It never occurred to Shelelu that one would have to actually pay for cold iron. She says "Well, at least make sure to have at least a crossbow next time. I don't want to hear that Arrian's raiders tried to fight a dragon, but couldn't reach it." She seems to feel bad for the group, so she rummages through her things and quickly finds something. She tosses a wand at Donimah.
This is a Cure Light Wounds wand with 25 charges left.
As Juriya transforms back and forth, Shelelu does a very poor job of hiding her astonishment and awe. She nods at the kitsune in deep respect.
Shalelu is also a bit jealous of Juriya.
She also addresses Arrian's question "We should talk, but...". After a shiver, she continues "Let's find a more cheerful place. Bethana is making a spicy pumpkin soup that goes really well with this rainy weather. I'll make sure to save you some." she leaves without any mention of waiting for the group.
Juriya hoists her crossbow, "Kind of hard to aim when the thing's invisible," she says, but she doesn't mention any of the jealously... even if, out-of-character for her, she realizes the girl is jealous. Presumably would like to wildshape, she thinks to herself.
"I guess we'd better follow Shelelu out of here."
"Come on Ano. Let's get out of here," Cherry chirped. Ano pulled herself up and followed the rest out, taking the rear.
You feel weird not looting a demon.
[dice=Sense Motive - How Stupid is Zeldrith?]1d20-1
As the quasit falls, Zeldrith gratefully sheaths his blade, frustrated at his inability to reach or even see the annoying creature for what felt like an eternity. Juriya shapeshifting again causes him to look over at the kitsune, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "You can shapeshift into a fox, too? You sure have some strange powers, Juriya."
Shaking his head as he dismisses it as another eccentricity of his newfound ally, Zeldrith's hooves clatter up the crumbling Thassilonian stairs again as he ascends to the second level and examines the shimmering triangular pool. "Whatever that demon was doing down here, she seemed to place great importance in this pool here - she said something about how 'her queendom will come when her pool will be recharged again.'" The warrior kicks at the corpse of the dead sinspawn with one hoof. "Blood goes in... big ugly comes out. Seems pretty straightforward. And that dimming - this thing looks like it's filled with flame, almost. Maybe each time it makes one of these things, it's like taking another log off the fire?"
The seven fingers of the tiefling's left hand twitch, and he scratches his jaw as he tilts his head to consider the pool. "Way I see it... we should probably try and break it if we can. Smash a hole in the side... cover it up with a boulder... anything to make sure this thing doesn't stick around and make more of those 'sinspawn' thingies."
"Not before I've had a chance to study it!" Donimah immediately barks. "This place is a treasure trove of intact Thassilonian history! I have to show Brodert this place! The presence of Alaznist's iconography lends some credence to his ideas about the Old Light!" she babbles as she tries to get between Zeldrith and the pool. She seems to completely ignore Juriya's secret being exposed outside their little circle.
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As Juriya snarls at him, Zeldrith's brow furrows in confusion, only for a sheepish look to come over his face as realization dawns. "I wasn't supposed to tell anyone you were a shapeshifter, was I? That makes more sense..."
Noticing Shalelu leaving with the rest of the group, he raises his sword to bring it down on the accursed pool, but at Donimah's protests, he scowls, backing away. "Look, Donimah, you're young. You may have all that book-knowledge, but I tell you, if you had those visions in this place, if you saw half of what I've seen about the Thassilonians, you'd be down here with a torch right now, ready to burn this place to the ground. That well, that hole in our world... it's about as close to pure evil as you're likely to find around here." Glaring at the wizard, he sheaths his blade and goes to follow Shalelu. "You'll see - with all your scrolls and tablets, you'll see soon enough. There will come a day when you realize you've delved too deep, when you wish you had destroyed this damned place when you had the chance."
Donimah glares right back at Zeldrith.
