Eponine arrives in the cells, only barely acknowledging Sargent Blake as she entered the Garrison and found her way down to the cells, other things obviously occupying her mind. Sophy continues to assert her stubbornness and her dedication to remain with Orik. Camlo scurries off with the note and a few gold coins, chattering as he goes. Kern remains silent his back against the seeming unwilling to weigh in on the situation in the room. Wren assures Orik that she and the others will be able to convince Mayor Deverin to alter these circumstances.
Orik sits back and looks at the four of you, "Well with you all on my side what do I have to worry about. I am sure they will give me a parade when they let me out. Miss Sophy, you are a hero and deserve to be treated as such. Me, I am a thug who took advantage of an opportunity for gold. I did what I did because of your overgenerous offer, it was a lot more than she was paying me...loyalty switch. You do what you do because of your heart, and I think you are wasting it on me. If the mayor lets me out, I will stay and face trial and accept the fate given."
********************
Coilin beams at Belril and Victor, "Do you have any stories to tell? Have you slain any Dragons or rescued and Damsels?"
Kern nods at Orik's words. "Sounds to me like you're not quite the thug you think you are. Someone in it only for the gold wouldn't be so gracious about his fate." He shrugs. "And people can change. Believe me, I know. I think the best thing we can do is get the mayor to come and see you, speak to you. I'll go to the meeting with her and try to convince her of that. Are you sure you want to stay here, Sophy?"
"Well, we do need to get the Mayor here, don't we? If Sophy wants to stay, I can go with you, to try and convince the Mayor to come here. Of course, Sophy, I am a stranger in town. Your words would have much more sway on her than mine. It seems you have a ...way with people that I sometimes lack. If you want to go with Kern, to ensure the mayor comes, I will stay here and make sure Orik stays out of trouble until you two return..."
"That's a good point," Kern says, looking to Sophy. "I have a bit of a...uh..." He looks a little uncomfortable and shifts his feet uncertainly. "Reputation," he continues, glancing at Orik. "Your words might carry more weight than mine, Sophy."
"Go ahead. I'll wait here with Sophy, unless I need to split off and bring some lunch over. We'll see if Victor or Belril is free to bring it."
Orik sits back and looks at the four of you, "Well with you all on my side what do I have to worry about. I am sure they will give me a parade when they let me out. Miss Sophy, you are a hero and deserve to be treated as such. Me, I am a thug who took advantage of an opportunity for gold. I did what I did because of your overgenerous offer, it was a lot more than she was paying me...loyalty switch. You do what you do because of your heart, and I think you are wasting it on me. If the mayor lets me out, I will stay and face trial and accept the fate given."
"I didn't offer you any gold not to strike me down on the doorstep of Thistletop when that's what Nualia was paying you to do," Sophy points out quietly. "You made that decision yourself. I ... I can't leave," she tells Kern and Wren unhappily. "Not when I said I wouldn't leave until Orik did. I ... I've run away and left my friends behind so many times." She blushes miserably. "This time, I have to stand and fight. Thank you for thinking of food, Eponine. If ... if we can't convince the mayor, do you think you could bring me a pillow and a blanket? I'm not any more prepared to camp here than I was when we were tracking Ameiko."
Coilin beams at Belril and Victor, "Do you have any stories to tell? Have you slain any Dragons or rescued and Damsels?"
"Ohhh, ho, ho do I have stories. I have got some stories of damsels th...," Victor instantly stops, almost getting carried away with himself. "Uhhh, nevermind. That is not important. Um, no, I have not fought any dragons nor do I intend to, my friend. That would be just foolishness. But now that you mention it, I guess we did save Ms. Ameiko. She would be considered a damsel, I would gather? I am truly unclear on the matter." Victor takes a minimal drink from his mug. "Belril? What say you about Ms. Ameiko being a damsel? Or fighting dragons?"
"Sure, Sophy. I would be glad to. I-" Eponine is startled when she sees Sargeant Blake there, apparently previously oblivious to his presence. She recovers quickly and continues. "I don't think it will come to that; I have faith in Kern and Wren. I think we will be able to get this cleared up sooner than later."
|
I would say that perhaps the less is said about Ameiko here the better, Victor. It doesn't seem right to call her a damsel in distress or speak of the rescue to a young boy, in her own establishment.
Belril drained his glass and got up to leave.
Excuse me. I think I will go try out the accuracy of this new sling staff.
Eponine is startled when she sees Sargeant Blake there, apparently previously oblivious to his presence. ]
At Sophy's words to him about his choices, Orik drops his head and with eyes downcast he mutters, "I had my reasons."
