Cato smiled, wrapped up in Kerr's emotions, surprised at both the man's display of emotions and strength.  But after a moment, Cato relented, and returned the warm greeting.  Shaking his head, Cato laughed.  "I can imagine, Kerr.  And you're wearing armor.  He gestured at the motes of light dancing around his form.  "I have the armor my magic can conjure, but it's not the same as having some nice steel between yourself at a pair of demon dogs."

Cato looked and smiled as the rest of his companions rushed in, savoring their look of relief as they saw the very-much alive and unhurt Kerr.  The mage winced a little as Kellan pounded his shoulder, but Cato figured he only had himself to blame for that.

"I can't believe we did it!"  The mage wasn't normally a fan of such conversations, but he simply didn't have anything else to add.  "We saved Sandpoint from whatever Nualia was planning.  At least for the time being, I suppose.  There's still more to look into..."  Cato trailed off.  "But for now, yes, we should tell the town to celebrate!  The guard won't have to test itself."  A dark expression flashed across Cato's face...and everyone on the Lost Coast will hear about the heroes of Sandpoint.  Including a certain young wizard...

"Ha!"  It was a triumphant "Ha" from the gnome as she stripped herself of the last remaining piece of bugbear clothing and kicked it into the dark corners beneath the tumbled mess of slain furnishings at the other side of the table.  "I knew she would try that!"

"Well ... no.  Actually, I didn't.  Had no idea.  Lucky thing though, wasn't it?  I'll have to remember that for the next time we find a room consecrated to Lamashtu."

"Well, come on books," said the gnome as she gathered up the books, both the titled and the untitled.  "Lets go see what remains.  The body of proof.  The bones of contention."  Her arms laden with books, Pisca trundled through the goblin gallery of art and out into what Kerr Mollin had declared to be the Anforex.

"Any Demon Dogs better stay in there!"

*BANGBANGBANG*  Arms still laden with books, the gnome kicked at the chapel door.  "You hear me?  We've killed your bitch sisters, and we've got more of that for you if you come out!"  It was, perhaps, not the smartest thing to do.  But it was a thing that did feel full of the most wonderful bravado.

"You wait right here," Pisca said to her armload of books as she deposited them in the corner of the Anforex that was closest to the Entry Room.  Then she returned to the body from which the evil of Nualia had departed, and began stripping it of anything that appeared even the slightest bit valuable, magical, or attractive on a gnome.

Search Nualia taking 20 for 31.

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

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:15, Tue 21 Apr 2015.

Kellan took a moment to bask in the moment and breath easy as Pisca ran about here and there. He drank deep of his water skin, adjusted his armor and wiped some of the larger bits of gore off his blade and from in between the links. He still hurt, yes, but the pain was far from his mind as he paced and allowed his body to slowly calm down after being in a state of constant activity and nervousness since early that morning. He wondered what time it was...how long they had really been down there.

It did not take long for his longing for home to become stronger than his desire for a break and he set about making a list of things they should do before they left. To search the place...yes, evidence and things that needed to be destroyed properly...valuables, those would be nice as well. He decided they should probably take Nualias head...as proof of deed, to prevent any kind of unholy magics bringing her back and to discourage any goblin interferance on the way back through the nettle maze.

It was not something he looked forward to doing, but it would be practical.

Then to check in with Ripnugget and the priest, and perhaps plant the seeds of future diplomacy in this newly furrowed field before the long walk back home.

"Alright..." he eventually spoke up "I guess I'll start with the observation room and work my way back up here...if anybody hears or see's anything just give me a shout. Who knows...maybe we could be home in time for dinner?"

OOC: Searching the Observation Room

"Don't forget to bring the bodies of the two demon dogs up with you, Stomper," the gnome whispered after the Ogre Stomp champion in hopes that her magic would catch him before he got too far away.  "We don't want anyone performing unspeakable rites with something we left behind."

After briefly considering depositing Nualia's body just inside the door to the Cave of Death, she, instead, pushed it up against the double doors of the chapel so that the ethereal beauty of her face was aimed downward at the crack below the door, as though, in death the Chosen of Lamashtu were somehow interested in peeking under the door.

