Zarque pounces on the chance to touch the enemy, not worrying too much about accidentally touching grenz.
As the opponent starts to leap, Sil lets out a low curse, moving to stab at him even as Grenz grabs him, dragging him to the ground, where he provides a much simpler target.
Idun blinks in surprise at Grenz tackles the man to the ground and is a bit slow to act, but musters her courage and plunges into the fierce smell to try and assist Grenz in holding the fiend.
However, the stench has her nearly gagging. Nonetheless she tries to assist Grenz.
Grenz turns the creature over, presenting a target for Sileven and Khamul to stab into while Idun takes its hands and tries to keep it from getting a hold of Grenz. It writhes as it struggles, attempting to bite Grenz. Zarque moves in to try and touch the creature and manages to catch a toe, sending a wave of golden light passing through it. The light seems to linger on its body for a time.
Grenz snarls, and tries to pin down his opponent.
Still moving with the unnatural speed that Idun has gifted him with, Khamul lunges at the wrestling match, trying to pin the ghoul like a butterfly on a board...
vs grappled target (-4 Dex)
+3 bab +3 champion spirit bonus +1 str +1 small+1 haste +4 prone -2 don' t hit Grenz
Spirit Bonus +3, Str +1, Séance Bonus +3
vs grappled target (-4 Dex)
vs grappled target (-4 Dex)
+3 bab +3 champion spirit bonus +1 str +1 small+1 haste +4 prone -2 don' t hit Grenz
Spirit Bonus +3, Str +1, Séance Bonus +3
4 armor +4 Dex +1 small +1 haste
+1 (Medium 4) + 1 Con + 1 Racial+3 spirit+2 pomander
Sil, seeing an opportunity, returns to form, not considering how little success he had been having using both weapons . . ..
As Grenz holds the creature in a ground lock, Sileven and Khamul hack and stab at it over and over again, tearing bits of dead flesh from it, spattering it over themselves and the others around them. The creature stops struggling and goes limp. You can hear what sounds like crying coming from its dead lips. At the same time, two Sandpoint guards round the corner followed by acolytes of the church.
Idun is still holding the thing down with Grenz, choking a bit at the smell. She's not sure it's dead. Well, it's sort of dead? It could be playing dead dead.
With the monster nearly finished, Zarque looks to the coming folks, but doesn't drop her guard, "Careful! I'm not certain of it's defeat just yet. Help us bind the thing. Do you have rope or chains?" Zarque asks quickly and to the point, conscious of how this might look to someone just coming around the corner.
Idun pulls hard on the creature’s hands, nearly removing them in the process. It continues to plead for its unlife. ”Please, you must help me! I have been cursed. Save me from this disease, before He comes back.”
As the guards come around the corner, they look at the mess and all of you with brandished weapons and can hear the creature’s sobs of agony. The acolytes behind the guards nod in unison as you watch Mirah make a sign with her hands and Gurin says, ”You must hurry, this creature must be put down now, get the torches!” As the other acolytes leave, the guards pull out pieces of rope to bind its hands and feet together.
”The Sheriff will want to hear about this. I’ll have him fetched right away.” With that, yet another acolyte goes running off.
You have a few moments before the others return with torches.
Khamul refrains from stabbing the ghoul again, and instead concentrates his psychic powers, while telling the thing "Talk fast, really fast.
The more you spill, the likelier we are to believe you about being cursed..."
2 ranks +3 trained +1 trait
"Speak" - Grenz pressed on.
Having little experience with the subtle nuances in how undead may or may not tell the truth hinders you a bit, as you are used to the telltale signs that the living give away when they are being untruthful. Nonetheless, this creature appears to be genuine in its pleas for assistance, as it continues with the same story. ”Yes, I made a bad deal and now I am cursed for it. I am to exist as this thing and… “ Its voice suddenly changes to a deeper gravelly tone. ”Enough of this charade. This one belongs to me now and nothing you can do will change that. Chain me if you must, but I will be free once again. Then, you will see that your efforts and your lives have little meaning. Unless… unless you were to join me. Yes, join me and rid this world of people who simply exist in a constant state of greed, having no true gifts to give to anyone, except to take and then take some more. Yes.. joining me, I will make you immortal and stronger than you have ever been.”
