Somewhat slowed by poison but buoyed by their triumph over the demon, the party returns to the temple she guarded. Garrick attempts to smash the side of the glowing pool with his Lucerne hammer, but quickly discovers that the stone is sufficiently obdurate that he believes his weapon will fail before it mars the edge of the basin. Vidar tries something that he perhaps should have thought of earlier and casts detect magic....
After he picks himself up, he informs the others that the magical aura on the font is the strongest he's ever seen. It appears to be a minor artifact, and figuring out what it does is beyond his skill. For the moment.
Unable to do more with the temple, the Heroes of Sandpoint return to the Rusty Dragon to rest, and figure out what to do next.
Nia sighs as she finishes off her glass of wine. "I think everything points us at Thistletop next. We have a journal that says Tsuto was going there, we know there are massed goblins there, and we know their leaders as Ripnugget and Bruthazmus. I don't know what that quasit had to do with anything, or that magic pool, but the goblins have to be our next target."
Garrick says, "Aye. Might be worth talking to Shalelu to get an idea of what we'd be facing there - or to find out if there's a back way in.... though I think it'd be nice to figure out what the magic pool does, too. Should at least seal it off to keep the rabble out, in any case."
"We do have some time to research our options, which we should take, lest we bumble into a situation like this again."
Vidar nurses an ale sourly, not pleased with how little he managed to contribute in the end.
"The point of what to do next is moot for some time either way, until we have had a chance to report to the authorities properly."
Vidar glances over to the bar, momentarily distracted from his various dark thoughts by concern for Ameiko.
As if summoned by the mention of her name, Shalelu stomps her way into the common room. She takes the glass Bethana offers and approaches you, sitting down at the table. "You look like you've had a day. What happened?"
Garrick chuckles and says, "Aye, well, we explored an evil temple and fought a wee tiny, but annoying, demon..."
He takes a pull from his tankard, and adds, "In the end, we're here and it isn't, so, that's all that matters."
Shalelu pauses, her glass halfway to her mouth, and whistles in appreciation before raising her glass to you all in salute. "That was quite a day. Here's to you, and is this something the Sheriff should know about?"
"Yes, most likely. He would need to create a cordon or something like that, to prevent the curious from entering the lair.
It might yet contain dangers."
Over the rest of the day, you report to Sheriff Hemlock and try to sell off the mundane goods you found. Hemlock sets a guard on the smuggler's tunnels that lead to the hitherto-unsuspected underground labyrinth beneath the town.
The gown, symbol, and tiara net you 45 gold pieces. The dagger is cold iron and magical, and in the fight you saw it return to the quasit's hand when she threw it.
Father Zantus is willing to cast lesser restoration once per day on Ilryan, and makes the infirmary available to the oracle for mundane treatment as well.
The party meets in the infirmary with Shalelu to discuss Thistletop. The elf passes around a bottle of something strong (to the disapproving looks of the infirmarian) and unrolls a map of the area. "It's about two hours' walk to get there. I didn't see any goblins out when I was scouting yesterday, and I was planning to check Thistletop when I spotted some indications that Bruthazmus had been about the Tors. We need to find out more about what they're planning--he's likely to know, so if I can catch him I expect I can pry it out of him.
"That leaves Thistletop itself. Could you scout there? If I can, I'll join you after I've searched the Tors. Now, the 'top is actually an island, about sixty feet off shore. It's connected to the mainland by a rope bridge. The goblins have trails through the thistle patches around the mainland side of the bridge, and a stockade on the island itself.
"The island is--well, it looks like the top of a head, carved from solid stone. The sides are slick from spray, so I wouldn't recommend trying to take a boat and climb from sea level. It's not going to be an easy fight any way you slice it."
Nia looks curiously at Shalelu. "Any chance we could catch Bruthazmus out on the tors? If he's out scouting around, I'd much rather catch him in the open than try to kill him while he's surrounded by goblins. If we can take out one of their leaders before we assault their base that would be great."
Shalelu shakes her head. "You might be able to sneak up on him, but there's no way Garrick or Ilryan could manage it."
Garrick shrugs, "I'm thinking it might almost be more important to figure out a way to sneak onto the 'top. One bridge, that's one point of access -- easy to guard and raise the alarm - so the whole fortress is on alert. I'm good and can hew down goblins by the handful, but not by the score - at least, not all at once."
