- During the Swallowtail Festival, a large number of goblins attacked the town, the Heroes defended the town from the attack.
-Mayor Deverin asked the Heroes to remain in town and help make sure the town was safe while Sheriff Hemlock left to go and get troops from Magnimar to support the local militia.
-During this time it was discovered that the goblins had outside help, but the true culprit has yet to be found. The head of the Kaijitsu household was found dead by the hands of more goblins, with his daughter Ameiko soon to follow, except that the Heroes rescued her. Her half brother was part of the plan and he is now in Ameiko's custody in her manor. His diary also spoke of one named Nualia, and they have heard this name before from the Desnan priest of Sandpoint.
-It also turns out the Jubrayl Vhiski, a local criminal was behind the goblins getting some of the supplies they needed for the raid. There hasn't been enough evidence to bring him down however.
-Further exploration of the area below the Glassworks revealed a demon setting herself up as queen. She was brought out in chains and held prisoner in Sandpoint, but has recently escaped, along with the man responsible for keeping an eye on her. The fate of Erylium's familiar is also unknown...it was with Maerra and she has left town.
-Now they are gearing up for another expedition...
Moa'Taar takes short, precise notes, and then after hearing the explanation, says "Well, it looks like there are a few avenues of investigation left to us; We can deal with Vhiski" Moa'Taar didn't so much say the name as spit it out of his mouth "and see what he knows; we can try and track the Demon from the Glassworks; or we can see what we can find out about this Nualia. What avenue of investigation were you currently working on?"
Zarque is eating comfortably slow, and on the table in front of her are a variety of miniture versions of tools and equipment and leather scraps. The miniture items are crude but recognizable and she is mindlessly trying different arrangements of the items.
Though, an observant individual might notice that she doesn't seem to be paying all that much attention to the miniture items, but rather, she seems distracted, like she is paying attention to something else.
"We have just finished investigating the catacombs beneath the Glassworks, and there's some business that the mayor would like to discuss, apparently, but that will have to wait a couple of days." She sighs, "I'm not sure what we should do in the meantime. Perhaps, since Nualia appears to be at the center of the attacks, we should try to track her down..."
"Yes, and I learned that Vhiski made an offer to the missing guard that he couldn't refuse, and that's why the guard and the demon are missing. Apparently some buyer contacted the Sczarni offering a lot of cash to get access to the demon."
"Well, then, I would say that were we need to go next depends entirely on what you think is the biggest threat: This mysterious Nualia, or the Demon. If it's the former, then we'll want to start by investigating the last place Nualia was mentioned; if it's the latter, then finding Vhiski should be our top priority."
As you are discussing what to do next, the front door opens and Ameiko Kaijitsu walks in, looking as if all of Golarion were on her shoulders. She looks about ignoring some of the patrons and their questioning looks, instead making a beeline right for you. She doesn't stop at your table however, instead, she goes to the one where the lonely kobold has been sitting and holds out her hand. In it is a wand. "I found this among father's things. I think you are supposed to have it." She then turns to the table with the rest of you. "I am eager to hear how far you've come in figuring out who my brother has been working for. I've asked Zarque here to assist in that endeavor. She knows much of the lower realms and she is a friend of the family. I have some things to deal with, but I will return in a few days after I head to Magnimar. I'll let you get acquainted. "
Zarque stands on her chair as Ameiko approaches and takes the gently examining it, "Thank you. I shall put it to good use."
As Ameiko leaves, "We'll get it solved."
Then as she puts the wand away, Zarque looks to the others, "Not the introduction I was going for, but given how much I heard from beyond your table, I suggest we go someplace more private before choosing which trail to follow. I have a room for the next couple of nights, we can speak more freely there. Don't worry, it has full size ceilings." she said the last with an amused smile as she scoops her things into the small bag they came from.
Milah hides her surprise, both at Ameiko's brusqueness and at her suggestion that they work with the kobold. Still, as difficult as it has been to find people to work with us for more than a week or so, I suppose we can't be too choosy... She looks to Aurica and Moa'Taar for agreement before acting on the kobold's invitation.
Moa'Taar seems a bit...annoyed that the creature was eavesdropping, but he doesn't seem to be prejudiced against it. Standing, he says "Your idea of a private room does have some merit, it seems."
"Agreed. Lead the way, Zarque."
Zarque leads the way, and the room she invites you all to is a simple room, clean as though ready to rent out. In fact, the only evidence she has been in the room before now is the pack she pulls out from under the side table.
"Not a great place for secrecy, but much better than a room full of strange ears. To better introduce myself. I am Zarque Sart Aurix. I happened to be out of town on a delivery, but I am a local, strange as that may seem. Any questions, or should get down to figuring out what lead to follow?"
