient metal washtub stands to the north, a ring of mildew crusting its inner surface. There is the smell of very new death in here, along with a sour smell on top of that. There is a diseased rat in the washtub. After carefully looking at it but not touching it, the mini-party determines that this rat was actually killed by violence in the past couple days ... so, possible signs of passage of the last group. There is only one door from here, leading to the hallway.

Huseina moves out to the hallway and to the door at the end of the hall. Huseina does all safety checks and opens the door. This dusty room features a long couch caked with white sheets of wispy fungus. Eddies of dust skitter along the warped floorboards as if caught up by a slight breeze, yet no wind is noticeable in the air.

 Evaro , you don't know why, but Huseina and Torviruv both seem transfixed by the eddies of dust. What do you do?


 

 Aubrine's Team 

 
 Originally Posted by lostsole31 
 Nothing happens when Aubrine's telekinetic hand doesn't poke the mold so much as softly press against it to try to pick up mold ... which it cannot do.  It has no ability to exert "poking" pressure, only the ability to lift singular objects up to a certain weight. That said, the mold seems ... like mold. One of many varieties of normal forms of mold that grows from rotting materials as can be expected. 
 

Aubrine, realizing the failure of their magic hand, draws their rapier and use the tip of it lift the curtain in order to gain better understanding of the source of the moistness and mold.   "The water can't be coming from the outside, it's too cold outside for mold to grow if the window's open."   Aubrine mumbles under their breath.

When Aubrine uses their rapier to lift the tip of the curtain, they see a brief glimpse of a forlorn woman's face reflected in the window beyond. The reflection vanishes an instant later.

 Aubrine , what do you do?
Qazgir
Pushing up his visor, Evaro will peer through his spectacles, searching for any magical effect which might have ensnared his companions and for any other potential traps. Should he detect some magic ensnaring them, he will call out to the others.   "Beware, there are magical traps about. Huseina and Torviruv have both been caught, I am going to attempt to remove them from it."   He will then sheath his sword, grab Torviruv's arm, and pull him from the room.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Use the Eyeglasses of Magic Sight for three rounds.

If Evaro detects a magical aura he doesn't expect, i.e one that doesn't seem to be the aura of a magic item he/his companions are carrying or something similar, he will warn the others. He will then attempt to pull Torviruv out of the room, regardless of whether he detect any unexpected auras or not.
 
,
lostsole31
 Evaro's Team 

While Evaro is doing this, Huseina says,   "Evaro, don't you see it? The swirling eddies aren't random. It looks like ... dust kicking up as if a person were pacing back and forth in front of the fire."  

Torviruv briefly looks to Evaro to nod his agreement.

Evaro's magic specs don't reveal anything, but now that they've pointed it out, they're right. The dust moving about is exactly as if someone were pacing frantically back and forth in front of the fireplace.
Qazgir
Glancing at Huseina briefly before turning to reexamine the dust, Evaro speaks,   "You two had me worried there, next time you decide to become transfixed by mysterious eddies of dust, please let me know why you're staring, at least until we're out of this damn house. But, you are right, that does look exactly as if someone were pacing back and forth. Yet it doesn't appear to have a magic aura, how strange."   Evaro sighs, and looks towards the door behind Huseina   "Regardless, unless you think it's worth examining further, and have a suggestion for how to do so, let us move onward."  
ClassyCrow
Aubrine's head turns around and looks up and down the room to make sure there isn't a forlorn woman in the room with them,   "Did any of you happen to see the reflection of the woman in the window just now?"   While looking around the room Aubrine checks if anything within the room has changed since they last looked.
lostsole31
 Aubrine's Team 

Everyone looks at Aubrine, shaking their head. It seems they were the only one to see that.

What now?

 

 Evaro's Team 
  "Um, yeah,"   says Torviruv.   "That is definitely not right. And whatever it is, may provide a clue - however tiny - to whatever is happening overall."  

Torviruv moves forward carefully and stands in the pathway of the dust, which seems to drift to quietude now that he stands there with the torch.

Now, he seems actually transfixed - or at least affected by some stimulus. A second later he says,   "Hey, I just had a flash. I think it was a memory, from a woman's perspective? She is filled with worry about what her husband might be doing on those late nights in the basement."  

Just then, as if in Evaro's ear, he hears something whispered ....     "Lorey..."    
Qazgir
Evaro whips his head around, looking for the source of the voice, then turns back to the others.   "I head a voice, whispering in my ear, it said 'Lorey....' Not a name that I recognize, but possibly related to your 'flash.' I think we should consider looking for the basement."  
lostsole31
 Evaro , roll a Will save.
Qazgir
 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Will Save:  (1d20+13)[ 33 ] 
Bravery Gives +2 to Will Saves vs. Fear Effects.
Ready for Anything Gives a +2 to Will Saves vs. Compulsion and Fear Effects.
 
lostsole31
 Evaro's Team 

For a brief flicker, Evaro felt a fleeting alien presence at his mind which he rebuffed easily, but the urge was to drag Huseina out of the house for safety, though he doesn't understand why.

Huseina says,   "A basement, huh? Well, we'll get there. But if we just start ping-ponging everywhere, something might get missed. Also, we need to find the way to the basement as we continue."  

It only takes a little over a minute to do a quick search in here, finding nothing else. Since there is only one place to go (through the door to the south, Huseina checks and listens before opening the door ...


 

 Aubrine's Team 

It takes less than a minute to do a quick search of this room before then checking the door to the east. Aubrine carefully checks the door and opens it, and then carefully moves in.

This library features two chairs, one of which lies on its side, before a stone fireplace. A scarf, its reds and golds contrasting with the drab palette of the room, is draped over the side of the fallen chair. A book sits face down on the floor between the chairs. A stone bookend, carved to look like a praying angel with butterfly wings, lies on its side in the fireplace itself.

A quick search of this room begins. Aubrine, Azel, and Padrig the eidolon both notice the scarf moving on its own). As they mention this to the others, the scarf moves lightning-fast to unerringly wrap around Dgia's throat and she is suddenly transfixed and paralyzed by something truly fearful that she alone can ken. She takes  9 NL  as she fights off being suffocated, and just as quickly the scarf falls to the floor, unmoving.

Dgia, rubbing her throat, relates that she felt like she was a different woman - someone who once was alive - and that a man she loved came at her and strangled her to death.  She holds onto the scarf for now, though it might be useful for sale as it is a fine scarf.

It takes three minutes for a quick search in here, and then Aubrine checks and opens the door leading to the north ...


 

 Both Teams
 
.... come together.

A mahogany table surrounded by chairs sits in this room. Twin fireplaces loom to the west, while to the east, stained-glass windows obscure what could have been a breathtaking view of the Lost Coast. Each window depicts a monster rising out of smoke pouring from a seven-sided box. From north to south are depicted a gnarled tree with an enraged face, an immense hook-beaked bird with sky-blue and gold plumage, a winged centaur-like creature with a lion’s lower body and a snarling woman’s upper torso, and a deep blue squid-like creature with evil red eyes.

Both parties relate to each other the haunts they encountered, and they begin to do a quick search in this room.

One of the windows is open, and Torviruv is able to tell that the window has only been open for a day or two ... more evidence of the actions of those who have come before you.

The stained glass windows are indeed exceptional as they look out over the Varisian Gulf. Still, Aubrine and Balazar both note that it was an unusual design choice to fit the rooms with arguably the best view of the Lost Coast with windows one cannot see through.

With help from Balazar, Aubrine informs everyone that the runes on the box indicated on the stained glass art are necromancy-related, that the monster seem not to be emerging from the boxes but rather being drawn in, and that their snarling visages express not rage, but fear.

The main passageway connecting the entry hall was not checked, nor the two facing doors their. In addition, there was a spiraling staircase going up in the entry hall.

 Evaro , what is your suggestion?
Qazgir
Looking at the passageway separating the group from the entrance hall, Evaro speaks,   "let's quickly make sure our quickest way back out is safe before anything else. Once that's clear, and we know where those doors go, we can decide where to go next, I'd suggest the basement as the next place we check out."  
lostsole31
A rather gruesome antique—what appears to be a mummified monkey head—hangs on the northern wall here, its tiny mouth gaping. A bell pull extends from the monkey’s gaping mouth. A ratty throw rug partially obscures a foul stain of dark-colored mold on the floor.
Qazgir
Evaro turns and looks to the door behind him,   "okay, lets go through here, and when we hit a dead end or decide to turn back, we can head up the stairs."  
lostsole31
  "Not so quickly, my friend,"   says Aubrine.   "I saw mold in the other room which, when interacted with the environment it was in, revealed something spooky. I would study this mold here ... why is it here in the center of the floor and nowhere else? No, it bears investigation."  

With Aubrine and the druid Azel studying the mold, the mold itself - much like what Aubrine saw in the other room - is completely unexceptional. The stain under the rug is about 10 feet across, a swirling pattern of dark blue, sickly green, and black mold that grows in a spiral. It looks almost like a bird’s eye view of a spiraling staircase descending downward, with each step littered with skulls and bones.

  "An omen of death,"   says Azel.

Opening the doors, it becomes apparent that the northern set goes downwards as the southern door leads to stairs heading upwards.

 Evaro , what is your recommendation of how to descend, remembering limitations on lighting and likely cramped spaces?
Qazgir
Shaking his head at the revealed stain, Evaro frowns for a moment before speaking,   "if we were in different circumstances I'd laugh, but as it is, that is an entirely unwelcome omen. As it is, we will be cautious as we descend. Huseina, if I go just ahead of you, will you be able to make sure I don't walk into any traps? I'll go first regardless, but it would be reassuring to know that you were looking out for me. Azel, why don't you follow Huseina, with Torviruv, and Diga following you."

  Evaro turns to Balazar,   "Balazar, if Padrig can fit down the stairs, you take the last spot, with Aubrine in front of you, otherwise Aubrine should take the final spot behind you."  
lostsole31
Balazar's serpentine can easily fit down the stairs, but Dgia wants to be in front of her charge, so Aubrine will be in the very back.

Evaro leads the way down the stairs. A large oaken table, its surface covered with moldy stains and rat droppings, sits in the center of this large kitchen. Shelves line the walls, and an oversized fireplace dominates the northeast portion of the room. The shelves in the southwest wall are in a much greater state of disarray, and two one-footwide cracks in the wall near the floor lead south into the earth beyond the basement walls.

There appears to be a number of dead rats scattered about.
Qazgir
Evaro moves further into the room to allow the others to follow. Turning to survey the room with his glasses, once everyone has entered, Evaro lets the group know about anything he saw. He then speaks,   "there are at least two ways to go, shall we split again?"


   
 Spoiler: Action! 

Use the Eyeglasses of Magic Sight for three rounds. He will inform the party of anything unexpected he sees.
 
lostsole31
Evaro doesn't see anything special, but everyone agrees to split up as the basement seems larger than expected.

 Evaro , which way will you begin taking your team?
Qazgir
As everyone splits into their groups, Evaro will look towards the door just north of the stairs,   "lets start there, shall we."  
lostsole31
 Evaro's Team ... 

Looking east into the northernmost door's room ... two bunks stand in this room, relatively free of dust and mold. A single chair lies on its side between them.

 Evaro , what do you do?


 

 Aubrine's Team ... 

Aubrine's team looks west into the westernmost door ... Once a pantry, this room has become a filthy, reeking lair of what must be hundreds, if not thousands, of rats. Swaths of fur cling to everything, and mounds of rat droppings cover the floor. A quick search of the room reveals nothing.

