Sergeant Bartle sends a runner to the council hall. Soon the Mayor arrives with a few of her assistants.
"By the Lady's Light!" gasps the mayor as she looks around the workshop. She approaches the group.
"I understand that it was Tsuto Kaijitsu that was responsible for this, and that he is dead. The Sergeant also told me that there is a tunnel under the glassworks, and that they used this to sneak in?"
She shakes her head.
"For someone to side with the goblins against Sandpoint... it seems incredible. This is a real blow against our town. Still..." she pauses. "We cannot let our guard down. The tunnel will have to be secured right away."
"Is there anything else you know?"
Not long after the mayor arrives, Lord Scarnetti arrives with some bodyguards.
"A terrible business, this," he says, shaking his head. "And Lonjiku's wife's little bastard was to blame, eh? Everyone knew he was trouble."
He looks over the group.
"I know you didn't care for Lord Kaijitsu. Few people did. But you avenged his death, so I imagine any enmity his spirit might have had for you is now satisfied. You restored his honor by slaying his murderer."
He looks at Ameiko.
"You also saved his daughter, and for that I am sure he would be grateful. The Kaijitsus were never a fertile line, and she is the last of his bloodline. She must be protected at all costs. Though it is not official yet, she is now the Lady Kaijitsu, and should be addressed as Your Ladyship. I hope that soon she will be well enough to take her father's seat on the council."
He looks back at the group. "Good work, all of you."
At the mention of her new title and position, Ameiko quietly shakes her head and keeps her eyes on the floor, saying nothing.
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Laurana elbows Flo, "I bet Kargas can solve the Kaijitsus fertility issue."
Caught off-guard by the unexpected remark, Flo can't help but snicker a little. "Lord Kargas and Lady Kaijitsu!"
Quickly composing herself and stepping forward, she gives them both a respectful bow, then addresses the two nobles who have answered the call. "Thank you for meeting us on such short notice, we felt some things are better seen than written or described afterwards. Our past relations with Lord Kaijitsu may not have been the warmest, but I pray to the Tender of Dreams that his soul rests in peace as you say."
Turning to whoever has the journal, she presents it to the Mayor. "Here is the information we found, we've learned that..." Flo continues to summarize the information contained within as the Mayor looks it over.
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Multiple people dead upstairs, the late Lord is barely cold, clues to more possible attacks, and the more pressing matter to mention is her new title and that she takes the vacant seat on the council?" Colvyn looks exasperated. "You people put too much importance on politics."
Cade has been quiet for the most part as the other go about thier tasks.
Wow, they body is still warm....and they are pawning all over her to get her favor. F%$*ing dicks.
Once all the politics are dealt with, Cade speaks up.
Sending the goblin back as a message will not work the way you hope it will. Someone or something has banded the clans together. That is not an easy task. They had a purpose and if we let on they will just let the purpose happen sooner. That will take away our advantage. They do not know that we are on to them. We heal and follow the path that they were attempting to use.
He turns to the politicians.
You should send word to Magnimar.
Turning to whoever has the journal, she presents it to the Mayor. "Here is the information we found, we've learned that..." Flo continues to summarize the information contained within as the Mayor looks it over.
Lady-Mayor Deverin looks over the Journal.
"This does not bode well. I don't recognize any of these names, but it is clear that a plan is being made to attack the town. We seem to have the core of two possible plans here, though from this we can't know which one will be used. But it's clear we need to secure the glassworks."
Lady Deverin frowns.
"What is a Quasit?" She asks. "Apparently a Quasit and 'her freaks' are below the town. I can't say I like the sound of that."
Demons are outsiders from the Abyss and are chaotic evil. Like most outsiders demons usually have spell resistance, energy resistance (particularly to electricity), immunity to poison, and can only be harmed by cold iron or good weapons (or sometimes both).
He turns to the politicians.
You should send word to Magnimar.
"You will recall we sent Constable Hemlock to Magnimar already, just a few days ago. Hopefully his reinforcements will arrive soon."
The tied up goblin pipes up.
"Oh, hey, you want me to take a message to the goblins I can do that, not problem. I'll tell them not to attack the town. They'll listen to me for sure. Everyone always said I was the wisest goblin. Sure! Town will be safe for sure!"
The group begins organizing the construction of a barricade blocking the entrance to the Glassworks from below.
"I don't like the idea of something residing below the town either, do you have any idea of what that might mean? The sewers? Either way, we'll investigate this tunnel at sunrise, if it is all the same to you."
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Lauruna starts expounding on what she knows about quasits. "We should probably get cold iron weapons as I doubt we can find magically good weapons here in Sandpoint. Also, something, a potion maybe to see invisibility would be good." She points out.
