Chapter One, Part One: Fires over Brinestump

[Lotofsnow]

Faraway steps forward.

"Ameiko, I, too, noticed the hilt felt a bit off. This is because there is a secret compartment in it."

The druid hands the letter over.

"We found this inside, and I hoped you would be able to read it."

[TheTick]

Ameiko takes the letter and sits down.  She scans through it quickly, eyes going wide in several places before reading it slower.  Finally, she reads it aloud.

My son, my heir. You know now that I have kept secrets from you. You were always a perceptive son, and while you may not understand my reasons for secrecy. I hope that you realize it was necessary. Know that I was not angry with you for opening the warding box – I was angry with myself for withholding the truth from you and forcing you to seek out what I should have given to you. The words I spoke to you were from anger with myself, and it shames me to think of them now. I write this note as an apology, and to beg you to leave these secrets to history.

The next few days will be the most important I have faced in many years. If our family's enemies have, as I hope, forgotten us, I shall reunite with you and your wife, and your mother and I shall reveal the truth to you. But if they still seek the contents of the warding box, I fear that I may not speak to you again. The box holds our family's greatest treasure, so I have returned it to Kortun's care, and it shall remain hidden in the secret third vault under Brinewall Castle – obscured from our enemies. I hope and pray. I will not grant our foes the satisfaction of killing me themselves – if it comes to it, let my death, by my own hand, be my final act to protect you, so that our enemies believe our line ended.

I have instructed Tsutamu to keep this letter from you, delivering it to you only should I fail to return as I hope to. If I can, I will reveal all to you myself. If I cannot, this final missive from a father to a son must suffice as an apology in place of an explanation, and you must destroy this letter, flee to the south, and never return to Brinewall. If our enemies find what I have hidden, there will be nothing here for you. If they do not, they will lie in wait forever for your return.

I hope to see you again soon, my son. But my heart tells me I will not. I am sorry to have failed you. But I am proud of you, and I know you will survive this old man's shame. You are strong, and you must remain so. For if you are reading this and I am gone, know that our enemies will never stop searching for us, and that is why I cannot reveal the truth to you until I know there is no chance of them finding us again.

Rokuro Kaijitsu

Sunday, 29 Desnus, 4687

Ameiko sits back in her chair, looking stunned.  She explains, "Rokuro Kaijitsu was my grandfather...this was a letter to my father.  How different might things have been, had this gotten to him.  Father...Lonjiku...always seemed to be carrying this secret shame with him.  I thought it was just Tsuto, but this..."  She is quiet for a time, then Ameiko looks at Owen, Faraway and the rest of you each in turn.  "Thank you for finding this.  I asked you to return to the marsh in the hope that you might find some interesting Tian artifact, something that might provide a story to tell - or a song to sing.  Instead, you brought me family and memories."  She smiles, and reads the letter again.  "Brinewall.  Hmm..."

Spoiler: ShowHide

A couple of you have Knowledge(History), feel free to make checks on some of the names and locations - Sandru and Koya can help.  You may be able to guess who Tsutamu was.  Phil, Porter, and anyone following along in the Rise of the Runelords campaign over at Sakeriver will have some knowledge of Ameiko, Tsuto (her half-brother) and her relationship with her father.

[Phil]

Owen had never liked Ameiko's father.  Though that is no big surpise, there weren't many in Sandpoint who did.  In Owen's case, the dislike was a bit more personal than for most.  The boy had gotten the distinct impression that Lord Lonjiku looked down on the rest of the Sandpoint aristocracy.  And perhaps especially did not give much weight to the thin claim of noble blood of Owen and his father.

There were times when Ameiko was not allowed to visit with Owen, usually after Lonjiku took notice of the two playing together.  Thankfully, Ameiko was never one to follow the rules, or to let anyone tell her what to do for long.  And her lady mother Atsuii had a softer heart.

Bringing his attention back to matters at hand, Owen asks.  "Is anyone familiar with this Brinewall?  I have never heard of it, myself."

