Maerra heads up to the furnace room to try and make sense of the mess around the place where Snurglitz had been. Especially to try and tell whose hand that might have been.
Milah finds the following among Tsuto's things in his room and on his person: a red colored liquid in a tiny vial, an elven-made bow of yew and ashwood, some ash arrows, a set of silver earrings in the shape of a Tian-rune, a set of lockpicks that look to be made of some kind of metal that is not iron-based, a flute that looks to be made of solid silver, six pouches of what appears to be gold dust, eight pouches of silvery dust and exactly ten platinum coins of Chelaxian mint. You also find his journal. Flipping through it, you find drawings and pictures and writings of someone named Nualia, a name you have heard recently. The thing is, most of the drawings are rather, crude, in nature and some feature her with wings and claws. Definitely not the picture that the priest gave you. A few lines stand out as you read:
1. The raid went about as planned. Few Thistletop goblins perished, and we were able to secure Tobyn’s casket with ease while the rubes were distracted by the rest. I can’t wait until the real raid. This town deserves a burning, that’s for sure.
2. Ripnugget seems to favor the overwhelming land approach, but I don’t think it’s the best plan. We should get the quasit’s aid. Send her freaks up from below via the smuggling tunnel in my father’s Glassworks, and then invade from the river and from the Glassworks in smaller but more focused strikes. The rest except Bruthazmus agree, and I’m pretty sure the bugbear’s just being contrary to annoy me. My love’s too distracted with the lower chambers to make a decision. Says that once Malfeshnekor’s released and under her command, we won’t need to worry about being subtle. I hope she’s right.
3. My love seems bent on going through with it—nothing I can say convinces her of her beauty. She remains obsessed with removing what
she calls her "celestial taint" and replacing it with her Mother’s grace. Burning her father’s remains at the Thistletop shrine
seems to have started the transformation, but I can’t say her new hand is pleasing to me. Hopefully when she offers Sandpoint to Lamashtu’s
fires, her new body won’t be as hideous. Maybe I’ll luck out. Succubi are demons too, aren’t they?
The rest of the journal goes on about the same as well as a seemingly one-sided love affair with Nualia...
Milah gathers the items together and does her best to judge the relative values of the pieces.
Once she sees the journal entries, she sighs, "So Tsuto was, at least in part, responsible for the raid...and there's another one planned...aaand Nualia is trying to turn herself into a demon. Seems to me that we still have some work to do."
"Smuggling tunnel? A bloody smuggling tunnel to let the goblins in!" Maerra dashes off down to the basement to check the unopened doors there once she catches up with Milah.
- Red Liquid- Difficult to tell, but looks similar to most potions, usually worth about 60gp
- bow- 200gp
- arrows (d12 worth)- 5sp
- earrings- 20gp
- lockpicks- 80gp
- flute- 120gp
- gold dust- 45gp each
- silver dust- 3gp each
- coins- 100gp
Sure enough, Maerra easily finds the door that leads to a tunnel that goes much farther into the earth, winding deep under the bedrock of Sandpoint. Maerra sees that it goes much farther than her dwarven eyes can see.
Aurica follows Maerra to peek in the tunnel, as well . "I'm not sure I'm up to venturing down this way just yet," she says aloud. "The greater part of my power is spent already from our fights with the goblins and with Tsuto. Can we find something to barricade this door, for now? And we need to secure Tsuto, of course."
"We also need to find out how much Jubrayl knew when he entered into an agreement with Tsuto. Ameiko, do you think we can get any truth out of him when he wakes?"
Milah shows the others the gear she's gathered . "It looks like we have a potion, though I couldn't say what effect it might have, as well as masterwork bow, lockpicks, and flute. I don't have a need for any of it, specifically, but the gold to be gained from selling that which we can't use would always be welcome."
"If Zev doesn't want the bow I'll take it. Running to a fight's too damn slow without Polly to give me longshanks." Looking at the door and passageway she gets out her rope to measure distances then heads upstairs to get furniture to fit to barricade it.
The tunnel seems to go on for a long way. It will be difficult to tell just how long unless you actually follow it. Finding enough furniture to block it up temporarily is easily done.
Ameiko nods, "You may have what you want, but I should like to keep his journal if you are finished with it. Once Hemlock has him in custody, I'm sure he'll clam up. If you're going to get anything out of him... maybe we can take him to our house up on the hill and hold him there. At least until we know what's going on. As for whether or not he will tell you the truth, I... I don't know. He told me some of it, but it didn't make sense. He stopped telling me things once he knew I wouldn't turn."
