"So far, so good. Let us continue."
Sorry to be repetitive, but as that likely takes over a minute, I'll refresh the light and then the guidances immediately before going into the tunnel, same order except Ameiko first this time
The group presses forward down the tunnel, the glimmer of Gan's magical light illuminating the rough-hewn walls. The tunnel travels almost directly northeast for about 200 feet before two side tunnels split off. One heads west for perhaps fifty feet before collapsing - the rockfall is just barely visible to Lamsfel's eyes from the tunnel intersection - but the one heading east also disappears into the darkness beyond the limits of the light spell's glow.
Tristan mutters something under his breath as he stoops down to check the passages for tracks.
Survival (tracking):
Quietly, "Do you see anything?"
There are faint traces of tracks along both passages, though neither appears to have been majorly traveled recently.
"Inconclusive", Tristan grunts, annoyed and itching for some kind of release for all his pent-up emotion. "How about we just go on in the same direction? The tracks look much the same either way.
Sounds good. Let's go.
No arguments here.
The tunnel continues onward into the darkness, still heading the same direction, for what seems like quite some time. Eventually - distance is hard to judge down here, but it is several hundred yards at least - the tunnel comes to what seems to be a dead end.
"Strange... why would they go to all this work just to stop?"
Lamsfel will start studying the walls around the dead end looking for sign of a hidden door.
"Tristan, can you see any sign of old tracks going through one of the walls?"
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0808.html
Perception: , Survival:
Frustrated, Tristan examines the floor and wall for clues.
Though Tristan does not initially see anything as he examines the wall either, the tracks he noticed before run directly into the wall, and a few faint scuff marks seem to indicate something was dragged across the floor there. Using those to guide his search, he finally locates a seam, and then a hidden catch, revealing a well-built hidden door in the wall.
Opening the door spills bright sunshine into the passage, as well as the thick smell of salty sea air. On the other side of the tunnel's exit is a small cave right on the beach, its lower floor only a few feet of sand away from the water. It would seem that this location is frequented by goblins - scattered detritus, including a broken dogslicer, indicates that the cave has been used as shelter by the small humanoids on a number of occasions, some of them potentially fairly recent.
Very concerned, Lamsfel looks around and says, "Not only can we not hope to trap the little runts and capture them all, we've found that they apparently have had a backdoor into the town for a long time. Tristan, do you think it would be possible to prevent the door from opening? Lock it behind us, so to speak? We have another tunnel to check, but I don't like the idea of reinforcements coming in behind us..."
Tristan shrugs. "I can try, but it's hard to keep out vermin."
Disable Device:
After a few minutes of fiddling, Tristan is forced to admit he doesn't have any idea how to seal the door up in a way that will actually keep it sealed.
Then before we go back into the tunnel, I'll glance up and down the beach, to see if there's any more goblins around.
Perception
Lamsfel looks at the others. "Perhaps I'm jumping at shadows. We could stack material from the basement to block the door from opening to make it difficult - or to create noise for us to hear in case someone tries to sneak in here. What do you think?"
Lamsfel looks at the others. "Perhaps I'm jumping at shadows. We could stack material from the basement to block the door from opening to make it difficult - or to create noise for us to hear in case someone tries to sneak in here. What do you think?"
That is a wise decision, but we should perhaps wait until later. The longer we tarry here, the more time it gives the goblins to regroup and possibly get back and free Tsuto. I think we should hunt for the goblins, and quickly.
Lamsfel gives the older Tian a slight bow, replying "You are correct. We cannot hope to prevent everything and we have a known threat that could yet be down here with us. Let's check out that other tunnel."
The second tunnel extends as far from the intersection as the original tunnel did from the basement, curving in a slow arc from east to southeast before ending in what looks at first like a blank wall. Your previous experience with the other tunnel, however, allows you to quickly find and open the hidden door here as well, revealing a muddy cave - only about four feet high at the entrance and perhaps fifteen feet wide - with dark brown river water in lieu of a floor. A ancient, rotting rowboat is tied to a rock just beneath the hidden door, bobbing in the small eddies. Brackish water and slimy mud fills the bottom of the boat, but it seems to be generally riverworthy.
"Well. I certainly didn't expect to find a river down here."
Looking at the others, he says, "Now what?"
Not quite the vessel I be used to.
The river, I assume, runs in the direction toward the coast? How swift does the current seem? Are there oars in the boat? Any obvious way out besides upstream/downstream?
