Happy to be back in fight, Honani rolls onto the balls of his feet and pushes forward to the northeast of the fountain. Approaching the sinspawn, Honani crouches low behind his klar and thrusts out with his glaive. His anger lends him strength and he leans into his attack.
Honani strides forward and feels a breath of moving air on his cheek as he does so. Tamiko likewise moves forward but suddenly some alien force reaches out and tries to freeze her in her tracks!
Tamiko
Sinspawn
Honani
???
Trinity
Marissia
Morgana
The nights rest did Trinity good. The following morning she seemed a lot more at ease than she appeared the previous night. Her vigilance seemed sharper and her attention focused as the group continued to explore the lower levels of the Glassworks. It wasn’t long before she caught sight of a tiny winged creature hovering over a nearby pit. As soon as she pointed out the creature, the room erupted into combat.
Almost out of reflex, Trinity grasped a medallion that had been hanging around her neck and uttered a quick prayer to Iomedae for protection. As soon as the words left her mouth a shimmering hue formed around her.
Realizing she forgot to cast her magical protections, MArissia lets out a panicked little shriek. She blushes brightly, then forms a few strange shapes with her hands.
"Armaralis marcado!" she shouts.
Tamiko is able to fight off the spell, and sees a small winged creature hovering high above the fountain to her left.
Trinity and Marissia invoke their protective magics while Morgana darts in front of Tamiko and up the stairs to do battle with the creature. She strikes true and slices into the creatures flesh, although not deeply.
Honani, jabbing upwards to the dais, is unable to land a firm blow.
The two creatures retaliate, one leaping from the platform to confront Honani.
After all the flailing and biting Morgana is sporting a light cut to match the one she gave, Honani is unhurt.
Tamiko is preparing to attack the creature moving towards her when she feels something odd, as if something is trying to freeze her in place. She shakes it off, but Morgana barrels past her as she's distracted, blocking off her approach. Instead, as she's looking around for an alternate approach, she spots another creature that she hadn't noticed before. The big creatures didn't seem capable of spells, so perhaps this was the one that tried to stop her? In any case, she reflexively shoots off an acid ball at it.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Honani yells to his race sister, "Take a care. These creatures are relentless. Try not to get bit, if you would."
Seeing the sinspawn close in on him, Honani pushes out with his glaive trying to move the sinspawn back.
After his attack the Shoanti take a small step back.
Tamiko's acid ball flies past the tiny creature which shrieks in surprise at the attack. Honani lands a mighty blow on the sinspawn, splitting its skull right down through the neck - above him the strange well glows and the creature carries on attacking, although much more slowly than before.
The small creature vanishes from sight again.
Marissia hurries forward and points a finger at the red sinspawn. "Friazo!" A thin line of icy air flies from her finger at the monster's side.
“Be mindful, there is a Quasit Demon present! This best can become invisible whenever it wants and has poisonous claws. It is extremely resistant to most elements and is vulnerable to cold iron or good aligned weapons. To make matters worst, it heals at a rapped rate.” Trinity stated while moving to engage one of the creatures.
Tamiko holds position near the bottom, since there's no place for her to move up to attack. Instead, she casts a spell, making her hand crackle with electricity - and when she regrips her blade with a grin, the electricity transfers to it.
Morgana continues her duel with the second sinspawn, she lands a solid blow and it grazes her in response.
The other sinspawn lacks the brains to do anything but throw itself, slavering, at Honani and Trinity thrusts her sword through its open mouth - killing it before the creature even realises it is under attack.
The body collapses to the floor and dissolves, and the glow from the golden pool above dims notably.
Tamiko
Sinspawn dead/-11
Honani
???
Trinity
Marissia
Morgana -7
Honani go!
Silently thanking Trinity for dispatching of the sinspawn before them, Honani rushes forward to engage the sinspawn attacking his race sister.
Honani makes a lot of noise, but little else as his glaive carves a huge arc through the air a foot away from the sinspawn, which seems unconcerned by his arrival.
No sign can be seen of the small creature.
Marissia frowns. She'd missed again! She takes a deep breath, focuses on the red sinspawn, and points her finger. "Friazo!" A thin line of icy air flies from her finger at the monster's head.
