Desna's Chosen

Game Master MythrilDragon

Eponine will take the seat that Bethana offers. "Has you heard about anything odd happening since we left to deal with all of this? I have to admit I was worried after we had found goblins inside the town walls more than once. And I'm not really hungry, but could I trouble you for some tea?"

"And a little toast, perhaps?"

"With some eggs and ham on it?"

"And maybe some gravy to dip it in?"

"And some fruit, for Camlo of course!"

She glances to Belril to see if he wants anything while they are there.

Belor says, "That may be so Kern, but that is what a trial is for. My duty is to protect Sandpoint, and until his trial Vancaskerkin is to be kept secured by order of the Mayor. If you wish to visit him, you may. Just head down to the cells and Vachedi can bring him out for a short visit. Once the Justice arrives he will be evaluated and if deemed necessary taken back to Magnimar for trial in the high court. That will be up to the Justice."

*******************

Bethana rushes to the kitchen and returns with Eponine's meal, and two rolled parchments sealed with wax and tied with a red ribbon. Eponine's name is written on one, Belril's on the other. A silver key is tied to each of the ribbons. As she hands them to each of you she says, "Ameiko wanted me to be sure you were given these letters, and each of the keys opens one of those chests. Be sure to let the others know, I have a letter for each of them too." She points to a row of six small trunks that line one wall near the doors to the kitchen. "I haven't heard anything odd accept the stories about the lot of you. Fighting demons, goblins, and villains...oh the stories you must have to tell us."

Kern sighs and nods. "I understand your position, sheriff," he says, "and I don't blame you for it. I'll have to join with Sophy and Wren and offer myself up for arrest. We worked with Orik, so if he's a criminal, so are we. We'll stand trial together."

"I will not arrest you! You made a bargain with this man, I understand that but it does not absolve him of the crimes. You did what you had to do to bring home Ameiko, I am grateful...the town is grateful. Vancaskerkin will have is day in court, on that day you may plead your case to the Justice. His agreement to join you and help bring in Ameiko should have some sway, but until then he remains under lock and key. You have other responsibilities, If you feel that strongly about his innocence take it up with court when the time comes. Mayor Deverin is expecting us this afternoon, there is much to discus about everything that has transpired. Until then, I have things to see to, work put off due to my recent trip to Magnimar. Feel free to visit the cells and speak with the prisoner. I will see you all later this afternoon." With a nod the sheriff takes his leave and heads down a hallway towards his office. Looking at his eyes you can tell he is tired from his travels.

"If the Mayor wants to see me, she can come and see me here," Sophy calls after him defiantly. "If a prison is good enough for the man who saved my life, then it's good enough for me! I'm not walking out of here until he does." She turns on her heel and marches down to the cell area.

"Well," Victor starts as he scratches the back of his head, "if it is one trait this group possesses it is stubbornness." He shrugs, unable to hold back a smile.

"Ameiko wanted me to be sure you were given these letters, and each of the keys opens one of those chests. Be sure to let the others know, I have a letter for each of them too."

"I'm sure the others will be along anytime now. They just had a little business to take care of. I'm mildly surprised they aren't hear already. I mean, what sort of trouble could they get in here in town." As soon as she says it, she realizes the whole recent chain of events started with trouble here in town, but she shrugs to herself when she realizes she can't un-say it.

When done, Eponine carefully stacks the empty plates (so it doesn't look like so ate so much) and wipes her hands off on her pants. After shooing Camlo off the table (again), she reaches for the parchment, breaks the seal and reads it.

Bethana clasps Belril's hand and then pulls him into a tight embrace, "Yes of course I recognize you. You have been here with Shelalu before, and Ameiko has told me all about your daring rescue." The halfing maid directs you to a table, urging you both to sit, "Sorry, Ameiko is not here today, she hasn't been here much since you brought her back. She is a bit torn up about her brothers involvement in things. She and her father were not close, but she never wished him dead. Poor dear has a lot on her heart theses days."

