---

---

OOC:  Here is the map, in case you all are thinking of moving out.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+-xxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  | x| xx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  D  |  S13|  |  |x |  | xxx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+11+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  x 12  D  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  |  |  xx |  |  xxx| x|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+-x+--6--+--x--+-xxx-+xxx--xx xxx+--+--+
4 |  |  | 14  |  x  |  |  D  |  D  |  x  |  x  |  | xx  |  |xxxx |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-10--x--+--xxx+--xx-+xxxx-+x-+--+--+--+--x--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  xxxx  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |xx|  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+-x+--x--+--+--+--+--+-C+--+
6 |  |  | x|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |x | x|  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--+--+--+--+--x--+-x+--+--+--6--+--+-C+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+x-x--+--+--+--+-C+--+
8 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  | x|x |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--x--+--+--+--9--+--+--+--+--D--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+xxx--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+
9 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xx  |xxx  |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+--+-xx--+--+
10|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |x |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--x--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+
11|  |  | x|  |  x  |  xG D  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--x--x--8--x--x--x--xSSx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  x  x  |  xP x  |  x  x  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  | xxx |xxx  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxxxx14xxxxxxx--xDDxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xx+xxxx-xxx+--+--+
13|  |  x  |  |  |  |C |K x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  | x|  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+xx+--+--+
14|  |  x  |  |  7L |M |R D  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  |  xx |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--5--xx-+--+--+
15|  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  xx |  |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxDDxDDxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xxxx-+-xxx-+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xxxx|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--x--3--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  x  4  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

1 = Dining Hall                           8 = Gabriel's Chambers (Rescue!)

2 = Wives' Quarters                       9 = Lamashtu Chapel (Dangerous!!!!!)

3 = Nursery                              10 = Gallery

4 = Bedchambers                          11 = War Room

5 = Storage                              12 = Research Room

6 = Cave of Death (Keep Out!!!!!)        13 = Stairs Down (Nualia - Dangerous!!!)

7 = Prison                               14 = Secret Door!

SS = Stairway                            CC = Cliff View to Ocean

---

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:09, Thu 05 Feb 2015.

Kellan was a little...perhaps surprised was not the right word, appreciative that Father Gabriel had eventually agreed to make their task easier, and the relief that Abadars blessings bestowed were well relieved as in turn. As the healing energy suffused his body he suddenly felt like they had a real chance at this again. They had met the challenges thus far and come through...why not one more? Or two? Or three?.

"Thank you Father" he exclaimed as he rolled his neck and found the somewhat persistent stiffness gone. "I think we needed that...up to Ripnugget then? Before we resume our hunt".  With his newly bolstered strength he took a hold of the prisoners ankle and began dragging him towards the stairs that would lead up towards the throne room.

"Did you think we would make it this far?" He asked Cato with a grin, his face still smeared in mud and sweat despite the healing attention of the priest.

"Um..."  Liseth didn't know how to react when Father Gabriel mentioned his favorite color to Pisca.  Then started laughing.  Even Pisca seemed astounded by how eccentric Abadar's priest was acting; Liseth had never imagined meeting someone quite like that!

"Thank you, Father Gabriel."  The girl nodded appreciatively when he finally agreed to go upstairs with Ripnugget; and watch their captive.  "I think it's important that you talk with Ripnugget too.  He might have been backsliding without you there with him."  Liseth paused before continuing, "He was very determined to fight us when we first encountered him and his guards, even though we told him we were only here because we had to stop Nualia.  I mean, we almost killed him."

She watched as Father Gabriel accepted her request and began spreading Abadar's blessing among her friends, working his way towards her.  Liseth had a slight twinge of trepidation, she had to admit; she had never been blessed by Abadar before.  And Father Gabriel was a very awkward sort of priest.

Any doubt vanished after he did spread his blessing into her.  Liseth immediately felt better!  She felt rested and replenished as though she had had a full night's rest.  But you're still hungry, she thought.  It would be great if they could take time to stop and have that lunch Ms Kaijitsu had packed for them; but the acolyte knew there was not enough time for that.

And, even though she was physically well once more, she still felt mentally and spiritually fatigued.  The acolyte supposed that such restoration was too much to hope for; channeling the gods' power took more than simple physical exertion.

"Thank you so much!"  Liseth smiled as Pisca hugged Abadar's priest.  She had known that Pisca was still very hurt, and Liseth had been worried about stretching her abilities beyond their limits.  But now that Father Gabriel had restored everyone it much less a worry!

"I don't think Ripnugget will know much about our prisoner either..."  Liseth mentioned as Kellan began helping Father Gabriel with the formerly masked mage.  She glanced at Pisca, "But maybe we could go search those rooms really quick while you take him upstairs?"  The girl didn't know what they might find in those bedrooms, but she was positive there would be something in there which would help them against Lyrie.  Or help them to convince Tsuto.  Those possibilities outweighed the threat that taking a little extra time in their mission might possibly pose.

Either way, they needed to leave the prison.  There was no way they were going to advance through Lamashtu's chapel!

Position: F 14

Active Effects:
Light
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Fri 06 Feb 2015.

