GM Silbeg's Thornkeep: The Forgotten Laboratory (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

Who are the Brambleclaws?

You were partying all night with them!

Man, that party last night really knocked me about! I can't remember anything... even things I used to know before the party! I suppose we'd best canvas the neighborhood to discover how many more things the folk around here want from these pesky goblins before going to them and asking them a favor. Favor 1: move away from the temple. Favor 2: let us have some goblinbramble berries. Getting complicated. My head hurts.

"No problems. Brambleclaws are friends. We'll be happy to get you these berries." The man states this matter-of-factly. If they were going to be doing random things around town, they might as well add another task to the list. He waits to see who else needs some 'kindness' after last night's antics.

"I will rescue your berries." Ophiuchus declares, turns heel, and marches back to the goblins.

"Perhaps Arturo can exchange some berries for a couple sessions of giggle-pokes..." the youth calls out as he turns and runs after Ophiuchus, his voice tailing off for the halfling.

Back with Taronnel

"My sincere apologies m'lady. I was under the impression we had taken care of the problem. We will work to remedy the situation as soon as we can."

As they go to get the berries

Jaender stifles a guffaw as the group moves back to speak with the goblins.

"I've got some words for them myself. I was under the understanding that they would be moving their riotous partying farther away from the village. This will not stand."

Maybe I will get to burn more goblins anyways! That would certainly shut them up...

The group makes their way back across town to the Briarwarren, otherwise known as the "goblinbramble". You see a few goblins going about their daily tasks (mostly collecting junk and hunting rats).

The Great Chief is nowhere to be seen, but the detritus from last night's celebration is everywhere.

Arturo has a look around to see if he can spy anything that might look like a goblinbriar with berries on it. If he sees something like that, he'll just walk up and start popping them in his now empty large sack.

"Hello, my good goblins! It is a fine day for picking berries! Could you direct me to the nearest goblinbriar bush?" Roudantaimi greets the goblins from the top of his mount.

Thinking that communicating with these creatures is quite a bother, the brute nods at Arturo's thinking, following along and helping to pick the berries, if a suitable patch can be found. Hell, half the goblins were still probably in their drunk-sleep.

Vox continually stands watch around Einhardt, trying to keep an eye out for any additional goblins which might move to provoke her. The wolf turns and whirls, spinning to see each goblin which may stand close by, angrily remembering the shenanigans of the night previous. "Keep it moving," the youth says as a small cluster of goblins passes close-by. "Nothing to see here."

"Of course he is no where around. I suppose we will run into him again..."

How in the world would we convince a goblin chief to move his tribe from their spot? Probably a better chance of pushing a 2 legged elephant up a hill...

Vox is able to prevent the goblins from showing their apparent love of his companion... which reduces some of the stress on the poor wolf.

"Well," begins Arturo, scratching his head, "I don't think we're going to get anymore of these berries. Hope this cup is enough. Seems like we are much better tomb robbers than bush robbers."

Arturo scratches his head some more before rubbing the rest of the berry juice into his mustache and twirling it at the ends, "Let's give these to the poor woman and then get back on track to checking out the mill. We can entreat the goblin chief to leave this area another time.

"Changing the topic a little," says Arturo as they walk back to the alchemist, "What do all of you think about getting that little cabin? I know I could use a bit of distance between myself and temptation. The privacy might be nice, too."

"If the cabin is secluded, I know Einhardt would love to range free beneath the sky whenever there are spare moments, and we are not cooped up underground in some never ending span of tunnels," Vox says, agreeing with the mustachioed gentleman. "I'm all for it."

The man just shrugs his shoulders. Until recently, he slept outside or in quarters so cramped they would likely be called kennels if an animal were put in them. The accommodations made no difference to him, but if his fellows would be pleased with this cabin, then he would go along for their sake.

