Chapter One, Part One: Fires over Brinestump

[TheTick]

It is indeed a goblin map of the swamp - goblins don't write words, bad juju, but they do use maps.

[Phil]

"I suppose those precious things likely belong to the locals?  Originally at least."

"You know, I am not so sure about that.  These do not look to be local Varisian style items...  I've seen similar type of decorative fans when visiting with the Kaijitsu family.  The goblins could have stolen the chest from some travelers, I suppose."

As a player I recognize them as asian style items, I hope its okay if Owen does as well.  He's known the Kaijistus since he was a boy.  I can retcon or do a relevant knowledge check if its not kosher.

[TheTick]

That's fine - I figured you might get the idea here.

Remember too that there are drag marks next to this chest...and drag marks that led through the pond and into the swamp...

[Phil]

"Anyway...  Gather the items, and let this bloody business be done with."  Owen takes his greatsword, and with one clean chop severs the head of the chief.   He then picks it up and places it into a bag he brought for this very purpose.  May your gods receive you well.  He puts the bag in his pack.

"Now that the violence has past, I wish to examine the bones we saw earlier at the pond."

Of the loot, Owen will take one of the potions of cure light wounds.

[SpamHead]

"Perhaps, I think one of the goblin fireworks may be at the bottom of the lake... but we should also watch out for Walthus's monster as long as we stay here."

He is not exceptionally happy about not having the option of selling both the head and the ears of Gutwad anymore without facing Owen, and is not willing to stand up to the paladin.

[TheTick]

Owen is looking in the pond for now to get to skeletons when he notices a long pole in the reeds.  He manages to fish out most of a skeleton, including the skull and ribcage.  There are tatters of armor still on the ribcage, and both parts show signs of recent damage.

[SpamHead]

"Wonder what happened, maybe I could try to dive to the bottom and get a better look."

[Phil]

I assume the skeleton is medium sized?

[TheTick]

Yes, generally human shaped, as far as you can tell from the bones.

[Lotofsnow]

Faraway turns away from the pond and its piles of bones, his face twisted in a look of disgust.

The water is fouled beyond repair. I would not touch it or anything drawn from it.

[TheTick]

"Wonder what happened, maybe I could try to dive to the bottom and get a better look."

Diving into the smelly pond produces no further hints, other than the other pieces of the skeletons - enough to make two full skeletons.

[Lotofsnow]

Perhaps we should take what we have found and return to Sandpoint. Someone there might be able to identify the chest's origin.

[Phil]

"These goblins have clearly bested some armored humans.  But from where, and when?  I am no expert, but I would think it would take some time for the flesh to decay and leave bone behind, even in a swamp such as this.  Some battle long ago?  It makes little sense"  He looks the bones over again.  "I do not see any goblin teeth marks on them.  That is a relief."  Assuming that is true.

Perhaps we should take what we have found and return to Sandpoint. Someone there might be able to identify the chest's origin.

"That is not a bad idea, Faraway.  I am loathe to leave a mystery behind, but these caves were not our objective.  Lady Kaijitsu may be the best to ask of the chest, I suspect.  We shall return here, I am sure of it."

[TheTick]

(yeah, no goblin teeth marks or anything.  and the skeletons look old.  If anyone wants to do something other than head back to town and show Ameiko et al the chest, i'll give it until tomorrow)

[Porteiro]

Jeddy looks over the weapons and armor of the goblin ruler, bringing up the chain shirt to see how it would fit, and testing the balance of the spear.  "I wonder if these are goblin make, because they feel like they could have been made for a halfling.  I think I'll be able to use some this, if you guys don't mind."

If nobody objects, Jeddy will change into the chain mail right now.  It is obvious that it will offer superior protection to the scale mail he's wearing right now.

Also, is that spear a shortspear or a longspear?


Jeddy joins the conversation about what to do next.   "Yes, our assignment was just to take care of Gutwad.  But I am not satisfied in just doing that.   There's something fishy about this entire setup.  The answer to this mystery could be more important than we know.  I want to investigate those drag marks."