Still unable to close without provoking Cadas uses her Storm Strike ability again but is unable to hit.
Collapsed Treasury - Round 5 - continued
19 Marcellano
19 Crab (43 dmg)
17 Kizzy (greasy)
15 Robin
11 Rogar
6 Cadas (greasy)
Kizzy swings again, huffing with frustration and the edges of fatigue.
Collapsed Treasury - Round 5 - concluded
Kizzy swings once again, pounding the crab hard with her falchion, scoring a nice hit against it.
Robin casts and glittering, reflective dust fills the space over the crab, which seems unaffected by the distractions so far.
Rogar, shield in hand, still tries to pummel the hermit crab. The doughty dwarf is able to hit a soft spot on the flank of the crab, bruising some of the internal organs during the battle. Reeling the crab staggers backward fora moment, then turning, it falls on its side in the water, unmoving.
The battle appears to be won!
End of Combat
Cadas will move up and stab the creature to make sure it is actually dead before casting Detect Magic and scanning the room again. Her stone with light on it should still be lighting an area under the water.
While the room is painted with scenes of enormous wealth and treasure, most of the actual room is underwater. Looking in the pool, you can see various coins and gems scattered throughout the water. Detect Magic reveals one magical aura emanating from inside the giant-sized golden helmet. The helmet itself is nearly 5' across and its full face-guard bears the expression of twisted rage and fangs.
Closer inspection of the magical aura, which can only be accomplished by wading knee deep (for human-sized) in the water, reveals a jade amulet. Gathering as much coins and gems as you can, you find a total of 3500sp, 630gp, and 40 precious stones worth 10gp each.
Alas, I have not had the chance to learn how to discern magical properties. Cadas admits and hands the amulet to the wizard and Bard for identification.
Robin is able to identify the amulet, but the big helmet is out of his frame of reference. Whoever used to wear it, they had to be giant-sized or better.
Looking closely, Robin can tell the helmet is mixture of gold and bronze, but still highly valuable. Perhaps as much as 2000gp? But it also must weigh an enormous amount.
Cadas, sees the gold, but things like this are outside her tribal experience and she cannot fathom the value of such an item.
Cadas will wade in and secure a rope to help tow it to dry ground. Perhaps two of us can get it to the upper levels?
Marcellano slumps, weary and surprisingly scared by their close call with the giant hermit crab. "Definitely taking that thing back to cook," he mutters.
He brightens up when Robin emerges with the treasure, peering at the jade amulet closely. "Well spotted, Robin! I had nearly forgotten that there was something in there. Yes, I concur with your evaluation: an amulet to toughen the wearer's natural defenses. Could be quite handy for those of us who are forced into regular hand-to-hand combat...I wonder if it's actually Thassilonian?"
Gazing out at the giant helmet, he comments as Cadas secures the rope, "That will be a challenge to get out of here...though if we can do so, I have a scroll I can use to summon a mount that can help share the burden once we get out of this dungeon." He bites his lip. "I confess I'm eager to finish exploring it, but I understand that given your previous...encounter...with the barghest, you might not want to re-engage it. Perhaps we will destroy the beast at some point when we are less weary and more prepared to do battle with it."
Qetsiyah slumps against a wall for a moment to catch her breath but forgets to consider her greasy coating and slowly slides down the wall until she is sitting on the ground with a surprised look on her face. "Working for your grub makes it taste better, I've heard. If it's true, this bugger oughta be DE-licious!"
She waited for Robin to de-grease her and then regained her feet and joined the others in poking about the room. "Nice find, here. We'll get a workout hauling it out." She rapped on the great golden helm with an armored fist, cocking her head appreciatively as she listened to the bell-like peal that rang out. "Huh... seems quite soundly crafted to me. Do you think it might net a better price due to it's masterful construction and artistry, Marcel?"
Opening the other door, the group just finds that the hallway beyond just connects with areas already explored. It seems that, besides the barghest, the ruins of Thistletop have given up all they will.
