Meg, Izomandakus, and Seamus each collect potions of cure moderate wounds from the kitty.
The party spends ten minutes or so making sure none of these weapons will ever be used again on Sandpoint, or anyone else. They then move to the southeast, revealing a hallway, and to the northwest, revealing… descending stairs. The stairs end in a door, though Kast can see some light around the edges of the far door as well.
"Stairs down over here!" Kast yells.
Kast moves and opens the next door to east/west/wherever, closing the doors down.
"Just probably" Izomandakus places the palm of the hand on his front, then walks after Seamus and helps him open the next door "Let's finish quickly here and run there to make sure he does not make something crazy"
Qetsiyah huffed a slight sigh that she was unable to rouse the goblin chief for interrogation. But she made no move to stop Seamus from ending him. She lined up for some healing before proceeding on.
She helped some with searching the bodies and then with sabotaging the gobbo armory. But before heading for the stairs, she decided to be very certain that no more goblins were around to trouble the warhorse. She made sure every door was hanging open and then checked the view from both watchtowers to see if the goblins outside were making their way back yet.
You search through the remaining bodies and gather a bit more loot.
Potion Cure Light Wounds
Potion Cure Moderate Wounds x5
Breastplate, MW (sm)
Composite Shortbow (+1), MW x3
Horsechopper, MW x3
Short Sword +1 (sm)
Dented crown worth 20gp
Oh, and there’s a key ring that I forgot to mention in the room, but that I had Seamus already use on the door to the food. So there’s that too.
Kast opens the door to a goblin indoor-outhouse. Though it is, unfortunately, well used, it doesn’t seem to be as well used as you’d imagine for the number of goblins here, and the stench, particularly in the hallways, suggest the pretty much go, well, wherever, to some degree.
Seamus however, notes there’s a secret panel behind the toilet. But the lever for it is, well, inside the toilet. And trapped.
For whomever is opening the panel, and Seamus if you disarm the trap you too, please make a Fort save…
Seamus opens another door to the east, though he has to use one of the keys the warchief carried (though he might have been able to pick it in time as well). This foul-smelling butchery is a horrifying affront to all the senses. Haunches of poorly smoked meat hang from hooks along the ceiling or lie heaped in and atop crates. In some cases, the meat seems to be dog or horse, but in many other cases, the meat has all-too-recognizable features, like feet, hands, or grimacing faces.
This food store contains the goblins’ favorite food - the meat of their vanquished enemies. The fate of several missing travelers and merchants is revealed here, although no single body is intact enough to be easily recognizable.
The stench from both chambers leaves the party somewhat breathless.
Kizzy then checks the remaining door to find another set of descending stairs, this time around a corner where there is a flickering light source. She also checks the towers and finds nothing of note.
You’ve searched the upper level.
Izomandakus observes the body gore silently, then turns back and picks the badly injured pig and pulls from her "Let's go Pachemu, nothing to see here. We go check what is there about Kast findings"
At the toilet the boy touches Seamus transferring him some of his own skill "Who would tell you would become an skillful plumber"
Kast stands back and guards the area while Seamus explores the toilet and whatever might lay beyond.
"What a wonderful new smell I discovered," Kast covers his nose and keeps well back.
"Any chance you'll explain why you messing around in there?"
Kizzy seemed happy to help, until she saw where the lever was located. "Ugh... Really? I sure hope there's something worthwhile here." She decides to take a minute to remove her armor, unwilling to soil it, plus it inhibited her movement and quarters inside the privy were tight.
Holding her breath as well, she was barely able to give any aid, but fortunately she had Tsuto's thieves tools to help. Everything worked better when you had the right tools.
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Meg stands back in the hallway while the others work. The area looks pretty crowded as it is, anyways. ”If any of you darlings get blown up or fall in a spiked put or get sprayed with poison gas, just call me. Though wait until the gas dissipates, as I would not want you calling out and getting a mouthful of toxins on my account.”
She takes the moment to look over her sword. She had almost considered mentioning the name of her own weapon when Kast gave out the name of his “Iron Brush.” She would rather save that surprise for another day. The others would not get the humor with what they currently know anyways, nor the bitterness that accompanies the irony.
While Seamus makes his hands dirty, someone heals Pachemu.
"Oh, thanks" Izomandakus smiles back, then lurks downstairs to see the same light Kast has seen before "Aneka always says even sugar can be unhealthy on large amounts. You better do not deep dive on that goblin poo Seamus"
Seamus doesn't set off the trap, nor does he disarm it - until Kizzy points out that extra flange on the inner left side. He finishes the job, and the trap is undone (a nasty bladed affair that would take off your arm at the wrist at worst!).
