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"While Foxglove was upset, this slaughter is completly out of proportion as a response! He has some serious anger issues!" Cerin exclaims, gritting his teeth as lightning flashes across his eyes.
"I am going to have to have words with him when we get back..." he states ominously as he starts off back towards town.
Aghast at the senseless slaughter, Lynnda responds, "Oh, it's gunna be more than words!"
Looking at Halvor carrying the bulk of the slain boar, "It's a few miles back to town. I think we might need to hang the carcass from a tree and come back for it later."
She looks to Cerin's opinion on that comment.
Halvor, taken aback at the scene, turns to Lynnda, a quip on his tongue. Wisdom prevails, however, and he keeps his joke to himself in the face of her anger. In response to her statement, he shrugs.
"I'm half workhorse myself, Lynnda. I'll be able to manage. I don't know much about hunting and the woods, but I know if we leave it strung up here some predator is bound to take it."
Shaking her head and nursing dark thoughts, Lynnda trudges after Cerin on the walk back to Sandpoint. "Well, at least it isn't raining."
The party makes its way down the lost coast road back to Sandpoint. As you proceed through north gate the guard on watch cheerfully waves at you. You arrive at the Rusty Dragon and present your trophy to the cook Bethana (Ameiko is not around presently). She seems overjoyed and comments that there will be a fine feast put on tonight.
After quickly freshening up you proceed to the White Deer Inn in order to locate Aldern Foxglove. You arrive and speak with the inn-keeper Garridan.
“I’m afraid you’ve missed him. He returned here the better part of hour ago. He settled his account while his servants packed up his belongings. He did mention that he had business at the stables before he left town though. While I don’t mind catering to wealthy folk such as him if I’m to be honest I am relieved that he’s gone. If you ask me there was always something a bit odd about him. He had a nasty temper which I unfortunately saw on occasion. Also, when he returned he was covered in animal blood. Gruesome sight! I take it his hunt was successful?”
”Anyway, how are you enjoying your accommodations over at the Rusty Dragon? I hear Ameiko is a generous host. Having said that you really should consider making the White Deer Inn your home while in town. We have more spacious rooms and a finer stock of wine than Ameiko. I would of course not require payment for food or lodging. Please consider my offer…”
As you politely excuse yourselves Garridan continues to make appeals - even following you onto the street!
A short walk later and you find yourselves at the Goblin Squash Stables. The operator Daviren Hosk reveals what he knows of Foxglove.
”He came by here not too long ago. Was in a mighty hurry. He told me what happened. Must have been one heck of a wild boar to maim three good horses. While the loss is unfortunate I must say that Mr. Foxglove certainly compensated me handsomely. I wager that he paid more than double the value of my lost stock. Huh? Where’d he go? He and his two servants took off quick on their own mounts. He was travelling light and in a good rush. I understand that he was headed south back to Magnimar. Did you still have business with the man? I can’t believe he skipped out owing you any coin. The man’s generosity was legendary – even if he was a little off.”
"Well, Mr. Gressel, we did catch a boar, but I would't exactly call the hunt a success. We saw a very dark side of Foxglove. Honestly, we wanted to see him to give him a dressing-down about how he treated us-- especially since we saved his life on Goblin Day!"
"I'm glad he paid you for the horses, Mr. Horsk. It wasn't the boar that killed them-- Foxglove killed your horses with his boar spear. I think it was because the hunt didn't go according to plan, and to make us walk back to town dragging the boar with us."
She sighs, then adds under her breath, "I'm starting to wish we'd let the goblins get him."
Halvor lets Lynnda and the others do the talking, not trusting himself to put the delicate spin on things that dealing with the nobility usually entails. Listening to Lynnda talk to the Innkeeper and the horse trader, he realizes he needn't have worried.
His shoulders ache from hauling the boar, but he feels pretty good otherwise. They would eat well tonight, and get started on the trail again tomorrow. He believed the signs they had seen had pointed to Lonjiku, but it was all circumstantial. Perhaps a nice quiet evening at the Dragon would bring an epiphany.