They then move to the door nearby that faces south. Two wine racks line the walls here, their shelves empty and dusty. Mounds of broken glass bottles clutter the floor. A quick search is performed, and a concealed compartment that is currently opened and easily visible shows a hiding spot that was kept for high-quality vintage wines, though currently empty.
Qazgir
Evaro steps to the side to let Huseina and Torviruv pass, then surveys the room with his glasses.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Use the Eyeglasses of Magic Sight for three rounds. He will inform the party of anything unexpected he sees.
 
lostsole31
 Evaro's Team ... 

It takes two minutes for a quick search, and their search and Evaro's magic survey finds nothing.
ClassyCrow
As Aubrine examines the inside of the hidden compartment, they say   "Well this has clearly been ransacked at some point."   After the examination of the wine cellar, Aubrine steps out into the main room in the basement and waits for the other group to finish their examination of the other room before heading to the south hall.
lostsole31
The two groups reconnect in the southern hallway and move to the door facing east at the far south.

Checks are made and the door is opened, revealing a passage that goes down 30' before turning to the left/north.

The party moves there and the passage is only 5' to the north before an open door, and the party enters that room. It does appear that the door - which is made of stout iron - had been opened and left open fairly recently. This room looks to have once been some sort of arcane workshop, although it now lies in ruin. A row of soggy books sits on the northern end of a workbench along the western wall. At the other end of the workbench, what looks like three iron birdcages sit, each containing a dead diseased rat. To the east, two stained-glass windows loom. The northern window depicts a thin man with gaunt features drinking a foul-looking brew of green fluid, while the southern one shows the same man but in an advanced state of decay, as if he had been dead for several weeks. His arms raised and head thrown back in triumph, his rotting body turns to smoke and spirals into a seven-sided box.
Qazgir
His eyes moving from the windows to the caged rat corpses, Evaro frowns,   "what an unpleasant room. Unless we feel the need to linger here, let's move back to the main floor and begin moving upward."  
lostsole31
Balazar says,   "Yes, but there is that door there to the south, adjacent to the doorway we came in...."  
Qazgir
Evaro turns around, looking for the door. When he sees it, he shakes his head,   "that there is, I was perhaps too focused on, well..."   Evaro trails off and indicates the rest of the room with a sweep of his hand.
lostsole31
The rest of the party filters into the room and about. 
 Spoiler: Aubrine, Azel, Evaro, Torviruv, Dgia, Padrig 
Each of you turn your heads and notice subtle movements in the stained-glass windows, as if the man depicted there were sneering at you.
 
Qazgir
Evaro's frown grows more severe,   "if we were in another house, I'd say that was a trick of the light, but not here. So, let's examine the room behind us and get out from under the gaze of the glass."  
ClassyCrow
  "I believe Evaro is right as to what our next move should be. Although I might suggest someone examines the windows with more care before we completely move ahead."   Aubrine says while walking towards the door on the south wall. They stand and do their usual checks on the door, while keeping an eye on the windows and the rest of the party. There have been too many surprises already.
lostsole31
Meanwhile, Huseina sees all the books on the western wall and heads over there, getting Torviruv to follow her as he carries the torch. As soon as she touche the books, she freezes in place. She doubles over as if in agony!
ClassyCrow
Aubrine stops what they're doing and rushes over to Huseina and Torviruv to try and figure out what's happening and try to help in any way they can.   "Everyone, keep watch and don't touch anything else!"  
lostsole31
Huseina recovers as quickly as she doubles over, the ordeal lasting only a few seconds. She explains herself after catching her breath,   "I felt ... a strange desires to look through the books. A flood of information overwhelmed me when I touched them. I experienced a series of visions chronicling the various stages a man named Vorel went through in his quest to become something called a 'lich,' from researching the works of previous liches, to gathering the components for the lich transformation potion, to building his ... 'phylactery,' am I saying that right? ... and finally culminating in a vision of Vorel taking his potion and doubling over in agony as his body began to rot away.  All of these visions took place in a realm of animated stained glass windows, and I doubled over in pain when I had the vision that Vorel did. As I did so, I was filled with blinding shame that a loved one - because I was looking from the point-of-view of a woman - would do this to himself, followed by a burning rage that he was stopped before he finished his ritual. More tried to do something to me, to get me to do I don't-know-what, but I fought off the mental energy of a truly wrathful spirit."  
  "However unpleasant these things may be or seem, we cannot avoid them,"   says Balazar.   "Let us not run away, but study deeper the mysteries we find that may help us overcome whatever master spirit or spirits have a hold on this place, and most assuredly doomed the adventurers who came before us."  
ClassyCrow
  "I agree Balazar, knowledge forges a path through the unknown, and we have certainly come across the unknown today."   Aubrine nods to Balazar, then faces the bookshelf.   "Someone catch me if I feint please."   Aubrine reaches their hand to touch one of the tomes, bracing for whatever visions may occur.
Qazgir
Evaro wrinkles his nose at Huseina's words, and, once Aubrine has touched the tome, speaks up,   "it sounds as if the man depicted on the window is this Vorel. I do wonder who made the windows, but that is not important now. We should search the room behind us, and make our way upstairs. While we should not be overly hasty, neither should we dawdle."   
lostsole31
  "Looks like a passage and not a room to the south,"   says Torviruv of the door.

Meanwhile, absolutely nothing interesting happens when Aubrine touches the books.
Qazgir
  "Fair enough"   Evaro says, then gestures towards the door,   "shall we?"  
lostsole31
Assuming Aubrine steps past the door, it is only 10' long before a door that is opened and continues to a set of stairs heading downwards.
Qazgir
Looking past Aubrine and seeing the stairs, Evaro turns towards H useina  and  Torviruv and speaks,    "well, would the two of you like to do the honors of going down first?"  
lostsole31
They nod, and she goes in the lead with Torviruv behind her, and Aubrine, Edaro, and the rest filling in.

Piles of broken stone, dirt, and a few ruined pickaxes line the edges of this room. The floor in the middle of the room has been torn up to reveal an ancient set of stone spiral stairs, obviously of much older construction than the surrounding basement, winding deep into the bedrock below. A foul stink, like that of rotten meat, wafts up on a cold breeze from the darkness.

Now what?
Qazgir
Surveying the scene with his eyeglasses, Evaro speaks up, "  that certainly defies any expectations I may have had about this place. I'd rather head back up to finish exploring the rest of the house before descending down into whatever that is. What do the rest of you think?"   If he detect any magic, he will let the party know.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Evaro will use the Eyeglasses of Magic Sight to search for unexpected magic auras.
 
lostsole31
The only NPC with a (dissenting) opinion is Balazar.   "The door to the stairwell here was open. I think the rest of Misgivings is haunts and lore, but what we really seek - the fate of the last team - is down yonder terrifying and yawning portal."  

Evaro gets too many "false" positives (meaning, not useful)from all of the magic owned, held, and worn by the group clumped in here.
Qazgir
Evaro will nod, "  a fair point, perhaps I am too wary of being ambushed from behind."   He turns, addressing Aubrine,   "well, what do you think?"  
ClassyCrow
  "I would tend to agree with Balazar."   Aubrine thinks for a moment.   "There is no indication of any significant conflict before this point. There is a high likelihood that whatever sealed the fate of the previous party is beyond this door."  
lostsole31
It is assumed, then, that the party begins to descend the spiral staircase.

In the lead, Huseina notices a significant and sudden increase in the stink of rotten flesh.
lostsole31
The party begins their descent down the spiral ladder and into the yawning darkness below ...

 Aubrine , about 20' down the long set of spiral stairs, that smell of rotten, stinking flesh reaches a crescendo in your nostrils. Roll a Will save!
ClassyCrow
Aubrine breaths in the stench and...

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Will save  (1d20+6)[ 23 ] 
Use a point of inspiration on a die roll between 8 and 12:  (1d6)[ 1 ] 
If an enchantment spell or affect (unlikely) a plus +2
 
lostsole31
 
 Spoiler: Aubrine 
Aubrine experiences a sudden vision of Aldern Foxglove, sweaty, filthy, and wild-eyed, digging away at the stone floor of the room you just left with a pickaxe. With each swing, he grunts out two words: “For you.”

The PC knows that Aldern is speaking of her. As the vision ends, Aldern breaks through into the room beyond, and a horde of shrieking ghouls rises up to pull him into the darkness below before they turn their lambent eyes to Aubrine.

At that point, Aubrine's mighty mind kicks in and she resists the attempt of the haunt to do more to her, and with that ...the haunt ends.
 
ClassyCrow
  "For me..."   Aubrine says under their breath.With an upward glance to Evaro,   "I just had a vision of Aldern Foxglove. I think, while I am not particularly familiar with the hauntings, Aldern was trying to tell me something."   Aubrine does their best to explain the vision they had while halting the march down the stairs.   "In the room upstairs I saw Aldern, he was hitting the floor in the room with a pick axe as if trying to get to something. He was repeating the words 'for you' as if directed at me. Soon after he was absorbed by ghouls who crawled from the floor from below, quite possibly where we're going. After Aldern was grasped by the ghouls, they turned to me."   Aubrine readies their blade.   "While I don't know if we're walking into a trap exactly, we definitely seem to be walking into danger. At the end of this staircase may erupt in violence, so now would be the time to change our marching order and make any final preparations."  
lostsole31
Mind you, this is 20' down on the long spiral staircase.

  "We've all signed onto danger,"   says Deadeye (Huseina).   "There's little room above to move about, and none on the stairs, let's keep going."  

And to to force the issue, she and Torviruv do just that. At that point, there is little left but to follow them.

The stairs end in a limestone cavern. The walls drip with moisture, and swaths of black and dark blue mold grow in spiraling, tangled patterns on the floor, ceiling, and walls. Rubble and broken bones clutter the floor, and a rhythmic sound—like the breathing of some immense creature—echoes through the cave from three tunnels, one to the north and two to the west. Of the two western tunnels, the southernmost one seems to be a relatively new creation.
Qazgir
Taking in the surrounding cavern, Evaro addresses the group,   "yet another set of branching paths. Perhaps that tunnel,"   he indicates the southern most tunnel,   "was built by the subject of your vision Aubrine. I say we investigate that one first."   Evaro then draws his sword.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

If there are no objections from the party, Evaro will begin to advance down the southernmost passage.
 
lostsole31
With Evaro advancing in the front, Torviruv gets behind him, and Huseina behind him before everyone else falls in behind, so as to provide light to the half-giant.

No sooner do you get into the tunnel than there is a patch of scorched ground by an alcove. Some 30-35' farther in, there is is a much larger area of scorched ground in the cave. The group discusses what this could mean with each other, and given that the scorch marks are relatively fresh, it seems that a medium-sized undead was destroyed on the first spot, and a larger undead was destroyed farther in.

Finally, the narrow, natural passageway opens up to a cavern. This long cave stinks of rotten meat. The source of the horrific smell is readily apparent—a swath of carcasses is strewn about the floor of this place.

A two-minute search of this area doesn't reveal anything here, other than the fact - a clue itself, perhaps - that the bones were recently overturned and picked through in the past few days themselves.

There is no apparent egress other than an extremely tight well shaft.
Qazgir
Evaro will shake his head at the pile of carcasses,   "well, since I doubt any of us are making it through that, let us examine the next tunnel."  
lostsole31
Of the two tunnels from the first hub, the larger tunnel is the "next" tunnel which wraps around and goes to the west. Only 15' in, there is a fork. Do you take the south or north fork?
Qazgir
Taking in the two paths, Evaro ponders the forked path before speaking,   "lets take the southern fork first."  
lostsole31
As Torviruv passes, since he is holding the torch, he has a better angle and says,   "I guess it didn't matter. This is less of a fork but more of a massive column split in the same larger passage."  

