Seamus touches the water, and he finds it to be rather cold, almost frigid. Still, he withdraws his hand without injury. Identifying the scroll (when Izomandakus is no longer paralyzed - just a few more seconds), you find it's a scroll of Flaming Sphere, cast at 5th level!
"Well struck Kast."
Kast offers a good, earnest boyish smile to Seamus. ”Thanks. I finally got a good lick in,’ he comments, still grinning. ”Is Izo gunna be okay?” his smile fades as he kneels to check on Izo.
Heal
Meg stands back and lets people who are actually trained at recognizing ailments and injuries do their thing. "So, uh, what did that thing do? Is Izo going to be alright?"
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It takes a long number of seconds of his friends around worrying for him but finally Izomandakus resumes moving again. The boy cleans the kiss with his sleeve "Some ugly ones have tried to kiss me before but this one takes the cookie"
Soothing Pachemu to calm her down, the boy picks the scroll "Hmmm... this one is for flames, interesting" and stows it in his case.
Unwilling to further discuss the experience he points forward "So... let's see what's in the next door, shouldn't we?"
You open the door to reveal another slope upwards, more stairs in the steepest portion, and another door. Doing the usual with this one as well and finding no traps, you open it as well to reveal a tightly spiraling staircase continuing ever upward! When you reach the end, you find yourselves in a small vault too tight even for you all to fit. It must certainly be close to the surface!
There are fissures in the rock ceiling, and you can smell the fresh air coming through from above. Well, fresher than what’s down here anyway. You see no light above, even if you extinguish your own, and the fissures are extremely tiny (diminutive or maybe smaller to squeeze through).
Another dead end.
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"Some ugly ones have tried to kiss me before but this one takes the cookie"
Kast offers a hand to help Izo up, but he is very confused. "Wait. Who has tried to kiss you? Was it the miller's daughter? Marigold? Is that her name?" He smiles when Izo seems fine, but still wants answers. He wants to know how others are getting so many kisses when he's had so few...but then he remembers his twisted misshapen leg and it all slides into place.
* * *
Kast walks around the entire underground again, just to be sure he hadn't missed some danger, some closet goblin, some flying abomination that might cause harm or injury to someone in Sandpoint. He'll listen at the closed off door, and then finally be ready to go.
"Maybe buy a little new gear."
"Yeah, okay, you guys go do that. I'll go explain things to Mr. Quink. I'm sure he'll want to know about this as soon as possible...and we can't leave any danger pools down there. Nuh-uh," Kast announces, not quite done with the day yet. "I bet he's over at the Curious Goblin. Yeah, I'll check there first."
Kast will go to the Curious Goblin (or wherever he needs to go to find Rodert) and explain the situation and what was found.
As they passed back through the Glassworks, Qetsiyah decided to check and see what preparations had been made for Lonjiku's body and the dead glass-workers. Hopefully the Father was already there, seeing to the bodies which needed last rites and such. If not, she would seek him out first and make sure to speak with him away from the ears of concerned townsfolk.
"Father, there are some strange tunnels beneath the Glassworks that I think you should see. We killed a Quasit down there, but not before she summoned some monstrosities Izomandakus identified as 'sinspawn' from something she called a 'runewell'. We should make sure no more will come clambering out of it, but we aren't sure how to go about deactivating it. Maybe you'll have an idea. Could you come take a look? We cleared the area of threats, but I'll be sure to watch your back, just in case." She would escort Father Zantus to check out the runewell and guard him while he examined it.
Meg folds her arms behind her head and strides along with the others back out of the ruins. "Well that was all very exciting. I hope that every group of demons and villains we defeat has wine. For the time being, I shall have to save this bottle for a special occasion. If our foes turn out to be swimming in Chelish Red, though, then I do not see why we cannot dive in sooner." She flicks the pommel of her rapier. "We can let them swim in a very different kind of red." Truthfully, she is nowhere near bloodthirsty enough for that statement to have much teeth to it, but she has never been one to sacrifice the opportunity for a good joke or wordplay due to something as trivial as facts.
As the others speak to the Father and Quink, Meg lingers at the back of the group. The others will know the important questions to ask and details to share, and she will have little to add of note.
When the party comes up, there are a handful of the watch in the glassworks now, trying to sort out what body parts belong to whom. A few of the, ah, complete bodies have been removed - you’d assume to the Cathedral for preparation and burial. Lonjiku's body is still encased in glass, his horrified empty scream giving dark vibes to the already macabre scene.
As you leave the building, you find that quite a crowd has collected. It’s clear everyone knows what has happened here, at least upstairs. Word travels fast in small towns! The faces are somber and the people quiet as they watch. They probably don’t even know why they’re here, or what they hope to learn, but they’ve got to go somewhere…
Kast, Seamus, and perhaps Izomandakus head over to Brodert Quink’s residence where you find the old fellow resting comfortably with a book and his cat (image) (he wasn’t at the bookstore today, but you do sell off the Lamashtu prayer book there). You see him through the window as he stands and comes to the door, letting you all in. ”Welcome, welcome. Why, it’s nearly lunch! Where has the morning gone! Let me put on some tea.”
