Priestess Galinea's page

of course! That's brilliant. If only we'd thought of that before

greetings, friends of Goblinkind, Hallister, Miagnik, princess Maelodakh and princess Stephanie

I sent for a small tribe of goblins that I knew would be loyal to the old gods, and together with those few I still had under my command, we tried to take the second level. Two days ago a bridesmaid returned when we were near to gaining the stairs to the third level. We were pushed back by the trolls and the bridesmaids, who have gathered together, and some strange giants who arrived at the palace only yesterday. We fought a retreating action, setting fires where we could, the bridesmaids don’t like the heat, and we fell back to here. We number only forty two now, but we are keeping any of them from coming out. The giants, brutish monsters from the west I think, fought straight through our ranks, while one of the bridesmaids, who seemed to be in possession of a strange box, also seemed to ignore us and slipped through our numbers with her allies. We ended up fighting three other bridesmaids, and a horde of undead. We did everything we could. Another tribe of goblins, spider hunters from Eight Fountain Springs arrived late yesterday, at about the same time another horde of undead came up the mountain. We slew as many as we could, but many of our number died, and came back under the control of the bridesmaids. When dawn broke, the undead fell where they were standing, and we pilled the bodies in the entrance and set them on fire. We know they will return undamaged tonight, but until then, the fire is keeping the trolls and the giants from attacking us demurring the day.

Galinea bows her head to Miagnik, and says,

I will keep our people from harassing you or your friends while you are here. I have a limited ability to influence those that respond to the will of the Vampire Queen, or those creatures under Omara’s control. Our people are not permitted, under penalty of death, to venture to the lower levels. Omara’s creations, as well as her allies, and some of the wedding party can be found on the level below us. Without a strong command of the undead it is unsafe, and unwise to venture there. Even I am afraid to go there on my own. The entrance lies here,

She indicates the stairs accessed by passing through a burial chamber on the northeast corner of the map.

This chamber, she points to the large chamber on the map, was never used and is empty, there is no placement dais for urns there. This chamber, near the stairs, is occupied by skeletal warriors. I believe they were once soldiers who were dedicated in life to the service of the bride. They will not allow just anyone to pass. They follow the orders of the Vampire Queen more faithfully than the bride’s maids, and like them they cannot be destroyed, completely. I only know stories about them, and the stories say that they regenerate much faster than the bride’s maids. They are cold, like the Bride’s Maids, wear armor, and wield halberds. They are dangerous, but if you rest here, for a few hours at least, I think you can get past them. Once on the second level you may encounter more Brides’ Maids, and other members of the wedding party. Some of them are only spirits, but all of them are violent, deranged, and dedicated to the will of the Vampire Queen.

She seems to be finished and turns away from Miagnik, but then looks over her shoulder and says
Omara has brought others to support her, guard her interest. I understand there is a troll or two that wander the halls below, as well as a mad sorcerer, a dwarven man who was driven to madness in his pursuit of Omara’s affections. And lastly, there are creatures that often come up from below that are neither under Omara’s control, nor the Vampire Queen’s, strange things, things often not of this world, and they are a problem for us as much as they may be a problem for you. They can be found anywhere, and they range from strange human-like monstrosities, Omara calls them Orcs, to some things that are impossible to explain. Once a cube of jelly, animated, about the size of a large chest, was found moving though these passageways and devouring everything it came into contact with. It was finally destroyed by a group of goblins who were cornered by the thing. We were never able to find anyone who could explain what the thing was or where it came from, but its touch could paralyze flesh.

Galinea goes to check on her sister one more time, and then tells you, I will go now and make sure that any of the goblins still on this level understand they are not to interfere with you, and that you are under my protection. Rest now, if you have rations, eat, try to heal your wounds. I will do what I can, but only if you keep your word. We all want the same thing, an end to the curse of the Vampire Queen.

With that she leaves the Chamber, taking the two robed goblins with her.