"If we don't f***ing learn from the past we're bound to repeat its mistakes," she says. "We had this discussion a few days ago! Besides, what if you dropped a rock on this thing and it blew up in your face?! Literally! Evocation is the magic of wrath. Brodert thinks the Old Light may have been some kind of weapon to shoot rays of fire down upon on Alaznist's enemies. Besides, you can't know how deep the water is if you don't at least take a step into it!"
She begins following after him and the rest of the group, already making plans to return.
Juriya pauses for a second, before speaking up. "Should we... not grab the gear the Quasit had? I know at the very least, we can sell it... and it's probably not a good idea to just leave decidedly non-Thassilonian gear, newly placed, in a ruin, right Donimah?" She then heads back, hoping more than her is there to pick the gear up with her, she's already fairly slow due to a heavy pack.
Arrian says, "Of course. If it has anything of value we need to take it. I can carry it Juriya don't worry."
The quasit had a dagger that exudes transmutation magic to those who detect magic on it. It also had a pretty tiara and a black silk gown that has got to be worth something. Finally, it had an obsidian unholy symbol of Lamashtu, which is easily identified.
Juriya pauses for a second, before speaking up. "Should we... not grab the gear the Quasit had? I know at the very least, we can sell it... and it's probably not a good idea to just leave decidedly non-Thassilonian gear, newly placed, in a ruin, right Donimah?" She then heads back, hoping more than her is there to pick the gear up with her, she's already fairly slow due to a heavy pack.
Donimah spins about and follows her.
"Yes, I had thought Arrian or Zeldrith had already done so!"
Once they've recovered the loot, she rejoins the group in departing. She has a sour look on her face as she was getting the feeling fractures were starting to form in the group, and Sandpoint still needed them...still needed her.
"Presume we'll turn over the obviously religious tools to Father Zantus for destruction," she says to no one in particular. While she'd made her opposition to the destruction of knowledge clear, she knew books like the one they'd found didn't really have anything she couldn't find in a monster anatomy textbook back home, and there was no other kind of power Lamashtu could offer her that was worth taking.
As the group leaves the Thassilonian ruins, the air becomes clearly easier to breathe, even if the group is still inside the tunnel. The atmosphere of anger and aggression disperses into a cool smell of the sea, that surely got in due to the moments where the group found the tunnel's secret exit to the north.
Making their way back, Arrian's raiders pass through the secret office where they fought Tsuto, then up the stairs and by the glassworking room where the workers were murdered by goblins. Finally, making their way out of the building, a very light rain falls, making the air cool.
The townsfolk look at the group as they make their way to the Rusty Dragon Inn.
People look at Ano with sadness, worry and/or encouragement.
On their way, a few braver people come and talk to Ano directly say things like "I'm with you" or "You're better off this way."
Entering the Rusty Dragon, Shalelu is sitting at a table and talking with Ameiko, who is standing up. As Ameiko sees the group, she smiles wide and motions them over. Before Shalelu can say anthing, the innkeeper says "I'm so glad you're well! Shalelu was telling me she found you in some evil ruins under the town! What's going on?"
Although Ameiko is happy the group is well, she is also worried that, as the new proprietor of the Glassworks, she now has more on her table that she can handle.
Once the group gets to a place where he can speak quietly he'll tell the others about the mood of the general public towards Ano.
"It's true you have quite a bit of responsibility on your hands now that you own the Glassworks. But don't let it overwhelm you. You can find someone to help manage the Glassworks if you wish. Juriya's family might even be interested."
The catfolk took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air. It is at this point that her legs feel weak and her body feels heavy. She couldn’t imagine how much of a disheveled mess she looks right now.
Ano doesn’t know how to take in the words of encouragement, but she gives a small smile to all that talk to her.
“We saw some…horrible stuff down there,” Ano said, with a soft, slightly broken voice. It was then she remembered the first encounter and how the sinspawn almost killed her-she cursed at herself internally for not being able to cover up any scar that attack made. But Ano smiled at Ameiko, “I’m just glad you’re alive…”
Then the amurrun collapsed onto her back. Not full on faint, but she couldn’t stand a second longer.
