Thaddeus nods, "Although I would be very interested at another time to pick your brain about this Thassilon Empire and these Runelords, I will have to agree with Scoria that the pool is a great concern in how to deal with it most efficaciously." Thaddeus thinks he just may have to sit and discuss history with this sage, as he only really knows that which relates to his religion.
The sage continues on,"I would not advise any hasty actions with the item in the room, all of the Runelords were archmages, we must take care in dealing with this."
"I need an escort back to my home, I need to look up a few things before I can complete my analysis. "
Thaddeus is interested in this man's knowledge, and hopes that time spent with him will allow him to learn more. "It would be my pleasure to escort you back home. Unless anyone else has issue with this?" he asks the others, courtesy often at the fore of his interactions.
"I'd just as soon all of us go. I've no real desire to remain down here with that distant baying. I'd like to make sure Ameiko is ok back at the Rusty Dragon as well."
Notick clears his throat before speaking. "Should this place be kept under guard, Brodert? Or do we really need to worry about anything?"
"I don't think it will be an issue to leave the pool unguarded for a short bit of time. Somebody would have to know how to activate it. And it sounds like you and your companions cleared this place out."
After returning home the sage escorts all of you to the kitchen and offers you all food and drink. Then announces that he is going into his study to figure out what the pool is.
"It looks like the only entry is through the Glassworks. If we seal that for now, we can claim it's just because of what happened here. Keeping the site safe until the Sheriff returns. which is not a bad idea, either."
She looks over at Khrondak.
Not to say we shouldn't check it out, just...what we were looking for isn't here. We need to find this - Nualia - person before things get worse. At the very least she needs to be charged with her crimes, if in fact, she committed them and isn't some hallucination of poor, mad Tsuto's."
"Other people in town know Nualia, like... <ahem> Shayliss, so I don't think she's some hallucination of your cousin's, Midori. I do think she and the goblins are our most imminent threat at this point though. I think we should strike out for Thistletop as soon as we can and maybe can stop any further bloodshed."
"I actually meant that perhaps he was hallucinating she's still alive and ordering him to do all of this. Still, yes, Thistletop should be our next stop. we know that, whatever the truth is, that place is involved."
Notick scrunches his nose, not wanting to be the one who opens the can of worms, but his personality doesn't allow him to withhold his thoughts. "
"Am I the only one who's more than concerned at why the Glassworks building was built upon an ancient Runelords shrine?" He rubs the tip of his nose with his index finger, "This issue has to have been started before Nualia - her father, the priest within the catacombs that were sacked by the goblins, and her mysterious dead/not death, leave an entire hole in the story. It's hard to find the best course of action when there is such a massive void in the information that we have!" He move the hand from his nose to his forehead, rubbing it gingerly as his mind races in thought. "This has to have a history deeper than her and Ameiko's brother. Why did your Uncle build this building Midori?! Or did he acquire it from someone else?"
"Uncle didn't build it. His father...or, rather, his grandfather, who was the first to come here from Minkai, was one of the founders of the town and built the Glassworks then, I believe. Ameiko said her grandfather vanished when he went with others to start a branch of the Glassworks somewhere in the north of Varisia. But, this site has always been sacred to the native Varisian culture...something about a link to the pillars of Desna's temple."
"I got the impression from Ameiko that Sandpoint wasn't even that old, just a few generations really. I would imagine those tunnels we were just in are much, much older. I've never heard of anything like a 'Runelord' before either. Are people like that still around?"
"The Runelords ruled over ancient Thassilon, the empire that ruled over much of Varisia and the surrounding countries - almost all of Western Avistan, if I recall correctly," Scoria speaks up, more than a little tired. She feels at least more secure over leaving the magic pool now that they were sure it wouldn't spontaneously spout off more of those things. "There were seven of them - all of them powerful mages, each focused on one school of Sin magic. But Thassilon hasn't existed for thousands of years - all that is left are the ruins around Varisia. Like the Irespan in Magnimar. It is not all that unusual a town could be founded close to an undiscovered Thassilonian ruin."
