Ringtail's Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Ringtail

Dherisan leans back as he drinks in the information. He bites his own tongue for a moment, fighting back a premature rebuke. The images of Tsuto's diary flash through his mind, and he remembers the notes of a demonic transformation. He continues, choosing his words carefully.

"I might be inclined to mention the citizens of Sandpoint that were in no positions to come to your aid - the old, the oblivious, the children that were not alive at the time. But I doubt that will change your mind, as you act in the name of another. You speak, I can presume, of the woman whose image punctuates your your battle plans. Our positions being what they are, I'm sure you understand that your notes are known to us. So affections motivates you, not vengeance? What of your counterpart. What stake does she have in Sandpoint's destruction?"

"[Tsuto's eyes flare with anger for just a moment, before taking a deep breath and calming himself.] Yes. I act on behalf of the woman I love; an honorable if not altruistic goal. She plans to offer the burnt remains of Sandpoint and all who reside within to the Mother of Monsters in exchange for unmaking her and remolding her into something anew. To remove the blood of angels which flows through her veins and has caused her so much strife. Desecrating the old man's bones has already sparked an unsettling transformation. She speaks little of her past, but what she does tell is emotionally brutal. She bares physical scars as well, horrendous rends of the abdomen, though claims that they were her first 'gift' from the Matron of Madness, which she received before she was shone the truth and able to truly appreciate what had transpired. I can't say that I completely agree with her ends, but she is tenacious, and I'd not try to dissuade her from a cause she deems worthy."

"If she is as tenacious as you say then such dissuasion may be her one salvation. You are not the only capable man in Varisia, Tsuto, and many of them are prepared to stand against her. You know that I - that we - cannot allow this plan to go uncontested, and we are willing to go as far as you are. We must be willing to change for those we love, and your commitment is admirable, though I would deem it misplaced. But what of her? You have confessed that you would be willing to move on from this town, and that you aren't entirely comfortable with her transformation. Is she willing to change for you, Tsuto, or are you merely her thrall?"

Sorry about the delay- explanation is in the OOC thread.

"You seem to understand honor, at least- the call to fight for something you have little stake in to please those you care for. Perhaps it is a 'half-breed' adaptation. [He shifts his glance among Dehrisan, Ansruath, and Tardek.] My love feels that this offering will sate her suffering and mend her heart. If I can ease the pain of the one that I love I will stop short of nothing to do so. I've tried to turn her attention elsewhere, but to no avail. And I would rather serve my love than war with her. Have you ever felt love? The burning desire to endlessly please? It's a powerful emotion, one that often wracks dual minded individuals such as you and I."

Ansruath watches silently as Tsuto speaks with Dehrisan. While Tsuto is speaking he thinks to himself "So he is doing all of this for love. Such a sad thing to find out. He may well die just because he was doing what he thought was right for his love."

"Love is a great thing, and a powerful motivator, but that does not always make the acts it inspires noble. Are you aware of the innocents that have been harmed due to these actions? Children have suffered; at least one will never again see his father. I am truly sorry about what your father did to you, but this boy loved his father, and was loved by him in return. If your plans continue, other son's will lose their fathers as well, and know that suffering as well."

"It is not too late to turn away from these actions though, the Dawnflower teaches that all can be redeemed. Help us put a stop to this evil Tsuto. Your Lady's pain is evident in your story, but what you describe will only serve to cause you both greater torment. Help us to find her, and give her succor and healing that will end her suffering."

Diplomacy (untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 16

Did anyone have any more inquiries during the interogation, or did the party want to ready themselves and head back into the glassworks to investigate the smuggler's tunnel like I believe was mentioned above?

EDIT: Your ninja skills never fail to impress. I'll have this post altered appropriately in a few minutes time.

EDIT 2: New post below.

Unintentional Ninja! That was rather random timing... A day and half later and we both decide to post within a minute of each other...

I have no questions I am good to move on if everyone else is.

Tsuto looks away momentarily, staring off into nothingness as he considers the words that Dehrisan and Gorgoron have spoken. After several seconds of awkward silence he turns to look the priest, level in the eyes.

"I'll not fault you for trying, but believe you me, dwarf, that some souls are beyond redemption - not do to deed but the acceptance and nuturing of loss and pain. Some folk can channel their ire into great, terrible things, and when they stare into the abyss, they can from then on see naught but demons even a world filled with flowers. I would enjoy seeing my love's splintered soul mended, but she is deep within Lamashtu's embrace, and I fear her only solace will be viewing Sandpoint as a pyre of ash and rubble. Still, sensations are the sweetest when one is nearest to death and perhaps your unwavering resolve and faith, father, will fare better against her tenacity than my service. Still, if you fail in your quest to turn the tide of her deep seated hatred I plan to honor love, and follow her to the precipace of death and beyond, and if she wishes to see this town burn, it will, by my hand if neccessary. Perhaps I'm cynical and embittered, but I can't say I much care to provide others with the peaceful upbringing that I lacked. If you want to find my Nualia, you can start your search at the goblin fortress, Thistletop, perched on a massive boulder north of the Nettlewood. I warn you now that she has surrounded herself with powerful allies beyond the goblins, although warchief Rippnugget is perhaps the strongest of the local goblin heroes. There is a disgusting bugbear and a handful of hardened mercenaries from Riddleport. And we've made contact with a quasit who lairs in some ancient catacombs beneath Sandpoint who can conjure up foul entities."