Cato sighed in relief at Gabriel's acquiescence.  The mage wasn't sure exactly why he was so relieved, but it felt good to be saving this cleric of Abadar, even if he was a tad eccentric.  And keeping their word to Ripnugget would hopefully let them exfiltrate more easily.  Assuming they survived the coming clash with Nualia and the rest of her allies, of course...

Cato looked at Kellan and smiled.  "To tell you the truth, I was scared out of my mind.  Coming into the seat of power for one of the most powerful goblin tribes on the Lost Coast?  With their human patron intent on overrunning Sandpoint with Lamashtu's monsters?"  The scholar shook his head.  "No, I didn't think we'd make it this far.  I'm glad we're good at more than just fighting, though, as close as it's come."

The scholar looked at Father Gabriel once again, trying to imagine what this encounter would have been like had it been preceded by copious amounts of goblin bloodshed.  Would he still have wanted to help us?  What would the wrath of an Abadarian be like in that situation?  Cato shuddered, and leaned on his staff for a moment, resting for the coming struggle.

---

---

“You’re welcome!” Father Gabriel responded happily, seemingly glad to have been of service.

The next few minutes were busy ones for the party.  Kellan hoisted the Mysterious Man over his shoulder and carried the limp form upstairs, accompanied by Father Gabriel.  They encountered no difficulties on their way to the throne room, and when they arrived they saw that Ripnugget and his goblins were already hard at work returning it to its previous magnificence.

Well, goblin magnificence.

The room’s formerly-sturdy doors, it must be said, looked to be a total loss.  It appeared as if the goblins would have to make a new set and transport them in.

Ripnugget seemed greatly rejuvenated by the return of Father Gabriel, with whom he almost immediately fell into conversation.  The goblin chief’s warchanter gladly accepted Kellan’s prisoner and assured young human that he would have no problem keeping the unconscious man out of the way and out of trouble while the guardsman’s group searched for the hated Nualia.

In the meantime, the rest of the group found that Ripnugget’s map was accurate when it came to the bedrooms they sought.  The closed door at the end of the left side of the hallway had an elven skull nailed to it; it was almost certainly Bruthazmus’ room.  Not wishing to deal with the late bugbear’s famous predilection for traps, they avoided it.  But they searched the rest of the rooms, finding them—thankfully—completely empty of occupants and—sadly—mostly empty of interesting items or documents.

The first room on the right was clean and well-organized.  A low dresser to the southwest had a stack of papers sitting atop it, weighted down by a large chunk of obsidian.  To the northwest sat a well-made bed.  When the party rifled through the documents, they found them to be rough drafts of Tsuto’s plans for capturing the Glassworks and blackmailing his father.  Unfortunately the plans did not inform their readers of anything those readers did not already know.

The first room on the left was clean and brightly lit by an everburning torch lying on the nightstand, but its spartan décor made it unclear if it even had a regular occupant.  The group found nothing of interest in this room.

The last room on the right showed many signs of having been recently used.  The bed itself was rumpled and unmade, and a half-eaten meal of bread and smoked salmon sat on the nightstand next to a flickering lantern and a half-empty cup of what might have been mead.  The drawers of a small dresser  near the bed hung open; the chamber looked as if its occupant had recently left, and left in a hurry.

Finally, at the end of the hall, a large chamber seemed to serve a dual purpose.  To the north was a fine bed with silk sheets, while to the south a desk and chair under a hanging lantern made a comfortable-looking study.  Once again, a search of the room revealed nothing of interest.

The party regrouped in the lower level’s entry room, sans both prisoner and priest.  The former mess hall was just as empty-looking as it had ever been, with little evidence of the life-or-death struggles that had occurred within its confines only moments before.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+-xxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  | x| xx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  D  |  S13|  |  |x |  | xxx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+11+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  x 12  D  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  |  |  xx |  |  xxx| x|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+-x+--6--+--x--+-xxx-+xxx--xx xxx+--+--+
4 |  |  | 14  |  x  |  |  D  |  D  |  x  |  x  |  | xx  |  |xxxx |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-10--x--+--xxx+--xx-+xxxx-+x-+--+--+--+--x--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  xxxx  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |xx|  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+-x+--x--+--+--+--+--+-C+--+
6 |  |  | x|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |x | x|  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--+--+--+--+--x--+-x+--+--+--6--+--+-C+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+x-x--+--+--+--+-C+--+
8 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  | x|x |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--x--+--+--+--9--+--+--+--+--D--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+xxx--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+
9 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xx  |xxx  |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+--+-xx--+--+
10|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |x |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--x--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+
11|  |  | x|  |  x  |  x  D  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--x--x--8--x--x--x--xSSx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  x  x  |  x  x  |  x  x  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  | xxx |xxx  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxxxx14xxxxxxx--xDDxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xx+xxxx-xxx+--+--+
13|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x K| P| C|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  | x|  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+xx+--+--+
14|  |  x  |  |  7  |  |  D  |  |  D L| R|  |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  |  xx |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--5--xx-+--+--+
15|  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  xx |  |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxDDxDDxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xxxx-+-xxx-+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xxxx|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--x--3--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  x  4  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

1 = Dining Hall                           8 = Gabriel's Chambers (Rescue!)