When Windel asks Galinea about her faith, she sighs, and smiles, then takes a breath, and tries to answer his question, politely

Sir, you will not find followers of Een'Droth here, and hardly will you ever find followers of Fath'Reen. I worship the goddess, Nesk’Atheen, or Missreen’Thankap as she is called by your people. She is the one who shepherds the spirits of the dead to the proper realms beyond this world. I obey the will of the Vampire Queen because I want to see her depart this realm, as she should. Fath'Reen, now there is a special one. he is seen by some as weak, by others as fiendishly clever, as he is a consort, or mate, to both Een'Droth, and Rath'Zeen, and somehow survived. Few of my kind openly worship him, as it is known to bring about the wrath of Rath'Zeen, as well as the attention of Een'Droth. So few of my people worship the old gods. Many find comfort in following priests who claim the old gods have been transformed, some of these goblin clerics present new gods who are images of the dwarven gods, in order to bring comfort to slaves, while others claim our old gods have been transformed into new gods of vengeance and war. It is difficult to stay on top of the changes our people are going through these days, as I have been here for almost a year, focused entirely on helping to bring an end to the Vampire Queen's curse. Now you tell me, or suggest to me, that clerics of the false god Zeenthia are claiming she is walking this world, and I wonder if they mean that I am to be their puppet, and I will not be their puppet anymore than I will be Omara's.

She is about to say more, when a revelation seems to cross her eyes

Wait a moment, Fath'Reen, yes, Fath'Reen is the key. He is the only one who has dealt with both Een'Droth and Rath'Zeen. He knows their minds, their wills. He must know the truth of all these deceptions and plots, but how do we speak to him? I know of no clerics of his, nor do I know of any temples where it would be possible to ask for his intervention. There are no idols no rituals I know of

Galinea bows to Miagnik, and says, Forgive me great Miagnik, of course you are right and I will not challenge your followers again

Galinea’s Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Maelodakh, I don't believe even if you tried you could succeed at a Bluff Check here, so...

Galinea notices the way Maelodakh glances at Stephanie and she approaches the Goblin Girl carefully, lowering her voice she whispers

After reflecting on the things Stephanie mentions, she says out loud

There are a few old tomes, some small simple books in the room beyond the secret door there, you are welcome to look at them, but alas there are no books of spells here. However, Omara has many scrolls and books of magic in her quarters.

And when Stephanie casual mentions that the group slept in the Ghost's chamber, and Miagnik, whom she seems to admire, confirms it, she ads

Then there is more to this strange mix of Goblin and Dwarven heroes than I realized. King Heelgodd has been a particularly troublesome spirit for the Vampire Queen. Her power of the undead is unchallenged, even far beyond the necromancer Omara, yet nothing either of them have tried has been effective in controlling good king Heelgodd. He has kept everything and everyone out of his chamber for many years, and normally anyone trying to reason with him is met with the full fury of an angry, restless ghost, but you say he welcomed you? I don’t understand, unless he knows something, something important. I am in no position to ask favors, but please, is there anything he told you that could shed light on his decision to welcome you into his tomb?

You spoke to spirit of King Heelgodd?

I have a book here somewhere, Galinea moves away from Windel, always keeping an eye on him, that mentions the weapon. I think the name is written in that book, but I can’t remember it. What I do remember reading is that the weapon was made many centuries ago, by an oracle, who gave the weapon to a Dwarven hero to be used in the great wars of our ancestors. It is a dwarven book, so naturally it is biased, and does not tell the whole truth, but I do believe that because of that weapon the riding of poisonous Giant Spiders fell out of favor among my people. We still, many of us, maintain ties to our arachnid friends, much like the humans do with their dogs, or the Elves with rabbits, or so I’m told. But there was something else, hmmm, I don’t remember exactly what it was, it has been a long time since I read that book on the history of the Dwarven conquest of this island. Let me see if I can find it for you, but, Windel, here I’ve told you everything I know, and yet still you, and your friends keep your secrets close. Don’t think me a fool, or perhaps you think that we are weak, we are not. I surrendered because I love my sister and I could not stand to see her die. I’ve tried to protect her, keep her out of harm, but she is determined to prove something to the world, prove that she is as fierce as any goblin ever was, but she is not right in the head, and as much as I try to keep her safe, she is her own undoing more than I can bare. If our paths crossed and she was not among the factors, things might have gone very differently indeed. You have the upper hand, now, and you have the advantage of having more than one Goblin among your numbers, who can think beyond the immediate, so if it is your intention to keep secrets, and you think you play me for a game, then you would be best to end my life now, the axe would make it easy, because if your intention is to cross me, or my people, and I live, you will find me a formidable opponent in the future.

