Faywen kneels next to Trox and places a webbed hand on his shoulder, eyes closed. She channels more of her internal power and pours healing energy into the half-orc before falling back onto her haunches, exhausted.
"That was a bit more than I'd expected to run into when we started this day. Perhaps we needed to be reminded that we're not invincible." She shakes her head to clear it and smiles. "Thank you all. Trox, how do you feel?"
Feeling a bit better, you search the place.
You find a couple of hidden alcoves, but they seem to have been lotted long ago. Still, you do find 30 eternal candles (6o candles in all), minor magic candles that burn eternally without heat, similar to a continual flame spell but shedding only shadowy light in a 5-foot radius. Each eternal candle is worth 25 gp.
A single silver coffer sits on its side on one of the shelves in the western alcove. The coffer itself is worth 100 gp, but the real treasure sits inside, buried in a bed of fine white sand - a ring of force shield. When activated, the shieldlike pane of force generated manifests as a seven pointed star-the Sihedron rune.
Back down to the large hall, you find another set of doors (leading to E6).
Four pillars support the domed ceiling of this room. Several dark alcoves containing standing sarcophagi grace the walls, and a statue of a stern man wielding a glaive and holding a book stands in the southern part of the chamber.
The architects, in this case, were interred alive, but now only bones remain inside.
As you have now cleared out Thistletop, there is little more to do than pack up and head back to Sandpoint.
Druamin heals Trox some and he sits there blinking and confused until Faywen and Erond do their work. After a moment he gets up shakily before stretching and gets his head back together.
"That really hurt, thank you for the healing. I am glad I was able to take the brunt of the attacks for you. What was that thing?"
He looks about clearly still getting his head on straight. Once the group starts moving again he pushes back to the front but is quiet until you are out of Thistletop.
Just as he's moving out of the room to heal and regroup, Faywen blasts the wolf-goblin-thing out of existence. Elated, he returns to the others. "Fantastic shot, Faywen! That was amazing!" he says, clapping a hand on the undine's shoulder.
At Trox's question, Faywen looks over at the dead creature for a few moments before shaking her head. "I don't know. But it is dead and we are alive."
She smiles at Reynard's exultation and gives his hand a small squeeze. "Thank you, though I can only take some of the credit. Every one of us had a vital role to play, and I believe that's why the Wind and the Waves showed their us their favor. If any of us had done less than our best, I don't think any of us would have left this forsaken place alive. Speaking of which, we should get going. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving."
She smiles at Reynard's exultation and gives his hand a small squeeze. "Thank you, though I can only take some of the credit. Every one of us had a vital role to play, and I believe that's why the Wind and the Waves showed their us their favor. If any of us had done less than our best, I don't think any of us would have left this forsaken place alive. Speaking of which, we should get going. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving."
Druamin nods in agreement with Faywen. "Yeah, we all played a part. If I have to hang out with people, then I'm glad it's you guys." Druamin snorts and a short, deep laugh escapes. "And, I'm hungry too."
As the group is leaving Thistletop, heading back to Sandpoint, Druamin stops and turns back to look at the fortress. "I'm glad to be leaving that place. But you know, I have a feeling that this is just the beginning. We came here looking for answers and I don't feel quite satisfied." Turning back to continue down the trail he adds, "But maybe I'm wrong. I hope that I'm wrong actually."
Kobu waddles on the trail next to him.
You work your way back to Sandpoint, a little worse for wear, but alive and you have eliminated a local menance.
Defeating Malfeshnekor (that last guys) causes the Thistletop goblins to fall apart as a tribe over the course of a few months. Without Nualia to lead all five tribes, the goblins return to being only a minor menace at the fringes ofthe wild lands. You are again regarded as heros in the small village, and for the most part, treated as royalty. You fox friend scurries off into the woods, to spend time finding himself.
Life is good, and quiet. You found enough treasures to keep you fed and Ameiko continues to let you reside at her inn for free.
Trox will go to the town leaders at some point and while not comfortable speaking suggests that some sort of presence be kept at Thistletop. It makes no sense for what amounts to a defensible fort to be left open for anyone coming by to use.
Looking the gear he considers the bastard sword but the weight just doesn't feel right. It is not for him. The amulet of natural armor is more appealing, anything that make him able to take more punishment is welcome.
Druamin looks over the gear that they collected. He agrees that Trox should take the amulet. "Someone should take this ring as well," he adds. "That longbow looks pretty nice too but I'm not skilled with that sort of weapon. Trox, you might trade in your shortbow for it. What do you think?"
Faywen, for her part, doesn't have much use for the weapons or heavier armor. "Druamin, I think the ring would suit you the best. If it's all right with the rest of you, I would like to take some of our earnings to buy myself some new armor. My leathers have served me well but they've seen better days."