So who is going to reach down the goblin-toilet and open the secret panel? Seamus and Kizzy have already been arm deep. Perhaps someone else? Fort save when you do please.
Kast declines to stick his arm shoulder deep into the goblin poop. He's not against latrine duty, and does it when his turn on the Watch. But this isn't quite the same thing.
"Hmm...what do we think is down there?" Kast keeps a look out for danger.
Nothing (immediately) seems to happen to Seamus as he opens the secret panel.
The panel slides open with more subtlety and ease than you’d have imagined to reveal a small sea chest. You remove the chest to cleaner environs, or at least less odorous, and Seamus gets to work on the chest. No traps, and you have an iron key to open the chest, but he’s careful.
Within is the combined treasure of the Thistletop Goblins!
7,432 cp, 2,490 sp, 89 gp, 3 pp, a leather pouch of 34 badly flawed malachites (1 gp ea) worth 476 gp
A jade necklace (60 gp) and a fine blue silk gown with silver trim (150 gp)
Gold holy symbol of Sarenrae worth 100 gp
Scimitar MW
Manacles MW
Kast wrinkles his nose, but appreciates Seamus' willingness to find the choice nuggs in the goblin poop.
"Nice work there, Seamus," Kast exclaims, seeing all the neat treasure. "A real treasure chest. Wow. Yeah. Maybe I can get some nice armor with some of that." Kast still rocks his hand-me-down watch-worn hide, stinky as it may be.
"Meg, Izo? You all feel ready and rested for what might be below?" Kast asks, rubbing his twisted left leg. It's been a long day of walking.
"A scimitar and a holy symbol of Sarenrae? It seems the goblins got their horse-choppers on a holy one" Izomandakus observes closely the items, trying to remember if he has seen someone in Sandpoint or Magnimar that might be the owner of them.
They boy has no water but a sheet of paper for Seamus to clean "That should had become a scroll, but I cannot think of a better use for it right now"
"I cannot wait to cleanse the name of poor dead Nualia that Tsuto is smearing so badly" Izomandakus answers to Kast, while lighting a torch and starting to descend the stairs with his staff touching ahead in the steps.
"Wow! Ok, that was worth the effort. Fortunately, Meg still has her cleaning spell, right Meg?" She grinned at the woman hopefully.
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Meg casts a spell on her handkerchief to give it the strong scent of lavendar before holding it up to her face. If she has to come within range of...that...she will be doing whatever she can to not smell it, thank you very much. "I always do, darling." She unleashes a flurry of cleaning not just on Sea, but everything around her.
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"Yeah, of course! Duh!" Kast casts as many Create Water spells as Seamus needs to de-poop himself.
"Wow, that smells awful. Thanks for taking one for the team," he smiles his broad boyish grin.
You descend the stairs into a subterranean section, built hundreds of years ago by the looks of it, and not by goblins. For one, the ceilings are too tall (8’), and for another, it’s too well built. However, the doors are goblin made from wood scraps. Most are heavy, burdensome affairs requiring a little effort to open and close, but some holes exist in the overlapping boards making it easier to hear past them.
After a careful search, you open the door at the foot of the stair. A large table surrounded by chairs fills much of the next room. A lit lantern sitting on the table provides light. A slate board to the north is covered with scribblings in chalk, but the map of Sandpoint that has been carefully inscribed on it leaves no doubt as to the purpose of this room - this is where the recent raid was planned.
There’s light under the western door, but none under the eastern.
Izomandakus advances through the stairs observing the fine work of the stone "There is light at the western door. Goblins do not need light... we either have one of Tsuto's allies or the place breaks out into the outside..."
Adjusting his staff at the back, the boy changes the hand with which he holds the torch and says a few words using detect magic to see if there is anything of note in the room, or the doors.
Pointing to the light "We better deal with whomever is there I guess"
Once she was clean again, Kizzy dons her armor and does her best to move quietly as they proceed down the stairs.
She nodded rather than speaking, drew her weapon and took a position near the door in question, in case someone was there.
Kast will not pretend to be quiet. He is a man of honor, and 'slies' do not become him.
"Did you want me to take point, 'Mus? You've been taking a beating recently, and not sure you want to keep that up," Kast asks, willing to don his shield and take up his 'star.
Seamus and Izomandakus check the room in their usual ways, but find nothing of interest.
You hear a voice, dimmed by the door but clearly calling through it, ”Orik, is that you?”
Seamus opens the western door to some sort of research room and Izomandakus’ detect magic pings. A large wooden worktable sits in the middle of the chamber, its surface cluttered with scrolls, books, stone tablets covered with dense, spiky runes, and fragments of carvings that appear to have been chipped off of statues or bas-reliefs. To the north, a floor-to-ceiling set of wooden shelves sags with picks, shovels, brushes, lanterns, and other equipment one might expect to see at an archaeological site.
