Oathday, Lamashan 10, 4707; Thistlestop; Late afternoon

We had left the road this morning and were marching through the area the locals call the Pauper’s Graves when the goblins struck. A small swarm of these little vermin ran screaming out from the Nettlewood on our right.

A little better organized than the goblin foes we’d already encountered, this force included a half a dozen archers who formed a line at the forest eaves as their the main force of fighters swept in and engaged us in melee.

Better organized or not, they were still goblins, and we swiftly killed the lot of them with minimal injury to ourselves.

We continued our hike to the coast, a little more warily than before, and soon came to a small bluff overlooking the deep blue waters of the Varisian Gulf. Scrambling down onto the beach we walked northward on the as the land began to rise upon our right.

After about an hour of pleasant walking, the beach became more pebbly than sandy and what had been a gentle rising bluff leading up to the east had become a rocky cliff, which soared ever higher.

The shore line bent around to the west and looking ahead above the hazy mist of sea spray we saw a great headland jutting out to the north and ending in a precipitous fall a hundred feet down to the water. A steep sided island abruptly rose up from the water to the same height, as if some giant among giants had taken his gargantuan axe and cleaved the great gash between island and headland.

We crept along the foot of the cliff for cover and were soon close enough to see that a long and narrow plank bridge suspended between ropes connected the top of the cliff to the island heights. Upon the island itself were vague forms of ancient stone structures, but these were overshadowed by a more recent wooden fortress. Before the fortress walls we could barely make out the shapes of goblins and their accursed goblin-dogs patrolling the perimeter.

Our way west was blocked by a finger of the sea that had flooded a large fissure in the cliff, some ten to twenty feet wide and perhaps a hundred feet deep. The steep walls of the cleft kept the water in perpetual shadow even in the the bright midday sun, but nestled into the far wall we could descry the entrance to a cave at the water’s edge.

Most of the cave was underwater, but because it was already low tide, this was the best time to explore where it might lead. Sabin and Trask volunteered, and after leaving their gear with us they plunged into the cold gulf water and swam over to the cave. A few feet in the cave was completely submerged, and it was dark within, but Sabin having the natural eyesight of his people dove beneath the water and swam in some sixty feet.

There the cave opened up into a natural grotto with a domed ceiling. In the center of the dome was a circular patch of blue from a great natural shaft that climbed straight up to daylight more than a hundred feet above. To the north was another cave that led out to light, and to the south was a ledge some fifteen feet long following the curve of the cavern wall just above water level.

Upon the ledge slept a large half shark and half seal monstrosity! Sabin quietly dove back through the cave and out to where Trask waited, and swam back to the relative safety of the beach.

We decided to back track south a ways to where the cliff was lower and easily scaled, and then make our way along the cliff top to investigate the bridge.

The Nettlewood. Now I know how it got its name. The trees that grow here are stunted, gnarled twisted things that struggle for survival against a vast thick blanket of scrub, thorn and bracken. Passage through the forest would have been impossible but for the animal tracks that meandered through even the densest thickets. These were terribly narrow with a ceiling of dense foliage that forced us to walk bent over.

Eventually we crossed a more substantial track: one that looked as if it were of goblin make that appeared to lead in the direction we wanted. A short while later the track opened onto a small clearing where a handful of other trails all met together.

The trees had thinned out here, finally yielding to the riot of vines and brambles that towered some 20 feet overhead. Set in the wall of thorn before us was a screen of brambles woven into a small barricade that, had it not been so crudely made, might have been intended to disguise the opening beyond.

A small tunnel led through the brambles. Rigel sneaked in and had been scouting about for a few minutes when we heard a tremendous roar echoing out from the thorny hedge followed by the shout of goblins. A moment later Rigel returned and described the forks and openings in the vegetation, but had no idea what might have made that bestial cry.

Sabin, Rigel and I formed a small exploratory party and slowly made our way to the first chamber of sorts to the right of the main tunnel. Peering around the tunnel wall we watched in horrid fascination as a group of goblin guards came into the chamber from an tunnel at the opposite end, dragging behind them a bound goblin who had a look of terror in his little, beady, rodent eyes.

Without a word of ceremony the guards flung there captive down a large hole that was in the center of the chamber. Another roar boomed up from the opening, but this one less demanding and more satisfied than the other.

The guards left and we scrambled forward to look down the hole. As we passed from the tunnel to the chamber we saw that the tunnel in fact led on east, but narrowed such that it was easy to miss. From beyond this thin gap I heard the distinctive growl of goblin dogs from beyond.

We quietly crept past this opening and looked down into the hole. In the darkness we could see the faint flicker of light on water and could hear the thrashing about of something large. Sabin thought that this was most likely the very shaft he had seen from the grotto below, and the great roaring had come from the shark-seal beast he had seen within.

We followed the tunnel back the way the guards had gone and found it ended at the cliff’s edge with a spectacular view of the island to the north, and the rocky shore far below.

To the west was a small side tunnel, and from there we heard the crackle of a fire and subdued goblin voices. We gave that passage a wide berth and returned to the original tunnel and took the left branch, which led to another lookout — this one to the west.

We returned to the rest of the party and hatched a plan to lure the goblin guards back to the hole, where we would be waiting in ambush. Sedjewick used his talents to project the sound of the roaring beast we had heard echoing up from the shaft.

Goblins are creatures of habit, and not known for the deductive reasoning. This worked to our advantage and a moment or two after Sedjewick imitated the roar a pair of goblin guards cautiously entered the chamber. But just as we were about to spring our trap, a large red colored cougar leaped out from the narrow gap before us and right onto me.

It is a good thing that Nolin and Sedjewick were with me, and together we slew the great cat. Just as the cat dropped dead, a scream of anguish came from the brambles to the east. And then the goblins were upon us and as we killed one, the other slipped in through the narrow gap.

The sound of battle wafted in from the northwest as our companions met with a small force of goblins. I raced over to help with those goblins leaving Nolin and Sedjewick to deal with the stray.

Nolin was first through the hedge, but in the room beyond was not one, but two goblins plus half a dozen goblin dogs tied to stakes some two dozen feet away. One of the goblins was crouching down near the dogs, and wielding a blade of flame. The other ran out through a southern passage. The crouching goblin stood and blasted Nolin with a ball of fire.

Meanwhile the rest of us were mopping up the last of the goblins, which freed Sabin to go check on Nolin and Sedjewick. Sabin entered the hedge just as the mage like goblin dropped him with another fire spell, but Nolin and Sedjewick had closed into melee by that time and quickly slew the little fire crazed freak.

A few minutes later and the other goblin was dead.

I healed Sabin and the others injured in the fight, while the goblin dogs were all killed still tied to their posts. We dumped most of the corpses down into the shaft.

On the spell caster we found a handful of interesting items, which Sabin identified.

[115] +1 leather armor (small: only a halfling or another goblin could make
use of it)
[116] +1 cloak of resistance (also small)
[117] potion of cure light wounds
[118] potion of speak with animals (Avia has this)
[119] 2 potions of tree shape (in my pack)
[120] A wand of flames (31 charges): golden metal with flames engraved on it
[121] small spear (in my pack)
[122] small sling (in my pack)

We followed the new tunnel as it bent around to the north, passed an outlook looking east, and ended in a wall of thorns. Unlike the last barrier we encountered, this one looked as if it had been grown here on the spot. No matter, using a hand axe we quickly cut it away and found that the tunnel led out to another overlook, only the rope suspension bridge led over to the island.

On the far side of the bridge was the wooden fort and a heavy double door. Wooden towers rose up from the east and west side of the fort.

We watched as a small knot of guards gathered around one of their companions who had caught a small bird. He tied a string to the bird’s leg and let it fly about while his comrades threw stones at the poor creature.

Must they make wanting to kill them so easy?