He shrugs and says, "As stupid as goblins are, even they can figure out to post people watching the bridge... and, given that this lot's been somewhat disciplined in a way suggesting real leadership, they'd likely have another group ready to attack from the rear, trapping us on the bridge."
Vidar raises an eyebrow at not being mentioned. Did that mean Shalelu considered him in some sort of limbo as far as his stealth capacity went?
Either way, Vidar got up and wandered over to the bar, intending to check in on Ameiko.
Nia nods. "That's too bad. I don't like the idea of getting caught on this bridge. Disguise isn't going to work- we're all too big to even try to look like goblins." The young woman shakes her head. "We could try invisibility to get across the bridge, if we can find scrolls or potions. Or if we're talking about scrolls, I've heard of ones that can make you invulnerable to arrows- we could look for some of those."
She looks at Vidar. "Any chance you can make us invisible, Vidar?"
"That would be illusion magic, not something I have any facility for."
Garrick ponders a moment, then shrugs, "I'd say we could take a boat, knowing we'd lose it, if we could buy a kettlefull of spider climb potions -- but I'm guessing that's not practical.. or affordable. So the next question becomes can anyone think of a way to get across a 60' gap? Even just getting one of us could have that person secure a rope."
He pauses, then shrugs, "I suppose, if there's only one way onto the island, it cuts both ways and we might be able to use that against them... but it depends on the terrain - and how many patrols they have out there. But it could be possible to jump everyone coming back or leaving, and bleed them down a little that way. Or maybe figure out a way to keep them on alert and wear them down. Maybe a bit of both."
"I wouldn't mind just destroying that bridge, sealing them off from the town, but whatever that demon Malfeshnekor is, we can't just give them unlimited time to summon it. We're going to have to go in."
"A 60' gap is too far to jump, even with magic. If we had a catapult, maybe we could throw someone that far, but they're not going to let us roll a siege engine up to their island. And a swim and then a climb would be tough for me, I don't know about the rest of you."
Nia purses her lips as she thinks. She looks at Vidar again. "What about one of those obscuring mists? We could blanket the bridge in it. That would keep archers from targeting us as we cross."
Nia sighs. "We should go back to the shops and see what they have available in the way of potions and scrolls. That would inform our planning."
Garrick says, "That's probably a good idea. You're right, though -- a couple of obscuring mists and maybe a silence spell or two to prevent them from raising an alarm, and the bridge might be a viable approach."
Shalelu listens to your discussion of tactics for a time, then interjects, "The mainland side of the bridge is surrounded by a thorn hedge with at least a few goblins in it, so it's safe to assume that by the time you get through that they'll know you're on the way. Using a mist spell to keep down their arrows is a good plan, though."
Garrick nods, "Of course it does... Well, that doesn't change things too much - though we'd need to make sure we hit them fast so they can't raise an alarm -- hopefully the distance, hedges and sounds of the sea prevent the guards on the island side from realizing what's going on."
Nia nods. "Having magical silence along can't hurt even if they know we're there. I've never found having too many options to be a bad thing." She looks at Shalelu. "Do you have any idea how many goblins are in this tribe? Are we talking about dozens or hundreds?"
Shalelu mutters to herself for a moment, counting on her fingers. "Maybe thirty fighters? They lost many during the attack on Sandpoint, and word of their success hasn't spread far enough yet that they've gotten many new recruits."
Garrick whistles, "That's a more manageable number.. of course, some of them will be their champions -- and then there's whatever boss is keeping them in line. And, of course, Ameiko's brother's girlfriend."
Nia nods and counts off on her fingers. "Tsuto, the woman, Ripnugget, and Bruthazmus. An equal number to our own, if we assume they're all combat threats. And then they have those goblins with them. And this demon, if they manage to summon it."
"If we can plan in any advantages, we're going to need it."
"Desna will watch over us, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared."
Ilryan thinks for a moment. "Do you think we'll need any special arms to deal with them?"
Shalelu shakes her head. "I don't think so. I've never fought anything out there that wasn't flesh and blood--goblins, their dogs, and Bruthazmus."
Nia nods. "Well that's something at least. What can you tell us about Bruthazmus. We've heard the name- he's some kind of goblin champion?"
