8 Kuthona 4717 Today was frustrating. There much talk of Drow and Aasimar and other things which I didn’t understand, and my comrades spent lots of time talking down to me. I’m not a fucking academic, and nobody in this group seems capable of speaking plainly. Clearly I couldn’t depend on them to explain these complicated matters, which means I have to ask lots of direct questions. But then I get made fun of for asking a stupid question, even though I was raised to believe there’s no such thing as a stupid question. I’m trying not to be angry at my friends. I keep telling myself that they just don’t know any better. But it’s hard when they’re being such dicks.
So here’s what happened today: During our travels today from Sandpoint to Magnimar. We were attacked by a group of six elves from Kyonin, which is Basti’s home. The elves were part of some Elven Center for Disease Control, and were researching the recent plague that the Old Man cured in Nybor. At first, everyone was very friendly. We showed them the tattoo symbol we found on the Drow in Nybor (and on the Bugbear Inoklar in Magnimar) and Old Man shared the curative formula he developed. The Old Man was being very evasive with the elves about how he figured out the cure.
The strange thing was that these elves didn’t know about the existence of the Drow elves. While I didn’t know about the Drow until recently, I assumed that elves knew about them. But clearly that’s not the case. The elves also seemed to get agitated when we mentioned the fleshwarping experiments we believe the Drow are conducting.
Our two groups parted on good terms, but the elves quickly turned around, and attacked us from behind. When it seemed we were winning the battle, the fighter of their group grabbed his holy symbol and proclaimed “This will not be the last of this”. All six of their holy symbols started glowing, and they all disintegrated into ashes. (Basti and Tyche both recognized the holy symbols as belonging to Ketephys, the elven god of hunting.)
Luckily, all the elves belongings were intact, and I claimed a stronger mithral shirt and a magic belt that increased my strength. Each elf was also wearing a ring with strange symbol, which no one seemed to recognize.
At this point, we were all eying Old Man, as he was the one who told us of the Drow’s existence, and he had even lived in their Darklands. Through Matabi’s telepathic link, I suggested that we visit Morren’s Orphanage immediately upon entering Magnimar, so that we could have a private place to interrogate Old Man before Anuthys had a chance to silence him. Basti and Matabi agreed.
At the orphanage, Miss Morren informed us that Nielis and his sister had been adopted three days ago by a couple named Maximillian and Loretta. The old lady provided us their home address in the upscale part of town, so that we could check in on the two siblings. (Another confusing moment, as I thought Gethen’s brother was adopting Nielis and his sister, but I decided not to pursue the topic.)
Miss Morren let us meet in private, we confronted Old Man to give us more information about the Drow, and why the elves attacked us. Old Man confessed that he himself was half-Drow, as he was born of a Drow father and a human mother, into House Symrivvin. Anuthys was also Drow, and his half-sister (which I assume means they share the same father). House Symrivvin was ruled by female drow, with all the male drow being their slaves. Old Man’s real name is Rothe, which means slave. (Old Man implored us never to use his real name.) When House Symrivvin fell, the Old Man fled the Darklands with Anuthys.
We were still no closer to figuring out why the elves had attacked us. Was there some enmity between them and Basti’s family in Kyonin? Was it the mention of the fleshwarp experiments, which seemed to upset the elves? Were they suspicious of Old Man’s cures? Or was it the revelation of the Drow’s existence?
Old Man shared that he believed Nualia to be half-drow, not just half-elf. (Does this mean that half- drow can recognize each other?) He then pulled Nualia severed head out of his backpack to cast Speak with Dead. What the fuck? How did I miss this chopping and storing of a head? How many other heads does Old Man have? Regardless, Old Man got no useful information from Nualia, but he will keep her head to try again next week. (Reminder to self: never store anything in Old Man’s bags.)
Old Man did not recognize the symbol on the elves rings. He said his priority was to ensure the safety of his family, who he left behind in Nybor. Again, what the fuck? Who are these family members? Are they drow too? Or did he marry and raise kids after he fled the Darklands? And why is he with Anuthys instead of them? If Anuthys is drow, does that mean Old Man is her slave? This is some fucked up shit.