She lets out a sigh of relief as she hits the beast!
Trinity moves up the stairs and engages the sin-spawn.
(Maybe I should back off a little. I wouldn't want to make the warrior look bad.)
Trinity severs the creatures spine as it turns to glower at Marissia for trying to freeze its tongue off. It collapses just like the previous one and the pool dims again.
"What are you doing?!" Comes the angry shout as a tear in space opens up and a roiling mound of flesh slops its way through to engage Marissia!
The small winged creature reappears, flying across the room towards Trinity.
"Leave my realm, servant of foul gods!"
"Whoa, what is that?!" Tamiko steps over to the new...thing and stabs at it with her electrified blade. Hope this works...
Tamiko strikes at the creature and vaporises it in a single flash of lightning and ozone!
Marissia lets out a shriek of pain as the flesh mound slaps her. Thankfully Tamiko takes it down a moment later.
"Oh, thank you!" Marissia gasps in relief. She focuses on the flapping winged thing and casts her arms out at it!
"Incantius estar!"
A blast of magical energy vaguely reminiscent of a bird in flight shoots from Marissia's hands and flies across the room at the winged beast.
So much is happening that if it were not for Honani's warrior training he would be unable to process all the information. Luckily the Shoanti of the Cinderlands were a race accustomed to fierce battle.
Crying out for the first time, he steps around Tamiko's hitting the lemure, and Trinity slicing up the sinspawn.
It was time to Honani to do what he does best. Ducking under Marissia's magical cold attack, he thrusts his glaive-guisarme at where Marissia is shooting.
While carefully observing the small Demon, Trinity stepped up and brought her blade into a horizontal sidelong swing.
Marissia's unerring missile strikes the creature, but none of the weapon attacks are able to achieve anything. The creature shrieks in rage, but seeing a well armed group of adventurers and no support it winks out of sight and Marissia feels the wind of its wings as it flies past her and out of the great doors.
The room is impressive but contains nothing of value apart from the pool, which glows fiercely when examined under detect magic. An inscription on the side reads:
"It's fled!" Marissia exclaims. "Oh, no! How will we catch it now?" She turns and peeks out into the hallway, but can't see the winged creature. She sighs, then comes back into the room.
Hearing the inscription read aloud by Trinity Marissia nods. "This place was some sort of outpost for the Runelord Alaznsit, ancient Thassilonian Runelord of Wrath. That's the woman we saw depicted in that statue down the hall. The angry one."
Thinking on the words Marissia forms a few sigils with her fingers. "Omnis aperito!" she exclaims loudly. She aims her hand around the room, looking for magical auras, then focuses on the strange pool.
"Oh, this is definitely magical.... Wow... It's very bright."
"Looks like by filling this well with blood -- or perhaps a sacrifice -- one could summon -- or perhaps create -- those strange monsters... The little winged creature must have used it right before we arrived."
The pool radiates conjuration magic, and Marissia's intuition seems to be entirely correct, with an offering of blood the pool could produce a sinspawn.
Marissia is also fairly certain that, if the pool is forced to create too many sinpawn, the magics could be drained past the point of no return - rendering the artefact useless.
Honani's walks to each of the downed sinspawns and slices off a trophy. He moves to each member of the rag-tag group and presents them with a memento of their minor victory by the fountain. Knowing that he did little to contribute to the fight, he hides his shame building like a thundercloud on his heart.
"You are all very wise, city-folk. Can we not drain the fountain or destroy it? I do not like it creating enemies to our back as we explore.
"And I feel that should we encounter our invisible adversary once again, our weapons might be too weak to fight it, though our arms are up to the challenge." he inadvertently flexes his enlarged bicep. "We need some sort of tactical advantage. But time is not on our side. Shall we press on? Does anyone need a short rest?" without waiting for an answer Honani moves towards the northeast door to open it.
"Oh my! Are we up for a calculated risk? By dropping some blood in the pool we could create more sinspawn, one at a time. After we defeat them all the pool will be useless. I mean... how many could there be? Right?"
At the sight of Honani flexing his biceps in her face Marissia blushes brightly. She raises a hand and fans herself with a dreamy look on her face.