"We should take the fight to them!" Kargas rumbles. "Hunkering down in this village hoping we react in time to whatever they throw at us next is a fool's game. We've found their tunnel and there's no way they can know yet. The moment we're ready we should go find them and kill them all. In the meantime, Laurana's right that we should get some magic."
"You will recall we sent Constable Hemlock to Magnimar already, just a few days ago. Hopefully his reinforcements will arrive soon."He turns to the politicians.
You should send word to Magnimar.
Cade shakes his head with disgust.
Lord Scarnetti, I do recall that the constable was sent to Magnimar for help. With all due respect...Do you recall if he has the current information of a two prong attack by a unified goblin force that includes Bugbears. What force he may come back with could be...no will be what the Magnimars feel is enough to handle a rabble of goblins and not the danger you face at this moment. If you are able to send a rider to hopefully intercept the good constable before he gets who the f!+$ am I kidding...you will just debate it back and forth as to what is going to line your f~~$ing pockets the most and the hell with the people that live here..you f$*&ing ass-hat..you are such a f@~&ing dick. You can not even begin to realize the s&+! ton of a hole you are in. back it will save time and you need all the help you can get.
...back it will save time and you need all the help you can get.
"Well... a fair point. But if I know the Constable, he will argue hard for however many men he can get, regardless of the information he has available. The real question is, will Magnimar's Lord Mayor or the Ushers actually listen? And will this information actually sway them?"
"For all I know, the constable may already be on the way back here aboard Lord Valdemar's ship... uh, whatever it was called. So a man on horseback could accomplish nothing. I could send a message by carrier pigeon to my aunt in Magnimar. She might be able to help sway the council, or if the Constable has already left, she could arrange something independently."
"I believe that Lord Valdemar's ship was called the Feathermoth. But Lord Titus, if your family contracts a group of mercenaries on our behalf, then they should be in the service of the Town of Sandpoint and the League, rather than any individual house."
"I'm sure that we can persuade Lord Ethram to agree to such a proposal. After all, it would hardly be fair to expect you to pay the full burden of such a venture... otherwise I might have to hire my own mercenaries just to save face, and so might poor old Ethram. Better to have any such force under one roof, as it were."
Luarana decided to chime in at that point, "Lords, if you please. If we are to face a devil in the depths of Sandpoint, perhaps you could, at the very least, give us the proper tools to do so. Specialized weapons are hard to come by, I figure, but surely your great families have some that we could use. After all, if Sandpoint is overrun with goblins and devils, your families have the most to lose." She said her bit and was already thinking of the need to talk with her mother. Laurana was feeling much more capable in her spell casting and needed some teaching.
"What is it you need?" Asks the mayor.
"That would be most gracious my lady, any help would be appreciated!"
Once Laurana and anyone else had said their piece, Flo makes her way out of the building and into the marketplace. Just a few things to sell... Maybe something to buy too! "I've got a few errands to run, shall we meet up at the Rusty Dragon for dinner?" she offers, giddy that this mess is over with for a moment and they can all sit down and have a normal meal.
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"Ah, cold iron or magically weapons aligned with the gods of good. Just borrowing of course." She tried to answer diplomatically.
"Or we could just hit it, like really hard," Kargas mutters, but his heart isn't in it. "I'm gonna make sure Ameiko gets home okay."
"Ah, cold iron or magically weapons aligned with the gods of good. Just borrowing of course."
"Hmmm... I don't think I would have anything like that just... 'lying around.' I can't recall having needed such things before. But Father Zantus might be able to mix something up for you. Or Das Korvut might have something made from cold iron."
Ameiko is still groggy when you return to the Rusty Dragon. Bethana comes to the door in a hurry, hands wringing.
"Oh, thank heavens! Lady Ameiko's all right! I was so worried. Let's get you warm and get some soup into you now..." Bethana fusses over Ameiko as you bring her up to her chambers and tuck her in.
Once Ameiko is resting comfortably Bethana comes down.
"I heard that an army of goblins was mustering in the glassworks. And Lord Lonjiku's dead. Is that true? They've got the whole place sealed off. It was her brother that was to blame, wasn't it? Oh, I never trusted that man."
After leaving Ameiko in the care of Bethana Corwin, Flo heads out to Father Zantus in the Cathedral. "Father Zantus, if you have a moment. What I have learned troubles me and I must be away from my duties here for a while longer. We have learned that there is a tunnel the goblins have used to bypass the wall within the Glassworks. Tomorrow we intend to investigate the tunnel. In preparation for our task, may I purchase one of your wands? Specifically, a wand of Bless. Desna's grace has been invaluable to us and I wish to always be able to guide my friend's with her approval," Flo explains to the Father, hoping her appearance has recovered enough since the wild events of the morning. I could be more flexible in my preparations too, Tsuto almost ended Kargas! A Shield of Faith might have proven invaluable.
