Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords

Game Master bluedove

Ameiko just seems in shock, but then that shock turns to anger. "Where is he? Where is my Tsuto?" she asks angrily.

Masdok points to the bound and unconscious Tsuto on the ground behind him.

Ameiko looks over to the body weakly, sighs scornfully, then turns her back on him. "He was the one that actually let the goblins in, not dad. I heard them talk about another one though, but they would always talk about the details away from my ears," she tells you.

"So, what should we do now? I suppose we should back up to the town. The Sheriff needs to know about this. But how did the goblins get in here? Should we be trying to find that out, or just leave it for the Sheriff to investigate?"

"Ah, fallowed them gobbi's for a long way. That tunnel could go for miles. We can seal up this end to stop any of them coming through until that Sheriff figures out how to handle it. Did ye find any thing on them that might help tell where they came from?"

"Take care of Ameiko. Grulyn, can you take Tsuto to the sheriff? I will keep watch over this tunnel until the sheriff can post a watch." damn sheriff, gonna be working with him again.

Suddenly he swears. "Damn sheriff is out of town. Well I'm sure he left a guard over the jail; we can stuff Tsuto in there and find a watch for the tunnel." He shakes his head. "And maybe we should pay this tunnel a visit before too long..."

(OOC: I just noticed Grulyn used the wrong character and it confused me for a minute).

As you wait, no goblins return to the corridor and you are about to head to the sherriff's office when Masdok reminds you he told you he was headed out of town. As for the jail, it is locked and no light shines from within.

Oops sorry

No worries, we should have one more joining us soon :)

"Are there no guards anywhere in town?! Get the priest, I guess." Damn lawmen, always around when you don't want 'em and never around when you need 'em.

Masdok gives Tsuto a gratuitous kick in the gut in frustration and glances down the way the Goblins escaped.

Boy, I blew it with Ameiko. What'd I say wrong? All that and not so much as a thank you...

"Come one ye!"Grulyn barks at the tied up prisoner.

Grulyn marches over to the temple to see if the priest has a safe place to stash Tsuto or access to the jail.

As they walk Grulyn says over his shoulder
"We could always stop off at ta blacksmith to see if he has some real shackles to put on this one?"

You make your way to the temple where Father Zantus hangs around. "So this is the one responsible for ruining the festival?" he asks you. "Take him out of my site, the jail should do - the mayor has the key," he tells you. "Thankfully his here right now," he says before going inside the temple for a moment, before coming out again with the mayor of the town, Kendra Deverin. She nods and takes Tsuto to the jail with you, where outside you see a figure waiting, possibly for the sheriff.

Oyzer, you are that figure. You've been waiting for the sheriff, but the office has been closed since yesterday. When you see three figures along with the mayor and a tied up man coming towards the jail, none of them wearing the badge of office of the sheriff.

Acharn Edasseril is a tall and lanky elf with long dark hair framing a pale face. He's dressed in traveler's clothes with a rapier at one hip and a wand at the other and a crossbow and a sack slung over his shoulder. "Hello there friends. My name is Acharn Edasseril. I've been waiting here for the sheriff, but seems like he hasn't been around for some time, perhaps some of you could help me?"

"I've head there are some ancient Thessalonian ruins somewhere around this area and I finally managed to figure out how to get there. There should be some tunnels leading there from the glassworks. I was gonna question the sheriff about it and ask for permission and help to investigate. But I couldn't help but overhear that there was some commotion there earlier. You were involved in that I'm guessing? If you could shed some light on what was going on, that would be helpful. Maybe we could help each other if you're going back there?"

Masdok is not there as he is keeping watch over the tunnels. Just a reminder

Good to know Masdok - you don't see anything down the long tunnel at the moment

"Ruins, from the glassworks? Really?" The priest asks. "Didn't you two just come from that direction?" he asks Simflay and Grulyn.

Only two figures with the mayor and prisoner

Holding out his hand to the elf.
"Greetings me name is Grulyn Ironfoot.

What help can ye be? And for helping us, that would be up to the Mayor since it is his town."

If it's the party and the priest in addition to the mayor that's 3 people.

A giant wasp the size of the cat flies up from behind Acharn and lands on his shoulder. He strokes it slowly before stretching out his other hand towards the dwarf.

"Nice to meet you Grulyn. It's nice to hear that you've already found a tunnel. If the goblins that trouble you are there, what better time to go down? We can get two birds with one stone and get rid of your goblin problem along with finding the secrets I seek.

As for helping, I know a thing or two about magic. I could empower you to tower as tall as a troll, with strength to boot. I'm not useless with a rapier either... And finally, if you're going delving down into goblin tunnels, you need someone able to spot and deal with traps. I could certainly handle that."