Once Ameiko's brother was subdued, Zev stood there uncertain. He wanted to go and run up to Ameiko and comfort her , but refrained as his friend's tended to the tian.
Only when Ameiko declares them honorary members of her family does he move, a bright smile on his face, gathering up Ameiko in a great big hug, ,"So happy you're alright!" he declares.
Putting Ameiko down relucantly, Zev turns to where Milah was going through Tsuto's possessions, "No, you take the bow, Maerra, it's nice!" Zev says.
Then he frowns as the import of the journal penetrates his thick skull, "Demon...but wasn't Nualia pretty ?"
But then he shrugs, and picks up the unconscious Tsubo, and waits for directions on where to carry him.
"To the Kaijutsu house, then. And I will tell you what I know about Jubrayl."
Oathday, 3 Lamashan, 4707, 1:57pm. 58 degrees, light wind.
After leaving the Glassworks behind, some of the townsfolk watch as you carry Tsuto's unconscious body all the way to the Kaijitsu household. They don't say anything as you do so, being duly appointed deputies in town during Hemlock's absence. The servants at the door of the place look at you incredulously, but say nothing as they see Ameiko accompanying you. The house itself is beautiful, made of limestone and decorated with stained glass, as befitting of a glassworker. There are glass chimes that clink in the wind as you are walking inside. This place is very well kept, but other than the glass windows, the only decorations seem to be pieces of Tian armor and weapons as well as painted drawings of waves.
"I need to speak with the servants regarding my father.", Ameiko says as she turns to one of them. "Give them a room to set up my brother and get them anything they need." The servant bows and then leads you to a guest bedroom upstairs where you put down Tsuto on the bed. He stirs a bit, but doesn't awaken yet...
"We should bind his hands before he wakes, don't you think?" Aurica asks, looking to Ameiko. She pulls the coiled silk rope from her pack and offers it to Maerra.
Seeing that they have a little while before Tsuto wakes, Aurica knows it's time to reveal to her companions the details of her dealings with Jubrayl. She takes a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves, then begins:
"You should know, first of all, that the Czarni are family to me. They took me in as a child, cared and provided for me. They're not always on the right side of the law, but they don't usually cause much harm." She looks again at the note, signed "J", that they picked up in the Glassworks. "I'm learning that not all Czarni are alike, though..."
Aurica continues, "So, of course, I sought out the local Czarni when I came to Sandpoint. Jubrayl Vhiski is the chief of them here. He gave me a job to do, and said that if it was completed, that you all would get the benefit of being treated as family, same as I do."
Aurica looks at Maerra, Milah, and Zev in turn before going on. "I worried that you all might feel strongly about illicit activities like theft, but I also knew the value of never having to worry about being the target of a Czarni score, not to mention the utility of being able to call in a favor from them. So I took it upon myself to undertake the task myself for all of our benefit, and protect your consciences."
Aurica looks down at her feet. "The job seemed harmless. Jubrayl told me that an incoming shipment bound for Vinder's store would be going missing, and because we were in with the sheriff, it was my job to make sure that the authorities didn't find any reason to suspect the Czarni as thieves of the shipment. I found the only witness to the theft, a young boy, and I convinced him not to say anything about what he saw. Job done."
"I never would have guessed that Jubrayl was diverting supplies to the goblins! But I'm getting ahead of myself. Jubrayl may not have had any idea what Tsuto was doing or that he was involved with the goblins. Jubrayl is a thief, but I can't believe he would knowingly betray the whole town like that."
Milah listens in silence to Aurica's revelations. Once the tiefling finishes, she looks to the others then speaks.
"I have spent a not-inconsiderable amount of time developing a sense for when someone is lying to me , and I sense nothing of the like in your words." She closes her eyes briefly, choosing her next words carefully. "I believe that you were acting in our best interests, and, the morality of the actions aside, that you had no knowledge of Jubrayl's role in the goblin raid, whether intentional or not. That said, it would be good to know whether he was aware of the consequences of his actions..."
Maerra makes very sure of the knots as she ties Tsuto up "I've heard of worse from more respectable types" she spits, "what did these goblins or that Nualia crazy get though?"
Maerra easily ties Tsuto's hands behind him. He starts to stir, but doesn't yet awaken. It is possible he may need some time to rest before he is capable of even speaking.
"Either Jubrayl or Tsuto made these copies of invoices for shipments coming to Sandpoint. One of them is the one I deflected attention on, and I heard chatter about the Sczarni stealing some of these other ones, too. I don't know what the purpose of these copies was. And I guess Tsuto must have already used the ring for whatever he needed, or he wouldn't have left it in that hallway, wpuld he? And what did he give Jubrayl in exchange?"