The guards are noticeably shaking at this point and the acolytes are returning with torches to burn it…
Zarque gives the thing a flat look, "While being rid of greedy people would be nice, unfortunately getting rid of them also gets rid of the good people as well. Those who are more worthy often become so because they have to deal with the unworthy. You can't get rid of one without getting rid of the other. As for immortality, I'm a dragon in miniture, I don't need you for any of that."
The elf laughs. "Yeah, I think I've heard more than enough of THIS drivel. Gag time? It feels like gag time."
"I think it's stab to death time. But we don't burn it until we've searched it, there might be documents or other evidence. " Khamul turns to Drek, Mirah and Gurin, "Meanwhile, grab the acolyte it was talking to, lets make sure he stays healthy enough to talk..."
The other acolytes return with torches ready to burn the creature right there, but they await your search of it. While the smell continues to assail your noses, your determination presses you forward. You find a brass key in one of its pockets and a crude drawing of some of your company, Milah’s face and Sileven’s have red marks all over them, as if someone were trying to scratch them out. No one else you recognize is on the paper. It was holding a weapon that seems to be of very fine edge. This is something not seen among the lower classes of Sandpoint. That and there is a maker’s mark near its hilt.
While the acolyte whose throat he slit is still breathing, thanks to magical efforts, it will be some time before he is able to talk effectively. You finish tying up the creature with the help of the guards, at least the ones that were able to hold the contents of their stomachs. About then, Sheriff Hemlock shows up. He gets right to the point. ”Is this… thing… our killer?”
Khamul replies: "A killer definitely - it was talking to that guy," he points to the injured acolyte and continues, "and cut his throat to stop us being able to ask him questions. It's only thanks to Drek, Mirah and Gurin that we might be able to get some answers there. I think he's a part of the recent murders, yes; we chased him from where he was observing the place where the trappers body was dropped into the sewers. Whether he actually did the killings, we don't know." He then closes the distance to Belor and whispers further: "There might be other elements to the plot. He claims to be cursed having made a "bad deal", and we've seen what appears to be some other personality taking over from him a couple of times during our limited interactions. The things that the other personality says suggest some sort of possession to me, and it can probably see and hear through his eyes, so be careful what you say..."
Grenz takes a moment to look over the drawings - "Why did you do this?" - he asks their foe.
"If our murderous source of information is to be believed, our murderer might be like a curse that is spread to multiple people like an investment scam, whoever makes a bargain with some other worldly power." Idun gives her own take on the situation. "And then those people make undead under them to get even more carnage."
"So, yes, this thing has been killing. No, stopping this thing doesn't solve the problem. But there's nothing other than a funny voice suggesting possession or control to go by for finding the boss. A funny voice that tried to recruit us."
The creature writhes in its bonds, but says little due to the gag Sileven shoved in its mouth. The only sound to answer Grenz seems to be a low growl.
Sheriff Hemlock nods in understanding. He quickly summons more guards to help take the creature away. ”Lock it up good. I’m bringing Habe in on this, maybe that weasel can figure out what is going on.” Looking back to the rest of you, he says, ”Well, at least you caught him. Now we can get back to cleaning this mess up. I expect you will have more to tell me, but now we that we have him, I think we all deserve a good night’s rest. Meet me at the Town Hall in the morning. I want you to brief Mayor Deverin on the situation and what you have found so far.”
"Night's rest? I'm thinking a hot bath and scrub, with some serious time cleaning my gear!"
"Am I the only one thinking of hiring a few stableboys to do the cleaning and give me a pampering bath?" Zarque replies half seriously.
