I throw a less then hearty wave his direction and look around the town, bored.
With a confused look on his face, Galstok scratches his head. Stopping suddenly, Hmm I need to shave. then speaks. "Um, we haven't told them yet? Wasn't that what we are doing now? Anyways, I think we were talking about sealing those tunnels or going to Thistletop."
"If Kendrick can handle that matter, they can probably be spared the full details for know, especially since the details we have are nebulous at best. I say we stop by at the inn, and see if we can't find out any more about Ameiko's brother or the man his girlfriend is apparently the daughter of."
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To Galstok;
"We've told the Mayor about the murders at the Glassworks, and the tunnels leading below, but not about the creature we met in that lower tunnel, or the stone door."
"We need to find out who Tobin was, and why his daughter would want his casket."
"We need to know what a quasit is, and if this Malfeshnekor is one."
"And we need to find out who built those lower tunnels. Doesn't this town have some old sage who's always poking round ruins?"
"Oh," pausing for a moment, brow furrowed in thought "I musta took a blow to the head down there at some point. I forgot about tellin' the Mayor."
"Drexel, your from here, right? You know who Tobin was?"
"I am indeed here," I say as I saunter up closer to the group. "hum, let me think."
"The theft of a body suggests a cemetary. I can try to pick the brains of the local clergy and than the old scholar while the rest of you investigate other sources." With that, Ensu heads to the new church to see what information of value he can pick up there.
"Someone can come with me if they want."
He recalls, as you walk, that it all started with Chopper and the Fire...
"When Jervis Stoot made clear his intentions to build a home on the
island just north of the Old Light, we locals paid him no mind. Jervis had already garnered something of a reputation for eccentricity when
he began his one-man crusade to carve depictions of birds on every
building in town. Stoot never made a carving without securing permission, but his incredible skill at woodcarving made it a given that, if Stoot picked your building as the site of his latest project, you seized the opportunity. “Sporting a Stoot” soon grew to be something of a bragging point, and Jervis eventually extended his gift to include ship figureheads and carriages. Those who asked or tried to pay him for his skill were rebuffed—Stoot told them, “There ain’t no birds in that wood for me t’set free,” and went on his way, often wandering the streets for days before noticing a hidden bird in a fencepost, lintel, steeple, or doorframe, which he’d then secure permission to “release” with his trusty hatchets and carving knives.
Stoot’s excuse for wanting to move onto the isle seemed innocent enough—the place was a haven for local birdlife, and his claim of “Wantin’ ta be with th’ birds” seemed to make sense. So much so, in fact, that the guild of carpenters (with whom Stoot had maintained
a friendly competition for several years) volunteered to build a staircase, free of charge, along the southern cliff face so that Stoot could come and go from his new home with ease. For 15 years, Stoot lived on the island. His trips into town grew less and less frequent, making it something of an event when he chose a building to host a new Stoot.
Sandpoint was no stranger to crime, or even to murder. Once or twice a year, passions flared, robberies went bad, jealousy grew too much to bear, or one too many drinks were drunk, and someone would end up dead. But when the bodies began to mount five years ago, the town initially had no idea how to react. Sandpoint’s sheriff at the time was a no-nonsense man named Casp Avertin, a retired city watch officer from Magnimar. Yet even he was ill-prepared for the murderer who came to be known as Chopper.
Over the course of one long winter month, it seemed that every day brought a new victim to light. Each was found in the same terrible state: bodies bearing deep cuts to the neck and torso, hands and feet severed and stacked nearby, and the eyes and tongue plucked crudely from the head and missing entirely.
Over the course of that terrible month, Chopper claimed 25 victims. His uncanny knack at eluding traps and pursuit quickly wore on the town guard, taking particular toll on Sherrif Avertin, who increasingly took to drinking. In any event, Sherrif Avertin himself became Chopper’s last victim, slain upon catching the murderer in a narrow lane—known now as Chopper’s Alley—as he was mutilating his latest victim. Yet in the battle that followed, Avertin managed a telling blow against the killer. When the town guard found both bodies several minutes later, they were able to follow the killer’s bloody trail.
A trail that led straight to the stairs of Stoot’s Rock.
