A large cheerful barbarian collects a few silver pieces from a scowling fishing boat captain. "I carried twice as much as the others but you pay me the same. You should not be unhappy with that," Mitnal cautions.
Before the man can respond, a black bird catches Mitnal's eye. "Raven-father?"
"Raven-father! I've been waiting for you," he calls out to the bird oblivious to the strange looks he's getting.
To recap...Items from the floating chamber include:
- A bottle of wine from the Two Knight Brewery,
- A scroll with burning hands,
- An ancient Thassilon book dedicated to the worship of Lamashtu,
- An iron wand of Shocking Grasp with 28 charges.
"I believe I can probably sell off this bottle of wine," Jessa suggests, "Maybe the White Deer would offer the best price for it? This scroll is something I would very much like to scribe for my own someday." She sighs as she ponders the continuing lack of funds in Sandpoint. "I've got to find myself a job or something..." she mutters.
Finally, she perks up a bit and shows everyone the iron wand. "This, however," she explains, "Could really help us. It produces a powerful shock. Something even that quasit probably won't like. If we can find her and pin her down somewhere, I guarantee this will put the odds more in our favor."
Before the man can respond, a black bird catches Mitnal's eye. "Raven-father?...Raven-father! I've been waiting for you," he calls out to the bird oblivious to the strange looks he's getting.
Sitting upon the roof of the Glassworks, Blackwing tilts his head at the sound of a familiar voice. He glances toward the docks and flaps his wings at the sight of Mitnal. A brief second later and he glides down from the rooftop to alight on one of the posts along the pier.
"SQUAWWWK!" he happily greets the Shoanti barbarian. Idly, he wonders where the big man has been? His mistress could surely have used his help dealing with the goblins at the Glassworks...and whatever other trouble she's found for herself.
But then, an even greater concern overrides the dark raven's musings.
"Food?" he asks aloud.
"Food!" answers Mitnal happily, "That's a good thought."
He looks around at the piles of fish guts that will soon get whisked away to make soup at some of the nearby shacks that serve the sailors. "You don't want this slop. How about a trip to the Rusty Dragon?"
He extends his palm full of silver to the bird, "Is this enough to buy us some delicious baked fish?"
Mitnal begins to head towards the Rusty Dragon with Blackwing.
The bottle of wine is not that valuable, in point of fact, its not even that old, having been bottled just the year before. Garridan Viskalai cheerfully offers to pay 1 whole gold piece for it, but Jessa gets the feeling that he is more or less using the wine as an excuse to be charitable.
"You don't want this slop. How about a trip to the Rusty Dragon?" He extends his palm full of silver to the bird, "Is this enough to buy us some delicious baked fish?"
"RAAWWK! More than enough! More than enough!" Blackwing greedily answers as he eyes the silver. Then the bird hops from his perch onto the barbarian's forearm, shuffling his feet until he finds a comfortable position from which to survey Sandpoint as his self-appointed worshipper carries him to the Rusty Dragon.
"Fish-cake! Fish-cake!" the raven happily announces to anyone who passes them on the street.
The bottle of wine is not that valuable, in point of fact, its not even that old, having been bottled just the year before. Garridan Viskalai cheerfully offers to pay 1 whole gold piece for it, but Jessa gets the feeling that he is more or less using the wine as an excuse to be charitable.
"Oh. Is that all?" Jessa seems a bit crestfallen, "Well then...umm, perhaps I'll just hold onto it then. You know, for a...celebration some other time. I just thought...well, I assumed maybe it was a bit older, but perhaps not? I'm not really an expert on such things."
She returns to find Kenzo and travels with monk to help him secure the rest of their purchases. A couple of tanglefoot bags, a cold iron dagger, and some new arrows for her longbow.
"You keep the dagger," she tells him, "You'll do more damage with that than your fists and feet, I think. I'll hold onto this wand so I can zap that quasit when we find her. And hopefully Eugen and Gyorgy can do some heavy damage as well. Let's see if we can find the others at the Rusty Dragon and then we'll..."
