"Sealing one end of a tunnel doesn't do much." Forest says, eagerly awaiting his breakfast. "Do you know where the far end of the tunnel goes and who built them?"
"The town is worried about the tunnels, so I guess it's up to us to finish exploring them," says Isabella. "There could be other entrances and exits, traps, who knows? We won't know for certain until we have the entire place mapped out."
"I'm glad we all made it out of that nightmare alive. I'm glad to know that you are all people I can trust with my life."
She reaches out to squeeze Camil's hand.
"I'm not really picky about what we do with the things we acquired, don't worry about me."
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During the trip back to town, Lavanor heard whimpering in the forest near the road. Investigating, he found a wolf caught in a trap. Guessing that the crude trap was of goblin construction, and not wanting the wolf to be captured, he was able to free it. During the remainder of the trip, he noticed the wolf following the group at a distance.
He went with the group to see the sheriff and then the mayor. After leaving each building, the wolf was waiting for him outside. Sitting down for dinner, he offers the creature some food and water which it happily accepts.
The next morning, he heads down for breakfast with the others, his new animal companion in tow.
"Good morning everyone. I'm not sure what the sheriff wants to talk to us about the tunnels. I thought we had explored them all and they were going to seal them up. Maybe something happened while we were gone. Oh, by the way, my friend here decided to stay. I think I'll call him Scout," he says, motioning to the wolf and patting it on its head.
After breakfast everyone heads out for the sheriff's office. When you arrive, you find he has prepared one of the larger rooms in the garrison with several tables end to end and a number of chairs. The Sheriff, the Mayor, Androsana (complete with head bandage), and Father Zantus are in attendance. Everyone gets up to say hi when the team comes in. After pleasantries are exchanged the Sheriff asks everyone to sit.
The mayor opens the discussion, "I wanted to have you all together to thank you again for your efforts on behalf of the town. I spoke with the heads of the merchant families and we have put together a reward for your efforts. The families of those who lost their lives will receive their portion. I would like to make a ceremony out of it and present you with some gifts in front of the town proper. I believe it will help give everyone closure over this goblin business. What do you think?"
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Presents and gifts?
Runt pinches herself and gets all excited.
"You mean presents like for a birthday? Will they be wrapped?"
Camil looks at Scout, He's huge Lanavor, but looks like a good boy. Always nice to have an extra nose around.
---
Considering the mayor's offer, Ah, you want to reward us and honor the fallen in a public ceremony? What can go wrong with that? Camil smiles, I'm certain being rewarded would be great! But we do need to honor the lives lost in the attack.
"Just to be clear, we had a memorial for those who fell from the goblin attack. What we want to do here is recognize those who went to attack the goblins. Namely your group and Forest's. Sadly, three men who were with Forest died when their boat went under during the storm. Those are the fallen we will refer to for this particular ceremony." The mayor clarifies.
Isabella nods at the mayor's explanation and says, "I understand. Of course we should honor the fallen."
"I don't want to take up everyone's time or make it seem like I'm some kind of local hero. We just stepped up to do the right thing, because we had the skills to do it."
"Once these ceremonies are done, I must take Lyrie back to Magnimar, as she's wanted for murder." he states.
”Oh?” Forest asks, unaware of this information. ”Are you a bounty hunter, tiefling?”
"Our good wizard is an officer of Magnimar." the sheriff says. "He introduced himself when he first arrived." After a short pause he continues. "About those tunnels. You all took Master Battlehorn down there along with Quink. Well, Battlehorn came up with a plan for bricking in everything and then Quink comes rushing back in the middle of the night after you were gone. It seems that pool you found down there is called a rune well and this one channels wrath. It could kind of explain some of the things that have happened here in the last five or so years. Anyway, he thinks it's best to dismantle the thing. I was hoping all of you would help guard those who do the stone cutting to take the pool apart. If it is the source of some of our issues then it could be dangerous for the workers. I think the best possible guards are needed in this case."
Runt shrugs. "Whatever you say, boss. Maybe I could help too?"
Forest nods. ”Of course I will stay and help demolish the well. I don’t know what a rune well of wrath and I don’t know that I am the best person to deal with whatever problems a rune well of wrath causes, but it does sound like a worthy problem to deal with.”
"A... rune... well?" says Isabella curiously. "I don't know what that means, but if Quink thinks it's safe to disassemble, then that sounds like a good idea. Of course I'll help."
Camil nods, Surely, I can help with that, Zherxikas, want to stick around and see what we find there? He turns to ask the Teifling.
Looks over at Camil and nods, "Yes, while I have a duty to return Lyrie to Magnimar, the news of runes of wrath is disturbing and would be of equal interest to the Pathfinders." He turns to the sheriff, "Assuming you can keep Lyrie safely locked up while we look into the well?"
"Of course." the Sheriff says in response to Zherxikas. "I thank you all. To be honest, Quink isn't sure what trouble if any may come of taking apart the rune well but I wanted to have some of the most resourceful people available just in case."
"I'm happy to help," Zandril says, "But I'm going back out to sea and my ship leaves in a week. I'll be able to help through then though and I'm sure the others can do just fine without me."
That settled, the sheriff makes contact with Master Battlehorn and they make plans to get started the following day. The ceremony is scheduled for Starday the following week. It turns out having guards at the runewell was important. Early on, one of the masons cut his hand near the thing and several drops of blood dripped into it. This caused three of the sinspawn to rise up and attack. The group managed to handle the things with no one becoming seriously injured. The light from the pool went out when that happened but no one wanted to take a chance. So, the water was dipped out and everyone was doubly careful about keeping on sturdy gloves just in case.