While we were having these conversations, Old Man had Velm fly to the Nielis’s new home, only to learn the address provided to Miss Morren was fake. (Does the old woman not do any background checks, or does she just hand out orphans to anyone who asks for one?) This means Nielis and his sister have likely been kidnapped…again.
Our group began debating if Nielis and his sister where taken because they were Aasimar. When I asked what an Aasimar was, the “talking down” began in earnest. Apparently the Aasimar are humans with celestial blood. Trixie revealed that she was Aasimar. (I thought she was a half-elf.) My comrades proceeded to tell me that these conversations had happened before, but I insisted that I was not present for them, and had no way of knowing this information. I certainly would have remembered the word Aasimar, since it sounds like “ass is more”. But of course, I was wrong and stupid, and my comrades are all correct and smart. Fucking assholes.
We finally made our way to the Pathfinder Lodge, and after stabling Shadowmist, we met with Sheila. We updated her on our adventures in Sandpoint, and our encounter with the elves. Sheila then shared with us a note that Anuthys had translated from Inoklar’s belongings:
Inoklar You must take advantage of the chaos in the city to advance our business. Organize the goblins living in the sewers. They are weak minded and will certainly follow someone of your strength. If they resist, simply snap a few necks. I have also mapped several of the sewer tunnels and there is a grate that leads directly into the basement of the Knackery. This should provide you with a means to move with relative ease, you simply need to intimidate the owner. He is particularly fond of his children. I have also enclosed as a separate note the “catalog” - use the third cipher. The buyers in Caliphas are particularly fond of the blood of those touched by the divine. Please take note of the value. I will reward you handsomely the more gold you bring in. After you have collected 20 “high value” items, or the first of the month, whichever comes first, return to Thistletop with your most blood thirsty goblins. Do not fail me. Nualia
A second translated note showed the value for various slaves based on age and race, with young Aasimar being the highest value. (I noted that Nualia’s notes never used the term Aasimar, just as my friends never used the term before today.) This explains why Inoklar’s goblins were kidnapping non- human children, as they were worth more on resale. (It seems awfully coincidental that our errand for Urmlosh in Sandpoint led us to the mastermind of the kidnappings in Magnimar.) At least we now have a clue to locate the missing children, as Nualia mentioned “buyers in Caliphas” which is a city in Ustalav.
We next talked about poor Liem, whose throat was slashed in his quarters, and who was likely tortured before he was murdered. Anuthys had cast divination spells on Liem’s body, which revealed the same ring symbol the elves wore. Sheila confessed that she didn’t believe our stories of the Drow in Nybor, but Liem had began researching the Drow when he was murdered.
The next piece of shocking news was that the entire town of Nybor had been destroyed by six elves matching the description of the one we defeated today. What does this mean for Old Man’s family? Did they escape the massacre? He remained stone-faced, and I’m actually beginning to feel sorry for him.
Based on all this information, Sheila has come to some conclusions: • The Drow really do exist, and a group of elves is trying to prevent that knowledge from spreading. • The elves must have learned of the Drow in Nybor, and Liem’s investigations, from the reports Sheila filed with the Grand Pathfinder Lodge in Absalom. This means there is an elven spy in the upper echelons of the Pathfinder Society. • The elves destroyed Nybor to prevent any of the residents from revealing what they knew of the Drow, and then proceeded to Magnimar to kill Liem for the same purpose. • Liem likely told his elven torturers of our activities in Sandpoint, which means that our encounter with them on the road home was no accident. They were travelling to Sandpoint specifically to kill us.
Finally, we learn that Anuthys has been missing for the past two days. She was last seen casting some divination spells on a cup, but no one is sure if that was related to Liem’s death, or something else entirely.
On top of all this, Sheila has another mission for us. It seems that a serial killer is targeting Sarenrae worshippers in Magnimar. Eight people have been killed in the past eight nights, all in the Underbridge. All eight victims had their hearts removed. The city guards is planning patrols and an ambush, but Sheila believes our group can assist.