"Hey, Cato.  I've got things here," Pisca called, once again through her magic.  "They look good enough to be magic.  Want to take a look?  A finely crafted breastplate, a well-forged bastard sword, a golden holy symbol of Lamashtu, and a strange silver medallion inscribed with a stylish, seven-pointed star.  And a pouch.  Seven platinum.  Five gold."

"Hello there little star medal.  Just what are you then?"  The gnome plucked the curious star-medalion from the pile and held it up as though to a light.  "Funny little star pendant.  I saw your sister in the Quansit Girl's catacombs, you know."

Knowledge Arcana, Knowledge Religion, Knowledge History check in the symbol of the seven pointed star.

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

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1
This message was last edited by the player at 22:54, Tue 21 Apr 2015.

For a long moment Liseth paid no attention to anything outside her small world; consisting of nothing other than Kerr and herself.  She sobbed tears of relief, of happiness, finally  giving an outlet to all of the pent up stress, axiety, and fear of the last several days.

"I was so scared, when you chased after Nualia.  Of what evil she might use against you."  The girl stood, wrapped up in the arms of her hero, "I was safe, even after she set those demon dogs at me.  Sarenrae was there, I could feel Her fighting beside us; She turned Nualia's magic against her minions so that they couldn't find me."

"Once I got away Kellan kept them from me; they couldn't get past him.  I was safe, but I was so worried about you."  Liseth looked up at Kerr's battered and bloodied appearance.  "You're hurt..."

Everyone was hurt, herself included.  But Liseth only had a little bit of energy left.  Still hugging onto Kerr, the blonde acolyte concentrated to once more draw the divine energy into herself.

Then erupted in golden white flames, her golden hair becoming as a torch.  "[Language unknown: Th e mi ntine,]" the girl's voice echoed as the holy flames of her body engulfed Kerr through her embrace.  "[Language unknown: K pe son...]"

Activate Energy Body; Heal Kerr for 7

15:50, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 7 using 1d6+5. Energy Body; Heal Kerr.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Tue 21 Apr 2015.

Kellan returned sometime later, his backpack looking more full than it had when he had left.

"Found a nice looking bow, and enough literature to keep us busy for a while...notes, journals...lots of them." he turned to Pisca "Was not sure what you meant about the dogs...didnt figure that you planned on dragging them over hill and dale back to Sandpont, so I just made sure that they're gonna stay down. Same thing I'm about to do with Nualia there...if anybody would rather look away..."

Before he attended to the grisly chore however he looked around "Was there anything else we needed to do or should we head back up?"

Cato made his way over to Pisca, helping the gnome sort through the items she had discovered.  The wizard uttered a short word, and began inspecting the items for tell-tale magical auras.  When finished, he looked at the seven-pointed star.  The scholar cleared his throat.  "Seven pointed stars are most famously associated with the ancient civilization of Thassilon, so it'd make sense to find it down here, I suppose, given everything else we've found linked to the Runelords.  Maybe Nualia found it in Thistletop, or down in those catacombs we discovered under the city."

Detect magic, looking for auras on the items.
Know: Arcana/History on the star.  Is it the same symbol for Thassilon we saw back in post #261 in the Catacomb Kids thread:
link to a message in this game ?
Hard to believe that was a year ago!

"Huh?  What?"  Pisca stood staring at the seven-pointed star.  Her head was tipped slightly to the left in the Position Of Most Knowing.  "A bow?"  The gnome spared but a glance away from the pendant of the Seven Pointed Star for the Nice Bow.  It was a glance enough to register that Nice Bow was also Biggish For A Gnome Bow, at which point she lost all interest.

"Well, we'll have to look go over those notes and journ ... "  The gnome's attention to the pendant made her voice come out wispy and far away.  "Did ... um ... did you say that you didn't bring the dogs?  Hmm.  That's not good.  Father Zantus said that any ... uh ... extraplanar bodies that don't disappear can ... can be used in unspeakably evil magic rites."

"He said that.  Yes ... "  Pisca fished in her pouch, her small hand, as though with a mind of its own, searching for something within.  "Well, maybe we can toss the bodies of the demon dogs through the door to the Cave of Death.  Maybe.  Maybe that would be enough."

