Gardeners of the White Rose 7

When last we left our heroes they had just sauntered out the front door of the mayor’s home after pilfering the Chelish Crux.  So first order of business was to get back the Gardener’s safe house and open it up.  This turned out to be much more difficult than expected.  The Crux was a 12 sided device with a single infernal rune etched into each side.  Tracing the ruins with a finger would cause them to light up.  The sides had to be illuminated in a particular order, which seemed to change with each attempt, in order to unlock the device.  Failure to trace each symbol in the correct order would cause the Crux to briefly become engulfed in flames. 
Several fried fingers later they got it open.  Inside were several goodies that any adventurer would enjoy having plus some plot specific stuff.
 
A note which read:
 
Mayor Vheed,
Presented below is what I have been able to piece together regarding the Pathfinders who escaped notice after they sealed Delvehaven during the initial riots in the pre-Thrune unpleasantness.  After the passage of seventy some years, it would seem likely that only Sivanshin still lives, and if you wish, I can send my agents north to Nidal to attempt to find him.  The use of grave tallow to interrogate those who have been dead these past several decades ironically makes them more available to interview than
Sivanshin – provided we can find their remains, of course.  I am happy to report that I’ve made some progress in that area.
Donatalus Bisby – Leader of the Amber Privateers and one of two survivors of a journey to darkest Mwangi – he has firsthand knowledge of at least one magical artifact that could well serve our needs for control.  It would seem Bisby was sealed inside one of Delvehavens lower vaults as the others fled but I’m unclear if this was a voluntary sacrifice.
Ilnerik Sivanshin – Bisby’s chronicler, a half elf, Sivanshin fled Westcrown a week before Arodens fall.  Evidence suggests he fled north, toward Nidal, and with a stolen relic.
Corianna Heavenscape – A Westcrown native and, if rumors are to be believed, and aasimar, Corianna remained in Westcrown and organized the Fathers Bulwark, one of many groups of rebels glorious Thrune smashed in the pursuit of establishing order.  She was slain and her remains collected by the Sisters of Eiseth – I’ve got them sifting through their holdings in an attempt to find her.
Loremaster Lirian – Delvehaven’s master of lore – no other would know more about the vaults below.  Alas, no evidence of his survival has surfaced – like Bisby, his remains might still be in Delvehaven.  I do suspect he was the author of “Cugny’s Wedding” and if so, your suspicions that it may be a cipher may well be correct.
Venture Captain Aiger Ghaelfin – Aiger was certainly the one who ordered the sealing of Delvehaven.  My early research indicated that he planned on fleeing Cheliax for Absolom, but further investigation revealed this to be false.  He remained in Westcrown and fought alongside Corianna in the Father’s Bulwark, but was lain low by a Thrune wizard who petrified him and then smashed the resulting statue.  Scuttlebutt among the blood bookie circuit is that the remains of the man’s petrified body have been in possession of one of the lesser noble houses involved in the bloodsport.  But I’ve not yet determined which family.  I suspect Luccas.  These filthy has-been nobles play well enough when faced with Thrunish agents but without the direct aid of your allies, master, I’m afraid I won’t be able to learn more.
 
A Poem called “Cugny’s Wedding”
 
A Silver Box with several magical “grave candles” which allow the user to speak with the dead but only if the remains of the person are present when lit.
 
Oh and the severed head of a devil that although not dead is quite mad and unable to shut up.
 
Well the devil wasn’t saying much useful so they party decided to follow the leads relating to Corianna and Ghaelfin.  They started with Corianna whose remains were being held at the headquarters of a secretive cult of assassins.  They did what anyone would do, walked up to the front door and knocked.  A disembodied voice asked what they wanted.  They explained and then the bartering started.  They tried to offer a +1 dagger in exchange for her remains.  That didn’t work.  The disembodied voice offered what I think might be called a Faustian bargain I don’t know though because I’ve never read Faust.  Perform a hit.  The target: their friend and fellow Gardener Yakapulio.  Uhmmm…we’ll think about it.
 
While they thought about it they went to see Rance Lucca owner of a sort of gladiator ring.  He was more than willing to part with what he thinks is a bust of Ghaelfin.  He wants the party to scratch his back to though and well they are the famous actors from the Six Trials of Larazod…  They’re taking on his best summoner in a battle royale, next time on the Gardeners of the White Rose.   

One Comment on “Gardeners of the White Rose 7

%d bloggers like this: