Book 1: Burnt Offerings

Saturday, May 4, 2013 @ Bud’s

Day 5, continued:

Beyond the prison room lay a torture room and an ancient study, with cells containing skeletons of deformed humanoids, possibly the result of experimentation and research. Amidst the rubble in the study was a scroll of flaming sphere (CL 5th)

Beyond this lay a large room with numerous frameworks of wood and metal on the floor. On the other side of the room was a three-armed goblin wielding a red glowing longsword, a handaxe, and a dagger. Mackintosh charged the creature, but fell crashing into a pit containing a zombie. The others learned from his error, and stepped around the covered pits. Nymeria tried to help Mackintosh out of the pit with a rope, while he fought with the zombie in the pit, and the others jockeyed for position to attack the goblin, who was screaming incoherently about serving “the Queen” They exchanged a few blows, and the goblin vomited vile acidic blood on to some party members. Echo channeled positive energy to harm the zombies in the covered pits, Oz guarded the room exit, and Nymeria helped by shooting some of them in the face. The goblin was no match for the party, and he went down without much fuss. His weapons turned out to be a +1 longsword, a masterwork cold iron hand axe, and a masterwork cold iron dagger.

The party reinforced the pit covers and continued exploring. They found a spiral staircase leading down, but it had been collapsed, rendering it impassable. They also found a strange spherical room, crackling with lightning and enchanted with levitation magic. The room contained several curious items floating about: a scroll of burning hands (CL 3rd), a wand of shocking grasp (38 charges), and a bestiary of monsters written in Abyssal. Mackintosh ran into the room and floated headlong into the opposite wall, but other than some static electricity making his fur stand on end, nothing else happened.

Exploring another section of the catacombs east of the statue of Runelord Alaznist, the party encountered a pair of floating, disembodied demon skulls with tentacles known as vargouilles. Both of them shrieked loudly upon the party entering the room, but everyone was able to resist the paralytic effect that would have enabled their secondary ability of turning a helpless opponent into a vargouille. Having avoided the chief danger of the vargouille, the party was able to kill them easily. Beyond the vargouilles lay another collapsed stairway, this one leading up.

Exploring the last remaining tunnel, the party found an altar filled with filthy water. Wanga purified the water, but it immediately began to become impure again. Mackintosh, ever the bold and brave cat, scooped some of the water into his waterskin. Upon touching the water, he felt the familiar feeling of rage well up within him, but it subsided. He noted the effect with glee, and looked to take advantage of the effect if the opportunity presented itself.

The opportunity would present itself very soon, because on the other side of the door in the cathedral, a quasit was busy using her blood to create more sinspawn using some strange translucent orange water. Mackintosh drank the water he had collected and went into a rage as he expected. What he did not expect was that the rage would cause him to lose control and attack his companions. The quasit took advantage of this by casting hold person on Nymeria, but the party protected her from a coup de grace by moving her aside and interceding on her behalf. Lisanji and Hildabrandt engaged the sinspawn in melee while Echo inspired courage and Wanga grappled with the enraged feline. The quasit disappeared again, but continued creating sinspawn. While fighting the sinspawn, Lisanji stepped into a pool of water, and went into a rage similar to Mackintosh. However, Hildabrandt managed to disarm her, which reduced her threat considerably. Hildabrandt was badly injured, and made toward a side room, which was safe, but which contained nothing of interest. The quasit began screaming obscenities in Infernal, stopped trying to create sinspawn, went invisible again, and flew toward the door. However, she did not count on Mackintosh smelling her as she passed by, and taking a swipe at her. Oz managed to block her path out the door, and get her into a grapple and finally a pin, which she could not escape from. She attempted in vain to put Oz to sleep, but he was immune to her hex. Eventually, she succumbed to death by a thousand cuts, despite her fast healing and damage resistance. She possessed a handy haversack, a +1 cold iron returning dagger, and a +1 silver ghost touch dagger.

The party determined that the quasit was motivated to escape rather than deplete the resource that was allowing her to create sinspawn by bleeding into the water. The party discussed their findings with several of Sandpoint’s citizens. The Sheriff concluded that there must be a connection between the catacombs and the “recent unpleasantness” and would like to put an end to it. Father Zantus had no special insight into the catacombs, but recommended asking Brodert Quink, who identified the magical water as coming from a minor runewell, which is a magical artifact that feeds on sin. The locations of the runewells had been lost since Earthfall, the event which ended the Thassilonian empire 10,000 years ago. This particular runewell, once belonging to Runelord Alaznist, is powered by the death of nearby beings that are affiliated with the sin of wrath, and there has been a lot of that around Sandpoint lately. This runewell’s power can be used to create sinspawn, but this requires a few drops of blood, and also depletes some of the runewell’s power. As the party explained to Ameiko, they do not know how to permanently destroy the runewell, if that is even possible, but they did secure the area by blocking the passage with stones borrowed from the collapsed stairs.

TL;DR
The party cleared the Catacombs of Wrath, walled up the active runewell, and escaped with an assortment of items. A collapsed spiral staircase leading down may warrant further investigation, but it set off the party’s Threat-O-Meter with a reading of HIGH.

+1 longsword
+1 cold iron returning dagger
+1 silver ghost touch dagger
masterwork ranseur worth 1000g
masterwork cold iron handaxe
masterwork cold iron dagger
Scroll of flaming sphere (CL 5th)
scroll of burning hands (CL 3rd)
a wand of shocking grasp (38 charges)
handy haversack
bestiary of monsters written in Abyssal (It is written up as a 100g treasure, but I am going to make it give +1 to identify monsters)

Again, I forget who took what, or whether it was all decided.

Everyone gained enough experience to reach level 3.

Book 1: Burnt Offerings

Friday, April 26, 2013 @ Debbie & Barney’s

Day 5:

The party explored the catacombs under the Glassworks. A long tunnel led north to a secret door that opened into a cave on the side of a cliff overlooking the Varisian Gulf. A side tunnel led east, but ended in a collapse at the Turandarok River. Another side tunnel led west, and curved north leading into the Catacombs of Wrath.

Upon entering the catacombs, the party defeated a group of creatures (sinspawn) that seemed to be standing guard.

A statue of Runelord Alaznist stood in an intersection, and it possessed a masterwork ranseur, which was as much a work of art as a weapon.

The party encountered another group of sinspawn in a room with wooden catwalks and prison cells. They started the fight hanging from the underside of the catwalks, and though the arrangement of the room was inconvenient, they were dispatched without difficulty.

Book 1: Burnt Offerings

Saturday, April 20, 2013 @ Bud’s

Day 3, continued:

The party returned to Sandpoint from the boar hunt, and delivered the boar meat to the Rusty Dragon. However, the night was rudely interrupted by Lonjiku Kaijitsu, a Sandpoint aristocrat of Tian descent, bursting in the door to start a fight with his daughter Ameiko. No one else in the interfered, but Nymeria stood by her, and when Lonjiku laid his hands on Ameiko, Nymeria tested his aerodynamic qualities through the front door. Lonjiku left in a fury, having been publicly shamed yet again.

A distraught woman, Amele Barret, holding a baby and with a young boy in tow, sought out the party. A goblin was in her house, and attacked her son Aeren. When her husband Alergast attacked the goblin, Amele panicked, fleeing the house with her children to get help. The party arrived in time to dispatch the goblin Gresgurt, but it was too late for Alergast, who had his throat cut and his face partially eaten. The party delivered Gresgurt whole to Daverin Hosk, the goblin-hating stablemaster, who preserved him in a jar to put on display. Daverin also agreed to pay 5 gold per goblin ear, 10 if it came with the goblin’s name.

Upon leaving the stables, Mackintosh drew the attention of Shayliss Vinder, the daughter of Ven Vinder, the proprietor of the general store. She lured him into the basement to take care of her “rat problem” but as soon as they were alone, she got naked. Ven returned to the store before anything further could happen, and Mackintosh was able to hide for the time being. However, his escape plans were less than stealthy, and a melee ensued. Ven chased Mackintosh outside the store, but was tripped in the street while the cat continued to flee. Nymeria laughed her head off throughout the encounter.

Day 4:

Morning came early for the adventurers, as Sheriff Hemlock had some urgent news regarding the goblin threat from Sandpoint’s unofficial town guard, scout, and peacekeeper Shalelu Andosana. Shalelu confirmed that the goblins are growing more organized, and that unless something is done about them, they will further threaten Sandpoint and the outlying areas.

After giving more details over breakfast back at the Rusty Dragon, Shalelu took her leave. Bethana, the halfling maid, appeared visibly upset, and explained that Ameiko was missing. She found a note from her brother Tsuto asking her to come to the Glassworks, which Bethana found deeply suspicious, and asked the party to investigate, and please find Ameiko.

The party found the Glassworks locked, but had little trouble getting in. As it turned out, Tsuto, leading a group of goblins, had killed the workers, and also his own father, Lonjiku, encasing him in glass. They dispatched a large group of goblins in the glassworking room, and found Tsuto in the basement. Tsuto was defeated, but left alive to stand trial. Ameiko was rescued, and will be Sandpoint’s newest noblewoman, and heir to the Kaijitsu fortune.

Tsuto’s defeat revealed the connection between Sandpoint and the goblin threat. He is infatuated with Nualia, the aasimar daughter of the priest who died in the fire. He has been working on behalf of Nualia, stealing the priest’s body to accomplish her transformation into demonhood, and has been planning more raids on Sandpoint to further this end.