Yes, I am, and I should be. Where did you discover that axe? She points at his belt. It was believed lost a century or more ago. Once it was the bane of many tribes of my people, but then, in a most surprising turn of events, the axe was given to a Goblin King as a sign of peace. The one who gave that axe went on to be discredited, and dismissed as insane, and he disappeared from history. Now it turns up in your hands, and why?

Standing up, with one final caress to her sister, Galinea addresses the Dwarf

Of course, but please tell me your name. And as you seem to be one of the more rational of your group, could you tell me exactly why you and these Goblins are here. I assume they enlisted you to help rescue the King, but when did you learn of the curse and from whom?

She then looks down, demurely, but sees something on Windel's belt that startles her. She takes a slow step back away from Windel, and points at the desk.

Her voice cracks when she speaks

There is ink and parchment on the desk

Go into the secret room, there she gestures toward the Northeast corner of the chamber, and see if we have anything of value left to offer these heroes. But first, listen carefully. Our goals have not changed. We still work to help the Vampire Queen end her curse, and it would seem that these Dwarves and Goblins are working together to do the same.

Then she goes to her desk and begins drawing the maps. When Maelodakh asks her questions, Galinea answers as she continues to work.

The Goblins on this level of the Palace answer to me, and they do so because they see me as a representation of one of the Goblin Gods. Omara has friends in other Goblin tribes, ones who are followers of Zeenthia, the mother of all goblin kind. Now, this is complicated, so I will try to be clear. I am not a follower of this Zeenthia. Her priests preach war with the dwarves, which some of us are smart enough to understand is suicide for our people if not further enslavement. But, this form pleases those goblin priests and they go about gathering followers and sending them to me, because Omara tells them that our plans to end the curse of the Vampire Queen will accomplish both our goals. The followers of Zeenthia want to end the rule of dwarves on this island, and I cannot see how Omara is in agreement with that, and that is why I suspect she is using them for her own purpose. Also, the Vampire Queen has made it clear that if her curse is ended this tomb will be open to all who seek the secrets of its deepest levels, dwarves and goblins alike. Now, I hope that a peace can be reached with the dwarves, and I welcome them to delve into these depths with us, but something about the way Omara is plotting, the timing, the things she is collecting, seem to be aimed at some other goal. She has already been down to the deep levels. She knows something that she is not telling anyone. What she knows, what she plans feels wrong to me, wrong for all of our peoples.

Maelodakh, I want you to know that I put myself at great risk to ensure your family would not be harmed. Omara insisted the Goblin king and his queen were to be killed, and a new king selected from among those who follow her and the priest of Zeenthia, but interposed. I went to the Vampire Queen herself, and beg for their lives. I was able to make her understand that an uprising of the Goblins now would put more soldiers in the capitol, even bring more soldiers from other islands, and that would make getting the last two chests impossible, and Omara could not argue with that.

I wear these bracers, Galinea says as she removes them, They belonged to my ancestors, one of whom was a also a Goblin King. I would have you take them. They protect the wearer from harm, to a fashion, and you will need them if you are to face Omara and her followers on the next level. If there are weapons of any use to you, my followers will see to it that you have them.

She stops when Miagnik has a sudden insight and starts talking. She listens to his plan.

Well, part of your plan will work, but part of it will not, She says to Miagnik as she continues slowly sketching out the maps you will need. If you encountered and defeated a Frozen Maiden, then you are truly formidable. Those are not easy to defeat, and you should know they are never destroyed. She will return. And she will come looking for you. There are eight of these Frozen Maidens and they were the bride’s maids. The Vampire Queen was the maid of honor, and I have never seen the remains of the bride, the Vampire Queen keeps her hidden away from everything and everyone.

Omara is due to return here with those chests herself, in one month and one weeks time. If you hurry you might intercept her, even stop her. I thought she was working with the Black Watch, but if they sent you here, without the chests, then maybe I was wrong, maybe she has agents within you organization, I do not know, but she, Omara, and those she knows within the Watch, plan to attack the capitol and take the chests.

