Thistletop PFS

Game Master Shalm

You have all been summoned to the Rusty Dragon in Sandpoint by venture-captain Sheila Heidmarch, who traveled into the town from Magnimar.

"Pathfinders, we don't have much time. As you know, a group of goblins from many of the tribes around this area recently attacked Sandpoint. Also, in a connected crime, the owner of this tavern, Ameiko Kaijitsu, was kidnapped. She has been found, but the clues from that attack point directly at the goblins in Thistletop, and more importantly, a woman who has set up camp there. This woman has much more insidious designs, and must be found and stopped before she can carry through her plan. We need your help."

Saki strides into the tavern behind Sheila, careful to keep her glaive from bumping on the door frame as she enters. The Tian-Min woman stands out quite significantly from the usual clientele of the place, not only because of her ethnicity but because of her intricately-decorated plate armor and graceful, considered movements. She smiles at the venture-captain and the rest of the group, bobbing her head ever so slightly in greeting as she silently listens to the mission briefing.

"Who is this woman in Thistletop, venture-captain? What exactly is the 'plan' you mentioned?" Saki asks during a break in the conversation, a noticeable twinge of an accent about her Taldane. "Is she in control of a goblin tribe?"

A tall, imposing figure instinctively checks his weapons as the Venture Captain speaks. Gregor has some recent experience with a handful of goblins and has grown to dislike the creatures immensely. He is pleased with Saki's questions; all to often agents are used as pawns in these games. Not that Gregor didn't expect being a pawn every now and again when he joined the Society...but he'd rather be a well informed pawn than rush into a dangerous situation blindly.

A large and greenish half orc sits on a way to small bar stool Listening to the venture captain. He looks like a school boy in class waiting on the bell. His patience speaks of the number of this kind of briefing he has sat through. His armor is a strange lamellar of bone and horn that might look familiar to Saki. His eyes on Sheila Heidmarch, he absentmindedly reaches down and scratches a small but obviously carnivorous reptile on the head. The reptiles coos and nuzzels his hand. They took Ameiko? Damn goblins!

When the venture captain finishes her talk and people begin to ask questions he adds I too have recently had to deal with Golbins; an entire guild of them. Goblins are chaotic. If goblins from many of the tribes around this area are suddenly working together then some new element of leadership has entered the local picture. Maybe this woman, but that does not sound like goblins to me. I'd speak with Ameiko and hear her story. He adds. And what can you tell us about that place - Thissletop?

After returning a polite nod to Saki, Aiden listens carefully to what the Venture-Captain has to say. His tall athletic body, covered in comfortable, well-tailored clothes, sits with perfect posture. A single, relatively simple gold signet ring sits on his right hand. His mint and rosemary aftershave brings a pleasant smell about the room. He is careful not to spill the hot cup of coffee he drinks. As she speaks of the treacherous news, Aiden lets out an audible scoff of disgust.

After Sheila and his team have finished speaking their thoughts, careful not to interrupt anyone, Aiden sets his cup down and slams his fist on the counter.

"I agree with you, Vermin. Goblins be damned! No thanks to that bard's tale of Licktoads, goblins have been invading my dreams. If that wasn't bad enough, now they invade my reality. I'll be happy to bring these nasty, little, knee-biting culprits to justice...along with anyone who conspires with them, Mam. Please tell us more about this would-be vile woman.

Vermin looks to the cleric in the group. You are quite Myrielle. What are your thoughts?

Leaning up against the bar, Myrielle's face was set in its typical disapproving frown before the venture-captain's brief prep talk is completed. "More goblins," she grumbles to herself, but loud enough for the others to hear. "Wonderful."

As the others spoke, she seemed to only half-listen, choosing instead to fuss with her fashionable clothing and exquisitely inscribed and gilded breastplate. She did not smile back at Saki, but merely nodded in response.

When the half-orc addressed her, Myrielle's attention shifted to him, her frown deepening. "What I think," she responds blandly "is that we need more information before we proceed. Mucking about in the woods is miserable enough work, and to cavort in unprepared only makes it less palatable." With that she glances back at the venture-captain. "I concur with the others. What information do you have regarding this woman, and what about this so-called 'plan' of hers?"