Milah sighs, "It sounds like we need to get some information from Jubrayl. The question is, do you want to speak with him alone or should the rest of us accompany you? Considering how many people saw us carry Tsuto in here, it's possible - likely, even - that Jubrayl already knows he's at risk..."
"I think it's best if I approach him alone. I believe he views me as an ally, but if the four of us show up together at the Hagfish, I worry we might spook him. We don't want him fleeing, or doing something worse..."
Maerra shakes her head. "That's bad, but if he catches on you're a loose end anyway he might decide to tie you off while you're alone. That'd be worse. If you can meet him in the Hagfish one of us should go in for a drink first I reckon."
Milah grins, "I could certainly go for a drink..."
The relief Aurica feels at how her companions have responded to her admissions is showing in the smile that she can't quite hold back. She nods in agreement as Maerra points out the rashness of going to Jubrayl alone.
"You're right, we should be cautious. Well, Milah, if you'll come with me, then we can leave Maerra and Zev here to ensure that Tsuto doesn't pull off some incredible escape. Are we all agreed?"
Zev frown in concentration as Aurica explains her situation, trying to follow, really only just getting that she was in a bit of trouble.
He listens as the other talk, nodding, frowning down a the bound Tsuto, "Zev will stay. "
Aurica looks for Ameiko before they leave the house to let her know that they are going to talk to Jubrayl.
Once their plans are set, Milah makes her way to the Hagfish and sits at the bar. "An ale, barkeep", she says, doing her best to fit in with the rougher crowd.
Ameiko, in the middle of speaking with the servants, turns away to face Aurica. "I don't why you want to talk to him, but be careful. I hear he's not a good person to have on your bad side or good side. Stay safe."
Oathday, 3 Lamashan, 4707, 3:32pm. 56 degrees, light wind.
The Hagfish is slowly becoming busy as the day is coming to an end. Milah and Aurica enter, Milah going to the bar and doing her best to fit in, despite her hero status. The barkeep, Jargie Quinn, just nods as he passes her a local ale brew. The stuff has a distinct scent to it, but the taste is fair.
Elsewhere, it is about this time that Tsuto begins to awaken. "Hey! You think you can just tie me up and leave me here? Huh? Hey! I'm talking to you!"
When you arrive, Jubrayl is busy going through some ledgers. He doesn't look pleased.
Milah attempts to listen for any sort of disturbance from the back room.
Milah listens intently but only hears the sounds of whispered conversations regarding things such as how the tide has brought in a good haul of fish and that merchants from Magnimar are charging more and more for exotic goods.
Jubrayl looks up from his work, obviously annoyed. "You know, having a family member on the side of the Sheriff aught to have benefits. I'm finding quite the opposite really.", as he is speaking, Aurica notices that he is going through a few letters and invoices. There is red ink on many of them. "Seems people don't want to do business with us as much as usual. I heard Hemlock is on his way back, and when he gets here, all I see is numbers going the opposite direction of what I.. the family wants. I think some of it has to do with those goblins. People are afraid they are still out there. Something needs to be done to get business going again, know what I mean?"
for whatever he says next
"Keep your hair on, half-humie. Is your crazy girl coming this minute? No? So what's so bloody urgent?" grumbles Maerra.
"You're threatening us with an army of goblins?" Maerra comments sceptically, "more likely they'd start fighting with each other over some junk than they'd get here in good time. It doesn't sound like you're trying to bargain here. What's your angle?"
About 15 minutes later, Milah and Aurica come back in. Tsuto has continued to prattle on about how Nualia has an army of goblins and that they are going to burn Sandpoint and beyond. He doesn't seem interested in escape, at least not at this point.
Once they're back in the manor, Milah takes some time to investigate the journal. If we can figure out any specifics about the attack plan, perhaps we can leave some surprises for them...
"Let's lock up Tsuto with the town watch. Hemlock will have questions for him when he gets back."
Zev doesn't have too much time for Tsuto's venom and threats, not quite believing that he could be Ameiko's brother. She's so pretty and nice, and he's, well...not.
Leaving Maerra, Zev shyly takes a tour of the Lonjiku manor, careful to not open any closed doors and staying to obviously public areas, not wanting to offend Ameiko's family.
He's gazing at some ornate colored window in a front vestibule when Milah and Aurica return, following the back inside.
He nods at Aurica's suggestion of locking the miscreant up with the watch.