I will heal everyone up and we can man handle this thing to the upper level. I can cast Bull's Strength to help with that but the spell will only last 4 minutes. In the morning I can cast Ant Haul, or even communal Ant Haul so we can all help carry this thing. Perhaps a Litter is in order?
"I'm well," Marcellano responds. "And yes, if your god will grant you such a spell that seems like it would be wise...perhaps we should return tomorrow. Or should we make camp here?"
Perhaps it could be shorn up with additional ropes and stakes?
Kizzy seemed increasingly uncomfortable as they discussed options for moving the giant helm across the rope bridge. "I'm not sure we should test the bridge with this much weight. We might all go tumbling down..."
With the large golden helm brought to the surface, the group plans to use Cadas' divine magic to get the treasure the rest of the way home. Since the Shoanti priestess does not have the right spell prepared to allow this lift, the decision is made to set up camp for the night on Thistletop, and then proceed when she's had time to commune with Gozreh for the right spell.
The day and night pass without incident. The fortress is apparently abandoned now, or all of its inhabitants slain for there is no traffic to disturb your rest. Watch is set, but there are no unusual events to report and soon the early rays of sunrise peek over the mainland.
With a rope safety belt in case of accident tied round her waist, Kizzy is the recipient of the carrying spell from Cadas, and then is able to heave the giant-sized helm up and across the rope bridge without incident.
Moving through the hedge tunnels on the mainland side is a challenge, but the increased carrying capacity allows the group to get the helm back to the road, and from there on to Sandpoint without incident.
It is getting on late afternoon by the time you return to the village, and the guards at the gate let you enter without a challenge.
When the party rises in the empty ruin in the morning, they find Marcellano already up, examining the nearest carvings with interest. "This place truly is fascinating..." he murmurs, apparently to Narcizia, who's squatting nearby. "I do hope that we are able to defeat the alleged barghest later to investigate the final chamber. Oh, you're up?" he asks mildly. "I suppose it's time to prepare my enchantments, then, eh?" With a muttered word, a thick book appears before him, and as Cadas communes with her god, the wizard pores over his spellbook, muttering to himself and scratching his head as Narcizia peers down from his shoulder.
Once the group is back in Sandpoint, Marcellano turns to the others cheerfully. "So, where shall we stow this great find, eh?" he asks, slapping the side of the giant-sized helm. "I'm of a mind to see what I can learn about Old Thassilon as it interfaced with this region, see if I can't figure something out!" He beams around at the group, clearly excited to begin his archaeological research.
Robin's antics atop the giant helm entertain the soldiers at the gate and the people entering the city. Kizzy leaves the great helm in the church courtyard, where it will lie until sold, and the party splits up to see different people or places in the town.
Robin and Cadas head to see Sherrif Hemlock, while Marcellano heads right for the office of the esteemed sage and Thassilonian scholar Brodert Quink, whom he met in the Dragon before the last sojourn to Thistletop.
Quink is in, and answers the door with a worried expression. "Yes, what is it? I gave at home already....Now, I really am quite busy." he has ink smears all over his fingers and face, including an entire hand print on his cheek where he rested while taking a nap from his writing.
At the City Watch office, Sheriff Hemlock is happy to see you returned from the latest adventure. He listens a bit to your story about the treasure room at Thistletop and the shadows and tentamort, but you can see his mind is elsewhere.
When you pause he says, "First, let me thank you again for all you've done for Sandpoint. It's fortunate you've proven yourselves so capable, because we've a new problem I think you can help us with -- a problem I wish I didn't have to involve anyone with, but one that needs dealing with now before the situation grows worse."
"Put simply, we have a murderer in our midst -- one who, I fear, has only begun his work. Some of you doubtless remember the Late Unpleasantness, how this town nearly tore itself apart in fear as the Chopper's slayings went on unanswered. I'm afraid we might have something similar brewing now."
