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The pies are done. Blood Pies done my his family were amongst the best in the village. They were divine and god given surely! The hunting was good and the early times of spring were beginning to show. His family and tribe would be looking at a bountiful harvest once more.....
Green eyes look up............
The witch will go untie the captive woman. I've seen this woman before. She is the matron of the inn. What was her name?
Glassworks Basement - Round 3 - concluded
25 Adjinakou
20 Tsuto (9hp dmg)
18 Slaynn (unconscious)
8 Zephir
7 Tiberiu
7 Qorinae
Zephir reaches down to his fallen companion, and with a touch, is able to stop his bleeding. Qorinae rushes past him, drawing his sword and taking point at the door, while Tiberiu approaches from the other side.
Letting the villainous half-elf go, the group turns inwards to repair their own damage and to check on the recently rescued Ameiko. Slaynn remains unconscious, but the Tian woman is up and finishing the process of untying her hands and ankles rubbing them to restore circulation.
She is bitten and bloody in several places, and bruised and battered in a few more, but it appears, she'll survive with enough rest and recovery time.
She smiles at you wanly, "Couldn't catch him, eh? He's a devious one. I wonder where he's headed to? From what he boasted to me, he was obviously in league with the goblins and seemed to be behind the attack on the Festival the other day. Did you find anything to incriminate him? He also made it sound as if Sandpoint's troubles were just beginning, and more raids or attacks could be expected."
"Not sure where he will end up, but he did exit through that long tunnel we passed earlier. It might be a way out of town somewhere, or a secret lair. Either way, we should get the town sheriff to place a guard on it 'til we can come back and check it out..."
Zephir says as he finishes healing the wounded warrior, if only slightly.
" Ahh. Milady Ameiko! It is good to see you up and around. We should head back to your inn to rest and plan. Maybe that grumpy Vin will be out there and we can send HIM for the guard!"
He then bends down and with some struggling manages to lift the elf over his shoulders, holding one of Slaynn's Arms over one, and his leg over the other.
"Nnngg. He's heavier than he looks..."
He grunts as he carries Slaynn toward the stairs.
"Thank goodness you're well, Lady Ameiko!" Tiberiu exclaims, helping her to her feet. "We didn't find much of anything to incriminate him, no...although I would imagine that your story should be sufficient for that. We're not the only ones who noticed you missing, not at all."
Noticing that Zephir is struggling with Slaynn, he gives him a hand hauling the elf's body up the stairs, retreating from Ameiko with a bashful nod.
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The staff grows and begins sprouting leaves, its branches spreading out and then extending its reach over him and engulfing in shade. A single branch snakes down and lifts him as gentle as a mother handling its young before accidently knocking him against its trunk and then readjusting it as if in apology....
Ameiko says:"It was long rumored there were smugglers' caves connected to the Glassworks, and it appears they were behind these bricked up walls. The family rumor is that my Grandfather, Ryuko, the founder of the Glassworks, started out doing some...less than savory...business dealings. Perhaps these tunnels lead to the river or elsewhere. If Tsuto went down there, they must be an escape route of some kind. I suggest you go check them out, once you have recovered enough, that is."
The room from which Tsuto appeared looks to be a bedroom/office of some sort. A cot is set up against one wall, and a writing desk stands in the corner. Several empty liquor bottles litter the floor.
Adjinakou searches the writing desk.
" Just grab everything. We'll look at it in detail at the cathedral, After they heal Slaynn..." Grumbles Zephir, discomfited with the wait of the warrior on his shoulders, even with Tiberiu's help.
Adjinakou finds a leather bound journal and swipes it up, as the others retreat to the Cathedral to find healing for Slaynn.
Leaving the Glassworks with Ameiko in tow, you come upstairs and she cries out in alarm when you enter the production floor. "It's my father under there," she cries pointing to the human figure seated in a chair and covered with sheets of rapidly cooling molten glass. The man is obviously dead, and once she points him out, you do recognize him from your not-so-friendly encounter in the Rusty Dragon.
Ameiko continues, recovering her poise, "If he is dead, then I am the remaining heir to Kaijitsu Manor and the Glassworks. More than ever, we need to catch Tsuto now. I can pardon him, bring back to the family...if he's not too far-gone already."
Outside, you run into a band of armed guards who had been called by the nosy Vin Vinder. They defer to your obvious authority, and agree to post a guard outside to keep troublemakers out, and to keep a close watch on the smuggler's tunnels found beneath the Glassworks.