"Evil ruins is... one way to describe it," Juriya says to Ameiko after offering a hug, back in her human form since this is in public. "Some Thassilonian ruin in specific, judging by the statues. And my family would definitely be interested... in the Glassworks, they'd be certainly interested in certain ruins but... not the ones you'd find around here."
And then -- THUD -- Ano falls onto her back. Juriya tries, presumably in complete and utter vein, to help Ano up, and motions for others around her to help. "Ano! You... you probably need rest. All of us probably need rest after that ordeal."
Arrian scoops Ano up and places her in one of the Rusty Dragon's chairs.
"Take it easy Ano; we're out of there. You can relax."
Ano fought the urge to pass out in the chair. “Thank you all…for saving my life…I’ll make it up to you all one day…
Cherry chirped nervously, “I wonder though…I’ll be right back.” And fluttered out of the tavern.
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As the group leaves the Thassilonian ruins, the air becomes clearly easier to breathe, even if the group is still inside the tunnel. The atmosphere of anger and aggression disperses into a cool smell of the sea, that surely got in due to the moments where the group found the tunnel's secret exit to the north.
Making their way back, Arrian's raiders pass through the secret office where they fought Tsuto, then up the stairs and by the glassworking room where the workers were murdered by goblins. Finally, making their way out of the building, a very light rain falls, making the air cool.
The townsfolk look at the group as they make their way to the Rusty Dragon Inn.
Donimah holds her head high as they return to the town proper, coolly noting all eyes are on Ano. To her surprise, she was finding she didn't mind. She had shown the fierceness of a firepelt, and now she was coming into her own, and the community had her back. Sandpoint WAS different from Riddleport, that much was clear. People here CARED. And she was finding herself starting to care too. She found herself thinking of her father, barely having any help beyond the crews of the boats he went on, leaving her to fend for herself for weeks at a time, she and him barely having any energy for each other from all the work they'd done just to survive. Maybe...Sandpoint would be a nice place to invite him to for a nice retirement? He'd probably like Ano, that's for sure. She deserved a good parental figure after the disaster that was her mother, even if was the father of a friend...
On their way, a few braver people come and talk to Ano directly say things like "I'm with you" or "You're better off this way."
Entering the Rusty Dragon, Shalelu is sitting at a table and talking with Ameiko, who is standing up. As Ameiko sees the group, she smiles wide and motions them over. Before Shalelu can say anthing, the innkeeper says "I'm so glad you're well! Shalelu was telling me she found you in some evil ruins under the town! What's going on?"
When they enter the tavern, Donimah is a bit too pleased with herself to read Ameiko's expression.
"Not just ANY ruins, Ameiko! Thassilonian ruins!"
She pulls out some of the rubbings she'd made and unfurling them on the table to show her.
"So much intact material and magical culture! A massive statue of Alaznist, the ancient Runelord of Wrath, just sitting right beneath the town! Enchantments still active after thousands of years! I can't wait to show Brodert these! I need to bring him down there now that the...denizens have been dealt with...he really may have been on to something when he posited your...tower, lighthouse, whatever, may have been able to work evocation magic, like some sort of defensive fortification!"
When Ano collapses and Arrian goes to help her, Donimah stops short and her countenance falls a bit. She realizes she'd already forgotten the sheer distress Ano had felt the whole time they'd been down there...she'd been a bad friend again.
"You owe us nothing, Ano...if anything I owe you..." she stops again before she thanks her for helping her clear out the ruin, another selfish instinct.
Ameiko listens to each of the group as they retell the stories and looks outside the window for a while, as if reliving a memory. She finally says "Shalelu, maybe let them rest for a bit before you go troubling them with more things."
The half-elf replies "Oh well, I could use an ale anyways. I forget, not all have the Endurance of a true ranger."
Ameiko listens to each of the group as they retell the stories and looks outside the window for a while, as if reliving a memory. She finally says "Shalelu, maybe let them rest for a bit before you go troubling them with more things."
