Venmirl tries to crush the goblin dog with his morningstar but the creature rolls out of the way. Venmirl's weapon only hits the dirt ground.
Syeira and Izbahn improvise whatever bandages they can with what they have at hand. Somehow, they manage to stop the worst of the bleeding and Naomi's condition seems stable. Perhaps it was the priestess' own resilience and will to live that keeps her alive.
The nobleman remains still but he's closely watching your actions, especially Syeira's.
I then notice the man looking at me intently ... watching my every move ...
I've grown used to people, especially men, looking at me ... but never like this.
Shrugging of the notion for now, I turn my attention to the remaining two goblins.
Having no means to get to either of them, cursing herself for leaving her bow in her room at the inn, she hopes the others can reach them.
Naomi starts to mumble, and her arms begin to shake, almost like she's trying to move them.
Izbahn, at first relieved Naomi is breathing normally, becomes alarmed when she starts to mumble and shaking her arms about.
Completely baffled about this (shouldn't she be completely still, she is after all unconscious, maybe she is having a seizure of some kind.) he tries to calm her down by murmering into her ear "Calm down, take it easy, it's ok now, easy easy, easy...." He continues the soothing tones for a few seconds, hoping she relaxes, and doesn't reopen her wounds.
Calla charges the fleeing goblins and swings her battleaxe with both hands down at one of their heads...
Striking with the momentum of her charge behind her, Calla buries her axe into the thick skull of the goblin archer. The strike brings the goblin to his knees and, as the Shoanti pulls her axe free, he falls down face first into the dirt road.
The remaining goblin drops his bow and starts running in panic. He passes under the North Gate and keeps on going, apparently having had enough of Sandpoint and its giant humans.
With Venmirl back within range, the rat mount tries to catch his ankle with its jaws. The beast's mobility is greatly reduce by its prone position however and Venmirl deftly moves out of the way.
Focused on the last remaining threat, Venmirl smiles and swings his morningstar.
Izbahn sees Naomi calming down and slipping back into unconsciousness, although he has a feeling his words had little effect. Struggling to his feet, he looks around for any further threats to the group.
His eyes pass over the nobleman briefly, and notices he staring at Syeira. He makes a note to ask her later about him.
Attack club, damage
After Naomi seems to be stable, and the remaining goblin runs off, Syeira gets up and looks at the staring man.
If there is no other threat, she walks up to him.
"Is there something the matter sir ?"
"It looks like you've seen a ghost, but I can assure you ... I'm very much alive."
Assuming the creature that Venmirl attacks is still alive, Calla charges it, swinging her axe two-handed...
Otherwise, if the creature is already dead, she will run after the fleeing goblin.
With a great crack, Venmirl's morningstar crushes the creature's spine at the base of its neck. It stops moving and simply lays there.
Calla can't quite catch the goblin. The little sneak runs off the road and into the foliage where she loses sight of him. She also has other problems. Further down the Lost Coast Road, she catches sight of another group of goblin, about 10 or so, that are marching toward the her and the North Gate.
Coming from Cliff Street, Izbahn sees a fleeing goblin catch an arrow in the back and stumble down. Following close behind, a large group of militia men round the corner. They are well armed with swords and bows and are lead by the man you saw rebuke Calla earlier today, Sheriff Belor Hemlock. Apparently satisfied to see that the goblins here are dead while you live, his man approach as he hails you.
"I'm sorry ... This was overly rude of me." Replies the richly dressed man to Syeira. "You remind me of someone I know, it's all. But enough about this, I must thank you for the help your companions and yourself just gave me now. I would have surely perished if you had not intervene. It was very brave of you to fight off the goblins like this. And I was moved by the way you sang about those past heroes, how inspiring! I got to say the gods were very generous with you: bravery, musical talent and beauty." He smiles at Syeira but suddenly realizes something. "I'm also forgetting my manners. My name is Aldern, Aldern Foxglove." He adds while bowing down.