2 = Wives' Quarters                       9 = Lamashtu Chapel (Dangerous!!!!!)

3 = Nursery                              10 = Gallery

4 = Bedchambers                          11 = War Room

5 = Storage                              12 = Research Room

6 = Cave of Death (Keep Out!!!!!)        13 = Stairs Down (Nualia - Dangerous!!!)

7 = Prison                               14 = Secret Door!

SS = Stairway                            CC = Cliff View to Ocean

---

---

"So..." started Cato, looking around, as if to find another room and delay the inevitable descent into the next level of Thistletop.  The wizard cleared his throat.  "I guess that's it.  Nothing more to find here, so secrets penned by Nualia's allies that reveal some desperate secret weakness."  The mage managed a weak grin, and gripped his quarterstaff tightly.  "I guess we should be about it.  North from here?  Pisca and Kellan take the lead, I suppose?"

Kellan lingered a moment with Cato, leaning against his pole axe as he nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I guess so" he managed a smile, albeit a nervous one.

He fell into line directly behind Pisca once more, having fallen into the habit of remaining in belt grabbing...or enemy stabbing distance should the girl try to overly indulge her curiosity once more.

"Let's hope our luck hold and we find them separate. ..would be a shame to have to fight Tsuto again after  agreeing to try and keep him alive."

"We'll take these, thank you."  Pisca scooped up the papers containing Tsuto Kaijitsu's plans and strategies and stuff them into her pack.  She took the rock too.

"I like this."  The gnome swept the highly convenient Light-On-A-Stick from the bed stand, first waving it around to see whether it would make tracers in the dark.  Then next testing to see whether it was actually cool to the touch.  And, last, tasting the glowing part with her tongue, to which she made a sagacious sounding grunt of approval before tucking this too into her pack.

"Smoked salmon," she said, with as much enjoyment as analysis, after taking a bite from the slab of orange meat in the next room.  With a single thrust of her outstretched hand, Pisca offered the food-thing to Liseth, providing little more in the way of explanation than that it was good, and that the human girl looked hungry.

"Alright ... "  Once reunited with Kellan, Pisca began with the word 'Alright,' as she seemed most often wont to.  "According to the map ... "

The gnome stopped, wove her fingers in a complex yet, by now, familiar pattern, and renewed the Whisper Magic spell upon her human friends before continuing through that medium.  "According to the map, there's a short corridor behind this door."  Upon mention of said *door* the gnome began removing the blocks that sealed the door even as she spoke.  "I'm going to sneak to the next door and make sure nothing is on the other side before going through.  Once through, the first order of business will be to foozle the doors to the chapel so that nothing can go in or out.  Because that's where we'll be then, just outside the main entrance to the chapel."

"From there, once again, if the map is right, we'll have two ways to go.  East will lead to the Cave of Death.  North will lead to some sort of Gallery, and, eventually something called the War Room, the Research Room, where Lyrie might be, and the stairs down to wherever it might be that Napolia is trying to commune with Malfesknor, whatever he or she might be."

"I think I'll want to take a look at the Research Room regardless of whether Lyrie is there or not.  There's another secret room marked in the corner of the map with nothing on the other side, indicating that even Ripnugget doesn't know what's beyond."

"Ready?"  With her kit of tools in hand, the invaluable gift from Aldern Foxglove, Pisca stood ready to open the door and begin their incursion into the heart of Thistletop.

Renew Message spell.  Unjam door.  First move to door at end of corridor w/stealth and perception.  Listen at door.  Second move to chapel door w/stealth and perception.  Third jam both doors shut.

Position: L13 (current position) or L10 (1st door) or K9 (chapel door)


Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Disguise Self 40m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (1/2)
AL: 4/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

Abadar's Blessing +2 Morale / Unused

In Hand: Thief's Kit
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Sun 08 Feb 2015.

The bedrooms were much more bare than Liseth had expected them to be.  With Kerr standing guard she and Pisca were able to search them thoroughly; which in the end turned out to be Liseth watching as Pisca ransacked everything that she could.

"I don't think we need those papers..."  Liseth spoke up as her gnomish friend stuffed them and the paper weight into her pack.  The acolyte had had a chance to look the papers over herself, there was nothing in there that they didn't already know from what happened in the glassworks; and Tsuto's journal.

"Why would there be a magical torch in an empty room?"  Watching curiously as Pisca used the magical torch as a baton, Liseth wondered whether they kept some rooms empty for visitors.  Like that malicious masked mage Kellan had taken upstairs.  Well...at least it might be useful to them.

"Um...should we eat that?"  The half-eaten food didn't prove much of a deterrent to Pisca's tasting of it.  "This must have been Mr Orik's room..."  Liseth looked down as the smoked salmon found itself pressed into her hands; obviously intended for her to eat.  She had never thought about finishing someone's left-over lunch before...but she was hungry.

