Anca had been listening along without much to add until that last question posed by Bogan. She pulls her scarf away from her mouth for a moment, "You saw exactly what they're getting out of this. Mischief. In my experience, goblins are very simple creatures. They take pleasure in the frustration of others. But this attack seemed to be coordinated. The goblins didn't just charge down the main road and loot everything not nailed down and run. No, they attacked with some strategy, at specific points." A bead of sweat dripped off the tip of her nose to fall into the dirt. The goblins may have been small, but their armor was bulky and heavy. She removed her bandana completely and wiped her face, "It seems that I may be staying in Sandpoint longer than I had planned. I'm not leaving until we get to the bottom of all this. I do wonder, if this was a coordinated effort, how the farms in the hinterlands are faring? Maybe something to look into."
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Father Zantus smiled before motioning towards the man Sabina had been healing, who had fallen into a peaceful sleep following the ordeal."Continue to do what you are doing. Never give the people of this town the chance to doubt your good intentions. If someone dares to question your sincerity, don't fight them on it. Simply continue to do what you are doing. Those who matter will know the truth, and those who continue to judge won't matter."
Sabina spread a thin blanket over the sleeping man and slowly rose to her feet.
"Thank you for your words of encouragement, Father Zantus. If there is anything that I can do to help you or the temple, please let me know. I'll be staying in Sandpoint for a while; I think I've put enough distance between me and Cheliax, at least for now. Sadly, however, I've exhausted the last of my healing and will need to rest soon." she said.
Sabina spent another hour or so changing bandages and assisting the more experienced medical workers in the temple, then retired to the inn for the night.
Trisha groaned as the others continued to discuss the goblin attack. "Work work work... do none of you know how to take a break?" she chided. "I admire your rather proactive attitudes, but this little 'mystery' needs clear and ready minds to solve. If you find digging through goblin corpses is therapeutic, by all means keep going. I, on the other hand, am in the mood for decent entertainment. Maybe a glass of wine or two..." With that said, she kept looking around for anything that resembled an inn.
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"Thank you for your words of encouragement, Father Zantus. If there is anything that I can do to help you or the temple, please let me know. I'll be staying in Sandpoint for a while; I think I've put enough distance between me and Cheliax, at least for now. Sadly, however, I've exhausted the last of my healing and will need to rest soon." she said.
"You've already done more than anyone could reasonably ask of you. Know that you have my thanks, as well as the thanks of every man, woman and child here this day. For both your help here, and your aid in the attack. And know that as long as you stay in Sandpoint, my door is always open."
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With everyone's aid, the clean-up of small green corpses went swiftly, and soon, the square began to resemble a town square instead of a terrifying massacre. A couple men, followed by Gorvi, began the process of hauling the wagon full of goblins towards the cliffs at the edge of time.
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Once the work is done for the day, Egil retires to the inn.
"An interesting day, which did not end the way I had hoped, or many others," he says.
Seated at a table, he says "Someone may buy me an ale, and I will improve the day for everyone with the epic of Gunnar Hamundarson and his vanquishing Baba Yaga's frost giant champion. When the telling is done, one of you fine women folk may draw me a hot bath, for which I will be grateful," he adds.
With the corpses all loaded up on the chucking wagon, Bogan wiped his brow. As much as he would've liked to take on the Hagfish Challenge, he decided that it could wait. Neither it nor the money and fame were going anywhere anytime soon. Right now, he could go for some good drinks, good company, and that warm bed he was promised. So, rather than risk losing his lunch, he joined Egil (and anyone else) at the Rusty Dragon.
"An interesting day, which did not end the way I had hoped, or many others," he says.
Seated at a table, he says "Someone may buy me an ale, and I will improve the day for everyone with the epic of Gunnar Hamundarson and his vanquishing Baba Yaga's frost giant champion. When the telling is done, one of you fine women folk may draw me a hot bath, for which I will be grateful," he adds.
"Well, I try to be a man of my word, so the first shout's on me, and that applies to everyone the helped in the goblin slaying. Name your poisons, mates."
Ven finishes up with the work and heads to the Rusty Dragon as well, putting thoughts of goblin conspiracy theories out of her mind for the moment.