Sophy and Eponine are resigned to stay in the visitation room with Orik as Kern and Wren agree to attend the afternoon meeting with the Mayor and plead his case when the door opens and Vachedi enters. "Time for the prisoner to return to his cell, you all have to leave."
*******************
Victor and Coilin blink dumbfounded as Belril quickly excuses himself from the conversation and heads out the door of the Rusty Dragon. Before it swings shut a familiar monkey scampers in and jumps up onto the table screeching and holing up a fold of paper and some coins. Coilin cries out in delight at the sight of Camlo almost knocking over Belril's empty mug.
********************
Belril exits the Rusty Dragon hastily and heads down Market Street and bounds over the bridge crossing the Turandarok River. After a short distance he turns north into the woods, and is soon tracking a fox to try his new sling out on. He moves easily through the trees and then hears something and stops...it is sobbing, a women is crying nearby. He moves towards the sound and from behind a large fern bush sees her, Ameiko is in a clearing on her knees. He can't tell for sure but he thinks she might be burying something.
"I didn't offer you any gold not to strike me down on the doorstep of Thistletop when that's what Nualia was paying you to do," Sophy points out quietly. "You made that decision yourself. I ... I can't leave," she tells Kern and Wren unhappily. "Not when I said I wouldn't leave until Orik did. I ... I've run away and left my friends behind so many times." She blushes miserably. "This time, I have to stand and fight. Thank you for thinking of food, Eponine. If ... if we can't convince the mayor, do you think you could bring me a pillow and a blanket? I'm not any more prepared to camp here than I was when we were tracking Ameiko."
Kern nods. "We'll do our best to convince the mayor to come see him," he tells Sophy. "And I'll come back and let you know her response as soon as I have it."
When the guard comes to tell them to leave, he says, "Wren and I were just on our way out. Sophy and Eponine, however, will be staying. Don't worry, they won't cause any trouble."
Wren nods at Kern's words and prepares to exit the holding facility. "We'll be back directly."
Upon the entrance of the guard, however, the mage pauses. "Find those two a place. We'll be back with the Mayor later on this afternoon. She will straighten this whole mess out."
When Vachedi comes in, Eponine greets him warmly. "In a little bit, I'm going to head down to the 'Dragon to get some lunch for Sophy and the prisoner. Can I bring you something as well? I believe Bethana had some fresh maple biscuits left when I came over?"
Eponine gives Sophy a glare with her wide elven eyes when she says to Vachedi "We know you are just carrying out your duties..." and then smiles warmly at the guard But surely it wouldn't hurt anything to have Sophy and I stay around until we can get some stuff cleared up with the mayor?"
Diplomacy
Sophy fixes her eyes on the jailer reproachfully. "The 'prisoner,'" she explains with a great deal of disapprobation in her tone as she speaks the word, "saved my life and the lives of my companions. Probably yours as well. I've already informed the sheriff I won't walk out of this building until Orik does. You can put me in a cell or I'll sit in an out-of-the-way corner somewhere, but I'm not leaving."
Some requests automatically fail if the request goes against the creature's values or its nature, subject to GM discretion.
.
Victor and Coilin blink dumbfounded as Belril quickly excuses himself from the conversation and heads out the door of the Rusty Dragon. Before it swings shut a familiar monkey scampers in and jumps up onto the table screeching and holing up a fold of paper and some coins. Coilin cries out in delight at the sight of Camlo almost knocking over Belril's empty mug.
"Do not worry, he is always like that." As the monkey comes in tearing up the place, "Calm down, little fella. Should you not be with Eponine? What are you doing here, huh?" He notices the piece of paper he's holding, "What is that you have there, my really little friend?" he asks as he calmly takes it. Opening it up and reading it, Victor just shakes his head. "Ah. Okay. Bethana! A moment please!" He calls out. When she makes her way to them, "Would you be so kind as to prepare some food for me? Well, not for me exactly, just for me to take to my friends. Here, this is from Eponine." Victor hands her the note. "Oh! And some coin to cover the cost." He then hands her the coin as well.
|
|
Belril exits the Rusty Dragon hastily and heads down Market Street and bounds over the bridge crossing the Turandarok River. After a short distance he turns north into the woods, and is soon tracking a fox to try his new sling out on. He moves easily through the trees and then hears something and stops...it is sobbing, a women is crying nearby. He moves towards the sound and from behind a large fern bush sees her, Ameiko is in a clearing on her knees. He can't tell for sure but he thinks she might be burying something.
