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"Well, perhaps it is a tale for another time," the skald says. "Ameiko, is there anything we can do to help? This is a difficult situation," he says. "Surely he will come around."
"Aww, to hell with him,"[/b] He said in response to the skald's words while trying to figure out something humorous to say to try and cheer the innkeeper up. "If people can't accept you for who you are or the kind of good you're doin', they aren't worth your thoughts or time."
Ameiko looked at the assembled menagerie for a moment before looking back at her lable. Reaching, she pulled out a single greying hair. She looked it over for a moment before suddenly breaking into a grin.
"Well, looks like I'm gonna have to get a clean ladle, seeing as Jackass stew's not on the menu till tomorrow."
It was this that finally broke the thick tension hanging in the inn, as the rest of the assembled masses burst out in laughter.
"Gods, what a horrible man," she says quietly. "His kind are always the worst."
After laughing for a moment at Ameiko's comment, the man continued. "Aye, ye won't find much argument against that here, least of all from his poor suffering daughter. He's been like that to her ever since her poor mother passed away. If ye ask me, I don't think that's the right way to be raising a child as a single parent."
Ameiko looked at the assembled menagerie for a moment before looking back at her lable. Reaching, she pulled out a single greying hair. She looked it over for a moment before suddenly breaking into a grin.
"Well, looks like I'm gonna have to get a clean ladle, seeing as Jackass stew's not on the menu till tomorrow."
It was this that finally broke the thick tension hanging in the inn, as the rest of the assembled masses burst out in laughter.
Bogan chuckled along with the rest of the masses. Seeing her get back into happy spirits did help alleviate some of his anger. Some, but no all of it. It was at least reduced to a level that can be hidden from the public normally.
Egil lets out a hearty roar, glad that the situation has been defused.
"Sometimes you must either laugh or cry, and I'm glad you have chosen to laugh," he says.
"Does your father live here in town? What was he going on about, anyway?"
"Seeing as he told us he was here to take her away, I'd guess it was something along those lines. Still, we need to think less of him and more about keeping the good vibes up. In my eyes, the hunt just became all the more important."
Ven shakes her head, but she plasters on a smile and goes along with the distraction. She finishes off her breakfast and continues working in her journal.
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"Sometimes you must either laugh or cry, and I'm glad you have chosen to laugh," he says.
"Does your father live here in town? What was he going on about, anyway?"
Amieko nodded. "Aye, he and the rest of the noble trash live in the manors just south of town, though unless you like swimming, you have to head out east to get there first. Though, with any luck, maybe he'll actually leave and I'll finally get to live my own damn life again."
"Seeing as he told us he was here to take her away, I'd guess it was something along those lines. Still, we need to think less of him and more about keeping the good vibes up. In my eyes, the hunt just became all the more important."
As the topic of the hunt came up, that was when the group would notice something; Aldern Foxglove wasn't present anywhere in the common room. Several other folks were, of course, but no sign of the strapping noble could be seen.
It was at this point that the door to the inn swung open once more. This time, however, it was a different, albeit familiar face from the festival. As soon as he entered, one of the folks closest to the door looked over and spoke.
"Mornin', Sheriff Hemlock."
"Mornin', Rick."
Suppose it wouldn't be too difficult to find Aldern's home, if necessary. How much of those etiquette lessons do I remember? Ven ponders. When the sheriff enters she sits up and waves hello.
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"Any word on the attacks? What has come of the investigation?" the skald asks.
The sheriff raised a hand. "My apologies, citizen, but I cannot discuss the facts of an ongoing investigation with those outside of the city guard."
He approached closer and lent in to whisper.
He stood back up, looking over the group. "You all fit the descriptions. Are you folk the ones who took up arms during yesterday's raid?"
"Aye, sir, we are. Is there something the matter?" Ven says.
He stood back up, looking over the group. "You all fit the descriptions. Are you folk the ones who took up arms during yesterday's raid?"
"I've been known to make short work of those little blighters. What about it?" Bogan asked, his interest apparent since they were lacking a hunter to go hunting with at the moment.
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"Aye, sir, we are. Is there something the matter?" Ven says.
The Sheriff gave a nod. "Aye, there might be. But don't worry, I'm not here to blame you for any of it. Quite the opposite, actually. I'd like to request your aid. Sheriff Belor Hemlock, by the way."
"It shouldn't be too difficult, but it's still important. A half hour ago, Father Zantus came by my office. He told me the door to one of the crypts in the Boneyard was open, and he heard movement inside. My guess? Some goblins got stuck in there during the raid, and it shouldn't be too much trouble. But then again, if you asked me before yesterday if we would get raided by goblins, I'd of probably said no, so I'm not interested in taking that risk again."