He disappears into an inner room, and the cat just sits there staring out the window, ignoring you completely. Returning shortly with a large tea set, he pushes some papers off a footstool and sets it down. ”Please help yourselves. I have a cup.” He sits back down in his chair and sips the comforting liquid as you, presumably, help yourselves. ”So, you seem very earnest. What can I do for you?”
Kizzy, and I’ll say Meg tags along, head to the good father. He is in the Cathedral, with his hands quite full. There are still a few mourning their losses from the goblin raid just a few short days ago, and now several more are dead, with all the grieving townspeople that go along with it, as well as just some hanger’s on. The town has suffered much in the last week and people are somewhat listless and lost. Many have come to the church for solace.
Father Zantus is directing a few helpers, mostly younger folk, and even a child, to try and keep control over the sulky mob. He’s just sent two lads to the White Deer to obtain some sort of lunch and refreshments for the people in the church, for there are many.
"Father, there are some strange tunnels beneath the Glassworks that I think you should see. We killed a Quasit down there, but not before she summoned some monstrosities Izomandakus identified as 'sinspawn' from something she called a 'runewell'. We should make sure no more will come clambering out of it, but we aren't sure how to go about deactivating it. Maybe you'll have an idea. Could you come take a look? We cleared the area of threats, but I'll be sure to watch your back, just in case." She would escort Father Zantus to check out the runewell and guard him while he examined it.
”What’s a quasit, or a rune well for that matter?” he grins slightly, showing some fatigue, ”I cannot leave now, don’t you see? Whatever it is will just have to wait until things quiet down a bit I’m afraid. Is there something else I can help you with?” He looks you both over for injury before continuing, ”If not, I must get back to the flock. I’m sorry, there’s just so much for the community to absorb!”
He’ll sell you a wand of CLW readily enough if you ask for one. ”Oh, excellent. The profits from this will greatly benefit the church. Thank you.”
The party is also able to take some time to sell off the items they accumulated below to various buyers around town. It’ll take a couple hours to unload it all. Though there’s not much, it’s also hard to find buyers for some of the items. Too bad it’s not market day!
For intended purchases, remember you have a 10% discount on all mundane goods from the various happy merchants around town. Some things may not be available, so if it's unusual let me know.
"We will take care of things on our own then, Father." After meeting up with the boys, Meg runs along to pick up a piece of armor that she has had her eye on, a delightfully light mithral chain shirt. Before leave the Father, she pays him for a transformation spell for her rapier, improving the balance and quality of the metal beyond that of a common weapon. She sells her studded leather armor as well.
"Wait. Who has tried to kiss you? Was it the miller's daughter? Marigold? Is that her name?"
"If it would have been Marigold..." Izomandakus face loses his usual seriousness and a half smile is drawn at his lips while staring at Kast "I do not want to put anyone at a compromise Kast" tapping nervously at his staff he adds "Besides, if you are interested into kisses you should try to live for a time in the city. There no one cares who you are or what you are doing, those things happen more easily there" he smiles, now apparently to himself.
"Yes, I want that dead head, and let me take some drawings of the place to show him too. We will certainly want to organize some digging expedition to find out what is below those stairs" Izomandakus will draw paper and ink and follow Kast in his walk, taking accurate notes of the crypt structure.
----
Once out of the crypt Izomandakus checks out with the masonry girl, Jess, and makes sure she has everything to properly block the smuggling tunnel "This other branch here, the entrance to the crypt. Can you block it in a way that it is easier for us to come back and investigate further? Perhaps setting a thick iron door..."
-----
Izomandakus is too excited to accept the cup, he instead puts a heavy bag over a table "You have to see this" and then unveils the sinspawn head "We found it here, directly below Sandpoint, in the Old Light"
"There was a statue to Araznist, and an altar to Lamashtu. Do you know what type of relation those two had?" the boy points to the magical items the group has found "There was a quasit that invoked some of these creatures using her blood on something she called a runewell. It is somehow familiar to me, but I cannot tell why, do you know how it works and what serves to?"
”Please help yourselves. I have a cup. So, you seem very earnest. What can I do for you?”
Kast begins to explain the urgent need for panic confirmation and inspection of the Sandpoint underground and Lamashtuan influences when Izo reveals the head.
"I just don't think we have time for tea or lollygagging, Brodert. I'm sorry...but we're not sure if what we've seen down there is dangerous or inert or something else. There is a shrine to Lamashtu that I've never seen the like, let alone the whatsit," Kast explains, wanting to take the man down there to look.
"You gotta come down and see."
Diplomacy
"We will take care of things on our own then, Father."
"Thank you my child. You are strong."
