"The tome?" Raqisat asks, confused for a moment but quickly recovering.  "Oh, yes.  It is more of a journal, but yes yes, that suits as well.  It was not mine, originally.  I acquired it out of curiosity mostly.  I was dealing with a trader and this was an oddity amongst his other wares.  I convinced him to throw it in to seal a deal..."

     As he talks about it Raqisat closes and ties the journal shut before putting in back amongst the stuff in his pack. 

     "There are writings and sketches, notes and what seems little more than scratchings or doodles.  It is a hodge podge, out of order and all of it in codes," Raqisat explains.  "It is probably this which interested me enough to explore.  Such intricate and involved codes and cyphers, on such seemingly meaningless everything.  Surely there's a reason, no?"  He seems more serious than usual, perhaps his mood a bit darker as he speculates about the journal but it does not last long.  After the briefest of moments a smile erupts on his face and the sun seems to shine on it again.

     "Or maybe it's just some dwarfs practice at letters and glyphs, eh?  Or a practical joke that fell into the wrong hands.  Would that not be humorous?"

--

     Raqisat more or less falls into the marching order suggested though he's not fastidious about it.  He is apt to go look at a curiosity here or there at random with high disregard for 'unit cohesion.'  When the human corpse is found he will look over the body and try to determine if perhaps it is one of the Burned Knights or perhaps there was indication they belonged to another group he had encountered.  From the bridge, perhaps though unlikely...  He would then look to the arrows and try to determine if they were likely fired from the street or from a higher vantage point...

Investigation:  7

.

Back on the boat: Roll for int + prof = 21 (in the game log as int saving throw). I don't think he's seen one unless it's a sport in the Autumn Games, in which case -2 from the roll. Grugga also is not proficient in Woodworker's tools, so possibly another -2 unless you'd like to give him proficiency on crafting the racquetball paddles for another reason.

Grugga, halfway through sanding the paddle, regards Raqisat's advice with a faraway look. "Hmmm... good question. Good metal is hard to come by, but I'm sure it doesn't need to be that good for their sewer court. A metal paddle would have some different properties for striking a ball, but," he shrugs, "they would get used it. I suppose I went with wood because of tradition." He nods at the archaeologist approvingly. "A good reminder to me, that even an artificer can get stuck in the traditions of the past form time to time."

The artificer backs up Aubrey's assessment of Fort Breitvasser. "The sailors said that any boats that dock there end up sunk in a flash of magic."

----

On the ground. Grugga waves goodbye to the crew for now and warns them not to dock at Fort Breitvasser. He leaves Zip with the order to stay within the Empress and to come find the group at Mons Basilicae if any of the crew tell Zip to do so; he cautions the crew to only do so in the case of an emergency because the pearl at the heart of Zip is quite expensive and useful for the identification of items found in Amnifortis. Grugga takes the flags that he and Cos made to communicate with the boat in the harbor, and reminds the captain to fly their flags if they need to communicate with the group on the ground.

He happily falls into marching order and releases Zap from its cage. The mechanical construct whirs up with a spark of electricity as a quick pull on the cable spins it to life. Zap drops from its cage, spinning like a 3 foot tall steel spinning top; electricity occasionally pulses from its core and the purple crystal nodes along its rim. The construct falls into line beside Grugga and does an admirable job keeping up even in tough terrain.

Never having seen one before, Grugga reinvents the wheel and creates a functioning, original racquetball paddle design.

Aubrey gags at the putrefaction in the air around the corpse, but Raqisat has a less refined nasal palate and is able to get up close for an investigation.  

• The body is one of the Burned Knights.  It has the tell-tale burn scar on the bicep.
• The arrows were fired more or less level with the man (the trajectory suggests both were at the same elevation.  The body looks like it may have been dragged before being dumped here.  The drag marks lead in the direction you are heading; toward the temple mount.
• The arrows are unusual.  The heads are carved like lizards or serpents.

Leelan is quick to put two and two together regarding the Burned Knight corpse. 

"Evidently this is one of the fools that tried to attack the expedition camps some time ago. I gather they left him here as a warning to the rest of his ilk."

Leelan tries to remember if reptiles are associated with a particular faith.

Religion: 11

(roll was 17 in case the system accuses me of fudging my rolls)

     Raqisat will do a perfunctory search of the body but doesn't expect to find anything.  He will, however, break off the arrow heads and put them in a pouch, after allowing whoever wishes to see them an opportunity to do so.  Cultures that bother to decorate tools and weapons tend to be a lot more cultured than outsiders expect.  The symbology on the arrowheads could mean something or at least be of a similar design of something they see later.