She has herself a small helping of the offered food and drink in order not to be rude, before standing up. "I will go and rest now. Please come and call on me when you need my assistance further," She tells them, nodding and leaving to retire for the evening, trying to think of anything else of importance about Thassilon she can recall.
As Notick expounds on what they've encountered, Thaddeus corrects where he sees discrepancies. "This has been a busy couple of days and I'm sure we are all a little tired, but more on point, I do not believe the glassworks was built atop the shrine. Remember we walked some distance before we hit the branching tunnels, then went a little further to the shrine. The priest's body was recently stolen, and the other person believed to have died with him isn't dead. From what I gather of these runelords, almost all of Varisia is built upon lands where they once existed. Who knows what ancient relics could be found where. I think it is purely coincidental that Sandpoint was built in a place they once inhabited."
------------
Thaddeus thanks Brodert for the food and drink, before asking "Mister Quink, do you mind terribly if I join you in your studies? I have spent much of my youth in study, and would like to learn much more of these Runelords."
Brodert accepts Thaddeus's request to help. He begins to pour through old tomes in his study. Occasionally he asks Thaddeus to fetch books for him on higher shelves and to help him cross reference his notes.
After a few hours, he looks up from a musty old book called Paradigms of Artifacts and their Applications, "I think I have a solution."
He then continues, "We have discovered a minor runewell that was used to harness wrath of sentient creatures in the area. And it has the ability to create a creature called a "Sinspawn" when it has stored enough wrath. Which as you know is one of the sins of the world. The way to destroy it is to pour boiling holy water in it. Luckily this was a minor one, much easier to destroy."
As Thaddeus and Brodert settle in for what looks to be some considerable research, Bel'Tanis scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "I don't know how much help I'd wind up being with this. If you two don't need anything, maybe I'll head back to the Dragon and check in with Ameiko." He looks to Midori and then to Khrondak, "Were either of you planning on staying here? If you'd like to head back to Ameiko's I'll happily wait for you."
Khrondak heeds Bel'Tanis' words.
"Yes, Bel'Tanis, I will return to the Rusty Dragon with you." Before leaving, he turns to Thaddeus and Brodert and says "When the morning comes, I shall provide the holy water to destroy the spawning pool. Good night."
Day 5, 26th of Rova
Khrondak rises very early in the morning and makes his daily prayers outside the inn before heading to breakfast. He asks the kitchen maiden for a bottle of water and proceeds to turn it into holy water. As he is about to head out, he considers having someone go with him. He remembers his prior adventures and the general lack of enthusiasm for solo missions, and decides to summon the only one he thinks will take on any enterprise along his side.
Walking up to Notick’s door, he knocks firmly, speaking in a thunderous voice “Notick, I am heading back to the runewell to destroy it for good. I call on you to join me, if you so desire.” He then considers calling the others, too; although not very inclined to do so, he goes on knocking on their doors with a similar message.
Accompanied by whomever answers his call, Khrondak goes to the ancient Thassilonan ruins and heads into the tunnels. Upon reaching the spawning pool, he uncorks the bottle and, praying to his ancestors, slowly pours the holy water into the runewell, causing its waters to swirl and bubble as its magic is ruined. Once the water becomes still again, he returns to the Rusty Dragon to meet the rest of the group. It is still morning.
Bel'Tanis stop Khrondak from pouring the water in. "Uh, Iron Forged? I think Brodert said the water had to be holy and boiling. Shouldn't we heat it up first?"
"You are correct, Bel'Tanis. A good thing you've chosen to come."
Upon reaching the spawning pool, Khrondak lights a fire and places the bottle in it, waiting for the water to boil. He pulls the bottle from the fire with his bare hand, burning his palm, and prays to his ancestors as he slowly pours the holy water into the runewell. The pool's waters swirl and bubble as its magic is ruined.