Once out of the crypt Izomandakus checks out with the masonry girl, Jess, and makes sure she has everything to properly block the smuggling tunnel "This other branch here, the entrance to the crypt. Can you block it in a way that it is easier for us to come back and investigate further? Perhaps setting a thick iron door…”
”I don’t know how I’d get an iron door down here Izomandakus. I can brick it up, or not brick it up, but if you want a door, that’s a whole other thing. Frankly I’m a little uneasy in the first place… do you own this?”
So far the bricklayer is only providing a plan, Jess hasn’t started any actual work.
Izomandakus is too excited to accept the cup, he instead puts a heavy bag over a table "You have to see this" and then unveils the sinspawn head "We found it here, directly below Sandpoint, in the Old Light”
Poor Brodert rises from his chair in alarm, sending the cat scattering into the other room, ”Dear lord what is that?!”
He hears nothing else of your request. He’s a bit pale and shaky - trying to come to grips with the violence casually displayed in his home. He’s an academic, not an adventurer. He has travelled sure, but most of his life was spent in dusty archives in Magnimar and examining long abandoned ruins. This is another world to him, and he’s having trouble coming to grips with it.
"I just don't think we have time for tea or lollygagging, Brodert. I'm sorry...but we're not sure if what we've seen down there is dangerous or inert or something else. There is a shrine to Lamashtu that I've never seen the like, let alone the whatsit," Kast explains, wanting to take the man down there to look.
"You gotta come down and see."
He gathers himself together, ”I don’t know anything about Lamashtu. That sounds different from what the Thasselonians did. Religion really isn’t my thing. You should talk to Father Zantus about that. I wouldn’t be any help there.”
Seamus adds, "Kast is right, it just might be better if you go back with us. The glass factory is just down the corner," He looks to his friends, "We'd be happy to buy you lunch afterwards."
”I don’t know. I don’t have the information you seek, and I have no interest in seeing the bloodshed that’s happened down there. If there are runes or something?” he casts a questioning glance. You did see runes on the runewell, but not really anywhere else in the complex (I think). ”Maybe you could do a rubbing.” he suggests, clearly not eager to join you, but totally willing and wanting to help in some way.
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"A rubbing? A rubbing," Kast repeats with confusion. "Mr. Quink, you're the smartest man in town. And there tons of runes, statues, and all sorts of things down there. All parts of Sandpoints old history. Maybe you have a book or something? And yes, it's probably Thassolonian...maybe you could come down just for a peek to confirm."
"I mean, you've been studying the Old Light for so long. You just have to come down and help us make sense of things. Think of the research avenues this might open up!" Kast cajoles.
Diplomacy
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When the party comes up, there are a handful of the watch in the glassworks now, trying to sort out what body parts belong to whom. A few of the, ah, complete bodies have been removed - you’d assume to the Cathedral for preparation and burial. Lonjiku's body is still encased in glass, his horrified empty scream giving dark vibes to the already macabre scene.
Qetsiyah hunts around the Glassworks until she finds a sheet or a tarp. Something that will serve as a shroud for her friend's late father. It was understandable that it would take some time before the body could be released from it's glass sarcophagus but seeing him frozen in such a display of pain and horror, it just seemed wrong. Almost as if witnessing it caused the moment to stretch out indefinitely, forever locking his soul in the terror and anguish of his final moments. Once the covering was in place, she nodded to herself and said some words in Halfling.
"Dat is meer achting dan je me ooit hebt getoond, ouwe klootzak. Zeg niet dat ik je nooit iets heb gegeven."
____________________________________________________________
Kizzy nodded her understanding to Father Z. "Alright, I'm sure we'll figure out something." He certainly did have his hands full. Maybe the boys were having better luck with the scholar.
She helped Meg with finding buyers for their assortment of weird stuff and found a nice suit of Tien armor for herself.
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"Eh... well, no, I do not own this... yet. I do not think anyone does, but we can ask Ameiko... I guess she is the owner of the Glassworks now" Izomandakus gives an understanding look to Jess "We need to make sure the tunnel is not used for more attacks though. Maybe you can start planning the bricking while we finish exploring the crypt and get the permissions with Ameiko and Deverin?"
---
They boy gives a deceived look after Quink's lack of enthusiasm for the relic presented "It is just a piece of thousands of years relic Mr. Quink, I thought you would be excited to see a creature from old Thassilion. The crypts below were infested and are now full of their blood and disemboweled remains. You cannot imagine how much effort it took me to convince my friends to leave one half-intact"
Although unable to understand Brodert's warm reaction, Izomandakus knows by good when a procedure is not working and covers again the head looking for a more fruitful use of his time. He extends the map he has made out of the crypt "Look, this is the setting of the crypt, perhaps you can tell us more about it without having to go down. And here, you have some of the drawings of the symbols and statues, and this is a sketch of the runewell"
The boy gazes at Kast and stepping back, when the old man bends to look at the maps he whispers "The man does not have the bowels needed to go there down, but he sure is used to be around with paper and ink"
"Eh... well, no, I do not own this... yet. I do not think anyone does, but we can ask Ameiko... I guess she is the owner of the Glassworks now" Izomandakus gives an understanding look to Jess "We need to make sure the tunnel is not used for more attacks though. Maybe you can start planning the bricking while we finish exploring the crypt and get the permissions with Ameiko and Deverin?”
