Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Kevin O'Rourke 440

"We can temporarily withdraw, consult with Father Zantus and whatever texts are available, and see if a solution presents itself then. If not, we have the option of sealing this chamber and these tunnels. And Azalia is correct in that we should check for other unsecured tunnels. We should make that a priority over this pool, in my opinion."

Ferocia nods. "Yeah, the attack on the town's more important. Let's finish checking this place for tunnels, and see if there's anywhere else the goblins could have gotten through. We can ask about that weird pool when we're back topside."

"Learn anything?"

Anneka glances over her shoulder, noticing Ferocia and asking her to repeat her question, though Anneka can guess what she'd ask. Climbing to her feet, flour on her dress, Anneka shakes her head sadly. "I can't fathom the evil behind this fountain, other than that it exists. Healing magic won't stop it. But it should be destroyed by any means. Maybe Father Zantus will know what to do..."

Wiping away her diagram with a foot, she resumes her position behind the others as they continue their exploration.

Inside the Catacombs the area with the stairs both going upwards and downwards seem to have collapsed long ago. It would take some effort to clear them and not without danger... still ancient treasures might lie in wait... and ancient dangers that yet slumber undisturbed.

The tunnels outside only one area is unexplored but it is down a steep drop with the sound of running water below. At the very least you'll need to haul down climbing gear to descend if you wish to examine the cavern below.

When you head back up into the glassworks basement the guards are pleased to see you all returning relatively healthy. The mood is dampened by the sight of the dead guards being brought back. "The Mayor left word for when you came back. While you've been down there some new information has come to light she'd like to share with you."

Can we have brought the guards bodies with us, say just now coming into view of the living guards to keep continuity?

"Of course. We should clean up first though." He begins to prestidigitate himself clean, and offers to clean anyone else who wishes it.

"Cleaning up would be best and I would gladly accept magical aid there. The 'goblin slayers' have a reputation to uphold it would seem."

Azalia heads off to see the Mayor with the rest of the group.

Once the group has tidied up and gone to meet with their mayor they can see the morning has not been without activity in town. Indeed it is easy to lose track of time when you're below ground. There are a few flyers about town that are nailed up at important points speaking of people interested in joining a new militia contacting Guard Oleg or Sheriff Hemlock. No mention is made on the flyers of the group Milgen has been organising.

When you come to meet with the Mayor you aren't waiting long as she finishes up a meeting and then someone else has to be informed they'll be waiting a little long. "I'm glad to see you all have returned. What did you discover in your explorations of these tunnels?"

Miron looks at the Mayor and starts speaking in a level tone:

"There are ruins in those tunnels. Very old ruins, which appear to have been used by followers of Lamashtu, the Mother of Monsters. They contained abominations and pools with magical properties. We slew any of the former we found including the one who slew the two guards, and took note of the latter. There are caved in and deeper areas accessible through staircases which we have not yet had a chance to explore. We can press on to examine those, or seal up the tunnels for now and resume focus on the goblins. I believe that these ruins bear further examination and preferably soon, but they can take second priority if the goblins have shown signs of mobilising swiftly."

Milgen closes his eyes, and begins to describe what they found in the tunnels, in as neutral a tone as he can.

Take 10 on an Int Check, for 14, should be a decent recount

"...after taking the quasit down, we discovered that the pool was strongly enchanted for necromancy. Since none of us are experts on that, we returned to town to recover after the fight, and seek out an expert in necromancy. The tunnels should be guarded, with more than two guards, and we should put in some barricades to make it easier to guard against anything that comes up. We should also deal with the goblins, we appear to have two different threats, the goblins and whatever summoned the Quasit. Of the two, the goblins are likely the easier to deal with first, as what is below ground we can likely contain for a while at least. I strongly suggest we set charges to blow the tunnels leading down if we need to should something come charging out of it the guards can't handle. Or, for that matter, if the goblins come charging into them to come up in town through them."

Mayor Deverin considers for a moment. "I have some news to share with you as well. Shalelu sent word with a trapper for us. She's checked on two of the tribes so far, they are marshaling and making preparations to move and attack but not immediately, we have some time yet. She can also account for most of their numbers."