Being already up for his morning invocations, Thaddeus sees the others heading toward the runewell to dispatch it. Comfortable in the capability of the group, and that Mr. Quink made it sound a simple procedure, he decided to stay and once again delve into trying to figure out the powers of the robe.
Midori goes to the Runewell to observe, still somewhat annoyed that Notick seems to want to blame her family for everything.
"You are correct, Bel'Tanis. A good thing you've chosen to come."
Upon reaching the spawning pool, Khrondak lights a fire and places the bottle in it, waiting for the water to boil. He pulls the bottle from the fire with his bare hand, burning his palm, and prays to his ancestors as he slowly pours the holy water into the runewell. The pool's waters swirl and bubble as its magic is ruined.
** spoiler omitted **
Notick opens his door after the rapping on his door, already well awake from his rest and morning studies. He nods with a sly grin toward Khrondak, answering his question with actions and not words. He follows the man towards the planned event for the day, watching with utmost curiosity as he performs the ritual.
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Midori removes her disguise.
Scoria doesn't bother with coming to see the Runewell's destruction for herself - she's trusting in the shaman's capability to destroy it. Performing her morning exercises, she meditates on the upcoming task of finally thwarting the goblin threat at Thistletop. She would prefer to leave it to the profession guardsmen. One would not hire a sculptor to do the work of a mason, after all.
Still, in this particular instant, they were the most informed. If they managed to properly prepare themselves, they had the best chance of stopping this Nualia. So for this at least, she would follow. Though she did have an idea for the plan to start them off at least.
Heading to the Rusty Dragon once she is finished, the monk seats herself in a meditative stance, waiting for the arrival of the rest of the group, once they had finished with the runewell. She wondered if Thaddeus would keep its existence a secret from the public. She would not speak on it otherwise until she knew.
As he emerges from the Glassworks with Khrondak, Midori, and Notick, Bel'Tanis finds himself laughing alongside the half-elf, enjoying the recounted (and no doubt exaggerated) prank. "I would have never thought to move a bee hive with mage hand like that, but into his boot?! Notick, that's both wonderful and terrible at the same time!"
At the Rusty Dragon
The front door opens, spilling the warm light of the morning into the still relatively quiet main room of the Dragon. Bel'Tanis enters, an equally warm smile on his face. Seeing Scoria, he hurries over. "Scoria! You should have seen it! Iron-forged set the bottle over a fire and then just poured it in, bare-handed! It was quite a sight!" He waves the other three over, then nods and smiles brightly at Ameiko across the room. Turning back to his companions he continues, "So what should we do next? I'm not eager for a showdown with Nualia, but it feels inevitable at this point. What do you guys think?"
Thaddeus enters the common room after spending his morning trying once again to get a handle on what exactly is going on with the robe they found in the old priests tomb.
Peacefully eating his meal as the stonemason maintains her inner calm, he brightens somewhat as Bel'Tanis enters with the others and asks what their next step is to be.
"Here is how I see things. The tunnels were to be used as a means to attack the city. The pool, was to provide extra assistance, and Tsuto access through his fathers building. Without him, those particular attacks my not be organized, but there is still the pressure of the tribe and Nualia to see misfortune brought to the town. We know where the enemy lairs, Thistletop, but we do not know if they know we are aware of their plans. It almost looks as if we may have the upper hand if we organize a first strike response. Hitting them when they are not expecting preemptive retaliation for their efforts, just may give us an advantage over them. In summation, I firmly believe that our best option may be to strike at Thistletop, and nip any future attacks on Sandpoint in the bud."
He looks around at the others, and in expectation of agreement asks, "What preparations, if any, do you all think we should make before we go?" He stops on Scoria, as she has been well voiced in offering options for how they may proceed.
"We have already scouted out the entrance. A thick bramble prevents us from proceeding through except through the door that we found," Scoria comments on what they have already discovered. "However, we should learn from the previous day's excursion as to what we need. Specifically," She looks at the men at the table. "Bows and crossbows. It does not matter how well you fight with the sword if you cannot reach your foe. Restorative potions and scrolls should also be taken. We should also procure several barrels of lamp oil in case we need to burn the overgrowth down along with the goblins."