Belril quietly approached from behind and leant against a nearby tree at the edge of the clearing. His posture was turned so that he was not directly facing Ameiko, but was stood somewhat diagonal to her; clearly aware of her presence but not directly observing her. He simply gazed into the distance, sensing the privateness of the moment and not wanting to interact with the woman until she was ready or willing. He hummed a tune from his childhood quietly to alert her to his presence, not wanting to alarm Ameiko but also unwilling to be thought of as "spying" on her.
Sophy fixes her eyes on the jailer reproachfully. "The 'prisoner,'" she explains with a great deal of disapprobation in her tone as she speaks the word, "saved my life and the lives of my companions. Probably yours as well. I've already informed the sheriff I won't walk out of this building until Orik does. You can put me in a cell or I'll sit in an out-of-the-way corner somewhere, but I'm not leaving."
Kern and Wren step out of the room as Vachedi enters rattling the keys to Orik's manacles. He looks at Eponine and Sophy, thinks about maple biscuits and says, "Oh, alright the two of you can stay but the rest of you need to be on, I do not need the sheriff noticing the fella out of his cage for too long. " Orik looks a bit relieved as the jailor returns to his duties father back in the holding area, "You do not have to do this."
Wren and Kern go upstairs and step out into the streets of Sandpoint, a few passers by see you and wave excitedly.
********************
Bethana comes over and reads the note from Eponine. "I will get right on this and you can carry it on over to the Garrison." She heads back into the kitchen and starts to assemble a lunch meal. Coilin looks up and Victor, "Are you going to train the guards how to fight? Can I come with you? You can teach me too." He snatches up a butter knife that Camlo had knocked to the floor. The boy slashes it around wildly, "Take that you nasty goblin!"
********************
Ameiko turns, startled by Belril's sudden humming. "Who is there? Ah, Belril good morning." She runs the sleeve of her blouse across her eyes to dry her tears and stands up, shoving a small spade into a canvas sack. There is an shallow hole, and a small mound of overturned dirt at her feet. "What brings you out here today?"
Wren makes a point to smile and nod at any of the passers by that seem to recognize she and Kern. "I think we need to keep the crowd on our side, Kern. Just in case the Mayor isn't willing to be reasonable. Public pressure could be a handy weapon, if necessary."
Done
Bethana comes over and reads the note from Eponine. "I will get right on this and you can carry it on over to the Garrison." She heads back into the kitchen and starts to assemble a lunch meal. Coilin looks up and Victor, "Are you going to train the guards how to fight? Can I come with you? You can teach me too." He snatches up a butter knife that Camlo had knocked to the floor. The boy slashes it around wildly, "Take that you nasty goblin!"
Victor laughs at the boy's spunk. "Whoaaa there, my fiery little friend!" He tells him, smiling, while he holds his hands out in a pretend defensive position. "I do not want to fall to such a warrior!" He pretends to dodge his wild swings once or twice. "Okay, okay, you win! You win. Those goblins are not going to know what hit them." He winks. "I tell you what, when the time comes that I am finished with this business me and my friends need to take care of, I will teach you. But until then, you must protect your home for your mother and father, okay? You are far braver than I was when I was your age and I think you will make a fantastic fighter of goblins." As Bethana brings out the prepared meal, "Thank you, Ms. Bethana." Victor nods and turns his attention back to Coilin. "Okay, Squire Coilin, Sandpoint is safe in the hands of one such as yourself. Go and protect your home, young squire. Until we meet again." Grinning, Victor quickly stands at attention and then bows, immitating nobility as best he can, salutes the boy and then takes his leave.
Coilin's eyes drop to the floor and the small lad's shoulder's slump the moment Victor says mother and father. Victor steps outside the door with the satchel of food and thinks...
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?"
...DOH, Orphan.
"Kern, how would you feel about making a quick trip to your sister's before our meeting? I'm sure she might be interested in some of the items we have retrieved so far. I don't necessarily want to see the Mayor packing all this gear..."
Kern nods. "That sounds great. I haven't actually had a chance to see her yet. Plus, I need a new flail." He'll lead the way to Savah's.
Kern and Wren step out of the room as Vachedi enters rattling the keys to Orik's manacles. He looks at Eponine and Sophy, thinks about maple biscuits and says, "Oh, alright the two of you can stay but the rest of you need to be on, I do not need the sheriff noticing the fella out of his cage for too long. " Orik looks a bit relieved as the jailor returns to his duties father back in the holding area, "You do not have to do this."
