I'm good to go to Magnimar or hit the tunnels again after a bit of rest and a shopping trip, try to get my wand and any other items identifeid etc..
I'll be happy to drag her by the hair if neccessary, she needs to divulge what she knows about all of this. As for hireing a meat shield I guess that can wait. I just like to have a more obvious target for the bad guys other than the female group members.
DM
"I don't like leaving the runewell operational, but I doubt we have the means to destroy it. What about this Wanton of Nature's Pagan Forms? I don't think I'm going to like it whatever it is. Lewd distortions of nature...disgusting misrepresentations of animals or something? A trip to Magnimar may be in order."
"What about this Wanton of Nature's Pagan Forms?
Brodert answers, "Yes, I took note of that. I don't recognize the phrase or reference, if it is one. The first time I read it, I thought she was being philosophical. Then she repeated it later in her notes like it's a name. Perhaps whoever bears the name is being philosophical. Anyway, I lived in Magnimar for most of my adult life, and I don't recognize it."
Zantus adds, "Nor do I, and I lived there more recently. But then I didn't know many prostitutes or murderers."
The entire group comes along to the garrison house. Lyrie is fetched from a cell below and brought into a room to be questioned. She looks tired and desperate, and somehow a little dangerous.
"Lyrie, let's hear about Nualia. How did you meet her and what was she working on?"
Well I'l just stand a bit behind her ranseur at the ready if she turns out to be more than just looking dangerous.
Lyrie's face twists up in anger. You begin to think she's not going to answer at all.
"What are you asking me for? Why don't you just ask Orik? See how much more of his story you can swallow before you choke?"
"if it wasn't for me, you'd be dead. Try to be a little bit thankful. It could be beneficial to your future. What was Nualia looking for in the old writings?"
Sari directs a pointed look in the direction of the menfolk.
"Why don't you men back off? It seems obvious to me that we don't have the whole story here, and we may have acted in haste. Lyrie, this is your opportunity to tells us your side of what happened, instead of us just relying on Orik's story. We are all upset about what has occurred in our town and are just looking for answers. Maybe you have some for us?"
Intimidate 20+4=24
Perhaps if everyone just left the two of us alone for a bit.
"Hmph!" she snorts. She leans against the far wall, arms crossed over her breast as she starts to talk in her thick Garundi accent.
"Nualia recruited me in Magnimar. She offered me a look at a really old Varisian site, and a share of any loot, in exchange for my services as an arcanist. It was an easy decision for me. I had nothing tying me there. So we followed Nualia to the island and she delivered on the promise of an old site."
And Oriks place in all this?
She hesitates before answering - plainly calculating your gullibility.
"Sell-sword from Riddleport. Didn't you ask him? She hired him in Magnimar before we left."
"But why should I cooperate with you? You've already turned me over to the sheriff. What can you do to keep these people from stringing me up?"
Riddleport? Are you sure about that? I don't seem to remember ever seeing him there.
"Maybe you're right...maybe there's nothing we can do for you. But maybe we can...only way you're ever going to find out is to give us some information. Nualia's dead and so are most of the humans and goblins she worked with. What do you have to lose? Start from the beginning please."
DM
Lyrie gives Sari a questioning look, then smirks.
"You've got some work to do to reign these boys in yet, eh?"
She answers Cha. "I'm worth more to you alive than dead. Besides, I've done nothing wrong. The goblins were Nualia's show entirely. I was brought along to sift through whatever clues we could find in the ruins and find deeper chambers. I was in for knowledge of ancient Thassilon, along with whatever ancient loot we might dig up."
"Nothing wrong?" I laugh. "I do believe you tried to kill me and set my dog on fire. She didn't really appreciate that. Also, I'd be willing to bet that most of the townsolk around here would consider consorting with demons a bit on the wrong side. More likely you were in it for the power you thought you might wield if you could unlock some of the ancient secrets? The truth...I grow weary of the lies."
"Trust me, it doesn't pay to make the wild man angry."
And I grow weary of all this talking and no bad guys to dispatch!
Lyrie screws up her finger in a gesture that you imagine might in other circumstances be accompanied by fireworks. In this case it just comes with a bit of verbal lashing.
"I've not consorted with any demons! Who said I've consorted with demons? Are you my accuser? Or did Orik put some lies in your mouth? Where is Orik? Didn't he try to kill you too?"
She steps to the side to put a wall at her back rather than Yod. She points at the menacing half orc as she backs away from her questioners. She addresses Belor.
"The worst you can say of me is I've had peaceful dealings with monsters. But that doesn't appear to be a crime here either! They released the man I was traveling with when they left the island."
"I trespassed on goblin and ancient Thassilonean territory. The goblins forgave the trespass. Surely I deserve to know who is my accuser and what am I accused of?"
You want the wall at your back? Easier to pin you to it!
And maybe you should skip the had gestures I'm good at disarming people,
if you don't want to have to hold your wand with you teeth in the future that is.
The red man turns redder. "Orik's not on trial here! He made sufficient amends in the battle with Nualia. If not for him, that might have gone much worse. Peaceful dealings with monsters!" I step forward, towering over her with my finger in her face.
"The same tribe that attacked this town and killed innocent citizens. And yes, I say demons...how do you think Nualia got that black claw of hers? Did you think Erylium was the good fairy? So, then are you just the innocent Pathfinder, looking for answers...I hear there's a chapter-house in Magnimar. Maybe we could escort you there? I'm sure they'd be happy to meet you."
