Tavius helps him lift the boar and secures it to the horse. "I'd rather go back with you ma'am." Tavius gives a whistle and watches Setius land on his arm. "By the way this a new friend, Setius he's a good friend and kept me company this last few years."
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"Hey little guy! Thanks for keeping him company these last few years." When everyone starts heading back she starts telling you all, in detail, what it is that she has to tell the mayor."...There are five goblin tribes, and never, in known history have they gotten along. That's been the one thing keeping them from becoming a big problem. Their inter-tribal squabbles have kept them out of the hair of more civilized races for centuries, but that's beginning to change, and now they're becoming a problem. That attack on Sandpoint you talked about wasn't surprising, and I would bet my bow that it was a mix of all five tribes. It's a shame that I wasn't there to help."She bows here head in disappointment, then she quickly regains her posture. "Those ears in your pocket belong to Thistletop goblins-their hideout is a good ways north from here- but I can't think of why a humanoid would be with them. Whatever the reason, it can't be good. My guess is that they were headed to Thistletop seeing as the goblins were from there. If that's the case then it would be a death wish to try a follow the trail, to this day I've never been able to get near the place. Oh and one more thing, I found the goblins trail going to Sandpoint, but no humanoid footprints. Whoever that is didn't join the goblins until after they left Sandpoint. What do you fellas know about the mysterious footprints? Any idea why they were going from Sandpoint to Thistletop?"
Shalelu smiles,"I always admire a man of his word, very well then, I will see if Belor will let me in on the secret when he get to town."
Once you are within the gates, Shalelu immediately spots the sheriff, "Belor!" Then she turns around to the four of you and says, "Well it's been a pleasure traveling with you fellas, but this is where I leave you- unless you want to here the same story I just told you guys all over again. Come and find me in the morning if you want. Oh and take this." She hands Tavius a bag full of gold and says,"100 for the boar, 15 for the ears, and 5 for company (and I didn't feel like counting it out)." She says, murmuring the last part. And with that, she walks away.
Kugrim nods his head at Shalelu as she hands the gold to Tavius. "Thank you." After she leaves, he turns to his companions and says, "If we are to help with this...situation, it would be a good idea for us to be prepared. We should sell what we took from the goblins, add it to what we were just given, and buy supplies for ourselves."
"I agree" Tavius says putting the bag of gold in a pocket that lined his cloak. "We can split this in the morning and see what we can get."
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"Fair enough. Food it is."
When all of you are at the Rusty Dragon, you all sit down and start eating. Then, out of nowhere, a man bursts into the inn shouting "Trường hợp địa ngục là con gái tôi?"
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Tarnish stands up from where he is sitting, rising to his full height. He says in a voice loud enough to carry and in a tone that indicates he is not amused:
"Now listen up and listen good. We were attacked at the festival just like everybody else was. We defended ourselves as best we could, and by doing so killed goblins who would have gone on to kill more people if we hadn't stopped them. We weren't trying to be heroes, we were just trying to stay alive. Now either leave, shut the heck up, or take the beating you so richly deserve you drunken idiot."
The man maintains his arrogance, but he takes a step back and is clearly shaken up by Tarnish's threat. "Maybe you should have ran and hid like the rest of the commoners. Leave that work to trained professionals like the city guard." As he speaks it's clear he is backing up so he is closer to the door. "Do you even know who I am?" he murmurs at them. Right on queue a voice calls from the back, "Father! Ameiko comes out of the kitchen holding a ladle still dripping with soup. When she approaches him, the two start arguing very loudly in Minkaian. Eventually Ameiko points toward the door and shouts Then the man tries to grab Ameiko by the hair, but Ameiko ducks is hand and brains him with her ladle. Splattering chicken stock all over the group. Now, with an injured pride, he turns around to leave, but before he does, he turns around and says "You are just like your mother. Let's hope you don't share her aptitude for cliffs." The remark hurts Ameiko and tears come to her eyes.
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Tarnish bellows at the top of his lungs: "I am a trained professional you witless moron! Killing people and other things that need killing is my job and I'm good at it. Your city guard wasn't there when they were needed, and I sure as heck wasn't going to stand around and let myself get carved on by goblins waiting for them."
Tarnish walks up to the guy and points his finger at him, continuing to speak using a volume and tone of voice that would do credit to a torqued off drill instructor:
"I don't give a rat fart who you are, how important you think you are, how much money you've got, how fancy you dress, or how many useless sycophants you might have to try to do your bidding. If you were anything other than a spineless drunk you could have dealt with the problems yesterday by yourself."
Tarnish points to the door and continues on:
"Now leave, or find out first hand how a trained professional uses violence to deal with worthless sacks of cow manure."
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Strife stands up abruptly at the man's last words, his chair screeching backward across the floor. Wiping his mouth with his right sleeve, he reaches out with his left and his quarterstaff leaps from the wall into his hand. He twirls the staff grandiosely, pointing one end at the man.
The Curse of Resus the Belly-Crawler comes for you. Flee, coward!
The end of the staff bursts into light.
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The man looks at Tarnish (trembling slightly) and tries to say something witty, "V-v-vagra-" he tried to call them all vagrants, but he was having a hard enough time standing tall to Tarnish, then he notices the light coming out of Strifes quarterstaff and quickly decided he should be somewhere else. After he was gone (tripping over a few chairs in his frantic attempt to run away), Ameiko picks a hair off of her ladle and grumbles "I'll have to get a clean ladle since jackass stew isn't on the menu." she thanks the four of you and heads back to the kitchen,.clearly not in the mood to talk.