Using a silent image of a dog Sedjewick managed to lure the goblins from before the fortress wall across the bridge and into our awaiting arms.

A little more work with his happy puppy and the gates opened, sending another squad of four goblins to throw themselves upon our weapons.

Sabin and I then tied a goblin corpse to a stick, tied a small bow to that, and I made it dance about the northern facing lookout while Sabine shot arrows over at the tower. Arrows came back, and the more we made our meat puppet dance the more arrows came over, until some came back flaming.

That gave us another idea and we set a few arrows alight ourselves before sending them over. Trask joined in on the fun and launched a ball of flame from the wand at each tower, causing flames to burst on its wooden structure.

But other than irritating those in the fortress, we clearly weren’t making any progress on getting over to the island. And we were worried that there might be a secret entrance through which a small horde of goblins could at that very moment be issuing forth to confront us.

We still had one element of surprise on our side: so far all the people in the fort knew was that some rouge goblins have slain guards from the island, and have shot arrows and flames at the fort.

We are now discussing our options, as I make this journal entry. I’ve also sketched a crude drawing of our surroundings so we have it for a reference. I’m afraid the position of the island is a bit off (too far west), but I haven’t the time to correct that now because we have arrived upon a course of action.

Using the small barrier of brambles we hacked down to shield our identity we will move up to the suspension bridge and tie our ropes to it; then we will cut the suspension ropes and let the bridge drop from our side. If we need to we can haul the bridge back up and with a couple of mending spells repair the ropes.

Once we’ve closed off that means of escape from the island we will climb back down to the beach and search for some other way to access the island.

Toilday, Rova 24, 4707; Glassworks basement, Sandpoint; Evening

Earlier today we trudged back into the smugglers’ caves and through the vile complex, used by the followers of Lamashtu, to reach last unexplored area. The door was unlocked, and after checking for traps Rigel opened it.

Beyond was a fairly long and narrow corridor ending in a closed door in the distance. Off to the side was another stairway turret leading down, which was disappointingly blocked by yet another cave-in.

The door at the end of the corridor opened onto a bizarre spherical room. The walls were of red metal. Black electrical sparks arced across the walls, briefly forming Thassilonian words for “wrath”, “kill”, “destroy”, “enemies”; much like the words etched in the walls of the cathedral complex. The entire room glowed with magic.

Floating in the middle of this room were several objects, which were retrieved by magical means.

[109] Dead raven (freshly killed, but with maggots floating about it)
[110] Ragged book: written in Abyssal with gruesome images. Later study revealed it to be Prayer Book to Lamashtu, with information about the creatures often summoned to do her bidding, with a list of strengths and weaknesses for each.
[111] Twisted metal wand with forked tip (later identified as a wand of shocking grasp with 28 charges)
[112] Scroll (magic, but I do not recall what was determined about it)
[113] Bottle filled with red fluid

Sabin tied a rope around himself and while I held on to one end, he drifted out to the center of the room, where he floated safely.

As interesting as all of this was, it brought us no closer to finding Nualia and putting a stop to her evil machinations.

Kyras thought a more thorough search of the woods across the river to the east of Sandpoint was in order, and so Rigel, Sabin and I joined him. What a relief to walk above ground in the pleasant woodlands as the dappled sunlight warmed our faces.

We did find the remains of a crude goblin encampment that overlooked the town, complete with goblin corpses — somebody had been here before us.

Lacking any clear course or better ideas, I suggested we return to the red marble statue and see if it held any clues.

It did, but not what we were expecting, and not helping with our current quest at all. Thinking that the statue might be positioned over a secret entrance we tipped it over. There was nothing but the bare stone floor beneath the statue, but on the underside of the statue’s base was inscribed the name “Alaznut.”

Sedjewick thought this was the name of a Rune Lord. Ancient history, and its presence here may predate the taint of Lamashtu… or in some sinister way be some how part of it and our quest. More questions, but no answers.

Trask’s regular reports to the Sandpoint Guard did yield some help in the form of one guardsmen, Barret, who was sent to watch the entrance to the tunnel complex from the goblin barracks to the north. This was one less thing for us to worry about, and we welcomed Barret and helped him settle into his post.

It is now evening, and Avia, Sabin and I are remaining in the Glassworks basement to keep watch, while Nolin, Trask and Kyras returned to their rooms at the Rusty Dragon. Rigel accompanied Sedjewick home — hmm.

Toilday, Rova 24, 4707; Glassworks basement, Sandpoint; Late Evening

Another entry for the day: there was a goblin in the middle of Sandpoint!

Indeed the filthy little bugger was hiding out in the home of a local family;right in the closet of some poor lad. Kyras thinks he set up a nest of sortsthere after the raid some nights ago, and had been foraging out at nights.

The boy had been complaining of monsters in his closet, and when his fatheropened the door to show him it was safe, out lept the goblin, dog-slicerslashing, and with a snicker-snack off went the father’s head!

The mother grabbed her two children and ran off to the Rusty Dragon, screamingfor help. Fortunately our trio of fighters were on hand, and after sendingword for the rest of us, ran to the goblin infested house. It turned out tobe an infestation of one, which Nolin and Kyras swiftly killed.

Sedjewick thought it might be a Thistlestop goblin. We alerted the townofficials and recommended they search Sandpoint for other goblin nests beforeanother innocent family fell victim.

Wealday, Rova 25, 4707; Glassworks basement, Sandpoint; Morning

With no new leads for us to follow or imminent threat to thwart, there has been talk of training. While I have no new skills to learn, my companions all do, but there is concern about the cost of hiring those skilled enough to teach. We are not wealthy and have little enough gold for daily expenses.

However, I have a plan, and am off to talk with the local Sages’ Guild.

Wealday, Rova 25, 4707; Glassworks basement, Sandpoint; Afternoon

All has worked out almost as well as I had planned, and we now have gold enough on hand for everyone to complete their training.

My idea was simple: rather than have father Zantus bury the underground complex, why not put it to good use?

Quinq, the local head of the Sages’ Guild was interested in what we had found beneath the Sandpoint, and agreed to pay 1,000 gold pieces if we could obtain permission for them to have exclusive access to the ruins. In addition he will find a buyer for the red marble statue of Alaznut for a commission.

Mayor Deverin is happy with the arrangement, as is Sheriff Hemlock (who returned from Magnimar earlier), because the tunnels will now be under constant watch.

Father Zantus was reluctant to agree to this arrangement at first, but the idea of dedicating the old cathedral complex to Desna seems to have won him over.

One odd bit of news from the sheriff (courtesy of Trask) is that he did indeed find out why the north gate was unguarded and unlocked on the night of the goblin attack: Lonjiku Kaijitsu (Ameiko’s father) had paid someone handsomely to ensure the way was clear.

Was this really Lonjiku’s doing, or Tsuto’s done in the name of his father?

Wealday, Lamashan 9, 4707; Sandpoint; Noon

It has been two weeks since my last entry, and while my companions have spentthe time training, I have worked with Father Zantus on dedicating the cathedralcomplex to Desna. Father Zantus has been filled with glee because Lamashtu andDesna are such bitter enemies.

Some of us have also made copies of the bestiary portion of the old book, andI gave a copy to Father Zantus.

This morning, however, has not gone so well.

We finally met with Ameiko to explain about the Sages’ Guild access to thecaverns (they will use a different entrance and the access via the Glassworksbasement will be sealed).

We also wished to discuss any information about her family to see if there wassomething there that concerned Nualia that had been overlooked.

During these discussion Kyras handed over the rather incriminating papers wehad found in the Glassworks safe while we were routing out the goblins andsearching for survivors.

Some of us were taken quite by surprise by this act, because the papers alsospelled out the wrong doings of the notorious Scarnetti family, who have anasty reputation in the region for evil deeds.

Avia and I were quite vocal in our disagreement with Ameiko taking thedocuments, and a great argument broke out among us. In the end Kyras walkedout in disgust — leaving us forever.