Fireday, 18 Lamashan 4707, 10:31pm. 48 degrees, Overcast, Night. Rusty Dragon Inn Common Room.
For some of you, this place has become home, at least for the time being. For others, it is simply a meeting hall. Especially now, when most of the patrons have either gone home or are passed out on the floor. Bethana, the elderly halfling that helps Ameiko run the place, has graciously left a hot meal and a hot bath ready with only a note asking to help clean up when you are done. Milah, the swashbuckling cat woman, seems to be beside herself and is looking over a scroll containing what appears to be a contract with the town guard. Drek’thar the half-orc shaman stayed at the temple. He said something like he wanted to cleanse himself of the taint of the creature and its ilk.
You know you have a meeting with the mayor and the sheriff in the morning, but memories of the events this evening make it difficult to rest.
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. Tracking a beast is easy. Follow the trail, find the lair, strike. But this, magic and curse, undead, layers of conspiracy... Do we have a plan for tomorrow?" Idun seems a little overcome by worry by the events that have occurred, and shares that worry at the dinner table. Her romantic notions of storytale heroes easily triumphing over their foes has been challenged indeed.
Sheriff Hemlock nods in understanding. He quickly summons more guards to help take the creature away. ”Lock it up good. I’m bringing Habe in on this, maybe that weasel can figure out what is going on.” Looking back to the rest of you, he says, ”Well, at least you caught him. Now we can get back to cleaning this mess up. I expect you will have more to tell me, but now we that we have him, I think we all deserve a good night’s rest. Meet me at the Town Hall in the morning. I want you to brief Mayor Deverin on the situation and what you have found so far.”
"We will see you there in the morning Sheriff" - Grenz nodded.
Fireday, 18 Lamashan 4707, 10:31pm. 48 degrees, Overcast, Night. Rusty Dragon Inn Common Room.
"It seems the most terrible of things can happen anywhere Idun" - Grenz replied to his companion - "Monsters crawling around in sewers, others apparently controlled by even bigger monsters... I don't know..." - he shook his head - "No idea for tomorrow, I guess we play it by ear with the Sheriff and the Mayor, recount what we have uncovered today"
[ooc]When everyone heads out, Grenz will make sure the common room and baths are cleaned up, so that Bethana will not scowl at him in the morning. Then he will bathe, removing the gore and caked blood from his knuckles and handwraps. He then cleans up after himself, and heads to bed"[/B]
Khamul celebrates being out of the sewers with a quick trip to the Turandarok and a dunking for pre-cleaning. Returning to the Rusty Dragon with the party, he is rapturously pleased with Bethana's hot bath and meal. He avails himself immediately of the bath and then packs away the meal like only a halfling can. While eating, he cleans and oils his assorted gear, so as to put it away properly...
Speaking as he chews, he replies to Idun, "We tell the mayor what we've found so far. If that's first thing in the morning, then we see what we can get out of the ghoul and the acolyte he was talking to afterwards... We should also see if the Sheriff has gotten anything out of that Red Fist character. Then we got choices to make. Maybe they'll give us a lead to follow. Or we could go back into the sewer, where that brick wall is, that Zarque peeked past. But I think before we do that, we should do some more research. First get that sage guy, Quink or whatever, and see if he knows anything about this possession effect that seems to be happening. You'd think that might be a pretty idenfiable thing... "
Then he looks around the room to confirm the party is alone and starts speaking much more quietly, so only the party can hear him. "When Idun and I visited Pillbug this afternoon, he said someone had been sniffing around his place last night, and implied he thought they was one of us. He said it was some guy in an orange and red outfit who could, and I quote, disappear like a puff of smoke... That ain't one of us. I also got the impression that he was hiding something, so I snuck into his back room. He had a bunch of these in there", he produces the flower bloom, like the ones we've been finding the mouths of dead men.
Sil takes the time to scrub himself, and then his gear, and only then will he take the time to eat.