I let that soak in a second before continuing...
"In the meantime, my name is Cha tuk. I imagine that on our recommendation, you'll sit in a cell here for the rest of your life or you'll swing from the gallows ere the end of tomorrow. I want to know about Nualia, Jagen, Thistletop, Magnimar, the Wanton of Nature's Pagan Forms and everything else of interest. It's your fate. Leave nothing out."
She withers a bit in the face of the intimidating pair, even though Cha's fly is down.
Her eyes go wide at the mention of the Pathfinders, showing that Cha's comment was a solid hit. She looks back and forth between Sari and Belor, but seeing no help in sight she finally caves a bit.
"Nualia worshipped Shamtu, surely you must know this by now. And she hated this town and everyone in it. She let Tsuto come here to kidnap his sister so she wouldn't be part of what was to happen here. That was her business... and Tsuto's."
"You killed him, didn't you? If you know of her little friend in the catacombs, then you must have killed him." This realization makes her grow much more despondent.
"I don't know anything more about her associations with demons. Nor did I participate in her seductions of the goblin tribes. That was her witchcraft, not mine. As I told you, I was there to make sense out of what we found at Thistletop. My deal with Nualia went no farther than that."
"Jagen was a fool and he died a fool's death. Nualia picked him up somewhere as cheap muscle. Just like Orik, though Jagen was perhaps dumber and certainly less lucky."
"The wanton of what? Aren't you the nature lover? There was a shaman among the goblins who knew something of natural magic. I cannot help you there."
"I think she has said all she can. I'm done with her and her attitude. Do with her what you will." Sari leaves the room. She feels weary and wants to see her family...maybe a visit to the crazy aunt is in order.
Hey we can always haul her back to Magnimar with us. Its sounds to me like we will be heading there anyway.
"Yes, Tsuto is dead. He didn't give us much choice. So, he was protecting her? That makes sense."
"What sense did you make of Thistletop? What of the malfeshnekor she couldn't find?"
"You're dog was stopping me from running... I scared it to keep it from cutting me off."
She steps purposefully past Yod and his weapon (assuming Yod does not mean to impale her here) and goes over to one of the few chairs in the room.
"I think I figured out some things about Thistletop while I was there. I'll share what I learned of it to demonstrate to you that I harbor no ill will to the town. I meant to solve the whole puzzle and bring the tale back to the Pathfinders, to gain admittance to the society. I guess it will not work out that way... again."
"I think the place is actually the head of a very old statue. A Thassilonean statue, with chambers inside it. Whoever built the upper structure - certainly not the goblins - opened some intact older halls, the crooked tunnels. The room with the shelf and the fountain was some kind of laboratory or divining room. Beyond the skeleton door is certainly some kind of mausoleum. And there is a hidden prison there as well that I have not found. I guess Nualia's demon is imprisoned there. The goblins seemed convinced that it was there... before Nualia came along offering to free it."
"And that leads me to a guess - that the goblins have some inherent affinity to the demon within. They worshipped whatever is there. I think their kin will certainly be drawn back to the place eventually. Nualia deluded herself into thinking the goblins gave their offerings to Shamtu. But I think they worshipped this Malfeshnekor beast - whatever he may be."
"I don't think Nualia would have let you deliver any information about the Malfeshnekor to the Pathfinders. She was planning on freeing the beast, becoming its mate and completing her transformation into an alu-fiend. His announcement to the world was to come in the form of a suprise." Again, I pause to see her reaction. "A statue you say...what a big statue that would be. Have you been in the tunnels here?"
Sari
Disgusted with the lies and the schemes and the killing, you leave the room and dive out into the brightness of the plaza. Maybe its a bit of homesickness, maybe you're just tired, but your mind wanders to wagons and far away stretches of road. The feet subconsciously follow and you 'accidentally' end up standing on Niska's porch among the wind chimes wondering what you hope to gain here.
As you are about to turn away, you catch the faint scent of Gilenta - a traditional soup your mother made often. Rather than leave, you knock.
After a moment Niska comes to the door, wooden spoon in hand.
"Ha! My soup still brings youngun's to the door without having to call them!" Without any questions being asked or answered, Sari is led into the kitchen and ladeled a steaming bowl of the spicy soup.
Bowls in hand, she leads you into an airy dining room dominated by a long table for entertaining. The finish is neglected and there are wisps of web in the chandelier, but the soup is perfect.
"You're a glum one today, child. Your aura is diminished a bit, like your spirit is tired. Hot baths and soft beds are good for sore muscles, but they cannot reach the root of the matter." She lets that linger for a moment while she slurps a great spoon of potatoes and carrots.
"I read your bones, and I know the strength of your blood. Desna's folk will wander forever and that is plainly what's in your heart, but the gift you wield usually comes with an exceptional fate. And not always in a good way, mind you..."
She takes another bite of bread and chews thoughtfully for a moment. The silence hangs there, and for a while is only broken by the sound of soup being consumed. When you are finished, she moves the bowls and clears a wide spot on the ancient table. From some fold in her skirts she produces a dog-eared, colorful set of cards: a Harrow deck. Her gnarled hands shuffle the cards with grace.
She looks up and fixes you with her watery stare. She smiles and begins the exchange in the traditional way.
"Sari, what is it that you seek?"