As Aubrine passes, they see what Torviruv meant (see map).

They move a little more, and Torviruv calls out,   "I got a body here!"  

No sooner does Evaro get to the first party, then Torviruv calls out,   "I see another!"  

The closer corpse you gather around belonged to a shoanti trans-male shaman named Zada of the Stone Tales.
Qazgir
Sighting the bodies Evaro will curse under his breath. Turning to the rest of the party, he speaks,   "that is not a good sign. We should check the body in case we can quickly discern anything useful. We should be ready for a fight, should whatever slew them still remain in these tunnels."  
lostsole31
You quickly find that Azel and Huseina are your most knowledgeable in matters of medicine. It turns out that Zada was killed by having been savaged by multiple bites and claw marks.
Qazgir
Evaro warily scans his surroundings,   "we should check the last tunnel. Hopefully whatever caused this,"   he gestures to the bodies,   "is long gone."  
lostsole31
Evaro, guided by Torviruv's torch, lights up a small passage to the southeast, though you know that is just a secondary path to where you came from around a large column of some sort. It's the larger passage to the east that is of interest. After only a few feet of movement, the tunnel opens up some. The mold seems to grow particularly thick in this portion of the tunnel. Several pickaxes have been tossed into the corner of the room—one of them looks particularly well made.

 Evaro , what do you do?
Qazgir
Evaro looks around, searching for any signs of mining, as well as using his eyeglasses to check for magic auras.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Evaro will use the Eyeglasses of Magic Sight to search for unexpected magic auras.
 
lostsole31
Evaro's magic sight detects nothing of the sort, and in fact, these seem like they were naturally formed caves.
Qazgir
Seeing nothing, Evaro moves to pick up the particularly well made pickaxe. As he moves, he speaks,   "well, it looks like whatever killed those two isn't here. I'm not sure whether I'm relieved or worried by that, after all I'd hate for whatever did that to be roaming around outside, possibly lying in wait to ambush us when we leave."  
lostsole31
Torviruv follows him as they go into the little nook, and in this particular spot, it does seem like maybe there was an attempt to widen the passage before that attempt was aborted.

As they both kick around there, they find the body of a dwarf who couldn't have been killed but very recently by the wet look of him, and yet yellow mold has quickly grown over him.  The second thing is that their passage and Evaro picking up the axe puffs up a lot of yellow, now-aerated spores.

 Evaro , roll a Fort save! What do you do?
Qazgir
Covering his mouth with his hand, Evaro will try and move quickly out of the tunnel.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Fort Save:  (1d20+9)[ 10 ] 
 
lostsole31
Covering his mouth with his hand, Evaro will moves quickly out of the  tunnel, but the mold sticks to him and he breathes it in. He breathes  raggedly as he takes  3 CON . Torviruv also moved out, but seems to be doing better than Evaro.

 Begin Round One...

R1T26:  Azel the Vibrant moves forward quickly to try to help Evaro, performing first aid on him.

 R1T25:    "Yellow mold!"   Deadeye says, crossing the hall to the east.   "Torviruv, give me your torch. Fire destroys it. Everyone else, stay back."  
 R1T18:   Aubrine , what do you do?
ClassyCrow
Aubrine draws their sword and takes a moment to make sure they are nothing is hiding for them in the shadows.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Move Action: Aubrine takes a looks around the room using a Perception check (Ideally)
 +21 bonus Perception Skill
 
 +2 from Heightened Awareness 
 -1 from -2 Wisdom from Mutagen 
 

Standard Action: Convert down to draw Sword if not already Drawn
 
lostsole31
 R1T18:  Aubrine draws their sword and takes a moment to  make sure they are nothing is hiding for them in the shadows. They see  nothing, though the strange, sussurant sound like something breathing is  louder than it was when you first came into the lower caverns.

 R1T17:   Evaro , roll a Fort save. What do you do?
Qazgir
Gritting his teeth, Evaro cough, trying to breath normally. He digs around in his bag and pulls out a flask of oil and addresses Huseina,   "any use for this?"  
 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Spend 1 Grit as an immediate action to get +4 to the following save:
Fort Save: [roll]1d20+7+4[/roll]
 
lostsole31
 R1T17:  Gritting his teeth, Evaro coughs, trying to breath normally. He digs  around in his bag and pulls out a flask of oil and addresses Huseina,   "Any use for this?"  
 R1T15:  Balazar casts  mage armor  on himself, despite wearing leather armor.

 R1T0:  Dgia delays ...

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T26:  Azel delays ...

 R2T25:    "Take the flask,"   Huseina says to Torviruv while taking the torch herself.

 R2T22:  Torviruv takes the flask of oil and heads to the opening of the eastern passage.

 R2T21:  Huseina had readied an action and tosses the torch into the passage.

 R2T18:   Aubrine , what do you do?

Evaro on deck (roll a Fort save), Balazar on deck ...
ClassyCrow
  "I'm gonna going to send some eyes down that hall. Poke me if something bad happens."   Aubrine says to the group, but mainly Evaro and Azel due to proximity. A shodowy copy of Aubrine will appear and start to drift the hallway.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Standard Action: Summon occultation.

Occultation Move: Moves past Torviruv and looks down the hall.

Aubrine will look through the occultation with occasional switching perspective back to Aubrine to make sure they don't get surprised.
 
lostsole31
 R2T18:   "I'm gonna going to send some eyes down that hall. Poke me if something bad happens."    Aubrine says to the group, but mainly Evaro and Azel due to proximity. A  shadowy copy of Aubrine will appear and start to drift into the hallway.

 R2T17:   Evaro , what do you do?

Balazar on deck, Torviruv in the hole ...
Qazgir
As Evaro continues trying to clear his airways, he addresses Aubrine,   "see anything other than that damned mold?"
  
 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Fort Save:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  As Evaro continues trying to clear his airways, he addresses Aubrine,   "see anything other than that damned mold?"  
 R2T15:  Balazar delays ...

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T22:  Aubrine tosses the flask right onto the wall over the flask, and there is a mighty flash and searing sound.

Azel  will help with Edaro to fight off the remaining bit of the yellow mold,  and Aubrine will be able to tell that the mold burned off.

 Initiative Ended ... 
 Evaro , make three more Fort save rolls ...

 Aubrine ,  your occultation sees a lot of seared and blackened fungus and a lot of  carbon soot floating around the air. There is also a body of a dwarf,  with seared mold all over it.
Qazgir
Evaro moves to lean against the wall, breathing in deeply and breathing out slowly.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Fort Save 1:  (1d20+7)[ 11 ] 
Fort Save 2:  (1d20+7)[ 18 ] 
Fort Save 3:  (1d20+7)[ 24 ] 
 
lostsole31
He almost gets overwhelmed by the spores in his lungs and system, were it not for Azel's first aid.

Now what?
Qazgir
Evaro smiles weakly,   "thank you Azel, I'm okay now. See anything back there Aubrine?"  
lostsole31
Aubrine returns from around the corner.   "Dwarf with some wounds, likely from whatever killed those two, but was killed when his lungs and body were overcome by yellow mold."  

Once Torviruv is confident that the torch and splashed oil have burned off the aerosolized spores, he puts water on a rag over his mouth and holds his breath ... goes in and picks up the torch ... and returns.

The torch, which was forced to burn hotter when the oil flashed over, is nearly expended. Torv shrugs and drops it while the rest of the party studies a blue-skinned man with white eyes that died of the same "mauling" wounds as the androgynous bald Shoanti. The blue-skinned man must be the body of Draegra, a local Sandpoint scholar and one of the earlier survivor-heroes from original issues in this area. He was a samsaran, a curious race of reincarnated people.

The only way from here is north. There is a congested passage with many scorch marks on the ground. Aubrine figures that they must have fought undead ... and given the wounds ... they likely fought ghouls or their ghast-like cousins. The scorch marks are all that remain once an undead is killed.
lostsole31
Realizing now what possibly killed two of the three dead members of the party they were sent to find, Aubrine and Balazar confer before Balazar speaks up.    "The dwarf - Steingott - fell afoul of yellow mold on a side passage while running from ghouls, as wounds on his body that Aubrine saw reveal. Ghouls also killed these two here. The warrior Alvor, and the hero Norton Dabney, their bodies are still not found.

"Assume that ghouls can get the drop on us. Be prepared, they have a bite and two claws, and a hit from each strike an paralyze, though the bite can also transmit ghoul fever. One hit and an inability fight off the seizing muscles is all it takes to stop the hardiest warrior. Add to that it appears like congested fighting areas, so those in the front have the hardest time. Do we have a volunteer to go first?"  

Torviruv says,   "I won't go first, but only because I will go second to make sure the one in front has good light."  

Azel, the druid, speaks up.   "If nobody else takes on this dire position, then I volunteer."  
 Evaro , do you let the unarmored druid take point, or do you volunteer to go in her place?
Qazgir
Evaro shakes his head, pushes himself away from the wall, and speaks,   "I will take point, I have strength enough for that."   Evaro draws his sword and moves to the front of the group. Once the group is ready, he will move forward into the cave.
lostsole31
Aubrine says,   "Hold up, Evaro. I know you have the armor, but you are wounded in a way that we can't heal easily. Your system - while still strong - appears to be compromised. Are you sure you want to take the front?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
You have CON damage, which affects your Fort saves.
 
Qazgir
Evaro smiles and addresses Aubrine,   "is that an offer to take the front? Be my guest, but if you do, I'm taking the second position."  
lostsole31
Aubrine shakes their head almost violently.   "Nope, just thinking that the druid is a good call. Her senses are almost primal. I wouldn't judge her defense on a lack of armor."  
Qazgir
Evaro considers for a moment before speaking,   "perhaps, but I have strength enough for this."   Having spoken, Evaro will nod to the rest of the group, move to the front, and begin advancing into the cave.
lostsole31
Evaro moves 10-15' to the northwest in the congested choke point to stand over a scorch mark, but then it opens out quite a bit.  There are three things of interest here:
 
 There is a tight passage heading to the west, though hard to see because Torviruv is at an angle behind him as the torchbearer. 
 The strange "breathing" sound that has been getting louder finally becomes evident as the passage to the north opens into a vast chamber with a hole, from which there are the distinct sounds of a sea chimney where the water rushes in and out, creating that breathing-sound effect when at a distance. 
 Another body this time of a male human. 
 
Qazgir
Sisir will take in he new chamber before calling out to his companions,   "the cave open up quite a bit over here, and there's another body."   Having spoken, he will continue to advance forward into the cave, looking around for any signs of ghouls or other dangers.
lostsole31
As soon as Edaro calls back, but before he's had a chance to move  forward, there is a horrific screeching noise echoing from the north!

 Begin Round One ...

R1T24:  Aubrine moves forward to straddle the dead body, calling out,  "Passage to the west. Large chamber has two bogeys well up to the north - hunched, smaller creatures." 

They  then concentrate, and the shadows around them coalesce into  Dark-Aubrine next to them, which then flies north into the darkness.

 R1T23:  Deadeye takes the torch from Torviruv and then moves into the larger cavern.

 R1T18:   Evaro , what do you do?
Qazgir
Evaro's body seems to shatter like glass before reforming into a number of copies of himself. He advances towards the ghouls, and readies himself to strike should they approach.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Swift action: Adopt Infinity Mirror Stance, creating  (1d4+2)[ 4 ]  images.

Move: Move 35' NE, to end 15' S of the occultation.

Standard: Ready an action to initiate Flurry Strike on the first enemy to enter Evaro's reach.
 
lostsole31
 R1T18:  Evaro's body seems to shatter like glass before reforming into a number  of copies of himself. He advances towards the ghouls, and readies  himself to strike should they approach.

