"I would say we should desecrate this place but I don't feel like having Lamashtu watching me all the time." Quiary says with a bit of a shudder.
Speaking aloud Cael muses, "This all seems to be some ancient Temple to Lamashtu, I remember hearing that there were ruins here older than any Vaisian. I wonder who built this place? Anyways, Zelinda's right, let's keep moving." When Quiary joins him on the raised section he says, "Shall we go this way?" pointing at the door there.
"uhh, you think so? I believe your right! It could even be Thassilonian! This is exactly what I hoped to find, this is why I'm here, to find out more of this ancient people! So very exciting! I would love to spend some time here, really examine this place, see what's here to find"
Norm's eyes are shinning and a wide smile is on his lips while he starts to look closer at the walls.
"But it'll have to wait. Shelelu is more important. I can always come back, I guess....I hope!
With a last longing look at the statue and the room, he turns away.
"So, what way? Any of them looks as good as the others to me, so lead the way!"
While walking, Norm is trying to recollect anything he might have heard of a place like this or any connection between Lamashtu and Thassilonian.
Normornigan can't recall any connection between Lamashtu and Thassilonians.
Zelinda points down the corridor to the north, "We should finish checking out the north section of this place before we start wandering through the rest."
Quiary shrugs, "Sure I can take the lead.
Quiary slinks from shadow to shadow as best as he can down the northern Hallway. Keeping his sense tuned to any danger.
Cael joins Zelinda with Quairy. "Doesn't matter much to me, let's just keep moving."
While waiting for Quiary to return Cael turns to inspect his rapier. He is uncharacteristically quiet and has a pensive look on his face.
Hmmm, I should really get a better sword now that I'm being a hero and all. This one's been ok, but it's definitely caravan guard status, not really hero worthy. Man, those hounds were tough, they practically ignored my sword. IF it weren't for the other, especially Stoneface, they probably would have killed me... I gotta be more careful.
Zalinda shifts her weight catching Cael's attention. "So Zelinda, where are you from? I don't think you've said."
Making sure that her shield is secured and testing the balance of her sword, Zelinda glances at Caeldren. "Me? I grew up in the wilds with my family. Our caravan traveled from town to town offering trade and services. That's where I learned my alchemy, and my uncle taught me to use the sword."
She looks at him over her shoulder as they make their way towards the door. "How about you? Where did you come from before working as a caravan guard?"
"I grew up in Sandpoint actually. There wasn't much there for me though after my mom died except a few friends, so I took a job working with the caravans. That's where I learned to handle a blade. I've been doing that for a few years now. Can't say it was great, but I did get to see a lot and hear a bunch of new stories. Definitely better than digging ditches or the like.
So did you guys sell potions and stuff?"
The half-elven woman shrugs her shoulder a little at the question. "When it was called for. Sometimes other things. Generally whatever was asked of us, though we had to be careful sometimes. Mostly curatives and mild poisons for pest control. Personally, I liked experimenting with the bombs." She gives a wide grin, which is a first since the incident with the Yeth Hounds.
Cael nods. "That bomb you used to blow up the door was pretty cool, I'm not gonna lie. I can see the attraction. I'm not sure which of us was more surprised, me or the horse. Are they magic?" Cael chuckles as he finishes.
Zelinda laughs at the question. "Merciful Desna, no! Simple alchemy alone. The reaction of certain elements that interact with each other to have an explosive effect." She emphasizes this explanation with a little 'boom' motion with her hands.
"Hmmmm," Cael says musing, "well, I'm glad you know how to make em. They seem dang useful. I think I'll stick with magic myself."
Zelinda giggles a little more, feeling good to finally be getting over the fear from earlier. "That's pretty dang useful as well," she says, teasing in a poor imitation of Cael. "Generally, though, I prefer using my sword and shield. Nothing quite like using your own strength and skill to do your work for you." She smiles at Cael knowingly.
Cael sticks his tongue out at Zelinda. "I never said I didn't enjoy the blade. It's like a dance. I couldn't handle strapping a tree on my arm though. No grace, no finesse."