With everything said and done, Trisha ventures to the Rusty Dragon Inn to get herself some rest and relaxation.
"When the telling is done, one of you fine women folk may draw me a hot bath, for which I will be grateful,"[/b] he adds."
"Well, since you asked ever so nicely..." she quipped sarcastically before finding a seat, pulling off her backpack, and setting it beside her. She opened up a flap, pulled out a piece of stationary, an inkpen, and a jet black bottle. By the time the Ulfen would finish his story, she'd be ready to present to him a crude ink drawing of a steaming hot bath. 'It's not what he meant, but it technically is what he wanted.' she thought to herself with a bit of amusement.
Anca snorted at the feisty humanoid's joke and raised her goblet in approval. She eased back into her chair, unwinding with the others while listening to the ulfen man's epic. She surveyed the room and attempted to catch bits of conversation, wondering how the residents and visitors alike were coping with the day's events.
"I do wonder where we go from here?" she asked no one in particular, an air of introspection to her words. Boar hunting with that jittery fool, unfortunately. She sighed inwardly.
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Anca snorted at the feisty humanoid's joke and raised her goblet in approval. She eased back into her chair, unwinding with the others while listening to the ulfen man's epic. She surveyed the room and attempted to catch bits of conversation, wondering how the residents and visitors alike were coping with the day's events.
The folks of Sandpoint seemed to be taking the recent event in stride. While the occasional shaken individual, person mourning a lost loved one, or the like would be in tears, most of the folks went about the rest of the day with a stoic discipline. But looking at them, the reasoning was simple; they were tired. This was clearly just the latest in a line of problems.
As folks arrived at the Rusty Dragon, they would see the titular sign, a rusted iron dragon, hanging over the door. Entering would find a few folks still sitting in the common room, drinking and talking, but the general quietness of the place showed that most folks had called it an early night or left the inn entirely following the events of the day.
The Following Morning
Entering the Rusty Dragon's common room the following morning, you could be forgiven for thinking you'd woken up in another world. The tables were almost all full, laughter and conversation filled the air, and the smell of breakfast wafted through the entire room. It was a welcome sign of sanity for the first time since before the attack.
With the rise of the early morning sun, Bogan got up with it. Even with a small hangover from all the alcohol, he arose and performed his morning rituals. He gave a prayer to the Dawnflower, exercised to warm up for the day, made sure his clothing and armor were clean, and suited up before heading down to the common room. As soon as the scent of food hit his nose, his stomach rumbled and growled like an angry lion. Not wanting to waste much time, he got himself some very filling breakfast and got himself psyched up for a boar hunt.
Ven heads into the common room quietly, her bow strung and quiver hanging from her shoulders. She eats her breakfast slowly and people-watches.
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After her morning bath and prayers, Sabina dressed herself and went downstairs, looking for any familiar faces. Spotting one of her fellow town defenders, she approaches Ven.
"Good morning, I think we met yesterday, but there wasn't much time for introductions. I'm Sabina; would you mind if I joined you for breakfast? I don't know too many people in town yet."
While she had enjoyed a good night's rest, Trisha wished she was still wrapped up in her linens instead of groggily sitting at a table slowly savoring her breakfast. The days she could've spent sleeping in were far behind her, but the demi-human felt that she'd never quite adjust to mornings. Bitter drinks like coffee were a great aid in coping, though.
Anca was in no rush to wake up the next morning. The festival, and no doubt the attack, had left her weary and exhausted. When she did finally pull herself out of her slumber, she took the time to clean her armor and polish her starknives. She performed a few simple stretches before heading down to the common room. She gives her neck a good crack before sitting down next to the big man she'd met the day before.
Signalling for a plate of food, she leans over to her new companion, "So a boar hunt, is it Bogan? I'm not much of a hunter myself, but you seem like the outdoorsy type. That is, when you're not stuffing your face." She elbows him in the arm as she takes a long pull from her breakfast ale.
She looks to the others seated around the table, most of whom helped out in the battles against the goblins. "Hello all, nice to meet you. I'm Anca." She raises her glass to those whom she hasn't been introduced.