Jessa stops in mid-statement and stares down the street.
"That can't be..." she murmurs distractedly, "Excuse me." The girl hurries forward, slipping past people as she overhears the distinct voice of a raven announcing the value of fish-cakes.
"Mitnal!" she calls out, waving as she hurries to meet him and Blackwing again.
"Maybe there are some people in town who'll buy the book. Some folk are fascinated by Ancient Thassilon."
"Just let me wrack my brains a minute...That's it!"
As Gyorgy tries to think of someone who might like the book, Brodert Quink comes to mind.
When Gyorgy approaches the old sage with the book, Quink grows very excited as he looks through the ancient pages. "This is a very rare find. It's an actual book from ancient Thassilon - marvelously preserved. I'll give you a hundred golden angels for it. If it wasn't for the content, it might have been worth more," he tells Gyorgy.
She returns to find Kenzo and travels with monk to help him secure the rest of their purchases. A couple of tanglefoot bags, a cold iron dagger, and some new arrows for her longbow."You keep the dagger," she tells him, "You'll do more damage with that than your fists and feet, I think. I'll hold onto this wand so I can zap that quasit when we find her. And hopefully Eugen and Gyorgy can do some heavy damage as well. Let's see if we can find the others at the Rusty Dragon and then we'll..."
Over Jessa's protests, Kenzo pays her for the cold iron dagger, and purchases her arrows as well. "I'm a monk," he says, with a shrug, "and I've little reason to hang on to gold." His purse considerably lighter after also purchasing one of the tanglefoot bags, he examines it as they walk the streets of Sandpoint.
Jessa stops in mid-statement and stares down the street.
"So, you really think this will work?" he asks skeptically. "I've never heard of . . . .
"That can't be..." she murmurs distractedly, "Excuse me." The girl hurries forward, slipping past people as she overhears the distinct voice of a raven announcing the value of fish-cakes."Mitnal!" she calls out, waving as she hurries to meet him and Blackwing again.
"such a thing," he quietly finishes. Watching as Jessa hurries down the street, so obviously happy to see someone.
As Gyorgy tries to think of someone who might like the book, Brodert Quink comes to mind.
When Gyorgy approaches the old sage with the book, Quink grows very excited as he looks through the ancient pages. "This is a very rare find. It's an actual book from ancient Thassilon - marvelously preserved. I'll give you a hundred golden angels for it. If it wasn't for the content, it might have been worth more," he tells Gyorgy.
"Thankyou, Brodert, it's a deal. Let me know if you find anything interesting in the book."
I get up to leave, then hesitate...
"When she's not so busy you should have a chat with Jessa: she's really into Thassilonian stuff too."
...and then I make my exit.
"That can't be..." she murmurs distractedly, "Excuse me." The girl hurries forward, slipping past people as she overhears the distinct voice of a raven announcing the value of fish-cakes.
"Mitnal!" she calls out, waving as she hurries to meet him and Blackwing again.
Mitnal glances at the raven and whispers, "You're apprentice is coming, Raven-father."
"Jeslara, Blackwing came for me. Is there something to be done? Are you getting Raven Company back together?"
Mitnal glances at the raven and whispers, "You're apprentice is coming, Raven-father."
Blackwing's head twists around to note Jessa's approach. If the bird could roll his eyes, he would. 'Great! Why does she have to show up and spoil my fun everytime? Everytime!"
"Jeslara, Blackwing came for me. Is there something to be done? Are you getting Raven Company back together?"
"Raven Company?" Jessa seems confused as she finally reaches the big Shoanti barbarian, "I have no idea what you're talking about, but it's good to see you again!" She impulsively hugs the warrior, causing Blackwing to flap his wings in an effort to keep his perch on Mitnal's forearm.
