Alcyone peers at the slip out of curiosity. She's sure the Taskmaster would probably know its use, but she wanted to see if she could figure its purpose for her own knowledge.
With the message passed and a clue received, the group decides to continue on their patrol and get that clue to the Taskmaster.
You head towards Protectors' Enclave to turn the clue in. Suddenly, an anguished scream erupts from a nearby alley. The sound comes from a slender human woman clad in the light leather armor of a scout or investigator. Clutched in her arms is the dead body of a human man clad in a tattered gray robe. The man and woman bear a striking resemblance to each other.
With a dull thump, a desiccated eyeball rolls out of the dead man’s palm.
DC12 Insight:
You recognize both of these individuals. The dead man is Delvin Fearnehart; the woman holding his body is Kevori Fearnehart, Delvin’s sister. They are investigators in Lord Neverember’s employ, like all of you.
She then rushes over Kevori; her hands over above her shoulders a moment in hesitation, nervous to her reaction to her attempts to comfort. She gently puts an arm around her shoulder. "Kevori! What happened?" She asked panicked, but tried her best to keep her tone calm and under control.
With Alcyone having already run over to the pair, Vanizi steps over to where the eyeball fell to the ground. She takes a close look at it. (Investigation: 16)
Kevori looks up and also recognizes you. She grasps Alcyone's arm and squeezes it, grateful for a friendly face. In response to the questions, she says, "My brother and I were tasked by Lord Neverember to investigate any suspicious cult activity in the city. I came to rendezvous with Delvin after he’d infiltrated a potential cult hideout, but as I came into the alley, Delvin was already dead! The only clue I have is this desiccated eyeball that dropped from Delvin’s hand, and a scrap of paper from his pocket."
She looks at the gathering group, rapidly sizing you up and seeming to make a decision. Handing you the eyeball and slip of parchment, she says, "Here. Take these and uncover who or what killed my brother. I will return to the Hall of Justice to inform Lord Neverember of these developments. Please! Avenge my brother’s death - but remember that Lord Neverember values information more than vengeance and will pay a greater fee for capturing cultists alive."
The eyeball is old and completely dried out, like it was from a mummy. The piece of paper from the dead man's pocket has the following strange phrase written on it - "HxxY ATUI IHNN LEDG"
Vanizi takes a brief moment to confirm that Delvin still has both of his eyeballs, and the mummified one is not one of his. For some reason that was one of the first things she thought of when seeing. "Where was this alley at? Or where was the cult hideout? It doesn't feel like much of a mystery who was behind this - it seems the cult found out who he was."
If given a chance she takes a look at the scrap of paper and the strange phrase. "Maybe the letters are scrambled," she guesses. "Hmm, the first letter of each of the strange words spells out 'HAIL'. Is it a greeting of some sort?"
(OOC - I think I saw what it said fairly quickly. But not so sure Vanizi would just jump to that conclusion. So just put part of it.)
Halyqwyn was still trying to understand the note when the siblings come into sight. She was glad Alcyone comforted the woman, even though she was used to doing such things. She listens to the sisters words and wonders what kind of cultists they were after. Her resolve strengthens as Davis responds in like.
"We still need to seek the Taskmaster for our other job, but then yes, let's figure this out. Maybe the Taskmaster will have more information as well."
Kevori hears Halyqwyn and says, "I can take your message to the Taskmaster, inform him of this current situation, and your participation in solving the mystery. This eyeball must be important to the cult if Delvin was killed for it!"
Alcyone peers at the note. Using Vanizi's observation she begins to attempt to sound out the phrase out-loud.
"Hail.....the...und..." she trails off.
(OOC I wasn't sure if I could give the answer to the puzzle without a investigation check first :))
"Hmmm, and I wonder why the words were scrambled. Maybe it's a pass code to something? Otherwise, why would they need to obscure the phrase. And I wonder how the eyeball connects to the paper?" Alcyone rambles off questions, half to herself.
"Yes... very important it must be," she says. "Give Katarina a moment..."
The feline uses the Magic Awareness subclass feature to cast detect magic, trying to determine if the eye is magical and, if so, if there is a particular school of magic associated with it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Davis raises an eyebrow, first at Halyqwyn, then Alcyone, then mutters to himself “impressive deductions”.
He moves next to Katarina while she scrutinizes the eyeball. When she is done, he will tap into his connection with Tymora and reach out to his surroundings, searching for evil, in the eye, the note, and then anywhere within range.
Davis will use Divine Sense.
I always need to looks this one up, so if it helps...
Halyqwyn is surprised by Kevori's willingness to talk with the Taskmaster for them. And seeing she just lost her brother she didn't want to argue. She hears the others work through the phrase and she tries to finish it..
"So is it, Hail the undying?" she shivers, "Yikes, what kind of place were you two sent? But of course, we will avenge him, so as Vanzini asked, where do we find this cult?"
