Drawing her morningstar, Kel moves into the fight, swinging viciously at the purple lady.
"B*tch, I can get aggressive too!" Kel snaps at the purple lady.
The hand crossbow's second poisoned bayonet left a thin line on Lefrik's neck. The would would have been laughable, except Lefrik couldn't think about anything other than blessed darkness. The barbarian collapsed to the cave floor in heap.
Anklebiter hopped up to the edge of the worktable and launched a hideous flow of fire and flaming gobbets of sticky ectoplasm from his nose. The deluge scorched the woman and blasted her back into the cave wall. Kelendra and Bruendor leaped forward and struck almost at the same time as Calla once more called upon divine judgement to strike her opponents. The purple-skinned woman was buried under their combined attacks. Weakened by the burns she had just received, and overwhelmed, she fell. Her once-beautiful face mangled by the maces of Kelendra and Bruendor.
Congratulations, she's dead. Oh, no! Shes DEAD!!! 720 XP each.
Lefrik is still on the ground, unconscious.
"Well, looks like we failed again," Calla observes.
"Guess we won't be getting any answers out of this one," she says as she kicks the corpse. Noting the elven features on the woman, however, she pauses. "I wonder if this could be the renegade elf Kwava told us about...
"Let's make sure Blondie's OK, and see if we can find anything here that could point us to Saul."
She begins looking around the cave to see if there's anything of interest.
http://paizo.com/campaigns/DMBigrinsSecondDarkness/gameplay&page=17#846
Kwava adds fire to the coals, and pokes at the red-hot embers with a stick, stirring it back to life. He passes out food and drink, sits on a convenient stump, and begins his tale.
"I am a wild elf from the distant Mwangi Expanse. My tribe dates back to the dark times - when most elves and other fair folk left Golarion to the darkness that destroyed. We stayed, and survived, though the cost was bitter. But, when others arose to claim Golarion for the Light once more, and the other elves returned, we were here, waiting with open arms. My people's shamans and seers live under a shadow of fear that once more may Darkness claim this world.
"Almost 9 years ago, one of our seers had a vision of a lone elf holding aloft a single light against a roiling darkness. That elf was me. The divinations showed that the darkness would begin in the North. I left home the following morning, and have been traveling the North, since, looking for signs of the Darkness."
He pointed to the sky above, where the Blot hid the stars. "I don't think the signs get much clearer than that.
"About 3 years ago, I ran into a group of elven mercenaries, the Lanternbearers - their motto is 'to be the light against the darkness. They sent me to Riddleport a few months back to gather intelligence on a renegade elf that might be stirring up trouble with some of the Crimelords here. I am to watch and report on any crimelord's that may have recently taken in a mysterious elven ally.
"I am unsure around human settlements - the crowds, the smells, they all disturb me - but I have been watching from the shadows, and with Gameed's help. From my watchfulness, I think I have identified the crimelord harboring the renegade. Your employer, Saul Vancaskerin has come allied with a mysterious benefactor. He meets with him in dark places, hidden from others, and no one seems to know who this mysterious person is. I believe money is exchanging hands - how else could Vancaskerin have purchased the Gold Goblin outright, as he is rumored to have done, when he himself was nearly destitute?
"So, I have been following Vancaskerin and, when you hired on, you as well. Last night I followed Saul to meet with Ziphras, a leader of the wererats, and overheard Ziphras talking a bit too loud about this ambush. So I came to help, and to enlist your aid in return.
"It sounds as if you are to go back and confront this Saul Vacaskerin. If and when you do, please take me along that I may find out about this mysterious ally of his and return with the information I was tasked to collect.
Stooping to check Lefrik, Calla can see that he is breathing, but that's about all she can tell. The man appears to be heavily sedated or simply asleep.
Next, she checked the elf woman. The woman's equipment was as finely made as any that Calla had seen, with attention to design and intricate inlays that still appeared to be quite robust. In addition to the hand crossbow and its ammunition, the woman had a masterwork shortsword and buckler, a very fine set of chainmail with links tightly meshed, some rings, and a pouch of gold and gems. Instead of more robust footwear, she wore a pair of finely tanned leather slippers, that looked more like cloth than buckskin.
