The Demon's Bile is yielding but sticky.
It sticks to Carson's shoes and trouser bottoms, to his hands and sleeves, to the young woman whose still body he begins to pull from the goop.
She is alive but unconscious. Worryingly thin and pale. Her only distinguishing mark is a holy symbol of Erastil hung on a cord around her neck.
After some confusion, Ildris Ruvarra is called and uses the channelled divine energy of Erastil to banish the last flecks of Demon's Bile while healing our heroes and the apprentices.
They are all brought the the infirmary for care to restore their drained strength, while Gellion fails into a deep swoon after the potion of remove disease is forced down his spluttering throat.
A few days later, Gellion, deeplty embarrassed, calls upon the heroes to offer his profound gratitude to the group of Pathfinders.
Meanwhile, Sandra Trinelli asks the group if there is anything she can do to show Saringallow's gratitude? When you mention the three treatise of Hitchcock McGuffin - Red Rivers of Woe, The Hopeless Heart and Called by Blood - she summons her factotum. The yougn woman also serves as librarian of the town records and she soon unearths a copy of Red Rivers of Woe.
However, unearthing the other volumes may take some time.
Maybe Trinelli will find some use for you while you hang around..?
Gellion is full of remorse and the change in his demeanour is so sudden and complete that he must have been afflicted.
The fact that magics to remove disease cured him is further evidence of his innocence.
Majara always encouraged her student to make field observations. He made the mistake of tasting the strange goop he found in the cemetery.
For an experienced alchemist, tasting substances they know to be safe can be a quick test of purity, concentration or freshness. Gellion made the novice mistake of imitation without understanding.
Gellion appreciates your kindness.
He has no idea of the bile's source. He just found it laying across the corner of the tomb where he and Nolaria used to meet and play around with alchemical concoctions.
|
In the days following the events at the warehouse, Carson spends his time getting to know the layout of the town and talking to the locals. He is looking for two things.
The first is any rumors or witness to any recent local events that might lead him to source of the demon bile.
The second is any information about the mayor. Where does she live? What is her current relationship status. What does she like and dislike? Where does she spend her off duty hours.
In the days following the events at the warehouse, Carson spends his time getting to know the layout of the town and talking to the locals. He is looking for two things.
The first is any rumors or witness to any recent local events that might lead him to source of the demon bile.
[dice=Knowledge Local] d20 + 6
The second is any information about the mayor. Where does she live? What is her current relationship status. What does she like and dislike? Where does she spend her off duty hours.
[dice=Knowledge Local] d20 + 6
When Grel and Harada, investigate the tomb they find some ancient liquor bottles (empty) and pipes stuffed into a niche created by a loose block of stone. Clearly this striking statue was once someone's stash. It later became a meeting point for Gellion and Nolaria.
Carson, meanwhile, discovers that the townsfolk are much more trusting and open now that the heroes have proved themselves. Most are inclined to link the Demon's Bile to the town's troubled past but can offer little concrete.
A minor house at the time, House Sarini of Cheliax founded the town of Sarini’s Hollow in Isger as a garden estate for its more influential members several decades before the rise of House Thrune. The town grew steadily as the nobles brought in peasants to serve its many needs, from farming to ranching to housework. As the Sarinis began to dabble in witchcraft and diabolism more, the peasants also served as a steady and clandestine supply of victims. Once the townspeople caught on, they executed all the Sarinis they could catch and drove out the other nobles.
Shortly after the uprising against House Sarini, the town’s leaders began constructing a wall that soon extended beyond the town, even enclosing some of the farmland that supported its populace. Their intention was to allow the townsfolk to live and farm in peace, and to keep the dangers of the outside world at bay. Indeed, Saringallow’s wall protected the town from most of the Goblinblood Wars’ dangers—the disorganized goblins simply flowed around it in search of easier targets. To this day, only the poorest farmers and most marginal
citizens live near the walls. The rest of Saringallow’s residents refuse to build too close, and the guards breathe heavy sighs of relief when they finish their patrols of the ramparts.
Despite its suspicious populace and high walls, trade in Saringallow has flourished thanks to its proximity to Conerica River. While noble visitors are carefully watched and merchants must subject their wares to thorough inspections, the town thrives on the varied commerce that passes through its borders.
Trinelli is, it seems, from an established and respected family with no links to Chelish nobility.