Tsuto's ears droop a bit and he takes a deep breath after his short speech.

"I assume I am to remain imprisoned here until tried and ultimately executed for my hand things things?"

"That is the... likely... conclusion, if you remain dedicated to your course. May the gods have mercy on you."

Gorgoron moves out of the immediate vicinity of the half-elf.

"Has Shelelu been located yet? We should deal with this beast beneath the town as soon as possible, and close off the tunnels as well. Let us prepare."

"When I gathered Mvashti I sent out word to see if she can be located. It has only been a short time, but Shelelu is swift. As longs as she is still near the farmlands when she receives word, she should be with us before the day is out. I'll join the search as well. Do you wish me to send her to the Glassworks if she's found? [The guard inquires.]"

Turning to Gorgoron, Ansruath says "Father is there anyway for us to get some information on quasits before we go to the tunnels? Know your enemy."

I'm all for spelunking!

We are going to go get cool bullet proof suits for it Tardek?

"Maybe we should wait and go down as one big Unit?" Flit frowns at the captured man, before sighing. "Or perhaps not... Lets be about this then. I am dying for a drink and would like to be back sooner than later!"

Knowledge: Planes - 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 - a great time to blow an easy roll.

"I remember learning something about Quasits at one time or another, but I can't seem to recollect it at the moment. I believe it is a demon; we should ask Father Zantus, I'm sure he can tell us of its weaknesses."

Gorgoron moves off to do exactly that.

"Should we rest before proceeding, or go immediately? We should likely rest, as many of our casters have depleted their repertoire. I will I'll find out the weaknesses, and give you the report. If there is anything we can find in town to aid us, we'd best try to locate it today, and then rest. We can head out this evening."

Once Gorgoron sees Zantus and learns the weaknesses, he will refind the group and give them the info in the spoiler above. We will then scour the town for any cold iron weapons, I imagine. We don't have time to have anything forged, so we will have to make do with what we can find. Since we don't have money, we will likely have to ask the merchants to extend us credit. Luckily, Cold Iron is the cheapest of all special materials, and the only one that doesn't require the weapon be masterwork. After that, Gorgoron will ask Zantus for advice on any scrolls that he should take with him, then head to the caretaker's home to select them.

Gorgoron will check with the group as to who would like to use what. The Quasit is only one creature, but as it may have allies also of foul origins, the weapons will likely not go amiss. Ansruath should likely carry the longsword, and the arrows should be shortened to fit Flitter's crossbow. Tardek and Gorgoron should take the spear and morningstar. Gorgoron is fine with either. If he took the spear, he;d have it mounted as a Long Spear in order to be able to better fight support for Ansruath in narrow spaces, and be far enough away to cast, though if Tardek wants it for the same reasons, that is fine, he'll take the morningstar. Gorgoron will thank the merchant for the reasonable rates (and at those prices, I think he can even afford them out of pocket.)

Gorgoron pays the kind lady, and then takes the weapons to his comrades.

Dherisan makes a quick search of the town, looking for the ranking deputy. He hopes to convince him to stay any sentencing on Tsuto until after this situation has been resolved. Additionally, , if Gorgorn mentions that a scroll of Invisibility Purge was suggested, he will recommend finding a solution to such magic. A bag of flour, if nothing else.

Tardek will happily take the morningstar! Let Gorgoron get his spear on. Can we assume Gorgo tells us its weaknesses? I want to make some projectiles, and want to know whats good against it. Then again, if everyone chips in, I can make a few of each element of alchemist's whathaveyou!

Flit will spend his time re-fitting the bolt heads to smaller shafts, as the others get ready. He will also thank Gorgoron and ask him how much he owes him.

I've got a light crossbow too. So could I have a few bolts, just in case?
And will we spend enough time for me to recover my spells?

Sure. 4 bolts each.

We'll sleep overnight and go in the morning so that everyone has spells.

Before the next morning, Dherisan will buy a bag of flower and a four belt pouches. He'll spend a portion of the evening transferring the flour from the bag into the pouches.

As noted, the bolts+arrows totaled 2 gp. No one in the group uses a bow, so you might as well mount the arrowheads as bolts. Dehrisan uses a crossbow as well on occasion, so perhaps he should take a few as well; there would be 20 total (so 7,7,6 or 8,8,4 or 10,5,5 - with Flitter taking 10?). Tardek, yes he did tell the group about its weaknesses. I have all that I need, so are we ready to proceed to the next morning?

I am good to go.

I am good to go.

Do you want the longsword, bud?

Figured you gave it to me already. If not okay.

Actually the only thrown thing that will work on a quasit are holy waters. Can Gorgoron make some? I can't afford any, and need some in order to hurt the quasit.

To make holy water he'd need to wait till tomorrow to memorize the spell, and he'd then be one spell short for the day. Better to have Father Zantus do it, perhaps.