Tamiko leans against the wall as her adrenaline and tingly magic power wear off. "I'd prefer not to fight any more of those...things, especially when we don't know how many more the pool can make. But if there's no better way, I guess we could try."
"I worry about leaving it untended. Who knows what that little creature could do with it behind our backs? And the effect this well could be having on Sandpoint is... Well, it's worrisome to say the least!" She crosses her arms and runs her hands up and down them, as if she was cold. "Powerful artifacts like this are incredibly difficult to destroy -- requiring obscure rituals enacted by powerful people, or nigh-impossible to accomplish tasks. For us to have a way to destroy it so simply is... Well, it's astounding, really. I think we ought to take the chance..." She considers the well for another moment. "I theorize that the amount of blood is related to the number of monsters formed. If we only add the smallest drop it should only create one at a time. Surely handling that in a controlled environment is better than the alternatives? A Honani pointed out, it could be used to form a great deal of enemies behind us. Particularly if that creature has a way to further empower or refresh the well with energy."
Trinity begins to comment on the pool, but then pauses a moment. She then slowly begins looking around the room.
”I’m going to assume that demon is still here in the room with us and is listening to every word we say. Summon more spawn and it will likely put its own spin on things. That being said, I agree that attempting to discharge the artifact sounds plausible. After discharging it, does the thing recharge over time? Or can it be recharged in some other way?
Honani exhales before leaning on his glaive. "You are all more learned than I. It does make sense to destroy this artifact before it can spawn more enemies, yet our enemy is devious. I shall focus my attention on killing the spawn of the pool while you guard me."
Hoping his friends agree with his plan, he hefts hos glaive and klar in a defensive position, read to strike the first spawn that appears.
Honani takes a few blows (8 damage) but reasonably soon all the sinspawn are destroyed by the simple expedient of surrounding the creatures and hitting them as they form.
With the destruction of the final sinspawn the pool finally empties and the light goes out. Under Detect Magic the stone basin in completely inert.
”I’m going to assume that demon is still here in the room with us and is listening to every word we say. Summon more spawn and it will likely put its own spin on things. That being said, I agree that attempting to discharge the artifact sounds plausible. After discharging it, does the thing recharge over time? Or can it be recharged in some other way?
"Oh, she left. I felt her fly right past my head on her way out."
---
Marissia prepares herself by the well and drops blood in to form the sinspawn, then hurls cantrips at them while her companions surround them. When it's done she smiles brightly. "Oh, well done, everyone!" she bandages up her cut hand, examines the pool, then grins. "We've done it. It's destroyed."
She wipes the sweat from her brow. "Well, that was exhausting. I think we've finished up."
"I wonder where that creature got to... I could try to detect its magical auras, but pinpointing its location would be slow going, and the creature is likely to slip away from us before I find it. Shall we give it a try or return to Sandpoint?"
Trinity seemed genuinely relieved when the magic in the pool faded. “Without some form of invisibility detection, I don’t believe we will find that creature if it doesn’t want to be found. I believe we have done what we can and should report back to town and pass on what we have found down here.”
"I think you're right. Lead the way, then."
Back in Sandpoint, Marissia makes a point of informing the authorities of everything the group experienced. Then she heads over to her father's home. She takes a deep breath and whispers a prayer under her breath or strength, then she heads inside. She squishes past dirty dishes, half-written papers, and heaps of books to find her father. It was an uncomfortable experience (as always), but he was her family. And family mattered. It takes a while to get his attention, but when she does she tells him about what she's seen, and offers to request permission for him to study the ruins under the town -- although he'll need guards. There's still an invisible monster down there, after all!
If he accepts her offer Marissia heads out to see Mayor Deverin. She explains what she's discovered in the ruins, and that there are likely further chambers even deeper underground. She stresses the importance of learning everything we can about the ruins for the good of Sandpoint. She also lets her know there's an invisible pest down there they were so far unable to pin down. She suggests they post guards in the complex, and requests that her father be allowed to study the ruins. If her request is approved she files the necessary paperwork to make it official. If she catches sight of Morgana while she's there she chats and socializes with her friend, still shocked that the popular noblewoman gives her the time of day.