We immediately made our way to the abandoned Sarenrae shrine in the Underbridge. I was fearful that there was a connection between the shrine and the murders, but everything looked exactly as I had left it. Matabi spoke to this contacts in the city guard, and Basti cast Ears of the City, revealing some additional information: • Each victim was openly wearing a symbol of Sarenrae (just as Matabi and I do). • The victims were five men and three women, but there’s no obvious pattern. • Each victim was alone when they were attacked in the early morning hours between midnight and 3:00am. • Underbridge residents reported hearing flapping sounds, unnatural moments of silence, and skittering across rooftops.
Our plan is for me to serve as bait for this vile murderer. I will walk around the Underbridge after midnight, wearing my Sarenrae symbol. Velm and Tyche will do aerial reconnaissance, and Matabi will maintain a mental link with me, Basti and Robin. If anyone attacks me, my comrades will rush to my aid, and we will put an end to this evil.
9 Kuthona 4717 Not long into my stroll through the Underbridge, the area around me suddenly went silent, and a half-elf woman and a stone gargoyle landed on the ground in front of me. I immediately called out through Matabi’s mental link, and the battle was on. Basti found me first, and cast a Spray of Shooting Stars into the air, so that everyone knew my location. The woman kept channeling negative energy, and plunged us into magical darkness, but I healed myself with Lay on Hands, and activated my Blind Fight abilities. We finally knocked the woman unconscious, but the gargoyle flew away.
We tied up the woman, and I dragged her to the Sarenrae shrine for interrogation. But when we entered the building, the gargoyle was standing right there by the altar. He didn’t last long, and we quickly killed him.
The woman turned out to be quite talkative under Trixie’s interrogations. Her name was Zadendi, and she was hired to obtain the hearts of Sarenrites. The man who hired her has taken up residence in the catacombs below the shrine. Everyone turned to look at me, and I confessed I had no knowledge of these catacombs. The original builders of the shrine were murdered shortly after it was built more than 70 years ago, and they were buried in the courtyard outside, not in the catacombs. So it appears the knowledge of the catacombs died with them.
Zadendi had an old key with Sarenrae’s symbol on it, and out in the courtyard, we found a secret door hidden by illusion magic. Zadendi revealed that her master only arrived here a week ago, while we were still in Sandpoint. The door is the only way in or out of the catacombs, but her master doesn’t always us the door, which implies he can teleport. Zdendendi also revealed that her master has a prisoner trapped downstairs.
We immediately headed down the steps, and after passing through the empty catacombs, we came to a double door. Robin quickly disabled the lock and trap, and when we opened the door, we found Aldern Foxglove, the man we rescued during the goblin attack on Sandpoint.
The walls were covered in foreign writing, drafted in blood. And behind Aldern was an unconscious female drow, pinned to the wall. Aldern snarled at us, and his image changed to that of half-drow/half-fiend. Aldern then snapped his fingers and teleported away, but in his place stood a hideous aberration, which we killed.
We pulled the woman down from the wall, and after the Old Man healed her, she stated “My real name is not Anuthys, it’s Khaleis.” This confused me, and I asked why this drow woman was talking about Anuthys. A frustrated Basti explained that this woman was Anuthys. Apparently she’s been using some illusion magic this whole time to disguise herself.
Anuthys finally came clean about her and the Old Man. They escaped the Darklands 70 years ago when House Symrivvin was destroyed. Since then, they’ve been on the run from her family’s enemies. When Anuthys disappeared a couple of days ago, she was using divination magic to find drow relatives, which led her to a wealthy townhouse belonging to Aldern Foxglove (who Anuthys had never met before). Anuthys found an altar to Lamashtu in the townhouse basement, when she was ambushed from behind and knocked unconscious.
Matabi confirmed that the blood writing on the wall was Abyssal, and that this room was being converted into a shrine to Lamashtu.
Anuthys suspects her and the Old Man’s father is still alive, and is manipulating events, and that Aldern is her half-sibling. (Another confusing moment: Wasn’t her father a slave since he’s a male?) Anuthys even admitted that Old Man used to be a house slave. (She made no mention of Old Man’s current status. Is he still a slave?)
A trip to Aldern’s townhouse revealed that it has been vacated, but the basement contained eight jars with the hearts of Aldern’s victims. Since they were all Sarenrae worshippers, I intend to reunite the hearts with the bodies in the morgue, and inter them all in the catacombs beneath the shrine. I even plan to dig up the three graves in the courtyard, and place them in the catacombs too.