The Venture-Captain looks at you intently, and continues in a hushed voice.

"We must keep the identity of the woman quiet—she was a former citizen of this town, and we don't want those who knew her to cause any trouble. Her name is Nualia Tobyn, and she was raised here in Sandpoint. From what I've gathered, she has some angelic blood in her, and it made her quite the sideshow as she was growing up.

"When the Sandpoint Cathedral burned down five years ago, it was presumed that she died in the fire, since she lived there with her foster father, the local priest. But now it seems as though this might not be the case.

"A group of local heroes, when rescuing Ameiko, found information reguarding Nualia and her plans. It seems as though she somehow escaped the fire, but has turned down an evil path. She desires to become a demon—for what reason I am unsure—and she plans to burn down Sandpoint as a final burnt offering to achieve this end. She has currently made her base at Thistletop, and has somehow garnered the support of the goblins there.

"If you follow the Long Coast Road east, you should be able to reach Thistletop in two hours or so. Again, time is of the essence—we do not know when Nualia is planning to strike, but we cannot let that happen."

Again, I would like to speak to Ameiko and here her story before we begin. Can you tell us the deity worshiped at this cathedral, and is the good priest still alive? If we could talk to some people who knew Nualia they might be able to share her background with us. Is she a sorcerer? Does she call upon divine powers? If you do not know maybe someone that knew her does.

"I agree that a quick bit of homework on Nualia would be prudent. However, as we do not know the timeline for this deranged heretic's plan of arson, any research we conduct must be as quick as possible."

Agreed Aiden. Turning back to the venture captain Vermin asks. I had also asked about Thissletop. What can you tell us of the history of this place?

Oh, an aspiring demon. How lovely. Myrielle sighed in disgust, pushing herself up from the bar to make to the door. "Tempting as it may be to ask about this Nualia, going about town would go against the notion of us going about this quietly. Asking about someone who's been presumed to be dead for, what, five years? I'd certainly be suspicious."

"Ameiko was lured to the Glassworks owned by her family by her brother, and then knocked out and imprisoned there—she has already been debriefed, and knows little other than that her brother was working with Nualia.

"As for Thistletop itself, we know little of the site. It is ancient, and as far as we can tell was probably utilized by Karzoug the Claimer, one of the Runelords of Ancient Thassilon. But tat was thousands of years ago. For the last few centuries, it has been the most coveted landholding among the goblins of this area.

"Thistletop is located here on the Varisian coast, about 60 feet off the coast. It is connected to land by a rope bridge, which seems the best way to access the site, since Thistletop sits high atop sea cliffs that would be treacherous to climb.

The paladin sighs.

"I suppose Myrielle is right. Any poking about the town of Nualia would indeed raise some eyebrows.

Aiden aks the Venture-Captain

"And I assume you have given us what all knowledge you gained from these adventurers, right, Mam? If so, we might as well be on our way down the road. The faster we stop her, the better."

With the most current statement of the Venture-Captain, Aiden goes to his room in the Rusty Dragon, puts on his gear and quickly returns to the common room.

"I'm ready to set out. Waiting on you all."

Vermin nods to the venture captain as she answers his questions. I see. I had though that if Ameiko had been taken to this Thissletop she might have intel for us. Since she was never there we do not need to talk to her. I too am ready to set out.

"This seems like a mission we'll have to tackle head-on. Unfortunate, but so it shall be. With luck we can speak to Ms. Tobyn and encourage her to surrender. After being assumed dead for so many years, I'm sure that there are many here in Sandpoint that would be delighted to see her again." Saki grimaces. "Although it makes our mission somewhat simpler if she will not accept the rose extended to her."

"Two final questions before we leave, venture-captain. You mentioned Ms. Kaijitsu's brother is working with Ms. Tobyn. What is his name? And do you think he is in Thistletop as well?"

After listening to Sheila's response, Saki bows lightly to the woman before turning back to the group. "I'm ready to leave whenever suits."

The venture-captain looks grim when answering Saki.