Zelinda stares back at Cael with an arched eyebrow, hand on her hip. "Are you saying that I don't have any grace?"
Wincing Cael says, "uhhh... ummm... well... No not really. At least not the way you fight...Effective, no denying that, but not really graceful..." he finishes with a shrug of his shoulders.
She raises her eyebrows even higher, holding Cael with her look for a couple moments before bursting out laughing. "Well if being graceful requires using a needle like that," she says mirthfully, pointing her longsword at his rapier, "You can have it."
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Quiary pokes his head back in the room a bit as the two are talking "Shhh... I can hear you down the hall, at least go back into the big room. Plus Caeldren is right, a shield doesn't allow you to dip and dodge, put and arrow or blade where you want it to inflict the most pain." Quiary smirks then heads back out
"Pfft." Zelinda purses her lips dismissively. "All that moving around just wears you out faster. Far less energy used to block and deflect, and it allows you to put yourself into a better position to strike."
"Also," she adds a little quieter,"If they didn't notice the Yeth Hounds howling and our crashing around down the halls, they won't notice a bit of banter."
"I guess we got a bit carried away." Cael whispers. "I will admit the rapier isn't a very substantial weapon. Still, that doesn't stop me from 'sewing' up enemies just fine." he finishes with a smile.
You change directions, deciding to go north, a quick inspection from Quiary finds no traps, and so you open the door.
The lower four feet of the walls in this empty room are covered with crude drawings in mud, blood, and paint. Most of the drawings show goblins engaged in some sort of violence against humans, horses, or dogs. One picture on the north wall is at least three times the size and complexity of the other scrawlings. This image shows Thistletop from the side, the goblin stockade perched atop it like a crown. A cave has been drawn into the center of the image, and looming inside is what appears to be an immense, muscular goblin with snakelike eyes and a dogslicer in each taloned hand. If the scale compared to the rest of the drawing is to be believed, this goblin must be at least thirty feet tall.
A single door heads west.
Zelinda wrinkles her nose at the sight of the room more so than any smell, feeling a bit disgusted at the state of the room and the boorish artwork on the walls.
The half-elf is back in a more serious work mode, now that they are on the move again. She keeps her eyes peeled for anything unexpected in the room, but otherwise heads forward with Ansgar, motioning for Quiary to check the next door.
Quiary pulls out his tools and goes to work on searching the door for traps
While following behind the others Cael pauses to look at the "art." The tries to determine from the stories he's heard just how likely such a monster really is, and how old the pictures are.
Zantus os appalled by the artwork but tries to remain stoic as Quiary inspects the next door. Caeldren tries to recall some knowledge about the pictures but they seem to be no more than the product of goblins passing their time.
You open the door into a small corridor with another door, after a quick inspection you believe it isn't trapped and open the second door as well.
A large table surrounded by chairs fills much of this room. A slate board to the north is covered with scribblings in chalk, but the map of Sandpoint that has been carefully inscribed on it leaves no doubt as to the purpose of this room—this is doubtless where the recent raid was planned.
This room has a door going west and a second door reading east.
Zelinda checks out the room, and does a cursory examination of the chalk scribbles as she walks passed, trying to sort out who, or at least what, was organized enough to plan this raid. "I'm still new at this, but I don't think goblins are this organized," she comments out loud.
Barring any new revelations, she heads to the eastern door. "I'm pretty sure this door doubles back. We make sure it's clear before moving onto a new location."
"This is much more orgnaized than any goblin tribe I have ever seen. They have to have help someone organizing them. We have also seen no sign of ." Quiary says.
Quiary moves to both doors looking for traps.
Cael catches back up just in time to hear Zelinda and Quiary. "Yeah, it's weird. I hope we find Shalelu soon. Best keep moving."
The scribbles confirm the plans about the raid in Sandpoint, also giving many details, such as:
- The goblins were supposed to attack from every possible entrance as a diversion, while a group of goblins led by Tsuto would steal the remains of Father Tobyn from the Boneyard.
