Wednesday, July 5, 2017
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Silas, Krask, and Niko quickly tie up and heal the unconscious elf. The elf refuses to cooperate with the group. A search of his body reveals ten platinum pieces and numerous useful items. The most interesting discovery is a leather-bound journal betraying the elf’s identity. He is Tsuto Kaijitsu, Ameiko’s brother and Lonjiku’s son.
The journal contains detailed plans for the recent attack on Sandpoint. Tsuto’s plans detail how Bruthazmus, the bugbear ranger and “hero” to the goblins, covered the goblins’ escape after taking Ezekien Tobyn’s body. Tsuto likely helped the goblins remove Tobyn’s body before escaping through a network of smuggler caves beneath the glassworks, further supporting evidence that Lonjiku was engaged in shady business dealings. Only a few of the Thistletop goblins perished in the Sandpoint raid.
Tsuto’s journal also bears images of Nualia Tobyn, Tsuto’s lover and the daughter of Ezekien Tobyn. Nualia is a celestial aasamir attempting to undergo a demonic transformation, having already burned her father’s remains at Thistletop Shrine. She wants to rid herself of her “celestial taint” and replace it with her “mother’s grace”. Nualia’s hand has already transformed into a demonic claw. She hopes to offer Sandpoint to Lamashtu’s fire and release a being named Malfeshnekor under her command. The heroes know nothing about Lamashtu or Malfeshnekor, though they could be a demon lord and demon, respectively.
Tsuto refuses to divulge any useful information and whistles loudly. Silas beheads him. Led by the extraordinarily stealthy Krask, the heroes continue searching the basement. They find Ameiko, battered and bloody, in a nearby room. She says that Tsuto is responsible for her state. After reluctantly sharing news of her brother and father’s death, the group leaves Avu to guard her. Another room reveals more evidence of the glassworks’ suspicious activities. Loud banging noises erupt from somewhere nearby. The heroes are unable to identify their source. The final unexplored basement room is bare except for a tunnel, possibly leading to the smuggler caves mentioned in Tsuto’s journal. The Sandpoint Three head down to the tunnel to a small cave.
The cave smells of seawater and is covered in goblin tracks. Krask notices an indentation in the rock and reveals a secret door. The door opens into a network of subterranean passages. A fork splits the cave into a completely blocked eastern passage and a western passage. The western passage appears to have been bricked off at some point, but the wall has since been destroyed. A sinspawn attacks the heroes shortly after they begin their exploration and is quickly dispatched. The party continues along the path, which appears manmade in certain places.
Silas, Krask, and Niko come upon a red marble statue of a human woman in flowing robes. She wears a headdress of hooks and blades and holds a ranseur and a book emblazoned with a seven-pointed star. Niko notices the ranseur is not part of the statue. As he removes it, it clatters to the floor. Krask sees a vargouille floating towards the party from a nearby path.
Where did these foul cave creatures come from? Why would the goblins help Tsuto and Nualia recover Tobyn’s body? Will the heroes ever be able to rest?