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Satisfied that Ameiko is in good hands, Kargas stalks his way to the Red Dog Smithy, a murderous glint in his eyes. Shouldering his way through the door, he unslings his baldric and lays the sheathed falchion on the counter.
"I need a weapon, the best you've got," the half-orc says simply. "Another falchion would be best, but anything big and heavy will do."
Cade makes his way to the red-dog smithy. He keeps Bellum with him as he is not sure how secured the town is from the Goblins. The new information has him on edge and he wishes to remain prepared.
He enters with the small chain shirt that was taken form the goblins.
Evening, I was pointed in this direction about armor. I am told that you know your stuff when it comes to Armor. I have this chains shirt that need some looking at. I am no armorer but I was hoping to get it fixed...umm like toss it in a sand barrel to remove the rust, replace any links...making it better than it is now. Is that something you are willing to do?
Laurana followed the others as they seemed to know what there were doing. She was hoping to find cold iron arrow heads. After that, it would be off to the academy.
Visiting the tannery first, Rig comes away with a well-made suit of leather. He's pleased that it seems a little less constricting, although he hopes the tighter fit doesn't give any more merchant's daughters any ideas. He still kind of sore over his last encounter with an angry father.
With a sigh, he heads over to the Red Dog Smithy. Kargas is already there, so he hangs out a bit, perusing shields. When Das is finally free, he buys one of the shields off of him and asks, "Any chance you've got a nice scimitar lying around? This one's good, but it's edge is a little dull. I'm hoping for one that will stand up a bit better to goblin cleaving."
"...may I purchase one of your wands? Specifically, a wand of Bless..."
"Father Julius is our resident wand-maker. That was never a talent I could master. Let's go talk to him."
Father Zantus leads you down to the basement, past the wine cellar. There is a small chamber adjacent to that. He knocks on the door.
"Father Julius?"
The door swings open and a fusty old man stands beyond.
"I keep telling you, Zantus, it's Banker, not Father. Now what do you want?"
After Father Zantus explains, Father Banker Julius looks Floredana up and down.
"Right, wands. Yes, yes. Bless. Good spell to have. Let me see."
He turns back into his room, and eyes you suspiciously. He closes the door most of the way so you cannot see within. But you can hear the sound of a key going into a lock and some rummaging. Eventually you hear the lock again, and he returns to the door, holding a wand that looks a lot like a long brass key, with teeth at one end and a handle at the other.
"Here you are, m'dear, only 150 gold pieces. I'll take silver if you prefer that, at a 5% surcharge. I'm quite happy to make them to order; a first level wand like this will take me only a day. Happy to do that for repeat customers."
"I need a weapon, the best you've got," the half-orc says simply. "Another falchion would be best, but anything big and heavy will do."
"Well, hello again! I was wondering when you folks would come round and see me."
"Let's see what I've got for you." Das looks over the weapon racks behind him. "This should do... it's in the old Taldan style rather than the orcish style, but the balance should be about the same."
...I am no armorer but I was hoping to get it fixed...umm like toss it in a sand barrel to remove the rust, replace any links...
"Sure, I can clean that up for ye, no trouble. No charge since your friend here's already buying. Pick it up tomorrow."
"Any chance you've got a nice scimitar lying around? This one's good, but it's edge is a little dull. I'm hoping for one that will stand up a bit better to goblin cleaving."
"We have a few priests of Sarenrae here so I like to keep one in stock... ah, yes. Here we are. This one's in fine shape. It's not my own work... I bought it off an Ulfen sailor. Said he got it down south."
Laurana followed the others as they seemed to know what there were doing. She was hoping to find cold iron arrow heads. After that, it would be off to the academy.
"Cold Iron arrowheads, sure. I've got about fifty. If you just want the heads you can have them for a gold piece each, or I could fletch them for you for one more gold. How many do you want?"
After that, it would be off to the academy.
"Hello, Laurana! Yes, I think we can find you a teacher for those spells. It shouldn't be difficult."
"I could have some of our apprentices teach them to you. Just two gold pieces per spell."
Flo graciously takes the wand and provides Julius with his payment. "Thank you Banker Julius, I will be sure to remember you when I need another wand! Do you produce other goods for purchase? It is unlikely that I can afford much else right now, but it is good to know my options for the future!" She says as she tucks the key-like wand into one of her pockets.
The half-orc unsheathes the weapon, gauging its heft and balance before testing its edge with his thumb. Grinning at Korvut, he slides his old weapon across the counter, after counting out the difference in coins.
"I could use a backup too, a knife and a Morningstar should be good."
Rig takes a few test swings with the scimitar. "Oh, yes. This will do nicely. Well worth it. Thanks," he says with a little bow as he hands over his coins.
Colvyn walks into the Red Dog Smithy just as Das Korvut mentions that he has cold iron arrowheads. "Ah, good. Just what I was looking for. I'll take them all. And yes, if you can fletch them that would be great." It takes him a minute before he realises that the man was talking to Laurana. "Oh, hum, you want to go halfsies?"