Tired after a long day's work Marissia heads to the Rusty Dragon for dinner that night. She's far too tired to cook for herself. She checks in on Ameiko, chats with Bethana, and socializes with the patrons of inn. she answers any questions the townsfolk might have for her, more than a little flattered and thrilled to be the centre of attention for once.
Worried over her father's safety, she accompanies him on his first few forays underground -- just in case. In the days following she returns to work, teaching the children of Sandpoint literacy, math, history, basic wizardry and potion brewing.
She always stops to speak with her new companions when she passes them throughout the day, and particularly lingers around Honani, secretly swooning over his physique. That said, she doesn't let her interest in the Shoanti warrior interfere with her work. She had neglected her career for too long already!
Brodert takes a while to extract from his writings, but once Marissia succeeds she witnesses an outpouring of emotion from her father like none she's ever seen before. He seems absolutely elated and keep crying things like "I was right! Proof! At last! Those dusty old windbags at the Academy will have to listen now!" It's only with great difficulty that Marissia is able to stop him rushing off immediately, and she leaves him packing for what seems like a month-long expedition underground.
Morgana meets Marissia with a smile and breezes her past the usual challenges to meet with 'Cousin Kendra' as Morgana calls her. Said cousin is very happy to arrange for Brodert's protection although she notes that "With Beylor in Magnimar trying to recruit more guards we're stretched thin as it is. Perhaps your friend the Shoanti might help out a little?"
That evening at the Rusty Dragon there is plenty of attention to go around, especially with Ameiko deflecting attention for all it's worth. Marissia (and anyone else there) get plied with questions, drinks and attention until Ameiko and Bethana eventually drive everyone out, well past the Dragon's normal closing time.
Eventually Ameiko shepherds the group into her private parlour, where a variety of adventuring gear, all well used but excellently maintained is laid out.
"I want you all to have these." Ameiko says, looking a little embarassed. "You saved my life and I know second-hand goods aren't much of a way to repay you, but I hope they help you in the future."
"You think I should ask Honani..?" Marissia replies to the mayor. She thinks on this for a moment, bringing a dumb smile to her face. Oh, my! I could spend some time with him alone, and we could... Suddenly she pales and her smile slips. And he could meet my father. Oh, dear. ...Potential embarrassment aside, he certainly can protect my father. She smiles at the mayor and bows. "That's a good idea. Thank you."
That evening at the Rusty Dragon Marissia approaches Honani. "Honani? My father is a scholar of Ancient Thassilon -- the culture that made the ruins below town. I've arranged for him to examine the ruins we discovered, but with that invisible creature still on the loose he needs guards. I was planning on going with him the first few days, but I would feel much better if you were to go with him. He might need protection. And, well, you're so strong, and..." Marissia's voice trails off and she blushes. She fans herself with her hands and looks a little embarrassed. "I thought you might be interested..."
That evening Marissia answers as many questions as she can, thoroughly enjoying being the centre of attention for once. She ends up more than a little tipsy from all the free liquor by the end of the night.
When she's offered the items from Ameiko, Marissia grins drunkenly. "What a lovely gesture. Thank you, Ameiko!" A moment later she gasps. "Oh, my! These are so valuable! Are... are you sure you want to give them away?"
As the last sinspawn emerges from the dregs of the fountain Honani steels himself. His muscles were at their limit, burning with lactic acid build up. Every movement a Herculean effort. Only his warrior training on the Cinderlands allowed him the muscle memory to thrust, and cover. With one last he skewers the last sinspawn. Bleeding from multiple wounds, chest heaving in exertion, he falls to one knee drinking in the stale dungeon air like a drowning man.
He pushes off the floor and rises to his feat, a broad grin on his face. "What sport! I had not know how soft Sandpoint was making me. A year ago I would not have broken a sweat." he coughs up a bit of phlegm and hocks it into the corner. "Is that it? Did we do it?"
Emerging victorious from the unknown dungeon, he feels a sense of jubilation. He allows the others to converse with him if they choose to, usually only allowing his race-sister and the teacher that honor.
Honani spends the next few day enjoying the attention from his new found status, drinking a bit too much each night.