The table held a number of stoneworking tools and a thin book. One of the tools appeared to be a chisel made of adamantine, given its luster and weight. The book was filled with writing, tables, and diagrams, most of the latter being of the Cyphergate itself. The written language is completely unfamiliar to Calla.
In a corner by the cyphergate itself lay a small bundle. There was a pile of clothes and leather armor on top of a number of other items, including a rapier, a pouch filled with coins, and a ruby earring you last recall adorning Saul Vancaskerin's left ear. A small bit of flesh remained on the earring's clasp.
Loot from previous room (in case I forgot to list it out):
Loot from this room:
"Heh. Looks like Saul may have run into something that was as disinclined to deal with him as we were," she says with an evil grin.
"Goblin, can you read this?" she says, tossing the book to him as she turns back to the items and, muttering a prayer, searched for magical auras.
Bruendor frowns as he notes the distinct lack of Vancaskerkin, and is less consoled as Calla when the ruby earring is discovered. "Looks that way. Probably for the best, for him anyway. He wasn't going to get much mercy from us. I hope whatever ate him didn't get too much indigestion."
The dwarf gravitates to the stoneworking table, and his eyes widen as he sees the chisel. "Where have you been all my life, beautiful?" He pocketed that, knowing the value of an irresistibly durable chisel. He glanced at the papers briefly, then let the goblin do his work. As the others surveyed the spoils of war, he turned his attention to the shaft. "Anklebiter...is this the Ciphergate itself? Are we beneath it right now?"
Kel tends to Lefrik before all else, bolstering his resistance to poison as Bruendor had shouted about.
"A small bit of Saul's earlobe isn't enough to convince me that rat is dead. If his corpse was lying in front of us I would take the time to remove the earring from the ear, not tear a piece of that pig's meat off with it." Kel kicks at the body of the dead elf woman, "Served her right, she chose to fight to the death."
Casting detect magic, Kel searches through all the items the party acquired.
Anklebiter looks up at the shaft and frowns. "Not sure," he says. "Maybe I can figure it out, but I need to think..."
"I wouldn't assume Vancaskerkin is dead until we see the corpse," the Goblin says, shaking his ears. "And even then, I'd be wary. Now... All this stuff. And this very strange Elf. Hmmm..."
It looks like the cyphergate, is shaped like the cyphergate, has the same runes inscribed on its surface. It's a good bet that it's the cyphergate.
As Kelendra and Anklebiter peer through the woman's things, it becomes clear that she was a trove of magical treasure.
The magical items are revealed as:
+1 hand crossbow
+1 mithral chainmail
ring of feather falling
slippers of spider climbing
potion of barkskin
+1 rapier
+1 leather armor
But, the most interesting item, to the goblin anyways, was the book. It turned out to be a journal of sorts, written in a form of Undercommon, belonging to a Depora Azrinae. It contained a great many bits fo information. It was far too full to be read in a few moments, but what Anklebiter found was certainly interesting. There were sections that appeared to be ledgers, monetary amounts flowing to, but mostly from, the Goblin. Some items that were obviously shipping manifests - alchemical supplies, food, and spell components - sent to a place called the Devil's Elbow. There were some notes on the eldritch effects of the Blot, along with notes discussing "the strange and eldritch side effects from the charging of the glyphs on Devil's Elbow."
The final pages held the most immediate clues as to what was going on. "The human's usefulness is at an end," the journal stated. "Once he was put to flight, there was no more need of him. Ah well. The expedition is fully ready at this point. I imagine that we will be ready to activate the glyphs and pluck the star soon. Maybe even tomorrow night. Poor Saul, fed to the gricks beneath his very abode. Even a surface dweller should know better than to expect mercy from House Azrinae once they have failed." That last entry had yesterday's date.
"And thus ends Saul Vankercaskin. I don't know who or what House Azrinae is, but I think we owe them a debt of gratitude. Calistria certainly smiles today.
"That said, I dislike this talk of glyphs and star. Has anyone heard of this Devil's Elbow?"