A look of sadness on his face, Ophiuchus returns with the other Pathfinders. He is happy to once again be adventuring with his friends, but looking for berries, eating slugs, bullied by fur traders, it was not the adventure that Ophiuchus craved, it was not what he needed to banish the constant thoughts of Merian back to his subconscious. Perhaps this miller saw dead things that were once alive and are now alive again that needed to be dead, or perhaps he was missing a cousin or aunt that needed rescuing. Better yet, maybe he knew something about the evil person making wild animals more wild. At this thought, Ophiuchus perks up a bit, imagining swinging his flail right into the evil man's face.

"Mr. Hairlip, we can move our belonging into the cabin if you like. I will require all of the lights to go out when the sun goes down so that I may retire for the night. I would also ask you to read me a story if I cannot fall asleep, or maybe the big man that sings can soothe me with a lullaby, or the man that talks to animals can teach me how to speak to ducks, or the little man that burps fire can warm my brazier when I get cold, or the you man can let his pretty wolf sleep at the foot of my bed. This is sounding like a better idea all the time."

"Well, it sounds like we'll be getting the cabin, then," says Arturo with a smile, "And I can tell you a story whenever you like, Ophiuchus. I just won't be able to read you one after lights out. I can't see in the dark. Oh, here is our mistress of potions... m'lady! We have procured you some berrie. I doubt they'll last you long, but perhaps until the briars grow some more..."

"Oh, these berries..!" Roudantaimi lightens up, recognizing the berry. "I saved up some of those last night, for a groovier dungeon explore.." But reaching to his berry-stash in his pocket, all the gnome finds is gooey juice...

The happy looking gnome looks up from her shucking once more. She sees the amount that the team has brought her, and surprisingly looks very happy about it! "Why, thank you! How did you manage? The goblins always shoo me away if I try and harvest them! This will be enough to start a new batch of my sedative, though it won't be a large batch."

She notices Roudantaimi licking his fingers. "Oh, be careful with that. The berries are rather intoxicating, you know!"

She rushes into the store, and comes out with a small packet wrapped in waxed paper. "Alchemist's kindness, for you. Just eat one of these in the morning after you've had a bit to much to drink, and your headache will go away. I warn you, though, they are quite bitter, even though I've made them into a candy."

"Thank you so much, you beautiful descendant of the First World, you," says Arturo with the best flirtatious grin he can manage, "I'm sure these will do just the trick. We'll be sure to call again if we find more berries."

Arturo bows deeply and pops a pill into his mouth. Trying hard to hide his gagging, he turns from the alchemist and bangs his chest with his fist to get it the last of the way down.

"Well," says Arturo, turning to his companions, "Let's go see that miller!"

"Time for the Miller! Miller Time! Huh... that has an interesting ring to it..."

Jaender, disappointed he could not confront the goblin chief about disturbing the peace reluctantly goes along, confident he will get another chance.

"A cabin in the woods? Seems like a good idea to me, less questions about what we are doing, unless we want to be available to have them asked. Should be interesting!"

The pill is extremely bitter (think of an old-school aspirin... but add in some caffeine, and other interesting things), but Arturo manages to choke it down. The licorice-laced candy did help, but the bitterness was still there. He wonders what is in those things! For a moment, he is concerned that it was going to make things worse, for as soon as it hits his stomach, he feels a burning in his gut. However, the pounding in his head soon subsides, making him feel quite a bit better than he did previously.

Jaender notices the Goldenfire Tower, a four story round stone tower, to the Southwest. He seems to remember something about needing to visit there, perhaps for some clue. What it was, he can't quite remember.

As Jaender ambles along with the group towards the mill, the Goldenfire tower catches his eye.

Hey thats the... Goldenfire... Why does that sound familiar?

He taps his head a few times as if the knocking of his hand might jar the memory loose...