Pisca's fishing hand emerged from her pouch, and in it she held the black card that she'd found on the body of the Man of the One-Eyed Mask.  Against the light draining background of the card itself was a gold embossed number - The number Seven.

"Seven pointed stars, huh?" asked the gnome of herself, her friends, and of the universe in general.  She held both items up for all to see.  In one hand the black card.  In the other hand the pendant with its star engraving.  Side by side, she displayed the items.

Then she said the word: "Seven."

Knowledge Arcana, Knowledge Religion, Knowledge History check in the symbol of the seven pointed star.

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

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1

Kellan thought for a moment before speaking up. "Well now that they have their very own Priest of Abadar here in Thistletop, couldn't he destroy those things in whatever way would be safest?" he suggested to Pisca as he joined her and looked down at the card.

"Think there is some kind of connection there? I mean, I don't know hardly anything about Thassalon, seems like maybe Cato could give us all a lecture some day...maybe explain a few things about why there were the way they were, and why all their ruins seem to be infested..." he trailed off as he knelt near Nualias body to get a better look at her mutilated hand.

Cato looked up at Kellan, unsure if the man was joking about the lecture.  Cato decided to assume the latter.  "Well, yes, I'm certain I could arrange that.  In fact, Brodert would be practically quivering with excitement if he found out I had managed to secure an interested, captive audience to let him regale us with the history of Thassilon.  Why, we need to get back right away!  I could be preparing visual aids to help him!"  Cato smiled, hoping he had gauged Kellan's mood correctly.  "Truth be told, there's a lot out there, written and not, about ancient Thassilon.  But it was a long time ago, and a lot's been lost.  We can recognize things from that time, such as this 7-pointed star."  Cato smiled ago.  "Which, by the way, is called a Sihedron rune."  The mage shook his head.  "But that's exactly my point.  We know little things like that, or names that have survived, like Malneshfekor, for example.  And there's stories of things like those monstrous evil dog-monsters we faced in the catacombs underneath Sandpoint.  But there's a lot that we don't know."  Cato waved his arm around him.  "Like the function of things like this.  Or the Old Light.  Have you ever been to Magnimar?  The Irespan is the same way.  We know it dates to Thassilon, but have no idea why a hundred-foot wide bridge needed to be built across the Varisian Gulf."

The wizard takes a deep breath.  "But, more important to us right now, some of these items are obviously magic."  Cato points to the medallion, the breastplate and the bastard sword.  "It'll take me longer to identify exactly what they can do, but I can tell the medallion is giving off an aura of necromantic energy."  Cato sets his mind to analyzing the items, looking them over with Detect Magic and trying to work out their enchantments.

Spellcraft checks, aided by Detect Magic for the items, please.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Wed 22 Apr 2015.

"The seven-pointed star is a symbol of ancient Thassilon," said the gnome, as though to herself.  Followed by, "Well, yes.  But Cato just said that.  Didn't he?"

"Just checking to see whether you were listening," Pisca then said to herself.

"Hmm?  What did you say Stomper?  Something ... about ... "  Pisca slowed to a stop, all words drained away, leaving a silent wide-eyed gnome who simply stood blinking up at her human friend.  *blink* *blink* *blinkblink*

Then she exploded.

"That's BRILLIANT!"  Pisca threw up her hands, seven-pointed star in one and a seven-numbered card in the other, in exuberant exclamation.  "Father Gabriel is a priest too!  In addition to being a nut.  He can dispose of the extraplanar bodies.  That's an incredible idea, Stomper!"  The gnome looked up at her friend with great pride and a new appreciation.  This proved the old gnomish maxim about humans.  Humans might be big on the outside, so the saying went.  But don't let that fool you into thinking that they aren't big in the inside too.

"I wish I'd thought of that.  You two should learn how to properly dispose of a extraplanar waste as well," she added, with a look at the two love birds who seemed to be paying absolutely no attention at all.  "Oh, and that reminds me.  We should take a look in there as well."  Pisca pointed the Pendant hand at the closed door to the chapel of Lamashtu.  "There might be another demon dog inside.  Looks like Nualia managed to unjam the door just before Kerr Mollin put the final arrow in her.  She must have been trying to get to something."

