[RotR] Burnt Offering - Returning a Prisoner

[Duniagdra]

You all gather up and hoist out the body of Dregs and make your way back to the room you left the woman in. She's not there. Her cat is gone as well. You hear no activity, but you still move cautiously to the surface of Thistletop. There you gather up the treasure that has been found, including the horse you rescued. Everything is eerily quiet, too quiet for any of you. Dragging your haul, you make it to the rope bridge that you had secured after crossing, but due to the added weight, you carefully cross in small numbers. Once across, two of you split off to retrieve the stowed good that you salvaged from before and all of you meet at the entrance to the thicket. You make your way to the road and begin your dismal journey back to Sandpoint.

An hour into your trek you hear the approach of carriage and horse and some voices. You step off the road and soon passes a caravan of three horse-drawn wagons with people on board and riders on horseback following. One of the drivers takes note and stops. He signals to some of the others and you're all soon loaded up and on your way.

Mindful of your loss, one of the drivers says: “Unfortunate thing to see. We have someone who might be able and willing to help you, but I doubt there's anything to be done for your friend. His journey has taken him beyond us all I recon. Would you like for me to call for her?”

No one asks about the unconscious deformed woman who's bound up. You gather from their view of her that recognize a prisoner being escorted.

The driver also asks hesitantly: “She was that tough to capture?”

[marine7312000]

Durmisht nods but says “The fight wasn't that hard but we're sure she's behind the recent troubles in the area.”

[admin]

“Hard enough to take one of us down...” Mak replies in an dry tone.

[Duniagdra]

Responding to Durmisht, the driver says: “Trouble? What trouble. We've been traveling and haven't been this way in a couple months at least.” You can tell the driver is a bit anxious for news, perhaps his time on the road with this troupe had expended any new stories and worn them beyond worth. He looks to Durmisht with hope of further explanation. He gives a nod to Mak's remark.
“Perhaps. He doesn't seem to have many wounds though. Did she use a spell on him? Or is the fatal wound not visible? I mean no disrespect, just curious and we do have some time of travel.”

[The Hunter]

Ryder, having been silent since he dealt the finally blow that slew Dregs "shadow" was just now beginning to have the color return to his face. At the man's comment about what slew his companion he says softly, “Beings of shadow stole his life energy...then turned his soul against us...”

[Duniagdra]

The man cringes at the answer he gets to his curiosity. In sullen respect, he says: “Horrid way to go. Surely you freed him from that existence?”

[The Hunter]

Ryder's thoughts drift back to fight and gives an absent minded nod in response, “Aye, we did.”

[Duniagdra]

Relief fills the man's expression. In a small prayer, the driver says: “Blessed be that from the darkness they seek the light and to the light they go, for it's from the light that life comes and to the light that life goes to continue on or to be reborn.”
He then looks to Ryder: “You did the right thing. To be shadow is to exist in less than a half-life. It would have been agony and torture for his soul to remain a shadow. These creatures crave for and hate life and light. Best that you slew him now, before a chance of his soul to be corrupted by the transformation become permanent.

So the woman is to be brought to Sandpoint?”

[admin]

Intrigued, Mak asks the driver: “You seem to know about these shadows creatures... How is that?”

[Duniagdra]

Startled by the Monks sudden remark, the driver responds as if it's obvious: “I'm a driver. I've been in many caravans. I've heard many stories from adventures and clergy. As far as they say on shadows in their tales, that's the best I know.”

[Benji]

“The shadows of your lives ever seek to take over...” A mild voice emerges from behind the lead cart. “To destroy a comrade's shadow can be seen as both blessing and curse, it is up to you to take meaning from it.”

The speaker is a wispy elven woman with a dreamy look in her eyes and a vacant smile on her face. It's quite possible that she could be attractive, but she obviously takes no care of her appearance and her clothes seem thrown together from whatever others give up.

“I can do little for your released companion other than pass him on his way, but if any of you others need aid, I can be sure to provide you with healing energy.”

[Duniagdra]

The caravan continues it's travel as you talk and the driver who's been talking with you announces, “We'll be in Sandpoint in two more hours.”

[admin]

Mak turns to the wispy elven woman: “Both my friend (pointing at the Barbarian) and myself have been stolen much of our strength... I am not sure healing would work, but thank you for offering. I take it you are a Cleric?”

[Benji]

“I am no priest.” The elf woman says. “I am simply a vessel for my Lady, Pharasma, to work through. She is the shepherdess, and I am a mere sheepdog in her flock.” In smooth motions, she moves up to Mak, resting a light hand on his shoulder. “My Lady, bless this man with the return of his strength so that he might once more to continue to serve in the great scheme.” A light glow radiates through Mak's body as the spell takes effect. “Now for your friend.” She then walks over to Durmisht and performs the same ritual, using the same words as with Mak.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Casting Lesser Restoration on each of them.

