The Brinewall Legacy
Fires over Brinestump
It started with happiness. A jovial, cheery evening in Sandpoint, within The Rusty Dragon, Ameiko and Tsumi serving food and drink to the tired, the young, the old of Sandpoint, to all who sought to while away some of the chill evening within the tavern's glow. The flickering lights, the heat of the crackling fire, the tales and joyous laughter . . . heroes will recall that night, that place, as a time of warmth.
It was the needs of Sheriff Belor Hemlock that forged the party, for Licktoad Goblins once again troubled his community. Seeking out those he knows has battled the goblins successfully, those who have aided Sandpoint in the past, he asked of them to venture deep within the Brinestump Marsh to defeat the Licktoad Goblins and their leader, Chief Gutwad. Restoring the old "goblin bounty" he generously offered the sum of 10 GP for each goblin slain, proof through presenting their left ear, with 300 GP for the head of Chief Gutwad, but in truth Tsumi and Kankai were keen battle the bold goblins, bringing harm and pain to the people of Sandpoint, 'fore any bounty or claim of reward was made.
Morvius and Avarizia sensibly planned what might be needed for such a venture, packing food and water (and plenty of fine wine, in Avarizia's case), warm clothes and lantern oil before readying themselves through meditation and prayer, setting off along the Lost Coast Road to the swamps . . .
The swamp was a frightful place. Tsumi and Kankai scouted ahead through the relentless drizzling rain, the cold brackish waters lapping around their ankles (or shins, for Kankai), the dense mists concealing all as spectres bleached of colour, swirling from the sea breeze of Sog's Bay, the insects and animals skulking through, unseen, set against the eerie silence. Uneasy, Kankai sought aid from the local Ranger of the swamp, Walthus Proudstump, but on finding him within his weathered shack he seemed preoccupied and evasive. Avarizia's keen eyes glimpsed a glamour upon him, Kankai then noticing the illusion rippling over him, but on challenging him he showed his true hidous form and, snarling, sought to rip and rend the brave heroes! Magic and mettle swiftly defeated the creature, bolts of magic ripping into it from Morvius' fingers. Kankai carefully searched the shack, finding Walthus hidden away. After a decent meal from fare gathered from the swamps (or Avarizia's own fine rations and wine), a night's rest and the wisdom Walthus shared, at dawn the party advanced 'pon the Licktoad Goblin village.
The village was silent, the but not through gifts of peace and tranquility. Kankai sneaked cautiously up onto the raised walkways then along into the goblin huts, with Tsumi creeping along too, but found it quiet because, mostly, the whole village was now but an open grave . . .
The party searched through the village, finding Chief Gutwad who fought bravely, but briefly, with fireworks being recovered from him. Although these explosives were the cause of the goblins' newfound recent confidence, Avarizia was concerned where they and come from and questioned the goblins on what had unfolded. They spoke freely with Kankai, who has an uncanny knack to pick up languages and dialects and chatter with folk, explaining how skeletons had ruthlessly reclaimed the treasures they had found.
Tsumi tracked the skeletons, their unsual tracks to the goblin village then heavier tracks back leaving a trail she could follow, past the ruined ships Kaijitsu Star and Kaijitsu's Blossom and on to the Brinestump caverns. Avarizia's lantern flickered and glowed, throwing hints of shadows moving worryingly as she advanced, finding deep within the caves the restless dead. Old Minkai arms and armour clad the skeletons, testimony to some once proud lineage they served, with one battling with ferocious skill, his magial blade glowing softly as he fought the heroes. Morvius blasted him with endless magical bolts and orbs of electricity, Avarizia called down magics and healing as Kankai and Tsumi battled the mighty skeletal champion. His defeat unearthed treasures worth far more than crude coin, with Kankai reading of valuable tales of the past, tales of a legacy, long lost.
Returning to Sandpoint, the victorious heroes had much to share with Ameiko.