"I have not," Anklebiter says, his ears stiff and trembling slightly. "But I like this not at all. 'Pluck a star'? From the sky? No, no, I like this not at all."
"And have any of you ever heard of this 'House Azrinae'?"
"House Azrinae?, Hmmm?" "I don't think I've ever heard of it."
"The name sounds familiar, though I can't immediately say why..."
"Well, maybe someone back on the surface will know what this note is talking about... Let's head back home."
"Ugh...what did I miss?" Lefrik asks as he gets up, and notices the dead woman, "I wish it noted that this time, it wasn't me who killed the person we wanted alive."
"No, was mostly me setting her on fire when I sneezed," Anklebiter says, nodding.
"We should avoid flowery fields, you might wipe out a village." The barbarian replies with a straight face.
"Yeah, we Goblins do love setting flowers on fire," Anklebiter replies with an equally straight face. "Best not to tempt me, I guess."
"I agree with Calla. We're done here. We might want to bring Indigo's corpse with us, didn't Kwava say something about wanting to confront Saul's employer? He might know something about what she was planning."
"Maybe we can pay a temple to talk to the corpse, she may have less incentive to keep secrets now that life has escaped her."
It takes an hour to send your way back through the tunnels and up into the Gold Goblin, with Lefrik lugging the woman's corpse along. The mid-afternoon sun streams through the unbroken windows of the gambling hall, and around the cracks in the boarded up openings.
In the daylight, the woman's dark purple skin seems unreal, like nothing you have ever seen before. She looks even more elven in the daylight, her features mimicking those of the faire folk, excepting only the color of skin and hair. If Kwava were here, he'd surely provide a better frame of reference, but he had left to take word back to his masters of the flight of Saul Vancaskerin.
Anklebiter had the bright idea of inviting over a few of the Cyphermage scholars he had visited with previously, hoping that they would have a better understanding of the woman's race, though he decided to keep the journal's contents a secret for now.
Cyphermage Calahan arrived an hour or so after Anklebiter dispatched a messenger, excited by the possibilities Anklebiter had described in his message. He stopped, eyes wide, when he saw the body. "I never thought to see one in person. They are only rumor...legend..." He shook himself visibly. "You say you fought this creature in caves below the Goblin? Well, this might explain why Saul was so secretive about his backer. I think you have stumbled upon Drow. Creatures of legend, Dark Elves people call them. I'm not aware that the Drow had returned to this part of Golarion. Actually, I wasn't sure that they existed at all."
"History and legend tell of a race of evil elves that shun the light and inhabit the Underdark, worshiping demons and enslaving all non-drow. The texts say they are a matriarchal society, with nobility being ranked in houses according to... well, that's probably not important now. What is important is that no one truly believes they exist any longer. At least, not around here."
"You said in your letter the creature mentioned Devil's Elbow? That's a little island about 5 miles south of here. There's nothing there, as far as I know. Which, of course makes it a good spot for anyone trying to set up a hidden base of power. Why there, though? Why not in these caves you say are below us? I wonder..."
Calahan broke off at the sound of anxious voices in the street outside. Cries of "What is that?" and "It looks like it's coming right for us!"
You rush outside to see the dim light of dusk split by a streak of light falling from the sky; a falling star traveling a southward course. The streak lengthens and seems as if it is hurtling straight towards Riddleport. The shouts of alarm in the streets turns to panic, and people scramble for cover, knocking over stalls and sending frightened pack animals stampeding through the crowded streets. A moment later, the falling star arcs over the city and the bay, heading out to sea.
From the front area of the Goblin, you can see the bay to the south, and the light of the falling star is reflected off the calm waters. The water seems to greedily swallow the light, and the sudden passing of the bright flare seems to plunge Riddleport into a darkness too deep for the time of day.
Then, a false dawn appears in the south, from the region where the falling star disappeared. A few seconds later, a powerful tremor strikes the city, rattling loose roof tiles and collapsing some of the more fragile shanties. Many windows shatter, along with shelves and crockery, but the earthquake wasn't too severe. More of an earth-shudder, really. The truly amazing thing is the mushroom shaped orange cloud of fire blooming on the horizon.