"You know, I don't know that we ever went to brag to the wizards of the goldenfire order that we cracked the secret of that door they tried for so long to figure out. Wait a minute... Order... Iliara Starcloak! I can't believe I almost forgot. She is the one looking for two of her missing associates. I remember Cyrul babbling on and on, like a squirrel running from tree to tree... He started talking about Iliara, and from that was asking around about the missing wizards. That is how he stumbled upon the stories of the person mutating the animals. We should go talk to her!"

Thanks for the hint! I knew it sounded familiar, I had to scroll back through posts to find it. PbP FTW! I need to do better at updating our document too...

"Might as well do it on the way!" says Arturo cheerfully, making a beeline for Goldenfire tower. He's still not quite sure what they're going to do there, but he's happy to do it. This aboveground adventuring was beginning to grow on him. Picking berries and chatting to damsels was slightly easier than slaying centipedes. Only slightly.

The brute trudges along contentedly, following his companions around on the various tasks and pieces of business that the people of the town had heaped on them. It was one of those situations where he wondered how they had gotten along before his group came along...but maybe there were always adventurous types passing through to handles these things.

The slightly change of plans is met with a nonchalant shrug. Cabin, Tower, Miller, whatever.

As you enter the Goldenfire Tower, you are greeted by a young human man (Timbor). Timbor is wearing wizardly robes, and looks to be copying some sort of manuscript. "How may I help you gentlemen?" he asks.

"Hello wizard. I am Ophiuchus the battle nagaji. We have heard from Cyrul that Iliara is missing two apprentices. We are very good at rescuing sisters. Perhaps you can help us help you by helping us." He stares intently at the wizard.

thanks Jaender for the info so I could cut and paste

The brute stands behind Ophiuchus, nodding sagely as the nagaji speaks. "Yes, we are very proficient in the rescuing of sisters. And the finding of sons. But they are usually dead. The sons, not the sisters. Don't worry, though, we make the dead-makers dead."

"Wow, you guys really don't know how to talk to a lady!" says Arturo, shouldering the nagaji out of the way. When he tries the same with the Strong Brute, he bounces off in a very unmanly fashion and instead elects to skirt around the sturdy barbarian.

"Arturo the Swift, at your service miss," says Arturo, dipping into a low bow with a sweep of his cloak, "What my companions are trying to tell you, is that we are here to help you locate your missing comrades in whatever way we can. I understand that a fair damsel such as yourself must have quite a few callers, so we'll not waste your time if we can avoid it. Please simply tell us what you can of how they went missing, and we shall do what we can to find them."

"Psst, Arturo..." Roudantaimi whispers, "he's a boy... I know, it's sometimes hard tell about humans. Especially the ones without mustache. But that's certainly a male.."

In the middle of his bow, having still not looked up, Arturo casts a very worried sideways glance to Roudantaimi, whispering, "But Jaender said we'd be meeting Iliara Starcloak... this isn't her? My, this boy's voice is high pitched."

Slowly while his torso maintains a bow, with a mounting sense of dread, Arturo tilts his head and looks up to regard the young man Timbor. Arturo smiles awkwardly, gradually standing up straight and backing off a few steps and into Strong Brute, "Well... err... what... oh, to hell with it... is the lady Iliara Starcloak here?"

Timbor clears his throat, and says, "Yes, sir. Lady Starcloak is in, but I need to determine if it is worth her time to see you." Arturo now realizes that the apprentice's voice isn't particularly high... must be a reaction from the festivities the night before.

"I take it that you are the adventurers that cleared out the Accursed Halls? I will see if Lady Starcloak will see you."

With that, he goes up a stair, leaving you in the foyer. A few minutes later, he comes back, followed by an elven woman (see the tactical map for her picture). She is holding

She asks, "Perhaps you could answer a mystery." She unrolls the scroll, and you see the drawing of the Door of Seven Stars with a scribbled note of "Red star?" at the top, near the top circle. "What did Jharun mean by his note? Did you open the Door of Seven Stars?"