Everyone else was likely hungry as well, and the thin teen didn't like the idea of having a snack that was too small to share with everyone.  "Sarenrae, cleanse this food of impurities and disease."  A small prayer over the snack would help ease her mind of have a second-hand meal.  Liseth took a bite, "Thank you Pisca."  I should ask Kerr and Cato and Kellan if they want a piece too...

The smoked salmon did prove a good pick-me-up, especially after Father Gabriel's restorative blessing.  Liseth chewed a piece while Pisca and everyone talked about how to proceed.  Of course she offered some of the fish to everyone else!  Except there wasn't much there to begin with.

"I hope we can talk to Tsuto without Nualia there."  She added to Kellan's comment, "He has to know, deep down, that she doesn't really care about him.  That he's only being used for her and Lamashtu's evil scheme.  But even if we do have to fight, we should keep talking to him.  We might get him to second-guess what he's doing.  Like Mr Orik did."

"That's a good idea Pisca.  We should jam the door into the chapel."  Liseth nodded, reverting to speaking in Whispers now that Pisca had renewed her magic.  "I hope Lyrie hasn't found out about us.  Remember what we were told about letting her prepare herself...and it would be really bad for us if she managed to alert Nualia and join her too..."

The salmon was gone by now, "Sarenrae, light our path with your brilliance."  Liseth rekindled the divine light in her holy symbol.  In case there were any more darkness ambushes ahead, which could happen.  "I'm ready.  I hope there is something helpful in the research room.  Maybe we'll find more out about Malfesknor?"

Position: L 14

OOC: Casting Purify Food and Drink, Renewing Light

Active Effects:
Light

---

---

“Nph thunk yiu,” mumbled Kerr shamefacedly through a mouthful of sandwich as Liseth turned to see if he might wish to have a bite of Orik’s leftover salmon.  Apparently the young paladin had taken the opportunity posed by his uneventful guard duty to dig into the lunch Ameiko had packed for him.  He flushed a deep red before finishing his bite and giving his girlfriend a bashful smile.  “Um, I just figured since you guys were busy, and I was hungry . . . .,” his voice trailed off.  “Um, they’re good!”  He flailed about, looking for another topic of conversation.  “Did you find anything?”  He asked brightly.

After the others shared their lack of success in finding any secret documents or powerful weapons in their opponents’ bedrooms, the entire group made their way back to the entry hallway to reunite with Kellan, who had just returned from dropping off Father Gabriel and the Mysterious Man.  After a brief conference they settled on Pisca’s plan.

The intrepid gnome had no problems unjamming the entry room’s northwestern door.  She opened it to find that the map was once more correct—as it predicted, 15 feet of perfectly-fitted stone corridor separated her from another solid-looking wooden door to the north.  Followed by the others, the Kaer Maga native crept down the hallway to listen at this new portal, but was unable to hear anything on the other side.

Encouraged by the lack of movement, Pisca cracked open the unlocked door to quietly and unobtrusively observe what might be on the other side.  Again, Ripnugget did not disappoint.  On the other side lay a 10-foot-by-10-foot antechamber, with huge, carven-stone doors to the west and small corridors running off to the north and east from that corner of the room.

Pisca did not see or hear anyone in the antechamber or the surrounding hallways.  She did, however, see a big problem.  Well, two big problems.

The doors to the cathedral stood ajar, each slightly swung into the larger room beyond.  The doors were not wide open, but they were open.  Avoiding Lamashtu’s cathedral—and whatever might be guarding it—was clearly going to take some careful, skilled work.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+-xxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  | x| xx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  D  |  S13|  |  |x |  | xxx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+11+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  x 12  D  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  |  |  xx |  |  xxx| x|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+-x+--6--+--x--+-xxx-+xxx--xx xxx+--+--+
4 |  |  | 14  |  x  |  |  D  |  D  |  x  |  x  |  | xx  |  |xxxx |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-10--x--+--xxx+--xx-+xxxx-+x-+--+--+--+--x--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  xxxx  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |xx|  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+-x+--x--+--+--+--+--+-C+--+
6 |  |  | x|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |x | x|  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--+--+--+--+--x--+-x+--+--+--6--+--+-C+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+x-x--+--+--+--+-C+--+
8 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  | x|x |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--x--+--+--+--9--+--+--+--+--D--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+xxx--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+
9 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xx  |xxx  |  |  |  x  |  |
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10|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  xP x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |x |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--x--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+
11|  |  | x|  |  x  |  x  D  |  x  xK x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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12|  |  |  |  x  x  |  x  x  |  x  xC x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  | xxx |xxx  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxxxx14xxxxxxx--xDDxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xx+xxxx-xxx+--+--+
13|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  xR |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  | x|  |  |
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14|  |  x  |  |  7  |  |  D  |  |  DL |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  |  xx |  |  |
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  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxDDxDDxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xxxx-+-xxx-+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xxxx|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--x--3--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

1 = Dining Hall                           8 = Gabriel's Chambers (Rescue!)

2 = Wives' Quarters                       9 = Lamashtu Chapel (Dangerous!!!!!)

3 = Nursery                              10 = Gallery

4 = Bedchambers                          11 = War Room

5 = Storage                              12 = Research Room

6 = Cave of Death (Keep Out!!!!!)        13 = Stairs Down (Nualia - Dangerous!!!)