"Now, that would be neither here nor there except for the fact that the gobbies seem to live in some of the rooms down here.  And, if we're going to be friendly with the little green badger butts, we shouldn't leave something as dangerous as a demon dog waiting to break out of the room once it gets hungry enough to try.  Don't you think?"

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

HP 19/30
Befuddlers 0/2
Potion CMW 0/1

---

---

"Um," said Kerr, reluctantly tearing his attention away from Liseth as Pisca suggested opening the chapel.  "I'm not sure that's such a good idea."  His arms remained clasped around Liseth, though.  He could see no reason to move them.  "There are at least two hounds in there.  I heard them yowling when Nualia was trying to open the door."  He briefly used one of his otherwise-occupied arms to point to the big double doors into the chapel, as if anyone might be confused as to which door he meant.

"I mean, I guess we can if everything thinks we need to."  The young acolyte's tone of voice indicated his skepticism on that issue.  "But if we do we should be prepared to have our hands full."

---

---

The gnome shrugged.  "If we want to leave them with the gobbies, I'm good with that too," she said.  I can jam the doors again so no one accidentally opens them.  And we can tell Ripnugget that he needs to seal the chapel.  Whether he does or not is up to him."

"It isn't as though they don't already have one Cave of Death here.  Right?  And, if the chapel doors hold, eventually the dogs will starve.  Or eat each other.  Then maybe Father Gabriel can come down here and de-Lamashtu-ize the chapel.  Something like that."

"Up to the rest of you," Pisca said, and shrugged again.

"What do you think, little Sihedron pendant?" Pisca said to the stone bearing the seven-pointed star.

"I wouldn't mind leaving myself, Pisca," bobbed the pendant in reply, sporting a falsetto version of the gnome's voice.  "Lets go.  Or we'll be late for that lecture.  I can't wait to see those visual aids, Cato," the Voice of the Sihedron pendant said.  "Or, at least I would if I had eyes."

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

HP 19/30
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Thu 23 Apr 2015.

Kellan beheaded Nualia's still form quickly and without ceremony. He disliked having to do it, and the sensation of doing it even more, but the magical worlds of Arcane study and Divine intervention were strange and threatening to him. He had heard that people could be brought back from the dead, and with the kind of organization and resources these people seemed to have, he did not want risk this assault having been for naught.

He wrapped the thing in her clothing and tied it off before setting it in the bottom of his pack.

Some how he had yet again avoided having to take a human life, but Bruthazmus was close enough in his mind. Sentient, clever, viscous and brutal. It helped that the Bugbears cruelty and cunning was legend at this point as it salved his mind against any lingering doubts that they were becoming monsters themselves. He thought of the goblins in the entry way...but only a few moments before he banished it from his mind.

He put his hands on his hips and looked around Thistletop before he addressed the others "Shall we?" Then proceeded back up towards where they had last seen Ripnugget.

Packing.  And taking.  Packing and taking things.  Those were two important steps towards having things.  Pisca watched Stomper cut the head from Nualia's body and wrap it in a piece of her clothing.  Not once did she pause in her packing.  She packed the books.  She packed the friendly little necromantic Sihedron pendant.  She even tried to pack the bastard sword, but found it way too large and pointy to fit well into her pack.  She packed away the black card with the embossed seven on it.  And she packed the golden symbol of Lamashtu as well.

Only when done did Pisca approach to examine the now decapitated body that was once Nualia, daughter of Tobyn.  Squatting next to the body, the gnome dipped a finger into the slowly pooling blood.  She stuck the finger into her mouth, but quickly withdrew it, a choking grimace on her face.

"Tastes evil."  Aside from the look, that was her only comment.

Pisca jammed the door shut again, and then stood, ready to leave.

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

HP 19/30

Cato nodded, helping to gather up the items for identification later in town.  The young scholar was eager to be exiting Thistletop, regardless of the fact that it was a priceless Thassilonian ruin open to human exploration for the first time in...decades?  Cato grinned.  Brodert probably would never have left a place like this without exploring it fully, but Cato was all-too aware of the potential dangers that lurked here...and above.  Cave of Death?  A powerful Barghest that might still lurk somewhere below?  Granted, goblins might not be the bravest of creatures, but they were afraid, and they still represented a threat to Sandpoint, at least in force.