I do not want Omara’s followers up here with the goblins, they are abominations, undead of the worst kind, and they will not follow my orders. They only follow Omara, so in that I cannot help you. If you can get the chests yourself, take them to the room I’ve marked with an “x” on this map, on the third level. The other Chests are there, and it is there that the Vampire Queen will perform the ritual that will end her curse. But, and this is important, whatever you do you must find out what Omara has planned. I don’t know why but I cannot help but think she intends to double cross the Vampire Queen, maybe even try to take control of her, other necromancers in the past have tried, but none have succeeded. One of your friends mentioned raising the one the helmsmen loved, and I can only assume that this is a reference to some Dwarven legend, as isn’t the helmsmen the Dwarven god who delivers the souls of the dead to the next realm, he is a companion of Nesk’Atheen, my Goddess, and both serve Karuk, but I do not know this story, or this “on the helmsmen loved” and the Vampire Queen has never mentioned this person or spirit

This map shows you where Omara’s chambers are on the second level. You can get to the second level by going to the furthest northeast corner of this level, there is a stair beyond a burial chamber there, Galinea hands you two maps.

She moves next to the bed where her sister is sleeping and gently strokes her sister’s face as she says this last thing

The Vampire queen needs all of the wedding presents, of the wedding party, to be present when she raises the bride from the dead, and marries her to the spirit of the man she intended to wed. One of Omara’s followers will stand, and be possessed by this bride groom, and the ritual will bring the bride back to her body from beyond this world. When the Bride and Groom are wed, as they were meant to be, according to the Vampire Queen, the curse will be ended, and the souls of all of them, the bride, the groom, the bride’s maids, the wedding party, and she herself, the Maid of Honor, will leave this world and find eternal peace.

Galinea walks right up to Hallister, carrying her sister, who appears to be in pretty bad shape over all, and says to him, I learned that thieves and plunders had entered this tomb, I sent out my best warriors, including my sister to kill these intruders or drive them out. My quarrel was not specifically aimed at you, your friends, or the Black Watch. It is my responsibility to keep this place clear of trouble makers, both for the Vampire Queen’s designs, and for my people. As far as I am concerned you attacked my people and I was defending my home. If you want to kill me, be done with it, death is my domain, and my life is dedicated to the one who delivers the dead to the next realm, Nesk’Atheen, the Goblin Goddess who serves Karuk, if I cannot serve her in this life I will serve her in the next. I blinded your friend, yes, but your priest would have done the same to my archers if he knew the spell and had it prepared I’m certain. It is a tactic that proves very effective. I can remove the curse. There is a scroll in my chamber that has the spell scribed onto it. I have no reason to not do as you demand, and I have no reason to believe you will show me or my follower’s mercy. Would we have shown it to you? I suppose that depends on what is the real reason you are here. Are you plunderers? Are you simple grave robbers or are you with the Black Watch, and if you are, do you seek to destroy the Vampire Queen? I’ve told you everything I know, and you’ve told me nothing. We are your prisoners; do with us as you will. Your priest can use the scroll it is above the desk in there, and there are no traps, no dangers waiting you in there. Let me tend to my sister’s injuries, let me and my followers live, and I will remove the blindness, hear your side of this story, if you wish to tell it to me, and then, if there is common ground between us, we can try to put this incident behind us and work toward a common goal. The Goblins of this island have suffered long under the Dwarf Kings and Queens, I would bring that to an end, through peace if it can be done, but if that is not possible I will work to bring it through any means within my power.

Names, I don’t think I can help you much there. One of the Dwarves she called Captain, and only that. She was cold to that one. He was older, his hair was grey on the sides, and he wore a braid in his beard that was not long. The other, he was a younger Dwarf. His hair was golden yellow, long and worn tied in a knot behind his head. This one she called Doulan, and I think that she and this young Dwarf were lovers. They were here three times in the past year.

There is no schism. I follow Omara’s orders, when those orders are in line with the Vampire Queen’s plans, when they are not, I do not, and she knows that. She gets angry, but even she knows that it is not wise to cross the Vampire Queen

When Hallister comes back from around the corner, and demands answers, Galinea looks up from her sister, and is about to speak. There is a tense exchange between Hall and Miagnik, and Rownig offers his own opinion, then the Spider-woman speaks.