When you speak the key phrase, “Hail the Undying,” while holding the eyeball, it begins to glow with green light before spinning to face west.
Kevori lifts her brother onto her shoulders and says, "Seems as if you've figured out the clues. Follow the eye. Avenge my brother. Find out what you can about who killed him - It's probably the cult we are investigating. Take care of yourselves. Until we meet again..." She moves surprisingly well carrying her dead brother, heading down the street towards the Protector's Enclave.
The eyeball acts like a compass, leading you to the city’s western catacombs. After an hour of walking (trying to conceal the glowing orb you carry!), the withered eyeball aims its empty gaze down an alley strewn with rubble. Rats scurry between chunks of old stone and dusty crates. At the back of the alley is a set of moldering wood boards, propped up just enough to block a dark tunnel leading below the surface.
Vanizi is surprised as the eye starts to glow. "What is this? You suppose they give these out to prospective cult members? We should be careful, they may be looking for people to respond to this." Nevertheless, she eagerly follows the path the group is led on until they reached the alley, and the dark tunnel.
"Can't stop here," she says. "But we need caution. Who should lead the way?" Vanizi hangs back a bit, clearly willing to have others ahead of her.
Davis walks up to the boards, and with a swipe of his Warhammer sends them flying.
“By now you have probably heard the tales in the inns, of the poor halfling from Hoton who lost his wife on his wedding day. Some of you may have even wondered if those tales are true. Well, they are. I am that halfling, from the nearby village of Hoton. I wouldn't be surprised if some of you were working on the song...”
At this point he turns and looks at everyone, one at a time.
“I haven’t shared much with you all, and hopefully now you understand why. I will tell you this. I believe this cult is responsible for my wife’s death. If you told me there was three Hydra's on the other side of this tunnel, I would tell you to keep up with me if you’re coming.
I would like to lead the way but will defer if someone can convince me there is a better way towards the eradication of this evil.
A better way towards my vengeance.”
He turns back to the tunnel and gives the group a minute to respond. If no one responds he will add, “we need some light.” Then, hammer in hand, he will head in.
Davis takes a look at the paper, focusing specifically if there is any Religion clue that stands out, or that Lady Luck shares with him.
Religion: 17
Lady Luck grants no further information to Davis - perhaps it is the key to some code?
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Alcyone peers at the slip out of curiosity. She's sure the Taskmaster would probably know its use, but she wanted to see if she could figure its purpose for her own knowledge.
Investigation: 21
Alcyone discovers nothing new about the clue.
With the message passed and a clue received, the group decides to continue on their patrol and get that clue to the Taskmaster.
You head towards Protectors' Enclave to turn the clue in. Suddenly, an anguished scream erupts from a nearby alley. The sound comes from a slender human woman clad in the light leather armor of a scout or investigator. Clutched in her arms is the dead body of a human man clad in a tattered gray robe. The man and woman bear a striking resemblance to each other.
With a dull thump, a desiccated eyeball rolls out of the dead man’s palm.
DC12 Insight:
You recognize both of these individuals. The dead man is Delvin Fearnehart; the woman holding his body is Kevori Fearnehart, Delvin’s sister. They are investigators in Lord Neverember’s employ, like all of you.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Katarina Insight: 14
"W-what...?" she whispers in shocked horror. "Mr. Fearnehart? How...?"
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Insight: 19
Alcyone freezes in horror, her mouth agape.
She then rushes over Kevori; her hands over above her shoulders a moment in hesitation, nervous to her reaction to her attempts to comfort. She gently puts an arm around her shoulder. "Kevori! What happened?" She asked panicked, but tried her best to keep her tone calm and under control.
(Vanizi Insight: 15)
With Alcyone having already run over to the pair, Vanizi steps over to where the eyeball fell to the ground. She takes a close look at it. (Investigation: 16)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Kevori looks up and also recognizes you. She grasps Alcyone's arm and squeezes it, grateful for a friendly face. In response to the questions, she says, "My brother and I were tasked by Lord Neverember to investigate any suspicious cult activity in the city. I came to rendezvous with Delvin after he’d infiltrated a potential cult hideout, but as I came into the alley, Delvin was already dead! The only clue I have is this desiccated eyeball that dropped from Delvin’s hand, and a scrap of paper from his pocket."
She looks at the gathering group, rapidly sizing you up and seeming to make a decision. Handing you the eyeball and slip of parchment, she says, "Here. Take these and uncover who or what killed my brother. I will return to the Hall of Justice to inform Lord Neverember of these developments. Please! Avenge my brother’s death - but remember that Lord Neverember values information more than vengeance and will pay a greater fee for capturing cultists alive."
The eyeball is old and completely dried out, like it was from a mummy. The piece of paper from the dead man's pocket has the following strange phrase written on it - "HxxY ATUI IHNN LEDG"
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Davis will offer a quick prayer for Delvin, and then says to Kevori, "We will get justice for your brother."