 R1T14:    The one farther back (Red) scrambles around the western edge - giving a  good birth to the chimney - to then close on Huseina with an angry  screech.

 R1T12:  Azel the Vibrant moves up just past Torviruv before suddenly vanishing from sight.

 R1T10:   Green slashes apart the occultation, with that shadow dissipating and  reforming around Aubrine. It takes a few guarded steps towards Evaro.

 R1T9:  Some scrambling sounds behind Evaro, followed by Azel's voice calling out,   "I've stopped a...."  
 R1T7:   Balazar astride Padrig rides into the southern part of the cavern.

  "... a fell looking..."  
 R1T5:  A taller (size Medium) ghoul appears out of a thin aperture to the west before rushing forth into the heroes' jumble.

  "...man from continuing..."  
 R1T0:   Dgia finally moves in to take a protective stance for her master,  coughing some from the foul air. She gets into a fighting stance while  creating a trident of electricity very quickly. She stabs the man's  (Pink's) hand with her trident for   8 electricity  .

   "I'm fighting a creature that was once a man,"   she reports, for whatever good that means.

  "...into your path."  
 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T24:  Their occultation gone, Aubrine has much concerns much closer to their own body, as they now appear to be partly overcome.   "What  ... the smell is ... *gack* ... unbelievable! I don't understand ...  this is a ghoul, not a ghast, it's cousin. Bite deals paralysis and  ghoul fever as claws also paralyze."  

They study the target and then attack, pushing  Fusion Sword   through a defensive arm and into its chest. The man-turned-ghoul turns  to black ash even as it seems like there is combustion from within its  body before the body falls apart, leaving a scorch mark behind. They  then step away, off of the corpse's body

 R2T23:    "It's the little ones that smell so badly,"   says Deadeye.   "I don't know what they are, but I know what they were ... goblins. You did just kill a former man, though."  

She  steps down the slight lip to the northeast and shoots at the stinky  former-goblin (Red) with her pepperbox, a bullet ripping through its  shin for  18 , nearly taking its leg off.

 R2T20:   Torviruv moves up to Red and casts a spell using strange and ancient,  guttural noises instead of the more rarified chanting you sometimes hear  from modern mages. His hand glowing with radiance he reaches forward to  grasp Red's lower arm. The radiance leaves Torviruv's hand and burns  into the goblin, the hand and arm blackening first before the internal  combustion carries through the rest of the creature and it, too, falls  to ashes.

Looking smug, he says,   "That's  because the humans are ghouls, but the goblins are the more powerful  ghasts. Stay away from them if you have a weak stomach like our poor  aiuvaran."  
 R2T18:   Evaro , what do you do?

Azel on deck, Green in the hole ...
Qazgir
Hearing Torviruv's warning, Evaro will gird himself against the smell, dash towards the Ghoul above him, and makes a fast rising slash before a stronger descending slash.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Move: Move 5' NE and 5' N to end directly under the Ghoul.

Standard: Flurry Strike against Green.

Attack 1:  (1d20+16)[ 18 ] 
Attack 2 (Power Attack):  (1d20+14)[ 17 ] 

Damage 1: [roll]3d6+13+3d4+6[/roll]
Damage 2: [roll]3d6+19+3d4+6[/roll]
 
lostsole31
 R2T18:  Hearing Torviruv's warning, Evaro girds himself well against the smell,  dash towards the Ghoul above him, and makes a fast rising slash before a  stronger descending slash, both attempts being deflected by surprisingly thick hide.

 R2T12:   The lone human-ghoul explodes into combustion, with Azel now appearing  on the western side of it. Azel is also doing some dance-like moves in a  stylized way with her quarterstaff.

 R2T10:  Only  the goblin-ghast survives, attacking Evaro. The bite completely misses,  while both claws only catch an image for its troubles.

 R2T7:   Balazar rides Padrig closer, and begins telling a stirring story of  Durvin Ghest the Pathfinder against the ghouls of a place called  Nemret-Noktoria.

 R2T0:  Dgia clomps at her normal  speed to Balazar, and then with an incredible second burst of speed is  next to Evaro, though she does poorly against the stench. As a result  she stabs the wall with her trident of electricity against the wall. The  interaction sparks with minerals to blind Dgia.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T24:  Aubrine moves in and reforms the occultation north of the ghast.

 R3T23:   Deadeye changes tacks and heads around from the west, shooting off her  pepperbox at the ghast. It hits the ghast in the right lower abdomen for   8 .

 R3T20:  Torviruv, just  leading Deadeye, holds the torch in his buckler hand and casts a spell. A  bright flash of light lances across the wide pit to obliterate the  ghast!

 Combat Ends! 

Azel ends her dance, Aubrine their occultation, and Balazar his oration.
Qazgir
Evaro surveys the cavern, and walks over to Huseina,   "well, I suppose that,"   he waves to the opening behind her,   "is where we're heading next. Hopefully any further resistance goes down as quickly. When everyone has caught their breath, let's continue forward."   
lostsole31
Balazar calls out over the sound of the surf below,   "Not just 'catch breath,' but let's wait for your friend Aubrine and my bodyguard Dgia the time they need to feel better after the stench of the ghasts. While we're doing that, it won't hurt us to take a quick look in here ... 'quick' being relative as this cavern is huge. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a gnome."  

The cramped tunnel you were previously in opens into a vertiginous gulf here, a cathedral-like cavern with a roof arching thirty feet overhead and dropping into a sloshing pool of foamy seawater fifty feet below. A steep stone ledge winds down to these surging depths, its slope glistening with moisture and mold. A stone door stands in the northwestern wall about halfway down the slope. There is also the slender passage which Torviruv and Huseina guard.

Dgia and Aubrine together take some eight minutes to finally clear themselves of the dead ghast's stench ... which also gives enough time to search this area and the connecting point that led here. There is nothing of interest in this cavern, though the dead body in the bottleneck shows the same wounds consistent with a pitched battle against the creatures you fought, and was likely a man named Alvor. The two ghasts and two ghouls you fought must surely have belonged to a much larger number to have felled these heroes, so it is safe to say that while you found four of the five bodies you expected to find .... with all of the scorch marks at the bottleneck, they must have given one hell of a fight.

The only body missing at this time was a human warrior-mage named Norton Dabney. He and the dead samsaran here - Draegra - were one of the "original" heroes of Sandpoint.
Qazgir
Evaro will offer to heal any injuries the party sustained in the fighting. Once the party has rested and searched the cavern Evaro will move towards the opening in the western wall and address the group,   "does anyone need to make any last preparations? If not, let's move forward once more."


   
 Spoiler: Action! 

If anyone wants healing, Evaro will shift 3 Essence from the Sprinter's Boots into Unicorn Feathering and use it to provide Fast Healing 14 (5+3*3) for 4 rounds for a total of 56 HP. Once everyone who wants healing has been healed, he will shift his essence back out of Unicorn Feathering into the Sprinter's Boots.
 
lostsole31
Nobody was actually wounded - beyond Evaro's current issues which his veil won't heal - and everyone just needed the time it took to search the massive sea chimney room to recover from any queasiness they had felt.

It's a very tight fit, but Evaro gets through the extremely tight wall to the west, while half of the party enters from the wider intersection to the south.

The western half of this foul-smelling cavern is heaped with bones, each scarred by the scraping of teeth. Most of the bones have been cracked open for the marrow within.

The party takes three minutes of searching in here with just a quick search, but finds nothing of interest.

What now?
Qazgir
Evaro wrinkles his nose at the smell, before gesturing that the party should continue forward through the western passage.
lostsole31
Azel corrects the half-giant.   "Do you mean the door on the western wall in the bigger cavern outside this one?"  

She guides the party out of that rocky smaller cave back into the cave where the sea chimney is. She and Aubrine both carefully check that curious door, the one piece of artifice in most of this place (despite artificially widened passages and a broken pickaxe where lay the yellow mold), though even then it is strange for it is a stone door.  The two As do not sense any danger, so Azel backs out while Huseina comes up with torch in hand to assist Aubrine. Good thing, too, for it is a high-quality lock, and Aubrine appreciates the help Huseina gives to spring it successfully. They open the door carefully, though just beyond the door is a curving passage heading west.

 Evaro , do you take point again, with Torviruv as your light-bearer behind you?
Qazgir
Evaro moves to the head of the group, and move forward once everyone appears ready.
lostsole31
The air in this damp cavern reeks of a horrific stench—a foul combination of decay, brine, and mold. The cave contains a rickety table, its damp surface cluttered with all manner of what appears to be garbage: empty bottles, bits of clothing, crumpled bits of paper, and more, lying in neatly organized rows. A painting leans against the far side of the table, facing a large leather chair that sits nearby. This chair’s high back and cushion are horribly stained by smears of rotten meat and its arms are sticky with blood. A smaller table sits against the southern wall, its surface heaped with plates and platters of rotten, maggot-infested meat. The horrific stench of the room seems strongest to the west, where the cave’s wall has been overtaken by a horrific growth of dark green mold and dripping fungi. At the center, a patch of black tumescent fungus grows, its horny ridges and tumor-like bulbs forming what could almost be taken to be a humanoid outline. What appears to have once been an exquisite puzzle box the size of a man’s fist lies smashed on the ground at the fungoid shape’s feet.

There is a man sitting in the chair - a once-handsome and cultured nobleman - whose form is ruined by a wasting effect. He sits in control as the party starts to pile in, his eyes wide in a mixture of fear and delight, but when he sees Huseina, he staggers to his feet and hisses to her,   “You live! Well and good, for now I shall have the reward of tasting your heart while it is yet warm…”  
 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T26:   Evaro ,  you were prepared for violence seconds before the seeming change to  this man's demeanor. You are still suffering the 3 CON damage, but  barkskin  is still active on you. What do you do? Before anything else, though, roll a Fort save, then declare your intended actions.
Qazgir
Evaro steels himself against any lingering weakness, recreates his doubles, and drawing on the magic of his boots, dashes behind the figure and strikes three times with supernatural speed.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Fort Save:  (1d20+11)[ 16 ]  spending 1 grit for +4, included in the roll.

Swift Action: Activate Infinity Mirror Stance generating  (1d4+2)[ 6 ]  images.

Free Action: Activate the Sprinter's Boots to move 15' W and 10' S, to end up on the opposite side of the enemy.

Full Round Action: Full attack the enemy with the Haste from the Sprinter's Boots.

Attack 1:  (1d20+14)[ 24 ] 
Trip Attempt:  (1d20+17)[ 33 ]  (I think I've tallied the bonuses correctly here: +3 hardlight, +4 deft + greater trip, +1 haste)
Attack 3:  (1d20+14)[ 23 ] 

If the Trip is Successful, it provokes an AoO:  (1d20+14)[ 17 ] 

Damage 1: [roll]3d6+3d4+19[/roll]
Damage 2: [roll]3d6+3d4+19[/roll]
AoO Damage 3: [roll]3d6+3d4+19[/roll]

On the first attack that hits, if any do, activate Stunning Fist to force a DC 19 Fort Save vs Stunned for 1 round.
 
lostsole31
 R1T26:  Evaro steels himself against any lingering weakness, but finds that even bringing his focus to bear the stench is overbearing ( sickened ).  Drawing on the magic of his boots, he dashes over the couch - as the  man snaps at him with a distending jaw and nasty bite - and gets behind  the figure. Continuing with supernatural speed, Evaro strikes three  times. His first attack catches the man on the upper left arm for  32 ,  but doesn't appear to stun him. As the force of the blow throws him  forward, Evaro uses that motion to trip the noble and slams  Peacekeeper  into his left hand for  31 . He then gets a powerful draw cut on the undead's back left knee for  44 .

