Wiping the last vintage of sleep from her eyes, Mary is glad to see that Shelalu is here to interpret with the goblin chief is saying.Once we have our answers and if the sheriff decrees it you can do with him as you will. But first I would like to know why the skeletons attacked, where they came from, how did you alone survive, where did the skeletons go, why did the skeletons leave. Once these are answered to our satisfactionmaybe more questions will present themselves.. Mary will the be quiet as she waits for the answers or response from the interrogation.
Looking over at Shalelu, Shianne shrugs her shoulders. [b]"Do with it as you will, but first, we do need answers as there may be a more dire threat to the village."
In the morning I follow Shalelu to the Sheriff's office and silently listen to the questioning.
Mary sits and ponders the information a minute before responding. She is try to remember all that the acolytes taught her of undead in class.
Know religion
The information that Shalelu gave them sounded strange indeed. Most skeletons used their bare hands to rend at people. What a skeleton would be doing with a weapon is quite unnerving.
What u say is true, Shalelu. Are you sure he is telling you the truth and not fabricating lies to end your stay? Normal skeletons don't wield weapons. If he is telling the truth than we definitely have something worse on our hands than goblins. As to these ships, i don't know where any wrecks are located, but he apparently does. Unless someone can show us how to get there than we might need him to take us. once the ships are clear then we can decide what to do about the caves that he mentioned. The only reason that I suggest this path is we might find some information from the ships that would help us.
Listening carefully, Shianne looks at the others. "I'm not sure taking the goblin would be a good thing. Why not have him draw us a map to the ships and cave, or if you have one.. have him add those marks to it?"
Nodding to Shianne, Sheriff, do you have a map that we could borrow of the surrounding area and the marsh. That would be most helpful. If he is no longer of service, than I leave him in your capable hands sheriff to decide what to do with him. As the authority here, I will agree to whatever sentence you place on him. I wanted him brought in for questioning and that appears to be completed.
Shalelu, I know this was a difficult task of your, but you my thanks for what it's worth. This information may help save the lives of others.
If there is nothing else, then I will wait outside. I do believe that Kerri would like to claim the ear though.
Mary will walk outside and wait patiently for the sheriff and Shalelu to 'discuss' the manner in which the goblin is to be treated. If they want her input she will be close by reflecting on the coming day.
I look around the room, my eyes settling on Masaru, "We found a ship, that could be one of them. In fact I was speaking last night of returning to them for some personal goals." I then turn to face Mary, "I promised Shalelu that once she had spoken to the captive she could deal with him as she see's fit, I would like that to remain true. The Ancestors would never forgive me if I made a promise that I didn't keep."
I am sorry that you made such a promise. I too hold strongly when my word is given. Yet I know that such a promise as you have made is beyond our control. This goblin has been brought before the local authorities for questioning about the attacks of goblins upon the people of Sandpoint. In addition to that information, he has give us clues as tithe where abouts of a group of skeletons that attacked his settlement. It is now up to the good sheriff here to decided his fate. He may very well agree with you that shalelu would be the best to carry out the judgement. However that is not our jurisdiction any more. We gave up that right when we brought him here. We must follow the laws that Sandpoint has installed or we become nothing better than the hordes or goblins we were so afraid of. Vigilante justice is no true justice at all. It is a temporary appeasing of the masses that if let unchecked will spiral out of control until they themselves are the target of vigilantes. This is the reason the we have laws to follow.
I again am sorry, bit I can not condone this act without the legitimate authority agreeing to such an act. If you convince him then I have no problem with you fulfilling your promise.
Mary will then turn and face the sheriff waiting for his verdict, the whole mention of discovering a ship went past Mary as she extolled the virtues of society. You can definitely tell this is a subject that she is adamant about.
I look to Mary, "The Ancestors always taught me as long as you are helping people it is alright to break a Law here and there. As long as breaking that Law does not hurt more people in the process."
I then turn to face the Sheriff, "What do you think, once we find out where the walking Skeletons are coming from, can I keep my promise to Shalelu?"
Shianne shoots a glare at Shalelu at her derision of Koya, but manages to keep her mouth shut. "I'll accompany you back to the Dragon and say hi to an old friend. Meet everyone back here in a few moments, then head out?
Shianne will simply go check on Koya, say hi and socialize for a moment befroe heading back. She doesn't want Koya to know she's keeping an eye on her.