After a few days, he wakes up feeling worse for the wear and decides that he needs to leave the city for a time, to spend time outside the civilized confines of the small town.
He packs a small knapsack with some essentials, and on his way out of the Rusty Dragon Marissia approaches him.
"Honani? My father is a scholar of Ancient Thassilon -- the culture that made the ruins below town. I've arranged for him to examine the ruins we discovered, but with that invisible creature still on the loose he needs guards. I was planning on going with him the first few days, but I would feel much better if you were to go with him. He might need protection. And, well, you're so strong, and...
Startled, Honani looks the school teacher in the eye. "I had planned on something else. But you, my Race-Sister, the others have been generous to me. For this kindness I will repay you by protecting your father. My blood before his, my life before his, to my dying breath I swear." He grabs her hand and places her palm over his heart, his muscles twitching underneath her hand.
Marissia blushes brightly. "Oh! Oh, my... You're..." Resisting the urge to swoon Marissia smiles and manages to stammer out a: "Th-thank you, Honani!"
With the last of the sinspawn defeated, Trinity wiped her large blade clean and then slid it back into its scabbard. The night had definitely tested her limits, but she refused to show it. With an eyebrow raised, she calmly walked by the kneeling Shoanti warrior and then prepared to head back to town. While having been quiet most of the way back through the Glassworks, she made an effort to ascertain what would happen once the group reached town. She was more than a little surprised when Marissia headed off on her own, but assumed the wizard had her reasons.
The trip through town felt hectic, especially after an evening of continuous combat. Trinity released a heavy breath when she finally approached the Rusty Dragon and was adequately relieved when she was awarded the opportunity to rest.
After ordering a meal, Trinity sat quietly back in her chair and began to observe the bustle of the establishment. Caught up in the momentum of all the faces and voices, she lost track of time. The whole night felt like a blur to her.
Before long, the group began to gather back at the Dragon. She felt a little overwhelmed when the endless questions and rumors pick up momentum. Trinity quietly listened as Marissia opened the potential Pandora’s Box.
[i] (I wonder how long it will take before we feel the impact of this information making its way through the city.) [i] Trinity thought to herself while leaning back in her chair. Before the crowed could become too overwhelming, she excused herself and made her way back to her room for a well-earned night’s sleep.
Seeing that Tamiko has taken the magical armour, and Honani the other ring, Marissia picks up the Quick Runner's Shirt and hands it to Trinity. "Here. You deserve a reward, too." Then she takes the morningstar and passes it to Morgana.
Tamiko emerges from the dungeon excited at her new skills - but also utterly exhausted. She spends the evening with the others in the tavern, almost dozing off, but she's awake enough when Ameiko gathers them to offer her gifts. "Your old...no, I can't. It's yours!" Tamiko is reluctant to take anything, but on Ameiko's insistence, she decides on the armor. "Thank you, we'll make good use of them."
Tamiko spends her time over the next few days sleeping in (as usual) and making sure her equipment is ready to go, in case they're needed for another Thassilonian ruin or whatever other secrets the city may be hiding. Meanwhile, she also experiments with her magic, trying to work out what exactly she can do now.
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any chance i can get info on your swallowtail festival games, like prizes, obstacles, challenges, etc? i am about to run this, and yours looks aweseome
thanks in advance
At the exciting race, Marissia is hoarse from cheering so much. "Oh that was marvellous you two! Spectacular! Well done!" For Honani she adds: "You have brought great honour on yourselves!"
---
"The man is a performer, Honani. He is juggling." she thinks for a moment. "Acts of prowess to entertain the crowd."
---
"Why thank you, Mr. Haladan!" Marissia replies. When she sees the prizes up for offer she gasps. "Oh, you are too generous, sir!"
** spoiler omitted **
---
---
COMBAT
Marissia jumps at the sound of the thunder stone, then smiles, placing a hand over her heart. She smiles as she watches Father Zantus--and then the screams come. Looking around in worry, Marissia tries to spot the disturbance. When she notices goblins are the cause she concentrates and mutters some arcane words, .
"Goblins!" she warns everyone. "Get back!"
She spends her move action trying to quickly get people to back up, out of the way, safely.
[dice=Diplomacy on the crowd]1d20+6