[marine7312000]

Durmisht nods in thanks to the woman and says to their driver “It would probably be best to take us straight to the sheriff. I'm pretty sure there are still some goblins in the area and it might be a good idea to watch for some form of retribution from them. Although I'm of half a mind to go back in a few days and kill everyone of those bastards I can find for the death of my friend there.”

[Duniagdra]

Responding to Durmisht, the driver says: “Well, we have to go there anyhow to check in. All Caravans do. For safety's sake.”

You all continue conversing and soon find that you've returned in reasonably good time compared to your trip to Thistletop. At the garrison, Sheriff Hemlock is retrieved by an underling and he approaches the caravan. The commander of the caravan directs his attention to the following wagon containing the bunch of you.
Seeing Dregs' state, Hemlock gives his condolences: “He was an honorable man and will be remembered by this town always. We'll hold a ceremony in his honor and come up with something to immortalize his sacrifice for all of us.”
Turning toward the captive, he glowers: “As for this one, there will be a trail and with this evidence you've provided, I'm sure she'll get her just reward. It's a shame though. She was truly revered by all the town as a gift from the gods. Perhaps that's what led to her madness and hatred of Sandpoint. None of us thought her the reason for Father Ezakien Tobyn's death in that fire. We never had a clue that the attention had twisted her thinking such. But her journal will tell us much that we don't know yet. Have you read it?”

Spoiler: show

For the sake of moving along, we'll say you have not ready the journal, bereaved by Dregs' fall.

Dregs' body is collected and you all receive what attention is needed for that day. You're all summoned the next day for a briefing Mayor Kendra Deverin's home and attend. Once all are in attendance, an assistant gives you all handouts.
Nualia’s Story Summerized

Spoiler: show

Mayor Deverin reads: “Naulia is what we now know as an Aasimar and is known by everyone to have been raised by Father Tobyn.
By her journal, she note that her beauty brought cause of teasing and cruel jokes from other children and endless awkward and humiliating requests from the superstitious adults; believing her to be blessed by Desna. A sort of "reverse deformity", she remarks. They believed her proximity, touch, or voice held special effects on those who were the recipients. This all lead her to feeling more like a freak than a young girl, and when she came of age and drew the attention as a local boy, Delek Viskanta, who began to court her, she practically fell into his arms in gratitude.
They kept the relationship a secret, knowing that Father Tobyn wouldn't approve due to the plans she knew he had for her. They met in the tunnels you found that lead to the catacombs. It didn't take long before she knew she was pregnant and when she told Delek his true self came out, calling her slut and harlot and left Sandpoint and her. This, plus the previously mentioned factors, turned her anger to rage and was frustrated with nowhere to vent. She bottled it up. When Father Tobyn learned of her delicate situation, his reaction only furthered her shame and anger. He unwittingly further nurtured her growing hate by confining her to the church and lecturing her and making her pray nightly to Desna for forgiveness.
Seven months pregnant, she remarks to some type of energy filling her and furthering her anger. She miscarried her child later that night, a child whose monstrously deformed shape she only glimpsed before blanching midwives stole it away to burn it in secret. The double shock of losing a child and the realization she had been carrying a fiend in her belly for seven months was too much. Nualia fell into a coma.
In her sleep she remarks to unhealthy dreams. Her descriptions of her dreams has convinced Father Zantus that she was being seduced and influenced by the dark goddess of madness, Lamashtu. Nualia became further obsessed with the cruel demon goddess and the conviction that her life was inflicted on her by those around her. She came to see her angelic heritage as a curse, and the demon-sent dreams showed her how to expunge this taint from her body and soul, replacing it with chaos and cruelty. When she finally woke, Nualia was someone new, someone who didn’t flinch at what Lamashtu asked of her. She jammed her father’s door shut as he slept, lit the church on fire, and fled Sandpoint.
We all assumed Nualia had burned in the fire, a tragedy made all the worse by the death of Father Tobyn as well. Yet Nualia lived. She fled to Magnimar, where she enlisted the aid of a group of murderers. With their aid, she tracked down Delek and murdered him. Yet his death did not fill her need for revenge. Sandpoint and its hated citizens still lived.
Naulia remarks receiving a gift from the leader of this group of murderers, a seven pointed star. Nualia felt as though her role in the scheme of this had only just begun. She felt the dream were leading her someplace. She then returned to Sandpoint, and found herself drawn to the brick wall in the smuggler’s tunnels where she and Delek had conceived her deformed child. Nualia bashed down the wall, and in so doing, discovered the Catacombs of Wrath and the quasit Erylium, also a follower of Lamashtu. For many months, Nualia studied under Erylium’s tutelage. During this time, Nualia received another vision from Lamashtu—a vision of a monstrous goblin wolf imprisoned in a tiny room. In Nualia’s dreams, she learned that this creature, named Malfeshnekor, was also one of Lamashtu’s chosen. If she could find him and free him, he would not only help her achieve her vengeance against the town of Sandpoint, but he would be the key in cleansing her body of what she had come to see as her “celestial taint.” Nualia wanted to be one of Lamashtu’s children now. She wanted to become a monster herself.
And so, she saw the burning of the church and Tobyn as her first step, though she didn't know it at that time. Her plan was to burn all of Sandpoint in one huge sacrifice to Lamashtu for her to continue her steps toward becoming whatever it was she was to become. She took over the goblin compound, Thistletop, and began her plans”