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Cerin snorts at the innkeeper's understatement. "Temper doesn't even begin to describe it! The blood you saw wasn't from the hunt. It was from him slaughtering the poor defenseless horses afterwards because he didn't get to make the kill! I would be wary of allowing him to stay at your inn in the future. Who knows what else he is capable of..."
"Krissina, have you found out anything of interest?" Cerin asks as they walk back to the Dragon for some dinner. All that walking has left him with a ravenous appetite.
When they are out of hearing of any townsfolk, he remarks quietly "Unless anyone has any better ideas, mayhap we should 'investigate' the Glassworks tonight?"
Halvor looks around self-consciously. He did not approve of this plan, but it seemed as though they were at a dead end without investigating the building. He would accompany them, if only to make sure that investigating was all his companions did.
"I agree, Cerin...we seem to be low on other options."
Seeing Halvor nod in agreement to Cerin's suggestion, Lynnda adds, "Yeah. I think old man Kaijitsu is dirty somehow. He seemed hopping mad at Ameiko for taking a shine to the likes of us... Let's see if we can get any dirt on him. Starting with: What could he have gained from backing the goblin attack?"
It is early afternoon and the Rusty Dragon is as bustling as ever. The kitchen staff laboriously prepare for the evening feast. News of your successful hunt has created a hum of interest. As the afternoon wears on many townsfolk gather in the common room. Drink and cheer are bandied about and most of the patrons are eager to listen to your tales of adventure. The feast is a great success and you are thanked repeatedly by everyone. Strangely absent is Ameiko. Later, after supper you seek out the head cook Bethana. You find her with a worried look upon her brow clutching a rolled bit of parchment.
”This can’t be good. Can’t be good at all. You see, I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just so unlike Ameiko to disappear for whole day without letting us know. She usually never misses a meal service. No one has seen her since early this morning. I’ve sent young Garron over to her father’s home. I thought maybe she went to have words with him after what happened. But no one is home over there. So I took it upon myself to enter her room. I know it was wrong but I did find this note near her bed. It’s scribed in Minkian you see. But Ameiko’s been teaching me her words these last few years. I scribed out a translation in common on the back. What do you make of this?”
Bethana hands you the parchment. It reads:
Hello, Sis! I hope this letter finds you well, and with some free time on your hands, because we’ve got something of a problem. It’s to do with Father. Seems that he might have had something to do with Sandpoint’s recent troubles with the goblins, and I didn’t want to bring the matter to the authorities because we both know he’d just weasel his way out of it. You’ve got some pull here in town, though. If you can meet me at the glassworks as soon as possible maybe we can figure out how to make sure he faces the punishment he deserves. Knock twice and then, three times and then once more at the delivery entrance and I’ll let you in. In any case, I don’t have to impress upon you the delicate nature of this request. If news got out, you know that these local rubes would assume that you and I are in on the whole thing too, don’t you? They’ve got no honor at all around these parts. I still don’t understand how you can stand to stay here. Anyway, don’t tell anyone about this. There are other complications as well, ones I’d rather talk to you in person about. Don’t keep me waiting too long. Tsuto
Bethana waits patiently until you finish reading the note.
”You see, Tsuto is Ameiko’s estranged brother. When Tsuto was born it was something of a scandal. The boy clearly had elvish blood in him. With wide eyes and sharp ears. Of course, neither of Ameiko’s parents are elvish so it was clear that old Lonjiku wasn’t the boys father. Tsuto was disowned by his father and raised outside the Kaijitsu family in the academy. Ameiko didn’t find out about her brother until much later. Things went on that way for a while until one day Ameiko and Tsuto had a terrible argument and Ameiko left town shortly after. She was gone for over a year. It was her Mother’s funeral that eventually brought her back to Sandpoint. She tried to reunite her family but the hatred between Tsuto and Lonjiku was strong and Tsuto accused Lonjiku of pushing Atsuii (Ameiko and Tsuto’s Mother) off of the cliff to her death. Lonjiku always claimed it was an accident. During the funeral there was a tremendous argument and Longjiku very nearly broke Tsuto’s jaw with his cane. Tsuto cursed Longjiku that day and fled Sandpoint. Ameiko has searched for her brother from time to time but has never been able to find any clue as to his whereabouts. Now, it looks like Tsuto has returned and I have a mind to think that he’s plotting something no good. Will you please try to help Ameiko?”