 R1T21:   Torviruv steps down a few feet so that furniture doesn't block his  sight line. He says a quiet prayer to himself and then thrusts out the  torch's end like stabbing with a sword, and a blast of flame lances out  to strike the noble in the lower arm and chest ... causing the noble to  spontaneously combust and turn to ash like previous undead.

 Combat Ends! 
Qazgir
Evaro will grimace and retch, before taking a deep breath and speaking,   "Huseina, if you're comfortable answering, was this man someone who knew you, or was he merely rambling?"  
lostsole31
  "He was looking all wratched,"   says Huseina.   "But he looks really similar to a  living  man I met in Magnimar once ... Aldern, something. I didn't really interact with him much. He seemed charming, but he was some out-of-town noble-OHHHH, crap. His name was Aldern Foxglove,"   she suddenly remembers.   "Wait, what?! Why was he ... I barely even remembered him."  
Qazgir
  "Well, you must have made quite the impression, for him to remember you in that state,"   Evaro says,   "let's hope it was an unfortunate coincidence and continue forward."  
lostsole31
  "This appears to have been the leader and this his study,"   says Balazar.   "I say we carefully take our time going over everything."  

Since that makes perfect sense, the party does a deep search in here.

A closer inspection of the collection on the table should be enough to worry Huseina, for this is Aldern’s collection of relics from her life. Various things are here with which the ghast was obsessed, ranging from mundane things like used potion bottles and scrolls on up to objects as personal as a lock of hai, even small personal objects that have gone missing over time! The only objects here that weren’t taken from her are a stack of charcoal drawings on water-damaged parchment depicting her, drawn by the hand of the artist, signed "Aldern." The nature of the drawings varies (erotica), but the subject remains the same throughout the collection of several dozen pages. Mixed in with these drawings is a letter written in a graceful hand. Addressed to Aldern at his Magnimar townhouse address, the letter is presented in the Discord handouts channel, and provides the PCs with a very strong link to Magnimar found here in Foxglove Manor.

The portrait that leans against the table’s far side is of Iesha Foxglove (Aldern's late wife), but Aldern has used his own waning artistic skills in a clumsy attempt to repaint the portrait with blood and bits of runny rotten flesh into a caricature of Huseina.

Dgia, herself a painter, says it would take her a day of work to reveal the original subject.

Aubrine and Balazar recognize that the shattered box on the ground is not only related to necromancy, but appears to have been intended for use as a phylactery, but is incomplete and ruined.

Where the scorch mark of Aldern's body is, some of his equipment was left behind:
 
 Masterwork Leather Armor 
 Masterwork War Razor 
  Ring of Jumping  
  Stalker's Mask  
 Extravagant Noble's Outfit worth 200 gp 
 Cameo worth 100 gp containing tiny pic of Huseina 
 A sturdy iron key  
 

Other treasure exists in the room. A small silver key ring worth 10 gp sits on the table amid the rotten meat, with two keys on the ring. The larger of these two is a tarnished iron key set with a round opal worth 100 gp—it is unknown what this key unlocks. The smaller key is made of bronze and has an unusually long tang ending in a set of three notched blades. The head of this key resembles a roaring lion. Also unknown what this key unlocks.

Do you mess with the fungus on the wall in any way, or leave it alone?
ClassyCrow
Aubrine decides to examine the fungus on the wall, and compare it with the previous mold/fungus found in the house previously.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Aubrine will use a point of inspiration on a roll between 8 and 12 (assuming the skill is not a knowledge skill and therefore free).
 
lostsole31
 Aubrine , roll a Will save!
ClassyCrow
 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Aubrine rolls a will save of [roll]1d20 + 6[\roll] and if the die roll is between 6 and 10 use two points of inspiration to add [roll]1d6[\roll]
 
lostsole31
 
 Spoiler: Aubrine 
Aubrine, you suddenly experience a sensation of vertigo as you feel compelled to feed on the fungus to reclaim a dead man's stolen shadow.
 

There is a frantic grunt-slurping sound, and the party turns to see Aubrine pressed up against the fungus on the wall, licking and nibbling and swallowing and taking as much into themself as possible.

 Aubrine , roll a Fort save!
ClassyCrow
*Eating noises*

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
 (1d20+9)[ 11 ]  and again use two points of inspiration to add  (1d6)[ 2 ]  if the die roll is between 7 and 11.
 
lostsole31
Just the act of eating the fungus and the revulsion is enough to snap Aubrine out of the strange reverie, and their friends pull Aubrin away.

Aubrine doesn't feel good, having taken in some real unwholesomeness.

That said, what does the party do now?
Qazgir
  "Aubrine, what was that? Are you ok?"   Evaro asks once they pull them away from the fungus. Evaro takes a moment to examine Aubrine with the magic of their earrings, and informs the party of what they find.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Evaro will get close enough to Aubrine to detect poison and disease with Earrings of Safe Health. Unfortunately, Evaro is not trained in either Heal or Craft:Alchemy, so no identifying what any potential diseases or poisons might be.
 
lostsole31
Evaro, it seems Aubrine has contracted .... something.
ClassyCrow
  "I don't fully know. I was trying to examine the fungus and compare it with what we saw upstairs, then all of a sudden I felt incredibly lightheaded and weak, and the only cure was for me to start eating the fungus."   Aubrine takes second to sit and breath before checking their pulse.   "Thank you Evaro, for checking on me. Hopefully once we get out of here I can take some more time to figure out exactly what is wrong and maybe prepare some medicine for myself."  
lostsole31
  "Speaking of,"   clears Balazars throat,   "are we done here? We killed the source of the ghasts .... locally, it seems ... and the fate of the group we were sent to find. I think we have enough to go back to the Sheriff. Legally, I am uncomfortable now that we have what we were deputized to find ... to go 'exploring' (i.e., looting) from the noble Foxglove estate."  
Qazgir
  "I think that would be for the best, since both Aubrine and I could benefit from some medical attention. I'll leave it to the rest of you to determine what evidence we should bring back with us, as that's not my area of expertise"   Evaro says.
ClassyCrow
  "I would grab what we can, and record what we can't. Restoring the painting seems like a good course of action, although perhaps doing a more intensive check to see if the painting holds any potential magical or cursed properties."   Aubrine looks wearily at the fungus.   "Perhaps we should not try to interact with that anymore."  
lostsole31
The party does that - grabs what they can, and heads out to record their findings.

They tromp the two hour walk back to Sandpoint. Dgia stops at her room to begin her restorative attempt.

The group then goes to report to the sheriff.

A little while later, the party is in front of Sheriff Belor Hemlock.  What do you tell him?
Qazgir
  "Sherif, I believe the source of Sandpoint's immediate ghoul problem has been dealt with,"   Evaro says.   "We encountered the undead form of a man named Aldern Foxglove. He was underneath the house, at the end of a series of tunnels dug out form the baseme    nt. We also found a letter to him written by a 'Xanesha, Mistress of the Seven' which indicated he was the source of the ghouls. I'm sure one of my more knowledgeable colleagues will be able to provide more details than I can. I'm sorry to say that there were no survivors left to rescue."   
ClassyCrow
  "We were able to discover the bodies of those previously sent into the residence, and it would be possible to recover their corpses if desired."   Aubrine states,   "In addition, there was a large amount of infectious mold or fungus growing on the property. It seems to have some ability to coerce those nearby to consuming it, and contains some poisonous properties. While we do not currently know the exact effects of this growth, it should be avoided if possible. I would recommend extreme caution if anyone decides to journey into or near the property."  
lostsole31
  "Thank you for looking into this,"   says Sheriff Hemlock.   "You've cleared Misgivings enough where we can send a detail to collect the bodies and so forth. It sounds from your investigations that the root of issues goes beyond Sandpoint, which means it goes beyond my care or jurisdiction. Every one of you answered as a favor and gratis, but with Mayor Deverin's consent, we managed to pull together 25 platinum for each of you, with the understanding that only one share goes to Balazar, as his bodyguard and eidolon are considered subcontractors. I wish we could do more, but even that is a pretty heavy drain on town coffers.

"So, what will you be doing now?"  
ClassyCrow
  "While this mystery does intrigue me quite a bit, I, at least, have the lightly more pressing issue of my mysterious disease given to me by the fungus."   Aubrine says, and turns to Evaro,   "I wonder if Balazar or one of the others could help, now that we have a little more time to breath."  
Qazgir
  "I too could use some time to recover,"   Evaro says,   "but after that, unless Aubrine has any objections, I'd like us to look into the 'Brothers' and 'Xanesha' since I get the feeling this is only a small part of something greater."   
lostsole31
Business done, the sheriff sees that everyone is paid, thanks you, and wishes you luck on your next adventures.

The party still has tonight available on the town's coin at the Rusty Dragon for room and board.  Dgia goes right upstairs to work on the painting.

Do the two of you otherwise have revels and enjoy the evening at the tavern?
Qazgir
Evaro will spend the evening in his room, relaxing after the exertion of the day.
ClassyCrow
Aubrine similarly spends the night in their room looking over notes, meditating, and fighting against the occultation for practice.
lostsole31
.... until such time as it is time to sleep.

 
  
 Starday, 31 Neth 4707 AR (Last Quarter) 
Weather: 18/ 10 F. 1" snow (1" snow cover). Winds WNW 20 mph. Medium humidity. Wind Chill Effect: -7 / -15 F.  

The next day, what do you change (if anything) about your current lineups?
lostsole31
After breakfast, it is time to move out of your rooms and get the breakfast you get with the previously paid room.

Balazar says,   "Dgia needs a full day of work on the picture. As a Pathfinder, I know that your part is technically done, but if any of you are interested in what seems to be some type of conspiracy, you are welcome to join us - I and my retinue - to Magnimar. You would be on your own cognizance, mind you. I cannot vouchsafe your room and board forward."  

Azel the Vibrant shakes her head and comments,   "Though likely unnatural enemies, I will not go into the city of Magnimar. I am content to maintain my guardianship of the Hinterlands here, but it was an interesting adventure, and I thank you for including me."  

Huseina and Torviruv do not comment (yet).

 Evaro  and  Aubrine , what do you say?
Qazgir
  "Aubrine and I will take you up on that offer. The contents of that letter concern me, and I hate to leave a task unfinished,"   Evaro says. He turns to Azel, continuing   "I wish you well, it has been a pleasure working with you,"   before turning to Huseina and Torviruv,   "and what say you two? It may not be your usual abolitionist fare, but I'm sure Balazar, Aubrine, and I would appreciate your assistance in whatever comes next."  
lostsole31
  "I'm game,"   says Deadeye.   "Gotta keep my skills sharp for when things cool off for me in Cheliax."  
  "I go where she goes,"   says Torviruv.
ClassyCrow
After a nod to Azel Aubrine turns to the group,   "Agreed, leaving something like this unfinished only promises for more issues later down the road. I believe we should take the day while Dgia finishes the painting to finish up any loose ends in town. I would particularly like to rid myself of whatever illness I contracted from the fungus. Do any of you have the ability to identify or treat unknown diseases, or should I ask around town?"  
lostsole31
  "I understand that the recently rebuilt Sandstone Cathedral - overseen by Father Zantalus - is likely the best place to go in Sandpoint,"   says Balazar.
Qazgir
  "Sounds like the kind of place I should also visit"   Evaro says, before turning to Aubrine,   "shall we?"  
ClassyCrow
  "I agree, let's go."   Aubrine will stand and ready themselves to leave.
lostsole31
The group (sans Balazar &amp; co.) go to Sandstone Cathedral, and get an audience with Father Abstalar Zantus.

  "How may I help you?"   he asks.