Ameiko left with the papers in hand (looking rather smug, I thought).

It seems there are two sets of laws in this land: a benign system willing to overlook justice for the reputation of the wealthy; and a stringent inflexible system for the rest of us.

Wealday, Lamashan 9, 4707; Sandpoint; Evening

Still reeling from the loss of Kyras, we all meat as a team this afternoon and decided upon a course of action.

It seems clear from Tsuto’s journal that Thistlestop is where Nualia has spent much time, and so it is for there that we shall embark in the morning.

May Sarenrae grant us the light to find our path.

Oathday, Lamashan 10, 4707; Sandpoint; Morning

We are about to leave. We plan to take the The Lost Coast Road up to the border of the Nettlewood, and then cut across the open country before the wood to the coast. From there we shall stealthily make our way up the beach to Thistlestop itself.

Moonday, Rova 23, 4707; Glassworks basement, Sandpoint; Late Evening

A moment’s rest after the battle in the underground cathedral and we were once again ready for action.

Our first order of business was to search the body of the little imp-like daemon, where upon we found the following items.

[100] curved dagger (magic)
[101] tiara: a rub like gem set in a circlet of silver
[102] black silk gown, embroidered with the symbol of a seven rayed star
[103] bracelets (poorly made and of little value)
[104] necklace (matching in quality to the bracelets), with an obsidian holy
symbol for Lamashtu dangling from it

Sedjewick concluded that the seven rayed star represented the seven deadly sins, and from what we had already seen of the place, we agreed.

The runes and language used in this cavern complex was Thassilonian, which I had learned while exploring the ancient ruins of Magnamar. Sedjewick also knew this tongue, and together we translated the runes that had been carved over every square inch of the cathedral walls as invoking or celebrating hatred, warfare, murder, wrath and the like.

The two small doors opened unto small closets, one of which was empty and the other contained ancient and tattered robes and a cheap ceremonial dagger. All were old and had not been used for a very long time.

Despite being tired, bloodied, and mostly out of spells, we decided to press on with the exploration of the caverns.

We gathered in the statue room, where Rigel peered intently at the heavy iron bound wooden door and muttering something about iron mongery.

Meanwhile Nolin and Trask took the eastern passage that led up a series of short steps before ending at another door. Nolin boldly opened the door and found a small circular room with another shallow, circular pool of water encircled with skulls set on spikes. Hearing comments about the door Rigel was looking at, the two rejoined us in the statue room.

With a small click, Rigel unlocked iron bound door and then, almost as an after thought, pressed her ear against it. Hearing nothing she silently opened the door and we peered into the gloom within to see a large chamber with a wood walkway leading from the door off to the right. Stairs on either side led down below the boardwalk. The unmistakeable sound of steel against stone echoed up from within.

Rigel crept out to the edge of the walkway just as Avia quietly announced the presence of evil within the room. Two of the clawed creatures pulled themselves up and slashed at Rigel, who quickly retreated back to the door.

Moving fast, Sedjewick shot one as Avia and Nolin charged in, each slicing at a foe. Sabin and I also entered the fray and the we over powered the creatures, efficiently slaying both.

Rigel and I descended the stair case and realized we were in a prison, with cells lining the perimeter. Skeletons with rotting fragments of clothing clinging to their boney remains were all that we found.

The walkway to the east, however, led to a torture chamber that was well equipped with rusting cruel devices for inflicting pain and agony. To the south a doorway opened into a small chamber with three more doors. To the east a door opened to a set of long stairs heading down into large dark space, ice cold, and reeking of corrupted flesh.

Out from the darkness a pair of red glowing eyes flashed in our direction and a booming voice yelled “None shall invade my chamber!” Avia bravely descended the stairs with myself, Sabin and Kyras close behind.

Waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs was a giant of a goblin, but with extra deformed appendages protruding from unexpected areas. The sight of it was sickening, and it gathered itself up as we advanced and spat a huge globule of blood at Avia, which hissed and sizzled like acid.

The four of us hacked at it viciously, and it dropped under our onslaught.

Now that we were down in the room we could see that there were some eleven pits carved into the floor, each with a rotting wood lid, and each containing an animated corpse; honestly, who thinks of these things and then goes through the effort of creating them? We quickly killed the zombies, and looked over the remains of the bizarre goblin giant, where we found a handful of useful items.

[105] long sword (magical)
[106] hand axe
[107] Silver dagger (Trask is now using this)

The room also had a passage leading south, but we decided to wait until our team regrouped before tackling another unknown tunnel.

All this while Rigel and Sedjewick were busy in the small room to the south, where they found that each of the three doors had a symbol representing one of the seven deadly sins. Within each cell were the skeletal remains of a sadly disfigured human, one with a misshapen skull, the next with an elongated rib cage, and the last with three arms.

The floor of the room was littered with torn bits of paper with writing, which Sedjewick and Sabin determined were instructions for casting arcane magics.

We gathered together in the torture room and discussed our next course of action, and decided to explore the circular room Nolin and Trask had found.

I found myself in the lead as we trudged back to the statue room and then up the stairs to the round room. No doubt these circular pools ringed with skulls have some significance that is eluding us. We stared at the pool for a while, feeling somewhat easy about the smears of dried blood along the rim and speculating over what it might mean, and then turned our attention to the stone door on the opposite side of the room.

As I opened the door some giant bat-like creature fluttered into the room and attacked, but it was quickly dispatched by Nolin, Sabin and Trask.

A short hall with a short flight of stairs up ended at another door; this one locked. Rigel stepped up and worked her own brand of magic on the lock and opened the door. Beyond was a turret with steps leading up, but the way was blocked a short distance on by a cave in. We guessed that the top of the turret at one time must have opened onto what is now Chopper’s Island.

It was now so late that we decided to return to the Glassworks for the night and continue our exploration in the morning. We retraced our steps back to the basement and set a watch.

Sabin used this time to identify some of the items we had uncovered earlier.

[ 90] potion of Cure Light Wounds (Kyras has this)
[ 92] +1 ring of protection (Nolin wears this)
[100] +1 returning curved dagger (in my pack)
[105] +1 long sword (Avia wields this)

Moonday, Rova 24, 4707; Glassworks basement, Sandpoint; Late Morning

In the morning light it was decided that we should report to Mayor Deverin and Father Zantus.

I met briefly with father Zantus and quickly updated him on what we had found since our last meeting. I took the little daemon-imp corpse as evidence, which certainly got Zantus’ attention! While I omitted Tsuto Kaijitsu’s name, I did let Father Zantus know that it was a town insider who helped stage the attack on Sandpoint, and shared with him the contents of the diary, especially where it pertained to Nualia and her father, Tobyn. I also explained how Nualia’s hatred of her heritage had spilled over to encompass all of Sandpoint, and while the attack we had expected had not occurred, this plan had likely been disrupted by our interception and execution of her partner.

Father Zantus was most interested in the underground cathedral, and I have promised to bring him there later so he and his clerics can destroy the place.

I met up with Trask, who had a meeting with the mayor as I spoke with Father Zantus, and asked how it had gone. He appeared to blush, as if his conversation had not gone quite as smoothly as he would have liked, but I gather from his stuttered reply thatthe mayor was now suitably informed of our actions and status.

We are now back in the Glasswork’s basement, preparing for another trek into the tunnels to explore the southern passage we had skipped the night before.

We’ve decided that depending upon what we find there, we should consult with Ameiko to see if she can offer any insight into what we have found since we last spoke.

Moonday, Rova 23, 4707; Glassworks, Sandpoint; Evening

Rigel crawled through the broken window into the glassworks and unlocked the door from within. We quietly filed in, alert and listening for the goblins she had seen through the sky lights.