As she was speaking, Zarque moves the small table with it's two chairs next to the bed, providing seating for all, and then she simply disappears from table and is suddenly on the cabinet across the room grabbing cups from what must be a high cabinet for such a small individual, and then she starts some water boiling. And does it all without missing a beat and now seems to be digging around in her pack for something.
Milah's breath catches in her throat when the small creature teleports across the room, but she recovers quickly and tries to take it in stride. shrugging in response to the kobold's question. "If Ameiko trusts you, then I am willing to put off further questions for now."
Zarque pulls out some tea and then pops back onto the counter to put it the cups, pour the water and pass them around.
"There are several leads we can take. There are the obvious, the demon and her guard, the demon's familiar and Maerra, the scarzni that aided the goblins, and there was mention of someone named Nualia. We also must see the mayor. I suggest we ask around about Nualia and the demon's familiar. Then we can share what we learned at or after meeting with the mayor. I'll start myself by speaking to the priest of Desna about Nualia."
If no one else has anything to say, that is what Zarque does, after tea.
"Seeing her in Tsuto's journal was the first I have ever heard of this Nualia. His writings indicated that she was undergoing some kind of demonic transformation. I'm not sure if that makes her more or less dangerous than an actual demon like Erylium... But have either of you ever heard that name, Nualia?"
Nualia was the name of a young woman who came to be in the care of Father Tobyn, the former priest of the Desnan temple. She grew well under his tutelage and there was much talk of her beauty and her availability, but it was well known that she was devoted to the church. It was presumed that she perished in the fire that claimed the priest's life, but her body was never found. Recently, talk of the journal that was found with Tsuto Kaijitsu tells a whole different story. It appears she may still be alive, but no one has seen her, other than Tsuto.
"Perhaps out next step should be to question Tsuto about Nualia's current whereabouts. I know she used to be the ward of Father Tobyn (he was the old priest in town), but we had all assumed she had died in the fire. Perhaps she will be able to shed some light on those unhappy times when we speak to her."
"If that is what you want to do, we should hurry before Ameiko leaves town. She might prefer to be present when we speak to him. Also, others may find it suspicious if we talk to him just after she leaves, almost like we waited for her departure. Of course, if anyone tries to release him, they may also wait for her to leave."
Milah nods and makes her way to the door, but can't help but be surprised by the kobold's observation. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill kobold here...
Sunday, 6 Lamashan 4707, 10:57pm. 38 degrees, light breeze, Kaijitsu Manor
It is very late when you reach Kaijitsu manor. Though the newer town guards eye you warily as you make your way around town, most of the others recognize and simply nod you on your way. The manor guards come up to before you reach the door.
"Sorry, Lady Kaijitsu is not in this evening, you will have to come back tomorrow."
Zarque nodded in return to any guards they saw and even said a quick hello to a couple that she knew personally, promising to win at cards next time as she walked by.
Upon arriving at the manor, a bit dismayed at how long it took, and then finding Ameiko already left, Zarque frowned, then asked the guard,
"She has already left on her trip then? Or will she actually be back in the morning?" Zarque figured she knew the answer already but it never hurt to make sure. Sometimes an answer could be surprising.
"We're actually here to question the prisoner regarding a time-sensitive matter." says Moa'Taar.
"Surely you could let us in? We have Lady Kaijitsu's trust, and will not be long, I assure you."
The guard looks at each of you and sighs. "It is late and Lady Kaijitsu will return before she heads out tomorrow, but I'm sure that being her friends, she wouldn't mind a chat with her brother. Come in and I will bring you to him shortly. "
After a few minutes of sitting on a couch with warm tea in your hands, a servant appears to take you to Tsuto. You find him sitting up in bed, looking less than pleased. "I have already told my sister all that I am going to. You will fare no better. My love is coming for me and she will kill you all. "
Milah's eyes harden as she looks at Tsuto. "Of course she is, Tsuto. The question is, will she come for you before the headsman does? If you know more than you are telling, and if you are not going to divulge that information, then you - and your head - are of no further use to us." She smiles as a thought occurs to her, "Actually, there are spells that can force the dead to speak what they know...perhaps you're even more useful dead?"
Zarque sighs, once again the small thing nobody pays attention too. As they get nearer to meeting Tsuto, Zarque does quite a good job of looking smaller, meeker, and more innocent than before.
She does have a question of her own for Tsuto though, and in a rather naive voice, "Tsuto, I'm just curious about why. Why kill us all? Why attack the town? Why didn't you just leave and seek your goals in places more suitable to them than this town? If you're going to kill me, surely you can at least tell me what I'm dying for."
Moa'Taar watches the amateurs interrogate the man, interested in their technique.