After reading the note, Lynnda exhanges glances with her friends. "Looks like we're not the only ones who suspect Old Man Kaijitsu of being up to no good." She then looks at Bethana, and asks, "Did you know Tsuto? You say he might be plotting something-- what makes you think so?"
Halvor looks troubled by developments. He is wanting to hurry to the Glassworks, but realizes that gathering information might be the more intelligent thing to do and thus waits while Lynnda and the others ask questions.
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"Hmmm, the only motive I can think of for Lonjiku to plan something like this would be to reap the profits for replacing glass smashed by the goblins, although I admit I do not know the man that well.
From what you are telling us, it seems that Tsuto would have a much stronger motive to get revenge on his father by framing him for the attack, destroying his business and standing in the community." Cerin muses aloud.
"We'll know more when we get to the Glassworks, Ameiko's looked after me for a long while and I don't like the sound of this." Krissina says as she puts her cloak back on.
You gather your equipment and proceed to investigate the Sandpoint Glassworks. A short walk brings you to the western edge of town. Here, close to the sea sits the Glassworks. The large stone structure combines the actual factory with a shop where potential customers can view completed works. It is known that there are several storerooms and offices located within. The building is curiously quiet although the deep rumble of the furnace can be heard from within and thick plumes of smoke rise lazily out of the massive chimney. A quick inspection of the premises reveals that all of the windows are blacked out from within by means of heavy curtains drawn. From the roof there is a soft orange glow reaching up into the night sky.
Halvor looks uneasily at the others. The place should be alive with activity at this time, with the curtains drawn back to offer prospective customers a glimpse of the craftsmanship to be found inside. He gives the front door a cursory turn (he does not open the door or enter).
She follows Cerin around the building looking for signs of life and any open windows to peek into. In a whisper, she comments, "Given the time of day, it makes sense that it should be closed. The furnace usually runs all day every day-- I hear it takes a couple of days for it to get up to temperature to melt glass, so they only shut it down once or twice a year for maintenance."
Halvor nods in response to Lynnda, shrugging. She was admittedly smarter than him, so he would take her word for it.
As you circle the building you locate numerous means on entry. There is the main customer door to the shop (Q22). There is another side door which presumably leads to offices (Q6). There is a set of double doors at the side of the building (J2). Severals sets of wagon wheel ruts lead in and out of these doors. There is also another set of double doors which open up to the back of the building and provide access to the beach below (H23). All the doors and windows seem to be are securly locked.
As you conduct your search of the perimter the noise of the constantly rumbling furnace within accompanies you. Through the roar - for a brief moment you think you may have heard the sound of shattering glass combined with a maniacal laughter and scampering feet.
Halvor looks to his companions as they return, grim-faced. "Are we going in the front, or one of the side doors?"
"Let's try the side door, by the offices. Maybe that will tell us what's going on here."
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Cerin closes his eyes, cocks his head and tries to pinpoint the direction from which the noises originated. If he fails to discern their location, he suggests "Mayhap we might try the double doors or rear entrance? From the sound of breaking glass, I think it would be more likely to find the cause of the disturbance in the working area."
"Okay," whispers the sorceress. "Let's try the double doors." She doubles back toward them, trying to step as lightly as she can.
Halvor attempts to follow suit, clanking his way towards the double doors in Lynnda's wake. He winces at each footfall, finally just drawing his blade and shield and shrugging at the others. If they depended on him for stealth, they were bound to need his sword arm before long.
Krissina follows close behind, before anyone opens the doors she whispers something, reaches towards whomever is taking the lead and a small spark flies from her fingers.
Lynnda tries the door to see if it's locked.