We found a small troop of the filthy savages in the main work room of the glass works. Kilns linedg the near wall, ranging from the smaller units closest to us to the largest unit at the far end of the room. All were blazing away with an achingly beautiful red light and casting a hazy shimmer of hot air into the room.

We had no time to plan an elaborate attack, and so Nolin tossed a thunder stone into the room and closed the door. There was a tremendous “boom”, after which we opened the door and charged in.

Many of the goblins were stunned, but more ran over from across the room. Fortunately we now had experience fighting these little pests, and quickly exterminated the lot of them. The fighters did most of the heavy damage and slaying, while the rest of us provided cover or support.

After a quick search for signs of what the goblins had been up to we found a grim scene. In an alcove near the center of the shop was a man sitting in a chair and encased in molten glass.

It was hard to discern features beneath the wavy rivulets of glass that had been poured over his body, but he was an older human and well dressed. I shattered the glass that had entombed him and discovered that it was Lonjiku Kaijitsu, the owner of the founder and Ameiko’s father.

The bodies of his workers were stretched out on elsewhere in the shop, with signs that they had been there for a couple of days. The goblins, it appears, had been slicing off body parts for food, or in some cases just gnawing on the corpses where they lay.

Kyras opened the door to the north, which led to a loading room where supplies arrived and shipments of the glassworks wares sent out. In addition to the obvious accoutrement for such a room there was a large safe, which was open and empty with the key still in the lock.

Trask led a small group back to the hallway near the entrance to explore from one side while Kyras led the rest of us through the northern rooms.

It was Trask’s group that found the remaining goblins. Two were snoring loudly in the kitchen, and were swiftly dispatched by Trask and Rigel.

Other than disgusting messes the goblins had left and the blood stained beds in the workers’ dormitory, we found no surprises beyond what we had encountered in the work shop.

During our exploration the town guard showed up, and after being informed of the depredations of the goblins and the death of the Kaijitsu family patriarch, they left to report our findings.

The rooms found, from roughly south to north, included (see my quick sketch of the floor plan):

• The circular public entrance
• A hallway leading from the entrance into the heart of the factory
• A storage closet used to store finished wares
• Storage closets for miscellaneous supplies and tools
• A dining room (ransacked by the goblins)
• A pantry (looted by the goblins)
• A privy (fouled beyond belief by the goblins)
• A kitchen (also ransacked)
• The workers’ dormitory
• A storage room containing treated wood
• A store room for glass making raw materials
• A formal entry room
• Customer meeting rooms
• The loading room
• An office!
• Ominous stairs leading down!

In the office Avia found a desk with a locked drawer. Rigel was able to open it, although she felt the sting of a poison trap in the processes, and within was a small box. The box was also locked, and as it turned out trapped, and Rigel used her nimble fingers to open that as well.

Paperwork. Papers in an odd, foreign language. None of us could read them, but Sedjewick used a Comprehend Language spell and found they documented some significant unsavory, unethical and immoral business dealings between the Kaijitsu and Scarnetti families.

We then turned our attention to the stairway, and headed down into the gloom.

Actually the stairs opened onto a corridors and storage chambers, and there was already the comforting yellow glow of a torch burning cheerily away and providing us all with light enough to see.

Near where a smaller corridor joined with the main passageway by the stairs was a jumble of rock and stone work. It looked like an old wall had been torn down fairly recently. Sedjewick said much of rock beneath Sandpoint was riddled with old tunnels used for smuggling, but they had been sealed up long ago.

Beneath the torch were crates and barrels of additional glass making supplies, plus a few tools scattered about here and there.

While the main corridor bent south in a lazy L shape from the stairs, a secondary corridor led off and back to the main, following its own L shape and making a rectangle of rock in between. Along the outside walls of this secondary hallway were four doors; two on each wall.

Kyras opened the door nearest the torch and found a collection of finished glassware, apparently awaiting shipment.

The next door was locked, at least until Rigel applied her unique set of skills. This door opened onto another store room; only this one held a bound and gagged captive. It was Ameiko! We untied her and healed some of her injuries. As she came to she began to talk.

Her words were filled with bitterness and hatred for her half brother, Tsuto. And little wonder. When she arrived she found the place overrun with goblins, and he brother Tsuto calling the shots. He had her bound and gagged and he looked on and gloated as the filthy little beasts beat and kicked her. Finally she was thrown down into this storage room until she could be dealt with later.

And Nualia. She had control over Tsuto, and together they conspired to bring about the complete downfall of Sandpoint, which they hated to near insanity. It was Nualia who had united the goblins and brought them in to do her bidding.

Sedjewick led Ameiko out to the light, where he looked over her as she rested and recovered from her ordeal.

The next door Kyras opened was for an office, and within, sitting behind a desk, was a half elvin man, slumped over the desk. He sat up as we entered and demanded “Who are you?”, to which Kyras replied, “Better question, who are you?”

Of course we already new, but he arrogantly proclaimed himself as Tsuto Kaijitsu, owner of the glassworks. When Nolin countered that the glassworks belonged to Lonjiku Kaijitsu, Tsuto staggered to his feet and attempted to strike Nolin. Nolin returned the favor by knocking Tsuto down onto his pointy half elvin ass.

We hauled Tsuto over to meet his dear sister, who promptly grabbed Rigel’s sword and lunged at him. We managed to hold her back and drag him into one of the storage chambers. There Sabin and I pretended to be in Nualia’s pay and sent to rescue him, but he wasn’t fooled, and he gloated that he would be with her that very night.

Fine. It was time to rid the world of this goblin’s pimple. We dragged him back to Ameiko and allowed her the honor. They spoke briefly in their native tongue and then Ameiko stabbed him through the heart.

Ameiko said his last words had been “She will raise me from the dead.”

Thinking there was no point in making Nualia’s task any easier, we stripped Tsuto’s body and threw it into the largest and hottest of the kilns, where the fierce white hot fire consumed it, leaving a scant puff of ashes that went up the chimney and scattered on the night breeze.

Back in Tsuto’s underground layer we searched his desk and found a number of interesting items, including an odd leather bound journal.

Included in the journal were maps of the city of Sandpoint, each annotated with what looked like plans for an attack. In fact one of the plans was exactly what had taken place a few nights before.

A note after this battle map stated:

The raid went about as planned. Few Thistletop goblins perished, and we were able to secure Tobyn’s casket with ease while the rubes were distracted by the rest. I can’t wait until the real raid. This town deserves a burning, that’s for sure.

After the last of the maps the following was scrawled:

Ripnugget seems to favor the overwhelming land approach, but I don’t think it’s the best plan. We should get the quasit’s aid. Send her freaks up from below via the smuggling tunnel in my father’s glassworks, and invade from the river and from the glassworks in smaller but more focused strikes. The rest except Bruthazmus agree, and I’m pretty sure the bugbear’s just being contrary to annoy me. My love’s too distracted with the lower chambers to make a decision. Says that once Malfeshnekor’s released and under her command we won’t need to worry about being subtle. I hope she’s right.

After the maps were some rather disturbing and explicit drawings of Nualia, and near the back of the journal she was sketched as a succubus. After this last image Tsuto had written:

My love seems bent on going through with it — nothing I can say convinces her of her beauty. She remains obsessed with removing what she calls her “celestial taint” and replacing it with her Mother’s grace. Burning her father’s remains at the Thistletop shrine seems to have started the transformation, but I can’t say her new hand is pleasing to me. Hopefully when she offers Sandpoint to Lamashtu’s fires, her new body won’t be as hideous. Maybe I will luck out. Succubi are demons too, aren’t they?

Although Sabin recognized “Bruthazmus” as the name of a small demon, the only thing clear from the journal was that Sandpoint was to face yet another larger attack, possibly this very night!