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After the guy leaves and is out of hearing range Tarnish laughs. He turns to Strife and says in a normal volume and tone of voice: "That was well done. And a lot less work than all my screaming and yelling. Almost makes me want to take up magic."
Tarnish returns to his place at the table and starts back in on his meal.
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Magic? Oh, yes, ummm... For just a moment, Strife seems confused, but then his expression changes to one of exaggerated seriousness and he raises his voice, adopting the performance tone that he previously used during the festival. He raises the staff and says, My curse sent him fleeing. No mere parlor tricks here. A glimpse into the future is what I offer. He lowers the staff and the light is extinguished.
The three of you have the sense that Strife doesn't believe a word of what he said.
"Magic is useful, but so are sharp things." Kugrim finishes his dinner, bids the party goodnight, and retires for the evening.
"That was interesting to say the least." Tavius says watching the incident unfold, he finishes his meal and stands up from the table. "I need to go retrieve my items and I'll be back to retire for the evening."
As he moves to go out the door he stops at the bar flagging down Ameiko. "I hope you are doing well after that encounter, if you would care to we can talk about it when I return."
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In the morning, when you are all down in the lobby getting breakfast, a wealthy looking man approaches you all and and exclaims, "Behold! My saviors all in one place! Please accompany me to Mr. Vender's store, I believe it is time that I thanked you properly."
"Alright, let's go."
"Verily"
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On the way to the general store, Foxglove is making sure to thank the four of you repeatedly. Then he says, "So, there is a little place about a couple miles or so from here called the 'Tickwood Forest' and it is just a marvelous place to hunt Tickwood boars! I was planning on going on a hunt today anyway, and I was wondering if my four saviors would want to come with me? It is quite a lot of fun."
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Tarnish says, "I found out yesterday that the Tickwood boars are no joke. They are a lot tougher than the goblins who I have seen run in fear from them. I've got no objection to hunting them, but if the goblins were too much for you the other day going after boars yourself might not be a good idea."
Foxglove gives Strife a confused look, "Dragons? Why who on earth told you there were dragons in these parts? There haven't been any dragons around these parts for millennia!" Then he waves his hand dismissively, "Boars are not so tough when they are the hunted rather than the other way around. Besides, we'll all be on horseback!"
As you all reach the general store, he takes out his coin purse and says to everyone, "Go ahead, buy whatever you like, it's all on me!"
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Foxglove gives Strife a confused look, "Dragons? Why who on earth told you there were dragons in these parts? There haven't been any dragons around these parts for millennia!"
Strife looks to Tavius for confirmation and stammers, "Just ch-checking. Dragons are the kind of thing one wants to be sure about."
The shop keep takes in all of the gear with calculating eyes. After a minute he says "Hmmm...I'll give you 140 for the lot of it, if you'll take 120 then I'll show you where I keep the things that you might enjoy. My own private stash."
The man grins, "Yeah I think I got a few, but could you do me a favor and keep this between us? If Savah Bevaniky found out that I sold weapons too then I expect I would get quite the ear full. Nice lady but she's got a fire in her eye that's for sure. Now about the price-"
Before he can finish the sentence Foxglove jumps in "My heroes don't have worry about the price. You name it and I will pay it."
"Perhaps you could get ahold of a fancier horsechopper for me? I was tempted by one of the ones we looted, but it's too small for me. I would also like some acid and alchemist's fire, if you have it available. Maybe some tanglefoot bags..."
" Surely the goblin blood-weapons that the heroes used to save Standpoint would be worth twice the amount of anything in Savah's store, make them an offer even I can't refuse." Foxglove say, trying to get a better deal out of Ven. It is obviously working as a glint appears in the merchants eye.
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When all of the items are on the table, Aldern slaps down a pouch of gold. In addition to the items you buy, Aldern also buys several supplies for himself. After the store, he takes you to the stables and buys each of you a horse. He also buys a pack mule for the group. Then you all exit the North Gate and start heading to Tickwood forest. After a few minutes of travel Foxglove clears his throat, "So, what brings you all to Sandpoint?"
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Tarnish says, "I decided it was time to check out other areas. I need to get a lot better at what I do and significantly upgrade my equipment. Eventually I'm going to have go back home and take care of some personal matters. But that will likely be several years down the road."
"Changing the subject, I was wondering what you might be able to tell me about Amieko's father."
While Tarnish can ride a horse as long as it isn't doing much, it is obvious that he is not a trained horseman. He's just barely getting by based on raw dexterity inhibited by his armor.
Ah, those personal matters are always the nasty ones. Aldern says. "And, to be honest, I don't know an incredible amount about Lonjkku Kaijitsu, only whispers whenever I'm in town. He's always been a sour grape, but ever since his wife died he has been downright hateful. A lot of bad rumors going on about him, people say he pushed his wife. Complete nonsense, but still...makes ya wonder."
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Sensing no deception in the man's motives, Strife hesitantly asks, "Maybe a shield of some sort. I don't really have one since the carnival took off with my stuff."
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After a few minutes of travel Foxglove clears his throat, "So, what brings you all to Sandpoint?"
"Traveling with the carnival. The festival was supposed to be a big payday. Then those goblins showed up to ruin things. Man, I was really drumming up business, too...," Strife trails off wistfully.