"Gathering the tribes together would put too much of a strain on any one tribes holding for long. Likely it will not happen til imminently before the attack or while on the march. The band of Birdcrunchers outside Thistletop might have been -envoys of a sort. This and the other things you have reported suggest that Thistletop is where their command lies."

With a sigh she continues. "Sheriff Hemlock wont be back for some time with soldiers but they will come. I know you do not have to but each of you has proven capable and has risen to each challenge set before you. I would ask you, when you are rested and ready of course to set out for Thistletop. If their leader can be killed the goblins may fall to infighting leaving us be... at worst with no one directing the plan any attack will disorganised."

"I have asked much of you in days past, I will not blame you consider this too far."

Miron is silent for a moment.

"Eliminating the enemy leadership would help protect the town. I volunteer to do this task."

Milgen nods. "I see no reason not to. We'll need a day to prepare for such an outing."

Anneka nods fervently, indicating her absolute agreement to the task at hand. The enemy leadership that Miron mentions, she realizes, is very likely Nualia Tobyn, whose lurid sketches adorned the pages of Tsuto's journal. While she knows the mayor may very well have seen the journal, she declines to comment just now, waiting to discuss it with the others who will journey to Thistletop and find out for themselves what face hides behind this shroud of secrets and conspiracy.

"I will write a writ recognising you as having legal claim to any spoils found in the Catacombs or Thistletop within reason. It is not as great a reward as I would wish to give but whoever is organising the goblins is of some means and no doubt has secured some wealth during this endeavour."

”Looting rights?” Drazh looked around. ”So long as you can tell me what ‘within reason’ means, then I can do this.”

Ferocia nods. "Yeah, I'm in."

Not like I have a choice. I can't sit by while this place burns down around me.

"That is appreciated mayor."

That the mayor is making these acquisitions official is a relief to him.

"Unholy items for example. There are many potent spells as I understand it that require sacrifice of wealth. If it is portable then it can be used as such and meet it's destruction. In such a case you would be compensate the estimated value it would be sold for with a merchant."

"Truly vile items, for example this orange monster summoning pool would be different. No claim given to those but likely it will be an investment to destroy it."

”Aye then. Ye have my hammer.”

I'm in.

"If the city has any blasting powder, that might suffice for destroying the pool. We have a few items we should destroy, if possible. An unholy symbol and a book of prayers. The book of prayers has some actual useful information in it about the strengths and weaknesses of various monsters that can be summoned, likely from this pool. While the prayers book itself should be destroyed, it would be worthwhile to transcribe the monster information before doing so, as we may have to deal with some of the monsters it extols, and information on their weaknesses and strengths could be vital in the near future." He sighs. "Unfortunately, we need someone who can read and write abyssal to do so. If there is anyone in town who can give me a crash course in this, I'd be willing to do the transcription, burning the pages that are not relevant to monsters, and then burning the monster pages as the relevant data is transcribed. Alternately, if there's someone you trust who reads abyssal, then that would be something they could do?"

"I will see if the alchemists have something that may suffice, we can weaken choke points in the tunnels to lessen the needs."

"Few will make it known if they speak such a foul tongue openly but I'll make discrete inquiries. At worst I believe there is a member of the Order of the Nail in Magnimar who has served in Mendev holding back the demonic forces of the Worldwound... they doubtless picked up knowledge of the foul tongue. I wouldn't say I would trust Sir Galstad and while I would not doubt that he would use vile means he opposes the forces of the Abyss."

Milgen nods. "Then if he can be called upon to give me a crash course in the language? I've had some exposure and training in it before, but it was when I was much younger, and I don't remember it as well as I should for something like this." He suddenly pauses. "When I was young that is, you could say that my family exposed me to many languages during our travels in my childhood..."

Miron's eyes glance over Milgen.

This is not the first time he has made reference to his youth, as if it seemed some time ago. There is something odd going on here. Or more humour.

Knowledge Local to recall any local tales of long-lived people: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"You'll likely have to go to Magnimar but that's not one of the immediate challenges. Do you have any more questions for me?"

Let me know if there is any gear or activities ye want to get done for the rest of the day.