Here are the items we found on Tsuto or in his office (or from above):

[90] vial (potion) (Kyras has this)
[91] composite short bow, +3 to damage (Nolin is using this)
[92] ring (magic) (in my pack)
[93] thief’s kit (Kyras has this)
[94] flute (very pretty) (Kyras has this)
[95] silver earrings (in my pack)
[96] leather bound journal (Sedjewick has this)
[97] pouches of power (Ameiko claimed these)
[98] pouches of power (Ameiko claimed these)
[99] the business papers from the glassworks’ office

In the remaining unexplored room adjacent to Tsuto’s office was a small room with a tunnel leading to the north and the stench of goblin wafting out from it.

Ameiko has left for her home and Kyras has gone to warn the city guard.

Rigel, Sedjewick and I ran to the cathedral to warn father Zantus. We explained what we had found at the glassworks and how Nualia was indeed alive, and the actual daughter of father Tobyn. We urged him to prepare for an attack on the town that very night, only this time against more than just goblins.

We described the battle plan and added that we were heading down into the goblin tunnel to head off the attack from that quarter. And with that we raced back to the glassworks, joining Kyras on the way back.

And now here we are, gathered together before the tunnel entrance and about to plunge into its rank and dark depths. Kyras is to lead us as we walk single file, and so I have cast a Light spell on his helm.

I will be marching in the middle of the pack, and am hoping to sketch our route as we navigate these passages so we can easily retrace our steps, or at the very least avoid getting lost.

Moonday, Rova 23, 4707; Underground cathedral, beneath Sandpoint; Night

The tunnel reeked of goblin and was crudely carved into the native rock.

We followed it as it stretched to the northeast some 500 feet, where it joined with two other passageways. We took the left (north west) tunnel which bent to the north after some distance, after which we passed through the remnants of a demolished brick wall.

A short distance later some unholy aberration sprang out into the tunnel. It fixed us with its evil glowing red eyes as it jumped forward on its dog like legs. It slashed at Kyras with its claws at the end of skeletal thin, long arms. It had a large distended mouth filled with razor sharp teeth, and hanging from its bottom jaw was a small hand.

Kyras struck back at it, and Sabin tossed his axe, which struck it squarely in the face. Nolin let lose with an arrow that sunk deep into its eye where upon it dropped dead.

We pulled the dead thing into the crudely carved chamber where it had been standing guard and left it there to rot.

A hallways with smooth cut walls opened onto the main tunnel just north of the creature’s chamber, and we followed it in to where it led into a small room with a door on the north wall.

Beyond the door was another hallway that bent west and north again, passing another hall heading east before finally ending in an almost triangular shaped room.

This latter room had a door in the north wall, and another passageway leading east, with steps leading into the darkness. In the center of the room was a giant statue of red marble depicting a stunningly beautiful woman in flowing robes. In her left hand was a large book with a seven pointed star on the cover, and in her right a nasty looking ranseur. Despite her great beauty, her face was contorted in anger.

Judging from Tsuto’s journal, this was not Nualia.

We then realized that these tunnels did not stink of goblin as the main passageway had, and so fearing that a horde of the obnoxious vermin might pass through while we were occupied here, we returned to the main corridor.

The center, most goblin scented tunnel led to a blank wall, but by searching carefully I found a secrete door, which opened onto a large cave that looked out over the sea. It would have been a beautiful location were it not obviously being used as goblin barracks!

According to Kyras it had been several days since the goblins were here.

We returned to the junction and took the right hand tunnel, which led to an impassable collapse.

Fearing that we had failed in our duty to prevent an attack from the tunnels, we returned to Sandpoint and poked our noses out, mole like, to sniff around.

The city was still at peace, and so we returned to the tunnels and to the unexplored rooms and hallways we had left a short time before.

We found that the main tunnel ended abruptly just after the opening into the statue room, and so we concentrated on the first hallway we passed as we came north.

That hall stretched on to an odd shaped room with a dais on one side with a block of black marble resting on it, and a short hall ending in a grand pair of double doors on the other side.

The black slab of stone was an altar with a shallow depression on top filled with dirty water. Avia claimed it was evil, and I washed away the filthy water with a spell of Create Water.

Meanwhile Kyras cracked open one of the double doors, and a creepy blue light flashed into the room. He quickly close the door and we gathered around, prepared to face whatever evil lurked within.

The doors were flung open and we charged in. It was bitterly cold.

The room was an immense underground cathedral with a glowing blue pool in the center, and steps leading up either side to a pulpit at the far, semi-circular shaped end. A small triangular boiling pool glowed red from the pulpit. Surrounding the blue pool was a ring of spikes topped with human skulls.

A tiny demon floated above this pool, and it turned around as we entered and shrieked, “How dare you intrude upon the Mother’s sanctum!”

It then flitted over the blue pool and slit its wrist, letting the blood drip down into the glowing liquid, which dropped in intensity. The demon looked a bit worried as it did the latter, and not knowing what it was planning, we pressed our attack.

The demon drifted back above the pulpit as a creature like the one we met in the tunnel climbed out from the pool and attacked Nolin.

Avia mounted the stairs to the pulpit and slashed out at the demon, which was floating high above her.

Kyras, Trask and Sabin all used ranged weapons, but even when they hit they appeared to have little or no affect on the damned thing. And in the meantime Nolin was getting the crap beat out of him by the monster from the blue pool.

I used a create water spell positioned above the demon, and as the two gallons splashed down it plummeted to the floor, where Avia proceeded to hack at it. It turned invisible, but this made no difference as Avia continued to hit it.

And yet another creature crawled out from the blue pool just as the first had been slain.

We managed to kill the second creature just as Avia hacked the life out of the little demon.

Nolin looks rather cut up and in serious need of healing, but we fared better than I had imagined we would, given the difficult nature of hitting the demon and actually causing it physical harm once we managed to strike it.

I wonder if enchanted weapons might serve us better when fighting such foes?

In the calmness that follows battle I see that there is a door on either wall adjacent to the main double doors.

We shall explore soon, but I am left wondering about the “Mother”, who was mentioned in the journal and by the demon. Could that be her statue in the other room. Who and what is she, and what are her plans for Sandpoint?

Sunday, Rova 22, 4707; Sandpoint; Half past the noon hour

The morning came grey and cold as I awoke chilled in my small cell. I threw back my bedroll and looked about my home of the past several months as if with new eyes. The walls, beams and cot were all cut from soft wood felled not more than five years ago, and the entire place smells strongly of saw dust, pine resin, and roofing pitch.

The age old stone walls of my old cell in Magnimar provided a feeling of security. The oaken timbers and furnishings burnished smooth over time by contact with the hands and feet of the countless others who had come before me. Our quarters smelled not unpleasantly of stone dust, wood polish and sweat, made all the more pungent by the heat of mid summer days.

In the winter we were allowed small fires for warmth on the coldest of days, lit in small iron braziers that lined the hall outside our cells. While the heat was modest, just the soft glow of embers was enough to warm our souls and spirits and we counted ourselves fortunate to follow Sarenrae, goddess of light and fire.

Here at the Sandpoint Cathedral there will be no fires in the winter or any other time. Only the great Cathedral itself is of stone, and the surrounding support buildings are all of wood. I have a disturbing image that these wooden buildings are like kindling that burns quick and easy so that the mighty log, the Cathedral, might burn too.

Over five years ago this very horror took place, and that event had brought me here to help Sandpoint begin anew. But instead dark memories have been dragged forth to loom over Sandpoint like a shadow from the past.

Kyras was out this morning with Bart the Beagle Breeder trying to track down the place from whence the goblins entered the town yesterday. It is hoped that by finding the source, we might find who within the city used the goblin attack as a distraction so that father Tobyn’s grave might be plundered.

I spent much of the morning helping Father Zantus prepare for today’s dedication of the Cathedral. Unlike the big public affair of yesterday, this will be quite a small ceremony with just the clergy, the mayor and sheriff present.