Izbahn looks at the nobleman and supresses a jealous pang. He knows Syeira can take care of herself. He tries telling himself what he feels is just jealousy, and then buries his feelings and suprisingly it works. Sort of.
He turns his attention to the Sherrif and thinks So we meet again, think this took the starch out of his collar as he waits for the sherrif to talk to him.
"Glad to see you again, Sherrif."
"Why, thank you very much Aldern."
"Too bad we had to meet under these horrible circumstances."
"Perhaps we could meet again in more enjoyable times."
"You may find me at the Rusty Dragon nightly entertaining the guests."
"For now, please excuse me, I need to talk to the sheriff about this mess."
I turn to Izbahn and the approaching sheriff, just in time to see a small grimace on Izbahns face.
Thinking nothing of it, she waits until the sheriff responds to Izbahn.
She also has other problems. Further down the Lost Coast Road, she catches sight of another group of goblin, about 10 or so, that are marching toward the her and the North Gate.
Calla runs back to warn the others, shouting: "More goblins approach! They are coming for the north gate, ten of them!"
Izbahn hearing Calla announce this, turns to the sherrif and his men, and says "Well, we are ready to assist you in fighting off these creatures!"
Venmirl raises his totem from his neck and a faint blue glow covers his wounds.
He then uses his move action to get closer to the goblins.
Belor Hemlock barks some orders. "You heard the woman, men, move forward ! To the gate ! Bows at the ready !" The militia men start to sprint forward toward the North Gate. "Just help us hold the line." Belor tells Izbahn as he moves pass. You hastily form up with the guardsmen at the gate and, soon enough, the group of goblin come into view, just beyond a small rise. They are about 90 feet away when Belor orders his men to draw arrows.
Izbahn curses as he remembered he left his crossbow back in his room. It would come in handy right now. Well he still had his spells. He turns to the nobleman Aldern and says, "If you cannot fight, then please keep an eye on our fallen comrade. Don't let her come to any harm..", pointing at the unconscious Naomi.
He then turns to follow the militiamen.
When Aldern, the nobleman, stays with Naomi, I thank him again.
When I walk alongside the Militiamen, I take a quick look back at him and wave if he's still looking.
Then my face turns grim, time to run these goblins out of town!
"Does anyone have a spare bow with some arrows I could use ?"
"I didn't think I'd need it when I went to the fair this morning ..."
Calla will fire on the goblins with her shortbow along with the militiamen.
Izbahn, once he sees the group of goblins approaching, scans the group for any leader type or such among the group.
Aldern agrees to watch over Naomi. "Yes, I believe I can do this much." He kneels beside the priestess, wincing as he looks at her wounds.
The guardsmen and Calla release a hail of arrows toward the goblins. Only one is killed outright but most are wounded. These goblins are stragglers that got behind the main group and weren’t expecting such a determined defense at the gate. Wounded and outnumbered, the goblins turn back and run along the way they came. The guardsmen cheer, happy to see this skirmish end before it even started. With this, the battle has been mostly decided. The few surviving goblins inside or outside Sandpoint flee north in droves, in some cases preferring to leap to their certain death off cliffs rather than be captured.
Even the usually dour Belor manages a slight smile. He speaks to the group, addressing Calla in particular. "Maybe I was a bit too harsh with you earlier. You fought with us today, even if most of you have only been here for a short time. I must thank you for securing this location before my men and I were able to arrive … Who knows what would have happened if those goblin reinforcements had joined with another group of the little menaces."
Aldern Foxglove also has some good words for you. "The sheriff is too modest with his praises; I say you’re all heroes! I’m sure you saved many lives today, including mine. I hardly know my saviors, what are your names?"