She is unmarried and lives fairly simply in quarters alongside the town hall. The Trinelli family is deeply embedded in the river trade and she also draws a wage from the town.
She is largely respected, despite the inevitable grumbles from friends of political opponents and so on.
After only two days of rest in the town, and still no sign of further information about the other two books, Trinelli sends a missive, inviting you to meet her at the temple.
When you arrive, she looks grim, "Our troubles, it seems, are far from over. I must ask for your aid again."[/b]
Ildris is with her, the priest anxiously pacing, "Gellion had a nightmare last night, terrifying babbling, and when Nolaria told him about it in the morning, he realised it was a memory."
He runs his fine fingers through thinning hair, "Nolaria's cousin, Nixa, often visits her here. She went looking for her but was caught out by Gellion on the edge of town. Rather than dragging her through Saringallow, he dragged her into the woods. When he found some Demon's Bile on the edge of a tree, he took it as a sign and dumped the unconscious girl."
Sandra takes over, "Nixa's tough, a trained soldier. She might still be alive. I need you to find out what's happened to her. And whether there is more of this cursed Demon's Bile out in the woods. Nixa's body is gone, but a tracker found goblin tracks nearby. They've been increasingly active lately and most of the sightings have originated from the area northwest of town, particularly near the homesteaders out
by Clover Stream. That’s probably a good place to start your investigation. Aside from that, I’m afraid I don’t have much else to tell you. Unless you have any specific questions?”
She looks at you expectantly, "I promise, I'll find more people to help in the archives while you're away. I can't afford the guards and they wouldn'y know where to start. We need your help."
The mayor hands Verathis a simple map
A gentle breeze takes the edge off pleasant sunshine as you stroll through the hinterlands of Saringallow. The quiet and calm stands in pleasant contrast from the daytime bustle of a port town like Saringallow.
As you pass through the lanes, a few farmers point you further along the route when you inquire about either Clover Stream or goblin activity.
"'Ow do? Aye, I bin 'earing them rumours an' all. Clover Stream, as they say, aye. Down 'ere 'n' then follow the curve o' the ol' 'illock around that there win'mill. Then straight up like an 'are an' you're well set."
Just as you begin to feel lulled to peace by the gentle day, good company and pleasant stroll, a figure approaches.
A young shepherd bolts across one of the nearby fields, clearly terrified by something behind him. He shouts and gestures frantically toward whatever he’s fleeing.“I saw them!” he screams. “Goblins! They’re in the woods! They took our sheep! You have to do something!”
If you're cool with that then it's fine by me but I should point out that your two offensive spells are fire (burning hands) and cold (ray of frost).
If you do want to rebuild, you have until your first combat action before your choices are set in place.
Carson looks at Trinelle, "I would be glad to help you in any way. I will go as you have asked and when I return I hope that we may have dinner together and get to know one another better."
Mayor Trinelli as momentarily lost for words, then she seems to give Carson another, longer look and a slight smile plays upon her lips, "I may well take you up on that invitation, Mr. Stevenson. Remind me when you return with that young woman. Good luck."
Unnamed Hero CR 1/3
XP 135
Fiendish goblin warrior 1 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 156, 294)
CE Small humanoid (goblinoid)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 Dex, +1 shield, +1 size)
hp 6 (1d10+1)
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +0
Resist cold 5, fire 5; SR 4
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee dogslicer +1 (1d4-1/19-20)
Ranged shortbow +4 (1d4-1/×3)
Special Attacks smite good
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Statistics
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Str 8, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB -1; CMD 11
Feats Improved Initiative
Skills Ride +9, Stealth +9, Swim +2; Racial Modifiers +4 Ride, +4 Stealth
Languages Goblin
Other Gear leather armor, light wooden shield, arrows (20), dogslicer[ARG], shortbow
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Special Abilities
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Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white only).
Energy Resistance, Cold (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Fire (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Fire attacks.
Smite Good (1/day) (Su) +0 to hit, +1 to damage when used.
Spell Resistance (4) You have Spell Resistance.
The boy cowers begins Grel.
The sun shines. Insects murmur...
Block 1
Harada 22
Carson 13
johnny 11Block 2
goblins 10Block 3
Grel 9
Verathis 6
The goblins can't stop giggling with excitement at their 'clever' ruse and a few of our heroes get the drop on them.
Harada casually floors a goblin...