”I’ll prepare the plan then, so we’ll be ready.” she says. ”I’ve got all the measurements I need. I’ll be in touch in the next day or two with details.” And with that, she gets free of the tunnels, and back into the cool spring air of the surface. Happy to be out of the dank spaces underground.
Though Brodert clearly doesn’t want to go, you cajole and pressure the poor academic to join you back in the tunnels beneath Sandpoint. Mr. Quink follows Izomandakus, Kast, and Seamus back to the scene of the crime, after gathering a few things into a sling bag at his side. The crowd has changed, but is no less thick as the group again tries to make entry to the glassworks.
However, Warren is there now, having taken charge of the investigation as the Deputy Sherrif. He doesn’t much like all this traipsing around in his crime scene and refuses entry for Mr. Quink. ”Look Kast, you lot have special dispensation from the Sherrif, and I’ll not go against that, but we need to find out what’s going on here, and bringing civilians in, traipsing all over the crime scene, doesn’t help. Your bricklayer just left, and I’m afraid I cannot allow more people inside at this time.” he says gesturing to Bordert. He tries to sound disappointed that he can’t do as you request, but the scarcely concealed grin in the corners of his mouth say otherwise.
Kizzy and Meg do some shopping, selling off the party goods and picking up a few things for themselves. As I mentioned earlier, it’ll take a couple hours to unload everything.
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"Warren, we get it, you are doing your job. You are trying to safe civilians, but are you ready to accept your responsibility when more abominations like the one Seamus is showing you start to get out of the crypt and killing the very civilians you are trying to protect and more?" Izomandakus words are coldly bruising as he points directly to the chest of the Deputy, they carry as a fact said with calm words rather than a sentence driven by emotion "Because that is exactly what is going to happen here if you do not allow Brodert to go down and examine how to stop that runewell device immediately, and everyone here around will now you are the guilty one of the negligence"
Kast keeps quiet, suddenly very awed at Izo.
Aid to Intimidate
Rolling his eyes, Seamus turns to Izomandakus, "Can I borrow bat head?" Taking the dead monster from Izomandakus, Seamus holds up the dead bat winged head, showing it to Warren. "We found monsters like this in a temple beyond the caves. We're taking Bordert down to make sure the temple can't keep making them." He holds the head up, showing the monster to the folks gathered. Speaking louder, "We watched a creature materialize from a fountain. Killed a half dozen or so of them. If we hadn't stopped them they could have just as easily been here in town." He looks back at Warren, gesturing towards the building, "Now we both know that we can go in one of the other doors near the basement and never put foot in your "crime scene." He gestures towards Kast. "And your just being a jerk because your jealous that Kast is a hero and your not." He shakes the creatures head in Warren's face again. "So what will the Sherriff say when these types of things start pouring out of this basement killing folks and he learns you kept us from stopping it?"
vs DC 13
Warren recoils at the bloody stump, yelling shrilly, ”What the hell?!”
He takes a moment to regain his composure, quick to be sure, but you see the uncertainty behind his eyes. Still, he starts firmly, ”The Sheriff will say you shouldn’t have been down there stirring things up. Who knows what hornets nest you’ve stirred up this time. Why, it wouldn’t surprise me if you are in league with whatever’s going on around here, you know so much. Makes you wonder, and don’t think I haven’t!” he cries with bluster by the end, his voice rising again.
”You gotta go down there to fix something you caused? Be my guest. But Mr. Quink stays here.” He seems adamant in his argument poking his finger Brodert’s way, and making the academic even more nervous.
"Warren, we get it, you are doing your job. You are trying to safe civilians, but are you ready to accept your responsibility when more abominations like the one Seamus is showing you start to get out of the crypt and killing the very civilians you are trying to protect and more?" Izomandakus words are coldly bruising as he points directly to the chest of the Deputy, they carry as a fact said with calm words rather than a sentence driven by emotion "Because that is exactly what is going to happen here if you do not allow Brodert to go down and examine how to stop that runewell device immediately, and everyone here around will now you are the guilty one of the negligence"
”Look Izomandakus, you’re just a, ah, boy. When you get older you’ll understand the heavy weight of responsibility, that you, and your friends, lack with your frivolous actions and easy manner. There are rules for a reason - there to protect the innocent. You lot just do whatever you want though don’t you? Without a care for what happens to those you leave behind.” he gestures to the bodies being brought out of the glassworks.
”But fine, you want to drag, yet another innocent inside to see the mess, fine. Mr. Quink, you are taking your life in your hands now, for I cannot extend the protection of the watch within. I can’t stretch yet another guard to Kast’s whims.” he gives Kast a look, ”And be sure, all of this will go in my report to the Sheriff. I doubt he’ll look as kindly on your ignorance of the rules.”