Sitting at the table, with a white cat casually cleaning itself on her lap, is a studious woman (image), utterly surprised by your presence. She glances at an open secret door behind her (well it would be secret if it wasn’t open) leading to descending stairs before looking back at you. After a moment’s hesitation she seems to recognize you, shouting, ”You!” Before she can react further…
Miraculously, she's quick on the take, casting a spell! She disappears, as does her cat. You hear, and see, the chair moving back and the secret door opens slightly further to reveal stairs descending deeper into the complex!
- - -
Meg rushes after Sea. "What did they do? Who is it?"
HP: 27/27
AC: 18/14/15
Saves: F3/R6/W4 +2 will vs charm and compulsion, +2 fort vs poison and drugs, +4 fort vs alcohol
Hypnotic Stare:
Painful Stare:
Implanted Tricks (1/3 used): Mesmeric Mirror (herself)
0: (Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
1: 3/4 used (Vanishx3, Lock Gazex0, Ill Omenx0, Faerie Firex0)
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] damage.
Knowing full well that her faster friends were likely better suited for chasing the invisible woman down, Qetsiyah simply moved as far as she could and issued a Lion's Call. "Looks like she's going for friends. But I bet they aren't as steadfast as you guys. Let's get her!"
As the woman disappears Izomandakus points forward with the torch while pushing Pachemu with the other hand "Where has she gone pig?!"
The valiant pig runs forward reaching the stairs and sniffing the air to check if the woman has left in that direction.
If she detects the woman's odor, Pachemu oinks excitedly screeching in that direction "Oiiiink ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑIiiiiiii!"
If it happens Pachemu passes by 5' feet of the woman, she halts there and sniffes screeching again.
Izomandakus waits to see Pachemu's findings, but he rushes downstairs if he sees the pig going down after the woman.
Round 1
Kast, slow on his feet as always, gives slow chase, limping forward. He readies his weapon after he moves.
Izomandakus commands Pachemu to start the hunt for truffles dangerous opponents! She smells something and takes a moment to identify it, then begins following down the stairs with Izomandakus right behind! Seamus charges on ahead, catching up with the woman - in fact bumping into her in the next chamber beyond the stairs. Kizzy moves up a bit and summons the power of Lion’s to aid the party. Meg also double moves, nearly bumping into Seamus. Kast moves and readies, guarding the parties rear.
You rush down the stairs to an even older section of the complex - clearly created centuries, maybe millennia, prior to the levels above you. Further, some ancient earthquake or the like has skewed the floor - the entire level is sloped downward toward the west. There is no movement effect, but it does grant creatures a +1 higher ground bonus for those standing to the east of their targets.
The temperature here is warmer than the floor above too, by some ten degrees or so, making far less cold and clammy. The air too tastes fresher to you, but that’s perhaps because there are no goblins down here.
You rush down the stairs to see an open door. The stone door hangs slightly ajar, the detailed carvings that once covered its surface defaced by chisel marks and hammer blows to the extent that only a few remnants of images (mostly of gemstones and crowns) remain.
Two pillars support the ceiling in the next chamber, where you catch up to your quarry. In many places the stone walls, floor, and ceiling are caked with ancient grime and soot. Alcoves in the north and south walls contain partially damaged statues of a man in robes clutching a book and a glaive. The entire room is canted toward the west, and whatever ancient upheaval caused the complex to tilt knocked the statues from their bases so that now they lean against the western walls of their alcoves.
Seamus bumps into your quarry as he moves into the room and so he stops (a bit into his second move). Meg also makes the room after a double move, while the rest of the party remains up in the stairwell.
You don’t see your opponent, but someone opens the far door, and you hear the woman’s voice shout, ”Nualia! They’re here! ” I’ve put her on the map where she must be based on opening the door (unless she did it magically of course - wouldn’t that be a fun use of the cantrip open/close!).
"Critters! Is there really a Nualia?" Izomandakus does not lose the time, he moves as close as he can and makes a gesture with his hand. The door immediately is shut close.
Meanwhile, Pachemu sniffs the air still trying to locate the woman. She moves forward to any direction where the scent comes, and pin-points the square with a shriek "Ñññññiiiiiic" if he finds her.
Izomandakus and Pachemu storm into the room. Pachemu, following the scent, double moves until she too bumps into your quarry. She squeals, and you know what square she's in (as noted on the map).
The door then slams in front of her, to her doom!