 
Qazgir
  "My friend and I need some healing"   Evaro says,   "I breathed in yellow mold yesterday and have been having some trouble breathing ever since. Is that the kind of thing you can help with?"   .
lostsole31
  "That depends,"   says Father Zantalus,   "what are you offering for donation?"  
ClassyCrow
  "That depends on what you need donated."    Aubrine replies.   
  
lostsole31
  "I have not magic to heal that strange-sounding issue, so it will be up to your fine body's ability to fight issues, but for an 80 gp donation, I can ask Desna to refresh your body's reserves,"   says the priest.
Qazgir
Evaro nods and hands over 8 PP, saying   "thank you Father."  
lostsole31
The priest takes the 8 platinum, with an acolyte to note the donation and service. Father Zantalus prays over Evaro, giving him   2 CON healing  .
ClassyCrow
Aubrine will hand over 8pp and say   "Yes, thank you."  
lostsole31
Assuming Aubrine mentions their ailment, Father Zantalus does the same as before, fully healing Aubrine's mental fog.

What now?
Qazgir
Evaro turns to Aubrine,   "unless you've got something in mind to do, I plan to fritter away the rest of the day wandering town."


   
 Spoiler: If Aubrine has nothing in mind 

Evaro will spend the rest of his day wandering around Sandpoint, enjoying the town, before returning to the tavern for dinner and an early night in before what sounds like a day of travel tomorrow.
 
ClassyCrow
  "I cannot think of anything else I would need to do, so I will join you in wandering the town."   Aubrine responds.
lostsole31
It takes very little time at all, before the light snow, freeing temperatures, and blustery winds drive you back to the Rusty Dragon. Some hours later, Balazar finds the two of you and says,   "Dgia's deft skill with painting - or in this case art restoration - has uncovered something quite interesting. Come with me. Deadeye and the Torch are already up there."  

The two of you follow the gnome and his strange chicken-serpent-dragon-whatsit Padrig up to Balazar's room, which is fitted with two beds and a modesty screen between them.

Dgia presents a cleaned portrait of Iesha Foxglove, with the backdrop of a skyline through a window over her shoulder. Aubrine and Deadeye both recognize the city skyline as that of Magnimar, City of Monuments.

Balazar clucks,   "Yes, while not particular to itself, I take it as a sign that our next stop - Magnimar - is the right one. Shall we attempt to sell the portrait here in Sandpoint before traveling?"  
Qazgir
Evaro considers for a moment before speaking,   "I'd prefer to carry it with us, both because I'd wager Magnimar has a greater art market than Sandpoint, and incase there is anything else to be learned from the painting. I'll carry it myself if necessary."  
lostsole31
Dgia says,   "The frame was moldy and worthless. We just roll it up and it will be fine."  

Any other business tonight, or move to the next day in anticipation of purchasing any last minute equipment and riding out?
Qazgir
Evaro turns in for the night.
ClassyCrow
Aubrine also turns in for the night.
lostsole31
   Starday, 1 Kuthona 4707 AR (Last Quarter) 
 Weather:  35/ 15 F. No precipitation. Winds WNW 15 mph. High Humidity. Wind Chill:  15/ -5 F.   

The next morning, it is time to clear out unless you stay on your own silver. Do you either of you change anything about your daily setups? Note the effective wind chill for the day.
Qazgir
Recalling the creatures they faced in darkness of Foxglove Manor, Evaro draws his inner light into an external form, briefly lighting up his room, before he suppresses it. Once his morning routine is finished, he gathers his belongings and heads to the common area in search of breakfast.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Unshape Unicorn Feathering &amp; Earring of Safe Health

Shape Halo of Holy Light &amp; Rings of Precognition

Suppress Halo of Holy Light and Hardlight Reinforcements
 
lostsole31
The group assembles together for breakfast. What's the plan?
Qazgir
After eating, Evaro turns to Balazar,   "I we want to head out as soon as we can. I'm ready to leave right now, how about the rest of you?"  
lostsole31
The NPCs are ready. Aubrine?
ClassyCrow
  "Let's get going then."   Aubrine states in an upbeat fashion while picking up their last piece of bread.

 
 Spoiler: Bread  
Or whatever starch equivalent is served at breakfast
 
lostsole31
 
 Spoiler: Aubrine 
NOTE: It took Aubrine an extra hour to come to breakfast, as it is assumed they distilled their mutagen.
 

Huseina knows that in good weather it is a two-day walk, including a small forced march, to make it from Sandpoint to Magnimar, but that is assuming normal humanoids, unencumbered, of average size. Because of Balazar's small stature, that means that travel in good weather is three days with a forced march at the end.

Huseina mentions that if the weather remains the same, it is cold enough even with cold weather gear that you can expect some cold weather fatigue. So the question is:
 
 Do you want to move normally, suffering a higher chance of greater cold weather fatigue ... but getting to Magnimar sooner? or, 
 Do you want to move half-speed ... making a six-day travel .... to allow the survivalists a chance to provide greater protection to the group? 
 
Qazgir
  "I can handle the exertion, but if any of you are wary, then we can take it slow and steady"   Evaro says.
ClassyCrow
  "I have some minor trepidation about the exertion in the cold as I am not built for it, but as long as we have the right gear, I would agree with Evaro. The sooner we get to Magnimar, the sooner we can get to work."  Aubrine says with some thought.
lostsole31
The party is off and on their way ...

The first day is actually okay. You feel the cold, but not enough to be bothered as everyone has purchased or has protection of some sort (cold weather outfit).

A camp is set up that evening, and that is when the cold really bites, but by then a fire is set.

Do you do anything that night? What are your recommendations for watch order?
Qazgir
Warming his hands on the campfire, Evaro speak ups,   "Why don't I take the first watch, followed by Torviruv, Huseina, and Aubrine perhaps. That should leave us all plenty of time to rest. Do any of you have something to make the watch easier?"    
lostsole31
Not quite sure what Evaro means, Balazar mentions he is a storyteller, Huseina is a singer, and the torch is a dancer.
ClassyCrow
  "If you wanted coffee, Evaro, we should have tried to get some before we left as I'm afraid I'm all out."   Aubrine will say somewhat questioningly.   "In terms of the watch order, that seems fine to me."  
Qazgir
Evaro smiles, saying   "I was thinking about something more along the lines of magic for staying awake and alert, but you're right, Coffee would've been a good thing to buy. Regardless, it sounds like I'll be taking the first watch."   Evaro sits, enjoying the fire and chatting while everyone is awake, before settling into the first watch as they go to sleep.
lostsole31
   Toilday, 2 Kuthona 4707 AR (Last Quarter)
 35/ 15 F. Winds WNW 15 mph. Medium humiidity. Wind Chill: 15/ -5 F.  

The night passes uneventfully, though coldly.

Do either of you intend to make any changes to setup with the freezing days and travel, or do you keep as your setups list through until you get to Magnimar.
Qazgir
Evaro wakes up, stretches, and readies himself in the same way as the previous day.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

No changes to Evaro's setup.
 
ClassyCrow
Aubrine will wake up, check that all their belongings are still with them, do their morning tasks, and then meet everyone to get ready for traveling.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Aubrine will keep their setup the same.
 
lostsole31
That afternoon, the party sees a half-dozen shambling, very thin figures moving listlessly along the road. They are skeletons and the party makes short work of them and Torviruv prays for the souls of those who were most recently turned to ash by the party.  As intended, and as people feel the cold, the party makes only what otherwise would be a half-day travel to not overexert themselves in this weather. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the winds sapping everyone's strength.

Once camp is set up Huseina immediately isolates herself to work on combat loading drills with her pepperbox. She still listens in to Balazar's mention of how discretion will be needed in Magnimar, and how to conduct oneself accordingly, a topic which he discusses at length with Torviruv, Evaro and Dgia while Aubrine quietly listens.

 

   Wealday, 3 Kuthona 4707 AR (Waning Crescent)
 40/ 20 F. Heavy Snow (4"). Winds WNW 5 mph. Medium humiidity. Wind Chill: 35/ 15 F.  

It is a touch warmer today, and the wind is far less, but the party makes no better headway since there is heavy snowfall today.  Still as you travel south down the Lost Coast Road, with side markers every so often to keep you on the now snow-covered road, there will be the smell of meat cooking and faint smoke to the south that iHuseina isure is only the result of a single fire.

You aren't close enough to see the source. Do you do anything special, or just keep traveling south?
Qazgir
As he smells the cooking meat and hears Huseina's conclusion, Evaro turns to the others, saying   "I think we ought to stay the course, no matter how good that smells, what say you all?"  
lostsole31
(What conclusion by Huseina?)

Torviruv looks shyly to Huseina to answer for him.

Huseina says,   "That sounds real tempting - an earlier fire and some freshly cooked game rather than rations, but I guess it is the secret abolitionist in me that is used to skulking around the countryside that I worry what showing our faces prominently everywhere might mean."  

Balazar clucks his tongue.   "Listen, I'm the one that originally fitted you alll together like an odd puzzle as the Pathfinder Society contacted interested in the case, and I am glad you are coming with me to solve issues in Magnimar. But if the Open Road has taught me anything, and that is always be willing to extend or receive hospitality, even if it is just to exchange news and offer mutual protection for the evening ... even more important in inclement weather."  
Qazgir
Evaro nods,   "lets go find the fire then,"   and gestures to Huseina to lead the way off the road and towards the smoke.
lostsole31
Before long, you are standing by a deer that has been properly dressed and set up on a spit. The coals are in a T-formation, however, and on the short extension is a pot with a lid, bubbling slightly. Nearby ... near enough to notice but far enough away to not spoil an appetite sitting next to the pot are two freshly shucked rabbit skins, giving a clue as to what is in the pot. The air is redolent not only of the fats and meat from the young buck, but also from an expensive spice ... pepper, from Vudra, but all the rage in southern Avistani cooking.

Not only does the formation of the fire suit cooking two meals, but it also allows for more people to sit around a fire while being close to it. An expertly set lean-to - quite sizable, has been built on both sides of the fire ... one downwind, and the other upwind to block the wind from both sides.

There is no immediately visible sign of anyone who put this up. No footprints, no personal items beyond what was mentioned for the cookfires, nothing.

A small gibbet of fat slides from the delicious-smelling game onto the fire with a tantalizing splatter and sizzle.
Qazgir
Drawing his sword, Evaro addresses the group,   "the total lack of personal items isn't normal, is it?"   Hunching over slightly, Evaro sniffs the air.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Swift Action: Enter Swift Hunter's Stance

If Evaro smells someone other than the party with Swift Hunter's Stance, he will say   "I smell someone"   and try to point towards them.

If Evaro doesn't smell anyone other than the party with Swift Hunter's Stance, he will say   "I don't smell anyone."  

If Evaro can't use Scent effectively, perhaps because of the smell of the food, he will say   "I can't catch anyone's scent."  
 
lostsole31
After getting a nostril full of burning flesh and fat - however delicious - Evaro says,    "I can't catch anyone's scent."  
  "Mmmm,"   says a bored voice on a rock 10' away,   "are you sure you're using that thing right?"  

The suddenness of what wasn't noticed previously is noticed now.  The voice comes from the direction of a large cat - sleek, but around 20 lbs. or so - licking its paws. it is a black cat with gray stripes and a white blaze on its chest (partially obscured by the gray striping. It's eyes are a brilliant hue of amethyst.
Qazgir
Evaro spins in the direction of the voice, sword raised. He narrows his eyes, and addresses the cat,   "who are you?"  
ClassyCrow
Aubrine draws their blade and squints intensely at the cat from a little behind Evaro.