Signalling for a plate of food, she leans over to her new companion, "So a boar hunt, is it Bogan? I'm not much of a hunter myself, but you seem like the outdoorsy type. That is, when you're not stuffing your face." She elbows him in the arm as she takes a long pull from her breakfast ale.
Bogan gave a chuckle as he choked down some of his meal. "You could say I have an affinity for dirty work and know how to make an animal listen to me if I try hard enough. My father was the real hunting expert though. Taught me a bit, but I mostly learned though experience and failure. I can still remember mum yabbering my ear off about ruining some of the good meat from my first couple of hunts."
After her morning bath and prayers, Sabina dressed herself and went downstairs, looking for any familiar faces. Spotting one of her fellow town defenders, she approaches Ven.
"Good morning, I think we met yesterday, but there wasn't much time for introductions. I'm Sabina; would you mind if I joined you for breakfast? I don't know too many people in town yet."
Ven gestured for Sabina to sit. "You're welcome to it. Pleasure to meet you, Sabina, I'm Ven Nicolae. Have you had any further issues with the, uh, when you started talking in tongues yesterday?"
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Sabina paled visibly, sinking awkwardly into the chair across from Ven.
"Uh...no, it hasn't happened since then. I-it's a nervous habit, only happens when I'm fighting. I'll try to keep quiet in the future; it's all rather embarrassing. What happened after we parted yesterday? Did you find any more survivors?"
Bogan gave a chuckle as he choked down some of his meal. "You could say I have an affinity for dirty work and know how to make an animal listen to me if I try hard enough. My father was the real hunting expert though. Taught me a bit, but I mostly learned though experience and failure. I can still remember mum yabbering my ear off about ruining some of the good meat from my first couple of hunts."
Anca nods along with Bogan, "Ah, so you've experience with it then? Good. I haven't been hunting, but I have been hunted." She gestures to the wicked scar on the side of her face, "But I'll spare you the details on that one." She says with a wink and a laugh.
Sabina paled visibly, sinking awkwardly into the chair across from Ven.
"Uh...no, it hasn't happened since then. I-it's a nervous habit, only happens when I'm fighting. I'll try to keep quiet in the future; it's all rather embarrassing. What happened after we parted yesterday? Did you find any more survivors?"
"Not as such. Mostly just carted off dead goblins. Was a little interesting, though; seemed like there was a few different groups of goblins, all working together, instead of just one tribe, or however it is they live. Eh, maybe I'm just paranoid." She shrugs.
Anca nods along with Bogan, "Ah, so you've experience with it then? Good. I haven't been hunting, but I have been hunted." She gestures to the wicked scar on the side of her face, "But I'll spare you the details on that one." She says with a wink and a laugh.
While she did her best to hide it with some similar methods he'd seen with girls before, Bogan could tell that she wasn't happy at all about the incident or keen on giving all the details. Instead of digging however, he gave her a smile and clapped her shoulder. "I won't drag it out of you then. Your stories are yours to share. You'll talk when you want to and I'll be there to listen."
"Still, I'm looking forward to the hunt." He thought aloud as he got back to his meal. "Boar's different from pig believe it or not. The meat's leaner and darker red than pork, tastes sweeter and nuttier than one would expect because of their diet. Pain in the ass to cook, at least in my first caravan growing up. Have to smoke it low and slow to make sure it doesn't dry out. When it's done right... you'd swear you were eating like a king."
He then gave a couple of chuckles. "Then again... that's the clean side of hunting. I won't talk of the dirtier aspects if no one wants to hear them."
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"Not as such. Mostly just carted off dead goblins. Was a little interesting, though; seemed like there was a few different groups of goblins, all working together, instead of just one tribe, or however it is they live. Eh, maybe I'm just paranoid." She shrugs.Sabina paled visibly, sinking awkwardly into the chair across from Ven.
"Uh...no, it hasn't happened since then. I-it's a nervous habit, only happens when I'm fighting. I'll try to keep quiet in the future; it's all rather embarrassing. What happened after we parted yesterday? Did you find any more survivors?"