"I don't think we've got much. That big beast was behind the wall, right? Already covered that. Yeah, check with the sheriff and Quink. I've got nothing better."
"Another skulker? Yu would think a burg this size had used up their allotment by now, wouldn't you?"
"Thanks Khamul. It's quite something to keep your head in a situation like this and keep analyzing things so calmly. I do admire your level headedness and that you always have a plan." Idun seems reassured somewhat by Khamul's plan, even if it was simply a list of leads to investigate after briefing the mayor.
"If only. I fear we've only just begun."
Idun shakes her head at Sileven's skulker comment, she seems to fear more and more. She whispers back even if her part isn't a particularly sensitive piece of information.
Starday, 19 Lamashan 4707, 8:30am. 44 degrees, Clear. Sandpoint Town Hall Meeting Room.
After a quick breakfast, you quickly make your way to the town hall, where the guards have already cleared a path for you so that you can head right to the meeting, In attendance are Mayor Kendra Deverin, who smiles politely as you enter, the Sheriff, a scribe and two other guards, one of which closes the door behind you.
The Mayor doesn’t waste time. ”Sheriff Hemlock has briefed me on some of the events of the last week. To me it sounds like you have opened up quite the hornet’s nest. I fear that Sandpoint may be in the beginning of another time of Unpleasantness and I am not sure that five years is enough time to recover from the last one.” She pauses, looking each of you over. ”Your group’s number has changed in the past month or so, and I hope that those missing have found what they are looking for in our small town. what we ask of the rest of you is difficult to say the least. I am told that you have captured what appears to be one of the heads of a new gang that has shown up here in Sandpoint and also that you have taken down an undead murderer. Both of these are to be commended, but alas, as much as this would normally warrant a town celebration, I fear that it would also draw more attention to your number. The Sheriff says that you have been working on the side for him, rather than as official members of the town guard. At first I was trepidatious about this, as some of you know, but now I feel he has made the right choice in you. With that in mind,” she makes a motion to the Sheriff who pulls out several small sheets of paper from his belt pouch. ”I am tasking a personal stake in this, as it is my town and I won’t have anything befall it again. These writs are good for five hundred sails, each. I want you to use to find out how this started and put an end to it before it gets out of hand. Now,” she says as the Sheriff hands you each a writ. ”Tell me what we know so far.”
Zarque sighs as she steps up, "There are two issues, probably unrelated but the first hints at scary possibilities for the second. The first problem is the goblin nest we cleared out was in some ruins of an ancient empire, Thassilon. Inside is imprisoned a great being of evil. This should give you an idea of the kind of things that can be recovered. The second issue is that someone in more recent times has converted a local crypt with stylings from thassilon and stored there some treasure, including a magic rod that is highly prized by the new gang in town. In fact, I believe it is one of the primary goals of their plans. Furthermore, they are taking orders from a distant master or group, and it is implied that the group has significant political clout in Magnimar and possibly beyond, though that could be a deception I believe it more likely true. They have been killing people, or taking whatever dead bodies they can aquire through other means, and turning them into undead. This means the rod is not their only objective in the area. They obviously have significant means and resources at their disposal, therefore I can only conclude that they are seeking something hidden here, most likely some powerful artifact from thassilon. The rod they desire is probably a key of some sort. The undead are likely desired as enforcers to guard their operation, draw attention away from their true goal, and if needed to attack the town as a distraction or to deal with anybody who tries to stop them."
Zarque pauses and gestures for the others to add anything to the tale.
Idun eyes go wide. She certainly hadn't put together all those pieces, and is certainly a few steps behind in figuring out what's going on. When Zarque gestures toward the rest of them she instinctively steps back and looks to the others.
Khamul gives Zarque the hairy eyeball; "You've been holding out about what you found in those ruins, trying to skirt things. You need to come clean about all that you found out there, this is too important for you to be keeping secrets. I don’t trust your judgement.” He turns back to the mayor and continues ”That said, I think Zarque’s way out over it’s skis on this "second issue".
