Rise of The Runelords 1 - Burnt Offerings

Ven Vinder at the General Store provides you with a map of the Sandpoint Hinterlands. 'Going out in this weather?' he says. 'You'll be in mud up to your arse, pardon my language.'

Sandpoint Hinterlands

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Jack gives the man a glance, pays him and turns to his friends. "We have about a week's worth of rations, should be more than enough considering we might also find game in the wild. We should probably notify the mayor of our findings first though."

Shathys groans again, "My head still hurts. Magic lady, can't you magic me better?" Shathys says to Shara.

Shara stomps on Shathys' foot. "There, now you can focus on another pain. And stop whining, you're a grown man. Besides, you deserve it!"

She picks up her pace and continues towards the mayor's office.

You are led up to the Mayor's office by a young secretary, and she shuts the door after letting you in. 'Good morning,' Mayor Deverin says from behind her desk.

"Mayor," Jack says and nods. "I believe you need to hear this and distribute it through the appropriate channels." Jack tells her about his theory on the priest's daughter and their plans to go to Thistletop Shrine.

Her face grows more and more grim with every word. When you finish, she studies Tsuto's notes intently for a while. 'If I'm reading this right, the goblins are planning a large scale attack on Sandpoint. Even if we were prepared for it, we wouldn't have the manpower to hold them off. You need to end the goblin threat! Find the goblins' leader and kill him. Or her.' She adds as an afterthought. 'Cut off the head and the body dies.'

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"Do you have any plans to evacuate the city? If we fail the entire city is doomed."

'Sandpoint folk are a stubborn lot. Few would even consider fleeing from a goblin attack, and none from the threat of a goblin attack. but we'll do what we can to prepare.'

"We cannot do this alone. Do you have any one that can accompany us?"

"A small force will be able to slip in unnoticed and take out key targets more easily than larger numbers. And one or two extra men won't help us."

'We can't spare any of the town guard. There are few enough of them as it is. However...' She rummages through a drawer and pulls out a small box wrapped in cloth. She unwraps and opens it, revealing a single, dead twig placed on a small red pillow. 'This might help you. It's a magical twig. When you reach Nettlewood, pour a drop of blood on it - I don't think it matters where the blood comes from - and then snap it in two. According to Ilsora - the headmaster of our local academy - it will summon a mighty creature to aid you in battle.' She carefully closes and re-wraps the box before handing it to Shathys.

"Right... So we have to slip unnoticed into Thistletop, kill their leader and get out as soon as possible without anyone noticing it? Do you have any information about Thistletop? Any special landscape up there or anything?", Morbus asks.

'I don't know much about the area. People who value their lives usually stay away from it, and I'm not the adventuring type. The only way to get there is through Nettlewood, though, which is a challenge in itself. Thistletop itself is located on a large, round rock formation off the coast.'

"The faster the better. I suggest we move today."

"I agree," she says. "The weather isn't exactly optimal, but there's nothing to be done about that. Good luck. I have a feeling you'll need it."

"Thank you, I hope we won't be too late." Jack turns to leave.

"Let's take the horses, I just hope we won't have to abandon them."

Your horses are stabled and ready for travel at the Goblin Squash Stables. A tired-looking stable boy inspects their shoes and saddles before handing you the reins.

Jack saddles up and rides out of the town, following the north eastern road.

The ride to Nettlewood is not long, but the rain and mud makes it an arduous task. By the time you arrive at Nettlewood, the horses are breathing hard and you're soaked to the skin. A brief break in the clouds lets forth a wave of golden sunlight, and it seems like the rain is beginning to let up.

The Nettlewood is densely forested with ancient trees and brambles, and you clearly can't bring the horses any further.

Jack sighs. "The horses can find their way home. Shathys, you're the ranger type around here so you take point, I'll be behind you with Shara behind me. Morbus you watch our back."

The Nettlewood is a tangled, confusing mess of trees and brambles. To make matters worse, the sky overhead is obscured by a natural canopy, making travel direction difficult to gauge. Thistletop is here somewhere, but too many missteps and trouble could find you first.

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Jack cuts away brambles hindering their path with unwavering endurance.

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