Belril puffed up with pride and returned the embrace in a kindly manner.

Finally, some recognition... At least Ameiko is not fawning over the turncoat like the others. Someone remembers who insisted we make the attack and save her...

I'm sorry to hear she is so distraught; but at least she is safe. Time shall heal the other wounds and please give her my fond regards. Some water and bread shall suffice, thank you Bethana.

Once presented with the key Belril was quite surprised. He recovered enough to grin at Bethana.

Gods willing, I will be telling the stories while dancing on tables with an ale in my hand, here tonight. If the others don't aggravate the authorities so much they are thrown into jail themselves...

He opened the letter and his respective trunk with a glance of satisfaction at Eponine.

I was rushed in that last post so sorry I left the non-properly quoted section in- just got back after posting to see it (been checking my girlfriend's literature review). I don't know what you mean by (sling only) by the Thundering quality but as a quality that applies to both melee and range it should function if the sling is used as a melee weapon. Although the effect will be inferior if used in melee as it hits for a x2 crit rather than a x3.

Belril looked upon the worthy gifts with pride filling up his eyes. He resolved to learn more of this Genri once Ameiko was ready.

By the way Eponine, I think that last spoiler for Sophy was actually meant for you.

Seeing how this has become an "interesting" situation, "I think I will go and find the others. They may be wondering as to why we have not shown up yet." Victor takes his leave and makes his way toward the Rusty Dragon.

** spoiler omitted **

Opps, yes this is supposed to be for Eponine, sorry got my mind mixed up this morning

Barely glancing at the contents of the chest, Eponine's eyes well up with tears. She adds the scroll to the chest before closing it up again. "She didn't have to do this." She murmurs quietly.

She thinks back to what a lover once told her, The gods arm you with what you need for any challenge, be it strength, courage or hope. Eponine ponders if perhaps the gods are using Ameiko for the purpose of arming her with tangible tools for even greater challenges looming for her and Sandpoint.

Eponine will order a drink while waiting for the others. She'll say to Belril "She didn't have to do this. I would have gone to rescue her without thought of reward or benefit. I did go without any such motivation."

As did I. Still, if she feels the need to reward me with items of monetary value... Donations are always welcome, as the Eagle Knights say.

As Victor makes his way back to the tavern, he walks in and makes his way towards his fellow companions. "Hello you two. You are probably wondering where the rest of our little group is. Well, they are in prison." Immediately realizing that's not right, "No wait! I, I mean they are with Orik in prison." He smiles, then cringes realizing he's screwed it up again. "No! No wait! That is still not right. They are at the prison with Orik, but not in the prison with Orik. Because that just does not make any sense as to them being in prison when they have done nothing wrong. Yes, that is it." He furrows his brow in concentration to make absolutely sure he's got it right. After pondering it a few moments, "Yes, that is right." He reaffirms, smiling as he nods his head, feeling like he actually has the story straight. "I think," he mutters as he can't help but doubt himself.

With a sigh and a smile, Eponine lays a few coins on the table for Bethana. She stands, tucks the chest under one arm and says "I'll head that way and see if there is anything I can do. Victor, while you are here, see Bethana. She has something for you." Then the elf slips out of the Rusty Dragon and heads over to the jail.

Belril looked in at Victor in amusement.

I think I would have accepted any of those statements as truth Victor. Drink? he offered.

Belril looked in at Victor in amusement.

I think I would have accepted any of those statements as truth Victor. Drink? he offered.

Victor smiles, "I think that would be best, yes. Thank you." He pulls up a chair and sits, completely forgetting Eponine's instruction to see Bethana due to him still trying to figure out what it was he said. Eventually giving up, he turns to more important matters, "So, Belril, how does Ameiko fare? I pray she is well?"

Sophy marches down the stairs and finds the Shoanti jailer and requests to see Orik. He usher's her into a small room with a long table and two benches on either side. After a short while Vachedi returns with Orik in shackles, who sits down opposite Sophy. Vachedi leaves as Orik smiles and says, "Ah Miss Sophy, fancy meeting you here...do you visit often?"

