Nicat Brightluck |
With profound reluctance, Nicat pulls himself from the levitation room and joins the party at the top of the spiral stairs.
"Wait, I thought I was the combat specialist. Did you see me take down that mutant gobber?"
Evelyn Grimley |
"But I'm the healer, Eostre," Evelyn says surprised. "Wouldn't it be a bad tactic to send the healer down first?"
Evelyn makes sure her crossbow's loaded and ready for action. "I'm fine with Nicat taking point. I guess I'll follow directly after him?"
Nicat Brightluck |
"Umm, I think Eostre meant that Conner could prove he's not spooked, by going first," Nicat offers, blithely ignoring the fact that if he really thinks he's the combat specialist, he should lead the way. "But I get it, it's hard to know what she means a lot of the time."
He steps aside for Conner and Ekan to head down the stairs first, then follows after them.
Evelyn Grimley |
"Oooooooh, that's what she meant!" Evelyn says, blissfully ignorant of her own slowness. "It all makes sense now, haha!"
Nicat Brightluck |
"Well, there was one more set of stairs we didn't check out yet, right?" Nicat confirms. "Let's go back that way, see where they go."
I've moved Nicat on the map to the space I mean, next to B3.
Evelyn Grimley |
Evelyn follows after Nicat. "Ah, this corridor. I remember passing it, but had forgotten about it."
"I'm ready when you are. Just lead the way!"
GM_Runecat |
Returning to the statue of Alaznist, the party proceeds up a long flight of stairs before they come to a stop at another open door. The door opens into a small, circular room, its stone walls curiously free of engravings of the seven-pointed star common to the rest of the catacombs. A circular stone pool sits in the centre of the room, filled with water. The rim of the pool is lined with skulls, lest someone get the wrong idea about what sort of place this is.
Another open door is at the far side of the room, leading to a spiral staircase that goes up. It appears that part of the ceiling has collapsed on the stairs, rendering them impassable.
Eostre Roldheim |
Eostre examines the magic of the pool.
Detect Magic Spellcraft check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
"Relax, Conner. It's just enchanted to purify and refill itself. Only danger you'd find from it is drowning."
Evelyn Grimley |
"You suppose the Father and other sir would also like to study this well?"
Evelyn cocks her head while thinking. "Hmm... shall we just press on for now, if it's nothing too special?"
Nicat Brightluck |
"Well, I don't know that Sandpoint needs another fountain," Nicat offers, "especially not one that came out of the hate-filled basement temple under the Chopper's house. But I do think we've seen all there is to see down here, which means we can get out of here, right?"
Anything I'm missing, DM Cat, or have we seen the whole place?
Nicat Brightluck |
"It looks like there's more to see here," Eostre observes, nodding her head towards the door across from the pool.
Per DMCat's post above: "Another open door is at the far side of the room, leading to a spiral staircase that goes up. It appears that part of the ceiling has collapsed on the stairs, rendering them impassable." That's why I thought we might be done.
Eostre Roldheim |
"It seems then that we've cleared this ruin of everything that's haunted it. Let's pick up Brodert and Father Zantus and return to the surface. We've got a lot to talk and think about."
Nicat Brightluck |
"I'm with you, Eostre," Nicat replies eagerly, his relief making clear just how unpleasant he's found the wrathbasement to be. "Let's head back to town, where the beer is cool and a bathmat is just a bathmat."
GM_Runecat |
Once the party reunites with Brodert Quink and Father Zantus, it's time to leave the cold, bloodied catacombs and their ancient Thassilonian wonders behind. Returning to the entrance tunnel is a simple enough affair.
The party is greeted by the sounds of splintering wood as they ascend the spiral stairs to Jervis Stoot's workshop. As they emerge, the once menacing effigy of Pazuzu crumbles and shatters, strewing bits and pieces of rotted wood all around the entrance to the catacombs. As the effigy crumbles, the stench of blood fades away and is swiftly replaced with the scent of earth and grass.
The party emerges from Jervis Stoot's decaying home...
...and are met with the ghost of the man himself. His soft brown eyes twinkle with a mix of delight and relief. His beard, once caked in blood, is now a stark white colour. His clothes are free of blood, gore and grime.
A soft chirping can be heard around him as several ghostly birds flit around his head. One of them even perches on his shoulder. They all turn their heads to look at the party.
"Thank you."
It's all he needs to say.
Jervis Stoot spreads his arms wide and looks up to the heavens. For the first time in many years, he truly feels at peace.
He and his birds fade away as a shaft of sunlight shines down.
And with that... welcome to Level 3.
Evelyn Grimley |
Evelyn freezes in place as she sees the ghost. When the ghost is gone she whispers in a weak voice. "Who was that...?"
Hurray! :)
Eostre Roldheim |
"Jervis Stoot, also known as Chopper, a local artist turned demon-crazed spree killer due to the influence of the runewell below. Nicat or Ekan can probably tell you more, they're Sandpoint denizens, unlike Conner and myself. It looks like purging the well and emptying the ruins of denizens has freed his soul just as we suspected."