As you discuss things with Belor and Aldern, Father Zantus also comes from the south. Another acolyte of Desna and a few other townsfolks are with him. They start to look after the wounded amongst you and the guards. The two girls you saw earlier today, Magdala and Saphira, are also with Zantus. When they see Naomi’s condition, they panic but Zantus’ healing magic returns some colors to her face, reassuring the girls that she’s not going to die. One of Zantus’ party, a woman in her thirties, sews her remaining wounds and changes her bandages. Soon after, Naomi begins to stir and regains consciousness. "Careful, don’t move too briskly, you were badly hurt." Says the woman healer. Nearby, Magdala happily claps a few times in relief. "You scared us, Naomi. We don’t want to lose you." Father Zantus is also close. While he looks tired and spent after taking care of the wounded, he manages a weak smile at Naomi. "It’s the second time today my magic brought you back to us. You should try to be more careful, don’t you think?"
Izbahn gratefully accepts the healers help, even though he was not badly wounded. He looks over at his newfound companions, and feels a sense of kinship, although he did remember another fellow wielding a rapier who fought with the group who has since disappeared. He hoped the man would come back.
To Aldern, he replies "I am Izbahn, I do want to thank you again for your help, and for not losing your cool back there.. Again he resists the pangs of jealousy in his stomach.
To Belor, he says "It was no problem, Sherrif. We all did our duty. I did want to ask if you were able to learn more who was behind the attack. From what I remember, there were several tribes working together."
To Naomi, "Thank you again for helping us, and I am glad you came back to us."
To Calla, "I hope you can trust users of magic at least a little bit more.
To the Healer Woman: "Desna bless you for your help."
To Magdala&Saphira: "I'm not going anywhere, not yet. I still have to much to do here."
To Father Zantus: "It's just not my luckiest of days, Father Zantus. Because of that though, it won't be the goblin's either."
To Izbahn: "You are welcome. Like I just told my Sisters, I'm not going anywhere yet." She looks up at the sky, frowning at the smoke rising to mix with the clouds. "Not until I repay a favor, and kill the goblin behind all this."
"Naomi, I agree putting a stop to the goblin who organized this is a good idea, but I want to know WHO gave the goblin the inspiration to carry out his raid."
Calla nods respectfully to Belor and says, "You and your men fought well... and if you hadn't shown up, I don't think we could have handled that new group. Thank you."
She gathers her throwing axes (except the one she gave to her brother) and asks the healer for a poultice for her wounds. She smiles when Izbahn speaks to her and replies, "Yes, Izbahn, thank you for your help. We maybe would not be here without you. You have my trust."
Izbahn, remembering little of the Shoanti customs he studied, is not sure of the cultural significance of that statement. But, coming from the young lady warrior, he takes it in the spirit it was intended.
"You are most welcome, Calla."
Syeira first goes to check up on Naomi. The woman did almost die helping everyone .. the least she could do was see how she's doing.
After seeing her alive and doing fairly well, I turn to the sheriff.
"Sheriff, we captured one of the scum ... and left it in the care of a man called Husk ... Daviren Husk or something like that."
"Perhaps we can get some information how a large group of goblins managed to sneak into a town and cause such mayhem."
"Yes, he said was able to speak their language. It may be possible to extract some information out of one of the little frakers."
Belor responds to Izbahn's question. "Different tribes you say? Yes, that would make sense, given their numbers and the boldness of the raid. If you're right this would indeed mean something or someone is stirring up the local goblins. I can't see who would do that and why. I'll need to speak to a few more people about this." He then listens to what Syeira and Venmirl have to say. "You must mean Hosk, Daviren Hosk. He owns the aptly named 'Goblin Squash Stables' down in low town. Given goblin nature and Daviren's character, I think it's more likely he'll torment the little thing then he'll get anything useful out of it. That old man hates goblin more then is reasonable. He used to hunt them for a living, you see. Still, I'll check on him to see if he learned anything useful."
Izbahn replies to Belor "Well if you do find anything, please let us know about it. If there is some mastermind behind the attack, chances are there will be another one. Plus some of us have a vested interest... (glancing at Naomi) ...in seeing whoever was behind the attack brought to justice."
