"Lucian, I can *chhh* assist you in bearing the news. We should scout the *squeek* rest of the house for wounded first."
"Agreed. And we should have Ameiko be sent to Father Zanthus for the moment being."
"More gobos!"
Seal rushes out of the foundry and back toward which they came. He then quickly turns left and throws the door open.
Rissi trails warily behind the dwarf, chittering in disbelief at his brashness.
Seal storms through the factory, find no more goblins. Several of the room have been ransacked (or rather, destroyed) by the goblins and the servant's quarters are a bloody mess. Nothing else of note is found in the factory.
"Yes, we should. Let's head to Ameiko first. Miana, can you fetch Sheriff Hemlock and explain to him what happened? I would like him to come here and accompany Ameiko to Father Zanthus, where we could calmly tell her of her father's grim fate. Meanwhile, Sealman and Kufieno can stay here and guard Tsuto so we may interrogate him. Does it sound like an agreeable plan?"
"I think she is strong, and I do not think we should *chh* put off telling her any longer then we must. I do think she would want to be here to *chhh* witness what her brother has to say."
"You may well be right, Rissi. Let's tell her. Part of me only wished that she wouldn't have to go through all of this, but she's a strong woman."
Later when they are back with Ameiko, Lucian rests uneasy, but attempts at remaining calm and soothing while he breaks the news to her.
"Ameiko, I'm afraid the news isn't good. We have found your father upstairs, but he is no longer among us - the goblins killed him. I'm so sorry Ameiko."
Leaving her a few moments to absorb the news, he offers his strong arms to comfort his friend, if she so wishes.
"We were going to wake up and interrogate Tsuto. Would you like to be with us when we do so? I'm sure you want answers as much as we do."
Ameiko looks crestfallen at the news of her father's death but quickly regains her composure. "The stupid bastard. Yes, I'll come along. Let's go wake him up. Goblins! Really! How could he have been so stupid?"
As a bit of inspiration comes to Seal from his subconscious mind. Realizing they are the only authority in town, Seal feels empowered. As the groups moves to speak with Tsuto, Seal quietly murmurs to himself. His murmurs turn into conversational speech.
I am the law.
I am the law
Seal then stands before the unconscious Tsuto with a frantic yell and begins to pound on the table before them.
Tsuto wakes up in a daze, confused as he looks around at his captors with bloodshot eyes. "Wha. . . "
Kufieno keeps his spear at the ready and watches Tsuto intently.
Rissi opens with a simple remark to Ameiko's brother. "Tsuto we would *chhh* like to ask you a few questions. Do you *squeak* know what has happened to the glassworkers, and to your father?"
"Wha? My father? Pft, who cares? The goblins took care of him. And the rest of them. It doesn't matter. This town's going down anyways."
Tsuto tightens his lips and glares a Miana, clearly refusing to answer any more questions.
Looking about the room, however, you can find a small, leather-bound booklet containing two dozen parchment pages, most of which Tsuto has filled wit maps of Sandpoint or erotic drawings of a woman. Clearly Tsuto's journal, this proves much more informative than the man himself.
The maps each depict different attack plans. The first set shows the attack plans for a group of 30 goblins-one of these battle maps is circled, and you recognize it as the attack the goblins made on Sandpoint. Of more pressing concern are the next several pages, which illustrate an assault on Sandpoint by a force of what appears to be 200 goblins. None of these are circled, and while many are scratched out as if they've been rejected, the implications are ominous nonetheless.
The erotic drawings of the woman show her in several poses, the last of which depicts her with a single clawed hand, bat wings, horns, a forked tail, and fangs.
Three short passages in Tsuto's journal contain particularly informative passages:
The raid went about as planned. Few Thistletop goblins perished, and we were able to secure Tobyn's casket with ease while the rubes were distracted by the rest. I can't wait until the real raid. This town deserves a burning, that's for sure.
Ripnugget seems to favor the overwhelming land approach, but I don't think it's the best plan. We should get the quasit's aid. Send her freaks up from below via the smuggling tunnel in my father's Glassworks, and then invade from the river and from the Glassworks in smaller but more focused strikes. The rest except Bruthazmus agree, and I'm pretty sure the bugbear's just being contrary to annoy me. My love's too distracted with the lower chambers to make a decision. Says that once Malfeshnekor's released and under her command, we won't need to worry about being subtle. Hope she's right.
My love seems bent on going through with it-nothing I can say convinces her of her beauty. She remains obsessed with removing what she calls her "celestial tain" and replacing it with her Mother's grace. Burning her father's remains at the Thistletop shrine seems to have started the transformation, but I can't say her new hand is pleasing to me. Hopefully when she offers Sandpoint to Lamashtu's fires, her new body won't be as hideous. Maybe I'll luck out. Succubi are demons too, aren't they?
"This seems very, very *chhh* bad. The city should be alerted as to the goblin danger, and the matter of these *squeek* tunnels should be investigated as well. A quasit, too!" She squeeks in dismay at the thought of the demon presence.