"Coordinating with the other tribes? That sounds more like Hobgoblins." Sabina said with a shiver. "I've heard terrible stories about the kind of destruction a Hobgoblin army can wreak on a village; if there's something uniting these Goblins it has to be taken care of quickly. The damn things multiply like rats."
"Boar's different from pig believe it or not. The meat's leaner and darker red than pork, tastes sweeter and nuttier than one would expect because of their diet. Pain in the ass to cook, at least in my first caravan growing up. Have to smoke it low and slow to make sure it doesn't dry out. When it's done right... you'd swear you were eating like a king."
Anca barely saves herself from a spit take. She picks up a biscuit and takes a bite, crumbs tumbling from her mouth as she speaks, "You think just because I've got a few scars and drink like I fish that I haven't had roast boar? Boy, you've got a lot to learn." She downs the rest of her mug in a single quaff and signals for Ameiko or Bethana for a refill.
...if there's something uniting these Goblins it has to be taken care of quickly. The damn things multiply like rats."
She gestures to Sabina with her half-eaten biscuit, "Yes, before this hunt gets underway, I think it's in our best interest to bring that up with Hemlock. He'll probably have some input on the matter. If nothing else, we might be able to smash up a few more gobbies. Either way that's good for the town."
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As conversations carried on and breakfast was had, a feeling on comfortable familiarity wafted through the inn. Moments like this where hard to come by after an incident like yesterday. Hopefully, nothing would come in to ruin it...
Before much else could be said, the door to the inn slammed open. An elderly-looking tian man dressed in expensive finery stepped in, shouting at the top of his lungs in a language no-one seemed to understand. The locals suddenly became quiet and very interested in their meals.
After a moment, seemingly realizing his mistake, the tian man spoke again, this time in thickly accented common.
"Where is my daughter?!"
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Egil comes down a little late for breakfast, having enjoyed a long sleep, as one would after a day of physical exertion.
Having just sat to a plate full of food, he looks up at the foreigner.
"I hope nothing has happened to your daughter...the town was attacked yesterday. Perhaps if you tell us who your daughter is, we can help you," he says.
Well, starting a conversation that way never precludes a pleasant talk. Especially since...well, I've only seen one other Tian Min around these parts. Ven tries to surreptitiously get an eye on Ameiko.
Anca's lax demeanor hardens as she swallows her biscuit and sets down her mug of ale. She stands up, attempting to appear ready to help, but in reality she was preparing to act if the man began causing trouble.
"You think just because I've got a few scars and drink like I fish that I haven't had roast boar? Boy, you've got a lot to learn."
"Well, I pride myself on my learning abilities." He said as he scarfed down some eggs before being ceremoniously interrupted an old and angry Tian man speaking gibberish before speaking Common.
"Where is my daughter?!"
"I hope nothing has happened to your daughter...the town was attacked yesterday. Perhaps if you tell us who your daughter is, we can help you," he says.
"Please sir, calm down. I'm sure we can find your daughter together"
Seeing as the others seem to have it handled, Bogan was content with sticking to his meal until things went pear shaped. Seeing as he was already shouting at lots of people, he could only imagine what would happen if he's not calmed down.
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Egil comes down a little late for breakfast, having enjoyed a long sleep, as one would after a day of physical exertion.
Having just sat to a plate full of food, he looks up at the foreigner.
"I hope nothing has happened to your daughter...the town was attacked yesterday. Perhaps if you tell us who your daughter is, we can help you," he says.
Sabina turned to the old man, trying to remember if she'd seen him the day before.
"Please sir, calm down. I'm sure we can find your daughter together"
While the various shockingly polite comments had seemed to calm him down, the man didn't seem to be entirely pleased at the situation.
"My daughter owns this ramshackle excuse for a business. She should be here right no-"
He suddenly stops as he eyes the group. His gaze narrows as he looks around at both those who spoke and those who sat in silence.
"... Wait a minute... I have heard of you. You are those... Āng zāng de màoxiǎn jiā who risked the safety of everyone at the festival with your antics! You're the reason I'm here to take my daughter away!"