7 = Prison                               14 = Secret Door!

SS = Stairway                            CC = Cliff View to Ocean

---

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 06:50, Mon 09 Feb 2015.

"I was afraid of this."  The words of the gnome came down through the Whisper Magic as tight with tension as her thinly pursed lips. "The doors to the chapel are open.  Not so open as to be really bad.  But open enough so that should some nosey hell hounds catch wind of us, they could shove the doors open and get to us."

"I'm going to have to sneak in and try to close the doors as slowly and quietly as I can," the gnome continued.  "But, I'll need you to stand ready.  If they find me out, you'll need to rush in and try and hold the doors shut with your weight."

"Even so," Pisca shook her head though no one was present to see the gesture.  "Even if we get them sealed into the chapel, I'm afraid they're probably going to make a lot of noise.  The jig will be up then," said the gnome.

"Wish me luck," she added.  And then ...

"No.  Wait.  I'm coming back."

Closing the door again, Pisca quietly retraced her steps down the short corridor, rejoining her friends.  "I need one more thing," she said by way of explanation, scant as such explanation might have been.  The gnome entered the goblin seraglio where they had brought down the bugbear nemesis of Shalelu Andosana.

"Clothes.  Clothes," the gnome muttered.  And then, "Yuck."

Pisca began stripping the cooling body of Bruthazmus.  She wrapped and tied the bits of oversized clothing about herself.  Then, finally, when satisfied, returned to the others in the Entry Room.

"For the scent," explained the gnome swaddled like a Thuvian desert nomad.  "And, if nothing else, I have the blue amulet of safe passage.  Maybe they'll honor this," Pisca said, holding up the talisman that Ripnugget had given them.

Alright.  Now I'm ready."  And Pisca crept back up the corridor to seal the chapel.

Go through door at L10.  Sneak to K9 and try to close the doors there with as much stealth as possible.  If that goes successfully unnoticed, Disable Device to jam the doors shut.

Please use Abadar's Blessing for Stealth check.

Stealth, Perception, and possibly Disable Device checks, please.

Position: Start at L10 Sneak to K9.

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Disguise Self 40m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (1/2)
AL: 4/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

Abadar's Blessing +2 Morale / Unused

In Hand: Thief's Kit
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

And the gnome was off.  Cato could do nothing but crane forward, watching as she crept forward, hoping that nothing gave her away and she neared her target.  Of course, that would only be the beginnings of things.  If the gnome jammed the doors shut and there was someone (or something) inside, it would only be a matter of time before they realized they were trapped in there.  "Be careful, Pisca," the mage whispered, ignoring the whisper magic to let her concentrate.  The wizard searched his mind for a way to help Pisca, but came up empty.  For the first time, he wondered if limiting his studies of illusion magic was a good idea.

"Um..."  And things immediately took a turn for the worst.  If the doors to Lamashtu's chapel were open, it could mean that whatever was inside had heard them already.  They might be waiting in ambush anywhere!

"Hold the doors shut?"  Liseth was certain that Pisca must be speaking about Kellan, Kerr and Cato if it came to that, in a worst case scenario.  The girl couldn't help but notice she had hardly been able to move in line behind the others before there were problems.

"Pisca, what are you doing...?"  Confusion, apprehension, and even some disgust mixed together when Pisca came back to strip Bruthazmus' clothes.  And bundle the very over-sized, dirty, smelly, bloodstained garments all over herself.  "Gross..."  A chill shot down Liseth's spine just at the thought of draping herself in a slain person's clothes.  Even if Pisca had a good reason for it.

"Desna guide you."  As Pisca passed by her, Liseth took a moment to pass a blessing onto the gnome.  She might need the inspiration in just a few moments.

"Good luck Pisca...be careful."  Liseth had repeated that to her gnomish friend countless times.  "If they spot you, get away quick."

Position: L 14

OOC: Cast Guidance on Pisca (+1 to an Attack, Save or Skill Check)

Active Effects
Light
Guidance on Pisca (10 rounds)

"Good luck" Kellan gave her tiny shoulder a squeeze before she went in her way. He always got a little nervous when she attempted stuff like this, expecting a clawed hand or some cruel trap to strike her down from a crevice or entryway, much like the amp bush they had experienced beneath the Glassworks.

They had made it through that day however, and Erastil willing they would see the end of this one.

He rolled his neck and rolled up into his toes to loosen himself up once more. Father Gabriel's healing had done wonders, but his body was being pushed to extremes this day, and he felt it down in his bones.

Position: L11
This message was last edited by the player at 04:45, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

---

---

Slowly and quietly, Pisca moved into the cathedral's narthex.  A still, almost-oppressive silence hung in the air--the gnome knew she would have to be almost noiseless in her activities or risk alerting whatever was in the church to her presence.  As far as she could tell, nothing moved inside the shrine, but she had neither the spare time nor the concentration to investigate the room beyond, much less the will to expose herself any further than necessary to close the large stone doors.

With a silence that would have both impressed and surprised Shalelu Andosana, Pisca eased the southern door closed.