----------
Faywen spends much of her time over the next few weeks getting to know her new friends, in prayer at the Cathedral's shrine to Gozreh, or diving off the coast. She's uncomfortable with the new adulation the group receives, though she does enjoy the free fish from Ameiko.
Trox nods. "Yes Erond should take the bow. If I am using my bow for more then an arrow or two there is a bigger problem. Anyone who needs things should buy."
If pushed he will ask that someone bet a wand of CLW as he does not mind the injures but does not want to slow people down with his bleading.
"I may have a use for these." Reynard says, carefully examining the surgical tools. "Remarkably well-made instruments. Better than what I have, certainly."
Druamin takes the ring and tosses in his hand a couple times, feeling the weight of it. "Really? No one else needed it? I mean, I certainly can take it." He nods to Erond. "Please, use the bow. That can only help us. And were you hoping I could scribe scrolls?" He chuckles a friendly chuckle. "My friend, I'm afraid I'm not skilled in the fine art of lettering. Not at all. But you know, that does sound interesting. Maybe I'll look into that."
You divvy up the items (and the surgical tools are just worth some cash, nothing more). The town is small, but they have a few minor magic items, including the armor Faywen seeks.
The sheriff welcomes you back, and asks you to tell him all about where you have been,
"We followed the trail of the missing adventurers to Thistletop, where we discovered a cult of Lamashtu that was planning to destroy the town as part of a ritual sacrifice. We killed or drove off their leadership and defeated some kind of horrible wolf-goblin monster they'd had locked up."
Faywen looks to the others to see if they have anything to add to her summary.
"That sounds about right," Druamin adds. "I'd like to think that the town is safe now but I don't really feel comfortable yet."
"You should seek out Broderick Quint. He is an expert on such magic, a researcher her in town for this very sort of thing. Maybe he can help you shed some light. Meanwhile, you have our thanks! This town owes you a huge debt that we can likely never repay, but I am sure the townsfolk will do their best."
"Broderick Quint, huh? Where do we find him?"
He gives you directions to a small cottage.
Once you arrive, an older (but not old) man answers the door. "Yes? Who are you lot?"
Druamin steps forward and offers a firm handshake. "Hello sir. I'm Druamin. We were told that you were an expert in ancient magic so we decided to come for a visit since we have some questions."
"Expert, eh? I like the sound of that, but there is always so much more to learn. Come on in, ask your questions. Let's see if I can help you out. Druamin... I have heard your name mentioned around town. You have explored Thistletop, yes? Please, tell me everything!"
He ushers you in and offers seats at a small table, and starts to make some tea.
Faywen smiles and thanks Broderick for his hospitality, offering to help with the tea by summoning water directly, thereby saving him a trip to the well. Once it is ready she takes a cup for herself and sits at the table with the others.
"Ah, Thassilonian... of course, this is where my studies come into play! "
Motioning you all closer, as if to reveal a secret, Mr. Quint seems quite excited to share his information with you.
"Thassilon was a vast empire ruled by powerful wizards. The sheer size of the monuments they left behind testifies to their power, and the unnatural way many of these monuments have resisted erosion and the march of time testifies to their skill at magic. Most sages place the height of the Thassilonian empire at 7,000 to 8,000 years ago, but I think the empire was even older. I suspect it collapsed no sooner than 10,000 years in the past."
"Why, take Old Light, there," pointing out a window. "It was once a war machine capable of spewing fire from its peak!"
"Now that star shape you keep encountering... that eems to be one of the most important runes of Thassilon. The star itself is known as the "Sihedron Rune," and signifies not only the seven virtues of rule - generally agreed among fellow scholars to have been wealth, fertility, honest pride, abundance, eager striving, righteous anger, and rest - but also the seven schools of magic."
"However, as you must know, Thassilon leaders were far from virtuous, and I believe the classic mortal sins of greed, lust, pride, gluttony, envy, wrath, and sloth all rose from corruptions of the Thassilonian virtues of rule."
"In any event, the Sihedron Rune was certainly a symbol of power, one that may well have stood for and symbolized the empire itself. "
Druamin listens to Broderick with interest until he finishes. "Hmm. All that power. So what happened to them then? How could they have disappeared. Did someone more powerful wipe them out?"
Reynard's ears perk up. "Seven schools of magic, did you say? But aren't there *eight* schools of magic? Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, and Transmutation?"
"Ah, yes - well, great power can sometimes lead to great destruction, can't it? But alas, here is was more cataclysmic."