The half-elf replies "Oh well, I could use an ale anyways. I forget, not all have the Endurance of a true ranger."
Smiling at Ameiko, Arrian says, "I appreciate your concern. And I've certainly worked up on appetite."
Once Ameiko is out of earshot Arrian will ask Shalelu, "What did you learn about the goblins on your travels? We suspect they may use the old smuggling tunnels to infiltrate Sandpoint."
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Ano laid her head on the table, her hands on her head in exhaustion. Feeling her mangled ear made her jump, until she remembered who caused that. How did that happen this morning but felt like it happened months ago? She sunk more into the chair…at least she has some
people behind her back.
As Shaelu emerges from the tunnels with and the party in tow, Zeldrith follows close behind, his blade sheathed. In the Rusty Dragon, he scowls at Ameiko's query, glaring in the direction of the Glassworks. "Ameiko, there was something in those old smuggling tunnels - something old. Something evil. If you want my advice, you'll brick up those old smuggling tunnels - collapse them outright, would be better."
As Ano collapses, Zeldrith rushes to help her into a chair - as Cherry leaves, he glances curiously in the little bird's direction, but does not pursue. At Shaelu's words, he looks concerned. "Ameiko, you said that Tsuto was offering you a place with his army at Thistletop, yes? Shaelu, have you heard of this place at all?"
Shalelu is visibly annoyed that she can't go into the large turkey leg with potatoes, carrots and gravy that just arrived for her. She puts it down and replies to both Arrian and Zeldrith "So, the goblins are supposed to amass at Thistletop. As I said in our last conversation, there's a goblin tribe that lives there and they're the strongest in the region. It seems they found a way to get the other tribes to follow them to a point of attacking Sandpoint. I just don't know what could be bringing them together. Somehow the goblins believe that the Thistletop can make them overrun Sandpoint's defenses."
She is about to say more, but chooses to, instead take a big bite off the turkey in front of her. Its rosemary seasoning is surely making its presence in the room.
Although hungry enough for saliva to wet his tusks Arrian continues, "It seems their plan is to bypass, and not overrun, Sandpoint's defenses. The deputy in charge right now isn't taking the threat seriously. We found goblins in the Glassworks and a goblin 'den' in one of the smuggling tunnels. They're certainly aware of this weakness and so far Corporal Redmane has shown a stunning lack of urgency in addressing the situation."
Shalelu says "Well, if they get here, I don't think how they get in will be the problem. Redmane is physically strong and the guards respect him, which is probably why Hemlock left him in charge. Also, I don't think Hemlock will be here in less than a week."
After being briefly distracted by some potatoes, the half-elf continues "Well, the goblins from the region will go to Thistletop. From there, they will gather under... whatever banner is there for goblins to gather under... and march here. I think the best chance we have is stopping whatever is making them unite."
She takes a moment to drink some ale and says "Luckily, goblins have trouble organizing even in their own tribe. Which means that they are late. From what I could muster, the first group should arrive in Thistletop in no less than 2 days, but it might be longer than that." She touches her bow and says "I also have a plan to delay them even more. This means that you could go there without me and find whatever is bringing the goblins together and... well, dissuade them from continuing with this plan of theirs." She winks at Zeldrith, knowing he will understand her. Then she continues working on the turkey leg.
Arrian nods, "It's difficult to leave Sandpoint in such troubled times but it appears our best chance of stopping the attack is to prevent it from happening in the first place."
Donimah puts her parchments and papers away and takes some food as she listens to the discussion
"I agree...chop off the head and the cindersnake dies, as the Sklar-Quah say. We take down their leadership and the attack never happens."
She pauses as she looks at Ano and she gets a worried look on her face.
"I'm...not going to ask you to come Ano, but I don't think you're going to give us a choice...just...after what's happened today...you might wanna be prepared to face some things you don't want to be true."