He turns towards the mayor. "So what do you say, may we strike two birds with one stone, investigate these tunnels to both get rid of the goblins and to find whatever other secrets are down there so we can protect you from it?"

"I have no objections," the mayor responds as he shrugs his shoulders. "I mean, if they have gotten away, then they must have gone somewhere. We don't want another day like the swallowtail festival this year, after all," Father Zantus adds with a look of concern.

"Agreed, go and investigate it, and find out what they are doing there. If there is indeed these magical artifacts, then we don't want those who attacked us getting hold of such things," the mayor adds.

"You saw the chaos the brung, at least the two of you," Zantus indicates toward Grulyn and Simflay "I don't believe you had arrived then?" he asks the new figure. "Archarn, was it?" he also asks.

After Grulyn has made sure that Tsuto is locked away and that the Mayor has someone to keep an eye on him. He turns to Acharn. "Well ah guess we are off to ta Glassworks." looking over to Simflay.
"Any supplies ye need? May be a heal potion or something if we can find it?"

Acharn nods to the priest. "Acharn was the name. And no I wasn't here for the festival, though I heard about what happened."

Acharn shakes his head to Grulyn's words., but then he takes an interest in this new companions. "I don't have any healing supplies unfortunately, but otherwise I'm good. What are you all skilled at? Do you have a healer? If you don't have a healer, magical healing supplies would definitely be welcome"

We're waiting for Simflay? I don't know if you have gold, but if you do, a wand of cure light wounds might be nice.

I sent a message to Simflay yesterday, gonna give it another day or two then I'll see if any from the last recruitment run want to join in.

Simflay looks at the newcomer for a moment and then at Grulyn, almost as if she is expecting something more than is said between them. After a vedry brief moment she half-shrugs to herself and says to the elf... "Umm, greetings ... I ... ahh ... that is ... my name is Simflay. Simflay Seabreeze. It is very nice to meet you. I don't mean to be rude, but, are you sure you want to come along with us? It has seemed to be very dangerous so far. Grulyn and Masdok seem very good at this sort of thing, but I must admit to being rather scared by what we've had to face."

She glances up at the sky as if gathering herself before continuing.

"We've had to fight all manner of goblins, as well as some undead. And then there is Miss Ameiko's brother, who turned out to be a bit of a bad sort. I'm not trying to put you off of course, but there seems to be rather more danger than might reasonably be expected here."

Acharn gets a strained look as he looks over at the cat sized wasp hoovering over his shoulder. He shakes his head slightly as he looks back at Simflay, "I'm all too aware of the risks I'm afraid as I've had my own share of trouble in the past. Still, there's little chance at reward without any risk. I might not be your muscled armoured warrior, but I'm still quite able to handle myself in fight. Magic can easily more than make up for the difference if you play it smart. Which reminds me, Grulyn, I got a spell that makes you large and powerful and hence able to hit enemies harder and with greater reach, would it be ok to use that on you?"

The question of healing remains though. Not sure if you have any funds, but if you do a wand of clw might be very helpful and it'll also free up Simflay to use her spells on other things.

I don't think we have the funds for that sort of purchase just yet. Really we might have a few sets of goblin leather armor and some dog slicers to sell, but it's probably not much more than that

Turning to Acharn
"Making someone bigger in a small tunnel may not be ta the best idea. But out in ta open dat could be useful." Grulyn says and turns walking with Simfay back to the glassworks. "Well I am not sure aboot this one, but the mayor wants it and Togar hammers the raw metal into a shape that is needed. And if it's Togar's will that Acharn is needed to get rid of the gobbie threat, so be it. Hopefully Masdok will still be there when we arrive and did not go hunting gobbies on his own."

Acharn nods and follows along with Grulyn. "Depends on the size of the tunnel. We just have to see when we get there if it's an option or not."

The tall elf studies his new companions closely as they walk. "So, what do you two do? If we're going to end up in a fight together it would be nice to know what you're capable of so we can cooperate better."

"Ah am a champion of Togar. Me And Masdok, our friend who is watching over the gobbie tunnel, are more of melee fighters types. Masdok is wicked with his long spear. Simflay, this dear thing, seems to be the one patching us up. A lot unfortunately lately.
And there was another, Brydan who's an archer, but he went to seek his fortunes else where."
Grulyn explains as they walk.

Simflay clearly takes a moment to think about it before replying to Acharn's question. Then she sighs to herself as if she can't really exactly find an answer she likes.

"It is strange. If you had asked me that question a month ago I would have had a clear and uncomplicated answer for you. I would have said 'I am a farmer' and that would have been the whole of it. Now I am not so sure I even know the answer."

She pauses for a moment and her hair flutters as if in a breeze, though the air is still at the moment.