"So, would you be willing to lend me a hand? I'll pay you for your time."
"I would be only too happy to help," Ven says cheerfully, rising from her seat. She already has her gear on her person, as usual.
The Sheriff gave a nod. "Aye, there might be. But don't worry, I'm not here to blame you for any of it. Quite the opposite, actually. I'd like to request your aid. Sheriff Belor Hemlock, by the way."
"It shouldn't be too difficult, but it's still important. A half hour ago, Father Zantus came by my office. He told me the door to one of the crypts in the Boneyard was open, and he heard movement inside. My guess? Some goblins got stuck in there during the raid, and it shouldn't be too much trouble. But then again, if you asked me before yesterday if we would get raided by goblins, I'd of probably said no, so I'm not interested in taking that risk again."
"So, would you be willing to lend me a hand? I'll pay you for your time."
Seeing as chance at filling his coffers instead of his belly for a change, Bogan appeared more than eager to accept the offer. "Sturth, I'm in."
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"Pay?" Egil asks, glad to have something while his daily entertaining seems to have dried up.
"Do you care to elaborate?" he says before retrieving his axe.
"Well, as adventurers, I'm aware you're used to a little more than the average Joe on the street. I can pull together 50 gold a piece."
As the rest seemingly agreed, Sheriff Hemlock gave a nod before looking to the remainder. "It's not a mandatory request. But I'd much appreciate the help."
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"What kind of law enforcement does this town have?" he wonders. "How many of you guard this place? And I heard tale of a time of troubles recently...what was that about?"
"You're walking with the town's law enforcement. I'm the sheriff, and I count anywhere from 20-30 deputies under my command at any one time. Right now, it's 23, down from 25 yesterday."
"Technically, if necessary, I have the authority to call in extra forces from Magnimar, but given they also have the authority to refuse my request, I don't like to make it often. Besides, folks round here get antsy when non-locals start issuing orders."
When the recent troubles were brought up, the stoic sheriff went quiet for a moment.
"... It's a long story, and I don't wanna bore you folks with it."
"I can assure you I wouldn't be bored, but if you don't want to talk about the troubles it's fine," Ven says. Better believe I'll still look into it, she thought. "Incidentally, what exactly is Sandpoint's relationship to Magnimar? It's so much smaller, but clearly it's something amiable."
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"I thought I heard something about the previous priest being killed during this 'time of troubles'. Do you think there might be any link to these goblin attacks on the church? They struck during the celebration of the new church opening, and now they're down in the crypts. It doesn't sound much like the usual trouble that goblins get up to."
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"Incidentally, what exactly is Sandpoint's relationship to Magnimar? It's so much smaller, but clearly it's something amiable."
"If by amiable, you mean bordering on anexation, then yes. Magnimar's the closest big city, but officially, we're independant. Unofficially, however, a few of our noble families have strong ties back in Magnimar, and there are folks who'd see us just another city subdivision if they could help it."
"I thought I heard something about the previous priest being killed during this 'time of troubles'. Do you think there might be any link to these goblin attacks on the church? They struck during the celebration of the new church opening, and now they're down in the crypts. It doesn't sound much like the usual trouble that goblins get up to."
"An interesting theory, but unlikely. Father Tobyn and his daughter were claimed by a fire that started inside the church. Goblins may be good at starting fires, but there's no way one would have been able to get into town, get into the church, light it on fire, and escape without being noticed. If nothing else, we'd have found the things charred remains near the point of origin."
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"I enjoy stories, long or otherwise," Egil says. "Especially ones involving trouble," he prods, hoping to get some more information from the sheriff.
The sheriff reached up, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead. "Alright, but we don't have time for the full story. I'll give you the short version."
"Sandpoint's been around for about 50 years, and we'd had no major problems. Then, five years back, the town got hit by a serial killer known as the 'Chopper'. He killed 25 folks in a single month. And just a month after that, we got hit by the Cathedral fire, and we lost two of our most well liked citizens. This raid is just the latest in a line of seemingly unconnected events that seem fit to try and ruin this town. Folks mostly call it the "Late Unpleasantness". Most of the locals prefer to ignore it and look to the future. Say what you want about Varisians, but they sure are good at the whole 'looking on the bright side' thing."
The sheriff's words held quite a bit of truth. Despite the raid yesterday, many of the folks were going about their daily business with a smile on their faces as if nothing happened. Many even waved at or gave thanks to the folks who had done well in protecting the town.