"The sprawling empire of Thassilon was powere by conquest and its sophisticated rune magic. That magic defined the empire's rulers and included various forms of blood sacrifice, powerful glyph-laying, and dimensional warping. Without rune magic and the binding of the rune giants, Thassilon's legions would never have concquered thair vast lands. With them, they were unstoppable! Or, at least until the Age of Legends ended, and the Age of Darkness began. For when Earthfall shattered Azlant, Thassilon was torn apart as well."
To Reynard he nods in understanding, and then says "The Thassilon wizards did not have much regard for divination, and so it is not really part of their rituals. Perhaps if it had been..."
"Thassilon consisted of seven individual domains, each of which was ruled by one of the seven rune lords. Under distinct and exploitative law, each domain embodied its ruler's favored virtue of rule. Each runelord had a capital city that shared the name of his domain, but was prefaced by the word "Xin" ancient Thassilonian for both "imperial" and "throne of," after the first emperor. Thus, the capital of Shalast was called Xin-Shalast."
It seems like he has plenty more history to share, if you are interested...
Trox listens to what is going on and find himself interested, for more then expected. Somehow this is putting all of their lives into a greater context and is somewhat comforting.
"Have you ever heard of Alaznist? We found an ancient figment that kept repeating part of a message, but that was the only name it mentioned."
Clearly getting excited now, Quint starts grabbing books and showing you passages.
"Yes, of course! She was the last Thassilonian runelord of wrath who ruled for many years over her realm of Bakrakhan."
Then he goes on, and on...
"Bakrakhan, the domain of wrath, shared its eastern border with Shalast, and the two domains were locked in an enduring war until Bakrakhan was destroyed and sunk under the sea during the cataclysm that precipitated Thassilon's fall. Bakrakhan was a place of many warring tribes who all served Runelord Alaznist but hated each other. Its thick forests were said to be home to hundreds of tribes of sinspawn and humanoids, with goblins , gnolls, and bugbears chief among them. Enslaved hill giants were common in Bakrakhan, as were demons and qlippoth-for Runelord Alaznist had forged dark pacts with strange Abyssal powers."
"Cyrusian, representing pride, was traditionally regarded as the most powerful domain. At Cyrusian's height, its rune giants and enslaved dragons built more and greater monuments to Cyrusian glory than any other domain. Cyrusian was ruled by the most powerful of the runelords-Xanderghul, one of only two runelords to reign over a nation from the dawn of Thassilon to its legendary fall."
"Edasseril, the domain of striving ambition and envy, was rich in timber, precious gems, and iron. The original runelord of envy, her name now lost to time, obsessed over the beauty and power oft he nearby elven nation of Celwynvian, and it was from the elves that she stole the name Edasseril for her nation. At the time of Thas silon's fall, this realm was ruled by Runelord Belimarius."
"Eurythnia, the domain of fertility and lust, was largely built on its seagoing traffic and trade with distant lands, counting on spices and brothels to fill its coffers. Marsh giants guarded Eurythnia's shipping from piracy. This land was ruled by Runelord Sorshen, who (like Runelord Xanderghul) commanded her realm for the duration ofThassilon's existence."
"Gastash was the domain of abundance and gluttony, but was largely a peaceful and plentiful home for its citizens . Such were Gastash's advantages, yet its people lived in fear of their necromantic leaders. Ankheg infestations were common, bulettes ate many farmers and servants of the runelord, and bandits from other kingdoms were frequent visitors . It was ruled by Rune lord Zutha. "
"Haruka, the domain of rest and sloth, was slow, indolent, and cunning. Ruled by Runelord Krune at the time of Thassilon's fall, most of the Harukans worked as slavers, selling flesh from their markets or enjoying the abuse of their property. It was widely considered a cruel and often hypocritical domain, lazy by nature. The main enemies to peace in Haruka (other than the riots), were boggard tribes and the free hill giants who frequently sided with rebel slaves hiding in the hills against their masters."
"Of the seven realms of Thassilon, the wealthiest was the central realm of Shalast. As the second-largest domain after Cyrusian, Shalast collected wealth not only from its gold, mithral, copper, and gemstone mines, but also from its vast quarries, which produced the materials used to build the monuments of the age. The largest and most productive of these quarries exists today as the massive lake known as the Storval Deep. But the wealth these mines and quarries produced was never enough. Runelord Karzoug always wanted more, and the capital of Xin- Shalast was said to be paved with gold-though in fact most of the gold went into the treasury and the alchemical furnaces of the capital and never returned."
"Shalast was known for wild ogres and forest giants, as well as enslaved stone giants and exotic otherworldly artificers. Its treasures were sometimes carried on powerful mammoth-drawn caravans. The general population survived largely as miners, smiths, and traders, providing further wealth. Many abandoned mines still litter the Storval Plateau; the mountain passes of Shalast still contain monasteries and ruins now abandoned to the wilderness."