****************

Victor arrives at the Rusty Dragon and finds Eponine and Belril, which sends Eponine hustling off to the Garrison. Victor sits with Belril as Bethana brings him a drink and a neatly rolled scroll. His name appears on the outside and a silver key is tied to it with a red ribbon. Victor sips his drink, and reads the scroll.

Wren and Kern do you follow Victor or do you stay with Sophy?

Wren will stay with Sophy for the time being, at least until they meet with Orik and reassure him.

Kern will also go with Sophy to see Orik.

Upon seeing Orik, Sophy's outraged determination dissolves into a burst of angry tears. "Oh, Orik, I'm so sorry! We should never have persuaded you to come back to Sandpoint. We should never have let them separate you from us! I had no idea you were being treated so shamefully!"

Orik glances at Wren and Kern as they enter the visiting room and replies to Sophy, "Ah, no need to be worried about me. The cot is not to soft, but the food is decent enough. I guess I should have expected this throwing my lot in with Nualia and Tsuto for coin. Speaking of coin, you all owe me a tidy sum and considering my current situation I think I am going to be needing it."

"It's not right!" Sophy refuses to be comforted. "They've locked you up like you're a danger to others ... or like you're going to try to run away. You could have left us at Thistletop and walked away scot-free; instead you helped us and saved all of our lives, and this is how they thank you! The least they could do is put you under house arrest in a comfortable home until your trial instead of holding you in jail like a common criminal."

"Don't worry, Orik, we have your gold. We can give it to you now if you'd like, but I'm afraid it might get confiscated in here. Sophy is right about us getting you into this fix. We all intend to testify at your trial, assuming we can't get things squared away so that it doesn't happen."

Victor arrives at the Rusty Dragon and finds Eponine and Belril, which sends Eponine hustling off to the Garrison. Victor sits with Belril as Bethana brings him a drink and a neatly rolled scroll. His name appears on the outside and a silver key is tied to it with a red ribbon. Victor sips his drink, and reads the scroll.

As Victor notices Bethana, he just now remembers Eponine's request. "Bethana! Miss Eponine told me to go see you; I completely forgot. Please forgive me," he tells her as he takes the drink and the scroll. "Thank you." He nods as he is unsure what this is all about.

After reading the scroll, he moves over to the chest and opens it. "Fantastic! She did not have to go to the trouble of all of this. Bethana, please tell Ameiko she has Victor's undying gratitude. That should perk her right up." After all, I am Victor Montoya. He thinks to himself as he grins wryly, waggling his eyebrows.

Ameiko? I think she wants some space right now. She went through a lot. I had thought to check on her, but she is not feeling up to a visit. Best not to press, eh. Seems she has left us some fine gifts.

Belril drank from a simple cup of water and paused before he continued to speak to Victor.

Say, Victor- do you know anything about the Eagle Knights of Andoran?

Orik shrugs his shoulders when Wren suggests they might take it. "You are probably right. I guess I will just have to sit in here and wait for the Justice to come take me to the gallows. I doubt they would approve a house arrest, I seem to be lacking a house to be arrested in."

*******************

Bethana refreshes Belril and Victor's drinks as they sit and admire the gifts from Ameiko, Victor felling confident in himself as Belril asks him about the Eagle Knights.

*******************

Eponine and her monkey rush back across town, passing merchants and townsfolk who wave and admire her. Arriving at the Garrison she finds Sargent Blake also arriving, she notes he is out of uniform and unarmed, as he greets her, "Ah, good morning to you Miss Eponine. Did you hear the Sheriff got back last night, not that we need the extra guard now that you all have eliminated the goblin threat."

"We could certainly put you up in an inn, if there might be a way for you to be placed on house arrest. That would be much better than this cage. Perhaps we could mention that to the sheriff."

Ameiko? I think she wants some space right now. She went through a lot. I had thought to check on her, but she is not feeling up to a visit. Best not to press, eh. Seems she has left us some fine gifts.