"Last night, the murderer struck at the sawmill. There are two victims, and they're...they're in pretty gruesome shape. The bodies were discovered by one of the mill workers, a man named Ibor Thorn, and by the time my men and I arrived on the scene a crowd of curious gawkers had already sprung up. I've got my men stationed there now, keeping the mill locked down, but the thing that bothers me isn't the fact that we have two dead bodies inside, it's the fact that this is actually the second set of murders we've had in the past few days."
"I come to you for help in this matter -- my men are good, but they are also green. They were barely able to handle themselves against the goblins, and what we're facing now is an evil far worse than goblins. I need the help. But I am afraid you'll need the help too. You see, I'm afraid this particular murderer knows you as well"
With that he hands over a blood-stained scrap of paper. The name 'Cadas' is clearly written on the exterior in a spidery tilted hand. The inside of the parchment is also spattered with blood, and there the spidery hand continues "We have spoken of this before, my master. Now it begins, join The Pack and it will end. -- Your Lordship"
"The scrap was left at the crime scene, presumably to implicate you in the murder, but I know better. You were dozens of miles away fighting who knows what, not here slaying townspeople, but you must be cautious. If word of the killings, or your involvement, however peripheral, spread, things could get ugly quickly."
He urges you to investigate the crime scene at the lumber mill, which is just inside the town along the Turandurok River.
Hemlock skids back his chair and folds his arms as he speaks. "It started the day you left again for Thistletop. A patrol of guards along the Lost Coast Road were assaulted by a deranged man near an abandoned barn at south of town along the banks of Cougar Creek. The man was obviously sick and insane, his flesh fevered, eyes wild, mouth frothing, and clothes caked with blood. The guards subdued him, but when they checked inside the barn they discovered the mutilated bodies of three men. All were far to disfigured to recognize, but one of them carried this."
He reaches for another scrap of parchment, and hands it to Robin.
"Mssrs. Mortwell, Hask and Tabe -- A deal has gone about that I need capital for. It involves property and gold and though I am not at liberty to tell you the exact details, it will make us all rich. Come to Bradley's Barn on Cougar Creek tonight. We can meet there to discuss our future -- Your Lordship."
"From the note, we assume the bodies are those of Tarch Mortwell, Lener Hask, and Gedwin Tabe -- three notorious con men and swindlers, known well to us as troublemakers.I forbade the man from operating in town some time back. I ain't surprised to find them dead, but the star carved in their chest, and the gruesome manner by which they died...well you'll see the similarities for yourself. The three men's bodies lie in the morgue in the basement here. You can look at them if you like, but you'll want to see the mill first, I expect."
"By the way," Hemlock adds as an aside, "The crazy man who attacked the soldiers has been identified as one Grayst Sevilla, a local Varisian muscle thug. He's been given over to Dr Habe at the sanatorium south of town for safe-keeping. You can talk to him if you like, but I wouldn't expect too much."
Marcellano grabs/pulls the scholar along with him, his feet nearly dragging on the ground. "Now, now lad, let's not be hasty. Nothing thousands of years' old was ever discovered by being hasty."
Eventually, he straightens his robs, pushes his glasses up on his nose, and asks Marcellano for a description of what he saw in the ruins. "Boy, there are Thassilonian ruins all over Varisia. Why," he says pointing to the ruined old lighthouse on the north side of town. "The Old Light is one itself. Personally, I think it was much more than a lighthouse, but, well you don't want to hear my ramblings."
Arrogant, senile old fool! I've made the find of the decade--at least!--and he urges caution!
At the watering hole, Marcellano carefully talks the older scholar through what he's observed, even sketching the mysterious image of the man and the city they saw depicted in the crab's cave. He's patient and clarifies everything as best he can, though he's squirming with impatience inside.
"So, what do you think?" he asks finally. "Are any of these ringing bells? Or do you have any suggestions for where else I might seek answers?"