There was no reaction.

Then she moved to the northern door, briefly but unavoidably exposing herself to whatever vigilant sentries might be guarding the cathedral's entrance.

But there was still no reaction.

Pisca incrementally closed the northern door, swinging it shut to reunite it with its southern sibling.  The doors met with an audible "click."  Pisca quickly used Aldern's gifted tools to jam them closed as best she could.

And still, no reaction.

Pisca Neep Freemish, Sealer of Evil Cathedrals, had managed to close the infamous room off with apparently no one the wiser.  The remaining corridors stood open to the party, no longer menaced by the threat that whatever was in the cathedral might issue forth to attack the group from behind.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+-xxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  | x| xx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  D  |  S13|  |  |x |  | xxx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+11+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  x 12  D  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  |  |  xx |  |  xxx| x|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+-x+--6--+--x--+-xxx-+xxx--xx xxx+--+--+
4 |  |  | 14  |  x  |  |  D  |  D  |  x  |  x  |  | xx  |  |xxxx |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-10--x--+--xxx+--xx-+xxxx-+x-+--+--+--+--x--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  xxxx  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |xx|  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+-x+--x--+--+--+--+--+-C+--+
6 |  |  | x|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |x | x|  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--+--+--+--+--x--+-x+--+--+--6--+--+-C+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+x-x--+--+--+--+-C+--+
8 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  | x|x |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--x--+--+--+--9--+--+--+--+--D--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+xxx--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+
9 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D P|  x  |  |  |  |  | xx  |xxx  |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+--+-xx--+--+
10|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |x |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--x--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+
11|  |  | x|  |  x  |  x  D  |  x  xK x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--x--x--8--x--x--x--xSSx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  x  x  |  x  x  |  x  xC x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  | xxx |xxx  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxxxx14xxxxxxx--xDDxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xx+xxxx-xxx+--+--+
13|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  xR |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  | x|  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+xx+--+--+
14|  |  x  |  |  7  |  |  D  |  |  DL |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  |  xx |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--5--xx-+--+--+
15|  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  xx |  |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxDDxDDxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xxxx-+-xxx-+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xxxx|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--x--3--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  x  4  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

1 = Dining Hall                           8 = Gabriel's Chambers (Rescue!)

2 = Wives' Quarters                       9 = Lamashtu Chapel (Dangerous!!!!!)

3 = Nursery                              10 = Gallery

4 = Bedchambers                          11 = War Room

5 = Storage                              12 = Research Room

6 = Cave of Death (Keep Out!!!!!)        13 = Stairs Down (Nualia - Dangerous!!!)

7 = Prison                               14 = Secret Door!

SS = Stairway                            CC = Cliff View to Ocean

---

---

Pisca stood from the door, inspecting her handiwork.  At the corner of her mouth was the touch of a satisfied smile.  That hadn't been as difficult as she had thought.  Or ... maybe it had been and she just had not noticed it from all the worrying about how difficult it might have been.  Regardless, she was now here.  The doors were shut and wedged to stay that way.  And no hell hounds were baying or woofing or yarking or whatever sound it was that hell hounds made.

"It's done," the gnome whispered her success back to the others.  "You can come through.  I think the door should hold.  These doors on the chapel are pretty stout.  But it would be best to be quiet about it.  Whoever's in the chapel may not be able to bite, but they can still probably bark pretty loud."

"I'm going to go ahead and check the gallery," continued the gnome, already in motion.  "The sooner we pass through this part of the place the better."

Pisca paused only briefly to tuck away her tools and quietly draw the Demon ARD from its sheathe.  She'd have to find somewhere safer for a longer pause.  Bugbear clothes.  Blech.

Sneak north to the next door.  Put away Thief's kit and draw ARD.  Stealth, Perception checks, please.

Position: L6.

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Disguise Self 40m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (1/2)
AL: 4/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

Abadar's Blessing +2 Morale / Used

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

Cato slowly crept past the Chapel, wincing as he heard every scrape of his boot and whisper of his breath.  Finally, he was past, waiting for Pisca to open the door.  Despite the fear, the wizard was growing excited at another opportunity ahead: the Research Room.  Cato hoped it would shed more light on what exactly Nualia was doing in the depths of Thistletop, though he might not have any time to decipher it now.  Still, if they survived, it might make for interesting reading later.

Move up to next set of door, L8, to give Kellan and Pisca room.
17:03, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 15 using 1d20+2. Stealth.

Active Effects:
Protection from Arrows (Kellan)
Mage Armor (Cato)

Combat Stats:
AC 16
BAB: +2, 1d6 damage
This message was last edited by the player at 22:07, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

"Great job Pisca!"  Liseth Whispered enthusiastically.  The thought that no monsters should be able to get out of Lamashtu's chapel now brought some relief.  Maybe they could do this after all!

"Wait, quiet?"  That did make sense; they should be as quiet as possible.  They didn't need to alert whatever might be inside there!  But Liseth was concerned, to say the least.  She couldn't sneak!  It was something she had always been terrible at.  Every time she tried to put her mind to being sneaky it broke her concentration on walking straight.  "Alright...I'll be quiet."