When Jessa finally pulls back, she regards her familiar with a suspicious eye. "And where have you been?" she asks Blackwing, "It's been hours since we came back from those tunnels and I haven't seen a single feather of yours. What have you been up to?"
When Jessa finally pulls back, she regards her familiar with a suspicious eye. "And where have you been?" she asks Blackwing, "It's been hours since we came back from those tunnels and I haven't seen a single feather of yours. What have you been up to?"
"AWWWK! Keep watch! Keep watch!" Blackwing replies, innocently shaking his head to stave off any of Jessa's potential accusations.
"AWWWK! Keep watch! Keep watch!" Blackwing replies, innocently shaking his head to stave off any of Jessa's potential accusations.
"Hmmmm...let's hope so," Jessa replies.
She turns back to Mitanl with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry if Blackwing's been bothering you again. But have you heard the news?!" she asks, "Ameiko's father, Lonjiku, was found dead inside the Glassworks. It appears it was the work of more goblins and her half-brother, Tsuto. But you won't believe what else we've found..."
Her eyes grow wider with the telling of the tale. She relays to Mitnal their adventures in the tunnels beneath the Glassworks. As usual, she talks on and on...never realizing that Mitnal probably isn't following along with everything. She describes the hideous monsters they found below, the strange weightless room, the ancient Thassilonian artifacts, and finally, the dangerous well and the quasit that forced them to retreat.
"And so...we're going back as soon as we can," she finishes, "We're going to re-arm ourselves. This time with better weapons and magic. If we can put an end to that thing, then maybe I can finally study some real Thassilonian ruins! I could even get published in the Pathfinder Chronicles! Isn't that wonderful?"
She blinks and then realizes Kenzo has wandered up behind her.
"Oh...I'm so sorry...how rude of me," she says, "This is Kenzo. He's one of the adventurers helping to explore the ruins. He and his friends were also very instrumental in driving off more of those goblins from the Swallowtail Festival. They've made quite a name for themselves with the Sheriff and Mayor."
"Kenzo, this is Mitnal," she tells the monk, "I met him at the festival. He's a Shoanti basketweaver from up north...and a good friend, as well. He helped fend off those goblins, too."
"Welcome to Raven Company. I'm sure we'll put your blade to good use, Kenzo," says the delusional Shoanti raising his right hand over his heart and extending the left to grab Kenzo's elbow.
"Welcome to Raven Company. I'm sure we'll put your blade to good use, Kenzo," says the delusional Shoanti raising his right hand over his heart and extending the left to grab Kenzo's elbow.
"Oh, Kenzo does much more than fight with a weapon," Jessa conveys, "He's a monk. You know, a martial artist...the kind of fighting practiced by Vudran worshippers of Irori and in faraway Tian Xia." Her eyes get all dreamy and distant as she imagines those things and recalls what she's read about them. It doesn't seem to occur to Jessa that Mitnal may have never heard of such religions or distant realms.
"Welcome to Raven Company. I'm sure we'll put your blade to good use, Kenzo," says the delusional Shoanti raising his right hand over his heart and extending the left to grab Kenzo's elbow."Oh, Kenzo does much more than fight with a weapon," Jessa conveys, "He's a monk. You know, a martial artist...the kind of fighting practiced by Vudran worshippers of Irori and in faraway Tian Xia." Her eyes get all dreamy and distant as she imagines those things and recalls what she's read about them. It doesn't seem to occur to Jessa that Mitnal may have never heard of such religions or distant realms.
"The Shoanti have warriors who fight without sword or hammer. Perhaps your people have learnt their arts from us?" says Mitnal. "Jeslara, I promised some fishcakes to Raven-fa ... to Blackwing. Where are the others gathering?"
A quick stroll through town finds a few of my companions chatting to a big Shoanti.
I wander over; "Hi Kenzo, Jessa; I managed to trade that old book to Brodert Quink for a hundred eagles: is there any more gear we need to buy?"
I catch myself: "Sorry, barging in like that... I'm Gyorgy."
I smile and proffer my hand for the big man to shake.