 
 Spoiler: Squinting at cat 
Aubrine tries to see if there is any blood or indications of combat on or near the cat specifically. In addition, Aubrine wracks their brain to see if they recognize what type of creature this is.
 
lostsole31
The rest of the group follows their lead, drawing weapons and preparing for mischief and mayhem.

The strange cat doesn't even look at everyone's posturing, licking something off of its paw. "Weapons ... every. one."

It looks up with its purple eyes,   "That doesn't bode well. Is that the manner in which you greet everyone on the road? My name is Dextrel, by the way."  
 
 Spoiler: Evaro 
When it speaks, it speaks to you in a dialect that is exactly like your own, formed as your own dialect over many travels. It could be mocking you?
 

 
 Spoiler: Aubrine 
When it speaks, it speaks to you in a dialect that is exactly like your  own, formed as your own dialect over many travels. It could be mocking  you?
 
ClassyCrow
  "Caution is generally a good first step when encountering strange happenings, especially when finding someone who seems as out of place as you do."   Aubrine lowers their weapon slightly, while still keeping it in hand.   "I don't believe I have ever met a Silvanshee before, so I apologize for our rudeness. If you mean us no harm and care to explain what happened at this camp, perhaps we can lower our weapons."  
lostsole31
  "You are on the road to the City of Monuments, travelers,"   quips Dextrel.   "You better get used to strange happenings and things out of place for strangers, quickly, or the city will take you. But I explain nothing, for I am merely a herald."  

The cat closes its eyes for several seconds and then opens them slowly again.   "Please enjoy the hospitality of the camp. It may take several minutes, but your host and her protector will soon be along to greet you."  
Qazgir
Evaro casts his eyes around the camp, looking for any hints as to the identity of its owner, before looking back to the cat, saying   "and who might our host and her protector be?"  
lostsole31
  "Pfft,"   says the strange cat.   "I'm not taking the wind out of their sails."  
Qazgir
Evaro sheaths his sword and turns to Huseina and Balazar,   "this seem suspicious, but I'm not the expert here, what do you two think?"  
lostsole31
Evaro turns to them, but everyone except he and Aubrine have already tucked greedily into the food.
ClassyCrow
Aubrine sits, but does not partake in the food until the unknown host arrives.
Qazgir
Evaro sits next to Aubrine, taking a moment to simply enjoy being the sights and smells of his surroundings.
lostsole31
There is a faint call, a woman's voice,    "Broo-halloo! Hunters return to camp!"   
  "My lady calls, that you fear no surprise or ambush,"   explains Dextrel before speaking in a voice only slightly louder than before,   "Yes, yes, broo-halloo and all that. I'm not shouting my way between Sandpoint and Magnimar."  

Do Aurbine and Evaro remain seated, or stand to greet what is likely their hosts (you don't see them from the rock you are sitting against, the same one Dextrel is perched upon)?
Qazgir
Evaro will stand to greet whoever the voices belong to.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

If he hasn't already, Evaro relaxes and leaves his stance, so as to not appear too aggressive.
 
ClassyCrow
Aubrine stands up and follows Evaro's lead.
lostsole31
The other NPCs in the party, food in hand, look some distance away as well.

Coming from some distance are two figures - male and female.

The man draws the eye first, not just because of his 6' 8" and massive frame, but his noble bearing as well, for true nobility is intrinsic to the person, not granted by external agencies. His eyes are dark, and he has a dark-gray topknot but otherwise smooth head, and wearing a strange, foreign type of armor - an arrangement of hexagonal plates sewn to cloth. He carries a bardiche with him, and his left hand wears a cestus. He is definitely of Shoanti extraction.

The woman is just shy of 6', with light red hair and sea green eyes. Her light shield and tabard are white with red-and-orange trim, with a red cross lined with orange - the symbol of a battlefield healer. The tabard sits over what appears to be a cuirass made of non-metallic green scales. A simple club is at her side.

Both of them carry small pouches filled with blueberries - a type of winter fruit that grows on the plains of Varisia.

As they close in, the woman says,   "I am Leaf Brightwillow, and this is my companion Hastiin. I hope that fear hasn't caused anyone to make themselves go hungry? We need to thaw the blueberries in the rabbit stew. It should only be a half hour and the sweetness of the berries will cut down the gaminess of the hares."  
Qazgir
Briefly sizing up the two, Evaro will extend a handshake to each of them in turn,   "I am Evaro, thank you for the hospitality on a day like this one."  
lostsole31
The nearly 8' tall half-giant holding out his metal-clad hand, Leaf simply reaches up and softly clasps his forearm. Hastiin, on the other hand, looks up at the man that is a foot taller than him and shakes his hand solidly. So close to both of them, Evaro sees the cares of the world written in scars on the faces of both of them.

Leaf looks to the others, Aubrine included, as she adds blueberries to the rabbit stew.   "Please, partake of what we have, for it was for you it was made."  

Hastiin offers in his deep Shoanti drawl,   "Leaf is not of this world, and I see beyond it. But she is a holy woman in her way, much as I am in ours. But I am more direct, where she is often circumspect. She says, 'There must be seven' for she she has dreams of a seven-pointed star, and a hero of destiny at each point of the star. She looked in the smooth ice on a rock wall and saw you coming and said, 'Some of them are of the star, and some merely orbit it.'"  
  "Some of them are of the star, and some merely orbit it,"   echoes Leaf as she continues tending to the meal.

  "She has seen our destinies tied to yours,"   continues Hastiin. To this he adds, a bit more embarrassed,   "Unfortunately, neither of us knows what is happening that calls our entwined destinies."  
ClassyCrow
  "Fascinating."   Aubrine says while standing. Offering a hand to both Leaf and Hastiin.   "I am Aubrine Udara, and I would love to learn more of this seven pointed star, perhaps over this lovely meal you have prepared."  
lostsole31
The combined tucks into the meal as it is readied.

Leaf draws a seven-pointed star, and says in the flashes she receives, the tines of each star are different colors - each a sort of metallic sheen.
  
 
Qazgir
Evaro, recognizing the star from the Mistress Xanesha's letter, asks   "do you know anything more about this star? We recently encountered it under unpleasant circumstances, and know nothing of it."  
lostsole31
Leaf shakes her head.   "Only what I've seen in my dreams. What were the circumstances you mention?"  
Qazgir
  "In a letter written by one Xanesha Mistress of the Seven to an individual causing issues around Sandpoint"   Evaro says.
lostsole31
Leaf and Hastiin don't recognize the terms "Xanesha" nor "Mistress of the Seven" and ask for clarification.
ClassyCrow
  "Well, since we seem to trust you enough to explain all this, we spent some time investigating a place called the Foxglove Manor. The previous tenant of note,  Aldern Foxglove , was apparently initiating a ritual called a  Sihedron Ritual ."   Aubrine explains.   "The ritual and its steps are unknown to us, but it was apparently given to him by a  Xanesha, Mistress of the Seven , and her message to Aldern had the star symbol stamped upon their letter of communication. This ritual may or may not involve a toxic fungal material which was been grown on the premises, although that may just be related to an unrelated debt to a group solely referred to as  the Brothers . There also appear to be an unknown list of victims to the ritual. Finally, we are heading to Magnimar to look into our only real lead. There are some other odds and ends, but that is more or less the entirety of what we know about that star."  
lostsole31
  "I am a holy warrior of Irori, and Leaf here is a battlefield medic,"   says Hastiin.   "Our path was to meet with and join to the points of your star on this mission. Will you have us?"  
  "Ahem!"   snaps an offended Dextrel.

Hastiin glares at the strange cat and adds,   "And Dextrel is a pest."  

Despite the epithet, Dextrel seems happy with that, and returns to licking himself publicly in not-for-public places.

  "If anything, my fey magic of the land can keep us warm and safe and fed ... at least until we get to the city,"   says Leaf.
Qazgir
Evaro gives the two a warm smile before speaking,   "having just parted way with some others, I'd be happy to have you accompany us."   Evaro turns to Balazar,   "I assume that won't be a problem."  
lostsole31
  "If nothing else, I am quiet curious about our hosts, and at least travel to Magnimar might answer some questions I have,"   says Balazar, his puffy white moustache wriggling as he speaks.
ClassyCrow
  "This journey seems to be introducing us to all sorts of new people Evaro,"  Aubrine chuckles while speaking.   "...and I agree with Balazar, there is quite a potential to resolve unanswered questions about our new hosts and the mystery in Magnimar."  
lostsole31
Hastiin proves himself quite the scholar of ancient philosophy and esoteric theology, impressing Aubrine with Hastiin's scholarship. The large, strange-looking man looks rough and brutish, but strangely becoming, but one would never peg him for a scholar.

 
   
 Oathday, 4 Kuthona 4707 AR (Waning Crescent)
 18/ 10 F. Winds N 20 mph. Dry. Wind Chill: -7/ -15 F.   

Leaf seems to be some type of a nature priest or druid, and with her magic, she keeps the party moving a little faster than they were going, and comfortable. Since the party is making such good time and it gets dark so early, Evaro asks that they stop midday so he can have a chance to drink up the power of the sun, and explaining that some of what gives his own type of magic is the sun's healing and warming light.

Leaf's powers - "fairy magic" she calls it - likewise makes for a very comfortable resting area despite the biting winds and freezing cold beyond, just as she did the night before. She also keeps the camp well fed by finishing up leftovers from the previous evening.

That night, Balazar and Torviruv picks Aubrine's brain regarding ancient history, with Hastiin listening intently and adding what he can from time to time, having a more spiritual focus on history than Aubrine's secular view. 
 Spoiler: Aubrine 
Hastiin is just shy of you, almost rivals, in matters of historical knowledge, but with the differences in focus as noted. Torviruv isn't studying history so much as he has been working hard under you at general scholarship all around. Balazar is a very capable historian, but not in your league.
 


 

    Fireday, 5 Kuthona 4707 AR (Waning Crescent)
 25/ 10 F. Winds WNW 10 mph. Dry. Wind Chill: 0/ -15 F.   

The day starts out even colder than before, but with your accelerated travel you soon note a slight shift of the wind as you get closer to the coastline and Magnimar appears in the distance!

Before long, the party gets to Magnimar, City of Monuments in the late afternoon!



  
 
 


Since you began in Sandpoint, you have been traveling the Lost Coast Road, a variably-maintained road and now reaching its terminus (technically, its origin) between the Alabaster and Naos sections of the city.

What now?
Qazgir
Evaro will take a moment to enjoy being in a large city after some time away from one. He turns to Balazar,   "is there Pathfinder business we need to attend to urgently? If not, I'd like to sell the portrait today if at all possible."  
lostsole31
  "This mystery  is  my Pathfinder business,"   says Balazar with a wry chuckle.
ClassyCrow
  "Well I suppose we should look for an art seller."   Aubrine looks around at the surroundings.   "I don't know much of anything about selling art, nor much about Magnimar's curators and collectors. Do any of you have any ideas or should we ask around?"  
lostsole31
Hastiin says,   "Don't you think we should secure lodgings for ourselves before roaming around in the city during the afternoon until our pickings for board become slimmer?"  
Qazgir
Evaro will shrug,   "Thats fine with me. Balazar, you've been here before, any suggestions for where we should procure lodgings?"  
lostsole31
  "The Good Angel &amp; Merry Cook Tavern - an inn and tavern actually - right here in Naos is serviceable!"   Balazar cheerily offers.
ClassyCrow
  "That sounds like an excellent option if no one has any objections."   Aubrine remarks cheerfully,   "While camping has certain positive qualities about it, an actually bed to sleep on and a solid desk for working on would be wonderful."  
lostsole31
And the party finds themselves at the Good Angel &amp; Merry Cook, often just called 'The Gamo' for short. Balazar is sure to dismiss Padrig, while Dextrel turns invisible and goes off on his own.