There’s a bit of an ewww moment, when I learn that Matabi actually had sex with Aldern when they were in Sandpoint. This means Matabi slept with a half-drow/half-fiend creature that literally wanted to rip out his heart. And everyone thinks that I’m the clueless one. (I’m sure there’s also a joke about Matabi not having a heart, but I won’t go there.)
We reported to Sheila our success, and she gave us the best news I’ve heard in a long time: We’ve all been promoted to full Pathfinder status. I’m hopeful that this will enable us to travel more to distant lands, as I’m eager to explore the world, and meet more Sarenrae worshipers.
Urmlosh also stopped by, and we reported to him our success in Sandpoint. He’s interested in meeting Ameiko to see if she’s willing to sell the Glassworks to him. He also invited us all (except Trixie, Anuthys and Old Man) to attend his weekly naked parties. When said I couldn’t make it due to my gladiatorial bouts, Urmlosh implied that he scried on me during my mock battles. He really is creepy.
The discovery of the catacombs beneath the shrine has renewed by desire to restore the building to its original purpose. Since there is no Sarenrae temple in Magnimar, it’s important for Sarenrites to have a place to pray and meditate. Basti agreed to help me navigate the city bureaucracy to purchase the property, and to find potential backers among the Council. Basti is also willing to travel with me to Korvosa, which is where the nearest Sarenrae temple is, to see if they would be willing to Hallow the shrine. (Basti attended university in Korvosa.) Of course Matabi did not offer any assistance in my endeavor, even though he has connections with the Sarenrites in Korvosa. I’ve come to the conclusion that Matabi does not like me. It’s disappointing, but he his dourness will not dissuade me from my goals.
12 Kurthona 4717 Basti has agreed to help me approach the political elites of Magmimar to see if anyone would be willing to help fund the reconstruction of the Sarenrae Shrine in the Underbridge. We have an appointment to see the Mayor’s Assistant, Valanni Krinst, tomorrow.
Basti had originally suggested I could approach Urmlosh, an idea I promptly said no to. Urmlosh is…creepy. And if there’s anyone in Magnimar I don’t want to be indebted to, it’s him. But somehow Urmlosh has gotten himself involved. Basti went to one of Urmlosh’s naked parties…(I have to pause, as even writing Urmlosh and naked in the same sentence fills me heebie jeebies). Anyway, at the “party” Urmlosh asked Basti why we were going to see the Mayor’s assistant. HOW THE FUCK DID URMLOSH KNOW THIS? Basti replied with some vague answer about urban renewal in the Underbridge, and Urmlosh warned that the Mayor will use any opportunity to advance his own agenda, but the Krinst keeps the Mayor’s baser instincts in check.
13 Kurthona 4717 As we arrived at the Mayor’s office, Urmlosh was leaving from his own meeting with Krinst. Clearly Urmlosh has his fingers in my business (but he’ll never get this fingers anywhere else). Krinst listened politely to my plans for the Shrine, and my hopes that it could help revitalize the Underbridge. But Krinst was very honest that the Mayor would never be interested, as he would have nothing to gain either politically or financially. But Krinst did give me a letter of introduction to the Hall of Records, asking them to determine the ownership of the property.
Krinst seems sincere, and I think Urmlosh may have been correct that Krinst keeps the Mayor in check. I got the impression that Krinst thinks the Mayor is not a good person, and that’s it’s Krinst’s job to keep the rest of the world from seeing the Mayor’s true nature. This is why I hate politics.
14-17 Kurthona 4717 Basti and I spent four days traveling along the coast of Conqueror’s Bay aboard a galley ship we had rented passage on to Korvosa. This is the first time I’ve been able to spend significant time alone with just one member of our Pathfinder crew. And I was happy for the opportunity to get to know Basti better.
Basti is worried about the anti-Drow elves who tried to kill us, as he had shared with them his family name. Basti’s father is in the elven nation of Kyonin, but Basti’s human mother has returned to her homeland of Galt to promote democracy. (Basti swore me to secrecy about his mother’s activities, as she has previously had assassination attempts against her.)