The 10 would be appreciated! :) I aint very useful if I can not shoot anything!

In the morning Tardek visits the church and asks Fr. Zanthus if he can have any holy water, even three or four flasks. He mentions that he cannot afford them, but needs them to help protect the city from unfathomable evils beneath its streets.

The group rests for the night at their favorite inns after supplying themselves for a trip into the smuggler's tunnel beneath the Sandpoint Glassworks where it is believed a devious quasit lairs. The town guard has stationed a duo of men outside the factory in the wake of Lonjiku's murder and the news that something far worse could lurk below, ready to sprint to alert the rest of the lawmen should serious trouble arise. The building has by all acounts remained silent since you captured and interogated Tsuto the day before, with the exception of a couple of men heading inside to retrieve the Kaijitsu family patriarch's glass covered corpse and collecting what remnants they can of the laborers. The building stands vacant, yet imposing.

Staring up at the Factory, Flitter frowns softly, his hand tightening around his Crossbow self consciously. "Well... This will be fun hey?" Laughing softly, Flitter sighs, before tightening the straps of his armor and nodding softly.

"That's one word for it," Dherisan remarks as he steps up next to the halfling, tying a few new pouches onto his belt. "Flit, do you think you'd be able to shoot a small bag in someone's hand?" he asks as he gets the last pouch into place.

"Held out from the body by its cord... Maybe. We can see can't we?" Flit grins, before nodding softly. "I can try. I am a pretty damn good shot, so maybe, yes!"

"Alright, we'll, we've been warned against creatures with the ability to vanish. I've got these four pouches filled to bursting with flour," he explains, fingering the bags. "I've a spell that will compel a creature to accept whatever item I offer it. When we fight this demon, hold your shot until it takes one of these bags, then hit the pouch. Hopefully, it will burst in the way we want and give the monstrosity a coating we'll be able to see."

"Oh the Creature?" Flit laughs softly, before nodding. "Get it to hold it to it's chest. That way the bolt wont be a waste!" Flit grins and nods. "I can do this!"

'Dehrisan. If I might suggest. Grant me one or two of the pouches of floor. I'll mix them with my blessed waters, so that I can mark the fiend and damage it all in the one, as soon as I know its position. Rather than risking Flitter using up his cold iron bolts. It requires no magic, and an easier attack.'

"Good idea," Dherisan agrees as he tosses two pouches Tardek's way.

Dungeon Map

I just placed the group in a marching order. However I currently have the map set up to be edited by any of you, so feel free to change your order as you see fit. I'll lock the map within a day or so. If there is any final preperation before delving into the smuggler's tunnel, now would be the time to speak up. Also, for those other than Tardek and Gorgoron, there will be no ambient light, thus you'll want to state what your light sources will be. The map can get a little large so I obviously haven't built the entire thing, but will add to it as we go through.

Once together the party heads inside and back down to the basement to explore the smuggler's tunnel hidden in away therein. The tunnel is around 10' in diameter and smells of old earth. The construction is fair, it is mostly packed earth supported every so many feet by old wooden beams, but there ware a few areas that appear to have been reinforced with bricks at various tires in the tunnel's existance. After heading a short ways down the path it splits. On half of the tunnel curves off to the West and the faint sound of waves lapping a beach can be heard, which carries with it the smell of salt water and a light breeze. The other path curves to the Northeast, into gloomy blackness.

The map follows the path to the NE, if you wis to explore the path to the West first, let me know and we'll zoom that way first.

"The branch to the left would appear to be the smuggler tunnel to the beach. I would imagine the other tunnels lead to the Quasit's lair. Should we scout the smuggler tunnel quickly first just to make sure no goblin host is presently massing there?

That would be great.

Ansruath draws his blade to hold at the ready.He thinks for a moment on what Gorgoron said than says "I would agree with that Father. I would rather know there is nothing behind us when we have to deal with this Quasit."

Assuming the group follows the path toward the sound of the ocean:

Following the sound of the waves and the scent of the winds, it is only a few minutes in the twisting pasageway before there is a glimmer of light up ahead. Once you reach the exit to the tunnel, you see that you are standing on a rocky outcropping, perhaps some 10' or 15' above the beach, coming out of the ridge that Sandpoint is build upon, and the town looms an equal distance above. The tunnel is covered in roots and foliage here and is well concealed if glancing from the beach. An enormous mound of the quaint seaside town's garbage and waste is piled on the beach here, which clues you into being just under the street known as Junker's Way. In the mound of dross and scrap there are numerous burrows and tunnels, though it is common knowledge that goblins come here to scavenge for supplies at night, so this shouldn't come as a surprise. It looks as though it would be pretty easy to climb up and down from the beach, so there is little question as to how the goblins managed to sneak into the factory without being seen.

Tardek looks around at the tunnel entrance, having a look at the rock. 'I don't know much about rock, but I reckon we could collapse this tunnel and close off the route into town pretty easily. I also don't see any goblins out there. So shall we head back underground and take the first passage we see? Make a nice systematic search of the place.'

I'm happy with marching order. Going to drink my dexterity mutagen just before we enter the lair region.