At first, the town guard refused to believe the implications, and
feared that Chopper had come to claim poor Jervis Stoot as his 26th victim. Yet what the guards found in the modest home atop the isle, and in the larger complex of rooms that had been carved into the bedrock below, left no room for doubt. Jervis Stoot and Chopper were the same, and the eyes and tongues of all 25 victims were found upon a horrific altar to a birdlike demon whose name none dared speak aloud. Stoot himself was found dead at the base of the altar, having plucked his own eyes and tongue loose in a final offering. The guards collapsed the entrance to the chambers, burned Stoot’s house, tore down the stairs, and did their best to forget. Stoot himself was burned on the beach in a pyre, his ashes blessed and then scattered in an attempt to stave off an unholy return of his evil spirit.
As fate would have it, we would soon have a new tragedy to bear, one that almost eclipsed Chopper’s rampage.
A month after the murderer was slain, a terrible fire struck Sandpoint.
The fire started in the Sandpoint Chapel and spread quickly. As the town rallied to save the church, the fire spread, consuming the North Coast Stables, the White Deer Inn, and three homes. In the end, the church burnt to the ground, leaving our town’s beloved priest Ezakien Tobyn dead along with his daughter Nualia. That is the reason that we now have a new church."
Ensu, deciding he's likely to get more from the clergy if he has better questions to ask, heads to Brodert's house, to properly introduce himself, and see if he can't find out more details on the ruins below, as well as the rituals and creatures apparently involved in this situation.
Valoria
Great Library of Magnimar.
"Wait so his daughter is alive then? Could Stoot's spirit be part of whats happening as well? I think we would need to ask a Wise One about that. Ensu will be able to tell us when he gets back, right?"
Living with her mentor Ferren in Kaer Maga, she was exposed to the ruins of the ancient civilization, resulting her to be inspired with interest in ancient history. She was pleasantly surprised to encounter the sage Brodert Quink in Sandpoint on her journey to the city of Magnimar. Talk of ancient lighthouse ruins Old Light could be actually an ancient weapon, resulted in her going to his home where he had all his research. She listened to his theories, looked at his notes and diagrams he had regarding the ruins in Sandpoint and also discussed other ruins of ancient Varisan.
Hearing a knock at the door, "I believe there is someone at your door wanting some valuable advice from you. We can continue with our discussion afterwards."
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"Wait, so his daughter is alive then? Could Stoot's spirit be part of whats happening as well? I think we would need to ask a Wise One about that. Ensu will be able to tell us when he gets back, right?"
"Tsuto's diary says he's working for Tobin's daughter. Is she a second daughter? Or did she not die in the fire, after all?"
"In which case, who did they bury?"
Hearing a knock at the door, Brodert goes to stand and then sits back down, rubbing his back. "My dear. Would you be so kind as to answer that for me please. Damn back's playing me up something rotten today don't you know."
"Sure, I will let the person in for you.", puts down her tea cup before standing to head to the door.
She opens the door, "Bordert is unable to come to the door right now. May I be of assistance on his behalf? Would you like to see him in person or to deliver something?"
"I have a matter that not only interests him personally, but the well being of the town as well, that I would appreciate his advice and thoughts on."
"Well tthen. Welcome, and please come in.", stepping aside to allow the stranger in before closing the door behind him. As she walks back to her seat, she speaks softly, "His back is giving him some trouble today."
She takes her seat and picks up her tea, only to pause before lowers the cup, "Forgive me. Would you like to have some tea to drink?"
"Perhaps later. I fear that my nerves are a bit too frayed for it at the moment."
Brodert beckons Ensu to sit. "My dear boy, try to calm yourself. Perhaps a tot of something stronger. I'm sure I have a bottle of Chelaxian rum around here somewhere."
"Actually, clarification of what I and my associates have discovered would be better than any drink. I fear that in the process of uncovering the source of the goblin threat, we may have stumbled a can of worms that doesn't end at goblins." With that, Ensu tells the sage about the underground tunnels and the ancient ruins that opened up onto them, and shows him the journal (I'm pretty sure Ensu still has it, I don't recall him giving it to anybody else.) of Amieko's brother. After he gets it all out, he sits quietly, finally sipping on the provided tea. All of the bottled up frustration from the last few days seems to lift as he talks, his eagerness and excitement in engaging in an intellectual discussion taking over and lifting him out of his funk. He even mentions the ruins found on the boar hunt.