"Yeah. I." Wince. "I am with Donimah here. Just." Wince. "Just be ready if you do come," Juriya says. She repeatedly winces as if something is causing her pain. "I uh" Wince. "Does anyone else's back hurt ever since we got out of there?" Wince.
Arrian, trying to lighten the mood, does his best:
To wince and grab his lower back, "Yeah because someone made me carry all the stuff out of there my back really hurts!"
Ano lifted her head slowly. Her eyes looked…hollow. “Nualia is there. We have to save her. Not kill, save. And…I don’t want to deal with her. Not without you guys…”
Suddenly Cherry flew back in. He looked distraught. “Uh…Ano? I…I know your day hasn’t been good but…well…your mom may have sort of, kind of…sent all your stuff to Junker’s Edge. It’s clear that you’re…homeless.”
Ano sat there blankly for a few seconds, the silence in the tavern feeling deafening. She weakly squeaked, “Greeeaaaat…”, looking on the verge of a complete breakdown.
Cherry looks at the others concernedly, “Felt better to just be blunt about it. Anyways Ano definitely isn’t welcomed around there-I don’t think even the Cathedral is safe for her.”
Shalelu stops her munching at the mention of Nualia to look at Ano. She mouths "Muama?" Her full mouth clearly prevents her from speaking clearly. She continues "Mahm eeh 'pom ooh eeh dead?", clearly trying to say "Wasn't she supposed to be dead?".
As Cherry flies in and gives the news, Shalelu falls silent with renew interest in her food.
Meanwhile, Zeldrith notices that Ameiko has already left the table, which is why she didn't answer him. She does come back with a plate for Arrian. She finally answers the tiefling "Yes, he said I should go there with him or something." She seems dismissive.
It seems that Tsuto is still a sensitive subject for Ameiko, who doesn't make much of an effort to hide her feelings from the group. This is a sign of trust, since she usually wears a strong woman mask.
Turning to Ano, while eyeing his plate, he says "Don't worry you have the room here to stay in."
"I'll see what I can do as well if you need more stays here... or anywhere."
Shalelu stops her munching at the mention of Nualia to look at Ano. She mouths "Muama?" Her full mouth clearly prevents her from speaking clearly. She continues "Mahm eeh 'pom ooh eeh dead?", clearly trying to say "Wasn't she supposed to be dead?".
As Cherry flies in and gives the news, Shalelu falls silent with renew interest in her food.
Meanwhile, Zeldrith notices that Ameiko has already left the table, which is why she didn't answer him. She does come back with a plate for Arrian. She finally answers the tiefling "Yes, he said I should go there with him or something." She seems dismissive.
Donimah grimaces a bit.
"Both you and Ano have gone through a lot," she manages before turning to Shalelu. "Aye, but we've got a bunch of evidence to suggest she's been alive this whole time. According to...Tsuto's journal, Ameiko I'm sorry...according to that, Nualia seems to be the mastermind behind the attacks. And...after the stuff we've seen today, I think we've been given a glimpse into how that happened...or rather, what one of us has experienced."
She looks back at Ano with another attempt at an apologetic face.
"The ruins in the tunnels ARE Thassilonian, that much is clear...but they were not the tunnels' most recent inhabitants. We found icons and implements of worship for the Mother of Monsters, Lamashtu."
She pauses to spit on the floor after saying the vile demon goddess' name.
"Considering Tsuto seems to think Nualia was going to do some kind of dark ritual if his last writings were any indication, I strongly suspect these were Nualia's belongings...maybe she was right under the town's noses this whole time...I'll admit as an out-of-towner I don't know her full story, but the way people around here seem to talk about it, bad things happened...like really bad things."
Ano shoots up. “There’s…no way she was under the town the whole time. If…if she was in the town she would have come to me. I told her…I would be there for her if she was in trouble. Although…no even if the last thing she told me was…” Ano’s voice faltered.
“What?” Cherry asked, “What was the last thing Nualia told you?”