Slowly she followed as everyone moved into the antechamber after Pisca.  Almost agonizingly slow; the girl kept one hand on the nearby wall for support as she focused on being quiet.  Her eyes drew themselves to the chapel doors; How could anybody think it was a good idea to worship an evil goddess of monsters?  Even her temples were hidden underground!

Eek!  To her credit, Liseth managed to keep her scream inside her head when her hand left the wall she had been supporting herself with and she fell over.  The thin acolyte landed on her side with a light, padded thud; thanks to her thick dress.  She had forgotten that the wall ended and a passage into the Cave of Death opened up!

"Sorry!"  That was foolish, she should have been paying more attention!  Liseth scrambled back to her feet, casting her gaze between the chapel and the cave of death.  Things could get really bad if something came out of there too!

Sneak Through Antechamber: 3

Position: M 8

15:27, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 3 using 1d20+1. Sneaky Stealthy Antechamber Antics.

OOC: It wasn't a 1!

"Be quiet about it? I'm wearing hundred of connecting metal links and have a small armory hanging off me..". He thought to himself as he considered how he was going to go about the task. He scratched his head for a moment and let the others go first, wincing a little involuntarily as Liseth almost lost it,, before he worked up his nerve and decided to just go for it.

It turned out that the big corned kid could be deceptively agile when the need arose, and he found himself creeping forward as he rolled his feet until he was safely past the entryway.

20:11, Today: Kellan Storval rolled 16 using 1d20-3. Stealth in Chainmail.
Position: L7
This message was last edited by the player at 07:05, Wed 11 Feb 2015.

---

---

The party threaded its way past the now-closed cathedral towards the northern door.  Liseth's fall produced some sharp intakes of breath and worried glances towards the sealed chamber, but fortunately her mishap did not seem to alert whatever guardians the foul temple might have possessed.

Silence, thankfully, still reigned, except for some muted clanking from Kellan's armor.  Kerr, on the other hand, seemed to have found a way to silence his armor, at least temporarily.

Pisca's short trip up to the door blocking the northern corridor was uneventful.  She put her ear to the portal and listened closely, but could not hear anything moving about on the other side.  As far as she could tell, either the space on the other side was empty or whatever was there was being very quiet.

As Kerr helped Liseth up from her fall, her position provided her with an excellent view of the eastern corridor.  The passageway seemed just the same as all the others the party had explored to this point, with the exception that it looked as if some sort of liquid might be leaking from under the door located at its end, fifteen feet away from the young woman.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+-xxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  | x| xx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--xx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  D  |  S13|  |  |x |  | xxx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+11+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+x-+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  x 12  D  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  |  |  xx |  |  xxx| x|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+-x+--6--+--x--+-xxx-+xxx--xx xxx+--+--+
4 |  |  | 14  |  x  |  |  D  |  D  |  x  |  x  |  | xx  |  |xxxx |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-10--x--+--xxx+--xx-+xxxx-+x-+--+--+--+--x--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  xxxx  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |xx|  |
  +--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+-x+--x--+--+--+--+--+-C+--+
6 |  |  | x|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  xP x  |  |  |  |  |x | x|  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--+--+--+--+--x--+-x+--+--+--6--+--+-C+--+
7 |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  xK x  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx+--+--+x-x--+--+--+--+-C+--+
8 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |C |L |  |  |  D  |  |  | x|x |  |  |  | C|  |
  +--x--+--+--+--9--+--+--+--+--D--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-+xxx--+-x+--+--+--+x-+--+
9 |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  D  |R x  |  |  |  |  | xx  |xxx  |  |  |  x  |  |
  +--+xxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxDDx--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxx--+--+-xx--+--+
10|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  x  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |x |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--+x-+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--x--x--x--x--x--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxx--+--+--+
11|  |  | x|  |  x  |  x  D  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxDDx--+--x--x--8--x--x--x--xSSx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  x  x  |  x  x  |  x  x  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  | xxx |xxx  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxDDxxxxxxx14xxxxxxx--xDDxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xx+xxxx-xxx+--+--+
13|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  | x|  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+xx+--+--+
14|  |  x  |  |  7  |  |  D  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  |  xx |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--5--xx-+--+--+
15|  |  x  x  x  x  x  x  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  xx |  |  |x |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--xxxxDDxDDxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+xxxx-+-xxx-+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  | xxxx|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--x--3--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--x--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxx--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  |  |  x  4  D  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--x--+--xxxxDDxxxxDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--4--x--4--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

1 = Dining Hall                           8 = Gabriel's Chambers (Rescue!)

2 = Wives' Quarters                       9 = Lamashtu Chapel (Dangerous!!!!!)

3 = Nursery                              10 = Gallery

4 = Bedchambers                          11 = War Room

5 = Storage                              12 = Research Room

6 = Cave of Death (Keep Out!!!!!)        13 = Stairs Down (Nualia - Dangerous!!!)

7 = Prison                               14 = Secret Door!