Cadas listens to the sherif, her eyes growing wide. It always amazes me what these civilized men can do to each other my brother. She tells Hemlock. Of course I will help, if only because you ask it. But also because these symbols carved in the flesh of the dead - I have dreamed of this and know it has something to do with why I was sent to sand point. Let us gather our new friends and we will go to this mill to learn what we can learn. I fear time is short and we have other things to do in town besides this business. Could you spare someone to help us sell these items we have retrieved from Thistletop?
Qetsiyah enjoyed the odd looks she drew lumbering in with the huge helm. Once relieved of her burden, she opted to tag along with Cadas and Robin, fairly certain that the giant helm would be safe without a guard and that the conversation Marcel would have with the scholar would put her to sleep.
But the Sheriff's revelation was no bedtime story, and soon her mind was whirling as well, trying to guess at who might be responsible for the murders.
"Con-men and swindlers, you say? Probably a fair lot of folk who bear them ill-will. Could be someone just settling a score... but who would be calling himself 'Your Lordship' in this area?"
Quink strokes his moustaches thoughtfully as he hears the descriptions told by the young scholar. "The man you describe, what was he holding? A book and a glaive? Did the book have a star, a seven-pointed star on it? I believe the man is one of the runelords of ancient Thassilon, Karzoug, was his name."
He looks solemnly at Marcellano and relates his knowledge. "I believe that ancient Thassilon was divided into holdings; each hold was ruled by a different powerful wizard, a runelord if you will. Each runelord was powered by a different virtue, or later in their rule, a different sin. Karzoug's power was greed. He ruled the land where Sandpoint now sits as well as other parts of what is now Varisia. His archenemy, a female wizard, named Alaznist -- runelord of wrath, ruled the territory adjacent. I believe the lands she ruled fell into the sea and became the Gulf of Varisia in ancient times."
"It is possible the city you saw in the ruins was the ancient Thassilon capital of Xin. It is said the ruins of the city are still present in the far reaches of Varisia, but exactly where, even I don't know."
Hemlock readily agrees to have a adjutant sell off your items and return to the office wiht the coin while he leads you down by the Turandurok River, where the Sandpoint Lumber Mill is strangely silent.
The mill is well-built wooden structure with very thick walls. The roof is of woodens shingles and doors are simple timber and unlocked. The mill machinery has been disengaged. A sizable crowd has gathered in front of the mill, and several nervous looking guards stand sentry at the doors.
Hemlock says, "The mill was working last night, Banny Harker and Ibor Thorn, the two millers, often worked late into the night. It had become a bone of contention around town as the noisy mill and the infernally creaky log splitter kept neighbors awake. But I don't think a noise complaint is at the root of this trouble."
"So what I saw...may well have been an arcane depiction of one of the Runelords themselves? Karzoug..." For a moment, even the ever-voluble Marcellano is stunned into silence. He sits back in his chair, chewing his lip and gazing into space. "If that is what I saw, it truly is an extraordinary find. And the depiction of Xin--if Xin it is--why, Master Quink, these ancient wizards must've had powers that most of us can only dream of. It sounds like they could summon some potent allies, too, if my new friends' description of the beast they met in those ruins is even halfway accurate."
The young wizard shakes his head and stands. "My apologies, sir. You've been greatly helpful, and I hope that you can see these ruins for yourself once they're fully safe. We did retrieve a massive helmet from the ruins--would you care to view it? It's in the cathedral square right now..."
As the Sheriff describes the killings, Marcellano looks up sharply at one particular phrase. "'The star carved in their chest?' Sheriff, can you describe this star in any particulars? How many points did it have? This could be vital information."
At the Rusty Dragon
Quink does seem quite pleased at what you described and found. "Truly some amazing troves. There is much more buried under old Varisia if we only know where to look, why, the Old Light, here in Sandpoint. Most think its an ancient lighthouse, but I...I think it is a weapon. That's right! A weapon used by Karzoug and his forces to blast away at his enemies lands that were where the Gulf is now. I must admit, everyone who hears that thinks I am a crazy old coot, but I do think it's true."