Eponine smiles warmly at him and thanks him. When Orik makes his comment, Eponine replies "Actually, I kind of think she does have to do this.", nodding at Sophy. Then the elf's characteristic distractedness melts away and she speaks on with great clarity and intense focus. "And I happen to know a thing or two about redemption. After decades of less than honorable living, I was given a chance and it made all the difference in the world. No one is perfect; mistakes can and will be made. There is a certain inevitability to that. The most that can be asked in that you try to recognize that in yourself and be a better person than you were yesterday, no matter how incremental that change may be. I have witnessed it, and I strive for it." A few moments after she falls silent, the focus fades from her face, and her eyes return to searching around for anything interesting to focus on, however briefly.
Coilin's eyes drop to the floor and the small lad's shoulder's slump the moment Victor says mother and father. Victor steps outside the door with the satchel of food and thinks...
...DOH, Orphan.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?"
Sophy, Eponine, and Orik sit in an awkward silence for a few moments after the elf's speech about redemption. "Well, I doubt I will have decades to figure that out considering they will likely hang me for being allied with Nualia. I may have switched sides, but for a time I was on the other side. Right or Wrong they are going to want someone to pay for this publicly and I am the only one they got right now. "
*******************
Wren and Kern walk the few blocks to the Armory. Kern enters pondering which is more comfortable, the cot upstairs he stays in from time to time...or the pious bunk at the cathedral. A bell chimes as the door swings open and shut and Savah comes through the curtain that covers a doorway to a back office. "Kern!" Excitedly she dashes across the shop and wraps her arms around her brother, going up on her tiptoes to reach all the way around his neck. "It is so good to see you, everyone is talking about how you helped the Heroes of Sandpoint slay a demon, vanquish a goblin tribe, and save Ameiko. Is it true? Is Nualia behind all this, could she really have been alive all these years?"
********************
Victor trucks across town with the satchel of lunch for the jail. Along the way people smile and wave at him and few give congratulatory cheers. As he struts up main street he catches a glimpse of Shayliss, who must have seen him coming because she is provocatively leaning over a broom and dust pain clearing rubbish from the stores entrance. She smiles big and calls out, "Hey Vic."
********************
"I am glad you received your gifts, I hope they serve you as well as they once served Genri. They are a small token of the thanks I owe you. I think I should get back to town, enjoy your walk." Ameiko kicks at the pile of dirt, filling in the hole and ties the sack to her waist preparing to leave.
Kern looks a little embarrassed, but hugs his sister back warmly. "A demon?" he says. "I don't think there was a demon. But there were goblins, and we did rescue Ameiko. And yes, Nualia was the one behind it all. She really was still alive. She's dead now though. At least, I think she is. I think Belril made sure. We got out of there pretty quickly. There wasn't really time to double-check." He sighs. "It probably wasn't quite as heroic as people are saying."
He smiles at Savah. "Anyway, we've got a few things you might be interested in. And I was hoping we have a spare flail here somewhere. I lost mine at Thistletop."
Savah looks at Wren gives her a women's sizing up and says, "Ah, ever so modest my brother. What have you got for me?"
"Don't let him poor mouth his deeds too much, Savah. He was quite brave and definitely helped save the town. There were goblins everywhere. Nulaia? The woman with the demon hand...you all knew her?"
Wren nods as Kern mentions the items they recovered. She pulls the gear and shows it to the merchant. "What do you want to start with? How about some shiny new weapons?" With that being said, Wren pulls out the +1 Longsword, Masterwork Hand Axe, Silver Dagger, and both MWK Composite Longbows (+3 STR) and (+4 STR).
Sophy, Eponine, and Orik sit in an awkward silence for a few moments after the elf's speech about redemption. "Well, I doubt I will have decades to figure that out considering they will likely hang me for being allied with Nualia. I may have switched sides, but for a time I was on the other side. Right or Wrong they are going to want someone to pay for this publicly and I am the only one they got right now. "
"Nualia is dead," Sophy replies bitterly, "but I suppose it doesn't 'count' unless everyone gets to watch her die. It's the least amount of entertainment they can get out of the Kaijitsu family's misfortune, right? And a lot easier and less dangerous than trying to track down someone like Tsuto who didn't do the right thing when he had the opportunity. I'm sorry, Orik; you were right. You never should have come here. You and Sandpoint and everyone else would be a lot better off with you free and armed and able to defend the weak than locked up in a prison. Why did you agree to come back with us, if you suspected this was how you'd be treated? No amount of money or treasure we could have promised you is worth your life."