The people gathered at the wharves to watch the outcome of the starfall suddenly started screaming and crying out again. You aren't far enough away that the sight of the bay's water receding is hidden from you in the dusky light. You can just make out the low tide markers, well above the current water level. That's when the screaming started in earnest.
The sea rushed back to fill the bay, bringing reinforcements with it. The 10-foot wall of water, colored a dingy white with churning froth, slammed into the wharves, throwing aside ships, pilings, and men with equal ease. You see one ship turned over and embedded in a pleasure house, bow first. Some of the waterfront building collapse entirely. The water floods the streets of Riddleport, coming to within a stone's throw of the Goblin.
The Drow exist!
You each earn 200 XP for plot advancement, which should put you at 6080 total, enough for 4th level.
This is the end of the first module. Please RP from here as we prepare to move on to the second module. Thank you guys so much for sticking with it. I have really enjoyed running this campaign, and this is the first one that I have been able to take even a single module to completion on PbP. You guys rock!
Bruendor chewed his lower lip as he listened to the Cyphermage speak. Finally, and with great reluctance, he spoke.
"I've seen them before."
He stays silent for a moment, as the eyes turn to him. "Just the once, back in Janderhoff. My mother was leading a group of cavescouters into the deep delvings when we were ambushed. To this day, I still don't know how we fought them off. And not just because it all happened in a flash - and it did. I honestly don't remember a lot of the clash. I was...." Bruendor stops, going distant as what he can recalls floods back to him.
"I was compromised," he said at last. "There's a reason I don't drink any longer. But, yes, I've fought them once before. They took my brother for some reason known only to the gods, and my people took my beard for my lapses." He sits back, sipping on a cup of hot tea. "And now it looks like they're back, and meddling with the Cyphergate here in Riddleport. Well, those bastards have taken one home from me. I'll die before I let them take a second, even one as rotten and corrupt as this. Whatever they're up to, I will see it undone."
Bruendor also heads out of the Goblin to find out what could be causing the commotion, and his mouth falls open as he sees the falling star crash into the sea. He winces as a second sun erupts a few miles outside of Riddleport, looking away and blinking away the spots. He holds onto the doorframe as the tremor passes over the city, hearing bottles break in the kitchen and tiles slide off the roof to shatter in the streets. And he stands in awe as the sea rushes into the city, destroying buildings, shattering ships, and ending lives.
But he is only in awe for a few moments. A resolute look replaces the shock, and he begins to stride forward into the flooded streets.
"Come on, gang," he said, rolling up his sleeves. "Let's go save some lives."
Calla's mouth drops as the star falls and the sea then rushes back in.
After a few moments, she says -- her voice devoid of its usual sarcasm of even dryness that passes for her humor -- "It looks like they got their star..."
Kel grabs Bruendor, hanging on to the man before he can run to the aid of others. Quietly, so the cyphermage doesn't hear, "What of the journal, and the gate, surely the death about us is terrible, but think of the damage just the starfall has done, if the drow can control this object then death may only be the beginning!"
"Starlight's right," Calla says, her acerbity already starting to return. "If someone doesn't do something about that, whatever we save today will just be killed tomorrow."
"And since we've got this journal, I suppose that means we're the lucky people who get to deal with this. Thanks for nothing, Saul." She spits at the mention of the man's name.
"Mage, do you know anything more about how to kill these ... drow?"
"Lead on, Beardless. We'll see what we can do here, then I think we have a trip ahead of us to the Devil's Elbow."
Frightened by the events about her, but comforted by the resolve of her companions, Kel continues hanging on to the edge of Bruendor's cloak, not holding him back, instead following the man's lead to aid victims of the killer wave. "Lead the way Brue, we'll save those we can, the Golden Goblin may as well be a hospital now and we can deliver the injured there, such a noble purpose I never imagined for that den of inequity."