The ceremony goes well. A large crowd is present and all of the merchant nobles make an appearance. The heroes of Sandpoint, Forest counted among their number now, each receive a purse of 150 gold as well as a gold medallion with the likeness of the Sandpoint temple on it. The money is from the merchant nobles, the medallions are from the town. Once a month each establishment will give you a free drink and meal as long as you have your medallion on you.
After the ceremony work continues on the runewell. Zandril departs the day after the ceremony. Finally, Master Battlehorn declares the stonecutting complete on Oathday the following week.
Camil will find two alchemical items he's been looking for on sale! He'll pick up one antiplague and one ghast retch flask. (-10GP)
Bringing his portable alchemist lab into the tunnels, he'll spend time working on a Tangleburn bag (-50GP)
And he'll ask the local armorers for a mithral chain shirt if they have one to purchase?? Camil has enough gold to pay for it certainly if available.
Never having had what one might call a normal, stable job, Forest has little else to do whilst on guard duty but guard and chat with the people of Sandpoint.
Savah, at Savah's armory does not have one on hand but she knows she can get one in about a week's time from Magnimar. She'll bring it up as part of her regular shipments so no additional charge since there is no major rush.
Thank you Savah, I don't want to risk anything unneeded these days. Camil says as he puts down a deposit in full on the armor he ordered. When it comes in would you be willing to purchase my old leathers?
The old armor can be sold at half market value unless you wish to haggle.
, another Tunnel Creeper
, Repeating Heavy Crossbow, masterwork or expert (are we still doing masterwork and expert, or are we just doing masterwork?)
yep, two levels of them. Expert and Masterwork.
So Runt goes a lookin' and finds a place that sells odd weapons and finds a small repeating crossbow that is broken and buys it. She also knows of a decent tinkerer in town that might know how to repair it and ends up with a cheap masterwork repeating heavy crossbow, sized just right for her small hands and a bunch of bolts.
After her success she sells her shortbow and 20 arrows and donates the money (15.5 gp) to the party fund.
She also visits the alchemist she found that tunnel creeper at and gets another one.
Lavanor spends the week working with Scout to learn what the wolf knows and how it responds to his commands. He does take some time to visit the market to looks for deals.
Not surprised he doesn't find anything as exciting as his sword. He does pick up a compass (1 gp) and an adventurer's sash (2 gp). He also wants to protect his new companion and buys some leather barding (20 gp).
It looks like Zherxikas, Isabella, and Forest still need to roll for market bargains. Does everyone join Zherxikas for the transport of Lyrie or will some of you stay behind for Nualia's trial?
Runt will stay for the trial.
Talking to the others, Camil says, I think I would like to remain behind to see Nualia's trial succeed, but we should send someone with Zherxikas to Magnimar, who will go with him?
With only having recently arrived in town, Lavanor doesn't feel the need to stay for the trial. "I will go with him. I'm not used to being in a town for so long. It will be good to get out for a trip," Lavanor says with a smile.
"I never was one for city walls." Forest says. "I will travel with Zherxikas to Magnimar. It will be a good opportunity for Sato to stretch his legs."
Nods to each of his companions, "Good to have you along... hopefully this will be quick and we can move on from this sordid mess the accused murderer found herself in.
Tracking
Trial: Camil, Runt, I assume Isabella will stay for the trial but perhaps she does not want to relive the connected issues; just need to know.
Travel: Zherxikas, Forest, Lavanor
"I need to be there for Nualia. For her... trial," says Isabella. Her voice cracks momentarily, but she manages to keep her composure this time.
"For both of us, I guess."
The trip to Magnimar is typically four days by horse. You head out. Day one goes by without incident. On day two, near lunch the horses begin to get spooked, most likely by a smell. Looking into the forest you see some monstrous looking humanoids in the woods.
Ghouls
The mayor has made the trial public. It is setup before the temple and several people have come out to watch it. Father Zantus is given the hard job of conducting the trial with the local merchant nobles acting as the jury. The heroes of Sandpoint are given front row seats.
Nualia is brought out and tied to a heavy chair in the front of the court. As the presentation begins, Nualia begins to chant quietly to herself moving her head back and forth to the sing-song chant.
Nualia is conducting a ritual to give birth to a child of Lamashtu. Runt has seen this before. The results are not pretty. The ritualist dies and a Hynaet demon crawls from the corpse.
Camil gets nervous when Nualia begins chanting quietly, and drinks a potion quickly in case things go badly.
He nudges Isabella, Think that's a problem? he murmurs quietly.
, +4 if monster lore kicks in.
Runt will cast Heightened awareness once Nualia starts the whole chanting business, and then weapon of awe. She does not trust a priestess of the beast lord. Probably going to summon a demon, and Runts wants to be ready!
"Excuse me," says Isabella. "I don't know what it's doing but I suspect it is nothing good."
She stands up and picks up a pebble from the ground, then casts a spell on it. Suddenly silence blankets the area around her and she steps up onto the podium and stands behind Nualia.
As the discussion continues, Isabella notices Nualia stiffen. Runt and and Camil see something move under the skin of her stomach. Something seems to be pushing to get out.
Others see the situation and people begin to comment and point. Others scream and run. Father Zantus looks and calls for the guards who have been hanging around the perimeter of the area. Whatever it is, it continues to distend Nualia's abdomen obviously causing her pain.
Forest does not know what the creepy forest people are. Ready for trouble, he dismounts Sato since he is not a mounted combatant.