Milgen has no further questions

Milgen & Miron likely spend the rest of the day selling items. Milgen sells the wand of shocking grasp, because having a wand of a spell that requires the person with the lowest AC to be in hand to hand combat is useless. Everyone gets another 126 coins

The next day after resting and getting what errands ye liked done in Sandpoint the road awaits. As you approach Thistletop you can hear the roar of the waves crashing against the cliff below.

Miron speaks to Father Zantus quietly about the ruins, especially the pools and the Quasit. And mentions the matter of the 'book of prayers'.

Miron will also assist Milgen in selling the items.

With the knowledge that Sandpoint could be under attack again soon, Ferocia sighs deeply. She drinks the rest of her wine, takes and deep breath.... and goes to visit her family.

She doesn't want to. Not really. Her parents think she's a disappointment, and her siblings... Well, they're well adjusted. They're in healthy relationships. They have steady jobs, and wives and husbands. Children and pregnancies and townhouses with little window boxes...

Ugh. This was going to be painful.

But, if there was a chance Sandpoint would get destroyed (or, much more likely, that she'd be killed trying to take on entire goblin tribe with a few other foolish suckers), then she should at least pay them a visit. Right...?

I need another bottle of wine.

And so she stomped down to the Mercantile League, and asked to see her mother, and her father, and her siblings. The secretary scolded her for not having an appointment, and made her wait ages in the waiting room--and that was just to see her mother.

Ugh, this is going to take forever...

----

The day is nearly over by the time she's done visiting her family. They've nagged and teased and offered 'helpful suggestions' on how she can 'better her life' and become 'a proper dwarf'. Made her wish for a stiff drink and some goblins to tear into, is more like it...

She stops off at Ameiko's for that free food she's been promised, only to find a bag of coins waiting for her. After stuffing herself to bursting she heads out to do some shopping, before the stores close, and then heads back home to get some real rest. She'd need it. She might die tomorrow, after all.

@ GM: I will select my purchases shortly.

---

The next morning, Ferocia has breakfast at the Rusty Dragon. After eating her fill she heads to Anneka's family bakery, and buys herself a bear claw--better make it two. It's not that she was worried they'd die. She wasn't. But, just in case, wasn't it better to be prepared? And what better preparations were there than eating the best damned pastries in existence? Nothing.

They were delicious.

Licking her fingers, she meets up with the others on the road towards Thistletop.

With a bit of downtime, and without the need to hammer anything against an anvil, Drazh went to the market. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, just that he had some gold in his purse and the very real possibility of dying before he would get the chance to spend it. It made one look at life differently.

While walking, he came across a stall. A man in a robe stood there, with a display of items laid out. A few wands, some staves, some stones.

"Ah, a discerning eye. Come, master dwarf, what can I do for you?"

Drazh looked the man over. Tall, gangly, wearing robes. Had to be a mage. "And ye are...?"

The mage smiled. "You may call me Tolbin. I am an...artist. I am on my way to Magnimar, where there are people who can appreciate, and afford, what I do. But you? You look different than the rest of these...people." He said the last word as if though it was the last thing he would use to describe those around him.

Drazh scoffed and folded his arms. "Is that so? And what do ye have that I would need, mage?"

Tolbin threw his arms out dramatically. "I have potions that will make you fly. Wands of healing, and of destruction. Staves that can unmake reality itself!"

Drazh shrugged. "I can do all of that with my hammer. What's this?" He picked up one of the stones. It was...beautiful. He had never seen anything quite like it. It was a red sphere. The color was...how could he describe it? Like a rose, but...dusty? There was a crack inside of it. He assumed that was from when it was dug out. But he couldn't tell what kind of gemstone it was.

Tolbin grinned. "That, my valued friend, is an ioun stone. Most rare." He took the stone from Drazh's hands, and then let it go. The dwarf expected it to fall to the ground, but instead it floated in the air.

"This one is enchanted. Whomever owns it will be forewarned of danger. Very useful to the intrepid adventurer."

Drazh stared at it. It was more than just a work of art. He tried his best to keep his voice skeptical. "I see. And how much is it?"

Tolbin put his finger to his chin. "Usually these types of stones can go for as high as five thousand gold. But, as you can see, there is the most minute of cracks within it. While you can hardly tell, it goes against everything that I hold dear as an artist. I wouldn't show anything within my studio that is less than perfect. I would let it go for a mere five hundred gold."