Ven rolls her eyes, takes a big gulp of her drink, and sets the mug down before speaking. "Sir, forgive me, but I think you may need better sources for your information. We acted to prevent further loss of life yesterday. I suppose it isn't your fault, the gossip mill always distorts these things," she says, hardly disguising her disdain. "We're all just trying to get our bearings. Why don't you sit down a while, this doesn't have to be messy."
"... Wait a minute... I have heard of you. You are those... Āng zāng de màoxiǎn jiā who risked the safety of everyone at the festival with your antics! You're the reason I'm here to take my daughter away!"
This statement caused Bogan's blood to boil a bit, even with Ven's correction of events. What made him even madder was the guy insulting the business of the woman who gladly put them up for their heroics. Still, he wasn't about to lose his top yet. He was close, but there was still enough patience left for Bogan to try a reasonable solution first. 'The hell is with the xenophobic a!*%+~$s in this town?'
"Being her oldie is great and all, but the sheila can take care of herself just fine I imagine. So, why don't you get somewhere fortified if safety is such an issue while she carries on like usual?"
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Ven rolls her eyes, takes a big gulp of her drink, and sets the mug down before speaking. "Sir, forgive me, but I think you may need better sources for your information. We acted to prevent further loss of life yesterday. I suppose it isn't your fault, the gossip mill always distorts these things," she says, hardly disguising her disdain. "We're all just trying to get our bearings. Why don't you sit down a while, this doesn't have to be messy."
Egil stands up as the man clearly has some bad information.
"Risked everyone's lives? You have been misinformed if you believe that fighting back against a goblin attack risked any life. We saved countless lives," Egil retorts, unhappy with the accusations.
The response didn't do much to calm the aggitated tian. "How dare you accuse me of getting my information wrong! I am not stupid! I know you wúzhī de júwàirén rushed in ahead the local guard, leaving even more of a mess for us to clean up! You put this town at risk for your own personal glory!"
Sabina's initial reaction was much like Bogan's: anger. A moment later, however, it occurred to her that there was something strange about the old man's behavior. Why blame strangers who fought the goblins? Why ask where his daughter was when he knew she owned the place? Hmmm...
Getting a good hold on the man's state of mind was... difficult, to say the least, not helped by his tendency to slip back into his native language when he got heated.
"Being her oldie is great and all, but the sheila can take care of herself just fine I imagine. So, why don't you get somewhere fortified if safety is such an issue while she carries on like usual?"
It was clear to all at this point that trying to be polite was getting nowhere as he marched up to Bogan, doing his damndest to look as intimidating as an old tian man could. "You yúchǔn de kěpà de báichī! How DARE you tell me how to run my family? If I was 10 years younger, I'd have half a mind too-"
"Fùqīn!" came a shout from the kitchen doorway. Standing there, a similar bright redness to her face of anger, was Ameiko, dressed in a stained apron, and holding a ladle.
Quickly breaking off from Bogan, her father marched towards her, and the two began arguing in their native language, leaving most in the dark. It didn't take a master of reading people to tell that neither of them were particularly happy about the exchange.
"Yo, Ameiko! You need any help with this guy?" Ven calls out.
As the self important son of a b@$%& got in Bogan's face, he neither flinched nor looked scared in any manner. He was looking like a man whose patience was running on hopes and good intentions. He was lucky that the innkeeper got his attention while he was still deciding on how to best get the guy out of his face.
"Yo, Ameiko! You need any help with this guy?" Ven calls out.
"I know how I want to help..." Bogan said aloud in a foreboding tone as he rose to his feet and cracked his knuckles, waiting to see how much of a mind this guy had left in him.
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"Yo, Ameiko! You need any help with this guy?" Ven calls out.
As friendly and jovial as Ameiko had been, it was clear that the discussion was getting heated, as Ameiko wasn't really able to give much of a reply.
After a moment, the discussion reached a fever pitch. The man suddenly reached out, as if to grab Ameiko by the arm, but without so much as a hiccup, she dodged out of the way. Without missing a beat, her arm swung around, and there was a sudden 'thud' as her ladle smacked the old man upside the head.
There was an audible gasp throughout the room as this happened. Even Ameiko seemed shocked at what she did, dropping the ladle. Her father seemed equally stunned, and for a solid few seconds, they stood in silence, looking at each other.