Taking a deep breath, he continues: What do we know? The new gang in town, the Bloody Knuckles. They are connected in some way to the Church of Pharasma - Remus, their priest leader, was carrying a pharasman holy symbol. He killed Vance after interrogating him, subject of interrogation unknown. Also, Remus was extracted from Belor's grasp by the church, with a letter from 'His Most Venerable Annamentus Jivorus, High Priest of the Church of Pharasma in Magnimar' that arrived so quickly that it had to have some heavy-duty magic involved. And finally, we’ve found there’s those flowers that are associated with the church, that they’re using as drugs.
We've captured two notes from those running the Bloody Knuckles, one of which was initialled R.B. That note, and a talk with Remus revealed they are searching for a magic staff and they thought it could be found in the Mausoleum out at the old Carrigan place. We went looking for the staff ourselves and found it. But I’m not sold that crypt was dug by the Carrigan’s. It’s too big to have been made without records in town here. And we didn’t find any when we looked before we went out there… I’m guessing it’s a leftover from some folk beforehand, and Occam’s Razor says Thassilon.
The second note was on Red Fist, and was initialled X. It implied the existence of a undead army, that Red Fist and his guys would join if he failed. Furthermore, we ran into some more of the Bloody Knuckles in the sewers, and they had been selling bodies from their fights to the ghouls. So call them our second issue.
Here’s were Zarque’s getting it wrong. I separate that lot from our third issue, these undead murders. There’s no sign to connected them to R.B.’s lot. Rather, they appear another bunch of evildoers whoever they are. The Bloody Knuckles were selling bodies to them, not giving them away like they would if they had the same bosses.
What do we know about the undead murders. The first body was a yet unidentified trapper who was found outside the north gate. We think he wasn’t murdered there, just the body dropped off, as the watch would have heard a fight it was so close... That body was clawed and chewed, apparently by ghouls, but also dismembered with a sharp blade – possibly after he died. It’s speculation but we figure he was dismembered to slow the transformation into a ghoul, so he would be found and taken into town before he changed. When we investigated the drop site, we spotted the ghoul we ended up capturing and chased him into the “sewers” under the town. After getting organized, and letting the sheriff know, we went in after it. We found a large maze, with walled off areas, secret doors, giant cisterns and many dead bodies. We killed a pack of ghouls down there, a great big lizard thing, and found the ghoul we were chasing. Through a secret door, we ended in the basement of the Cathedral; it was talking to one of the acolytes. It tried to murder the acolyte so we couldn’t interrogate him, but Drek managed to keep him alive, while the rest of us took down the ghoul and captured it. It claims to be cursed as a result of a “bad bargain” and there’s evidence of some sort of external power using it. We’re hoping to get more information from both the ghoul and the acolyte today…”
Khamul pauses and looks up at the Mayor and Belor ”But I’ve got a question for you guys. The maze down there is way too big to be a sewer system for a town this size, and makes no architectural sense as a sewer system. What did you guys build your town on top of? Another Thassilonian ruin?
Grenz has nothing to add for the time being, so he simply listens silently.
Both the Sheriff and Mayor Deverin listen intently as Zarque and Khamul speak. The scribe is furiously writing all down that he can. Mayor Deverin looks up as you finish, running a hand through her messy red hair. The look on her face tells you she is worried. ”This is a lot bigger than I thought if someone from Magnimar is involved. Whether a distraction or not, we can’t have undead running around in Sandpoint, or even the farmlands for that matter. The people are depending on the Sheriff and his people to keep them safe, but even he can only do so much. Your help has been invaluable, but you seemed to have stumbled upon something bigger. I am going to need you to keep investigating, find an end to this threat and take it down, however you can. I will help as much as I can. The Sheriff will do his best to keep the rest of the town as settled about it as we can be, but word does spread fast here.” She sighs, rubbing her temples. ”I am no expert at this, but I would suggest looking into the more immediate threat first. You have that ghoul locked up and the leader of the Bloody Knuckles gang and that’s a good start. See what you can get out of them both. I need to have a chat with Father Zantus about the Cathedral. That is something that should have been looked into before it was built, but as you have found out with the Church of Pharasma, priests are used to doing things their own way. Our families knew there were some old ruins here, but they did not know just how old. Thassilon, to my knowledge, was destroyed over ten thousand years ago. If someone is trying to dig out whatever is underneath this town, they certainly have a purpose and it is more than likely not for the benefit of Sandpoint. Speaking of, Sheriff, did that little demon ever get found?”