It seems that neither Leaf nor Hastiin have any money ... not even a copper. Torviruv each loans them the money they'll need for living expenses for now.

As things can be expensive in this establishment, rooms have to be doubled up, and are thusly ...
 
 Aubrine &amp; Evaro 
 Huseina and Torviruv 
 Hastiin &amp; Leaf (and Dextrel .... shhhh) 
 Balazar &amp; Dgia  
 
It is already late enough for dinner by the time rooms are situated.
lostsole31
The evening is closed out, and after long days on the road, there is no training but rest for the coming trials.

 

    Starday, 6 Kuthona 4707 AR (Waning Crescent)
 30/ 15 F. Moderate precipitation (2" snow). Winds WNW 10 mph. Dry. Wind Chill: 15/ 0 F.   

This is going to be another freezing cold day. To be expected as you are almost in winter.  
 Spoiler: Kuthona 
Kuthona is Golarion's "December."
 

Do either of you change anything for your loadout? Also, Dgia will be asked to stay back to guard the rooms. Will you leave anything behind, or go walking around town to every shop and bar wearing full battle-rattle? Likewise, do you take any precautions of your own against the cold, since you will be outside for many and indeterminate periods of time.
Qazgir
Evaro will leave Peacekeeper and his bow in the room he share with Aubrine, shaping and suppressing an akashic blade to serve in its place. He puts on his armor over his cold weather gear, and goes to get breakfast.

 
 Spoiler: Action! 

Evaro will leave his weapons behind, but wear his armor. Evaro will unshape Halo of Holy Light and the Rings of Precognition and shape the Blade of Stone and Air and Spectacles of the Scribe in their places. Evaro will suppress Blade of Stone and Air and Hardlight Weapon.
 
ClassyCrow
Aubrine will don their equipment on, and ready themself for the day in their cold weather gear.
 
 Spoiler 

Keep equipment and other things the same.
 
lostsole31
The morning will be taken up with sales, and Balazar finds and unloads everything by noon (see Discord).
lostsole31
That afternoon, you find ... if you weren't sure yet ... that Balazar can be wildly engaging in his own bizarre way, and Leaf is a good second for him. Still, the information he asks for is harder to gain since most people don't know, but after three hours of hitting taverns, inns, markets, and the like, he is able to find out where the Magnimar residence of Foxglove manor happens to be.

He times it with Leaf's guidance to jump from establishment to establishment enough that nobody gets cold.  Still, it is now three in the afternoon and freezing, and now that you know where the manor is, do you seek to go there now when it is only going to get colder and you likely won't get to pop from warm space to warm space and who knows how much watching time you'll have. Do you go there now or wait until the warmest part of tomorrow? Even then, do you have a plan?
Qazgir
Evaro leans against the wall of the establishment he is currently in, he is staring off into the middle distance, muttering to himself,   "it's worth at least giving the manor visit today, since our approach looks very different if the place is still inhabited. If it turns out to be empty, abandoned, or any other sort of uninhabited, we can make a more intrusive approach tomorrow. If there are people living there, well, we'll cross that bridge if we come to it."   Evaro sighs,   "maybe we shouldn't' have been so hasty to sell the portrait, I hadn't even considered until now we might get some other use out of it."   He focuses on the rest of the group and speaks up,   "are the rest of you up to pass by the manor today, just to check if it's inhabited?"   
lostsole31
The NPCs are ready to go.

Aubrine?
ClassyCrow
  "It seems like a good first step. It is always best to make a plan after we have gathered any available information."   Aubrine agrees.   "Worst case scenario, we can make someone pretend to be important to get a conversation going."


   
 Spoiler: Edit 
Reworded a sentence
 
lostsole31
The townhouse is located in the Grand Arch District, not far from Starsilver Plaza. It doesn't appear to have been lived in for months, although it is rumored that Aldern still owns the property. Since he’s not yet been declared dead, the building has stood empty for that time. The building itself is three stories tall.

Now what?
ClassyCrow
Aubrine looks carefully to see if anyone is nearby and watching their party then says in a hushed tone.   "Given the building's current state, it does not look like it will be hard to explore. Although, I do not know if venturing in now would be the most wise. Perhaps we could wait for nightfall and do a little skulduggery then?"  
lostsole31
 
 Originally Posted by ClassyCrow 
 Aubrine looks carefully to see if anyone is nearby and watching their party ..... 
 

1)  This is a major and crowded city. A lot of traffic nearby.
2)  Take a look at the visuals for this party, and tell me that such a wild and sordid group would NOT draw attention, even at a circus.

What now?
Qazgir
Evaro turns away from the house to face the party, saying   "I say we come back tonight, I want to retrieve Peacekeeper and formulate a basic plan before we go in."  
ClassyCrow
  "I agree Evaro, making sure we are well equipped is a good course of action. Perhaps a couple of us can stick around and get a sense of the external layout to see if there is a best option for approach, and then we can meet back with the rest of the party?"   Aubrine turns to the party and looks at Torviruv,   "I don't mean to volunteer you Torviruv, but I would wager that relatively covert surveillance might be something you have experience with?"  
lostsole31
Torviruv shakes his head.   "It's too cold for me to properly focus. If there is any counter-surveillance, I will be more of a liability than a benefit."  
ClassyCrow
  "I appreciate your sincerity. I will do my best to be quick and stay out of trouble."   Aubrine looks to the group,   "Unless there is anything more to discuss, I will be seeing you all soon."   Unless stopped, Aubrine does their best to slip into the crowd and get a good look at the Townhouse from outside the grounds.

 
 Spoiler: What Aubrine is looking for 
Aubrine is looking particularly to see if they can see if there are multiple entrances, signs of upkeep, or just things out of the ordinary for somewhere relatively abandoned.
 
lostsole31
While Aubrine peels off to do that ... Evaro (&amp; Co.), where do you go? Back to your rooms?
Qazgir
Evaro turns and begins walking towards the inn, speaking up as he does,   "let's retrieve our gear and return quickly, I don't fancy the idea of leaving Aubrine here alone for too long."  
lostsole31
As the rest of the party leaves Aubrine behind, he begins to case the joint. The building itself is three stories tall. Boards have been nailed over the windows on the ground floor. The back door is boarded over, but the front door is not.
ClassyCrow
Aubrine writes this information in shorthand to remember later. If Aubrine is alone behind the building, they will approach the back door while carefully checking for any traps or alarms. They examine the boards more closely to see how recent the boarding happened. As they are there, Aubrine peaks at one of the windows seeing if there are any gaps in the windows near the backdoor.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
If there is skill check for any activities applicable Aubrine will use a point of inspiration on a roll between 8-12.
 
lostsole31
Aubrine finds that they have no writing implements ... and that if even if they did write it down, they would have to co-opt space in their formulae book. Trusting instead to their Big Brain (R), they continue their reconnoiter.

The boards are too well fitted to see inside, and Aubrine can't tell just by looking how long the place has been boarded up.

What now?
ClassyCrow
Aubrine, walks away from the building and looks at the surrounding buildings looking to see if there are any potential vantage points to enter or look in from another building's rooftop or higher floor. After this assessment, Aubrine heads back to meet up with the group.
lostsole31
Aubrine and the group are back together.
Qazgir
Evaro nods to Aubrine as they rejoin the group,   "did you find out anything we should know before we make our way inside?"  
ClassyCrow
  "Not a whole lot."   Aubrine responds and then pauses.   "Most of what I found out we already know, it's a abandoned boarded up estate. Whoever boarded up the place did a relatively good job making sure no prying eyes could see inside the first floor. There is a back entrance, which is also boarded up. Overall, it looks relatively vacant, but I didn't want to do anything to nefarious without possible assistance if things went wrong."  
Qazgir
Evaro nods,   "that seems wise."   He turns to face the house before speaking,   "if both entrances are boarded up, perhaps we should take the back way to avoid drawing more attention?"  
lostsole31
  "What time?"   asks Torviruv.
ClassyCrow
  "I mean the traditional answer of after dark works for me."   Aubrine leans against a wall.   "It will at least be a benefit to you Torviruv."  
lostsole31
  "It's settled,"   claps Balazar's little hands excitedly.   "At midnight, we leave our rooms to infil the Foxglove townhouse. That late is still late enough to mix in with some heading from the bars to their rooms after a night of carousing, so our passage will be noted, because let's face it, we're an odd group - but not unseemly as an obvious adventuring group gone on a bender. After we leave Foxglove townhouse, we'll need to be more wary, but we can worry about that part when we get to it. All in favor of midnight?"  
Qazgir
Evaro nods,   "that sounds like a good plan."  
ClassyCrow
  "A wonderful plan."   Aubrines stares into space for a moment and says.   "It may be useful to split into smaller groups to meet up around the foxglove manor to potentially draw less attention on our approach, and again split into this groups once we leave. Although if anything catastrophic or particularly noisy happens, I would rather all of us leave together. Although... I might simply be being overly cautious. I suppose I am not used to drawing quite as much attention as our party now does."  
lostsole31
Torviruv adds,   "Actually, I like Aubrine's plan ... but in reverse. Use the same approach as Balazar mentioned. It's the right time of night. If the place is being watched it won't matter if there are one or a score of us, but if the townhouse isn't being watched, Balazar's concept is sound. It is for when we  leave  that we don't want to all be strolling along together."  
Qazgir
Evaro will shrug,   "this is all a bit beyond my expertise, so I'll trust you to not lead me astray in that regard."   He pauses briefly to ponder, before continuing,   "as for potential difficulties within the house itself, is it reasonable to expect similar difficulties as the manor? It certainly seems possible that we will once again be facing the undead. I realize I should've considered this in the morning, but now is better than never."  
lostsole31
  "The Misgivings was a victim of its own particular problems, and the residents who lived and died there,"   says Balazar.   "You should always expect .... anything. And that way you won't be surprised when you find it."  
Qazgir
  "True enough, but that does not mean we should discard potentially useful information. We have encountered undead in the course of our investigation. It may be unrelated or it may not be. I am not saying we should put all our eggs in one basket, merely pointing out that we are not operating totally blind."   Evaro shrugs,   "regardless, it is too late in the day to make any large changes, so the point is moot. I suggest we return to the inn for a hearty dinner and some relaxation before this evening's excursion."  
ClassyCrow
  "Agreed Evaro, we should all make sure we are full and ready before moving in on the estate."   Aubrine turns to Torviruv   "I agree with your amendment to my plan, it makes sense to separate as we leave."  
lostsole31
That done, and with some rest and repast .... ready to head back to the Townhouse at midnight?
Qazgir
After dinner Evaro retrieves Peacemaker from his room, and then spends the rest of the evening telling stories to anyone who will listen. When midnight arrives, he is ready to leave.
lostsole31
And the party is now there in the vicinity of Foxglove Townhouse.

Balazar holds up the two keys the group had found back at Misgivings.   "I am sure it is a long shot, but do we want to try to enter from the front, by trying out the keys?"  
Qazgir
Evaro nods,   "I see no reason not to try."  
ClassyCrow
  "I mean it would be fantastic odds if they worked."   Aubrine jests,   "Although, I had a paranoid thought that someone might want us to come here if they left the keys for us to find, but that seems unlikely. Regardless, let's try the door but stay vigilant."  
lostsole31
Balazar waves the rest of the party back from their vigil across and down the street, going only with Padrig. His little form is seen in the dim glow of the gaslights of the street. His form pushes past the plane more than expected, then backs up. He and Padrig return and says,   "It actually worked! I actually heard activity within the house, and the smell of food cooking."  