Bruendor pauses for a moment as he listens to the half-elven women. "I agree with you both, Devil's Elbow is the key to whatever's happening. We'll need to find out why the drow decided to pull a star from the sky and send it into the island. But there are people dying here, right now. We can't save them all, but I'll be a wart on a goblin's ass before I let them all die." He pauses for a moment. "No offense, Anklebiter." He shrugs to the goblin wizard, his apology sincere. "We'll save more people if we split up. Kel, you, Lefrik and Calla head one way. Anklebiter and I will head the other. The Goblin's safe for now, so it's going to be a triage center for the moment. Elara, pull out all of the linens, and get ready to make spots for any injured. Heinrik, go run for some healers. Calahan?" Bruendor turns to the Cyphermage. "Congratulations, you've been conscripted. Can you use some magics to let the various priesthoods around town that we're taking on wounded?" Once everyone understand their roles, he looks at the four other souls that he's fought with, bled with, and damn near died with over the last few weeks. He regards each of them with admiration and trust, even the little goblin beside him.
"Let's go save Riddleport."
"Dark elves... svartálfar ... my grandmother told me stories, but until now, I thought that's all they were," Lefrik mutters in amazement.
He stays silent for a moment, as the eyes turn to him. "Just the once, back in Janderhoff. My mother was leading a group of cavescouters into the deep delvings when we were ambushed. To this day, I still don't know how we fought them off. And not just because it all happened in a flash - and it did. I honestly don't remember a lot of the clash. I was...." Bruendor stops, going distant as what he can recalls floods back to him.
"I was compromised," he said at last. "There's a reason I don't drink any longer. But, yes, I've fought them once before. They took my brother for some reason known only to the gods, and my people took my beard for my lapses." He sits back, sipping on a cup of hot tea. "And now it looks like they're back, and meddling with the Cyphergate here in Riddleport. Well, those bastards have taken one home from me. I'll die before I let them take a second, even one as rotten and corrupt as this. Whatever they're up to, I will see it undone."
"If your people knew of your courage, they might restore your beardrights. Frankly, I think you have earned them and more. Your cunning and skill have been coupled with bravery..." He is not sure that will matter. Dwarves can be stubborn and traditional to the point that makes even the most resolute Ulfen seem like a progressive by comparison.
Then there are cries from outside. Lefrik is fast and makes use of his speed, arriving well in time to watch a star die.
At least, that's what it looks like...
"Desna's tears," He gasps in wonder. Then the ground shakes and he can hear the screams, and see the water rolling in...
Fortunately, the others calling out about saving the city and helping people brings him back to his senses. "You are right...let us go to their aid! Ware whatever sea life might have come inland due to this. It's likely to be very angry!"
"I never heard of any Drow," Anklebiter says after Calahan and Bruendor have had their say, "but Goblins know about demons. A lot of my people worship them, and it's bad business. Elves who worship demons sound like a horribl..."
The little Wizard stops talking when people start to scream in the street, and he goes to look along with the rest. When the bright flare of light goes shooting across the sky, the Goblin cries out and covers his sensitive eyes. Then there comes the explosion, followed by the tsunami, and Anklebiter folds his ears practically double to shut out the noise and whimpers.
"Bad cess, bad cess," he whispers once the greatest activity has passed. "Yes. We need to go to that island and stop this from being done again. This is bad business, very bad. Stupid purple Elves! Why blow up whole cities if you don't even live up here? It's no good, no good at all. Worse, this is bad."
Somehow, from the red-eyed Goblin's mouth, the simple word 'bad' takes on new dimensions. For a member of such a rapacious race to condemn something is... oddly compelling.
"Cyphermage Calahan, you could do great good today if you have the Telekinesis spell ready," Anklebiter says. "The Cyphermages could win great approval in the city if you help out with more than contacting the temples. Also... I think it might be time to start guarding the Cyphergate better. Maybe the Drow didn't use it because it's damaged, or because it's partially in solid rock?"
The Goblin lets the Cyphermage think on his words for a bit as he scuttles off after Bruendor.
"Not too many spells left," he says as he catches up to the Dwarf. "But I will do what I can."