- Lonjiku Kaijitsu was blackmailed into cooperating, he was supposed to make sure the north gates would be unguarded, a ladder would be left in the boneyard, and a group of goblins would be hidden into a cart in the town square.
- The sound of a thunderstone would signal the start of the raid.
The scribbles also contains plans for a second, bigger raid on the town, with the following details:
- Additional goblin tribes will take part on the assault, ranging from as far as the tribes from Fogscar Mountains on the north.
- Creatures referred to as "sinspawn" will invade the town from bellow.
- A passage mentions that the raid will happen "once the whispering beast is tamed".
Quiary inspects both doors and believe they're untrapped and unlocked.
Zelinda goes through the eastern door, once it's been checked.
Cael follows behind her, rapier (needle sword) at the ready.
Norm takes a quick look at the planes in the room. If there is anything that can easily be taken with us, he takes it.
"Do we have time to make a copy of this? If we have to leave in a hurry, I'd hate to leave it behind"
Norm asks, while getting pen and paper out of his backpack.
"We can scribble down what they have written, Father Zantus will vouch for what it says here. The town trusts him do they not father?" Quiary looks at the good Father.
"We need to find Sheelu and get back to Sandpoint"
As Normornigan finishes copying the text from the walls, you open the door to the east, finding a set of stairs that goes up, probably into the corridor with the latrine from the upper floor.
Zelinda looks up the stairs for a moment before closing the door and heading over to the other side of the room. [smaller]"This place is nearly a small maze," she mutters to herself.
After lining up near the door, you open it.
A large wooden worktable sits in the middle of this room, its surface cluttered with scrolls, books, stone tablets covered with dense, spiky runes, and fragments of carvings that appear to have been chipped off of statues or bas-reliefs. To the north, a floor-to-ceiling set of wooden shelves sags with picks, shovels, brushes, lanterns, and other equipment one might expect to see at an archaeological site.
At the opposite corner of the room you see four identical young women, with dark skin and long hair braided tightly into cornrows, wearing white cloaks. They all move in unison, pointing a wand towards you, ready to fire off a spell.
Caeldren <- Can act
Lyrie
Quiary, Normornigan, Zelinda, Ansgar, Zantus
Cael steps into the room brandishing his rapier and yells out, "Stop or you'll regret it!"
He stands ready to strike at the women, and ready to defend himself.
"What are you looking for here, goblin slayers?", she asks, wand still raised.
"We're here to stopping the raiding on Sandpoint, and to find our missing friend. What is your role in all of this?" Zelinda says to the woman (women?) from the doorway.
"What are YOU doing here working with goblins?! That's a much better question."
"One does what she must to get by in these troubled times. If you're looking for the elf, she isn't here, Bruthazmus is likely having fun with her before she becomes another sacrifice.", she smirks.
"Wrong answer,"growls Zelinda. She runs into the room and slashes at the wizardess.
Move Action: Move 10'
Standard Action: Attack Lyrie
"Damn it Zelinda what are you doing?!" Cael yells as Zelinda makes her move. "we were talking!" Regardless, Cael follow through with his threat and strikes at the woman if she attacks.
"And Shalelu could be dying, and this woman smiles about it. To the abyss with her." A fire gleams in Zelinda's eyes as she speaks. [b]"Knock her out, if you must, but I won't waste time chatting with someone that is so fickle about another's life."{/b]
"We are goblin slayers yes, are asking if we are looking for some or if we are them?" QUiary says trying to confuse the woman.
As talking suddenly breaks down into combat, the woman prepares to cast a spell, but Caeldren attacks first.
His attack hits one of the four women and she disappears in a puff of smoke. As that happens, she gestures and chants arcane words, and Caeldren instantly feels his rapier vibrating in his hand as a loud ringing noise fills the room.
Zelinda follows up with a strike of her own, the tip of her sword grazes one of the women, and she disappears into a puff of smoke as well.
Caeldren
Lyrie
Zelinda
Quiary, Normornigan, Ansgar, Zantus <- Can act