"It would appear that, rather than cornering and killing the vermin, we have only found two more ways for them to enter the town."
Looking at the others, "I'm not sure we gain anything down here. Maybe we should return topside and see about getting someone to block this tunnel once more."
Something tugs at Tybus' memory, and a puzzle piece may just be falling into place.
Does this river go past the wall against the church's graveyard?
He'll start to look for signs of dirt clumps in and around the rowboat and its landing. Is the rowboat big enough for a rower and a man-sized coffin?
The boat does not seem to have been used recently - the amount of accumulated mud and water speaks of years of abandonment, not mere days.
Wait. This boat hadn't been used in a year or more. Okay, so no luck in finding out what happened to the priest's body.
Turning back to the tunnel, he'll look to Ameiko. Were you aware of this little dock? Or the passage to the coast? These seem like smuggler's tunnels.
"No," Ameiko says, looking flabbergasted. "I had no idea. I mean, the Sczarni have been rumored to be doing smuggling in the area for years, but this...? And... it would have had to have been with my father's knowledge, wouldn't it?" She looks horrified at the thought.
Wait, wait. Sczarni? That explains it. Look here, these tunnels haven't been in use for a long time. Elsewise, we'd be fighting smugglers, not goblins through these tunnels. They wouldn't let the little buggers near.
Tybus reaches out and touches Ameiko's arm to reassure her.
Looksie, I'm from Riddleport, and there's not a ship that sets sail that don't have some smuggled cargo that the captain don't know about. It's the way it is. Just the fact that these tunnels be under your father's business doesn't mean he was in on it. More like, he found out about it and shut it down. Looks like they haven't been in use 'till just recently, and only by the goblins.
Tristan pounds his fist into the wall in frustration. "So this is how it ends? Are we going to let them get away with this?" He looks pleadingly at the sharper minds than his, clearly out of his depth.
Ameiko shakes her head reassuringly at Tristan. "Tsuto said the goblins and his 'friends,' whoever they are, are headquartered out at Thistletop. I... don't know for sure where that is, but I'm sure Shalelu does. And I bet Tsuto has more information to share, if we can get it out of him."
"Tybus is right - the tunnels were walled off in the basement. I would not be surprised that your father was aware of the tunnels, but someone took the time to close them off. Regardless of their motivation, it seems the most likely person to close them would indeed be your father. At the very least, they remained sealed with his blessing, I'm sure.
For now, however, the wall is gone. Would you object to asking if a guardsman or two couldn't be stationed in your basement to keep an eye on the tunnels until we can get them sealed again?
As for your brother, I am willing to respect your wishes, at least to a point, so how do you want us to proceed? Take him directly to the jail and let the sheriff find out what he knows? Or question him here first? One thing I do know, if he's going to deal with goblins, we cannot let him go free." Looking around, he asks, "Or is there an alternative that sounds better than either of those?"
The older man hesitates, seeming to grow even more tired and smaller, but finally speaks up:
The price of knowledge from the Faceless One is high. By communing with him I have seen...disturbing things, things I would not wish any of you to see. But this attack on the town, collusion with goblins, hidden entrances--all threaten the good people of Sandpoint. I can bring to bear the terrible visage of the Faceless One down upon Tsuto, and he WILL tell me all he knows. I only need a day to gather my power. It will not be...pleasant for Tsuto, but I daresay it is better than he deserves. My lady, will you consent to this?
He bows in deference to Ameiko.
"We definitely need to arrange for guards in the basement," Ameiko agrees. "As for Tsuto... with all he's done, I imagine he'll wind up in a hangman's noose in Magnimar." It is difficult, if not impossible, to tell how she feels about that. "I suppose we should get that process started. Gan, if you can get something out of him with your spell... I don't want to know what is involved, but we need to know what he knows." Ameiko looks disturbed by the implications, but her voice and expression are firm.
Lamsfel looks at the older man appraisingly. "Sounds like you have a plan. I don't see any reason to delay reporting this to the guards, so I think I will head that way. I think we need to keep some muscle here to protect Gan, however, if his gift doesn't work out as hoped. Sound good?"
Looking at Ameiko, he adds, "I don't know if you want to be present or not, but it might be best if you returned to the Rusty Dragon. Marcelina and I could accompany you, if you prefer. I can go by the sheriff after that."