Headed to the Cathedral, you find Father Zantus and a pair of acolytes at work in the library. The priests offer you healing (free but with a donation expected) and bring all the heroes back to full HP. Ameiko goes back to the Dragon, as if in a daze.
Father Zantus asks: "So what have you found so far?"
The journal does not reveal itself to be magical in anyway. Opening it, Adjinakou reads in shock and dismay. The book has about two dozen pages, most filled with maps of Sandpoint. The first few pages seem to show the battle plans of the goblin raid on Sandpoint you took part in thwarting, but more ominously, there are several further pages showing another attack by a larger force of nearly 200 goblins. Several of these are scratched out but a few are not. The last few pages of the journal are filled with erotic drawings of a woman. The last page showing the woman with a demonic appearance including wings, horns, fangs, tail and a monstrous hand.
" It seems they plan another attack! Though we don't have a timeline...Who is this Ripnugget fellow? Does anyone around here have knowledge of the area? If he favors a land approach to attack, they cannot be too far away!"
Glancing back at the notes again," And at least one bugbear with them. Does anyone know what a Malfeshnekor is? At least we know that the attack will partially come up from the tunnels. Maybe we should go there next? Need to have the alert spread through the town first, the attack might start above or below ground..."
Zephir seems more excited than worried...
"One of these names must belong to whomever leads the goblins. This woman sounds like some sort of mambo -- priestess -- of a demon." Adjinakou says quietly.
Having grown up amongst the Belkyar, the young witch was not unfamiliar with demon worshipers. Though he wasn't quick to admit that either. His own magic was strange. Few in these lands had heard of the Wendo. The superstitious could turn on him easily.
Tiberiu swallowed, looking deeply unhappy. "Lady Ameiko...I fear that your brother is too far gone for any aid from you. What he did in the glassworks...and now look: 'This town deserves a real burning.' No sane mind writes that." And all this about loving a demon...does he know nothing of Cheliax? No, he must simply not care.
"And he speaks of offering the town to Lamashtu...the mother of monsters. There are no sane beings among her cult."
Tiberiu has some heard of arcane rituals whereby one might transform into a demonic form, though the specifics of such ritual, forbidden among his people, are unknown to him.
Father Zantus confirms what you surmise about Lamashtu. Her religion is insane and monstrous, the stuff of nightmares, as much as Desna is the tender of sweet dreams, the Mother of Monsters is her evil counterpart.
Having received healing, the party sets back off for the Rusty Dragon to de-brief and to get some much needed sustenance. Knowing those tunnels below the Glassworks may be the route for future invasion, the knowledge of them, and the reference to a "quasit" and "her freaks" coming up from below makes you very uneasy.
" Thank you again for your hospitality Lady Ameiko. It IS appreciated.......My .. Condolences on the death of your father. It is not easy to lose family..."
He looks embarrassed and unsure of what to say. He does NOT mention Tsuto.
" If there is ever anything that you may need, call on me."
He will discuss things with the others for a while, then retire. He needs to be up early to pray and meditate.
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Mal is sitting at the bar having some ale and a good meal. He sees that Ameiko has returned and it seems the human is responsible. He is interested in joining this group to sharpen his skills and perhaps gain fame and fortune, as well as some new friends. He stands up, takes his second mug of ale and his plate and walks up to Zephir. Hi there! My name is Malkavik. Did you save her all by yourself?
The Lady Ameiko appears quite distracted. She smiles at Zephir and at the halfling alchemist who appear to be starting a conversation, but her mind is clearly elsewhere.
"Please excuse me, I have family business to attend to." she says finally, and dropping her apron on the bar she exits to the back. Her shapely form is not seen again in the Dragon that evening.
" Ha! No little one, though perhaps in the interest of building my legend I should say so!... Wait ...Lady Ameiko.. I didn't mean to offend.... Drat. It appears she is more upset than I first thought...
Sorry Malkavik. I am Zephir, Son of Storms, Chosen of Gozreh!"
Zephir frowns as he waves the bartender over for another drink...
Storming in smelling of the forge, Tor stomps towards the bar, smile on his face at seeing Ameiko, then frown as she appears to be upset at something Zephir says. "You got something against the lady, friend?" asks Tor of Zephir.
" What?!?" Zephir booms in response..
" I did nothing, she has just lost her father and to her brother to boot. I would never offend such a talented and beautiful Lady."
He roars at the dwarf over his fresh flagon of ale.