Rissi pulls out a scrap of paper and scribes a quick note in Tien "Honored Mother and Father, Sisters; town will be under attack by goblins soon; please prepare to defend yourself, and pack to flee if necessary - Rissi" She shakes a fat rat out of her sleeve, ties the scrap to it's neck and gives it a few instructions in Tien. It scampers off.
"Perhaps one of the more fleet among us might alert the city, while the rest investigate the tunnels?"
Lucian blushes as he catches glimpse of the drawings made by Tsuto. "This would be Nualia, I think..." he shortly says, unable to take his look away from the mesmerizing and evocative depictions of Father's Tobyn's daughter.
"I... I believe we should warn the town at once, and set up defenses, watches. I'm not one for this job, and we should find this quasit together in my opinion."
|
"Yes, let's take Tsuto in custody and investigate these tunnels. But together. Perhaps we can find more clues, but if the threats to Sandpoint are lurking, we may need all of our strength and wit to handle it. At the very least, we could sabotage the tunnels so they cannot be used as a hidden point of entry."
The woman's features are clearly some sort of demonic transformation.
Quasits are are tiny demons with ram horns curling back. They have thin and wiry bodies with small wings. They have DR/cold iron or good, are immune to electricity and poison, and resist damage from acid, cold, and fire. They have poisonous claws and can turn invisible at will.
Lamashtu is the "Mother of Monsters" and the goddess of madness, monsters, and nightmares. She is chaotic evil. Her worshipers seek out deformity both in themselves and others. Scarring rituals and mutilation are common among the faithful. Lamashtu's crude depictions usualy paint her as a jackal-headed woman with long feathered wings, taloned feet, and a great swollen belly. Such images frequently include a multitude of monsters gathering to her call, with the favored rising above the rest.
Ritual garb includes a jackal mask made of leather or precious metal, a cloak of black feathers, and a pair of swords or knives decorated to resemble the Demon Queen's own weapons (falcion). Places of worship are often as simple as a flat rock but might include a ring of stones, pillars, trees, or wooden blocks; some might have a deep hole in the ground or access to some sort of chasm representing an entrance to the goddess's underworld realm. Her holy "text" is the Skull of Mashag, a magical skull that recites the goddess' doctrine.
She is certainly one of the most powerful demon lords and as such is known as the Demon Queen. Lamashtu's favor appears as violent dreams, sudden deformities, or unexplained pregnancies resulting in the painful (often fatal) birth of a deformed child. She shows her disfavor in the form of painful welts or nightmares.
--
Quasits are are tiny demons with ram horns curling back. They have thin and wiry bodies with small wings. They have DR/cold iron or good, are immune to electricity and poison, and resist damage from acid, cold, and fire. They have poisonous claws and can turn invisible at will.
--
You recognize Malfeshnekor as a proper name of some sort of outsider; the roots seem to lie in Infernal.
--
Lamashtu is the "Mother of Monsters" and the goddess of madness, monsters, and nightmares. She is chaotic evil. Her worshipers seek out deformity both in themselves and others. Scarring rituals and mutilation are common among the faithful. Lamashtu's crude depictions usualy paint her as a jackal-headed woman with long feathered wings, taloned feet, and a great swollen belly. Such images frequently include a multitude of monsters gathering to her call, with the favored rising above the rest.
Ritual garb includes a jackal mask made of leather or precious metal, a cloak of black feathers, and a pair of swords or knives decorated to resemble the Demon Queen's own weapons (falcion). Places of worship are often as simple as a flat rock but might include a ring of stones, pillars, trees, or wooden blocks; some might have a deep hole in the ground or access to some sort of chasm representing an entrance to the goddess's underworld realm. Her holy "text" is the Skull of Mashag, a magical skull that recites the goddess' doctrine.
She is certainly one of the most powerful demon lords and as such is known as the Demon Queen. Lamashtu's favor appears as violent dreams, sudden deformities, or unexplained pregnancies resulting in the painful (often fatal) birth of a deformed child. She shows her disfavor in the form of painful welts or nightmares.
--
Thistletop lies almost four miles due east of Sandpoint as the crow flies, on the shore north of the Nettlewood. Along the Lost Coast Road, it is about a six mile journey. Thistletop is located on the coast-approaching the land is difficult since the tangles of Nettlewood are in the way. It is generally known to be on the best goblin strongholds, as it is primarily a large fort on a rock just off the shore, with only a rope-and-plank bridge connecting it to the nearby cliff.
Ritual garb includes a jackal mask made of leather or precious metal, a cloak of black feathers, and a pair of swords or knives decorated to resemble the Demon Queen's own weapons (falcion). Places of worship are often as simple as a flat rock but might include a ring of stones, pillars, trees, or wooden blocks; some might have a deep hole in the ground or access to some sort of chasm representing an entrance to the goddess's underworld realm. Her holy "text" is the Skull of Mashag, a magical skull that recites the goddess' doctrine.