---

---

The group slogged its way back down the hallway to the room though which they'd originally entered this level of Thistletop.  For some reason, the trip back seemed to take a lot less time than the expedition in.  They arrived back at the former mess hall in a matter of seconds.

Yet it seemed an age ago that they'd interrupted Bruthazmus' in the goblin wives' chambers, even though it had only happened that afternoon.  The sickly-sweet scent of the wives' perfume drifted into the former mess hall, spreading through the otherwise stale-seeming air like incense commemorating the bugbear's death.  A scrape mark on the ground showed where Orik had knocked Pisca down in what could have been a catastrophic confrontation with Nualia's erstwhile chief bodyguard.

Maybe the gods really had been looking out for them.

Everyone made their way back up the staircase, only to find that the door at the top refused to budge.

"Who is it?"  Inquired an authoritative-sounding goblin voice.  Probably one of the commandos.

"Um," said Kerr in response, looking at the others.  "It's us.  Nualia is dead.  So can you let us out?"

After a minute of scrabbling the door creaked open.  The party found a group of commandos outside, horsechoppers at the ready.  The visibly relaxed when they saw the party, although they were still obviously wary.

"Come on," said what seemed to be their leader.  "Ripnugget'll want to see you."

It was not a long walk to the throne room, but repairs seemed to already be well underway.  It seemed as if Ripnugget and his forces weren't leaving anything to chance--defensive barriers and what looked like crude traps were under construction, as if the goblins were preparing for an attack from the lower level.  What looked like a large ballista had been dragged into the hallway from somewhere, and a trio of non-commando goblins were squabbling over its proper placement.

The throne room itself was a flurry of chaotic activity.  In the corner of the room Ripnugget sat on his throne, deep in conversation with Father Gabriel, his warchanter, and one of the commandos.  They all looked up as the bedraggled group entered, Father Gabriel's face lighting up with the radiance of a faith affirmed.

"Welcome back, my friends!"  Cried the Abadaran priest, shooting Ripnugget a see-I-told-you sort of look.  "You have done it, I trust?"

---

---

Kellan could hardly blame their erstwhile enemies for assuming that they might not be coming back from the lower levels of Thistletop, and was in truth grateful that they had not been forced to face such preparations during the initial assault. With Pisca's infiltration skills sneaking into the fortress was just one of many factors that might have meant the difference between victory or defeat that day.

The guardsman approached with the others and looked exhausted as he nodded in the affirmative.

"Nualias dead" he informed them as he spared a glance behind himself "And so is Bruthazmus...Orik we sent your way in hopes that he would find his way out."

Just saying those words, Kellan was against amazed at the fact that they were all about to walk out of Thistletop in one piece.

"There were some of those dog things with her, and probably more in the temple...we didn't go in there." he looked to Father Gabriel "We were thinking that maybe you could dispose of them...you know, properly" he glanced towards Liseth and Kerr "However that works"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Sun 26 Apr 2015.

"Ding dong."  Pisca repeated the queer phrase that she'd uttered down below on the second level of Thistletop.  This time, it was in reply to Father Gabriel's somewhat rhetorical question.  "Show them the head, Stomper."

"Father Zantus said that extraplanar bodies can be used for dark and dangerous magical rites," the gnome then explained, expanding on Kellan's request.  "We already have a batwinged-head back in Sandpoint that needs proper disposal.  Father Zantus and Vorvashali Voon have already seen to the body of a Quasit.  Or ... at least we think they have.  Who'd have thought this would be such a problem?"

"By the by ... "  Pisca turned to the goblin king, and with a force of will, refrained from calling him a gobbie.  "Ripnugget ... Chief Ripnugget, we ... we need your military expertise.  I take it that the goblins of Thistletop will no longer be participating in the attack on Sandpoint.  But what about the other tribes?  Do you think they'll attack without you?  Without the Queen of Lamashtu-ness?  If there's even the slightest chance, we'll have to get back to town as soon as possible."

"Oh, and this pendant that you gave us before.  The one that lets your minions, um, your people recognize friendly outsiders, will it get us through the Nettle Maze without having to kill anyone else?"