"The truth is I am a farmer. Or I was anyway. Worked on my parents farm. Probably should have been my whole life. But I've always been a bit of a wanderer. Always wanted to know what was over that next hill. And one day, that urge just got stronger, until I had to do something about it. Had to go out and try to see the world. Never felt like I fit there. Lots of folks didn't like the color of my skin. They thought it was weird. I get it from my mother's side of the family. Originally they came from Absolom where everyone has pale skin like this. Apparently I take after my mother's great-grandmother, or something like that."

So I've been travelling. Just setting out to see the world really. But then I started having dreams, dreams about travelling south and west. I didn't know what there was that way so I asked about and I found out that there is a big port city down that way. So I decided I would go there and see if I can catch a ride on a ship to Absolom. See if I can find whatever family I have down that way. And when the dreams started, I discovered I could also do ... things. Amazing things actually. Things that people might call magic. I don't know how it happened and I don't know how I do it, but it lets me heal people's injuries. I more or less just arrived here as things started to go wrong. And since these new gifts let me help, I thought I should try to help."

Heading back to the glassworks and into the cellar, the body of the half-elven man is still there covered in wounds, a journal now starting to fall out of his pocket. The tunnel itself winds lazily around 1,750 before coming to a dead end.

Acharn takes in a scene with a whistle. "Wow, you really did a number on this place. Though who's that over there? Is he dead? Did you kill him?" He points over at the half elf and goes over to examine him more closely.

I thought we took him to the jail. regardless, we should have searched his body. little retro here:

The party returns to find Masdok skimming the journal. "I can't say I've read a whole book before, but this one is interesting."

Here's what the journal says.

Acharn sees the man reading the journal and walks over. "Hi there. You must be Masdok. Grulyn mentioned you. Nice to meet you. I'm Acharn and I'm interested to see what lies down the tunnel you found. And perhaps I'll be of help dealing with the goblins too." He stretches out his hand towards the Shoanti. "What did it say in the book?"

Masdok greets the newcomer with a grunt. "That's me. Who're you?" He looks at the man's hand for a moment as if unsure what to do with it, then stretches his own out and shakes it.

He hands the journal over "See fer yerself." He shakes his head. "This guy was in some deep s@&~ I don't quite understand. He's not friendly and there's more comin'." He looks down the tunnel, then something snaps his attention back "Anybody know who Tobyn is?"

He doesn't wait long for an answer, and seems impatient for the others to finish reading. After a minute or two he says "Well? We've given the gobbies a pretty big head start."

Simflay also glances at the book, puzzlement and alarm crowding across her face.

"So Tsuto wrote this? It's not as if we needed any further proof that he was mad, but this certainly seems to provide it. I don't remember hearing the name Tobyn before, but the only stolen casket we have heard tell of belonged to that priest. The one whose tomb we visited with the Sheriff."

For a moment puzzlement seems to win pride of place on her face... "I don't know what a Kwa-sit or a Bugbear is, but neither of them sound at all nice. Tsuto's love doesn't seem any more sane than he does to be honest. She's planning to burn her father's remains, that sounds pretty awful. Also, unless there were other bones stolen somewhere that we don't know about, that makes her the daughter of the previous priest? Perhaps Father Zantus can tell us about her?"

knowledge local with guidance, bugbear: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
knowledge planes with guidance, quasit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
knowledge religion with guidance, lamasthu: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
knowledge planes with guidance, succubus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
perception with guidance, search the room: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
perception with guidance, search the room again: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Acharn takes the journal and reads it while praying to Calistria for guidance to give him insight to the
topics mentioned there. While the others look at the book he takes the opportunity to search the room for anything worthwhile.

"This sounds really bad. It's much more going on here than a simple goblin raid. Lamasthu is an evil goddess, called the mother of monsters that is responsible for all sortb of abominations and twisted transformations. I still say we push forward to examine the tunnel, but I understand if you guys want to go ask the priest first. If we do go down the tunnel we have to be careful, goblins are malevolent creatures that enjoy others falling into their traps"

Masdok groans. "Egh. We better tell the priest about this before we go into the tunnels." He sighs impatiently.

"I will keep watch still"

I am fine, Masdok is not a particularly patient man, and he is anxious to do the goblins in

As you introduce yourselves and read, Archarn studies and sees is there's anything familiar to him. Bugbears are the largest of the goblinoid species, usually loners who prefer to live and kill on their own rather than in tribes of their own kind, though small bands of bugbears have come together now and again, or acting as elite guard for goblin tribes. They actively seek to inflict pain and suffering in the most destructive ways possible. They kill for the sake of pain and suffering for not the person they kill, but of those that held the victim dear is what bugbears live for.

Quasits are lesser demons, usually forming the role of a familiar, but they hate it. They are a part of a living soul of spellcasters who seek out these creatures as familiars. Once freed from their master, however - they can become much more dangerous and brutal, and will return to the abyss with the spellcasters soul (to try and bargain for a promotion in the demonic ranks) or finding other mortals to torment with the rest of their lives.