Under the Glassworks, near where Tsuto was found, there is a long passageway into the catacombs under Sandpoint, which warrants further exploration.

TL;DR
The party found out more about the goblin threat, and rescued Ameiko from her brother Tsuto, who was behind the goblin raid on Sandpoint. Next up: the catacombs under Sandpoint, found under the Glassworks. And Thistletop.

Each PC gains 1200gp total (200g each from selling random loot and turning in named goblin ears to Daverin Hosk, and 1000g reward for rescuing Ameiko)

The group also found the following items to distribute:

Ring of protection +1
Amulet of Natural armor +1
Handy Haversack
masterwork thieves’ tools

I forget who claimed what.

Everyone’s still level 2.

Book 1: Burnt Offerings

Saturday, April 13, 2013 @ Bud’s

Day 2, continued:

There were some speeches at lunchtime, and at sunset, when Father Zantus took the central podium in front of the cathedral to begin the consecration, the town was attacked by goblins who kept pouring into the square. Between the disorganization of the goblins, and the party’s heroic efforts, minimal harm came to the people of Sandpoint. They rescued one noble named Aldern Foxglove, and even revived his pet dog, for which he seemed very grateful, and promised a reward. They were on their way back to the Rusty Dragon when sheriff Belor Hemlock asked for further assistance. Apparently, the goblin raid was a distraction for some mischief at the cemetery. They investigated the mausoleum, and encountered several skeletons, which they defeated after a mild scare to Lisanji. It was discovered that the mischief was the theft of the body of the priest who died in the fire, by a medium humanoid and a half dozen goblins. When the party returned to the Rusty Dragon, Aldern Foxglove was very interested in hearing all about their exploits, and honored his promised reward, giving the party 50 gold each, and inviting them to a boar hunt.

Day 3:

In the morning, the party accompanied Aldern Foxglove to the Goblin Squash Stables, where he gifted them with one horse and a ranseur each. The ride to the Tickwood Forest was uneventful, and the boars were easy to find. The party was tentative in engaging the boars, and Wanga even began to befriend them. Aldern was baffled at Wanga’s druidic hunting technique, but before long, a large, threatening dire boar arrived to disrupt the boar-love. Lisanji boldly charged the dire boar, and her horse was gutted by sharp tusks. After Wanga managed to get one of the smaller boars to flee into the forest, Mackintosh charged with a devastating greatsword blow, nearly felling the dire boar, who managed to fight on with incredible ferocity. Lisanji finished it off from the prone position, and the other boars fled, with one tasty exception. Nymeria masterfully field dressed the boar meat, which was far more than Aldern promised to bring back to Ameiko. Maybe the meat market in Sandpoint is buying.

TL;DR
Somebody organized some goblins to screw with the festival while they stole a body. Some rich noble they helped gave them money and horses. By protecting Sandpoint, the party gained the town’s trust, and will probably be asked to do some more.

From the goblins, everyone got a potion of cure light wounds, but Lisanji used hers. The goblins also had a lot of semi-salvageable equipment that ended up being worth about another 50g per character.
From Aldern Foxglove, everyone got 50gp, a longspear, and a horse, but Lisanji’s horse was killed by the dire boar. Maybe Aldern will consider replacing it.
From the skeletons in the mausoleum, Hildabrandt and Lisanji got masterwork greatswords.

Everyone got enough experience to attain level 2.

Book 1: Burnt Offerings

Friday, April 12, 2013 @ Mikie & Lisa’s

Day 1:

The party began the day traveling, and introduced themselves to each other on the way to Sandpoint for the Swallowtail Festival, for the consecration of the new cathedral. Upon arrival in Sandpoint, they were warned by the town guard not to murder anyone, or else be arrested to stand trial in Magnimar. Several buildings in town feature damaged woodcarvings of birds, which they learned had been carved by an eccentric named Jervas Stoot, the real identity of Chopper, a notorious murderer. Over the course of a month, Chopper took the lives of 25 people and finally, himself, in a horrific offering to a vile demon lord. Within a month of Chopper’s murder spree, a fire burned the Sandpoint Chapel and several other buildings in town, leaving the town’s beloved priest Ezakien Tobyn and his adopted daughter Nualia dead. The tragic fire and Chopper’s rampage have come to be known as the “Late Unpleasantness,” which the people of Sandpoint are hoping to put behind them with the Swallowtail Festival. The party stayed at the Rusty Dragon Inn, an establishment friendly to adventurers, run by Ameiko Kaijitsu, a former adventurer herself.

Day 2:

The party enjoyed the Swallowtail Festival, impressing the townsfolk with their unnatural prowess at the festival games, including a tug-of-war won in mere seconds, and a dethroning of the reigning caber toss champion, Das Korvut, the surly smith.