I took advantage of my time with Father Zantus to question him about Father Tobyn and the horrific events of that dark day some five years past. I was surprised at some of what he revealed.

Father Tobyn had a daughter, Nualia, who was a foundling whom he took in and cared for as his own child.

Nualia was uncommonly beautiful; so much so that some in the village thought she must have been touched by the gods. She was treated with a disturbing mixture of reverence, fear, awe and envy from the locals of Sandpoint.

She was constantly touched, rubbed, poked, prodded, had her hair pulled out and clothing torn off in patches by those who thought she was in some way divine herself, and so sought to gain blessings by association with her.

Likewise she was constantly touched, rubbed, poked, prodded, had her hair pulled out and clothing torn off in patches by those who thought her beauty must have been gained from some evil deed or pact (or from the just plain envious), and so sought to punish her.

For Nualia, life in Sandpoint was unpleasant at the best of times, and sheer torture at the worst.

Father Tobyn had greatly hoped to bring Nualia into the church by having her join the sisterhood at Windsong Abby. Nualia was not as enthusiastic over his plans for her future as he, and the two frequently argued. And so the relationship that should have been a safe haven for Nualia became yet another trial to endure.

It was little wonder then that she should take up with a Varisian stranger who arrived in town sometime around Nualia’s 18th birthday. The two of them spent a great deal of time together, much to Father Tobyn’s chagrin, and some of the locals were certain that their relationship was of a romantic nature.

Father Zantus then spoke in a much lower voice about the rumors spread among the midwives some time later.

Apparently Nualia had been confined to her quarters from some months and not seen by any of the towns folk for quite a while. A midwife was called over to the Cathedral, an unusual event in and of itself, and she tended to Nualia as she gave birth to a still-born child. The midwife was charged with quietly slipping out with the tiny corpse and over to the bone yard, where the poor little thing was buried.

Only the poor little thing was reported to be a hideous monster, such that the midwife used the term “daemon child” whenever she talked about that evening.

A very short while later the entire Cathedral burned to the ground. The fire had started in the sleeping quarters, where both Father Tobyn and Nualia were asleep in their own cells.

Father Tobyn’s remains were recovered and buried with his few modest possessions. Father Zantus paused here and asked, partially to himself, “and so why would the goblins dig up and take his entire coffin?”

Nualia’s remains were never found, and she was presumed to be completely consumed by the fire.

I had listened to Father Zantus with a feeling of growing dread and horror, and I felt chilled as he completed his tale.

How could the fire only partially burn Father Tobyn (he most likely perished from the smoke) and yet completely burn Nualia’s body to ashes?

A daemon child still-born just days before?

This was all related in more ways than Father Zantus, or indeed most of the locals were willing to admit.

And why would someone want to take Father Tobyn’s entire coffin with so little of material value buried within?

I had a sinking feeling that it was Father Tobyn himself that was goal of this theft, and feared the worst.

The silence following Father Zantus’ tale was broken as Nolin and Trask entered and urged Father Zantus to move the dedication ceremony an hour earlier. Nolin reasoned that if it was the dedication of the Cathedral that was the target of yesterday’s goblin attack, then we could expect another disturbance today.

Father Zantus countered that this would be a small private affair and only the city officials and clergy knew of it. I quickly pointed out that it was certain at least one city official was involved in the goblin raid, and Father Zantus reluctantly agreed to the schedule change, providing Mayor Deverin and Sheriff Hemlock agreed as well.

Avia, our trusty paladin, quickly escorted Deverin and Hemlock back to the Cathedral, where Father Zantus completed the consecration ceremony with most of us “Hunters” standing guard.

To keep up the appearances of holding the dedication at noon, I conducted the Blessing of the Mid Day Sun to honor Sarenrae.

Again, there was no interruption; thus confirming my belief that the goblin attack was simply a distraction provided so Father Tobyn’s coffin could be stolen.

Afterward the the mayor and sheriff approached us and asked if we would meet them in the Town Hall at 3:00, where they wished to discuss the goblin attack. Apparently our work both in fighting the petite pugnacious pests and our subsequent investigation of the raid had gone neither unnoticed nor unappreciated by the city officials.

It is now nearing the hour past noon when we Hunters are to meet at the White Deer and discuss strategy for unraveling this mystery.

Sunday, Rova 22, 4707; Lost Coast Road west of Sandpoint; Night

The White Deer was also destroyed in the fire of the “late unpleasantness”, and had been rebuilt into a lofty three story establishment of stone and wood. At the entrance on either side was the statue of a deer, carved from white wood. Within was a a spacious great room, but our company elected to meet in a private room towards the back of the inn.

There we learned from Kyras that the dogs could not pinpoint the location from where the goblins entered the city. It was as if they just appeared in the central business district, and from there fanned out.

We decided that our next step was to track the goblins that fled from the city’s north gate, with coffin in tow.

Picking up the trail was easy, partly because there were over a dozen of the little buggers skittering up the road, and partly because their attempts to cover their tracks were so utterly incompetent. After a short distance the foot prints of little goblin feet veered off the road and into the wood to the south. Tracking became more difficult as the light prints of our quarry left little mark in the deep mulch of the forest floor.

Eventually Kyras lost the trail and we retraced our steps back to Sandpoint for our meeting with the mayor and sheriff.

We were shown into a meeting room of the Town Hall where Mayor Deverin and Sheriff Hemlock were waiting for us, along with a slender elven woman. Hemlock introduced her as Shalelu, an experienced tracker who worked in a unofficial capacity for the Sandpoint Guard, and who was an authority on the local goblin tribes.

Until now I had considered goblins to be like roaches: an unorganized infestation that if left unchecked could have serious consequences for public health.

Imagine my amazement when Shalelu described how the local goblin population was divided into five semi-organized autonomous tribes! While occasionally a single tribe might stage a small raid on a small city the size of Sandpoint, more often than not they limited their depredations to isolated farm holds. Their more serious skirmishes were restricted to attacks on rival goblin tribes.

Shalelu emphasized how the tribes loathed one another and simply did not get along. She then paused and said, “All five tribes participated in yesterday’s raid on Sandpoint.” She told of other goblin attacks within the past 24 hours as well, including a local farm that had been burned to the ground just this morning.

Something new was in the area and organizing the goblin tribes into a single cohesive (for goblins) unit. Someone or something that instilled fear and awe into the “weeds that bite”, as Shalelu called goblins, was controlling them.

The sheriff chimed in and said that because of the change in goblin behavior and the threat it posed to Sandpoint, he was leaving for Magnimar that day to hire additional guards. He noted how the locals had come to know and respect us for or help in the battle, and the mayor asked that we keep a high profile presence in Sandpoint while the sheriff was gone to keep watch and help maintain calm.

We agreed to help, and then shared what little information we had gleaned from the Sandpoint attack. Shalelu agreed to help track the north-west bound group. And so just a few hours after having left the goblin trail we were back in pursuit, with Shalelu in the lead and Kyras lending assistance.

The trail continued through the woodlands, making for the highlands known as Ravenroost, and the Tickwood forest beyond. As we neared the feet of the highlands Shalelu paused and said that the trail split there. One track led south to plateau called the Devil’s Platter, where one goblin tribe lived, and the other track led north back toward the road.

We opted to follow the northern track, reasoning that the group heading south was returning to its tribe, while those that went north carried the coffin to its destination.

A short while later Shalelu paused again and said she saw human sized boot prints accompanying the goblins. We continued on for an hour or so more before Shalelu lost the trail in the dim light. We were near enough to the road that we pushed forward and set up a small camp by the road side, waiting to see what the morning light might reveal.

Kyras, Avia, Sabin, Rigel, myself and Shalelu all remained in camp while the rest of our party returned to Sandpoint to uphold our agreement with the mayor.