Drazh sputtered "Five hundred gold? Are ye mad? I could sell a suit of half-plate for that."

Tolbin shook his head. "And would that half-plate be enchanted? No, it wouldn't, would it? That, and this stone, well..." From within his robes he pulled out an ornate box. He opened it up. It was a blend of artistry, magic, and technology. Drazh's eyes sparkled at the beauty of it.

"This, is a wayfinder. You'll mostly see pathfinders with them. I was able to reverse-engineer this one myself. Beautiful, is it not? Look at the lattice of wire, spun of silver, gold and other precious metals."

He grinned as he saw the dwarf's eyes shine. "They are able to enhance the ability of ioun stones. Ones like this one, I am selling. Now, what they will do inside the wayfinder? That is anyone's guess."

Drazh looked at the mage. "And how much is this...wayfinder?"

Tolbin shook his head. "This one is not for sale. I could sell you one, if you ever come to Magnimar."

Drazh looked at the stone, and then at the wayfinder. It spoke to him, something deep down inside of his soul. The ioun stone was a thing of beauty, it looked like a perfectly cut gem. And the wayfinder? The artistry, the skill, the craftmanship. He hadn't realized that mankind was capable of making such beauty.

Drazh left the market that day with his money pouch five hundred crowns lighter, and with an ioun stone lazily floating over his head. He didn't regret the purchase, but at the same time, he felt an urge to go to Magnimar to complete his purchase. One day, perhaps?

Azalia turns the shop over to her assistant while she is gone.

I probably won't be gone long, but if I am, take the things from the third cabinet in the storeroom and sell them to keep things going. You should be fine. From now on, you are half owner. You get half the profit, and if you make us enough money, you can buy me out and take over. This can be a test, to see if you think it is something you want to do. We'll talk about it further when I get back.

Standing outside the thorned gates of Thistletop, Anneka listens to the crashing surf of the Varisian sea. She lets her mind wander for a moment, contemplating the importance and significance of the task ahead. If Nualia is helping the goblins, then a goblin raid may be the least of their worries. Grave-robbing is a heinous act at the worst of times, but everything they've learned thus far has suggested there may be something more nefarious going on. Has Nualia turned to the dark arts? Is she attempting to use her father's remains for some sort of ritual?

At that, a chill creeps over her, despite the balmy air. Her shadow draws near, wrapping her in an embrace.

Using cloak of darkness, 1 hr.

Right before they were ready to go in, Drazh looked out at the gates of Thistletop. He let his mind wander, back to his days in the mines. Fighting alongside his father, shoulder to shoulder, hammers in hand. There had been zombies and skeletons down there, plaguing the mining operations. He remembered the lessons that he learned, down in the darkness. Of how his father had taught him not to expose himself, even when swinging a large hammer. Of how it wasn't worth it to down one foe, if it left you exposed to a counter attack and there were a dozen more waiting. He figured that it would be similar fighting goblins. Pests, who would try to overwhelm them with numbers. Especially if it was true that there was an army waiting for them.

It was mentally tiring to keep oneself completely focused. The most he had ever managed before was a half-hour, before his mind and body couldn't handle it. It was something that he would have to train on, he knew. But now seemed to be a good a time as any. It was time to take this seriously.

Closing his eyes, he centered himself. Willing himself to think on the nature of the enemy. To imagine how they fought, and how they reacted. To plan for their moves before they made them. He opened his eyes, and looked at the gates with renewed determination.

"Let's move."

As I understand it, there is only one way in. And we aren't the stealthiest of parties. So long as we are charging the gates, Drazh will go in first. Right before we start the attack, he will activate adaptation, which will give him +2 natural armor for 30 minutes. During this time, his AC will be a healthy 21.

As they all gather in the town, before heading out, Milgen stops them. "Should we try to get a scroll or two to take out the towers? A scroll of Fireball or something? It might make a difference."

What if instead of trying to break it down, we go over it? One or two of us could slip over with spider climb and let the others in by opening the gate. Or one could slip over with spider climb while invisible and they could get the gate open. Ferocia would be willing to buy a potion or a few to get that going (if such potions are available).