"Karzoug, Runelord of Greed, was known for his calculating mind and utter mercilessness. He was rumored to be either half-vampire or descended from draconic stock, yet it may be more terrible to know that he was nothing more than a man. Absolute greed powered his every action. Certainly Karzoug was covetous and deeply corrupt-famed for ordering the immolation of an entire city for its tax collectors' shorting of a few silvers-but that was the reward granted him by the runes for his power and dedication to magic. He long fought a silent war of assas sins, mage-poison, and demon-fetches against Alaznist, the queen of Bakrakhan. In the end, something sank her kingdom below the waves even as the Thassilonian empire fell. Karzoug was enough of a master of the arcane that many suspect his hand in triggering the murder of an entire kingdom. His weapon of rule was a burning glaive, studded with priceless meteoritic gemstones. And the city ofXin- Shalast was his throne."
Again, Druamin listens intently as Quint provides the history of the Thassilonian kingdoms.
"So in the end, all the kingdoms were destroyed with the Earthfall? You mentioned immense, enduring monuments. Surely these must be well known throughout Golarian but I have not heard of any of them. Are they hidden or disguised?"
Faywen is quiet for a time, processing all of the information Quint has given them. Finally, she asks another question. "Do you think there was any particular reason Nualia's cult made use of these ancient structures and magic, or was it simply an issue of convenience?"
"I believe Thistle top is one of these monuments. If you look at it closely from far away, the entire island looks to be a head - the remains of a larger statue, I think."
"Who is Nualia?"
"Really? Well, that might make more sense. I was kind of surprised to see how developed the rooms underground were. It was more than a pack of goblins would do. Nualia? She was some crazy lady that we found there."
"Hmm, well crazy or not, the ancient mages had much power, and dangerous and powerful minions, so access to this ancient power must be a draw for many. I would very much like to question this lady and see what she may have found or even what she might have been looking for."
"Well, that might be a little difficult. She didn't survive her attack on us."
"Oh, of course. Did she happen to leave any notes behind?"
"She did, actually. Most of it was mad ravings, but there might be a few clues in it that you could glean additional truths from."
He is more than happy to accompany you and do the research. It takes a few days, but you find him very helpful.
"According to what I found, Nualia had big plans. Her claw was the beginning of a transformation, in dedication to her god, Lamashtu."
"The evil begins before her plan and actions, it seems. An ancient Thassilonian artifact called a runewell was awakened, a device capable of extracting magical essence from the souls of certain creatures who, in life, exemplified specific spiritual traits-in this case. It seems this runewell was under the Glassworks, and Nualia and her minions were using the goblins to sacrifice the town of Sandpoint to power the well. It sounds like you all did an even bigger service to this town by defeating this plan before it got out of control."
"It seems the runewell had an effect on the town initially, as reports of mass nightmares and headaches five years ago are well documented. Nualia's own notes confirm some of my theories."
Lonjiku Kaijitsu, a bitter noble who still seethed with
rage at being cuckolded years before, woke in the middle
of the night, called his wife to the back porch of their
cliffside manor, and threw her over the edge to die on
the jagged rocks below.
Jervas Stoot, an eccentric artist who channeled his
rage from years of paternal abuse into the creation of
hauntingly beautiful woodcarvings ofbirds, began to lay
his plans for the murder of nearly two dozen folk whom
he felt had wronged him over the years.
Nualia Tobyn, left pregnant and abandoned by a
local cur and shamed in her foster father's eyes, finally
succumbed to her anger and forsook the goddess of
dreams and stars for the goddess of monsters and
madness, promising herself that she would burn her
father and his church to the ground.
"These three unfortunates became consumed by their wrath, and their actions over the course of the next several months came to be known as the Late Unpleasantness. I believe you have heard of it?"
Faywen's mouth opens and closes several times before she can speak. "Dark blood of the sea...all of this has been caused by the magical leftovers of a long dead 'civilization'?" She all but spits out that last word.
"Yes, yes. The power was fueled by the sins of humanity - greed, wrath, lust, envy, pride... as if power wasn't enticing enough without the added draw of our most dangerous flaws."
"Now, I don't know if it is related, but I suspect it could be... Sheriff Balor came to me to ask about a symbol carved in the chest of a few recent murders. It is this same rune you have seen, the Sihedron Rune. The seven points could easily represent the seven deadly sins in addition to the seven schools of magic. Or maybe some psycho just encountered the rune and decided to use to strike terror in the people of this town? Go see the Sheriff, I believe he would be happy for your visit."
Druamin frowns. This is getting darker and more sinister. "Well, we'll go see the sheriff, but now that Nualia and her clan are disposed of, maybe there won't be any more of these murders."