The twilight has come and gone, and the stars are out, playing hide and seek among the thin strands of cloud that sweeps overhead. The fire has died down to orange red embers which give little light, but ample warmth and comfort. There is just enough light to write by, and soon we will fall into the nightly routine of rest and watch.

Moonday, Rova 23, 4707; Lost Coast Road west of Sandpoint; Morning

The morning fire crackles hot and bright as we cook our late breakfast. We were up with the first crack of light, and Shalelu found the goblin tracks (plus boot prints) heading out from the woods and up onto the road. There they stopped abruptly. No doubt a wagon or carriage of some sort was waiting and picked them up. Whether they traveled east back to Sandpoint or west we could not tell: too many tracks led to and from the city for the The Swallow Tail Festival of two days past.

We will wait for our companions and accompany them back to Sandpoint, where we will continue our investigation as best we can.

Shalelu will leave us ere we depart, as she has her own business to attend to away south.

Moonday, Rova 23, 4707; The Rusty Dragon, Sandpoint; Late afternoon

On our way back into Sandpoint we checked out a couple of landmarks just in case they were being used as a hangout for the goblins or the goblin ringleaders.

First stop was The Old Light, a ruinous tumble of stone blocks perched upon a bluff overlooking the sea. Other than the wind rustling among the ranks weeds pushing up between cracked masonry, there was nothing there.

The next stop was Chopper’s Island, a promontory thrusting out from the ruins of The Old Light, and accessible on foot in all but the highest of tides.

As we stumbled about the island two of our native Sandpointians (Sandpointites? Sandpontonians? Sandpointers?), Nolin and Sedjewick, wove a tale from the local lore of the infamous Chopper.

During the late unpleasantness local wood carver Jervis Stoot went insane and killed 25 people, hauling their bodies back to his home on the “island”. There he gouged out their eyes and cut out their tongues to lay on an altar shaped as a monstrous, bird like creature. Chopper himself was found dead at the base of the altar, with his eyes and tongue missing.

From the description of the altar the creature sounded like a daemon to me, and I wonder if Chopper was really a crazed killer or an unfortunate victim.

The towns folk had burned everything to the ground and destroyed what hadn’t burned, and so there was little to find here.

Still, there is no way that Chopper’s murderous rampage could be unrelated to the fire that burned down the northwest half of Sandpoint, the death of Father Tobyn, and the disappearance of Nualia. Just how this all ties together is beyond me.

We drifted back into town, checking in the the guard, and then heading down to the Rusty Dragon for a drink and a chance to talk together about all we had found thus far, and to mull over the even longer list of unanswered questions we had uncovered.

We never ordered the drinks, for soon after entering the tavern an elderly halfling woman, who introduced herself as Bethana, came over to Kyras and begged for a moment of his time. She escorted us into a private room where she turned to Kyras and sobbed, “Mistress Amiko is missing!”

Amiko is the owner of the Rusty Dragon, and apparently the daughter of Lonjiku Kaijitsu, the owner of the Sandpoint Glassworks. There is a lot of odd family history that Bethana shared that included her disgraced brother, Tsuto; her mother, Atsuii, who died in a mysterious accident (some say murdered at the hands of Lonjiku); and the fact that for all but Tsuto Amiko had turned her back on the family.

Bethana became concerned when Amiko failed to return to the Rusty Dragon the previous evening, and so became alarmed this morning that she entered Amiko’s room and found a note written in the odd and intricate script from the far east. Fortunately Bethana could read the script and translated the note for us.

It was from Tsuto, Amiko’s brother, and he implicated his father in the latest goblin raid on Sandpoint and begged that she meet him at the family glassworks that evening.

We received permission from Bethana to search Amiko’s room, where it appeared she had left as if to run an errand from which she would shortly returned. The fact that she left alone and so quickly made it likely that the letter was from her brother, and she went trusting its authenticity.

We are heading over to the Glassworks to search for Amiko or any sign of her where abouts, and to see if there is indeed a connection between the goblins and Lonjiku Kaijitsu.

Moonday, Rova 23, 4707; Glass Street, Sandpoint; Early evening

It is dusk and the sky is quickly deepening from turquoise to cobalt. I take a few moments now to record what we have found in case I do not survive the night.

We arrived on Glass Street to find the Glassworks closed. Aptly named is Glass Street, because the factory dumps all of its broken glass onto the street before it, where it is ground to a round pebbly rubble by the passing of heavy iron shod wagon wheels and the tramping of countless workers heavy boots.

None the less, there are many sharp shards embedded in the road, and no children run bare foot up and down the road, nor do dogs or farm animals stray this way.

Rigel quickly scaled the side of the stone building and peered down into the shop below, where she saw from the ruddy glow of the forges more than a dozen goblins capering about on some mad mission of chaos.

Kyras slipped away to notify the town guard, and we have forced open a window that looks into the dark office of the glassworks.

Rigel is about to climb in and open the door so we may all enter and confront the goblin menace.

Mid Summer’s Day, the Road from Magnimar to Sandpoint

The sun has just set and the fireflies are dancing about us on this warm summer’s evening. I have met up with a small caravan and am traveling to Sandpoint with it, having bartered my services as a guard and general laborer for room on one of the wagons and meals. The lanterns have been lit, and the camp fires are glowing red and hot, with the evening meal nearly ready.

What better time to begin writing in the journal that Father Tyrion gave me upon our parting. I no longer doubt his decision to send me to away from the Temple in which I have trained all of these years to better learn about the world, and so better serve Sarenrae and my fellow man.

The day was as warm, almost hot, but still pleasant as my fellow travelers and I made our way up the road as it climbed out from the Yondabakari River Valley. Slowly we left behind the fields and pastures of my youth, and the umber smudge on the horizon that marked the location of Magnimar itself winked out from view.

Funny how leaving the place I have known all of my life has filled me with nothing but excitement and anticipation of what is to come.

Late Summer, Sandpoint

I can see that it takes some discipline to keep a journal… or at least to keep one up to date and relevant. I am afraid with the joys and distractions of the road to the wonder of my new home in Sandpoint, the thought of taking time to write about living when I could actually be living has kept me away from these pages.

I shall endeavor to do better in the future.

Home for now is the clerics’ cells built adjacent to the Sandpoint Cathedral, and while austere and humble, they provide more than enough comfort for my simple needs.

While Father Zantus is the high priest at the cathedral, there is a chapel for Sarenrae, Desna, Abadar, Shelyn, Gozreh, and Erastil. Father Zantus himself is a follower of Desna, and much of the public character of the Cathedral reflects that. A Desna celebration, The Swallow Tail Festival, will be used as part of the Cathedral dedication.

For the most part my tasks have involved helping prepare the Chapel of Sarenrae for the Cathedral’s official dedication ceremony to take place on the first day of autumn.

I have had plenty of free time to wander about the city and to get to know some of the local people and establishments. There is a quaint shop near the Cathedral, The Way North, that sells books and maps, and they also sell a nice little map of Sandpoint (drawn, from what I understand, by the Pathfinder Society) which I purchased for a silver piece.

I have annotated the map with numbers drawn onto some of the more significant points of interest, for which the following key should prove most useful.