She thinks back long and hard to her childhood, back to those days as a tagalong for her father, on those moments where he would join up with adventurers. "Rope will be useful. Rope is always useful. So everyone should carry some with them. Anything else I believe is up to the discretion of the individual based on their talents." Scoria says, looking over at Bel'Tanis.
"Also, as Nualia is an aasimar like you, I would ask that you divulge any strengths or weaknesses of the race to us for our confrontation." She bluntly asks him, before correctly herself. "I am sorry, that must have sounded harsher than I meant it to be."
Bel'Tanis laughs as Scoria apologizes, smiling and waving it away. "You're right in that did sound a little, well, stony, but I understood your meaning. Sadly you overestimate my knowledge. I've known I was different for years and years, but I didn't discover why until I arrived here in Sandpoint. I know as much about 'my kind' as the rest of you. For instance, I can do this..."
Bel'Tanis' skin begins to glow from the inside, a soft, gentle radiance that quickly intensifies. He then leans forward and touches a pitcher in the center of the table. The glow seems to bleed from his finger into the pitcher, which then shines brilliantly atop the table.
He shrugs, his skin returned to normal but the pitcher continuing to shed a bright light, "Can any aasimar do that? Can Nualia? I have no idea."
Scoria squints her eyes at the brilliantly bright pitcher. "It appears to be something of a common point between plane-touched - I too have access to a supernatural power. You all saw me demonstrate it against the quasit. For some reason though, I can only use it once a day. It is what you might call a 'trump card'," She informs them, looking back over at Bel'Tanis. "In any case, we should assume that Nualia has some forms of magic available to her - so we might consider preparing to counter what magic she may use against us. But that is beyond my area of expertise," She states as she looks over at the others.
"I suggest taking a day or two to prepare before making our assault. That will give us enough time to prepare - perhaps interrogate Tsuto further and see what he knows about Thistletop." The mason makes the point, looking at Midori - she might have the better luck with that endeavor. They would also need to wait to purchase items until Ameiko liquified their loot from the ruins.
"Perhaps someone should speak to Shalelu as well - learn more about the goblins. And I think that someone should look into Lamashtu and see if there's any link between her and Nualia taking her father's remains - if there is a particular ritual. I suppose the rest of us should...do whatever else we feel is necessary." She looks back over to Thaddeus.
"However, these are only my opinions. The decisions are yours to make, sergeant. Whatever you order, I will follow." Personally, she wanted to spent a little more time with Bel'Tanis - a odd realization, but she felt a slight kinship with her fellow plane-touched comrade.
Emerging from the Glassworks...
The young half-elf shrugs with a grin, and a chuckle as Bel'Tanis comments on his shenanigans. "Vito is a sour puss - he needed the livelihood added to his daily routine! I couldn't help it that he turned out to actually be allergic to bee's!" He laughs heartily with the Aasimar.
At the Rusty Dragon...
Notick's demeanor changes once they hit the Rusty Dragon, he puts his proverbial mask back on, having to keep up appearances to fool his Uncle and his lackey's. More so, he looks around nervously to ensure his imminent safety, however he still follows the crew to the Stonemason and the Sergeant. After listening to their input, and quite a few smirks and snickering laughs from Bel'Tanis's lighthearted return banter with the Stonewoman, he nods in agreement with the Stonemason. "Fire might be the best mechanism as a fail-safe against the cockroaches. We should speak with Tsuto more, though, to see what he knows about the Thistletop. He may know some specific information, such as a way in? Especially if he and the priest's daughter had to travel there to setup their 'plans'." After a brief pause and quick contemplation, he add's "He may also have some idea to what sort of numbers we're looking at running into, as well as specific specialties of some of the Goblygooks."
"I agree. Tsuto possesses knowledge that will aid us in battle. We should get it out of him", Khrondak says with fiery eyes.
