The Zyphus Stone is a terrible artifact and the heroes, as future Pathfinders, immediately knew that its acquisition would be both a boon and a terrible burden to the Society. They were unable to destroy the stone, in order to rid the world of its potent necromantic magic, so they returned it to the Pathfinder Lodge in Oppara for safekeeping. While they were attempting to destroy it though, Hrol's corpse rose as a zombie, foiling any plans they had of bringing their friend back from the dead.
The heroes extensively searched the House of the Immortal Son for Wuthers, and found his zombie corpse among the dead in the opera house. In his belt pouch was a draft of the final letter he wrote to Luna Aldred, wherein he detailed the final stages of the dig and the strange character of his companion - noted as "cleric of Irori" but clearly Bustrani. His pouch also contained a personal journal, a shorthand record of his many adventures as a Pathfinder.
Surprisingly, more than half of the theatergoers survived the zombie onslaught by gathering together and fighting off the undead menace. Because the heroes dealt with Quinn's roving band bent on stamping out resistance as well as defeating Bustrani himself, the wealthy socialites and nobility of Oppara now have several dinner parties' worth of sordid stories with which to frighten and awe their friends.
The heroes subsequently joined the Pathfinder Lodge in Oppara for training. They also had the opportunity to participate in a number of major and minor holidays in the region:
Neth 23rd. Seven Veils: Celebration of brotherhood between all civilized races, marked by interracial masquerade balls.
Second Week of Kuthona. Winter week: Traditional feast; time for courting and spending time with friends.
Kuthona 11th. Ascendance Day: Cayden's divine ascension.
Kuthona 31st. Night of the Pale: Night of morbid revelry, as people wait indoors for the ghosts of last year's dead to pass by their homes.
Abadius Full Moon. Longnight: Tradition in which the revelers defy the long winter nights by staying up all night to greet the dawn.
Calistril 2nd. Merrymead: Commemorates coming spring with the distribution of the last of the previous season's alcohol.
The late evening messengers pulled the heroes awake from their tasks and ordered them to appear before the steward Muesello by midnight. There they met a new companion, an elf called Aranthor. Muesello, ever presenting the appearance of the doddering, decrepit old man, met them behind the greasy bait and tackle shop that serves as the facade of the Oppara Lodge. Dressed only in tattered night clothes complete with a faded yellow sleeping cap, the youthful excitement in Muesello's eyes bellied his elderly appearance.
"We've found them!" he declared, the moment the heroes arrived in the Lodge. "Those pitiful bastards who murdered Pathfinder Boddrigan Wuthers in Oppara those many months ago - you know, the Zyphus-worshiping fools who tried to turn Oppara into a zombie-filled nightmare? After all this time, we finally tracked their remnants to a burned-out temple in the vagabond camp across the river from the capital. You will set out for there at once and meet a man named Sevastus Hustavan outside the burned-out temple. Once a man of great importance, he seems to have fallen on hard times - fallen so hard as to join those Zyphus fiends. But he's redeemed himself by telling us their location! Find Hustavan - it can't be hard, there's only one burned-out temple to Sarenrae in the vagabond camp - learn all you can about the cult's hideout, and then cleanse it of their presence. Cultists across Golarion must know they may not use the Society to fulfill their horrid glories - so too will they know that the Society will not stand by and watch its members murdered!"
Muesello cleared his throat then, his posture losing the sudden youthful fire and passion, his shoulders hunching once more, his face pinched and tired. "Of course, while you are there," he rasped, "do your duty as Pathfinders and seek anything they may have that the Society would need in the vaults."
So, after a hurried early morning rush to gather supplies, the heroes find themselves walking through a chilly, early morning rain storm and approach what the vagabond locals say is the location of the burned-out temple to Sarenrae.
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