Syeira nods approvingly at Izbahn's words.
"Indeed, they have hurt too many innocent people on this beauitful festival day."
"Sheriff, if you need my help, I'm at your service."
"You can find me at the Rusty Dragon."
"I need to get some of my belongings."
"Perhaps we can meet somewhere later today?"
"If you are going to be at the Rusty Dragon, perhaps we should all meet there later?"
Wincing as she remembers her own wounds, Naomi reaches into her backpack to pull out a scroll case, and then pulls out a scroll. Reciting the spell she has written on the scroll, she places a hand over her leg as the runes lift off the parchment and settle over her wound.
Her flesh knits itself back together as the runes sink into her leg, but the wound does not vanish completely.
"Naomi, thats a good idea. Let's all meet there at the Rusty Dragon this evening for dinner. It will give me a chance to recover from todays events." Also, It will give him a chance to relax in one of the baths and burn these now bloodstained clothes he was wearing. Fortunayely he had other clothes, although not as nice as the ones he is wearing.
He noted Naomi casting the clerical scroll, and made a note to talk about team tactics to the group. while he himself couldn't use the scroll, he was sure somebody else could.
Seeing that his saviors are about to leave, Aldern speaks. "I'd really like to talk to you some more and reward you properly for saving my life. I'm staying at White Deer Inn and I'm in town for a few more days. Perhaps you'd care to join me tomorrow? I was planning on hunting boars in the Tickwood."
Izbahn looks over at the nobleman Aldern and mentally revises his opinion of him. Maybe he is not that bad of a guy after all. I think jealously got the better of me. I don't know why I should be concerned, Syeira is capable of handling herself.
Aloud to Aldern he says, Happy coincidence, I am also staying at the White Deer, so if you would like to get together later for hunting boar or other things, just leave a message with the innkeep, and I will do the same. I am sure once we have recovered from the days events, hunting boar sounds like just the way for relaxing." He glances at the Shoanti warriors, and thinks this would be perfect for them.
Syeira says her goodbyes and retires to the Rusty Dragon Inn ... to wash off the grime of the battle from her body.
She then waits in the commonroom for dinner.
All the while talking to the patrons about the events of that day. Perhaps some people saw more she did.
Calla agrees to meet the others later at the inn, and she awkwardly agrees to go out hunting with Aldern, but only once it seems that the town is safe from goblins.
In the meantime, she returns to her home to make sure that Galdor made it home safely to their mother and father...
Izbahn, once the group has agreed to meet later for dinner, returns to his room, and decides to take a long hot bath, as he removes his bloodied clothing, and decides to burn it later.
Later he will meet the group at the Rusty Dragon for dinner.
"Hunting? Maybe, but for now I must spend time with The Family and grieve for one fallen." "And make a plan to burn the goblins to the ground as their leader's life flows from his severed throat." She thinks to herself.
"I'll meet eveyone later, at the Rusty Dragon. Until we meet again."
She gathers Magdala and Saphira, and starts walking to the local curch. It was time to pray, for luck, for Family.. for revenge.
Seeing his fellow Shoanti goblin slayer agree to hunting bores with the nobleman, Venmirl is ready to acceptance of the offer also. How odd it is that such a horrible event has led to his meeting of similar souls.
After Naomi speaks, he is sobered by the image in his head of the dead boy laying on the ground. "Actually, Aldern, I'd like to join you but I will be busy helping father Zantus take care of the dead. Thank you for the offer."
He then says his goodbyes until dinner later that night.
Aldern seems disappointed when some of you decline his offer but he doesn’t push the subject further. "Well, for those interested, meet me tomorrow morning, about 1 hour after dawn, in front of the Goblin Squash stables, in low town just next door to the Rusty Dragon Inn." With this, he bids you farewell and retires to his room in the White Deer Inn.
All the while talking to the patrons about the events of that day. Perhaps some people saw more she did.
