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.