Vanizi takes a brief moment to confirm that Delvin still has both of his eyeballs, and the mummified one is not one of his. For some reason that was one of the first things she thought of when seeing. "Where was this alley at? Or where was the cult hideout? It doesn't feel like much of a mystery who was behind this - it seems the cult found out who he was."
If given a chance she takes a look at the scrap of paper and the strange phrase. "Maybe the letters are scrambled," she guesses. "Hmm, the first letter of each of the strange words spells out 'HAIL'. Is it a greeting of some sort?"
(OOC - I think I saw what it said fairly quickly. But not so sure Vanizi would just jump to that conclusion. So just put part of it.)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Halyqwyn was still trying to understand the note when the siblings come into sight. She was glad Alcyone comforted the woman, even though she was used to doing such things. She listens to the sisters words and wonders what kind of cultists they were after. Her resolve strengthens as Davis responds in like.
"We still need to seek the Taskmaster for our other job, but then yes, let's figure this out. Maybe the Taskmaster will have more information as well."
Kevori hears Halyqwyn and says, "I can take your message to the Taskmaster, inform him of this current situation, and your participation in solving the mystery. This eyeball must be important to the cult if Delvin was killed for it!"
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Alcyone peers at the note. Using Vanizi's observation she begins to attempt to sound out the phrase out-loud.
"Hail.....the...und..." she trails off.
(OOC I wasn't sure if I could give the answer to the puzzle without a investigation check first :))
"Hmmm, and I wonder why the words were scrambled. Maybe it's a pass code to something? Otherwise, why would they need to obscure the phrase. And I wonder how the eyeball connects to the paper?" Alcyone rambles off questions, half to herself.
Katarina scrutinizes the eyeball suspiciously...
"Yes... very important it must be," she says. "Give Katarina a moment..."
The feline uses the Magic Awareness subclass feature to cast detect magic, trying to determine if the eye is magical and, if so, if there is a particular school of magic associated with it.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Davis raises an eyebrow, first at Halyqwyn, then Alcyone, then mutters to himself “impressive deductions”.
He moves next to Katarina while she scrutinizes the eyeball. When she is done, he will tap into his connection with Tymora and reach out to his surroundings, searching for evil, in the eye, the note, and then anywhere within range.
Davis will use Divine Sense.
I always need to looks this one up, so if it helps...
Katarina detects an aura of divination magic around the eyeball, but Davis detects nothing inherently evil in the immediate vicinity.
(No roll needed - you role (played) the cipher correctly =) Now...how are the phrase and the desiccated eyeball connected?)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Halyqwyn is surprised by Kevori's willingness to talk with the Taskmaster for them. And seeing she just lost her brother she didn't want to argue. She hears the others work through the phrase and she tries to finish it..
"So is it, Hail the undying?" she shivers, "Yikes, what kind of place were you two sent? But of course, we will avenge him, so as Vanzini asked, where do we find this cult?"
When you speak the key phrase, “Hail the Undying,” while holding the eyeball, it begins to glow with green light before spinning to face west.
Kevori lifts her brother onto her shoulders and says, "Seems as if you've figured out the clues. Follow the eye. Avenge my brother. Find out what you can about who killed him - It's probably the cult we are investigating. Take care of yourselves. Until we meet again..." She moves surprisingly well carrying her dead brother, heading down the street towards the Protector's Enclave.
The eyeball acts like a compass, leading you to the city’s western catacombs. After an hour of walking (trying to conceal the glowing orb you carry!), the withered eyeball aims its empty gaze down an alley strewn with rubble. Rats scurry between chunks of old stone and dusty crates. At the back of the alley is a set of moldering wood boards, propped up just enough to block a dark tunnel leading below the surface.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Vanizi is surprised as the eye starts to glow. "What is this? You suppose they give these out to prospective cult members? We should be careful, they may be looking for people to respond to this." Nevertheless, she eagerly follows the path the group is led on until they reached the alley, and the dark tunnel.
"Can't stop here," she says. "But we need caution. Who should lead the way?" Vanizi hangs back a bit, clearly willing to have others ahead of her.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Davis walks up to the boards, and with a swipe of his Warhammer sends them flying.
“By now you have probably heard the tales in the inns, of the poor halfling from Hoton who lost his wife on his wedding day. Some of you may have even wondered if those tales are true. Well, they are. I am that halfling, from the nearby village of Hoton. I wouldn't be surprised if some of you were working on the song...”
At this point he turns and looks at everyone, one at a time.
“I haven’t shared much with you all, and hopefully now you understand why. I will tell you this. I believe this cult is responsible for my wife’s death. If you told me there was three Hydra's on the other side of this tunnel, I would tell you to keep up with me if you’re coming.
I would like to lead the way but will defer if someone can convince me there is a better way towards the eradication of this evil.
A better way towards my vengeance.”
He turns back to the tunnel and gives the group a minute to respond. If no one responds he will add, “we need some light.” Then, hammer in hand, he will head in.
Perception: 16