Garrick shrugs, "After seeing the little beastie resist our strikes, I think we'd best make sure we've got the right things to kill their demon."
"Bruthazmus is a bugbear ranger. He and I have been trying to kill each other for a while now."
At some point you take the dagger over to Savah's Armory. Savah looks the weapon over carefully, even though it seems to vanish in her scarred and well-callused hands. She shakes her head. "You know, I don't have enough gold in the store to pay you what this is worth. If you're wondering, that's 5800 gold for you. Normally it'd be a little less, but for you I'll make an exception. I must be going soft in my old age. I can give you 1000 gold now, and the rest in a few days. Unless you wanted some in trade? Anyway, I'll let my contact in Magnimar know about it--he'll send over the money, but it'll take him a day or two to get here." She snorts. "For this, he might come out himself. You'll have to tell me where you found it."
Nia grimaced. "Bugbears are nasty. And if he's tough enough to keep alive with you after him he's got to be worse than most."
***
(At the Armory)
Nia grins at Savah. "Chased a little monster all over creation to retrieve that thing. That's why we were in here looking for cold iron and silver before."
She nods at the proprietor and looks over at Garrick and the others. "I'll bet we can find a use for at least some credit rather than all coin. We'll have a look around."
Garrick nods, "More than happy to take it in trade if we can find something good."
"So what are you looking for? I haven't had much time to bring in anything new after you were here last, I'm afraid."
Garrick says, "Magic axes, for one."
Nia chuckles. "Sure, sure. But also, we're trying to think of a way to bridge a 60' gap while being pelted with arrows- can you think of anything that could help with that?"
Garrick shrugs, "Like I said, I don't want to be in a position where we can't hurt the thing we're fighting... But, aye, the logistical problem is an important one."
Garrick offers, "We were thinking maybe scrolls or potions of levitation or similar magic, but if you've got a different idea, we'd be willing to entertain it."
Savah looks a bit abashed. "I guessed you'd be wanting an enchanted axe--put in an order for one for you yesterday, but it's not gotten here from Magnimar yet. I only do weapons and armor here; Voon's the one for scrolls and potions." She taps the counter distractedly, thinking. "Depends on how many people I had, and what my side of the bridge looks like. Best case, I'd get about four heavy fighters with tower shields, and have them charge across the bridge with everyone else taking cover behind them. If I had some archers myself, I'd enfilade the archers on the other side while my first wave crossed, and then once they were tying up the enemy on the far side I'd have my archers cross. I'm going to assume it's just the four of you, though. Right?"
Garrick asks, "I don't imagine we could share the trade/credit between your shop and Voon's?" He chuckles, "Aye, 'tis just us. It's not the crossing that worries me so much as the alarm that they can raise while we're doing it."
Nia chuckles. "Well I'm worried about getting turned into a pincushion while we cross this bridge, but we don't have a shield wall to turtle behind." She nods at Garrick. "Just the four of us. I'm not sure what we can do to keep them from raising a ruckus when they see us charging across this bridge. We can raise our own ruckus if we want to keep them distracted and scared- fireworks, thunderstones- but that won't stop them from raising an alarm."
"Well, there's something else you could try. Turn things around--there's only one way on, but that means there's only one way off. Start by clearing the shore end of the bridge as best you can, then dig in and let them come to you. If they send their very best against you, burn the bridge."
Nia nods. "That could work. We'll need to clear the near side, anyway, to keep them from crawling up our backs." She looks back at the others. "I just thought of something- we need to see if we can find Shalelu and ask her if 'Thistletop' is flammable. I might need to readjust what I'm carrying if their base is liable to catch on fire."
Garrick shakes his head, "Thought of that, but the problem is they might be up to something we have to stop - which is to say, they may be able to win by waiting. But Nia might have the right idea. Silence on a couple of arrows or spears would stop them from raising an alarm -- and being shot at from the wood might keep them from looking at the bridge while melee folks rush in."
Nia purses her lips in thought. "That is a good idea." She looks at Vidar. "Can you cast that spell?"
"As long as we're talking about range," she turns back to Savah, "do you this thing I've heard about?" Nia quickly describes a curved wicker basket worn like a glove over one hand, with the basket extending approximately 2 feet in a steady curve, allowing someone to launch a thrown splash weapon at incredible speeds and over long distances.