Shianne holds her tongue at Shalelu's comments, preferring to honor those older. Her face brightens a bit when she talks to Koya even though the time is brief. As she turns to leave, she pulls the long bow from her shoulder and asks, "Koya, would it be too much trouble to ask you to keep an eye on this for me? It's a bit long for my tastes, but I would hate to have it lost." With a bow, she turns to leave and join her new companions.
Mary nods at the sheriff's assessment of the situation. Wisely spoken, sir. That is a fair and suiting judgement for all involved.
Mary does not anything unless we are planning on spending the night in the marsh. If not than she is ready to go after she grabs her pack from home.
I look to Mary, "The Ancestors always taught me as long as you are helping people it is alright to break a Law here and there. As long as breaking that Law does not hurt more people in the process."
Those are admirable sentiments for someone who is outside of their own settlement. Doing good may be better than following the law, but what if you are a member of that society and have elected or chosen to follows the leaders who put those laws in place. Do you have the right to disregard any law that you disagree with as long s it doesn't hurt any person? What about those that don't have a voice? Animals and creatures that are protected by laws. According to you they may be affected by breaking a law since it doesn't affect people. Is animal cruelty ok then?
"Most animals are not under the same Laws as us and in their case most are unable to follow Laws, due to not being able to understand them. I agree you should ignore a Law just because you disagree with it, there are some Laws that must be kept no matter personal opinion. But if that Law is making people suffer, then I see no reason to ignore it and try to change it. For example if an Elder of a town made it a Law that the people had to give every coin to him or face being thrown out, then that Law would have to be broken as it is unnecessary and is causing hurt. Please understand that I do follow Laws, but being as I have spent a lot of my life living in the wild, some of them do not make sense to me. Perhaps we should continue this chat later on?" I look to Shalelu, smile and nod at her. I then join her and Shianne back to the Dragon where I go and speak with Ameiko, informing her of our planned journey and promise her that once Koya says that she is healthy, I shall take her to the ship she seeks.
Shianne returns to catch most of what Kerri has said. Setting down her pack, she turns to her. "Well, if an Elder makes people pay coin to him at risk of being exiled, I would hope the townsmen would rise up and overthrow the tyrant. Of course, that would not be lawful either, but would be so effective." With a shrug she sits down on her pack.
"Did we get a location of these ships?"
I look to Shianne, holding the folded piece of parchment that Shalelu has given me, "The ships, caves and Goblin camp are all marked on this map. Should we go and get our free mounts and then head out to this remaining ship? Masaru and I have been to the other ship and it proved to be empty."
Shianne: That depends on the society and the structure that they have set up. Some institutions have protocols set up to lawfully remove an official if the people disagree with him or her. Even then the problem arises if the people are uneducated regarding the inner workings of a government. It would seem that the people would be in favor of never paying any taxes, yet how would the government exist to perform public works or hire people to go on patrols protecting the area? But as Kerri suggests, let us take this conversation further at a different time. Now, with the state of affairs and the matter of finding the last ship and then the caves being of more import, let us turn our energies towards those matters. Let me grab my gear and I will be willing to join you again as we travel through the marsh.
I wasn't going to lead ... but here is my roll.
Count Mary in for a riding dog as well.
As the group,travels back into the swamp, Mary keeps her eyes open for any creatures that could pose a problem. Trusting in Kerri's ability to follow the map Mary is surprised at how well the first stage of the journey was going. No roaming creatures or tough areas that we had to travel through.
Perc
I stop suddenly in my tracks, turn the map a few times looking puzzled. I then hand the map over to Masaru, "I can't read this bit, can you understand where we have to go now?"
Shianne sits her mount quietly, bow in hand, while the others ponder over the map. Her eyes continuously scan the surroundings in front and to the sides looking for movement. She tries to tune out the others choosing to concentrate on what she may be hearing from around them.
perception:
When Kerri indicates that she is lost Mary will try to help the situation by remembering and pointing out locals on the map that we already passed.
Survival assist.
Mary Thinks she is able to help out a bit instead of just being in Masaru's and Kerri's way.
"Admittedly," Masaru said, pulling the reins of his horse and moving up alongide Kerri, "I am not very familiar with reading maps." It was a far more soldierly trade or that of an explorer, not so much for the self-taught warrior that Masaru was. He peered down from his map and smiled meekly, trying to discern what he was looking at.