After checking the door you discover that its firmly locked. Cerin pipes up:
"Don't bother my dear. I've already checked. All the doors and every window I looked at is locked up tight."
The party briefly turns to Kyrian to see if he has anything to contibute. He gases musingly at his companions for a moment.
"What do I look like - a locksmith?"
Momentarily stymied - you must think of another way in. The lock appears to be of simple construction and could probably be broken or the door bashed in, but you guess that would make considerable noise. Yet still, with furnace rumbling away in the background muffling the noise...
Halvor takes out his hammer, pointing at the hammer, then one of the windows, shrugging. He waits for input before he just starts a-smashing.
Lynnda cringes as Halvor's hammer strikes the window. "So much for stealth..."
Seeing no one objecting and one gesture of assent, Halvor makes quick work of the window with his hammer, stowing it and drawing his sword and shield before preparing to enter the building.
Halvor lines up with his hammer and strikes the window forcefully. The bottom half of the window shatters on impact and bits of broken glass rain down from above. Halvor takes a few more swings to smash all the ragged and loose pieces of glass away and the window is clear. He quickly pockets his hammer, draws his weapon and clambers through the window. He climbs over a shelf perched just below the window and lands on the tiled floor of the room within. His heavy boots crunching the glass strewn about the floor below. He quickly takes in his surroundings. This in a small storage room which seems to contain mostly files and books. Probably the business records for the Glassworks. Prepared for danger Halvor presses onward into the next room with the group following close behind.
You next enter what appears to be a reception room. There is a desk, some comfortable chairs and a bench in this room and not much else. There are three exits from this room one door leads due West the other opens to the South. There is also a door which leads back outside (this door is locked). You still don’t hear or see any activity or response to your intrusion.
Krissina anxiously looks around, whilst her reasons are true she is still breaking and entering - a first for her.
"lets keep moving, perhaps the West door?" Krissina says quietly.
Halvor waits while Cerin peeks through, sword drawn and at the ready should the gnome say the word.
Cerin strains while listening at the door. Beyond the deep base of the Furnace, he hears nothing.
"I've got a bad feeling about this..." whispers Lynnda.
As the group moves into the next area the rythmic sound of the furnace grows louder. You enter into a passageway that links several doors. There is a large door to the north West, another in the East wall. Another door leads South East and there are double doors which open to the South. The western stone wall of this area is very warm to the touch. You listen at each door and fail to detect anything abnormal.
"If it's Tsuto working with the goblins, then they'll want to be near the furnace, goblins can't resist fire. West?"
Halvor nods to the redhead, ambling up to the door and putting his ear to it. After everyone gathers up, if he hears nothing, he will open the door, weapons at the ready.
Lynnda readies her crossbow, cocks it, and loads a bolt.
"Makes sense to me. Let's check it out."
You push the double doors open and reveal the room beyond. This appears to be a loading and unloading area. The large double doors to the North lead outside. There are boxes of mundane supplies and stacks of boards here. A wheelbarrow sits against the wall. The shelves contain materials you assume are used in the process of glassmaking. There is assortment of glass reagents containing many different colours of chemicals and compounds. A small safe on the floor hangs open and empty.
The most interesting feature here is a covered wagon which you recognize as the exact same make and colour of the charred one you investigated earlier at the wheelwright’s shop. On the sides of this one Krissina can clearly make out in Minkia lettering “Sandpoint Glassworks”. She determines that this would match the script on the other wagon.
As you proceed to investigate the room you all suddenly hear the sound of more breaking glass and devious laughter. As you pinpoint the direction of the noise you can begin to make out the sounds of creatures conversing and laughing in the next room (beyond the double doors to the South). Although you can’t make out the words, the language is unmistakably Goblin. These doors are extremely warm to the touch. There is also a door out of this room that leads to the West.
Glassworks Map
Halvor looks grimly at his companions as they continue to hear the merry-making of the vicious little creatures. He waits for nods or whispers of readiness, then will throw the doors open, hoping to surprise the little curs.