He says he would very much like to go examine the helmet brought back from the treasure room of the Thassilonian ruins.
Arriving in the church yard, you can see is breath is literally taken away. He sways and staggers a bit, holding onto the helmet to keep from falling. "Why, I don't believe it! If I hadn't seen it for myself! Youngster, do you know what this is? Do you? I believe this is the helmet of a rune giant! One of the minions of Karzoug himself. What a find, and how valuable it must be. What will you do with it?"
At the Mill
The inside of the mill is coated with sawdust strewn with footprints and splashes of blood.
The lingering scent of decay strikes you as you enter the mill. It smells almost as if an animal had died somewhere in the room and its remains were allowed to ripen. The bodies have not been here long enough to exude that type of odor yet.
The girl, identified as Katrine Vinder, sister of the almost famous Shayliss, appears to have been killed instantly when she was pushed into the log splitter. Her mangled ruined remains lie on the mill's lower floor amid heaps of bloodstained firewood. A pale-faced and obviously upset guard stands at attention nearby. The log splitter itself is powered by the waterwheel and consists of a chute in the floor with rotating saw blades that cut logs as they are fed in. Certainly, anyone falling or being pushed in here would not survive, and the sight is too gruesome to contemplate for long.
The other body, Banny Harker, one of the millworkers, has been horrible desecrated. The poor man has been affixed to the wall by several hooks normally used to hang machinery. The body is mutilated, the face carved away and lower jaw missing entirely. The body is only recognizable as Banny Harker by a faded tattoo of a raven across his lower abdomen. His bare chest is defaced as well, bearing a strange rune in the shape of a seven-pointed star.
Embedded in the floor near the log splitter is a handaxe, its handle bloody with fingermarks. An examination of the head reveals two things of note. First, smears of what look like rotten flesh and fragments of bone are caked on its blade, and second, the rotten meat stink is strong on it.
"In case you are wondering, I have interrogated Ibor Thorn, the other millworker, who found the bodies like this when he came on this morning. I am holding him in the cells of the town guard, but I don't suspect he had much, if any, to do with what happened here."
"I am also holding Vin Vinder, father of the deceased girl Katrine. He is my only suspect, perhaps enraged at his daughter's affair with the mill-man Harker. He is known to have a great temper, but again, I believe the murders were committed by someone else. Someone much worse than an angry father."
"You may feel free to question either of these two suspects once you finish here."
"The star had seven points, I believe just like the one on poor Harker there. The bodies from the first murders are in the ice house at the jail, you can see them for yourselves if you wish."
Sighing as he gazes up at the helm, Marcellano folds his arms. "To be honest, I don't rightly know. I rather insisted that my companions help me remove it from the ruin, but we haven't discussed what to do with it now that it's back in Sandpoint. I don't suppose there's any museum or historical society in town that would be interested in it?"
Marcel's mouth tightens into a grim line as Hemlock describes the symbol carved into the men's chest. "As I feared. This symbol is associated with Karzoug, the Runelord who ruled this area millennia ago. I also saw it on the tome held by the apparition in the ruin. Whoever this is...they know something of what we've been researching." Turning to one side slightly, and pulling Cadas aside, he murmurs, "You are sure the barghest you found did not escape? Was there anything else you encountered there that is unaccounted for?"
Inside the mill, the wizard's eyes widen, and he pulls a handkerchief out from one pocket to cover his mouth. Not quickly enough--he ducks into one corner and dry heaves once before straightening back up and casting his eyes over the scene before them. "Sweet Nethys's hand...that poor girl." It's hard to tell whether the tears moistening his eyes are from sympathy or the stench. He only glances into the saw before stepping over to examine Harker's body. "The seven-pointed star again...I wonder what it could mean?" Eyeing the handaxe in the floor, he comments, "The murder weapon, presumably...though I lack the anatomical expertise to state that with any certainty. I wonder what lends it that odor of rot?"