Sheriff Belor Hemlock, not appreciating what appeared to be a lack of faith in his abilities, looked extra stern. ”No ma’am. That dwarf, Maera, had it in custody last I knew and then suddenly both them and a few of the group that helped fight off the goblins disappeared. So far, it hasn’t caused any trouble nearby, but that doesn’t mean it won’t.”
Mayor Deverin nods. ”Correct. I am wondering if some of this trouble has something to do with that loose end. Either way, I think the path forward is clear. Get what you can out of the prisoners and follow up on it. If it’s local trouble, deal with it. If it is coming from Magnimar, we may have to be more delicate in our approach. Grabaras would not appreciate me sending trouble shooters to his doorstep without a nice warning. Oh and, where is that staff now?”
"You can both rest assured we will continue our investigation" - Grenz spoke up to the Sheriff and the Mayor - "There are a lot of loose ends. But we will tie them down" - he added.
The elf just shakes his head as the snake goes through his conspiracies. He shrugs as Khamul provides his version.
"Yes, we're certainly interested enough to keep working to stop whatever the problem really is."
Zarque rolls her eyes at the halfling's report of her, but she waits patiently and mostly professionally, then answers that last question, "The staff is in the safest place I'm aware of, but I believe the fewer people who know it's location the better, as it'll be harder for the foe to aquire the information themselves. As it stands, they'll have to come after me to find out and that is a good thing from an investigative stand point as in doing som they'll be forced to risk revealing themselves to us in order to do so. Be assured, there is no way whatsoever for them to aquire the staff without my personal touch to grant access, for it is not on this plane of existence at all."
Mayor Deverin nods as the lot of you appear to agree to keep going with the efforts to stop the problem. ”It is true, perhaps your actions will cause the perpetrator to make a mistake and show themselves before they are ready and you can bring them to justice then and there. That staff may be the key, so you should keep a close eye on it, wherever you keep it. I wish you good fortune on your journey. Keep myself and Sheriff Hemlock up to date on your status, but be careful to tell as little as you can to anyone else. That means Zantus too. “ She looks to Belor, ”Bring him in, I want to have a word or three with him.” The Sheriff raises an eyebrow, but replies simply, ”Yes, ma’am.” and turns to leave. The Mayor stands and prepares to leave herself.
”Unless there is anything else, I’ll leave you to it. Just remember, Sandpoint is your home too. Let’s try to keep it as clean as we can.”
Grenz nods at the mayor, and motions to leave - "Drek'Thar remained at the temple - we should go to him now" - he whispered to the others when they had some privacy.
"Sure, wouldn't hurt to check." Idun nods in agreement.
2 ranks +3 trained +1 trait
"Mayor Deverin, a request before we go, can you write us a note to get full cooperation the assorted Sandpoint bureaucracies? We've had some difficulty getting records of things like construction of the Carrigan Mausoleum and plans for the sewers and so forth..."
***
Later, after leaving the conference with the Mayor...
"Yes, we need to emphasize to him how important that staff is. We should tell him and Milah that Mayor Deverin wants this kept as quiet as possible, including from Father Zantus. I'll add that seems a touch off to me; maybe we should ask about if there is some history there... perhaps ask Belor?