Having said his bit, Warren steps aside and grants you entry. Bordert is pale and uneasy, not sure if he wants to proceed given the circumstances, but he’s easily cajoled forward.
You enter the Glassworks where they continue to work. They’ve started chiseling away at poor Lonjiku Kaijitsu as you enter the long hall behind the work area. Bodert Quink raises an eyebrow at the noise, but decides he doesn’t want to know what they’re doing, and gamely follows you into the basement area, through the unlit, cold, clammy tunnels. His apprehension rises as you pass through the entry areas and head toward the shrine of Lamashtu outside the room with the runewell.
Izomandakus is just too used people trying to tell him what he should understand to mind for Warren's words. The boy just nods to him and follows Kast into the building.
As they reach the corridors of the crypt he halts a moment "Just a second" bringing a torch and his flint, he slowly works to have the wooden stick alight "Now, that is better"
"Can you figure out this Mr. Quink? This place is a piece of history of Varisia, of Thassilion itself. Look at the motives here... this seems to corroborate the early use of whale's oil for military uses, and there, there is a prison, maybe this module was some kind of fortification..." then pointing to the shrine's corridor "But follow us, we need your help to discover what is this runewell"
Brodert Quink stumbles along in the torchlight as you make your way back inside. Seamus stops at the door and shushes everyone making Brodert more uneasy. "I thought you said this place was safe?!" he blurts out, though perhaps more loudly then he wanted, it was still fairly quiet.
Seamus completes his examination. Either there's nothing on the other side, or it's just sitting in the bath, chilling....
"I doubt he’ll look as kindly on your ignorance of the rules."
Kast smiles, having grown annoyed with Warren, but having a lot of work to do and not having patience for the smaller man.
"You do that Warren. We'll all tell tales of how you bravely hid up here while I returned to ensure Sandpoint was safe, facing whats-its and sin-monsters while you were up here, tending to the door. I'm sure the Sheriff will salute and praise you. I'll put in a good word for you. I really will," Kast says, meaning it. Warren has guarded the door well and Kast will be sure to let everyone know how well tended and cared the door is.
"I thought you said this place was safe?!"
With shield on and walking very close and protectively, Kast walks with Brodert. "Oh don't you worry. You'll going to see more here than you'd have ever learned about the Old Light. I mean, you'll see. Just tell us what you think or if you know about any books or histories that might help us. And you can even get your own rubbing? Who doesn't enjoy a good rubbing?" Kast says with an easy, confident, and encouraging smile.
Diplomacy
Kast will stand ready to defend Seamus and the party as the doors open. "We pretty much kilt the bad things inside, but there was something we couldn't make sense of. You know."
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Seamus opens the inner double doors and the strong smell of death, and blood fills the air. Bodies, strewn where you left them, lie about the chamber, setting its own macabre scene.
Brodert eyes the view, pale and sweaty in the extremely cold room. He doesn’t quite keep it together, as he vomits up his breakfast, and the nice little biscuits he had at tea just a short while ago. ”Dear lord…” It takes him a moment to get himself together.
You, presumably, show him the spiky runes scattered about the chamber, and the triangular runewell located up the stairs in the pulpit. He looks at the demonic body of the quasit, laying dead on the floor and shudders. Trying to focus, he examines the runes, and then the bubbling runewell.
”These are indeed Thasselonian runes, you can see their spiky style. However, it would take some study,” he shudders, ”To try and identify exactly what they say or mean. Thasselonian runes are not always, strictly speaking, a part of the language. They used a wide variety of symbols and sigils in their carvings. Sometimes the symbology is extremely local to one region or lord and the same symbol in another location could have a completely different meaning.”
”That’s why it takes so long to study a given set of ruins. Each symbol has to be examined, both in an absolute sense, and relative to the area it was found, what Runelord it applied to, etcetera. I could spend months down here, maybe longer, and be none the wiser. Why I’ve been working on translating the lighthouse for quite some time now, and there’s much yet to do.”
He looks around uneasily, ”And it’s much safer…”
He climbs the stairs and looks at the bubbling, orange, icy cold pool with steam coming off it. "Er..." he looks around for runes on the pool, something in Thasselonian to designate it. "Looks like they figured everyone would know what it was. What is it?"
"Ohm... yes, we forgot to clean up the scene" the boy says as a way of an excuse to the sage.
"That is much interesting" Izomandakus closes up examining the same runes "The statue in the corridor was Araznist, isn't it? Do you think the runes here relate to her too? It should be an Araznist's device this here"
"Perhaps we can find out what it is by experimentation" Izomandakus takes the tiny body of the quasit with one hand while holding the torch with the other "Come Seamus and Kast, help me throw the quasit body into the bubbling well and let's see what happens"
"Come Seamus and Kast, help me throw the quasit body into the bubbling well and let's see what happens"
”Oh nope, we’re not gunna do that. We don’t know what could happen and I think we should leave it be unless Mr. Quink thinks there is some overt danger. We’re here to ascertain any ready threats to Sandpoint, not invite another spawsin for a dance,” Kast shakes his head and turns his attention back to Brodert.
