CLOSED Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords, Burnt Offerings

[hewligan]

Father Zantus

Father Zantus shakes his head in incredulity at the cloven skull of the Sinspawn. His brow furrows deeply as he looks around the street worriedly. "You better come inside, before the villagers see this. It will frighten the heck out of them!"

Inside the church he walks quickly towards a side room, pulling the door shut behind you all.

"So what are these catacombs? Are they below us here? Where was the entrance? I bet they lie below that old lighthouse ((there is a large ruined structure in Sandpoint called the Old Light that some people believe dates from the time of the Runelords))."

He shakes his head in worry. "What terrible times. What dark times" he mumbles mostly to himself. Then he snaps himself out of it, as if recollecting your requests.

"Of course, I shall study it. I shall study it, but it is not a thing I know much of. I shall go look in our library, and send my acolytes out to the other sources of knowledge on ancient times within Sandpoint. But, well, I don't hold out too much hope. We are a small town. Really what we need is a trip to Magnimar ... but that is not for now."

And then he changes course.

"Your friends, the other kids, where are they? Did they die battling this thing or are they still down there? We need to tell the mayor. We need to prepare the guard. Something dark lies beneath us ..." He fades off again in thought.

"Leave it all to me. I will raise the alarm with the authorities, do the research, get my acolytes onto this ((he says pointing at the Sinspawn head)). You do what you must."

There is a knock at the door, and when it is answered the young acolyte that first answered to door is standing there. "I ... Father ... do we have any healing potions for sale? I asked around, but nobody knows?"

Zantus looks at him with a creased brow "Why, no, of course not. We don't sell healing potions, we offer the service for free." and then he stop as if realising why the request had come. "You were looking for some healing? Are your friends injured? We don't have potions or scrolls, they are expensive to make and there is no trade for us here. But there is a man, a shopkeeper who trades in these things, I can give you the directions. He MAY have something, but I doubt it!"

 

[frostrune]

You search the room, but unfortunately there is nothing that you can salvage. The papers are strewn around, and badly torn. Although the pages do appear old, and in some cases almost desiccated with age, the damage done to them has clearly been inflicted by the act of some creature.

Eventually giving up the search, you are left with the warped wooden door to the east of the torture room, or the prospect of retreating back the way you cam to the central statue room, and from there taking the unexplored passage south.

OOC: I am interpretting the warped wooden door to be wedged into the jam securing it closed. No one has passed through it in quite some time, correct?

Jokad will examine the door to see if it has been clawed at or battered by the sinspawn.


IC: While Danth and Jovik search through the debris, Jokad drifts toward the bulging door. He gently tests the strength of it and examines the surface for evidence of violence. He then settles in to listen to see if he can hear any thing from the other side.

Listen 16 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1495218/


"How do these things live down here?", Jokad suddenly breaks the silence. "I mean, if they are from an ancient time what have they eaten all these years or why didn't they just die of old age like everything else?"

Jokad is clearly troubled by this and you can tell it makes him uncomfortable.

 

[hewligan]

The door is not jammed shut. It is just warped, and hangs loosely in its ancient hinges. It *has* been opened and closed recently, and the lack of dust or debris near the door attest to this.

You hear nothing.

 

[Rhun]

"How do these things live down here?", Jokad suddenly breaks the silence. "I mean, if they are from an ancient time what have they eaten all these years or why didn't they just die of old age like everything else?"

"I know little of such things," answers Danth, looking up from a few torn pages he is trying to read. "It is not something that was covered during my studies at temple. However, I believe aberrations of this sort can be sustained by the foul magics that create them for long periods of time." The young priest shrugs as he thinks about it. "Or perhaps they were in some sort of stasis, and some event released them. Only time will tell, I suppose."

 

[frostrune]

Jokad nods sagely at the cleric's words though you suspect they have far from settled the matter for the young shoanti.

Waiting for Jovik to finish up search he says, "Do we continue <nodding toward the door> or wait for the others to return?"

 

[Rhun]

Danth Brinfield

"We should probably hold for the others. If there are more enemies about in this place, it would not do us well to face them while our numbers are reduced."

 

[frostrune]

Jokad looks thoughtfully at his wounds and shrugs, conceding the point.

He moves to the old table and tests it for strength . If it doesn't crumble under it own weight he will heft it and put it down in front of the sagging door, like a mini barricade. Not much of a defense but it should slow something down.