The old sage listens intentley, taking in every word, every detail, his eyes fixed on Ensu. When the tale is done, he sits back, scrayching his chin. "Well, this is a turn up, isn't it. I knew of the tunnels used by smugglers. I think half the town knew of those. But this tale that you tell of some older complex...intriguing, most intriguing. From what you have described, I can only assume that they may be of some origin older than Sandpoint itself. Perhaps, dare I say it, even Thassilion in origin. And then there is this site in the Tickwood as well. Marvelous! As for this journal. Well it will warrant further study I think, but on first inspection, it would appear that our dearly departed Priests daughter did not perish in the fire as we had thought. Intriguing, most intriguing. It would appear that the games afoot would it not? I think I would like to have a look at these tunnels if at all possible...perhaps on the morrow? But I would also warn on caution. From what you have shown me, the stealing of a dead mans casket, and the mention of a Quasit...well it points to things that are best left undisturbed. Necromancy and a creature from the lower planes. Very bad. Alas I can shed no light on to who or what this Malfeshnekor is. But it seems that Nualia needs to free him. But from where? Most puzzling. Alas, I am afraid I have been little help in answering your questions. Perhaps there is still more to learn yet..."
"Can you tell me anything about quasits? If we are to face one, I would rather know what I am going up against."
Knowledge planes: for any knowledge on quasits.
Speaks softly once Brodert finished speaking, "Interesting, there are more ruins below the village." Takes a sip of tea, "Brodert, if you would not mind, I would like to investigate these tunnels with you after all I sure they connected to what we have been discussed earlier."
Valoria [
Standing up to get a little more tea, she speaks as she walks, "Oh, by the way. Quasits are simple demons. Often they are used as familiars of power evil mages. So spotting a quasit either means there is a powerful mage or higher order demon that is behind these crimes you are investigating."
Brodert nods his head, "Valoria is quite correct in that. Although not strong in power, a quasit is a tricky little fiend. Nasty and sly are the two words best used to describe the things."
"What a time to have our mage wander off. I suppose we'll figure out something. Thank you for your time, the tea was good, but I have some fact finding tasks to do before checking back with my friends to see if they have ascertained anything further. I suspect what is contained in this journal is just the tip of a very nasty iceberg, one that is going to have to be dealt with sooner rather than later." Ensu bows politely, and leaves the sage's house both relieved to have had a chance to get it all out, and slightly worried that the party may be facing trouble beyond their capabilities. Before looking for his friends, he stops in at the church to see if any clergy are about.
"May I view the journal.", as she picks up the journal from the table, "It may provide us with some clues for when we decide to visit the ruin complex below."
Ensu ponders the question before he leaves. "It's possible. If you can learn anything, let me know. Every bit of knowledge helps."
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"Could Stoot's spirit be part of whats happening as well? I think we would need to ask a Wise One about that. Ensu will be able to tell us when he gets back, right?"
"He may be a while; I gather Brodert is a bit of a gasbag, once he finds an appreciative audience. I think we did right to let him volunteer. We could always drop in at the Rusty Dragon, check if any of the part-timers reappeared, grab a bite to eat, then go see if Stoot's grave was disturbed?"
"Assuming, of course, that they did bury him, and didn't throw his body in the sea."
Valoria reviews the journal, taking particular interest in the sketches of the succubi.
Knowledge planes: to identify the demon type of the sketches and written descriptions.
Valoria
"Wouldn't his stuff been burned in the fire? I suppose it's possible not everything was destroyed, but fire is definitely a hungry beast. I'll go with to church if want to head over after the Mayor's."
Lets out a sigh as she places the journal on the table, "This is very serious. She will eventually sacrifice herself in the end to become a succubus. Best she is destroyed before she completes the ritual, while she is still mortal and weak."
"Brodert, the plans for the destruction of Sandpoint definitely needs to be brought to the mayor's attention, so Sandpoint can counter the planned attack most efficiently.", glancing at the house door, "Hope the gnome returns soon to collect this journal to take to the mayor."