     "Hopefully they see as us a friendlier sort," he notes and then waits for the group to be ready to continue on.

Rohuzar will take note and head for the place where the man was killed via roundabout method, looking to get a peek at the ambushers before they can see him. 

Aubrey would try to keep his distance from the corpse and let Raqisat examine it. He nods at Leelan and Raqisat, then sending Furvus ahead in ethereal form to watch out for any threats. "Wait, Rohuzar, where are you going? Shouldn't we stick together? We're just here to make peaceful contact with the expedition up on Temple Mount." The young noble says pleadingly as Rohuzar starts moving away from the team.

Grugga pulls his tabard over his nose and approaches Raqisat to get a look at the arrow's engraving. "Hmmm... I don't know. Lizardmen or Saurians maybe?" Grugga shrugs to suggest that his guess is as good as anyone's in this matter. "It's nicely engraved, though. Ceremonial, maybe?" He glances down at the corpse at his feet and takes a step back. "Any clue, Leelan?"

Looking away from the arrow, he sees Rohuzar stepping away from the group. He joins Aubrey in asking him to come back. "We can have Furvus scout ahead if needed, cousin. Maybe we should stick together for now. The expedition at Mons Basilicae shouldn't have any problem with us if we approach slowly and peacefully, right?" He sounds only somewhat uncertain. He shakes his head and mutters something involving "Memnikophis" under his breath.

Leelan knows from his studies of the southron faiths that Skrillis, god of secrets and lies, is depicted in the art of its followers as a mammoth serpent.

With Grugga having everything under control, Cosette would eventually slink away to leave him to his work. She’d take this time to perch herself somewhere high on the boat to watch the city move by them. The group was thorough, covering every angle, possibility and oddity. And while plenty of notes are already being taken, Cos would still note her own. At minimum, she’d make sure the Captain’s maps are updated. Should there be anything structurally unique, or different in the construction, such as different builders, specific techniques or different time frames, not already noted or investigated, she’d add.

Cosette instructs the dapper Bruno to remain on the Golden Empress with the crew as well. While he wasn’t always a fan of being separated from her, he was plenty happy remaining behind to sun on the boat. He could always be used to fetch the group as well, but it seemed as though between Zip, Furvus and the flags, communication should be plenty covered. 

With investigations of the corpse and the arrows being covered, a restless Cos meanders about listening to the group come to their conclusions. While they discuss what they can see, she moseys about to busy herself with what they might not be able to see. Cosette pokes about for some traps.

Leelan looks attentively at the arrowheads, thinking back to a lecture he attended back home about the southern faiths from an academic standpoint.

"Mmm. These arrows could have belonged to a sentry part of a Skrillis congregation. Lizards and other reptile are often associated with this deity. And it would corroborate what Esmeralda and Merkel told us about a skirmish between the Burned Knights and the Skrillites."

He then looks up the hill. 

"Would it be safer to send a some form of message first to catch their attention and show our non-hostile intentions? I suspect Cosette has the right idea and that the Skrillites might have laid out traps after the last visit from the Burned Knights."

     "I think open and apparent approach is the friendliest.  Unless they are a group aggressive to any and all outsiders, most cultures I have come across are open to conversation if offered," Judal offers.  

     "A smaller approach could perhaps be seen as less agressive, if some wish to remain here.  I could be the message and approach alone..."

Aubrey nods in agreement with the artificer. "Yes, Furvus is scouting ahead as we speak and will most likely notice any threats on our way up the hill."

He then listens and nods to Leelan and Raqisat. "We should be wary of course when we deal with the servants of Skrillis, they are keepers of secrets after all. Maybe Raqisat and Cosette should be the ones to adress them until we know more about how they feel about visitors from the empire." He suggests, glancing over at the two newest additions to the expedition crew. "The rest of us can perhaps stay back a bit, but I would prefer to be close if hostilities break out." He adds, looking around at the others in hope of agreement, ready to head up the hill as a team but possibly with Raqisat and Cosette taking point now.

Grugga deflates when he hears that it's the Skillites' arrows. "Damn." He looks down at himself - his tabard represents CAD, his Pentwater college; beneath that is a hundred pouches of reagents and tools; his weapon is covered in capacitor crystals; and his crystal-studded companion whirs near-silently next to him. "Even if I take off my tabard and leave Zap behind, I'm never going to pass as anything but an artificer. I'd better stay behind... The Skrillites... hmmm... well, let's just say our core tenets are fundamentally opposed, and they don't take kindly to us." He says, meaning the followers of Gel-Nagev. "If you thought the Empire had a problem with my faith..." he leaves the rest unsaid, grinding his teeth.