I shared with Basti that I was exiled from my home due to my homosexuality, and I revealed that I could not tell him the name of my homeland, as it could put my family in danger if knowledge of my homeland got out. Basti pried a little bit more, but respectfully backed off, when I repeated my need for secrecy. I wish that I could reveal more, but Hermea’s secrets are not mine to reveal.
Basti was shocked to learn that I have never experienced religion before finding Sarenrae’s Shrine in Magnimar. Regarding religion, I shared with Basti my severe disappointment in Matabi. As a fellow Sarenrae worshipper, Matabi has pointedly gone out of his way to dismiss my efforts with the Shrine. He refused to visit the Shrine when I first brought my Pathfinder comrades there. And he didn’t even offer a letter of introduction to his Sarenrae contacts in Korvasa to help with this trip. I feel as if he’s trying to undermine my confidence, and stop me from reopening the Shrine. While I am saddened, I’m not angry at Matabi, I just feel sorry for him. My strategy is to simply ignore him, and continue on the path that Sarenrae has laid out for me.
18 Kurthona 4717 It’s terribly exciting to be in Korvosa. The city is even bigger than Magnimar, and it really feeds my desire to travel and see more of this amazing world we live on.
Basti took me to the University of Korvosa, where he studied and earned his degree. He introduced me to his advisor, who kindly wrote me a letter of introduction to Clara Plescu, a cleric at the Sarenrae Temple in Korvosa.
Basti took the opportunity to send a note to his father in Kyonin, letting him know of his activities. Apparantly Basti doesn’t want his father to know he’s in Magnimar, which is why he waited until this trip to post the letter. Basti is deceiving his father into thinking he’s still living in Korvosa. I don’t quite understand Basti’s motivation for doing this, but it’s not my place to question or criticize.
We then went to the Sarenrae Temple to meet with Clara. The temple was huge, made all of white marble, and swarming with worshippers and those seeking healing. It was overwhelming and exciting, and almost made me second guess my efforts to rebuild such a tiny Shrine in Magnimar. But I remembered that Sarenrae showed me her light even in that ruined building. I informed Clara of my plans, and asked if the Temple of Korvosa would be willing to Hallow the Shrine. Clara took great interest, and asked that I send her a letter when the Shrine reconstruction was complete, and she would send someone to Hallow the Shrine.
Basti and I spent the evening carousing the bars, and attending various parties on campus. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.
19-22 Kurthona 4717 Four more days of travel on the galley ship back to Magnimar. The ship was exciting and new when I was first on it, but the novelty has worn off, and I long to be back on dry land.
23 Kurthona 4717 The Hall of Records confirmed that the Sarenrae Shrine is officially public property, as the line of possession died with the priest who built it over 70 years ago. All sales of public properties must be approved by a Committee of the Council of Ushers, so I filled out the necessary paperwork to purchase the property.
Strangely, the records clerk said that someone else has inquired about purchasing all the buildings immediately surrounding the Shrine. I can only imagine this is Urmlosh or the Mayor, both hoping to capitalize on my potential success. This is why I hate politics.
29 Kurthona 4717 The city assessor valued the Shrine and property at only 100 gold pieces, which is apparently the going real estate value for a “hovel” in the worst neighborhood in the city. The Council Committee was meeting in private, and I waited anxiously to hear the results of their deliberations. My heart briefly sank when Urmlosh walked out of the meeting, but he delivered the good news that the Council had voted to sell me the Shrine. Urmlosh made it clear that the outcome of the vote was not certain, and that he had convinced the Committee members to approve the sale. I was so excited that I actually hugged Urmlosh and thanked him for his support. (He didn’t even take the opportunity to grab my ass, which means he was surprised, or that he’s up to something.)
30-31 Kurthona 4717 I spent the last two days lining up all the contractors, who will begin work on the Shrine. I’ve decided to pay for the refurbishment myself, which has been made possible due to the proceeds from my work with the Pathfinder Society. In 15 weeks time, the Shrine will be complete. Tomorrow is the first day of the New Year, and it’s an auspicious beginning indeed.