1. Cathedral complex (or where I call home)
2. The Boneyard: the cemetery
3. The White Deer: a nice high end inn — good hard cider!
4. The Way North: book store and seller of fine maps
5. Jewelry Store. The store keeper made me feel nervous
6. Junker’s Edge: salvage yard
7. The dung sweeper — he’s a half orc: pretty neat!
8. Quink: specializes in engineering and Varsian history
9. Locksmith (a real dwarf!)
10. Garrison
11. Town Hall (has a large meeting space)
12. Armory
13. Risa’s Place. Run by old Risa herself. Locals like it, but I felt like
    I wasn’t part of the crowd and so not very welcome
14. Tannery. Fortunately the wind seldom blows up from the southeast!
15. The Red Dog: the smithy
16. Pillbug’s Pantry: medicines and potions — remember to stock up here
17. Bottled Solutions: alchemical supplies. Smells odd, but kind of fun too
18. Cracktooth’s Tavern: the pub for the theater crowd
19. House of Blue Stones. This is an awesome monastery with really deep blue
    polished stones for the floor
20. Sandpoint Glassworks. One of the big industries in town. The Kaijitsu
    family own and operate it: apparently they are from some far off land
    and brought the secret to exotic glass making with them
21. Sandpoint Savories. Great brioche, but not crazy about the meat pies
22. The Curious Goblin: book shop
23. Sandpoint Theater. Never been there, but they tell me it’s nice
24. Carpenter’s Guild
25. Lumber Mill
26. General Store. You need it, they got it. Mostly
27. Turandarok Academy. Local school for boys
28. Madame Mvashti’s House. A seer
29. Grocer’s Hall
30. Fine Clothing. Too rich for my blood (or money pouch)
31. Wheen’s Wagons
32. Flour Mill. Owned by the Scarnetti family, who according to rumor
    may practise not so ethical business practices with their competition
33. The Hagfish. Popular inn for gamblers, but serves really good seafood
34. Valdemar Fish Market
35. Market Place (open air)
36. Meat Market & Slaughterhouse. Owner likes to talk a lot. Says he met
    “Chopper” and got into an argument. Says chopper sliced off one of his
    fingers, but I wonder if he lost in plying his trade
37. The Rusty Dragon. Main spot for out of towners. Good place to watch
    people and listen to tales
38. The Goblin Squash Stables. Run by Daviren Hosk who really, really hates
    goblins. Has a pickled goblin chief inside. How can you not like him?
39. The Two Knights. Brewery and distillery
40. The Sandpoint Mercantile League. Shipping and transport
41. The Sandpoint Boutique. General store
42. Fat Man’s Feedbag. Attracts a rough crowd. Best to avoid
43. The Pixie’s Kitten. Independently owned and operated
44. The Feathered Serpent: incense, spices, relics, artifacts
45. Hannah’s: Midwife and healer
46. The shipyard
    South across the river:
47. Valdemar Manor
48. Scarnetti family residence
49. Kaijitsu Place (cool looking from the outside)
50. Devron Manor (the Mayor’s home)
    Last Day of Summer, Sandpoint

Sandpoint is filled to near bursting with visitors who have come to witness or participate in the official dedication of the Cathedral. Most of the inns are full, and people are letting out rooms. The pubs and inns are now always packed at meal times, and crowded at all hours of the day. There is a general air of excitement and anticipation in the town that I find almost intoxicating.

It has been a busy past few weeks as we at the Cathedral prepared for this big event.

Avia, a paladin of Sarenrae, has arrived and has been helping out as well. Like most of the other paladins I have met, she seems to be reserved and a bit unapproachable, but maybe she’s been too busy to socialize.

Tomorrow the dedication ceremonies will run all day, with the mayor, sheriff, Father Zantus and other dignitaries all giving speeches. Food and beverages will be provided by the local inns, and at the end of the festivities Father Zantus will conduct the Swallow Tail Festival itself. There is a covered wagon filled with thousand upon thousands of butterflies awaiting release as part of the festival.

I hope I can sleep with all the excitement!

First Day of Autumn, Sandpoint — early afternoon

It has been a most dramatic day so far, with the enthusiastic crowd gathered in the square before the Cathedral.

On a side note, local hunter Kyras, who provides much of the game to the local public houses and inns, is gathering a party to take on a large hunting expedition for the next few days. He has asked Avia and I to come along, and we have agreed. Kyras knows of a large family of wild boar in the woods to the northwest, and we are planning on bringing back as many as we can catch.

While Kyras’ incentive is mainly profit, the local eateries have nearly exhausted the town’s food supplies for the dedication events, and so bringing in additional meat will be welcomed gladly.

We are to meet at the White Deer tomorrow afternoon and head out for a few days until we fill two carts with our catch. I look forward to testing my hunting skills, and exploring the area around Sandpoint.

Kyras has gathered an eclectic group of people to join him on this little expedition, and I had a chance to talk with them today.

Sabien is a half-orc (again, how cool is that) who wields a hefty double bladed ax.

Nolin is a human from Magnimar who wields a sword.

Rigel is an archer, and so she shares that skill with Kyras’ himself.

Avia is skilled with the sword.

I use the scimitar, of course.

I believe a local bard named Sedjewick was interested in coming along, but more so to hear (or witness) tales of daring do which he can immortalize in song.

Food and drink are now being served, and at sunset the official dedication will take place.

First Day of Autumn, Sandpoint — early evening

Sandpoint is in an uproar, the Festival of the Swallow Tails in tatters, and the Cathedral dedication incomplete.

Just as the Festival was beginning we were invaded by a host of goblins.

At first we only heard screams coming from the outskirts of the crowd gathered in the square, but soon we saw hordes of these skittering, gibbering vermin racing about the place, slaying whatever was small and in their path.

Quickly we “hunters” launched a counter attack, joined by Sedjewick and one of his friends, Trask.

A wagon burst into flames as even more goblins charged in as the panicked crowd surged away from the main thrust of the goblin attack.

We engaged perhaps a half a dozen of the little beasts and managed to slay them one by one when perhaps a dozen more charged in from either side. While the little bastards are small, they are fierce, fast, hard to hit, and like to gang up on their opponents.

We managed to slay this lot as well and take stock of our group and the surrounding area.

Trask lay dying on the cobbled stones. Smoke, screams and the sound of battle wafted up from the south. The Cathedral itself was protected by a squad of clergy, including Father Zantus, and the bulk of the town guard had charged south into the heart of the town.

I managed to stabilize Trask just as Father Zantus ran up and healed most of our seriously injured. Nolan suggested we head south into the main fray when we heard more screams for help from the north.

Leaving a seriously injured Kyras at the Cathedral, the rest of us ran to the north, where we saw a rather large goblin mounted on a hideous dog-like creature (I thought it looked more rodent than canine) being held at bay by a large hunting dog, its master hiding nearby behind a rain barrel.

The poor dog was killed just as we arrived, and a troupe of goblins ran out and began feasting on the dog’s corpse.

We immediately attacked, slaying both the dog like creature and the chief goblin the rode it. The other goblins were also slain, and so after receiving the thanks from the frightened villager, we returned to the Cathedral to see where else we might be needed.

While most of the fighting had subsided, many buildings were in flames, and my new found friends and I helped to extinguish them.

By this point in time the rest of the goblins had either been slain or driven off, and so we went back out with Kyras to see if we could discover from whence the goblins had come.

Oddly enough, although it was apparent that the main force of goblins started attacking in the southern part of the town, there were no signs that they had used any of the bridges to the south or even the east to gain access to the core districts of Sandpoint.

Even more odd were the prints of a few dozen goblins that had entered the northern gate and made its way directly to the cemetery. There the fiends had broken open a tomb and robbed it of all its remains and its possessions. The name on the tomb was Tobyn.

Even I recognized that name: Father Tobyn was the high priest of the old Sandpoint Chapel, which had been burned to the ground during the “late unpleasantness”. Father Tobyn had burned with it.

We then wondered about why the northern gate was unlocked and unguarded, and so we tracked down the sheriff, Hemlock, and told him what we had found. Hemlock was most distressed to hear that the gate, which should have been both guarded and locked, was neither. He checked the work sheet for the day and found that nobody was listed for gate duty!

We pointed out that the attack was obviously an inside job, and was most probably intended as a distraction so Father Tobyn’s tomb could be plundered.

But why?

And from where did the bulk of the goblins appear from?

To help answer the latter question I asked Kyras to find some trained bloodhounds in the area and use them to back track the path of the marauding goblins to its source.

I am now waiting for Kyras to return with the dogs.