A quick stroll through town finds a few of my companions chatting to a big Shoanti.
I wander over; "Hi Kenzo, Jessa; I managed to trade that old book to Brodert Quink for a hundred eagles: is there any more gear we need to buy?"
I catch myself: "Sorry, barging in like that... I'm Gyorgy."
I smile and proffer my hand for the big man to shake.
Mitnal takes the thin man's hand gently. "I am Mitnal."
"Jeslara, I promised some fishcakes to Raven-fa ... to Blackwing. Where are the others gathering?"
"Umm...you can call me Jessa, Mitnal," she says, "No need for Jeslara. Only my parents ever call me that. As for gathering with the others well, I..."
"Hi Kenzo, Jessa; I managed to trade that old book to Brodert Quink for a hundred eagles: is there any more gear we need to buy?"...."Sorry, barging in like that... I'm Gyorgy."
"Oh...well, apparently, we're meeting right here in the street," Jessa smiles at Mitnal as Gyorgy appears.
Mitnal takes the thin man's hand gently. "I am Mitnal."
"Mitnal, Gyorgy..." Jessa nods as they introduce one another, "Mitnal's a friend of mine. And Blackwing's too, apparently. And Mitnal? Gyorgy is another friend of Kenzo's. He knows a bit about magic like I do, but he's much more naturally-gifted than me. I have to study my books to learn the simplest of spells."
She then goes back to Gyorgy's earlier statement. "So, Quink was willing to pay a hundred gold for that book?! Wow!" she exclaims, "That's fantastic! That'll certainly go a long way toward funding our little expedition. Normally, I'd be reluctant to part with such a tome, but if it's in the hands of Brodert, I know I can always drop by to reference it if I need something. Plus, the real find is those ruins, the statue, and that well under the Glassworks. I can't wait to free that place from the evil influence of that demon. Then maybe I can really learn something about ancient Thassilon!"
"So, have you seen Eugen or Magazin?" she asks, "I'd imagine Magazin will report what we found to Father Zantus. And if I know Eugen, he's off to buy that sword he wanted. Let's see if we can find him down at Savah's. I'm sure you'll like him, Mitnal. And maybe you can help us catch this quasit?" She looks at Gyorgy and Kenzo for acceptance of the idea. "Mitnal's a lot stronger than the rest of us. He ought to be able to pin that thing down."
"Sounds good: let's round up the others."
Gyorgy grins; "I'm still tempted to take some eggs and flour as well..."
"So, have you seen Eugen or Magazin?" she asks, "I'd imagine Magazin will report what we found to Father Zantus. And if I know Eugen, he's off to buy that sword he wanted. Let's see if we can find him down at Savah's. I'm sure you'll like him, Mitnal. And maybe you can help us catch this quasit?" She looks at Gyorgy and Kenzo for acceptance of the idea. "Mitnal's a lot stronger than the rest of us. He ought to be able to pin that...
"A whatzit? I've never fought with a whatzit but if you think I can be of service ..."
He thumps his chest dramatically and winks to Blackwing. With that he proudly heads off away from the Rusty Dragon, does a 180 degree turn and only a little less proudly heads off towards the Rusty Dragon.
The whole of the party meets at the Rusty Dragon, their shopping complete.
I pop into the Rusty Dragon to say hello to Aunt Luba and reappear a few moments later with three eggs and a bag of flour.
"Job done." I grin.
I pop into the Rusty Dragon to say hello to Aunt Luba and reappear a few moments later with three eggs and a bag of flour. "Job done." I grin.
"Not yet," Jessa replies with a smile, "But maybe after we mark the whatzit-quasit with it, we'll be well on our way. Do we have everything? Cold iron weapons. Tanglefoot bags. Spells prepared. The 'shock' wand. We should be good to go, I think."
Mitnal begins looking for Ameiko as soon as they arrive in The Rusty Dragon.