He then looks at Scoria. "I can speak to the local priests about Lamashtu. It will be wise to learn more about my Lord's enemy. After that, we should take our gold and equip ourselves. How much do we have?"
Scoria shrugs her shoulders. “I am unsure what we will have available. I assumed any treasures we did not claim for ourselves were liquidated by Ameiko. I am unsuited for interrogations, so I will wait here.” She turns to Bel'tanis, staring at him somewhat intensely.
“We should inquire at the church to see what they might tell us about Lamashtu and Nualia. Let us go,” she tells the aasimar as she stands. The smaller stone woman grasps onto his wrist gently with her strength, attempting to whisk him away before any could argue otherwise. She justified it with the thought that he would want to learn more about his fellow aasimars. It wasn't that she just wanted to spend time alone with the man. She had a legitimate reason to go to the church with him after all.
You arrive at the town garrison to interrogate Tsuto.
Heading directly to the lower level where the town jail is located. Sitting at the guard station is a large burly man in the livery of Sandpoint.
He looks up from at the party as you enter, "Hey what are doing down here, this area is restricted."
"We are here to break words with the one called Tsuto. Let us through, now", Khrondak demands bluntly.
Thaddeus explains real quick to the group assembled what he discovered about the used up robe of bones, before he agrees that questioning Tsuto would most likely yield some useful information.
As they arrive, and are questioned on their presence, he steps forward to speak after Khrondak's hasty response. "Excuse us, let me clarify that the majority of us are acting as deputies for Sherriff Hemlock during his absence. Those not deputized, specifically Iron-forged here, are working with us to investigate possible threats to the community. He is correct, though, we are indeed here to speak with the prisoner Tsuto that was brought by us recently."
The large gaoler starts to size up Khrondak, but then turns his attention to Thaddeus once he starts to speak.
"Oh your Thaddeus, the Sheriffs new right hand man. The name is Thom. Been workin' the jail goin' on baker's dozen years now."
"Of course you can talk to the little worm, hes just come out of his drunkin' stupor. Good thing you came over when you did, we have sent a messenger to Magnimar for the Justices to come up and try him. Gonna be hangin' high soon or get the axe, me reckon."
Thom opens the stout wood door reinforced with iron to a row of cells beyond.
"He is in the last cell on the right, follow me."
He escorts the party to the cell and opens the door, "Wake up you little worm, you got company."
Notick hides his face by rubbing his forehead, doing his best to shadow behind Thaddeus so that the man can't really notice him. He does his best to keep himself away from his direct attention.
"Well, cousin, what has your so-called lover gotten you into?"
Bel'Tanis' eyes widen slightly in mild surprise as Scoria grabs his arm, but he smiles warmly in response. "I'm eager to hear what Father Zantus might be able to share with us too, Scoria, but don't you want to hear what Tsuto has to say? Why don't we all visit him together and then you and I can stop by the church afterward?"
Bel'Tanis' face darkens as he listens to Thom speak so harshly to Tsuto, but he remains quiet otherwise. He watches with bright steely eyes as Midori addresses her cousin, and a faint look of concern briefly washes over his face as he imagines what this must be like for her.
Her own cousin... it must be hard.
Scoria pauses at what Bel'tanis has to say, before nodding. "Of course. That is acceptable," She tells him, lingering briefly on holding onto his arm before letting go. She goes along with the rest of the party to see Tsuto for now.
The stonemason lingers in the back, letting the more personable people question the half-elf man. She doesn't think that she has anything to offer in interrogation. She stays next to Bel'Tanis, arms crossed over her chest and observing, at least attempting to read the man closely.
Tsuto sits up on the dirty straw mat.
"Cousin Midori you have no idea the power she will bring into this world. It will be a dawn of a new age. I love her!"
After hearing Tsuto's reply, Thom bellows out a hearty laugh. "Yeah this little worm is crazy, well not much longer anyway."
"Enlighten us, then", Khrondak says agressively between his teeth.
Bel'Tanis watches silently, the torchlight reflecting brightly in his eyes.