Ven grabs the first local she sees and says, "Oi, that Ameiko's old man? What's his problem?"
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"Well deserved, Ameiko!" Egil whispers, though not loud enough that the man could hear. "And well delivered, at that!"
Sensing the need for a light-hearted distraction, the skald pounds his flagon on the table, calling the room to attention.
"Have I yet told the tale of The Lay of Thrym? Mjölnir is stolen by the frost giant Thrym, who demands Freyja's hand in marriage as a ransom."
The skald tells the tale, hoping it will distract from the argument.
Seeing this guy try to lay a hand on Ameiko was the last straw for Bogan. Even if Ameiko hit him over the head, which brought a small smile to his face, this guy was going out the door one way or another.
"Alright, Dipstick. I don't know what the hell you were saying, but it's obvious your daughter ain't leaving anytime soon." He said, approaching the man from behind and clasping his shoulder. "It's also obvious that you are leaving now. Whether that means you're going home peacefully or if I have to toss you out for causing a ruckus is completely up to you. For your sake, use what's left of that 'half-a-mind' of yours to make a smart decision."
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Ven grabs the first local she sees and says, "Oi, that Ameiko's old man? What's his problem?"
One of the locals whispers a response. "Lonjiku Kaijitsu. Scion of one of the four noble families of Sandpoint. He's always been... well, a right jackass towards people he thinks are lower than him. Doesn't help that his daughter's adventuring and running an inn instead of training to take over the family glass business."
"Alright, Dipstick. I don't know what the hell you were saying, but it's obvious your daughter ain't leaving anytime soon." He said, approaching the man from behind and clasping his shoulder. "It's also obvious that you are leaving now. Whether that means you're going home peacefully or if I have to toss you out for causing a ruckus is completely up to you. For your sake, use what's left of that 'half-a-mind' of yours to make a smart decision."
Sabina snickered audibly when Ameiko hit the old man with the ladle, and seemed surprised when nobody else in the tavern joined in. She remained next to Bogan, straightening her face to back him up in intimidating the old man.
The look on Lonjiku's face, for the briefest moment, lost its indignant anger, turning pale and fearful. But he quickly bit his tongue, and gave a loud harumph.
"No need. I can show myself out. It is clear I am not wanted here."
He walked towards the door, a few bits of food from the ladle dripping down his face. But just as he reached the door, he turned back, glaring with anger at Ameiko, and spoke his last words.
"You are as dead to me as your mother."
Before there was a response, he turned and left. Ameiko stood in stunned silence. Everyone in the room looked at her, unsure of how she was going to respond.
For a moment, Ameiko's swagger and confidence was gone. As she watched her father leave, she seemed to be on the verge of tears.
The look on Lonjiku's face, for the briefest moment, lost its indignant anger, turning pale and fearful. But he quickly bit his tongue, and gave a loud harumph.
"No need. I can show myself out. It is clear I am not wanted here."
He walked towards the door, a few bits of food from the ladle dripping down his face. But just as he reached the door, he turned back, glaring with anger at Ameiko, and spoke his last words.
"You are as dead to me as your mother."
Before there was a response, he turned and left. Ameiko stood in stunned silence. Everyone in the room looked at her, unsure of how she was going to respond.
For a moment, Ameiko's swagger and confidence was gone. As she watched her father leave, she seemed to be on the verge of tears.
Bogan cherished the fearful look on his face as he left, but not before getting angry at his last words. Seeing Ameiko about to cry only served to make the fighter angrier. Deep down, he hoped their paths would cross again, if only to make the old man regret it.
Egil's effort to distract the inn from the confrontation in an order to help them both save face seems to have failed.
"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," 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."
As she learns a little more about Lord Kaijutsu from the patron and the man's behavior, Ven scowls. "Gods, what a horrible man," she says quietly. "His kind are always the worst."
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Without thinking, Sabina shot Lonjiku the tines, not really caring that the man would have no idea what the gesture meant in Cheliax.
"To hell with him indeed." she said, nodding to Bogan. "What sort of man would treat his own family like that?"