”Mr. Quink, did you want to get a good rubbing? I’m sure there will be materials here that will help fuel your research and maybe figure out what happened down here.”
Kast listens to ‘Mus’s excellent explanation of what happened.
”So, yeah, it’s kind of blood fueled.”
"That is much interesting" Izomandakus closes up examining the same runes "The statue in the corridor was Araznist, isn't it? Do you think the runes here relate to her too? It should be an Araznist's device this here"
”There’s an Alaznist statue?” Brodert immediately becomes more interested, particularly if it isn’t covered in blood and gore.
Smiling he turns to Kast, "but I think it's safe to say that it needs some kind of activation or it would have still been spewing spawn." Looking towards Brodert, "Have you seen enough or would you like to see the statue Isomandakus was talking about? Or maybe the levitation room?"
”Levitation room?” he wonders for a moment what that might mean exactly as you lead him around.
”Mr. Quink, did you want to get a good rubbing? I’m sure there will be materials here that will help fuel your research and maybe figure out what happened down here.”
Mr. Quink didn’t bring pack and supplies, he’s merely observing for now - an important first step to any research. Observation.
You, presumably, lead him out of the dead-body filled room and to the statue. That amazes him far more than the unknown pool which summons… things. He admires the statue from all angles, particularly noting the positioning of her arms and the way she stands, ”She was, or so it is believed, a Runelord of Wrath. Well, some 10,000 years ago anyway. It is said she had a predilection for demons.” he adds idly.
He spends some time studying the statue before you move him along to the levitation room. He frowns at the maggots floating in the air with the bird, and so doesn’t himself enter the chamber, but he does extend an arm and feel its weightlessness. Still, it doesn’t hold him in as much thrall as the statue.
”I shall have to discuss this find with Ameiko. From what you’ve said, she owns all this now I suppose. What a find!”
Izomandakus abruptly let's the quasit corpse fall to the ground "Ok... no experimenting around..."
The boy is agreeable to give Quink a walk around "Demons... mmm... interesting. What about Lamastu? Is there any records of the Mother of Monsters and Alaznist working together?"
--------
After the walk in the crypts, Izomandakus is happy to go back to the town. While the group organizes a talk to decide the steps forward, he does visit Rynshinn Povalli at Vernah’s Fine Clothing "I want a magical cloak like the one Kizzy is dressing, she is just that cool but I could not claim the treasure before her. Fortunately I got some coin. I want it in raven black and these two runes at each side sewn in gold, a cog in the bottom part and Sandpoint's coat of arm at the center, a bit to the top, all that sewn together with green crisps" the boy draws in a parchment both runes he wants. basically generosity and greed runes
"What a find!”
Kast smiles broadly as the Brodert finally sees the joy in discovery and history that has been revealed.
"So...you don't think it's overtly dangerous or anything, do you?" Kast confirms after Brodert seems not to freak out and run away screaming. "Good. Good. Then we just need to secure the area and even Warren can do that."
Kast will continue to protect Mr. Quink for as long as he wants to look around and to confirm that the area isn't going to be more dangerous.
"That's a fine idea! We did promise buying you lunch, shall we head to the 'Rusty Dragon' for a bite to eat and speak to Ameiko?"
Kast smiles, hungry from his long day.
"Yes, that's a good idea. I've been on my feet all day, it seems. I could use a spell."
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"We did promise buying you lunch, shall we head to the 'Rusty Dragon' for a bite to eat and speak to Ameiko? I'm sure we may be able to find Meg and Kizzy there, or somewhere near by."
The sage readily agrees, hoping to settle his stomach, ”Lunch at the Dragon then!”
The boy is agreeable to give Quink a walk around "Demons... mmm... interesting. What about Lamastu? Is there any records of the Mother of Monsters and Alaznist working together?”
Quink thinks a moment, but eventually shrugs his shoulders, ”I’m not aware of Lamashtu’s involvement with the Thasselonians. You might ask Father Zantus about such things. I’m just not sure.”
After the walk in the crypts, Izomandakus is happy to go back to the town. While the group organizes a talk to decide the steps forward, he does visit Rynshinn Povalli at Vernah’s Fine Clothing "I want a magical cloak like the one Kizzy is dressing, she is just that cool but I could not claim the treasure before her. Fortunately I got some coin. I want it in raven black and these two runes at each side sewn in gold, a cog in the bottom part and Sandpoint's coat of arm at the center, a bit to the top, all that sewn together with green crisps" the boy draws in a parchment both runes he wants. basically generosity and greed runes
”Oh, I can have the robe ready for you tomorrow, but you’ll have to send it to Magnimar for ensorcelling. Er, we can’t do that here. So it should be ready in a week or so, maybe less. OK?”