Yes, the Black Watch, I’ve heard them use those words. First, I’m telling you the truth. I do not know the details of her plan. She has been visited by two men, of your kind, Dwarves. It is clear that these two men are members of the Black Watch. They report the order's movements, and dealings to her. She is in league with the order, or her men are spies, I do not care. But this is what I know. The Vampire Queen has been trying to end her curse for centuries. She believes that the secret to ending her curse is to recover the wedding gifts, lost on this island when the bride’s ship was wrecked upon these shores. The gifts are all but accounted for, all but two chests, and those are in the hands of the Black Watch. Omara has instructed her men to place themselves deep in the Watch’s council, and when her forces attack the city they are the ones who must recover the last two chests and bring them here.

Galinea, turns her eyes away from Hallister and cradles her sister in her arms

If I should believe you, she says once she has risen with her sister in her armsThat you are not also puppets of Omara, then perhaps you are puppets of the Black Watch, or maybe you are puppets of some other power, but we are all puppets, my Dwarven friends. All of us dance to the songs of the gods. I do not serve the Vampire Queen because she gave me this body, or because she made it possible for me to be a symbol of our people’s oppression, but because when she is gone, this place will return to what it once was, and that is where my eyes are fixed. This place, a tomb for our kings, was once a holy shrine that was the seat of our people’s power and when the Vampire Queen and her human god are gone from this place our power will return.

Galinea turns to Maelodakh and says, Your father is safe, for now, and he, and the Dwarven Princess are prisoners of the Vampire Queen herself. She keeps them close, for reasons she has not bothered to tell me, but I imagine it must be related to the ceremony she intends to complete once the gifts are returned. Through those doors, she tilts her head toward the doors in the wall to the northwestare my private chambers. I can offer you food and wine, but it is not safe for you to rest her. Omara’s followers pass this way often, from the level below us to the outside world. The longer we stay her, the better the chance all of us will be discovered. Once again, I will not directly stand against Omara, but if you seek to bring her down, I will not only not stand in your way, I will help you, as long as you promise not to try and stop the Vampire Queen

When Miagnik asks his questions Galinea’s head shoots up, and she throws her hair back from her face, her expression is defiant, but not threatening. She looks right at Miagnik and says, That b%!+$ is not in charge of me! Her name is Omara, and yes she is a Dwarf, and she is more than a fool if she thinks sending you to kill me will solve her problems. She thinks she has The Vampire Queens right hand, and orders me around as if I should bow down to her instead of the Vampire Queen. That one, Omara, is plotting something I know it, but I do not know what it is. You may call me Galinea. I know where her chambers are on the next level, I can draw you a map, but I cannot oppose her, directly. I serve the Vampire Queen and in that, I will not disobey. Omara must want me out of the way badly, to send more of her followers to try and drive us out of this place, and you have beaten me, I admit this, and I will leave, you can kill me now or later as she commands you, but make no mistake, my followers and more to come will take up the cause of ending the curse no matter what Omara has planned for herself. If you let me heal my sister, calm her, and see to her care, I will tell you what I know of the Vampire Queen. If you came here to put an end to her curse, and not to kill me, if you serve a greater cause than Omara’s puppets in the Dark Order of followers of Mafolin then you should know that what you seek is what the Vampire Queen hopes for herself as well.

Please, let me go to my sister. I swear to you I will not harm you or you friends, but please let me help her. When she gets angry she pushes herself too far, and she could die. Let me heal her. I’m beg you. Galina says, not moving from her position on the ground.

The Spider-Centaur woman lowers her body even more, dropping both her hands to the floor. She raises her head. Tears are coming from her eyes.

Do as they say, all of you, Her voice is broken and soft, and as she speaks she lifts the chain from around her neck, slowly, with both hands, and places the medallion she wore on the floor.

There is no reason for all of us to die, not today. We surrender. Do what you want with me, but, just don’t kill my sister. She doesn’t know what she is doing. I understand if you must make her a prisoner, a slave, just promise you wont hurt her anymore.

Please, stop, I surrender. Please don’t kill her. Please, please stop