Belril drank from a simple cup of water and paused before he continued to speak to Victor.

Say, Victor- do you know anything about the Eagle Knights of Andoran?

"The Eagle Knights, you say?" He thinks on it a moment. "I am afraid I do not, Belril. I did hear of them during my short time in Magnimar, but nothing with any real depth to it. Why do you ask? Possibly you plan on becoming one?" He asks, intrigued.

Orik shrugs his shoulders when Wren suggests they might take it. "You are probably right. I guess I will just have to sit in here and wait for the Justice to come take me to the gallows. I doubt they would approve a house arrest, I seem to be lacking a house to be arrested in."

"Don't say that," Sophy gasps. "Don't even think it. You're not going to the gallows, not when you saved all of us, and Ameiko, and Sandpoint, too. The sheriff may not listen to us, but we'll mention it to the mayor ... if she'll come here to see us, anyway."

They were my mentors; and rescuers, as a matter of fact. I was asked to watch over Sandpoint by them... In preparation for an important task only one of my unique and talented skills could perform. I've not yet received word though and I am wondering if dealing with the scoundrels we bested was indeed, the same mission they had been preparing me for. They are freedom fighters, liberating slaves and such-like.

Victor's curiosity is now even more piqued. "Rescuers? Fascinating. What did these freedom fighters rescue you from, if I may ask? I cannot imagine one as..." he looks for the proper word, "determined as you would ever be in need of rescuing. As a matter of fact, I would worry for those who have entrapped you. They obviously did not realize the lightning bolt they possessed." He grins wryly.

Victor's curiosity is now even more piqued. "Rescuers? Fascinating. What did these freedom fighters rescue you from, if I may ask? I cannot imagine one as..." he looks for the proper word, "determined as you would ever be in need of rescuing. As a matter of fact, I would worry for those who have entrapped you. They obviously did not realize the lightning bolt they possessed." He grins wryly.

Belril spoke quietly, his past bringing out the inner anger that was usually contained beneath the surface. When they found me, I was a snivelling servant, grovelling for the praise and satisfaction of my master. The Eagle Knights made me who I am today; well, and Shalelu.

He grimaced a little. I did not mean to dredge up the past. I have decided that dealing with these particular villains must have been why they sent me here in the first place. I think I will continue to aid your little band, Victor.

Victor nods, smiling. "I am glad to hear it, my Freedom Fighter friend. Our odd little group could use all the help we can muster, I assure you." He states as a matter of fact. "So, have you been an Eagle Knight long?"

I'm not a full member. They just trained me for some time, as I had nowhere else to go once rescued. Maybe someday i'll join their ranks. Not until i've carved my own name somewhere.

"Well, here is to hoping Sandpoint is the place you are able to." He raises his glass in a toast like manner. "Because I am afraid if we cannot convince the others to leave the prison, this band of ours may shrink. Of course, now that the goblin issue has finally been taken care of, I am unsure of what we are to do next. I would guess we are to see this Orik situation to its end, but I do not know." He shrugs as he takes a drink.

Belril shrugged and returned the toast. We can always break him out, make it look like Goblins or something... I've got a pretty dim view of the authorities throwing him into prison so hastily. I can't say I like the turncoat, but this imprisonment is not a just one.

It occurs to Sophy as she is commenting on the chances of the mayor coming down to the cells, that she already has an appointment to meet with the mayor later in the afternoon. Orik smiles, "Miss Sophy, Miss Wren, you have been too kind to the likes of me. I thank you for showing me the error of my ways, and I hope to have a chance to make things right and do something good for a change. Until then I'll have to see how the chips fall, I took Nualia's coin and was ready to kill each of you to earn it so the courts will decide my fate now. I can only hope that your good words to the mayor and at my trial will be enough to spare my life."

********************

As Victor and Belril are talking a barefoot lad, human and about Belril's height, wanders up to them with big eyes. "Did you say you are an Eagle Knight? I have heard Jargie tell tells about Eagle Knight's but I never met one before."