"Sure, I can clean that up for ye, no trouble. No charge since your friend here's already buying. Pick it up tomorrow."
Thank you kindly.
"Ah, fletched please." The young elf handed over 20 gold for 10 cold iron arrows. She figured if the fight with the imp went longer than that, she would be dead and wouldnt need any more.
Later that day.
Luarana had spent the better part of the day researching spells and combing through spellbooks. Satisfied with what she found, she paid the 4 gold for two spells she copied into her own book and retreated to her room at the inn to continue studying the items they had found.
With her business concluded, Flo makes her way to Das Korvut. "Hello! I don't know if you remember me, but my name is Floredana Mandulescu. My friends and I have come across several pieces of goblin style gear and are likely to continue to do so in the future. Is this type of equipment something you can work with or are we better off throwing it all in the dump?" Flo asks. If we can strike a deal with him, that'd be perfect!
Laurana is able to identify both items.
The the pickled bird inside the jar can be downed like a potion (with a single bite) and will provide a small amount of healing and also removes one of the following conditions: fatigued, shaken, sickened. However, the bird is rather noxious, and the user must make a DC 11 Fortitude save or be sickened for 1 minute. This means that a character can eat a bird to remove the sickened condition, only to be sickened by the bird. Laurana suspects that since goblins can eat almost anything, they may be immune to this secondary effect.
If you found someone who made them they would likely cost 20 gp per bird.
The stone...
... is a cracked deep red sphere ioun stone which will grant the user a +1 competence bonus to acrobatics checks.
"...Is this type of equipment something you can work with or are we better off throwing it all in the dump?" Flo asks...
"There's no a lot of demand for goblin-made gear, but sometimes I can ship it off to Magnimar. There's a lot more people there, and even though it's made for goblins, halflings and gnomes can use 'em just fine. So occasionally they need gear and buy them because they're looking for a bargain."
That evening, Ameiko comes down to the common room, carrying a small box. Though she looks worn, she smiles at the group.
"Hi there," she says shyly.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all that on my account... my brother, you see..." she stops, unsure what to say.
"I really tried to help him. He wasn't always like that. But to work with goblins like that... I know he crossed the line. I just wish I could have done something."
"Tsuto told me that he had got Father to use his influence to have the guard roster reduced during the Swalowtail Festival. So that 'more of the the guards could enjoy the festival.' He said he had some kind of leverage over father, though I don't know what it was. Father probably thought Tsuto planned to do some smuggling and needed an opening. I can't imagine that he knew it would be goblins that exploited the weakened defenses."
"So... I know I didn't properly thank you for saving me. After what happened between us, Tsuto... well, he probably would have had to kill me. He just needed time to work himself up to it. So... thank you. For saving my life."
She places the box onto the counter and opens it. Inside are a variety of flasks and bottles.
"This is a bunch of stuff from my adventuring days. I haven't opened this box in a year or so, but it all should still be good. It's all yours. You folks should get better use out of it than I will."
"And while we're at it, as long as I run the Rusty Dragon, your money's no good here. You can stay as long as you want."
The day dawns bleary and windy, but yesterday's rains have stopped. After making preparations (whatever you need to do before going back) the party returns to the glassworks. The pair of guards stationed there report that nothing untoward happened overnight. The group enters the passageway.
The mysterious passage runs roughly north-by-northeast, stopping at a four-way junction. The walls are stone and dirt and reinforced with wooden beams. At the juntion, passages branch off to the east and west, though the western passage was once bricked up, though this barrier has been breached fairly recently.
Choosing to explore the non-bricked passages first, the group ventures down the eastern passage, but after about 400 feet they find that the tunnel has collapsed. It would be a major engineering undertaking to open it again.
The northern passage travels roughly 1750 feet in total, and ends at a dead end. But Colvyn easily spots a hidden door in the end of the passage, and this leads to a small 30-foot diameter cave whose mouth overlooks the Varisian Gulf. The cave mouth slopes down to a narrow beach; no Survival check is required to note the crude collection of goblin beds or remnants of their meals strewn about the cave. The beach is at the eastern end of Junker's beach and the mouth of the cavern will only be visible at low tide.
The western passage (which was bricked up) goes west for perhaps 100 feet and then turns north, where shortly thereafter it emerges into a small natural cavern of some kind.
"Thank you so much Ameiko!" Flo exclaims, giving her a warm hug. These should be useful!
Walking silently as she braces herself against the wind with the others, the dreariness of the day and thoughts of the work ahead stems her appetite for conversation. When she arrives at the tunnel, she pulls her hood down and unbinds her cloak, turning towards Cade. "Would you and Belum like some light for our travels?" Flo then draws her starknife and waits for her friends to finish their preparations. For the people of Sandpoint...
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