Stolen Hearts

WHY ARE PEOPLE DYING? A gnome gemcutter has made a bargain with a devil. The devil has granted the young woman unsurpassed skill in her craft, and in exchange, she has agreed to provide him crystallized mortal hearts. She and the devil are hiding in the gemcutting workshop of her former master, who was her first victim. The bargain made between the two is as follows: • The devil increases Jelfi’s skill at gemcutting to surpass both rivals and mentors. • Jelfi must sacrifice (murder) one resident of the city each week. • She must perform an unholy ritual that crystallizes parts of her victim’s body. • Jelfi must remove the crystallized heart of her victims and cut it into a beautiful stone. • The stone is given to the gilded devil, who now lairs in the basement of the workshop consuming the gems and jewelry.

Plot points/Scenes

A New Mystery
The party will receive a summons delivered via a Streltsy private. The summons is from Captain Mikhail Suvorov of the Golden Hills district. The captain is a rock gnome despite the typical Dragonrock human name because his parents wanted him to fit in. They meet the captain at his office in the Golden Hills district. He tells them that his friend Lieutenant Sokolov told him how they solved the Tindaleron murder case and wanted to know if they could help him. The captain’s investigators have come up empty handed, and heis open to the PC’s assistance. He offers 1,000 gp if the party can solve the murders. He provides the following information: • The six victims come from a wide range of backgrounds. • They have been stabbed to death. • Their internal organs, eyes, and bones are transformed into pure crystal. • The hearts of victims are missing. • The high alchemist has not been helpful in the investigation so far but may have useful information. • The bodies of the victims are available for examination. • The investigator lieutenant has reached a dead end and is not sure what to do next; he is available for consulting.

Gathering Clues

The following provides guidance for handling the PCs' investigation into the murders. It is likely that the party will solve the mystery and confront Jelfi at Kendrin’s Fine Works on the second day, after speaking with the high alchemist and Argus. They may decide to investigate the gemcutting shops on the first day if they are clever. Improvise based on the party’s actions, using the following topics and scenarios as required. You Know Too Much!: At some point in their investigation, likely in the evening of day one or when they are close to investigating Kendrin’s shop, the party is attacked by three (CR 8) to four (CR 9) assassins (bearded devils). The assassins strike wherever the party attempts to rest. They may also lure them into an alley or uninhabited building by emulating cries of distress. The assassins are sent by Jelfi’s patron; they know nothing of the murders or bargain and are simply following instructions.

Day One

Speaking with the Investigator Lieutenant: Menko Deepdelver is a rock gnome female with shocking orange hair. She is openly frustrated by her inability to solve the murders. She is convinced the murders are ritualistic. Strange chalk markings were found near the murder sites. She suggests the party visit one of the sites to see for themselves. Examining the Bodies: A DC 5 Wisdom (Medicine) checks confirms the victim died from stab wounds. A DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check reveals that the heart was removed carefully, but the stab wounds are very rough and amateurish. A DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) check concludes that the stab wounds were inflicted by someone small in stature and that someone with nimble hands must have removed the heart. Examining the Murder Sites: The party finds a chalk symbol scrawled onto a nearby wall. A DC 10 Wisdom (Religion) or Intelligence (Arcana) reveals it is an infernal symbol. Casting comprehend languages does not decode the symbol but does reveal its connection to the infernal alphabet. PCs with a suitable background or who read infernal automatically identify it and its meaning: cage the soul.