Succubi are another form of demon, though often rise to incredible heights of power through manipulation and sensual charms, and as a result they have caused many a demonic war. They are formed of the souls of particularly lustful and rapacious mortals that took an evil path.

Lamashtu is indeed also known as the Mother of Monsters, devourer of infants, and source of all that is corrupted and bestial. She is born from the depths of madness, both a fiendish queen and mother to horrors that stalk the night. A god of fertility, but those who pray to her usually have tainted offspring. The legends say that her womb gave birth to goblins, gnolls and other four-legged spawn too numerous to count.

Looking around the room, there are a few dead goblins on the floor as you walk through, and a tunnel. Looking around the end of the tunnel with the perception check, which travels about 1,750 feet, you find a rock in the wall that protrudes out like a button.

Still looking concerned, Simflay says "I agree Masdok, talking to the priest is probably quite important. Even more important though, is warning people in town that more attacks might be about to happen, and what form they might take."

"Also ..." She looks down for a moment, almost as if embarrassed before continuing... "I don't know about the rest of you, but I am very tired. I can go on if we must, but I have used quite a bit of magic today. I don't know that I will be able to do a lot more without a rest."

Just a full disclosure thing - she only has a couple of level 1 spell slots left. We may be fine now Acharn is with us, I just didn't want y'all to get a nasty surprise when the healing well runs suddenly dry :)

"Being a magic person Acharn, can ye send a message to the priest by magic? Save us a whole lot of time." Grulyn asks.

I am fine if we go back and rest. For healing I have Lay on hands 3 X per day if needed. But most likely I am the one who will need it. For Treasure I don't think we gained any gold. I don't think I won anything from the hag fish challenge. But if needed I have on my sheet 9 gp I can put in the pot for a potion?

"We can block the door and then take a rest. It sounds like we all need to be fully ready if we are going against demons."

Masdok frowns and opens his mouth, then closes it, shrugs, and throws his bedroll down by the door, determined to sleep with his back against it.

I'm assuming one of y'all will heal Masdok his last 5 points of damage

The next morning he's eager to go and is impatient as the others perform their morning preparations.

Once through the door, he watches carefully for any sign of a goblin trap or ambush as they approach the other end of the tunnel.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

I'm guessing the button opens a door. going to let the others check for traps and then Masdok will open it

Not that it matters now, but 2 1st level spell slots and 3x lay on hands seem enough to progress a bit to me.

"Unfortunately I don't have a long distance message spell, I got a cantrip to send simple messages, but that's limited to line of sight. I'm afraid we'll have to go there if we want to warn them."

"The journal has quite a bit of information, Bugbears are an advanced form of golin-kind that delight in causing pain and suffering to those left behind by their victims. Quasits are a kind of demon usually kept as familiars, but if they escape they can be outright nasty. Succubi are a greater form of demon that use seduction and mind control to great devastation, even responsible for wars in some cases."

Archarn waves from the tunnel when he finds the button. "Hey, loo here, there's something like a button here. It might lead to a hidden room or passage. We should investigate, though if you guys need to rest after the trials you already faced, maybe its best to open it afterwards."

Are we resting or heading to the priest? Seems best to me to go to the priest first, but I don't really want to retcon either.

"Ye got some sharp eyes Acharn, How did ah miss that."

Aldran pushes the botton (unless someone stops him) to see what happens.

A door in the wall slides open into a tunnel that continues a few more feet before going west and east.

"Once rested we have lots of choices for our path."
And Aldran finds a nice place to sit and relax.
"Who wants to tell the priest what we found? Ah well take the first watch to make sure the gobbies don't come back."

"Yeah, I think it's better to head down this new hidden path. Sure, it's not the way the goblins came, but it might allow us to catch up to them without having to wade through any traps they have laid in wait. For now, let's rush over to the priest and tell him about the journal. Simflay, would you care to join me?" Acharn looks hopefully over to the oracle, wanting some company to talk with on the way there and back.

Simflay is looking ill at ease in the tunnel and she starts a little when Acharn addresses her.

"Oh, ah... yes. Yes, I'll come with you."

Rushing to the priest, he just says "and that is why we sent you to investigate the tunnel, find out where the goblins went - and stop them from getting whatever this journal talks about. The sheriff isn't here to deal with the crime, and if the goblins went that way, then it would be worth to see where they are going," the priest tells you.

"So it's decided, the saviours of Sandpoint will look into the issue in the sherriff's stead - after all, he did inform me he deputised you. You have the authority of the sheriff in that regard, while he is not here, let me know when you have a full report, we don't need to hear everything you find straight away," the Mayor also tells you, who is still there from when you visited the priest the first time.

Once everyone is rested Grulyn gets his gear ready to move.