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Wait, the Smith just walked in at the wrong time. You were just saying you didn't mean to offend as she was walking away when he came in. This is just a misunderstanding. I don't think she was offended either. She just had family business to take care of, so she left. We're all friends. Mal looks at Tor Come on friend, drink with us!
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In the corner he broods, his past exploits not pleasing to the sullen elf's mind. His abilites to fight as honed as he was with his family, the elf cannot grasp the fact that that orcish methods employed in his teaching does not lend itself well to what was being played out now.
He remembers the goblins, their screeches and giggles as they poke at him, dancing out of the dangers of his blows. He remembers the going down after one too many pokes.
He remembers the dandy that laid him out with a well placed blow. Insult to injury, he couldn't even lend a single telling blow!
All this sent the elf into a greater state of depression coupled with the fact that he and his companions failed to save Ameiko's father as well.
He drains yet another tankard as he attempts to come to terms with his failures.
The night wears on and the group is introduced roundly to the Malkavik the halfling and Tor the dwarf cleric. Both helped in the goblin raid, and as they hear your stories of adventure, and perhaps further goblin attacks on Sandpoint, they enlist to join you in your adventures.
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agreed. The Tunnel seems a likely place to start in, on the hunt for this Tsuto, and his Mistress of Evil...with the ugly stick damage on her arm...
"Let us follow the tunnel. Should you not also show this journal the the local authorities."
"Let Torag's steel strengthen our limbs and resolve. We should head into the tunnel and deal with whatever evil lies there."
After a day of healing and resting the party makes way to set out once again for the Glassworks. Finding soldiers guarding the doors, they get the report that all the workers, including Lord Kaijitsu were killed by goblins. Since the lock-down, no more goblins have been found, and a guard is stationed at the map of the smuggler's tunnels when you arrive.
The guardsmen look into the blackness with some trepidation, and are quite relieved when you return. They report having seen or heard nothing since arriving at the tunnel.
The tunnel winds lazily to the northeast. You pass a side tunnel on the south side.
Peering in vain down both branches, Zephir shrugs...
" Neither way feels...Legendary, to me."
He looks at the others..
"What do you think?"
Before setting off, Tor will draw out his holy symbol and spend a few moments tracing runes on his hammer while whispering prayers to Torag. He repeats this process 3 times, each time the rune glowing a bit brighter. Nodding in satisfaction, Tor will take a moment to examine each tunnel before finally responding to Zephir.
Tiberiu is mostly silent in the day or so following their raid. Not only was Lady Ameiko abducted on my watch...as it were...but I couldn't even get there fast enough to capture that damnable brother of hers. This is a disaster. He accepts the group's new companions without comment, and as they head to the Glassworks his resolve firms into something very akin to fierceness. This time, I'll be ready. That jerk took me by surprise last time...let's see how he likes the tricks I've got up my sleeves today!
In the tunnels, Tiberiu glances warily ahead, a spell cast on the end of his scarf glowing brightly. "I say we keep going down the main tunnel," he announces. "We need to catch Tsuto as soon as possible. So unless we think he's down there...we keep going."
The small man shrugs. We will trace a path down both in time.
" One vote for the main tunnel, none for the other. Continue? or does anyone else want to chime in? I vote we follow the main tunnel unless it goes on for a long while. I expect it will come out down the beach a ways, but my sense of direction could be off..."
" Gladly, now that I've figured out how..."
Rumbles Zephir as he casts light on the tip of his longspear.
Holding it high over the others heads , he gestures...
" After you!"
Evaluating his college's equipment, Tor will approach Slaynn and say "Here, let me grant your weapon Torag's virtue." and then will begin tracing runes on it.
Readied action, at the first sign of trouble Mal will drink his mutagen. He will have his oversized heavy mace over his shoulder with his other hand in the mean time.
Malkavik - mutagen and mace
Slaynn - quartertaff (both hands for fighting)
Zephir - longspear (2-hands) with light
Tiberiu - scarf?
Adjinakou - ?
Tor - hammer
Qorinae - ?
The party chooses to stay on the main path, marching in the dark smuggler tunnel for about another 15 minutes. Here another tunnel branches off the main tunnel to the east. This side-tunnel, however, shows signs of having been bricked up in the past. The bricks are knocked inward at the point where the side tunnel diverges from the main passage.
Neither of the tunnels here slope more noticeably than the other.
" Hmmm. This was bricked up for a reason......Investigate? Or continue on... I'm leaning toward checking it out this time..."
Zephir ponders, then waits for the others ideas.