She is certainly one of the most powerful demon lords and as such is known as the Demon Queen. Lamashtu's favor appears as violent dreams, sudden deformities, or unexplained pregnancies resulting in the painful (often fatal) birth of a deformed child. She shows her disfavor in the form of painful welts or nightmares.
*ch-ch-ch* "We desire weapons of iron worked cold, a clever way of dealing with the invisible, and something to ward against poison if we wish to *squeek* slay the quasit quickly. I could procure these things while others alert the townsfolk and *chhh* secure Tsuto. Then we could head into beneath the earth..."
"We should go now and head off the attack before it starts! Remember, We Are The Law," Seal says with a childish smile.
"Besides Ameiko can take her brother into custody and warn the townfolk."
Before Tsuto can protest, Seal smacks him across the jaw.
"Grobi-za"
"The law we may *chhh* be, but our enemies would appear numerous and *squeek* well prepared. Shall we not make at least some preparations?"
Lucian is quick to reveal what he knows or can discern among these informations. "I concur, we need either cold iron weapons, or blessed ones to harm a quasit. They resist most elements, and are immune to electricity and poison, but their greatest power lies in their sneakiness, as they can turn invisible any time they wish to."
"This Malfeshnekor name sounds as if it came from the Nine Hells - a strange perspective since both the Quasit and Nualia's transformation are of demonic origins - the mortal enemies of devils from Hell."
"As for Thistletop, I believe I know where it is located. It's about four miles east of Sandpoint, on the shore near Nettlewood. However, I strongly urge you all to explore what is beneath our feet before we venture out of Sandpoint."
"Infernal? Indeed that is strange. Why would a *chhhh* follower of the demon mother seek to bind such a creature. Perhaps I will seek some weapons of silver as well. Give us just an hour, *squeek* Sealman."
"I have my weapons. I have my armor. Prêt-à-porter. We go in. Make the goblins sleep, the town sleeps easy. Pin-pin for both groups. Pin-pin! Besides, book said that only small strike force would be coming through the tunnel. Goblins are already small, so it's really a tiny strike force. It will be like killing rats."
Rissi hisses angrily. *sssss "Then you underestimate the tenacity of both *grrr* goblins, demons, and especially rats." Rissi storms upstairs angrily.
"Prêt-à-porter."
---
After gathering a few supplies and warning a few of the locals to be prepared for more goblin attacks, the party heads back down in the basement to follow the tunnel below.
The long tunnel winds for some distance through the bedrock below Sandpoint. You follow it for near three-quarters of a mile before arriving at a dead end.
+2 for Stonework.
"Oh look, a door."
Seal moves to push open the secret door on the side of the wall as if it lead into home-style kitchen.
Rissi will purchases a cold-iron cestus for Miana and a cold-iron short sword for Kufieno (unless they indicate different weapons), as well as an alchemical silver dagger (which she'll also give to Miana); she makes sure to remind Savah of his discount, unable to ignore her mercantile background.
Rissi also purchases two bags of powder for everyone. She returns with great haste to the basement, stopping to collect Brihz on the way.
Lucian sells his dagger, buys a cold iron morningstar and a silver light mace. Thanking Savah for her special discount, he heads back to the Glassworks to meet his companions, ready to face what is to come.
Seal opens the door and enters a eo-foot-diameter cave on the side of the cliff overlooking the Varisian Gulf. The cave mouth slopes down to a narrow beach; you all notice the crude collection of goblin beds and the remnants of their meals strewn about the cave.
From the tunnel's southern half, two side tunnels branch off. One leads east to a collapse after 400 feet, but the one to the west seems to ahve once been bricked over at the point where it diverges from the main tunnel. This westerly passageway winds for 50 feet before turning north for another 100 feet.
As the tunnel continues on, the party sees a passage to the right. As you approach closer, you see that the tunnel is being guarded by a hairless humanoid lurching on back-bent, dog-like legs. Its hideous mouth is flanked by tiny arms with three-fingered hands.
The creature lumbers out of its watching place and attacks the leading dwarf with a long weapon of its own.
"Sinspawn! Spell resistance and *chhh* their bites cause evil thoughts!"
"Hey! Hey-hey-hey-hey!
Seal swings at the mouthy creature with his pole arm in response to his rude introduction. The dwarf then closes the gap to allow others through.
Nodding at Rissi's indications, the young Varisian steps forward and prays for guidance upon Miana.
Rissi lobs acid at the sinspawn but it sizzles as it hits the wall.
Seal slices into the creature!
Miana then moves up and swings but it dodges her sword.
Lucian moves in and gives guidance to Miana.
Kufieno fires his crossbow, but only narrowly avoids shooting Seal in the back!
Kufieno's crossbow bold misses the sinspawn!
---
The sinspawn keeps its distance from Seal and swings its polearm again.
Rissi splashes acid once again!
The two hits from the sinspawn has made the dwarf quite bloodied. Seal tries to hold back the boiling rage inside of him and swings again at the spawn.
Lucian moves to cover Sealman's back, and provides him with guidance.
Rissi hits the sinspawn with a glob of acid and Miana finishes it off with a hit from her sword!