Jaender does his best to keep his jaw off the floor as the lovely elven lady comes down.

"Yes.. ahh... We did open the door. We placed a red gem in the top circle, and then went clockwise around with other gems we found, like the pattern in a rainbow. Although I messed it up the first time I tried and got a righteous shock for it." He chuckles sheepishly at the mention of his gaff.

"We understand you spoke with someone recently about a couple of missing associates? We are searching for them at the behest of our venture captain. We would appreciate any extra information you might have..."

Weak rp post... sorry. Gotta wake up in 6 hours so I am trying to get to bed, but I really wanted to post. I am sure Arturo or Poochie can pick up where I left off... :)

"Hello elven woman. I am Ophiuchus, the battle nagaji. My small friend that burps fire is a very brave person. He did indeed get shocked, and flew right across the room, sliding on his bottom. No matter though, be bravely put gems into holes once again. We did indeed clear the Accursed Halls, and we cleared out something with an everflame too. We are good at killing dead things that once lived but died and live again. We even rescued a sister that time, and hugged a wooden statue, I ate a part of a dead person, but it is ok, I threw it up. The best thing we did was recuse the crazy sister. We tried to find a brother, but he died. Oh, and we helped a wise goblin ruler usher in a reign of 1000 years of peace. Now we are going to kill evil people who are making animals wild. Can you help is with this? Oh an be careful of Mr. Hairlips, he does not seem the marrying type, unless you like to wash soiled underclothes and do things like 'fetch my pipe woman' and 'where is all the cold ale'. He probably will get fat too."

BEST WING MAN EVER!

Oh, John, read this between pushes with my daughter on the swing. The ladies at the playground were wondering what on Earth I was belly-laughing about. My daughter assumed it was something to do with her and joined in. :-) Fine form this morning, my friend. Can't wait until GenCon.

Arturo's flushed face reddens further at Ophichus' whispered warning. Digging into his inner reserves, the determined rogue finds it within himself to plunge onwards.

"Yes, My Lady, Jaender the Wondrous Wayang did indeed decode the door pattern itself - but it was actually I who placed the stones in the correct order," says Arturo, only bragging a little, "You see, he has a mind for numbers and puzzles and such things, but he did not remember the order colors of the rainbow are in. I, on the other hand, pride myself on always remembering beautiful things and so knew the correct order. You, I will be remembering until long after Desna takes me into her embrace.

"As for not being the marrying kind," Arturo casts a falsely angry glare at Ophiuchus, "I suspect that you, too, are not interested in betrothal. Too much work to be done for such silly business - am I right? A dalliance is probably all you have time for. But it isn't seemly to talk of such things so openly. Just know that I live in that cute little cabin nestled in the woods, owned by Shandar Tulman (or someone at the Greenforest Inn). They'll know how to contact me, should you wish to... talk... privately."

Arturo seems to finally remember that he is far from alone with Lady Starcloak, and decides to return to their original tack, "Ahem. In any case, we are here to offer our aid, such as it is, in rescuing your missing associates. We believe our aims are aligned on this matter and would dearly like to hear any information you have to give that might aid us."

The elven woman listens intently at what Arturo had to say. It is at that time that he notices that she is wearing earrings that are tiny, exquisite bejeweled wasps. She gives a musical laugh, and replies. "Adventurer, trust me when I say that I am not interested in any... betrothals or dalliances. It is likely that you could not... handle... me. As for my associates, they were following a lead on an interesting set of ruins to the south... half-way to Fort Inevitable.

[b]"Thank you for the information on the Door. I am glad that someone has solved that mystery. I do not know of anyone causing animals to go wild. But, perhaps, since the door has been opened, someone has taken residence beyond? I would suggest that if you wanted to do anything about it, you do it quickly... before things get worse!"

Calistrian! Heaven-sent. :p

The brute nods at the woman's words, trying to keep his amusement off his face at the rejection Arturo faced. Set of ruins half-way to Fort Inevitable, the words were etched in his mind. It seemed their list of tasks kept growing, instead of shrinking.