Eostre turns to Father Zantus.
"Thank you, Father, for your assistance. No doubt this will bring you no small amount of praise from your flock and approval from your goddess."
Ekan Waterfield |
The party emerges from Jervis Stoot's decaying home...
...and are met with the ghost of the man himself. His soft brown eyes twinkle with a mix of delight and relief. His beard, once caked in blood, is now a stark white colour. His clothes are free of blood, gore and grime.
A soft chirping can be heard around him as several ghostly birds flit around his head. One of them even perches on his shoulder. They all turn their heads to look at the party.
"Thank you."
It's all he needs to say.
Jervis Stoot spreads his arms wide and looks up to the heavens. For the first time in many years, he truly feels at peace.
He and his birds fade away as a shaft of sunlight shines down.
And with that... welcome to Level 3.
Ekan smiles, and holds out a hand in farewell, "May your next life be a merrier one."
Eostre Roldheim |
"Well, I plan to purchase a crossbow or something, my inablity to strike at range was shameful and left others with tasks I should have aided in."
Which I'm assuming I can purchase here in sandpoint easy enough
Eostre nods.
"These ancient Thassilonian wands we found ought to help with that, too. Given wrath's historical connections to the evocation school of magic, it's safe to assume most magical apparatus found in this ruin were designed to burn, zap or freeze things. Plus, the insights we've gained here will help me cast stronger and more effective combat spells. Even more if I copy those scrolls into my spellbook. Any objections to me calling dibs on those?"
Evelyn Grimley |
"I certainly don't mind," Evelyn tells Eostre. "Whatever helps you guys in your journey."
Evelyn looks a bit hesitant, but continues in a soft voice. "Mind if I hang around with you for a bit longer? I had fun today, and if you're going to have more adventures I'd like to be a part of it."
Nicat Brightluck |
Nicat does a happy little jig as Jervis Stoot’s ghost thanks them and vanishes, taking his ghostly birds with him to a better place. ”Nice work, everyone! We broke the curse of Chopper’s Isle! Did you see how happy he was?”
As they head back to town, Nicat agrees with the idea of Eostre keeping the scrolls, ”Sure, I don’t have any use for reading about magic, doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s like trying to read a book that tells you how to walk or chew – things you just do, you know? And I’m okay with you keeping the wandy things too, though I might like to try ‘em out!”
As Evelyn asks her question, he turns to her with a look of surprise, ”Hang around with us? You’re one of us now, Evvy! I’m glad you had fun, because you saved our butts too! I was wondering if we’d have to convince you to stay after what we saw down there – of course you can stay! In fact, we need to seal that deal with a drink at Ameiko’s place!”
Evelyn Grimley |
Evelyn looks a bit confused. Unsure of how exactly she should react she gives the others a weak grin and nods her head once, then quickly shifts the conversation away from her. "Who is Ameiko? Sounds like she runs an inn or pub?"
Eostre Roldheim |
"Ameiko Kaijitsu. Local noblewoman and ex-adventurer. Runs the Rusty Dragon inn here in town. Excellent person, even if her father's an arse."
GM_Ameiko Kaijitsu |
With farewells made, the party journeys back to their usual hangout--the Rusty Dragon. Not a lot of people pay attention to them as they arrive, but Ameiko takes note of them as soon as they enter.
"And the conquering heroes return at last." She smirks. "So, what can I get ya?"
Evelyn Grimley |
Evelyn's completely oblivious to Aldern's presence as she moves up to Ameiko. "Hi, I'm Evelyn."
She extends a hand and smiles brightly. "I heard you have the best drinks in town?"
Nicat Brightluck |
"In town?" Nicat cries out, "The Dragon's got the best drinks for miles! And the food's even better!"
He turns to Ameiko and says, "Conquering heroes, eh? I like that! I mean, Deputy Sheriff sounded pretty darn good, but Conquering Hero? That's great! I should get a banner made!"
He waves his friends over to the bar, forgetting all about the discretion they were supposed to exercise, and shouts, "Hey gang! We just defeated a bunch of bathmats...no, wrathmongers...and mutant gobbers and such! First round of drinks is on me!"
Eostre Roldheim |
Eostre sees little Lord Foxglove start blushing at Evelyn and Nicat being Nicat and facepalms so hard it leaves a red handprint.
"You just drank a ten-thousand year old bottle of wine, and you didn't even bother to share it!"
Eostre Roldheim |
"I'd ask for a stiff drink, but I have to work tonight. We all do. We need to have a conversation about what we found down there. Shalelu still around?"
GM_Shalelu Andosana |
"I'd ask for a stiff drink, but I have to work tonight. We all do. We need to have a conversation about what we found down there. Shalelu still around?"
"You called?"
As if on cue, the elven ranger steps out from the shadows of the tavern door.