Looking around at te remains of the goblin encampment doesn't give Mary much comfort. However the alternative to hiking through the marsh it he dark when you can't see anything seems like the worse option. I believe we should camp here for the night. Perhaps we can find shelter and fortifications that are. Ore suitable to us civilized folk. If not we will have to clean up a bit first. Any recommendations on where we should bunk down for the night?
Mary will do her best to clean up one of the huts to provide a modicum of decent sleeping quarters.
Looking over at Mary, Shianne finds a place to tether her mount. "I'm in agreement with Mary," she says as she dismounts, "It'll be dark soon and we don't know what's out there."
She stretches her legs a moment before continuing, "Besides, given our recent side trip experience, I'll feel much better traveling when we can at least see that we're not where we wanted to be."
"We can stop here for the night then," Masaru said as he dismounted. He wasn't used to riding so he took a couple of minutes to stretch out his legs. When he felt more comfortable he guided the horse to be tied off for the night and proceeded to collect his belongings. "Lets bed down for the night."
Does anyone mind.if I take first watch? I would hate for us all to be asleep if the undead come back. Plus I want to walk around and see what life would have been like in a goblin community before i go to sleep. I promise I won't get into any trouble without you.
Mary will roam the encampment looking at the way the huts are laid out anyhow life would have been. Even though they are goblins they still had a semblance of higher society. Chieftains and lass governed what they did. Mary may. It understand those laws but is sure they existed in some format.
Perception if needed for watch and exploring
Feeling slightly embarrassed about walking the wrong direction after such a good start I quietly dismount and proceed to set up my tent. Once it is completed with a train ease I will start to cook some food with some of the local vegetation and my dried fruits. "Does anyone have some meat, I could turn this soup into a nice stew if you do?" I turn back to the Vegetables and Fruit, taking out a set of knives, the knives look sharp, the blades silver and the handles seem to be made of Ivory. I spin the blades in my hands while shopping with a trained grace and finesse, grinning all the while admiring my new "Friends".
Once it is complete I hand out portions to everybody, including some to the dogs.
Mary parties heartily in the excellent fare that Kerri provides. At this rate Mary is going to gain a couple of pounds. Not that she complaining about the cooking mind you. Mary will also clean the dishes as her way of helping with the camping.
I must say Kerri, that you will need to teach me some of those recipes of yours unless they are a family secret. Even then we might hav to figure out a price for them.
Finishing her supper, she thanks Kerri for the fare and offers to help Mary with the cleanup. Once done, she says simply, "I'll take second watch then," as she turns to gather her bedroll from her pack.
Laying her sword and bow next to her, she lays down and prepares to get a little sleep before then. Her sais lay next to her beneath the blanket within quick, unobserved reach.
"Third watch, since its the worst one," Masaru said, joining his companions for a fair meal prepared by Kerri. He quietly thanked the halfling and was off to bed so he could rest before he had to wake up in the morning.
Mary will relay this information to Shianne so she has an idea of the conditions of the fortifications the impromtu campsite provides.
In the morning Mary will approach the mighty Masaru and ask him to look at the stuck door. Hopefully he can get the door open and we can explore the shelter.
Raising for her watch, Shianne listens intently while Mary briefs her on the conditions of the camp. Gathering her things, she slips her pack and bow over her shoulders. "I'll keep watch in one of the watchtowers then since it affords a good view as you say," she says quietly before turning to stand her watch.
Once she is in the watchtower, she sets her pack down and strings her bow. Her eyes and ears tune into the night's sounds and quickly identifies those that are normal so she can concentrate on any changes.
Perception
After everyone has eaten I start to wash up, when Mary and Shianne came and offered their assistance. I blush when everyone thanks me for the nice food and set to cleaning my new knives, carefully polishing them. I look up to Mary, "That one wasn't the family secret recipe. So I can show you how to prepare it, if you really want. All you need is to find the right foods and have the right tools."
Once everything is cleaned and put away, I climb into my tent and close the door behind me. I loosen my furs so they fall from my body and place my knives within arms reach. I pull my thin blanket over myself and quickly fall into a silent sleep.
Masaru was suddenly jolted by the slam and wheeled around to face the zombie. He drew his sword from his sheath and two-handed the grip, lifting the sharp blade above his head. He let out a loud kiah shout that would startle the camp, stepping into the blow as he struck down at his assailant.