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

HP 19/30

Twice more holy energy pulsed from Liseth's fiery, golden-white body.  It first jumped into Kerr, mending much of the injury that he had remaining as the divine aura suffused him.  Then the divine power turned inward upon the young acolyte, restoring her own corporeal form and mending many of the girl's own wounds.

Then the holy energy faded away, the exhausted girl having reached the limits of her divine abilities.  Now back to a normal girl once again, all she could do was lay her head against Kerr's breastplate for the next several moments and concentrate and breathing.

Liseth nodded along with the others as they made plans to leave, too spent to think about offering her own input.  But that was okay; she was sure that everyone would know what to do.  The acolyte didn't want to see a decapitation anyway.

When everyone finished searching what was safe to search, with their task down underneath Thistletop finally complete, and when Kerr told her that it was time to get out of there, Liseth finally released her arms from around her boyfriend's waist.  But she didn't let him go anywhere without her arms looped through his own.

The acolyte was still very wary when they made it back to the goblins.  And more than a little afraid.  If Ripnugget went back on his word now, there was very little that they could do do fight off his goblins.  And she was completely spent; the blonde acolyte might be able to summon a splash of water but that was it.

Luckily the goblins seemed just as relieved to see them as they were to not be attacked.  And Liseth was happy to see Father Gabriel speaking with Ripnugget; Abadar's priest could only ever be a positive influence on the goblin chief.  Anything was better than Lamashtu's influence!

"Are Tsuto and Lyrie here?"  Liseth spoke from standing at Kerr's side; mostly behind him.  "Tsuto said that he would give us a letter to bring his sister, if he decided against coming back to Sandpoint with us."

"Oh...and that man with the mask that we captured..."  The girl looked around the throne room for the mentioned mage.  "We will need to bring him with us back to Sandpoint.  He probably knows a lot of why everything happened here, and Mr Barret and Mayor Deverin and everyone will probably want to question him."  She was nervous, obviously having mixed feelings about bringing that man back with them.

Heal Kerr and Self with Energy Body; 11 HPs each
Energy Body ends

11:20, Yesterday: Liseth Thoradin rolled 11,11 using d6+5,d6+5. Heal Kerr, then Heal Self with Energy Body.

Cato emerged into the throne room, marveling at the quick work the goblins had done.  Especially the ballista.  Cato had a hard time drawing his eyes away from it.  Almost by impulse, he started in on a lecture relating to the proper positioning of siege weapons in close-quarters warfare, based on a book he and Brodert had studied, but stopped himself.  the last thing he needed to do was to give goblins tactical advice, however much help they had already given them already.  Still, Cato was impressed.  This was a great deal more cooperation and planning than goblins usually showed.  Which could be bode well or extremely poorly for Sandpoint.  Without Nualia, Cato hoped the goblins wouldn't represent a mass, organized threat to his adopted town, but Ripnugget looked as though he could certainly cause some damage, especially if he rallied the other goblins in the area to his banner after Nualia's fall.  The wizard shook his head, wondering if the exhaustion was getting to him, and waited to here how Ripnugget responded to everyone's questions.

---

---

“Well,” said Father Gabriel after hearing Kellan’s news, shooting another triumphant look at Ripnugget, “that is very good to hear."  He gave the group a broad smile.  "It is good to see you back safe.  Some people,” a third look at his goblin confederate, “had their doubts.”

The warchief grunted.  “Hope for the best.  Prepare for the worst.”

“Just so,” responded Gabriel, grinning.  “I just have to say that it is nice to see faith rewarded, especially when one has had that faith continually challenged since one’s return from one’s enforced isolation.”

“You’ve made your point, Gabriel.”  Ripnugget looked as if he had just taken a bite of something extremely sour.  The chief seemed like he was ready to get on with whatever he had been doing prior to the party’s arrival, but he was gracious enough to answer Pisca’s question.

“I don't know for sure,” he said, sitting back on his throne.  “I would normally expect them to fall apart without leadership.  But,” he grimaced, “Big Gugmut . . . you’ve heard of him?  Good . . . has long had designs on the Grand Chieftanship of this region.  If he sees this as his opportunity, he could easily intimidate the other tribes into going along with the attack, now that they are all there.”  Ripnugget shrugged.  “He can be persuasive that way.  It would take courage on his part, but Gugmut’s never lacked courage.  Only brains.”