With a sly look, he turns to Gan, "Actually, that might work in our favor, Lady Ameiko not being there. You might be able to get some information out of him if he thinks he accidentally killed his sister..."
I have never been one for deceit, and he will see right through me if I try to lie to him. No, our meeting will be one of truth, and pain if he defies me.
Ameiko, perhaps you can decipher this journal for us? It might give us some insight into Tsuto's motivations. Though I can be persuasive, I will only get two questions to ask Tsuto. Any input you have is much appreciated.
"Whether you try to fool him or not, I... don't think I want to be around for your questions," Ameiko says, looking away for a moment. "There's no need to have all of you escort me, however. If you insist, I'm sure Marcelia's company will be more than enough to protect me." After a moment, she starts in an apparent realization. "Wait, did you say you found Tsuto's journal? I had assumed he'd left it at Thistletop, or wherever he's been staying. I, uh, I would be happy to look through it for you in case there is useful information."
Why the sudden change of attitude, I wonder? What does she expect to find in the journal?
"Yes, let's review the journal while those three," indicating Gan, Tristan, and Tybus, "find out what your brother can reveal."
"Yes, let's review the journal while those three," indicating Gan, Tristan, and Tybus, "find out what your brother can reveal."
Ameiko bites her lip for a moment before nodding. "All right then." She takes a deep breath before turning away from the river cave and leading the way back up the passage.
When you return to the Glassworks' basement, you find all as you left it - Tsuto is still unconscious in the locked storeroom, and any worries you might have had about goblins slipping in behind appear to have been unfounded. You collect the half-elf's limp and bound form, then make your way back up to the ground floor and outside.
Once out there, you are confronted with a surprising scene. A small crowd has gathered outside the Glassworks, including a couple members of the town's militia. Bethana is with them, looking frightened, but she lets out a huge sigh of relief when Ameiko steps uncertainly out into the morning sunlight. "What's going on?" asks one of the guards, stepping forward. "Bethana said something had happened here, but she wouldn't tell us what, and we haven't been able to contact old man Kaijitsu to get permission to enter. Who's that you've got with you?"
Ameiko opens her mouth as though she is about to respond, but suddenly shakes her head, looking helplessly toward the rest of you. "I... I can't do this. I'm sorry," she says, tears rolling down her face, before pushing her way through the crowd. A stricken Bethana runs after her, and with only a little less hesitation, Marcelina does as well, leaving the rest of you to face the inquiring stares of the guards.
Lamsfel starts to try to stop Ameiko, but decides it's better to let her go. Bethana will be better company for her at the moment, anyway.
"We were actually our way to the guardhouse to inform you of what's transpired and to see if the militia could provide a couple of guards for the building. It will take a while to share what we know, so I believe would be better to discuss it at the guardhouse. This one," he indicates Tsuto, "attacked us and we think he might have information regarding what was going on."
Looking between the two militiamen, the elf asks, "Which of you is in charge? In lieu of permission from Master Kijitsu, I will show you what happened. As an old friend of the family, I will take responsibility if he disapproves of your coming into the Glassworks."
One of the guards steps forward, offering a small bow - more like a large nod of the head, actually - and follows Lamsfel back into the Glassworks. He... doesn't take it very well, but when the bout of wretching is dealt with, he agrees to get the rest of the regular members of the town watch in to get the cleanup started and to guard the tunnels. Looking a little green when he re-emerges, he nonetheless manages to give the appropriate instructions to his subordinate, who hurries off to find the rest of the guard, before turning back to you. "You can take him to the Garrison," the guardsman says. "The jail's in the basement, and they'll know you're coming. Hopefully the Sheriff'll be back in a couple days, and we can get this piece of trash the justice he deserves."
As they enter the back door but before they can see the horror, Lamsfel stops the guard to give the man a little time to prepare as well as come clean on the parts of the story he carefully avoided sharing in front of the crowd - who Tsuto is, why Ameiko's father won't be concerned with Lamsfel bringing him in, etc. As well as a warning about how bad the next room really is...
Then I think we haul Tsuto to the garrison and collectively review the journal, probably at the garrison to keep prying eyes away.
Good idea. If Gan needs a day to ready his magics, we can use that time to study the journal and ready our questions. Let's have a look at what he's wrote.
Tristan looks grimly at Gan. "I hope that your method of interrogation involves a lot of pain. But let's see what's in his diary. Let's wipe out this den of evil once and for all." His hands drum nervously on his sides.