Once that is accomplished to his satisfaction he shrugs off his pack and sits down wih his back against a nearby wall.

"So... anybody got anything to drink?"

 

[Friadoc]

"Thank you, Father," says Kael as he is crouched down next to Mal. Kael has been quiet this whole time, perhaps conserving his energy, but also deep in thought. "We shall see what this man has or does not."

Once the directions are given, as well as Mandraiv being ready, Kael and Mal will head out to where the directions lead.

OOC

Kael is just going over the sums in his head, as well as figuring for what he'll try and negotiate for; the coin will be good leverage, but Kael also is known for his mending and magical age, too, so he'll try and get the most "bang for our buck" for the party.

 

[airwalkrr]

"So what are these catacombs? Are they below us here? Where was the entrance? I bet they lie below that old lighthouse ((there is a large ruined structure in Sandpoint called the Old Light that some people believe dates from the time of the Runelords))."

Well, my friend, we are still trying to learn what this place is exactly ourselves. There was a tunnel below the glassworks that led us to it and it is practically crawling with these wretched beasts. I believe we have seen evidence that it leads all the way to the lighthouse, but we haven't found the exit yet. At any rate, we wish to clear out the tunnels now before we rest.

"Of course, I shall study it. I shall study it, but it is not a thing I know much of. I shall go look in our library, and send my acolytes out to the other sources of knowledge on ancient times within Sandpoint. But, well, I don't hold out too much hope. We are a small town. Really what we need is a trip to Magnimar ... but that is not for now."

Well, perhaps when we have finished our trek down below we can arrange for a trip to Magnimar. Either that or send one of the town scholars. There is a great evil brewing Zantus, and knowledge will be key to fighting it.

"Your friends, the other kids, where are they? Did they die battling this thing or are they still down there? We need to tell the mayor. We need to prepare the guard. Something dark lies beneath us ..." He fades off again in thought.

They are safe, for now. We left them to guard the tunnels and make sure none of these monsters come above ground while we gathered supplies. They are not grievously wounded so do not worry on their accord. But we expect to face more battle with the monsters as we journey further, and our magics are become depleted, hence the request for scrolls.

Zantus looks at him with a creased brow "Why, no, of course not. We don't sell healing potions, we offer the service for free." and then he stop as if realising why the request had come. "You were looking for some healing? Are your friends injured? We don't have potions or scrolls, they are expensive to make and there is no trade for us here. But there is a man, a shopkeeper who trades in these things, I can give you the directions. He MAY have something, but I doubt it!"

Thank you, friend. We will visit the shopkeep. In the meantime, if there are any among you who can craft such things, we shall subsidize your manufacture of them as they are useful tools in the fight against evil.

 

[hewligan]

Zantus and The Pillbug's Pantry

Zantus nods at Mandraiv's responses.

"Well, if it is ancient knowledge you need, then Brodert Quink is the one you need to seek out. He is an expert in Varisian history ... a bit of an odd-pot to be honest, and as cantankerous as they come. He has been researching the ancient runes found around these parts, and has some ... strange ... theories about the Old Light and the other ruins in these parts. Still, I recommend you visit him after your current work is done. He isn't exactly a quick talker! Just let me know when you are ready and I can introduce you to him. For what it is worth!"

He then moves towards the door.

"We should go to the Pillbug's Pantry now. If anyone has some healing potions, Aliver will. And if he doesn't, well he should have the components that we need to start working on them for you. How much money do you have?"

He looks at the coins in your hand, his brow creased.

"He is as tight as a clenched fist that man. Perhaps it would be best if we focus on getting the components, and then we can make the potions here. I reckon Aliver may sell you one potion for that price, whereas we can make you 2 or 3 with components bought with the money. We would need time though. Perhaps a day or so. Is that too long?"

Then, before you can answer, his face suddenly changes, as if a thought has just struck him.

"No, wait, I do have something. It isn't much, but it may be helpful. At least until we can get the potions made for you. Give me a moment."

He leaves the room quickly, returning a few minutes later carrying an ornate scroll case.

"This is a cure minor light wounds scroll ((1D8+2)). Not much use, perhaps, but ... well, it is all we have at short notice. I had forgotten all about it, but it was bequeathed to us as part of an estate last year. We have little use of these things given the power of Desna to answer our immediate calls. Take it. Leave me the money. I will gather the components and start working on some potions for you."

And so the meeting is over. You are free to return to the catacombs for now, although a trip to the cranky old sage at some point in the future may be a good idea.