Ameiko is in evidence at the Rusty Dragon. She looks a little more tired than normal, still apparently recovering from the death of her father and brother and the ordeal of being a prisoner. Yet she still greets all with a smile and personally takes the orders of those who rescued her.
She also doesn't say anything about Gyorgy's theft of eggs and flour.
Ameiko is in evidence at the Rusty Dragon. She looks a little more tired than normal, still apparently recovering from the death of her father and brother and the ordeal of being a prisoner. Yet she still greets all with a smile and personally takes the orders of those who rescued her.
She also doesn't say anything about Gyorgy's theft of eggs and flour.
Mitnal is on his best behaviour and glowers at anyone who might behave otherwise, including Blackwing. He orders baked fish for himself and Blackwing and pays for it with whatever silver he earned from working on the docks the past few weeks.
"So," he says to the others, "When do we go beat up the Whatzit?".
"So," he says to the others, "When do we go beat up the Whatzit?".
"After we've eaten, apparently."
Gyorgy shrugs and orders a bowl of the spicy seafood broth, paying a little extra for his 'sundries'.
"I think we should enter through the glassworks again; if anything is venturing out I'd rather drive it toward the sea."
Gyorgy says between mouthfuls.
"Phtfff - this soup's really hot!"
"I think we should enter through the glassworks again; if anything is venturing out I'd rather drive it toward the sea."
"I agree," Jessa replies, "The Glassworks entrance is also the worst possible place for that creature to emerge with any more of those monsters she summoned. I'd hate for anything like that to get into the town itself."
Ameiko accompanies the party to the glassworks once their desires are made known and lets them back in.
As they enter, she glances strangely at the building, her look both determined and sad.
"I never thought I would be the one to run this," she says, almost to herself.
Meanwhile, all is empty inside. Moving again into the tunnels, everything is quite and still.
As they enter, she glances strangely at the building, her look both determined and sad.
"I never thought I would be the one to run this," she says, almost to herself.
"Stay safe. We'll let you have it back soon." I attempt a half-grin that dies as I meet Ameiko's sad gaze.
As we enter I cast light spells on a few stones and pass them round.
After a lengthy absence I rejoin the group. "I feel like I've slept for days while you all have been running about getting things done," I say yawning. I'm ready to go whenever you all are! Also howdy newcomer, my name's Eugen.
As we enter I cast light spells on a few stones and pass them round.
"You could sell these!" says Mitnal looking at the stone excitedly. He wraps it up in piece of leather and puts it carefully in his pouch full of sling stones for safekeeping.
"You could sell these!" says Mitnal looking at the stone excitedly. He wraps it up in piece of leather and puts it carefully in his pouch full of sling stones for safekeeping.
I turn to explain but then think better of it - he'll see how long they last soon enough.
As noted, the tunnels are quiet. Before long the group has reached the intersection, the right-hand passage of which leads to the quasit's small realm.
As noted, the tunnels are quiet. Before long the group has reached the intersection, the right-hand passage of which leads to the quasit's small realm.
"Let's talk strategy for a moment," Jessa suggests as they reach the intersection, "Our first priority has got to be locating the quasit. Then we need to impede it. And after that, we need to damage it and kill it if possible."
"To mark it, we've got my cantrips," she goes on, "And I believe Gyorgy brought a few things for that too."
"To impede it, we've got the tanglefoot bags," she says, holding one up for everyone to see, "I've got a spell in mind that should hopefully ensure we hit her with at least one. I'll try to use it if she flies up too high for us to reach. That way, maybe it'll glue up her wings and she'll fall back down to our level."
"Another way to hold it still would be for someone to grab it...and not let go," she explains, "Mitnal? Kenzo? This is where you come in. You're both strong enough and skilled enough in that area that hopefully you can keep her from flying off or escaping us by turning invisible again."