He takes in a big breath. Surprisingly the Orc seemed to be working himself up into an anger, but he drops it. "I don't know exactly how the Empire stands with Memnikophis right now," He looks at Aubrey knowingly, recalling the party at the Duke's manor, where the emperor's biographer told them of the emperor's plans to warm relations with the island nation. "But if they see me, it's going to be a problem. I'll stay back here. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

"Oh, and they hate knowledge and learning... maybe play down the fact that we're learning about aberrations, or that we have the Golden Empress." This sounds like a gross simplification of Skrillite beliefs, but the Orc also sounds earnest.

"Thanks Grugga, you may be right. I'm not comfortable with splitting up though, and even less so with leaving anyone by themself." The young noble says with a furrowed brow, then turning to Rohuzar and Leelan. "Would one of you consider staying here with Grugga. I promise we will do what we can to make this quick, just making an assessment of where the Skrillites stand politically within these ruins and if we can count them as friends or foes efore we return to the Empress."

     "Well I for one can definitely pass for the unlearned type," Raqisat says with a smile.

     "If we are going to split up then I would suggest we do so evenly," Raqisat offers.  "We don't rightly know which is the more dangerous route so it seems best way to even the odds.  Your...  I'm sorry, I'm not sure the right word?  Pet flying thing you can have scout?  It could perhaps run back and forth between the groups to keep tabs on everyone?"

The young noble smiles at Raqisat's joke. "I suggest you simply call it Furvus, or my servant. Pet would imply a cherished companion and that is not quite the relation we have I can assure you, I doubt we even share the same range of emotions." Aubrey explains with a polite smile. "Anyhow, Furvus can certainly fly back and forth to make sure both groups are safe, it is however not much of a talker, only communication going to my mind, but it'll find a way to communicate if necessary I think, there is nothing wrong with it's intellect."

Leelan nods at the suggestion of staying behind.

"I’m afraid I don’t have much to bring for the negotiations. Besides, my academic pride goes against everything their faith stands for. I’ll remain behind with Grugga."

Cosette would scrunch her nose. "Mmnn..." Then pat it as she thinks. "Personally," She gestures with a shrug. "Wouldn't walk in raising a white flag." She wasn't one to 'surrender'. At least not without further context for herself, nor on behalf of any representing faction at this time.

[Thanks for the patience!]

The party continues their advance toward the temple mountain, which looms nearer and nearer.  The afternoon sun is lower in the sky now but it is still hot.  Near the sea the air was cooled by breezes off the water, but as you trek deeper inland, the sun radiates off the stone roads and buildings.. a dry, dusty heat.

On the roads leading to the mountain there are no encounters.  All is quiet.  You spot one large rodent - a giant rat or perhaps a badger, that scurries into a foundation crack when you approach, and there are birds here - a few, at least - but otherwise the city feels lifeless.  

The road your following comes to an "T" shaped end.  Left or right it goes.  Straight ahead is a vast stretch of open space.   Stone posts, 4' high dot the ground.  To the right, a huge stone building rises.  It has a very official looking design, with pillars and stone stairs leading to the interior.

History DC 15:

 Detouring around the building, you resume your advance toward the mountain.  Soon you come upon the first of the temples of Amnifortis... by now all of you are familiar with the holy symbols of Kryptos, god of death, dying and peaceful rest.  Along at the base of the mountain, this tall, narrow structure sits in the midst of a vast graveyard.  In addition to graves in the ground, there are small mausoleums everywhere, and terraces are built into the sides of the mountain, leading to crypts and caves likely holding more graves.  

Aubrey:

 Beyond the temple of Kryptos and the surrounding graveyards lies Mons Basilicae.  Stone rises nearly vertically, in places overgrown by vines and scraggly trees hanging to the cliff face.  Wide stone stairs are carved into the rock.  They zig-zag their way up the cliffside, with frequent patios and overlooks for climbers to rest and take in what would have once been a commanding view of the south side of the city and the bay.

Furvus report back to Aubrey that at the last landing before the top, two archers are positioned.  You are outside their range now and they don't seem to have noticed you yet.  Both are old men - nearly elderly - dressed in simple but clean leather armor and cloaks.  Unlike the strangers you met inside the city, these folk have taken care in their appearance; their long white beards are clean and braided and despite being far from civilization their cloths, faces and hands are clean and clearly have been washed.  They both wear rings of polished blue stone but otherwise have nothing on them to display affiliation to any of the faiths.