"I said her brother was working with Tobyn. He died in his efforts, and is no longer a problem."

Before Aiden can grab his backpack and set out down the road, an elderly, finely dressed man with white hair and beard walks in and tells Aiden:

"Boy, you have been summoned to Magnimar. There is urgent news about your mother. No time to argue. I'm here to take your place in this mission. Now off with you."

Aiden, having been worried about his mother's health condition for some time, asks no questions and bolts out the door.

The elderly man looks at the group and says:

"Well...looks like you all are stuck with an old grouch now. I've seen that look from Ms. Sheila before. She's ready for us to leave. Come now, you all can fill me in on the way...wherever it is we are going."

With that, Ezren lets out a little laugh and steps out onto the porch and mumbles:

"I'm getting too old for this."

Aiden was needed in a local PFS game, so I took him out before we got started. Plus, I've rarely played a wizard.

Myrielle watched the... unexpected exchange, her eyebrows arching in curiosity. She was close to saying something, but the paladin was out the door before she could even open her mouth. All for the better, truthfully. Kind words were never Myrielle's forte.

After a moment of gazing in listless curiosity between both the now-vanished paladin and the old man who had come to take his place, she finally shrugged, once again making her way to the door. "Not much to say. Goblins. Mad scheme to acquire demonhood. They're hiding out in Thistletop, which isn't far from here."

Now out on the porch with the self-confessed grouch, she turned back to glare haughtily at her fellow Pathfinders. "Are we going? Or are we going to have to make this miserable trek through the woods at night on top of everything else?"

I like the woods. Not miserable to me... Vermin smiles a tusky smile at the cleric as he exits the building. Come Sparky.

Upon setting out, you follow the Lost Coast Road east. After about two hours, you find yourself in the Nettlewood, and tangled forest of trees and shrubs with thorns covering their branches.

Realizing the nature of the forest they are entering Vermin attempts to use his skill to lead the party through the worst of it. Understanding the importance of success he calls upon Gozreh for guidance.

Survival: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 1 = 30 Guidance included.

Ah, here is the path we should follow. Hmm. Wait. Look here. This smaller trail also leads to Thissletop and has been used by goblins recently. I suspect the other is likely trapped and watched. Lets us take the goblin track.

"I have no dealings with the woods or nature. I'll take your word on it. Lead on."

Seeing that the half-orc has far more expertise in the woods than she could ever hope to have, Saki simply follows his word, although keeps her glaive in hand just in case the goblin track is not as unguarded as first thought.

Perception while travelling the goblin trail: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Seeing that the party trusts his judgement, Vermin leads them forward. His perception to spot a trap, taking 10 is 26.

After traveling for a while, you notice that the briars and thistles that grow so rampantly in Nettlewood are even more dense and tangled here, close to the shore. Although not quite dense enough to block the sound of waves crashing on the unseen shores to the west, the undergrowth is certainly thick enough to block sight and access to the coast. Few trees grown this close to the edge of the sea, but the briars themselves often reach heights to rival them; here, the patch is nearly twenty feet high.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"Check this out...it's like a doorway! Gregor says as he lifts some briars.

"Keep your filthy woods," Myrielle grumbled in response. "I much prefer the comforts of civilization."

Beyond that, the cleric kept mostly quiet along the narrow path, aside from the exasperated sigh or snarl whenever she stumbled over a loose root or was snagged by some inconsequential entangling branches. UGH. How the half-orc could even tolerate such a place was beyond her.

But then again, she had to remind herself that he was not a well-bred Taldan, unlike her. CLEARLY, that was the reason behind it all.

Her grumbling escalated to soft curses the further they went along, the thickening brambles doing nothing to improve her mood. Or her hair. Empyreal Lords preserve her, she was going to be picking thorns out for days! As they approached the bramble wall, she glared at it with all the disdain and hate she could summon. Oh no! She was not...

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

... What was that? "A door?" Ah! The quiet Inquisitor saw it as well! "Well, that's a bit of luck, at least." Hopefully.

Vermin taps a 12 perception - Skill is +14, +16 on traps and secret doors.