The catfolk looked down, looking hurt as she remembered, “That she didn’t…need me and…she didn’t want me around and…I embarrass her…I tried to get her to talk more but she…shoved me.” She then looked at everyone and said defensively, “I-I know she’s not like this! Something happened to her, I need to know what happened and help her. Not kill-” She glared at everyone, “-Save. We can save her. We…have to…”
Shalelu has trouble putting more food into her mouth after Ano's tale. The more perceptive people notice her shooting a glance at Ameiko who says "I didn't really know her, but I know something about losing friends. You should make peace with this before you go on." She goes on to serve another table, although her usual smile is missing.
Donimah grimaces at the way the conversation has turned.
"What is it with this town and talking around everything?! In Riddleport if someone had a problem they'd at least have the decency to brandish a knife at it so you knew where you stood....
Donimah grimaces at the way the conversation has turned.
"What is it with this town and talking around everything?! In Riddleport if someone had a problem they'd at least have the decency to brandish a knife at it so you knew where you stood....
Sparing a long look at Donimah, Arrian then turns to Ano, "We'll find out the truth of things when we find her. I hope you're right and you can reach out to her and she listens to you."
“Thank you, Arrian,” Ano smiled briefly, before looking back, “Those times…the Late Unpleasantness…that was horrible. I already lost my fa-” She stopped herself. “I mean. Someone important. I thought I lost Nualia the same week. I don’t…I can’t lose…I can help her. I know I can. I…hope she knows…”
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Donimah huffs a little at the euphemism but doesn't challenge it, putting two and two together.
"Whatever happens, I've got your back," she finally says. That at least was genuine, no matter what doubts she herself might have.
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Zeldrith glances skeptically between Ano and Donimah. "Ano... you didn't see what was in that book we found down there, did you? These Lamashtu cultists are bad news, even if one of them was your friend. Now, whether having her tiefling child made her snap or whether she was hiding it from the town for so long... I doubt any of us can know, but the fact remains that she's involved with all this Lamashtu stuff."
He looks apologetically at Ano. "I'll help you if I can, Ano, but I suspect that your friend as you knew her is gone. I know it's hard, but trust me - I've lost plenty of friends in the Goblinblood Wars. You've been through enough already, and if you hold out hope for something that can't happen, it will be all the harder for you. Five years ago, you made peace with the knowledge that your friend is dead - what's returned now... isn't her, and you know that."
Putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, the older tiefling clears his throat. "...Look, I'll gladly help you through whatever you need me to help you with, but trust me - I've lost friends before, and false hope can magnify the pain you feel a hundredfold."
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"I... I'm in agreement. I've read a bit of Lamashtu, and... she is bad news," Juriya says, relying once again on book knowledge over fallible gut. "Some of her teachings are reasonable, and might have even been what appealed to her... but it's been five years. If she's alive she's taken in more than 'bringing power to outcasts and the downtrodden'."
“…There’s something I don’t get,” Ano said, “I know she didn’t have a lover, and even if she did, why would her baby be fiendish?” She looked to everyone and asked sincerely, “Be honest. If one was to…you know…in a place blessed-or cursed-by a goddess like…her…would that make a demon kid or…?”
Shalelu finally thinks she has something to add and says "Sounds like something Abstalar would know.", referring to Father Zantus.
“Yeah, uh, not likely to happen-” Cherry chirped, “That’s passing by Fosyo’s house and she will not be happy if-”
Ano suddenly got up and stormed out.
“Ano? Ano! Ano, stop!” the bird cried out in distraught. He turned to the others. “Stop her! Fosyo is gonna maim her again like this morning if she sees Ano!”
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"Lamashtu uh... if I remember the books on Inner Sea Religions correctly that's her thing." she says, not realizing that Ano already left.
"... We.... we should go after her, right?"
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Arrian snatches his plate of food, stuffing his face as fast as he can while chasing after Ano.
Mumbling with food flying everywhere, "Murf-hey wa-cough-itup!"