Kast smiles broadly as the Brodert finally sees the joy in discovery and history that has been revealed.
"So...you don't think it's overtly dangerous or anything, do you?" Kast confirms after Brodert seems not to freak out and run away screaming. "Good. Good. Then we just need to secure the area and even Warren can do that."
”Oh, I wouldn’t be down here without you, that’s for sure.” he pats you on the back as he thinks back to the sinspawn and shudders.
The party convenes at the Dragon once again, for a late lunch as it’s already half past one. Everyone is there, plus Brodert Quink, the resident Thasselonian expert. Bethana Corwin, when she hears your voices, comes out from the kitchens to thank you once again for saving Ameiko. She gushes on for a few minutes, before retreating back into the kitchen to make sure your meals are, you know, actually prepared. In the short time she’s with you though, she does mention that Ameiko is still convalescing (after all, she’s only been free and conscious a few hours now).
Kast moves in to grab a seat at the Rusty Dragon for Mr. Quink, and then makes sure there is room and chairs for others as well. He slumps down and looks to see if Bethana is ready to take an order or two.
"What would you want, Mr. Quink? I think now would be a good time to enjoy the tea, after how we ruined your first offer. I really appreciate you trusting us enough to lend us your expertise. I'd hate to think we left anything dangerous down in that dungeon," Kast begins.
After Brodert has ordered, Kast will order whatever sandwich, bread, meats, and cheese are on hand. He's hungry and not feeling particularly picky at the moment.
He sluffs down in his chair and thinks about the crazy morning and how he was going to explain it all to the Sheriff. "Maybe I should write him a letter so he knows what to expect when he gets back."
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Meg waves at the boys and walks over to join them. She throws up an informal salute as one might to a friend walking by on the street. She nods in regard to Mr. Quink, disguising her own worry that this will turn into a lecture on Thassilonian tax collecting forms or whatever people who like these things are interested in. ”Oh I am very pleased that you are all back and in fine condition. I do hope you did not get into any fights without us. I just simply had to ensure I was armed and armored to the best I can manage before we run off to battle again.”
Meg twirls in place to show off her new look. With the studded leather gone, she is free to dress in her preferred loose blouse and slacks, keeping the chain shirt and paired padded undershirt on underneath.
”I also had some adjustments made to my sword.” She slides it out of the sheathe with a single tug, grabbing it by the ricasso between two fingers and holding it up, point down. The grip has been redone to suit the size and shape of her hands perfectly. Where the guard had been a simple disc with a loop before, it is now crafted to resemble three young dancing women, each of their raised hands trailing up towards the spiraling counterguard and their legs trailing down to the pommel. The pommel itself appears like a man’s head, the eyes lifeless and the mouth slack. ”Astounding what a little magic can do, is it not?” She drops it back in the sheath and takes a seat, pausing to make sure her boots are clean before setting them on the table and leaning back, balancing her chair on its back legs. ”I already ate, but I am always happy to drink more.”
True to form, she orders a cold wine, something refreshing. ”I am certain the Sheriff will appreciate your thoughtfulness, Kast.” She swirls her glass. ”I believe we are heading to this Thistletop next, yes? If so, I am quite happy to just head out in the morning. Rush in and surprise them before they have a chance to attack again.”
"Great Rynshinn. I might be some days away, but I know you will be able to have this done" Izomandakus pays the job in advance for the sewer to obtain everything she might need.
---
Izomandakus cannot move his eyes from Meg's loose blouse and slacks "The shape of the sword fits in your hands perfectly. What does the dancing women mean?"
"I would not mind having some eating with the drink, the amount of blood made me hungry" the boy nods to Bethana as she thanks the group for their efforts "If Ameiko is recovered, I would not mind having a taste of Ameoko's spicy baked potatoes Mrs. Bethana"
"Thistletop... right. We need to come up with a plan, the place is probably swarmed by goblins armed to the teeth" when the drinks arrive Izomandakus gives his cup a long sip "Shalelu explained their leader is Ripnugget and theirs is the best lair" taking ink and parchment he draws a partial version of the map he saw at The Way North "The place is roughly six miles in the northeast of the Lost Coast. The place might be partially sunk in the waters of the sea, we might need to swim. Better be prepared. Also will need ropes if we need to descend the cliff area"
Qetsiyah was surprised to find such a fine suit of armor collecting dust at Savah's Armory. It had likely been aimed at the Kaijitsu family but had never caught the old man's eye and Ameiko herself wore lighter armor than the Tatami-do. But it was almost ideal for her, the heavy plates, or karuta, could deflect a blade, but were connected by flexible chain, called kusari which would stymie most slashing attacks. Overall, it was better protection than her old scale mail, but still allowed for some freedom of movement.
When they reached the Dragon, she ordered whatever was on special. "Say Bethana, how is Ameiko? I was hoping to look in on her, but I don't want to bother her if she's resting."
She extended her hand in greeting to the scholar. "Well met, Master Quink. Were you able to make any sense out of that runewell?"