Anklebiter gives Bruendor a sidelong glance with his beady eyes and whispers: "Lefrik is right. You are doing well here; your first thought was of those in danger. Now, I'm not an authority on nobility -- not a lot of it around Goblin tribes, as you can probably guess -- but I think you're showing a good bit of it. Even if your people don't like you right now, I think you can be proud of yourself."
The Goblin grins after this last statement, and despite all the teeth, it is a surprisingly friendly expression.
"Minky can help," the Goblin says. "She's small and light. She can look in places we can't easily reach and see if there are people buried there."
Minky chitters at the Goblin and the Dwarf, and actually manages to make a passable salute.
Despite the horrors happening around him, Bruendor affords the goblin and his monkey a small smile. "I reserve my pride for you five. Even Minky. And I'm not sure I'll ever be welcome back in Janderhoff. Even if I can wipe away the mistake I made in the delvings, how can I explain to the elders that I call a goblin 'friend'?" He lays a hand on the goblin's shoulder, and meets the goblin eye to iris-and-pupiless eye. "Aid me where you can, Anklebiter. We can't save everyone, but we'll save who we can."
Kel stays close to Lefrik and Calla as their little group helps those they can and directs others to take wounded to the Golden Goblin. Grime soon streaks her face, but for the tracks where tears have crept free at another gruesome discovery in the wreckage.
Desna, it is not fit for me to question your ways, I know stars have fallen before and man has discovered them filled with precious metals and viewed them as a gift from the gods, but this feels like no gift! Kel looks at the horror and death in their little neighborhood of Riddleport and a fresh flood of tears stains her cheeks as she considers all the lands surrounding the mushroom cloud of impact. Is this how gifts from the gods are given? Must the people suffer? Or was the Star not given at all, is this what happens when someone steals from the gods? Theft or gift, Kel weeps quietly to herself as she helps the injured and dying
Anklebiter reaches up and grips Bruendor's wrist, giving it a companionable squeeze.
"Yes," he says. "We will. And so doing, perhaps we save ourselves, too, friend Bruendor."
The Goblin scuttles ahead and, at Minky's direction, starts pelting a piece of debris with drops of acid, weakening it so Bruendor and he can break it into pieces and pull it off some poor buried soul.
"Let's have many good things to tell the others when we get back home," he encourages Bruendor. "Many guests for our house, yes?"
For a wonder, Anklebiter manages to smile without baring his teeth; the victims of the fallen star have had quite enough shocks for one day, after all...
"Stop crying," Calla snaps. "Tears never help anyone and just show your enemies your weak. If these drow are responsible, do you really want them to think they caused you to cry? I have nothing to give those who'd do something like this but the goddess' vengeance."
Kel tries to summon her inner Calla, thinking on her moments of harshness against Saul and the purple woman, but the strain of the day cripples her emotionally and she just blubbers a bit harder at the admonishing.
Calla sighs. Deeply.
Lefrik pulls victims free from the water and drags them off to Kelendra for healing. Her tears make him want to punch someone, but he has no easy target, so instead he continues his work. He searches for the missing or buried and tries to free them if he can find them.
I find myself wishing Saul were alive and here before me... so I could break his jaw.
Though he lacks Lefrik's strength, Bruendor is hardly a weakling, and pulls up stone and timber laid low. "Aim your acid at these spots, Anklebiter," he directs. "This bit is load-bearing, so leave it alone. Hang tight in there, we'll have you out soon." Within minutes, the dwarf is covered in dirt and grime, and his boots are sodden and ruined from the brackish and filthy water. He does what he can with all that he has - the strength of his back, his knowledge of mining, and his keen eyes and ears. A handful of people are pulled from the wreckage - a pair from what was once an inn, three from the remnants of a brothel, and so on. Most, however, he is too late to help, and as the day goes on, the stories that end well become few and far between. He's lost count of the number of glassy-eyed stares from those that have either been crushed, bled out, or drowned.
Calla scans the ground carefully, looking for signs of life to aim the blond barbarian at. Her time tracking, learned in Calistria's service, serves her well as she looks for the smallest hint of where her companions' help could be used.