Good eyes. he comments to those who see the door. Goblins are about. We are almost on their door step. Stay sharp.

Like, Myrielle, Ezren was mostly quiet along the journey as well - only to have the slightest giggle when she would trip or stub a toe...that is...until he fell down completely himself.

At that point, his mood dampened completely. The metaphorical glass went from half empty directly to empty. From then on, he joined with Myrielle in a quiet duet of whispered curses.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"Good. We're getting closer to this confounded place."

Saki smiles gently at the grumbling pair of Ezren and Myrielle, standing back as the group investigates the bramble-door. "Oh come now, you two! It's not so bad out here. Listen to the song of the waves crashing upon the beach, and enjoy the natural beauty of the wilderness while you can."

She peers in through the bramble-door over Gregor's shoulder as he lifts it open.

As you peer through the door, you see that a four-foot-high tunnel winds through the dense briars and nettles. The floor is hard-packed earth, with patches of wiry plants growing stubbornly here and there.

Large creatures cannot pass through these tunnels. Medium creatures are squeezing, which means you take a -4 on attacks and a -4 on AC. Small creatures walk just fine, as do those with abilities like Woodland Stride.

Here is the map of the area. As you move, let me know which square you want to move to. We aren't on initiative yet, though, so you don't have to act in any sort of order.

Vermin smiles at Saki's comment, obviously pleased.

I can lead Vermin offers. Perhaps there are clues in the trails in the dust I can read, and I might spot a trap though I like the skills to remove it. These tunnels will not slow me much as I am used to walking in wild places.

Vermin will move into the entry (P7) after casting Barkskin and Longstrider on himself. He will then look for both traps and tracks.

Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26 28 for traps and secret doors.

Do you need a map icon for Sparky?

Good call. Sparky has been added.

One thing I forgot to mention—all of the tunnels are considered difficult terrain for medium or larger creatures which don't have woodland stride.

Speaking quietly Vermin shares his observation with the group.

Many Golblin tracks everywhere, but something large was recently dragged this way. indicating the right most tunnel.

Gregor casts Detect Magic to see if there are any magical traps or residual magic from whatever was dragged through here.

"Well if this is our only way in we may have to suck it in and trudge forward. It might be a tad uncomfortable...but I'm sure we can manage."

Detect Magic reveals nothing in this area.

Looking back to the other, Vermin motions them forward adopting a slow pace to allow them to keep up. He will continue to look for traps. Since he is effective moving at half speed he will move and actively check for traps, taking 10 for a total of 26 perception.

Are you following the tracks of the large, dragged creature?

Yes. Sorry that was not clear. When you say large, do you mean larger than a goblin, like us, or game definition Large?

Larger than you. So game-definition large.

Wow - ok. down a 4' tunnel... That would take some squeezing and I'd think they would need a small army or a wagon. lol. Should be easy to follow. :)

"Well, now I might accept the complaints..." Saki says breezily as she follows Vermin into the bramble tunnels, crouching over and clanking slowly through the path. She has to stop often to untangle her polearm from the nettles or dislodge some thorns from her black hair. "Please let there not be any goblins in here..."

Vermin responds by pointing to the 10s if not 100s of goblin footy prints and shrugging.

"Seems I should put my armor on before heading into this twisted mess of weeds."

I will go ahead and cast mage armor on myself. Then move to R9.

Oh, right. Saki will remain 5 ft. behind Vermin and Sparky, wherever that leads her.

The tunnel you followed opens into a large cavelike chamber. Above, the thorny canopy grows thin enough that tiny slivers of the sky above can be seen, while below, the ground consists of trampled dirt. To the west, the distant sound of sloshing waves echoes up from a hole.

The large track leads off through the tunnel to the east.

Updated Map

Vermin surveys the large chamber, looking for threats, before proceeding.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

He ponders for a moment and notes Our mission may lie towards the waves but this track is compelling. Following the large track he heads East.

"It concerns me that-- goblins, assumedly-- could drag something so large through here," Saki says quietly, nervously looking around the wide bramble-cavern. "It's barely big enough for us to get through here. How could they move something even larger?"

Again, the paladin follows closely behind Vermin.