********************

Outside the garrison Sargent Blake opens the door for Eponine, "Well, you must be rather busy".

"Don't worry, Orik. We'll talk to the Mayor on your behalf and get things cleared up on your behalf. If its ok with you, we will hold onto your gold, as I don't want some corrupt jailer making off with it here. It'll be enough to start you on your new life, outside of the cell."

Orik cracks a half smile, "We will have to wait and see about that."

It occurs to Sophy as she is commenting on the chances of the mayor coming down to the cells, that she already has an appointment to meet with the mayor later in the afternoon.

Sophy already knows that. She's also said that if the Mayor wants to see her, she can come see her in jail because she's not leaving while Orik's locked up. :P

"If the Mayor wants to see me, she can come and see me here," Sophy calls after him defiantly. "If a prison is good enough for the man who saved my life, then it's good enough for me! I'm not walking out of here until he does." She turns on her heel and marches down to the cell area.

Belril shrugged and returned the toast. We can always break him out, make it look like Goblins or something... I've got a pretty dim view of the authorities throwing him into prison so hastily. I can't say I like the turncoat, but this imprisonment is not a just one.

"Hm, not a bad idea. Hopefully between Sophy's and Wren's stubbornness, that will be enough to at least get him out from behind bars and into our custody. But if not, the 'Goblins or something' plan may have to go into effect. Anyway," he starts before he's interrupted by a small boy.

"Did you say you are an Eagle Knight? I have heard Jargie tell tales about Eagle Knight's but I never met one before."

Victor looks to the newcomer and then to Belril and shrugs. Grinning, he turns back to the boy, "And who might you be, my young friend?"

Sophy already knows that. She's also said that if the Mayor wants to see her, she can come see her in jail because she's not leaving while Orik's locked up. :P

I figured, just a subtle DM hint that you will have an opportunity to try and get what you want at that meeting. Of course Role Play trumps so if she is going to be that stubborn than go for it. :)

Victor looks to the newcomer and then to Belril and shrugs. Grinning, he turns back to the boy, "And who might you be, my young friend?"

"They call me Coilin, I live at the Academy...are you a knight too?"

"Oh no, my young friend, not me. But Belril here is soon to become one," he motions toward the halfling. "I will let him tell you about them; he knows far more about them than myself."

I am not an Eagle Knight, merely someone they trained for a time. An apprentice perhaps. Well met Coilin he said gravely.

When Eponine arrives at the prison, she heads over to the cells. As she goes down the hall to them, she is reminded of when she has made this same walk before, when she worked at the Rusty Dragon a while and used to bring food over for some prisoners.

She stops in her tracks.

I should have brought fresh food for everyone! Cursing herself silently for not thinking of that before she got all the way over here, she silently promises herself to go back if it looks like Sophy and the others will be here for a while.

When she arrives, she takes in the scene. Upon seeing Sophy’s tear stained face set in defiance, she suppresses a sigh, forces a smile and scribbles a note.

Bethana, when your customer crowd permits, would you kindly put together a lunch basket for five to be sent over to the cells? If Victor or Belril are headed this way, they likely will be willing to bring it. Otherwise, I’ll stop back later to pick it up later. Thank you! Eponine.

With a gentle whistle, Camlo pops out of his pouch at Eponine’s belt and climbs up to her shoulder. ”Camlo, please take this to Ms. Bethana. Oh and this…” She fishes out a couple of gold coins before sending Camlo on his way.

With Camlo on his way, she turns to Kern, Sophy and Orik and asks ”So, change in plans? Are we still meeting with the mayor later?”

"Not unless she comes here," Sophy insists stubbornly. "If it weren't for Orik, I'd be dead ... or worse," she shudders, considering the possibilities of being in the power of the demon-handed Nualia. "It's not right to leave him in here while I go off to meet the mayor like a hero. Orik did far more than I did to free Ameiko and defeat Nualia."