[Lotofsnow]

"Alas, I do not, Owen.

"However, I would like to report we encountered the legendary swamp monster on the way to the cave. It was a monstrous creature, but I believe there was a glimmer of primal intelligence in its eyes. I can mark the location of its lair on a map if you wish to send the men to retrieve its trophies. There was certainly evidence that, as the stories suggested, it preyed upon travelers."

Faraway also describes the creature if asked.

[TheTick]

Shalelu steps in through the door in time to hear Faraway's tale.  She listens intently, especially to the description given, and finally says, "Sounds like one of the sinspawn got out of the catacombs and made a life for itself in the marsh.  You did everyone a service in destroying it.  I'm heading over to see the Sheriff - I'll let him know what you found, and to send someone out to collect the remains."  She marks the location Faraway points out on her map, and starts to the door.  "Ameiko, I'll be back in a bit if you need to talk."

[Phil]

Owen has a vague recollection that the Kaijitsu family was exiled from their native land, but he has no idea why or when.

"Ameiko, do you have any notion of whom these 'enemies' are, that your grandfather mentions?"

[TheTick]

Owen has a vague recollection that the Kaijitsu family was exiled from their native land, but he has no idea why or when.

"Ameiko, do you have any notion of whom these 'enemies' are, that your grandfather mentions?"

Ameiko shakes her head.  "I didn't even know we had a connection to Brinewall."

[Porteiro]

knowledge, history: 1d20 + 5 : 16+5 = 21 total

[Porteiro]

"I have heard of this "Brinewall."  It was wiped out by a massive storm.  This happened, oh," Jeddy brings the note down to his level, squints his eyes, and holds it out at arms length.   "Why, if I'm not mistaken, it happened just a few days after this letter was written!    Anyway, the entire colony was killed, and the site of the colony has an ill reputation amongst the superstitious."

"Kortun rings a bell, as well.  That probably refers to Andril Kortun, the last commander of the garrison there."

[TheTick]

Sandru looks serious for a moment.  "I don't like that one bit.  The timing seems more than a coincidence.  What sort of enemy can destroy so thoroughly?"

Koya places her hand on Sandru's.  "But even so, they weren't successful - Ameiko's here."  Ameiko, for her part, remains silent, lost in thought again.

[SpamHead]

"I don't know how he made such a powerful enemy but I think it may have to do with the warding box the note mentioned."

[Porteiro]

"Does anybody know what a "warding box" is?" Jeddy asks.

[TheTick]

"Does anybody know what a "warding box" is?" Jeddy asks.

"Sounds like it's designed to magically hide something."   Koya looks to Ameiko, who shakes her head.

"I wish I could help, but I have no idea what it could be."

[TheTick]

With nothing more to say, Ameiko's friends disperse one or two at a time, until she is left sitting, pondering the letter again.

(Koya heals everyone to full as well)

[Phil]

Shortly before dawn, Owen awakes and shuffles out of his cot at the Two Knight's Brewery, his uncle Gaven's business.  His muscles ache from the adventures in the swamp.  The skin on his legs still burns from where the ooze scalded him with its acid, and the spider bite on his shoulder throbs a bit.

The paladin slowly exits out the back door and finds a quiet place in the grass to await the rising of the morning sun.  As it peaks over the horizon, Owen begins his morning prayers to Sarenrae.  The glory of the Dawnflower shines upon us.  More precious than gold, your shining splendor...

As he finishes his litany a short time later, a mysterious warmth flows through him.  He feels calm.  He feels good.
 
He opens his eyes in time to see his hands begin to glow.  The paladin recognizes this as positive healing energy, granted by his goddess.  Owen touches his glowing hands to his chest, and almost immediately his aches and pains fade to nothing.  The acid-marred skin is smooth and pain-free, and the sore on his shoulder is gone.

Owen smiles and stands.  It is time to don his armor.  It is a new day.  A good day.  And his goddess is with him.  Always.