"Let us continue to the purchase of this home, and decide what to do next."

Arturo flushes somewhat at the elf's dismissal of him. He nods silently in agreement with the Strong Brute, for once having less words than the big man. Arturo waves goodbye to Iliara Starcloak and heads back to the Greenforest Inn with his companions.

"So, looks like she didn't really need our help anyway," mutters Arturo, still a little put out, "Yes, let us procure this property and speak properly of what to do next. Should we check out the mill at least before proceeding to the dungeon beneath the town? I know I wouldn't mind making sure the road is safe from ghosts and ghouls and whatever is causing those algal blooms. I do so enjoy adventure aboveground. We should also go to Brodwyr's and pick up some mining equipment before we delve deeper into the dungeons. We quite forgot last time!"

"We could also sign on as caravan guards, I believe." The brute states matter-of-factly, not indicating a preference one way or the other.

Jaender's mind begins to swirl at the seemingly unending possibilities before the group.

"So much to do... So little time. Wait.. do we have only a little time? All these things to do, everywhere to go... reminds me of that crazy old kook's house back in Kassan... No matter, lets keep moving. Maybe we will find something I can set on fire with my belches." Jaender winks at the Nagaji.

"Oh do please be careful. I would hate for you to burn off my new tabard (whenever I go to get it). I cannot wait to share a house with you. I hope none of you snore. I am sure that Mr. Hairylips will have to be reminded to wear his small clothes to bed. I for one do not want to see his manhood flopping around like a dying worm again." Shuddering involuntary, the nagaji continues, "I am very interested in this caravan. I did ask about it, but received no answer. To think that we would be guarding a strange an exotic cargo from the hands of evildoers sounds like so much fun to me. Can we go get my tabard when we are done buying a house?"

You are welcome to go as you please... but your real mission has to do with this "Half-face" and the Forgotten Laboratory! I'll assume you have the cottage already -- and it is conveniently close to the Goblinbrambles! Where we going next? Oh, and Poochie was told that it would take several days (probably off camera).

he is still going to ask after every encounter

"Maybe we can check on the tabard later," says Arturo with a smile after inspecting their cottage one more time, "The rent on this place is amazing! So, off to the mill like we planned from the start? Right?"

After the slight diversion, Arturo will head to the mill. They can chat about what to do next on the way.

Turning to Ophiuchus, the man nods sagely. "Such a fierce tabard must be crafted very well. Be patient, for it is said that the end product far outweighs the speed of possession." He claps the nagaji on the shoulder, shambling behind Arturo's graceful stride as they head to the mill.

"Do we have beds for everyone? I require only a very small one. And Tahmatassu can sleep on the ceiling. Or, wait.. Do such lizards have to actually actively keep their grip, to be stuck the walls? If it falls asleep, it would fall. I have not heard of sleeping lizards falling down, so that isn't the case probably. But I don't recommend sleeping immediately below him, just to be sure. Oh, we can check the mill, sure. But I'm also itching to find what's on the other side of the jewel-door. Can we go there soon? Pretty, pretty please?"

"Sure. How about we check out the mill, maybe stake it out tonight... and then go back to the dungeon tomorrow morning?" suggests Arturo, trying to come up with a diplomatic solution.

"Sounds as good as anything to me... I like evening stake-outs. I can blend with the shadows so well..."

Jaender smiles as he rubs his little hands together, his mind trailing off.

Later that night, while Roundantaimi is sleeping, he wakes to see Ophiuchus standing above him on the bed, arms outstretched towards the ceiling, bits of griddle cake in his hands. Roundantaimi can hear Ophiuchus talking, "Pretty Tahmatassu, do you want treats? Such a good lizard."

Roundantaimi wisely goes back to bed, hoping the nagaji leaves his room quickly.