“And that pendant will give you safe passage through any Thistletop territory.  It won’t have any effect on the other tribes, though.  So keep that in mind.”  With this, he turned back to his warchanter, leaving the rest of the conference to his human friend.

“Yes, Orik passed through here, as did Tsuto.”  Abadar’s priest acknowledged Liseth as he raised an eyebrow at the severed head Kellan had just produced.  “Oh, my.”  He coughed, then nodded.  “Ah, yes.”  The cleric tried to hide his startlement.  “A . . . Quasit?  Really?  Well, we will need to have a ceremony for this as soon as we can.  It’s no good having such things just lying around!  They can be a constant temptation to those who don’t mind . . . trafficking in dangerous things.”

“Lyrie was with Tsuto.  They left together not minutes ago.”  The priest slapped his forehead.  “Which reminds me, Tsuto gave me this,” he reached inside the folds of his grimy robe and pulled out a parchment, folded and sealed with wax imprinted with the Kaijitsu crest, “to give to you.  He said you’d know what to do with it.”

“Oh, and your man in the mask is over in that room.”  He pointed at the door in the southeast corner of the throne room.  “So you can take him with you when you leave.”

---

---

Pisca gave her friends one of those And-We-Thought-We-Were-Done-Here sort of looks.  "Mosswood."  The gnome made the word a weary sigh.

"So, Ripnugget," she said, breaking into the conversation between the Goblin King and his War Monkey, "where exactly is Mosswood camped out?"

"We'll have to find the Mosswoods," Pisca explained to her friends.  "And kill Big Gugmut.  Or, maybe drive them away.  Hmmm.  That head should help."  Pisca turned to Nualia's severed head and tapped at her lower lip as she contemplated just how to present the grisly trophy for the greatest impact.  "We'll have to find a pole to mount it on.  That shouldn't be too hard."

"Lets gather Mask Face and find Shalelu.  Hopefully ... "

Pisca paused half way to the door in the southeast corner of the room.  "Ripnugget?  When exactly is this attack on Sandpoint supposed to happen?"

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

HP 19/30

Cato tried hard to control his expression when news of the continued goblin threat was revealed to him.  Somehow, the mage had expected that everything would just blow over with the death of Nualia.  But, of course, the other goblins gathered around Sandpoint wouldn't have heard about her death, and things might move forwards.  Despite how much damage their little party had inflicted, the gathered goblin tribes might still be able to inflict damage on the little town.  But Cato looked around, aware of how much they had already done.  Furthermore, they were only five people.  Six, if you counted Shalelu.  "Anyone have any idea what we can do against an entire tribe of goblins?  Especially if it needs to be done soon.  And if Shalelu needs to escort the Masked Man back to Sandpoint, it leaves just us again."  Cato tried hard to keep the emotions from his inner voice.

"Thank you, Father Gabriel."  Liseth gently accepted Tsuto's rolled letter from the priest, careful to not get too close to Ripnugget or his goblins.  She then retreated back to Kerr and his arm.  Liseth glanced down at the sealed message with a sigh; Tsuto had obviously decided against returning to Sandpoint within the near future.  But at least they had this letter, and assurances that her brother was okay, to bring Ms Kaijitsu.

The girl's hand tightened on Kerr's arm when Pisca mentioned that they should go and fight Big Gugmut now.  "No...no no no...Pisca, we can't go and fight Big Gugmut and his goblins!  We can't!"  Liseth looked around at all of her friends, "Everyone is injured, and tired.  I can barely even feel the gods' power; let alone channel it right now.  We can't attack a whole army in this shape!"

"Chief Ripnugget..."  The acolyte bit her lip nervously, "Couldn't you...could you send your messengers to the other goblin chiefs?  Tell them that Nualia has been killed and that you are removing your forces from the assault on Sandpoint?  Tell them that there is no way they could ever assault Sandpoint now that Lamashtu's power has gone with her.  Maybe..."  Liseth thought a moment, though her grip never loosened on Kerr, "Maybe if you tell them that Sandpoint killed Nualia they will think that it was too dangerous for them to risk an attack?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:33, Thu 30 Apr 2015.