SS = Stairway                            CC = Cliff View to Ocean

---

---

Surprise.  Nothing inside.  Pisca began to wonder why even goblins would choose to live in a place with so many dangerous and terrible things about.  Evil didn't necessarily mean stupid.  But, then again, these were goblins after all.

"I don't hear anything," reported the gnome back to the others.  "I'm going through."

Behind the door would be the room that Ripnugget had labeled Gallery.  More wings stuck to the walls with daggers?  Or, maybe Goblin Poo Fling art.  It wasn't a wonder there was no one in the next room.  Regardless, the path from there was clear.  There was nowhere else go except to the door leading to the War Room.  On and on and on until they found something that would try to stop them.

"I'm making for the Research Room," she said.  "I won't stop," she added.  "Unless there are any distractions," said the easily distracted gnome.

Quietly Pisca opened the door and forged ahead.

Listen at each door.  Check for traps and other dangers as we go.

Stealth, Perception checks, please.

Position: L6 or K4 or I4 or F3

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Disguise Self 40m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (1/2)
AL: 4/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

Abadar's Blessing +2 Morale / Used

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

"Thank you," Liseth said quietly as Kerr helped her up.  Quiet was still a necessity, "Sorry I'm so clumsy..."  But while her hands were clinging to Kerr's helpful arm, the girl's eyes were fixed on the door at the end of the passage leading into the ominously named Cave of Death.

She knew that caves were moist underground, and they were even near the ocean.  But the sight of liquid seeping from under the door gave Liseth pause.  Was that whole chamber flooded?  That must mean that it leads outside, through the ocean.  Not that the diminutive teen relished the thought of going out through there and having to swim through the surf!

But that couldn't be the reason why it was called the Cave of Death.  It was a sure bet that some kind of terrible creatures lived in there.  Otherwise, why would the goblins have sealed it off with a door?  At least that meant that the creatures couldn't get in!  And Liseth was not about to give them the opportunity either.

"Pisca, I can see the door into the Cave of Death."  Liseth Whispered, "It looks like water is leaking from underneath it.  But whatever is in there must not be able to open up doors, right?"

"I'll follow as soon as you say the Research Room is safe."  Liseth promised the much more perceptive gnome.  Until then, Liseth couldn't take her eyes off of the door leading into the Cave of Death.  Or her hands off of Kerr's arm.  She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was just waiting to spring out from behind that door!

Position: M 8

Active Effects:
Light

Kellan lingered back as Pisca crept forward. He would be more hinderance than help up there clad as he was, and Pisca was becoming well practiced at their routine. Still, it was difficult to keep on the constant bleeding edge if awareness he knew he should be without succumbing to the fatigue of the days events, or the rampant theories and speculation that wandered through his head given the nature of where they were. This was all on top of the warm glowing feeling nestled I some recess in his brain that they had killed Bruthazmus. It would take a while for it to truly settle in.

A small part of him wanted topics down the door to the Room of Death while they were at it, but this was very quickly brought to heel by the more reasonable parts of his teenage mind.

Position: L7

"What?  Cave of Death, Lys?"  The gnome whispered her reply with half her mind, as the rest was deeply engaged in the act of stealthy scouting.  "Best way to tell whether whatever is in the Cave of Death can open the door and come out, is to see whether there are any footprints  leading to or from the door.  Especially Cave of Death Monster-like footprints."

"And that may not be water leaking from underneath the door, either, Lys," Pisca added.  And here, perhaps, half of her mind was a bit of an exaggeration.  More like one eight was likely more appropriate.  "Could be slime.  Or could be drool.  Or could even be pee.  Don't drink any of that, Lys.  Could be pee," warned the gnome.

"You can bet it's not safe to go through that door.  Something terrible," she continued in disjointed fragments of thought.  "Just waiting.  To spring out at you.  From behind the door.  Pee on you from ambush."

Listen at each door.  Check for traps and other dangers as we go.

Stealth, Perception checks, please.

Position: L6 or K4 or I4 or F3

Active Effects:  Message 40m (On All in party.), Disguise Self 40m

Lvl 0 - At Will
Lvl 1 - (1/4)
Lvl 2 - (1/2)
AL: 4/8

HP 30/30
Befuddlers 1/2
Potion CMW 1/1

Abadar's Blessing +2 Morale / Used

In Hand: ARD
Melee +3Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1MagicDagger
Ranged +6Base +1RacialvsGoblins +1PointBlankShot +1MagicDagger
AC15
CMD13 or ...
AC21 w/Total Defense
CMD 19 w/Total Defense

This message was last edited by the player at 14:34, Thu 12 Feb 2015.

Cato watched as Pisca crept forward, listening to Liseth and Pisca's dialogue, suddenly quite aware that death was quite literally, all around him.  The mage swallowed and tried to keep calm, placing one foot in front of the other, slowly looking around him, and trying not to think about the Chapel to Lamashtu, the Cave of Death, Nualia and her hounds, and the dozens of goblins all around.

Position: L8, following Kellan.

Active Effects:
Protection from Arrows (Kellan)
Mage Armor (Cato)

Combat Stats:
AC 16
BAB: +2, 1d6 damage
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Fri 13 Feb 2015.