Kizzy didn't much like the sound of swimming or scaling a cliff to reach their destination. Scratching her head she said, "Rope is always good to have on hand, but here's hoping we can avoid climbing or swimming. Kinda difficult in heavy armor. They shouldn't be expecting us, at least. Seemed like Tsuto was trying to get Ameiko out of town before the big attack. We need to break their force before they can move on Sandpoint. Should we try and get some information out of Tsuto first?"
Brodert Quink thanks you all for paying for his lunch (though the bill mysteriously never arrives anyway) and he eats heartily. In between bites, he prattles on about ancient this and really really old that, but little of it seems terribly relevant. He’s absolutely fascinated by the statue, ringed with runes, but has less interest in the pool you found, or the levitation room - likely due to the gore in the former and the fear of being trapped in the latter. Brodert is not a brave man.
But he is a smart one, and readily answers any questions you have, though perhaps he wanders a bit off the point from time to time. Some if it is likely due to the gaps in his knowledge - after all, very little is really known about the Thasselonians. Most folks think they died out some 6 or 7 thousand years ago, though Brodert thinks it’s more like 10.
When they reached the Dragon, she ordered whatever was on special. "Say Bethana, how is Ameiko? I was hoping to look in on her, but I don't want to bother her if she's resting."
”Oh, she’s still at the church dear, but her room is made up when she returns.” she seems ready to say more, but hesitates, then proceeds, ”I think it’s best if you leave her be, don’t you?” she says uneasily, not wanting to deny you anything for the help you provided, but…
She extended her hand in greeting to the scholar. "Well met, Master Quink. Were you able to make any sense out of that runewell?"
Mr. Quink puts down his spoon (dribbling a bit if soup back into the bowl). ”Runewell? That was a Runewell?” he says, shaking slightly. ”Nobody told me it was a Runewell. How do you know it is a Runewell?” He once again gets pale and shaky, though hopefully his stomach is calmed enough by the Dragon's food that he won't get too nauseated.
Meg flicks her middle finger against the pommel of her rapier, the pommel that bears a resemblance to a certain Corioles Wickham Versade. "Thank you, Izo. As for the women, let us just say that they are a promise. One day, I might tell all of you." She takes a long drink of her wine. "We will need rope, you say? I have a bit of silk rope myself. Only fifty feet, which is about 25 if I knot it. What preparations do you suggest for swimming, Izo? I am not particularly proficient in that regard."
”Oh, she’s still at the church dear, but her room is made up when she returns.” she seems ready to say more, but hesitates, then proceeds, ”I think it’s best if you leave her be, don’t you?” she says uneasily, not wanting to deny you anything for the help you provided, but…
...
Mr. Quink puts down his spoon (dribbling a bit if soup back into the bowl). ”Runewell? That was a Runewell?” he says, shaking slightly. ”Nobody told me it was a Runewell. How do you know it is a Runewell?” He once again gets pale and shaky, though hopefully his stomach is calmed enough by the Dragon's food that he won't get too nauseated.
Qetsiyah nodded amiably, clearly quite accustomed to deferring to her elders, especially of the halfling variety. "Sure, I don't want to trouble her. Rough day and all. Just let her know we're all here for her, if she needs anything." There were some things she'd hoped for input from Ameiko, after all, it was her Glassworks with a whole mess of tunnels and such beneath it. And her half brother who they hoped to get some information from. But she'd also been through a terrible ordeal and lost what remained of her family in a single day. Things would have to wait until she'd had some rest.
Kizzy blinked in surprise when the man seemed unnerved by the mention of a runewell and turned a critical eye on the fellows. "You guys didn't tell him it was a runewell? That's what the quasit called it, anyway. She seemed to think we'd come to take it from her, at first. Why? Do you know the term, Master Quink?"
” I just simply had to ensure I was armed and armored to the best I can manage before we run off to battle again.”
Kast blinks at Meg’s new bling, trying not to be envious. Not at all envious. No envy.
”Wow, Meg...that’s looks tough, nice mail. Yeah, that’s a good sword, I’m sure,” Kast says totally unenviously, with no envy to be seen or heard. His eyes go down to the sword, wishing again he had two good legs for swords play. ”It seems that magic can do a lot. Make lots of things better.” Can’t fix my leg though, can it?
Kast smiles and welcomes Meg to the table, with no envy.
"I need to trade some stuff in, and buy some new gear."
Kast looks and Seamus and nods. ”Maybe I’ll go with you. Might be nice to gear up a bit, and there is a longblade that I’ve had my eye on for a while. I just didn’t think...I didn’t think I’d be able to afford it so soon.”
Kast turns and smiles at Kizzy, not envious at all again. No.
”Wow, Kizzy, that’s some sweet armor,” he says, trying not to know the odor of his long used and grubby hide that he’s had since it was passed down to him. ”What’s that called? I just know the names of the basic kinds, nothing fancy like that.” Kast looks on, curiously unenvious at the fine armors.