Thistletop

Map of the Varisian coast — key locations marked

Thistletop

Map: Sandpoint Hinterlands — key locations marked

Overview

A headland that juts into the Varisian Gulf like a threat. Topped with ruins and a goblin compound, surrounded by enemies, connected to the mainland by a rope bridge over open water. The Nettlewood presses to its southern approach. The whole structure reads as a place designed to discourage visitors. The party visited twice in assault waves, then mounted a full assault from the sea caves.

Party Mission

The party’s mission at Thistletop was given by Shalelu Andosana in Birdcruncher territory (March 2025): bring back the head of Nualia, chief of the Lamashtu cult operating from the Thistletop dungeon. This was the condition of the deal for safe entry into Sandpoint. confirmed — T1 + T3

Geography

• A small island (originally the head of Runelord Karzoug’s sentinel statue) connected to the Nettlewood cliffs by a rope bridge spanning 60 feet over 80-foot churning surf.
• 80-foot sea cliffs on the island’s flanks — damp and slick.
• Accessible from the south via sea caves at the base.
• The island sits about 60 feet offshore from the Nettlewood coast.

Surface Compound (Area C)

Stockade built from scavenged ship timbers. Contains:

• Thistle tunnel network through the briar maze — 4-foot-high goblin tunnels accessing the rope bridge.
• The Howling Hole (C2): vertical shaft dropping 70 feet to the sea cave below. Used for prisoner disposal.
• Birdcruncher goblin refugee nest (C3): ~10 surviving Birdcrunchers placed here by Chief Ripnugget. Liberated by the party in the second assault.
• Throne Room (C19): Warchief Ripnugget’s audience chamber. Dog pelt throne, horse skull armrests, impaled human hands on pillars.
• Latrine/Secret Treasury (C22): secret door behind a functional latrine. Contains Ripnugget’s treasury. The party used this shaft to descend to the dungeon level.
• Caged Horse (C18): Shadowmist, a captured heavy warhorse slowly starving.
• Rope Bridge (C9): hairy rope and thick planks. Western supports rigged to fail if more than 3 Medium creatures cross simultaneously.

Sea Caves — The Wereseal Passage

The party approached Thistletop from the south along the cliff face and descended to the sea caves at the base. The published source describes this area as a bunyip lair — the campaign replaced the bunyip with a wereseal (original GM homebrew). The wereseal died in water up to goblin necks. Treasure was found in the caves. The party proceeded from the caves to the bridge.

Dungeon Level One (Area D)

Excavated ~200 years ago by a Varisian cult of Lamashtu. Stone corridors, hooded lanterns, rickety wooden goblin doors. Key areas:

• D3 — Goblin Nursery: Empty cages. Used to raise goblin children on raw meat and abuse.
• D8 — Prison Antechamber: Torture implements, jailer’s living space (jailer Brunkel died in the Sandpoint raid).
• D9 — Prison Cells: Six iron-doored cells. Rack, iron maiden, fire pit. Where Ameiko Kaijitsu was held — kidnapped by her half-brother Tsuto approximately 5 days before the party found her.
• D16 — Chapel of Lamashtu: Final recorded encounter of the campaign.

Bears in cages: The campaign account describes finding bears in cages in the dungeon. No published source contains bears anywhere in Thistletop. Bears are confirmed original GM content.

Ameiko Kaijitsu — The Prisoner

Ameiko Kaijitsu was found imprisoned in the dungeon cells (area D9). She had been there for approximately 5 days. Her half-brother Tsuto Kaijitsu kidnapped her during the goblin raid on Sandpoint and had her transported to Thistletop after she refused to join Nualia’s cause. confirmed — T3

What Ameiko told the party on being freed:

• Tsuto belongs to Lamashtu and can be killed.
• Tsuto was led astray by Lyrie Akenja.
• She knows Shalelu; her inn (the Rusty Dragon) is Shalelu’s base in Sandpoint.

Tsuto Kaijitsu

Tsuto Kaijitsu is Ameiko’s half-brother. He organized the goblin raid on Sandpoint logistics, betrayed the town, captured Ameiko, and murdered their father Lonjiku Kaijitsu at the Sandpoint Glassworks. He was seduced and manipulated by Lyrie Akenja into Nualia’s service. He is found in the Thistletop dungeon and can be killed. confirmed — T3

Campaign Assault Sequence

1. First assault (reconnaissance): Sneak in, kill enemies that presented themselves, learn the shape of the place, retreat before the place killed them back. Retreated to Birdcruncher territory.
2. Second assault (prisoner rescue): Went in harder. Freed the Birdcruncher goblin prisoners (C3 area). Pulled back with the liberated.
3. Shalelu briefing (before third assault): On the return from the second assault, the party met Shalelu Andosana in Birdcruncher territory. She identified the Razertooth/Lamashtu threat. Deal struck: party fights the cult → she ensures entry to Sandpoint. Mission: bring back Nualia’s head. confirmed — T1 + T3, March 2025
4. Full assault via sea caves (March 2025): Descended from the south, killed the wereseal in the sea caves, found treasure, crossed the bridge, stormed the roof (killing roof guards), entered the interior.
5. Climbing encounter (Thistletop interior): A human-orc figure with ideas about territorial defense. Resolved in the party’s favor. Uhuhh Shehee had more fun than strictly necessary.
6. Toilet shaft descent to the dungeon level (from C22 latrine).
7. Dungeon (05.12.2025): Bears in cages; Ameiko Kaijitsu (prisoner) freed from D9; cathedral encounter with Jethounds, tentacle-hand monster, and Lyrie Akenja.
8. Temple of Lamashtu: Final recorded encounter.

Key NPCs Present (Published Source)

• Chief Ripnugget (CR 5, goblin fighter 5): Warchief. Rides giant gecko Stickfoot. Obsessed with Nualia as Lamashtu’s emissary. Has a broken arm.
• Gogmurt (CR 4, goblin druid 4/rogue 1): Ripnugget’s advisor, bitterly opposed the Sandpoint raid. Defeated by party (18.01.2025) in Razertooth Territory.
• Nualia (CR 6, aasimar cleric of Lamashtu 4/fighter 2): Main antagonist. The party’s target. Status unknown — the party’s mission was to bring back her head.
• Lyrie Akenja (CR 3, human wizard 4): Hired for her ability to read Thassilonian. Defeated by party (05.12.2025).
• Tsuto Kaijitsu (CR 4, half-elf monk 7): Nualia’s lover, Ameiko’s half-brother. Status unknown.
• Orik Vancaskerkin (CR 3, human fighter 4): Mercenary. May be the unidentified human-orc figure in the climbing encounter. Not confirmed as campaign canon.

The rope bridge connecting the mainland cliffs to Thistletop island

Notes

• The toilet shaft descent (C22 latrine area) is confirmed to match published Thistletop geography — it connects between the surface compound and the dungeon level.
• The rope bridge crossing: roof guards saw the party coming. This was no longer a stealth operation. They died on the roof.
• The Thistletop island was originally one of Runelord Karzoug’s sentinel statue heads.