"Then, after we've marked her and caught her," Jessa finishes, "We have to hurt her. From Magazin, we know there's not a whole lot that can. Mitnal? You and Kenzo should take these daggers. They're made of cold iron, just like Eugen's new sword. These should cut her just fine. But a normal sword or dagger won't. So you've got to use these. In the meantime, Gyorgy and I should have a few spells or so that might damage her, too. We'll try to bring those to bear before any of you close with her. But once you've got her pinned down, there's this wand."
Jessa holds up the iron wand taken from the weightless chamber. "After studying this, I learned it can build up a powerful electric charge. One touch with the tip of this thing and I guarantee that quasit will be shocked...literally. But to use it, I'll have to get close up. I'd rather do that once you have her pinned or held in place. That way I can zap it more easily."
"Lastly, I've got one last spell that should make it easier for a me and one of you to communicate with just the barest whisper, regardless of how far apart we might be. That way, I can offer advice or changes in strategy. Since Gyorgy and I will stay back while you three flush it out, I'd rather target one of you with it. Then, if Gyorgy and I need to give you instructions, I can whisper them to you without the quasit knowing our plan. So, which of you would like to stay in contact with me?"
Then, if Gyorgy and I need to give you instructions, I can whisper them to you without the quasit knowing our plan. So, which of you would like to stay in contact with me?"
"Kenzo?" I ask. "Maybe it makes sense for you to take on that role, especially what with me going berserk sometimes."
"Kenzo?" I ask. "Maybe it makes sense for you to take on that role, especially what with me going berserk sometimes."
Jessa recalls Mitnal's tendency to do that sometimes as well. "Hmm...yes, I think you're right," she concedes, "Kenzo is probably the better recipient. And, if he's going to be our scout with eyes and ears ready to find this thing, it'll be good if he can whisper that back to me. And I can quietly relay it to the rest of you."
As noted, the tunnels are quiet. Before long the group has reached the intersection, the right-hand passage of which leads to the quasit's small realm."Let's talk strategy for a moment," Jessa suggests as they reach the intersection, "Our first priority has got to be locating the quasit. Then we need to impede it. And after that, we need to damage it and kill it if possible."
"To mark it, we've got my cantrips," she goes on, "And I believe Gyorgy brought a few things for that too."
"To impede it, we've got the tanglefoot bags," she says, holding one up for everyone to see, "I've got a spell in mind that should hopefully ensure we hit her with at least one. I'll try to use it if she flies up too high for us to reach. That way, maybe it'll glue up her wings and she'll fall back down to our level."
"Another way to hold it still would be for someone to grab it...and not let go," she explains, "Mitnal? Kenzo? This is where you come in. You're both strong enough and skilled enough in that area that hopefully you can keep her from flying off or escaping us by turning invisible again."
"Then, after we've marked her and caught her," Jessa finishes, "We have to hurt her. From Magazin, we know there's not a whole lot that can. Mitnal? You and Kenzo should take these daggers. They're made of cold iron, just like Eugen's new sword. These should cut her just fine. But a normal sword or dagger won't. So you've got to use these. In the meantime, Gyorgy and I should have a few spells or so that might damage her, too. We'll try to bring those to bear before any of you close with her. But once you've got her pinned down, there's this wand."
Jessa holds up the iron wand taken from the weightless chamber. "After studying this, I learned it can build up a powerful electric charge. One touch with the tip of this thing and I guarantee that quasit will be shocked...literally. But to use it, I'll have to get close up. I'd rather do that once you have her pinned or held in place. That way I can...
I blink away my surprise; "That's, um, really good stuff. Did you have military training?"
"Just to let everyone know - I've not got much that I can do to the quasit, but I should be able to make it really annoyed."
"That's, um, really good stuff. Did you have military training?"
Jessa blushes. "Um...no," she replies, "Just a diviner's analytical obsessiveness, I suppose."
"Just to let everyone know - I've not got much that I can do to the quasit, but I should be able to make it really annoyed."
"My only fear is that all of us may wind up just annoying her," Jessa states, "In which case, well...let's hope we can annoy her to death then."