The common room of the Rusty Dragon is busy tonight. Ameiko and her staff are running around, serving everyone that came to the inn for refuge and gossip. Obviously, most people are talking about the goblin raid. They relate how this woman sprained her ankle running away, how the son of this other one was hurt by a goblin and now has a fever and all sort of other rumors. No one has any new important information on the goblins. A rare few have already started joking about the raid, telling how one of the little freaks was killed when a horse stepped on him. The one rumor Syeira hears the most is that the Sheriff and his guards were hidden in their garrison for most of the raid and that it’s actually a band of strangers that killed most goblins raiders. Two men almost come to a fist fight over this.
"My brother is in the militia. They’re no coward; they fought the little devils!""How come my nephew got killed then?"
"They couldn’t be everywhere! Everyone was surprised."
"They’re just a bunch of lazy folks who take our tax money …"
In the meantime, she returns to her home to make sure that Galdor made it home safely to their mother and father...
When Calla enters her home, she’s quickly greeted with a great hug from her family. "Thank the Gods you’re safe! You had us so worried." Her mother says. Looking Calla over, she adds. "But, all this blood … you’re hurt! Lie down. I’ll heat up some water, clean your wounds." Calla’s father sighs heavily. "Here I thought the lowlands would be safer, at least I knew the dangers of Storval plateau. Are you sure this is our fight, daughter?" Not really understanding what his father is saying, Galdor intervenes here. "Calla was great, Pa! Shhhhh, ssslash, pow! Dead goblins!" He says while wielding an imaginary axe around. He suddenly remembers something and goes to retrieve his borrowed axe amongst his things. "There you go, sis. I kept it safe for you."
Along with Magdala and Saphira, Naomi makes her way to the new cathedral that was supposed to be consecrated today. Inside, the day’s events have brought in a few townsfolk at the various shrines. The largest gathering is at the shrine of Abadar where an acolyte of the Master of Keys is leading a service but there are a few fateful praying by themselves at all the other shrines. The Sandpoint Cathedral is made of stone and the various shrines are decorated with beautiful stained glass windows representing symbols of the 6 Gods. To the south, facing Sandpoint’s heart, are the shrines of civilization: Erastil and Abadar. To the west, offering a view of the Old Light and the sea beyond, are the shrines of Shelyn and Gozreh. And to the east, offering a view of the Sandpoint Boneyard and the rising sun, are the shrines of Sarenrae and Desna. At the heart of the cathedral, in open-air courtyard, stands a set of seven ancient standing stones surrounding a just as ancient circular stone altar.
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Before Venmirl leaves, Father Zantus has a few words for him. "I’m glad to see you survived this trial, my friend. Such chaos on this holy day, it’s terrible. But, we must still keep fate that the Gods will guide us through this, like they did during the Late Unpleasantness. On more practical grounds, I wish I wouldn’t have to ask you this but could you help Naffer dig up a few graves in the yard tomorrow? I’m afraid we will need them."
Venmirl leaves to seek out Daviren Hosk and find out what became of the goblin prisoner.
The sheriff mentioned that Hosk owned the Goblin Squash Stables. Venmirl doesn’t know the place but he has little problem finding it after asking around for direction. On a large stable, above the door, a painted sign swings in the wind. It shows a horse trampling a panicking goblin. Entering, the shoanti inquisitor is greeted by a somewhat grisly display. A collection of goblin ears are nailed to three different rafters over the entrance to the stable’s covered barn. Some bear a name burned into the leathery flesh. The stalls are occupied by all sorts of horses and the air is heavy with the smell of their dung. It doesn’t take Venmirl much time to find the old Daviren. He’s once again with same mare that you saw earlier. In a stall next to them both, a goblin is tied up on the ground. He keeps looking at the large animal with lots of nervousness and fear. The old man finally notices you and calls out. "Ohh, hello there mister Shoanti … I’m sorry I didn’t quite catch your name back there. You’re just in time."