Victor trucks across town with the satchel of lunch for the jail. Along the way people smile and wave at him and few give congratulatory cheers. As he struts up main street he catches a glimpse of Shayliss, who must have seen him coming because she is provocatively leaning over a broom and dust pain clearing rubbish from the stores entrance. She smiles big and calls out, "Hey Vic."
Victor jumps as he's caught by surprise. Just say hello and keep going, Victor. You know her father will kill you. This will lead to nothing but trouble. Just keep on moving and don't say anything or... Ignoring his subconscious, Victor raises an eyebrow and gives her a scoundrel like grin. "Hello, Shayliss. I must say it is a pleasure seeing you again. How are you doing?"
Orik listens to Sophy quietly, running some sort of internal critique until he says, "I guess your right, I never should have come here. I suppose it was just to get paid, but...."
********************
Savah looks over the sword, axe, dagger, and bows admiring the quality of the workmanship. "I think we can work out a deal." She goes over to a tall locked cabinet, opens it with the key and returns with a heavy flail. Kern knows this is where she locks up the masterwork quality weapons in the shop. "I think you might like this brother, it is exceptionally made and has good balance." She looks at both of you, "I can give you this new flail and another eight hundred and twenty in gold for the what you got here."
*********************
Shayliss grins back, "I have been well, and have been hearing a lot of good things about you. When are you going to come back and visit me?"
*********************
Ameiko starts to head out of the clearing, slowly starting back towards Sandpoint.
"Don't let him poor mouth his deeds too much, Savah. He was quite brave and definitely helped save the town. There were goblins everywhere. Nulaia? The woman with the demon hand...you all knew her?"
Kern shrugs. "Well, she didn't have a demon hand when I knew her, but she did grow up in Sandpoint. Never seemed the sort to turn out that way. Still, people change." He doesn't say any more about her, and instead turns to look at what Savah is pulling out.
"Sounds like a good deal to me," he says to Savah, "but it might not be right of me to have my flail take up such a significant part of the treasure." He turns to Wren. "What do you think?"
Orik listens to Sophy quietly, running some sort of internal critique until he says, "I guess your right, I never should have come here. I suppose it was just to get paid, but...."
"You could have taken us as far as the outskirts of town to see us back safely," Sophy persists. "We could have met you somewhere with your money. I never would have believed the people of Sandpoint would be so small-minded and vindictive. I'm so ashamed ... of the town and of myself, for putting you in this situation," she concludes miserably.
"Sophy, it isn't fair to cast the same shadow on all the folks of the town. They are scared, they have been attacked from within. It will take some of them a little time to make peace with acting from strength rather than fear."
"It's not 'the folks of the town' who put him in here," Sophy protests. "It's the people we count on to lead and protect us, the very people who ought to be better than that! What kind of person takes a man who voluntarily supports us into town, weak and bloodied, and hustles him into a prison, without even asking anyone what actually happened? What kind of person takes away the sword and shield away from him that are the only reason any of us survived to return? What kind of person talks about sending a man to the gallows who saved all our lives rather than doing the more difficult work of tracking down Tsuto, the true culprit? They're acting out of fear and ignorance, as if executing a hero means they've accomplished anything more than weaken the side that would defend the innocent. They didn't even bother to ask us who he was and what he'd done -- just locked him up without even trying to find out the truth. All this is, is punishing a man for doing the right thing; if he'd walked away rather than making sure we all made it back to town safely, he'd be free and no one would even be looking for him. You talk about having been given a second chance: Were you thrown in prison and put on trial for your life as thanks for the first honorable act you performed?"
[b]"I suppose that's a fair deal. You wouldn't take advantage of your brother, would you Savah,"[b] Wren says with a laugh. She pulls out the wand, the magical small armor, and the four arrows.
[b]"I suppose that's a fair deal. You wouldn't take advantage of your brother, would you Savah,"[b] Wren says with a laugh. She pulls out the wand, the magical small armor, and the four arrows.
"We will see justice is done. I wasn't aware sentence had been passed so quickly..."
Shayliss grins back, "I have been well, and have been hearing a lot of good things about you. When are you going to come back and visit me?"
"Soon. I so hope it is very soon." He responds in a dreamlike state. Nearly losing what he's holding, he barely manages to keep his grip on the food as he wakes from his reverie. "Oh! I almost forgot. Um, I have to be going Shayliss, but, I shall call upon you again, my dear." He looks around making sure her father is nowhere to be seen. Seeing how the coast is clear, he smiles at her and gives her a wink as he continues his way to the prison.