Tsuto raises and eyebrow at Milah and then at the kobold called Zarque. "Be that as it may, my sister would be less than impressed if you killed her only brother and used magic to force my words. Nualia wants to see Sandpoint burn for all they did to her and I want to see it burn for her and to destroy the legacy my... Ameiko's... father built. It just so happens that all the goblins in the area want the same thing. Striking a deal with them was easy. Especially the Thistletop. Their chief was all too eager to help invade Sandpoint. Getting all the tribes to work together was pure genius on Nualia's part. No offense, kobold, but it has little to do with you specifically. All of you are to blame, so all of you will burn."
Zarque asked questioningly "Nualia was wronged? How so? And why blame the whole town and not just the individuals involved? I certainly encounter more than my fair share of hatred, but even so, it has been individuals that do that, not whole towns."
Tsuto sighs, the anger in his face evident. "She was humiliated! Someone left her with child and alone and the entire town could not stop talking about the scandal. She was wronged and ousted from the church and everyone she cared about. They cast her aside. She has vowed revenge and she will get it!"
Milah nods, "Okay, I can see why her ire is directed at Sandpoint." She ponders his words briefly, then adds, "Why the Thistletop goblins? You mentioned them in your journal; what's special about them? For that matter, you also wrote in your journal about the release of "Malfeshnekor" - who is that?"
Tsuto only shakes his head. "A gift, from her mother. The goblins protect his realm."
"The goblins are a gift, and they protect Malfeshnekor's realm? What realm is that?"
"Obviously it wasn't everyone in town if this is the first I'm hearing of it. Not like I'm new here. And killing a bunch of people who didn't wrong her just because they are nearby to those who did wrong her is worse than what she seems to have suffered. Now, she is wronging others who deserve it no more than she did, in addition to getting revenge. This demon connection is bad though. I expect that even if she succeeds in getting revenge, this connection to demons will end very badly for her, and what would that do for the child? Does she care nothing for what happens to the kid?"
Aurica looks knowingly at Milah. "Malfeshnekor" is the name they heard in that strange section of the catacombs...
"What do you know of Erylium?" she asks Tsuto.
Tsuto only glares back at you. "I've told you all I know. That demon gave her a true purpose and I intend to help her fulfill it. She lost the child, but her true calling is her revenge. I have nothing more to say to you. "
Finally, the Shoanti man speaks up "Tsuto, I need you to understand something: your idea of a fairy tale revenge is both childish, and from what I have seen, beneath you. I do have one question though: You claim that you believe in her purpose, but where's the followthrough? Where are the obvious signs of your commitment to your love and her cause?"
Tsuto's glare turns to a grin. "The goblins being able to get into Sandpoint? My doing. Being able to take Tobyn's body? Also mine. Convincing Vhiski to look the other way? Again, me. Your town guard isn't as infallible as it would seem. Hemlock can't always see everything. "
"But those were all easy things, that didn't cost you anything. Where were the people YOU killed? We didn't find any corpses pinned with arrows. All you did was unlock a door, and unlock a tomb. That's not commitment, that's just putting a key into a lock and turning. No wonder Nualia doesn't want you around; you lack a spine."
Milah catches on, prodding Tsuto to react as well. "You know, you've a good point. Why, I would imagine I've done twice as much to thwart his plans than he's done to advance them, and all I've done is kill a few goblins."
Tsuto's normally steady voice quivers a bit, but he quickly recovers. "I've told you already. Sandpoint will burn to the ground and all its people. Then and only then will my love have the power she needs to serve her Mother."
"What happened to the revenge story? Sounds like your love is being manipulated. Her desire for revenge is being used by someone else to manipulate her into doing someone else's dirty work. Are you really going to let her be used like tool? How is that love?"
"You've managed to convince me, Mr. Kaijitsu. You are nothing but a minion, and I don't waste my time on minions. You know nothing, because to Nualia, you are nothing. You're going to hang from the neck until you are dead for a woman who cares less about you than any of us do. Contemplate that as you await your death."
Standing, Moa'Taar begins to collect his things, not even bothering to look at Tsuto.
Tsuto has had it at this point. Pulling against his restraints, his teeth gnash together as spittle spills from his lip, his anger fierce in his eyes. "I love her! She will love me! Once she releases that monster and Sandpoint burns, the ritual will be complete and I will be hers. That blasted runewell will be at full power and then one will stop us. Not even you!" After a few moments, his breathing slowing and clarity coming to his eyes, Tsuto continues. "She's at Thistletop. The goblins are helping her excavate the place to find what she needs to finish the ritual. Go there, if you must, but she will kill you. If the goblins don't get to you first." Tsuto sighs and reclines in the bed, no longer straining, looking defeated.