After reading this to all of you, Mayor Deverin looks up: “We need to go back to Thistletop and find this creature, Malfeshnekor, and destroy it. Any of her followers, this woman, Lyra, that she remarks to, and the others, they must all be brought in, questioned, and tried, if needed. Learning that Tsuto was a part of this, well, it's been hard enough on Ameiko with what went down at the glassworks. Now this, and he's escaped. Somehow he managed to break free of his jail before his sentencing could be carried out. I expect he's returning to Thistletop. We want him returned, alive if possible.”

[marine7312000]

Durmisht looks at the rest of the group before saying “I think I speak for all of us that we need some rest before we return to that place. If you could handle the sale storage of the items we have found and arrange for a ceremony for Dregs' body, if not his spirit, we could probably start our return to Thistletop in the next few days.”

[Duniagdra]

Mayor Deverin pauses a moment and then addresses you all: “You've had one night of full rest. You may take another night and the next day we'll hold a ceremony for Dregs. We don't know what those who are left of her group will do in her absence. Father Zantus feels this Malfeshnekor to be a serious threat. If her associates are of a like mind, they may already be taking steps to freeing him.”
Hemlock then assures: “There will be no trouble in safekeeping your treasure. It can be stored in the garrison in a secure room in the basement, but only until you return.”

[admin]

In a firm voice, Mak says: “We should not delay too much, else that may allow our enemies to fortify and replace their looses. But we do have a problem - We have no more healer to help us along this deadly path... Where could we find someone ready for the dangers of this task?” Mak looks around, hoping a solution to this problem will present itself.

[Duniagdra]

In agreement, Mayor Deverin responds: “Then go out and announce a recruitment for a healer type to join your party. Take applications and pick from there. If only one applies, then you have an easier time of choosing. Considering your last healing perished, other healers might be more resigned in filling the spot.”

[The Hunter]

Ryder says to the group, “Perhaps we can speak to the woman who administered her helpful magic whilst we were with the caravan.”

[patransom]

“Agreed” says Vi, “We should return to Thistletop as soon as possible. But not without a replacement for poor Dregs. I'd like to sit in on any interviews with those who wish to join our party.”

“Also, if there is time, I have collected a few items whose properties I'd like to investigate. It might require some coin from the goblin treasure.”

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Vi has 5 scrolls she needs to cast read magic on or otherwise figure out what they do. She's also collected some other items. Is there time to have Vorvashali Voon or someone identify them? They are: - Cloak, abjuration - Wand, abjuration - Wand, evocation - Some sort of protective coin

[scarymike23]

Carter, who has been unusually quiet out of respect for his new companions grief, finally chimes in: “"The elven woman had healing magics, lets have a chat with her. Does anyone know where I can find her? I can be a convincing guy when needed."”

[Duniagdra]

With the Sandpoint heroes seeming to become occupied with figuring out their next steps, she dismisses everyone and as they talk, the sheriff and aids escort the heroes outside.
I've commented here.

[Duniagdra]

Outside, you put your heads together and Vi requests that she be a part of the interviews when they are done. Her and Carter then go to identify the remaining items they could not themselves make out.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    See the Treasure Log Here

[marine7312000]

Once all of the items are identified, Durmisht starts going around town trying to get the best money for the items the group decides to sell.

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Please check this post and make sure everything is correct. Loot Breakdown

[Duniagdra]

OUT-OF-CHARACTER:    Discussion opened HERE regarding traits. Please participate.

[Duniagdra]

Some of you split up and visit the few taverns in Sandpoint and have acquired an interesting selection of potential recruits, one of which happens to be to woman who healed you during the caravan ride back from Thistletop. Currently you're all gathered at the Rusty Dragon and are sitting with her beginning your interview. You each have a drink of you choice and a plate of whatever your preferred food might be.

[marine7312000]

Durmisht makes a point of talking to Ameiko when he enters the tavern, going so far as to order his stew and ale directly from her. He then joins the rest of the group at the table with the newcomer and says “Thanks again for your assistance friend. Would you mind telling us a bit about yourself?”

[Benji]

Smiling vacantly, “My name is Yiri. I am a servant of my Lord Pharasma and your comments about the shadows that took your friend and assaulted yourselves have left me troubled. If you would have me, I would be most pleased to accompany you back there and take down this threat to my Lords plans.” She pauses for a moment before nodding in answer to a question you didn't ask. “Yes, even if you did not take me, I would travel there on my own. This threat should be dealt with.”