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Meg places her free hand on the pillar in front of her and extends her rapier to point directly at the area Pachemu is shrieking at. She addresses the invisible woman. "You know, darling. They always said back in Magnimar that my smile could light up a room." She gives a million-gold grin and a burst of violet energy explodes right on top of the the spot in question. "Looks like I have still got it." She then saunters over to the door and leans up against the wall as if talking to an acquiantance in the hallway after class, resting her sword on her shoulder. "Now, darling, why do you not just settle down and we can talk this out? Last chance to get out." She stares at the woman intently. Just in case she makes a very poor decision.
HP: 27/27
AC: 18/14/15
Saves: F3/R6/W4 +2 will vs charm and compulsion, +2 fort vs poison and drugs, +4 fort vs alcohol
Hypnotic Stare:
Painful Stare:
Implanted Tricks (1/3 used): Mesmeric Mirror (herself)
0: (Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
1: 4/4 used (Vanishx3, Lock Gazex0, Ill Omenx0, Faerie Firex1)
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] damage.
Round 2
Limping slowly behind, Kast double moves into the room.
Izomandakus moves until setting himself behind the pillar in the middle of the room, from where he magically closes the door "Well done pig! Aneka will not have enough truffles for you back home"
Pachemu oinks proudly as the woman's silhouette is traced by Meg's ethereal flames.
Qetsiyah follows behind little Pachemu, hoping she would point out the invisible woman.
Izomandakus, lead by Pachemu, enters the room and closes the door. Seamus, with a bead on the opposition, stabs at her, but misses. Kizzy double moves down the stairs and into the room. Meg the faery fire outlines the poor woman, ruining her invisibility, and tries to reason with her. Kast double limps into the room.
The woman casts defensively before 5’ stepping out of flank (but likely into another one!) She says nothing, and while you can see her outline, you cannot see the look on her face as she concentrates…
vs DC 19
Immediately, the faery fire flickers, and multiple copies seem to swirl within each other! Mirror Image! You see images. Don’t worry about rolling which image you hit (if any). I’ll track that for you for convenience and due to the vagueness of initiative.
You hear a sigh of relief from the woman as she manages to protect herself further!
"Ahhh! A wizard!" Izomandakus exclaims excitedly "It is my first magical duel. Let's make Master Toth Bhreacher proud of his disciple Pachemu"
The boy moves the hand with the torch back, while producing a pinch of wool from his pouch with the other оглушить.
Meanwhile, Pachemu oinks at the enemy's cat and tries to help clean the wizard images while covering herself with the column to her advantage.
Round 3
Kast now sees the foe, and though he wishes she would surrender, he assumes she will not.
”This doesn’t have to be the end for you, goblin-lover,” he growls before striking.
to hit;
damage.
to hit;
damage.
hp: 24/24 - 2
AC: 16/13/13 + 2/shield
Saves: F2/R5/W3
Aroden's Verve: 0/0 used
GlitterBomb: 0/0 used
Extend GammaRadiation: 0/0 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 5/6 left
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+3[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+3[/dice] damage.
[ ooc]Morningstar, two handed:[/ooc]
[ dice]1d20+4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+3[/dice] damage.
Meg lets her rapier fall from her shoulder as she turns, using her body to block the villain from seeing the movement of her blade. She stabs in the general direction of her foe and her images, figuring she might at least get one of them.
HP: 27/27
AC: 18/14/15
Saves: F3/R6/W4 +2 will vs charm and compulsion, +2 fort vs poison and drugs, +4 fort vs alcohol
Hypnotic Stare: Mirror Image Lady
Painful Stare: Mirror Image Lady
Implanted Tricks (1/3 used): Mesmeric Mirror (herself)
0: (Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Message, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
1: 4/4 used (Vanishx3, Lock Gazex0, Ill Omenx0, Faerie Firex1)
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d6+1[/dice] damage.
Qetsiyah takes a step to assume a position to attack and guard the half-elf and the pig, who just so happened to be taking the most beating just of late. "These folks talk good sense, ma'am. You might want to stand down." She seconded as she swung her polearm to slice at the magic user before she blasted them all.
Round 3
Izomandakus goes for the daze, dueling the other wizard directly! Sadly, she is not immune to the spell, and succumbs to Izomandakus’ desire! Seamus swats at her, not hearing a surrender (though perhaps she’s just dazed), hitting and also eliminating an additional image (near miss). Kizzy also scores a hit taking another image away. Meg doesn’t connect, but an image is brushed away by her swing none the less. Kast also hits, but is it a crit? - no, but he does strip the last image from her, leaving just the one faery ring around the invisible wizard.
vs DC 13 or be dazed.
Dazed, she tries to gather her bearings!