Day Two

Speaking with the Regimental Alchemist: The high alchemist is unavailable for a meeting on the first day of the party’s investigation. He agrees to meet with them in the morning on the second day. Alexi Yepanchin is no friend of the captain. He lives and works in his laboratory and is attended by several servants and apprentices. He is an old human with an arrogant streak. The captain slighted him by importing curative draughts once instead of ordering from him. He agrees to speak with the party but will not give his assessment of the murders freely. A DC 16 Charisma (Persuasion) changes his mind; alternatively, the party might explain the slight to the captain who agrees to apologize to Yeoanchin to further the investigation. Once properly convinced, he informs the party that kyanite is known for its purity—energy stored in kyanite would be pristinely preserved. Kyanite is not overly common. He also suggests speaking with Argus at the Gemcutters Guild Hall in the Golden Market. Visiting the Gemcutters Guild Hall: Argus is the second-highest-ranking member of the guild. He is a slender elf with strikingly good looks. He knows nothing specific about the murders. He agrees kyanite is prized for its purity, but he also reveals the crystal is difficult to cut and would chip or shatter in all but the most skilled hands. He suggests visiting the city’s jewelry and gemcutting workshops: the Emerald Dove and Kendrin’s Fine Works. Visiting the Emerald Dove: Anni is a pleasant half-elf who owns and runs a jewelry-making shop near the Celestial District. She is troubled to hear about the murders. She admits she has never worked with kyanite. Her relationship with Kendrin has soured since he accepted the unpopular Jelfi as an assistant. Jelfi worked for Anni for a few months but had more talk than skill. She can’t be sure, but she thinks the gnome even stole an old lapidary guide before her last day at work. Visiting Kendrin’s Fine Works: The door is locked, and there is no response to knocking. The door can be forced open without a skill roll. Proceed to Hell Comes a’ Glittering once the PCs enter Kendrin’s shop.

Hell Comes a Glittering

The storefront of this workshop is dark. A few ornate displays sit empty near the back of the chamber. A single door leads to the back of the building. The store has been emptied of valuables; the devil in the basement has eaten most of them. The place smells of decaying flesh. Old bloodstains mark the floor near the front. The blood belongs to Kendrin, Jelfi’s first victim. His body was not recovered, and the apprentice hid it in the basement. A stairway in the backroom leads to the basement lair of the gilded devil. The heavy steel door into the lower workshop is open. The Murderer Revealed: Jelfi (spy) is hiding (Stealth 17) behind the displays. When the PCs have entered the store and it's clear she will be discovered, she confronts them: “No, no, no! I was promised unsurpassed skills! I’ll not be taken!” The PCs have a moment or two to interact with Jelfi before she attacks them. She’s happy to sell out the gilded devil lairing in the basement if she’s allowed to go free. DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion/Intimidation) checks might diffuse the conflict, otherwise—faced with imprisonment or worse, Jelfi attacks. She has been given a guardian by the gilded devil: Jelfi carries a large emerald that is in fact a crystalline devil in its gemstone form. The two attack the party. Jelfi does have Anni’s stolen lapidaryguide which can be returned for a 200 gp value gem as reward. The Devil in the Basement: Dwelling amongst the sacks of raw stones in the gemcutter’s workshop is a gilded devil. He has eaten the most valuable items; the six kyanite hearts of Jelfi’s victims sit prominently on a small table. The devil, having heard the fight upstairs, has taken a relaxed position on the main worktable. He welcomes the party to his abode and apologizes for the smell. He explains the bargain he made with Jelfi and expresses disappointment in her. He flatly offers the PCs the remaining 5,000 gpworth of finished precious stones to walk away and leave him to escape. He promises to leave, and a DC 5 Wisdom (Insight) check reveals he is telling the truth. Otherwise, he gladly attacks the party. The devil may use an action to consume one of the six kyanite hearts. Doing so restores 25 hp and gives the devil advantage on his next attack. REWARDS Jelfi has Anni’s lapidary guide stashed on the main floor of Kendrin’s shop. The book is worth around 500 gp. Anni will pay half as much for its return. The party must decide what to do with the 5,000 gp worth of unfinished gems in Kendrin’s basement workshop. The captain is pleased to pay the party the promised fee. WHAT’S NEXT The uncut gems that the gilded devil did not eat are in the hands of the PCs. Selling them in the city would incriminate them, and smuggling that many gems might prove difficult. There may be infernal allies of the slain devil living in the city who take offense at the party’s actions.

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