The tracks seem to have been left behind by several small humanoids, probably about half a dozen goblins, but there is one set of boot tracks that are human-sized. They are mostly focused around and between two spots. One is an area of the wall that separates the town boneyard from the forest. The other is a fairly large but otherwise simple stone building with its stone door ajar.
"This way, looks like someone has been walking around here besides the goblins" Karl walked to the stone building and stopped at the unlocked door.
"And let's hope we're about ta find out who." Darnak follows along, hoping to find the one behind it all.
Alesta followed close behind the others. In her studies and journeys she had always had a keen eye for traps and pitfalls. So it was best to keep a close eye out for such things and other dangers.
As she looked around, the aasimar cast a simple spell, whistling a tune before blowing across her opened palm. While there was nothing in her hand, rainbow colored wisps of air flew from hand and began seeking any signs of magic no matter how faint.
Alesta finds no trace of magic in the cemetery, but her keen eye spots an inscription on the stone building. On it are a pair of names and a year. The names are:
Father Ezakien Tobyn
Nualia Tobyn
The year: 4702
Father Zantus gasps, "Oh, heavens no! Is an attack not enough? Someone needs to desecrate this grave?
Sheriff Hemlock almost growls under his breath. "There may be goblins hiding within. Everyone had best be ready." He then steps forward to open the stone portal wider...
Darnak nods. "You got it, Sheriff. If the little buggers be in here, we'll put an end to 'em."
As Hemlock pulls the door aside, a rattling of dry bones can be heard from within. A pair of skeletons, devoid of all flesh, clatter forward, their bony hands grasping like claws and their jaws clacking together.
Initiative Rolls
Looking at the undead, "I think it's safe ta say it's not goblins, Sheriff. Let's go get 'em." Darnak moves in straight at them, putting as much force as he can behind his punch.
Missing horribly, "I think it's also safe ta say, that could've gone a lot better."
Ahdak picks his careful way among the cemetery grounds, uncomfortable in the resting place of a people not his own. Face grim, he follows Karl's experienced eye to the stone door.
The sudden appearance of the skeletal pair catches him off guard, but he recovers quickly. Drawing his morningstar, he follows Darknak to bash at the closest of the noisy fiends. "I had thought to find safety in your town's walls. Was this a mistaken assumption of an outsider?"
Darnak is apparently caught a bit by surprise by the skeletons as his attempt to strike is ill-timed and fails to bother his skeleton foe. But Ahdak was apparently born ready as he quickly and efficiently smashes one of the two skeleton into a disassembled pile of non-animate bones.
Darnak looks on as the skeleton is smashed to splinters, impressed by the half-orc's combat talent. "Well done, lad. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two," he says, preparing to avoid a strike by the other one.
Alesta was surprised by the undead rising from the ground. Quickly recovering from her shock she swung her Morningstar at the skeleton.
Alesta does no more damage than Darnak as the skeleton moves too quickly for her morningstar.
Father Zantus is close at hand, however, and he responds to the skeleton with a swing of his mace. The good priest's blow puts an end to the skeleton's unholy existence. His eyes are wide and his hands shake a bit - clearly he does not often engage in fights.
"Nicely done, Father," Sheriff Hemlock compliments him. Then he steps to open the stone portal all the way to let in the most light. "Now let's see what further horrors await within."
Father Zantus kneels down to start consecrating in the remains. He looks to Ahdak, "Normally, Sandpoint is a reasonably safe town. There are very occasional incidents, but they are rare. I hate to think what today's terrors portend to Sandpoint's future. The festival started with such vibrant beauty..."
The interior of the mausoleum is fairly spartan. There is one sarcophagus laying on a pedestal and one urn laying on a second pedestal.
The lid of the sarcophagus is pushed partly aside so that it is open. The urn, which may once have stood on the pedestal, has spilled a small pile of dark ash as it lays on its side.
Darnak moves over to investigate the item, bending to pick it up and then bringing it back to the others. "Don't suppose any of you might know who this belongs to, do ya?"
The black cloth object turns out to be a robe, sized for a man-sized humanoid. There are several places on it where there are loose threads like something that was affixed has been torn off.
"Bring it here, Darnak," Father Zantus requests. Giving it a brief review, he shakes his head sadly, "I have heard of such things. In my religious instruction, I was taught a few things about how to deal with necromantic arts, they being such anathema to the healing arts we learn. I believe this to be a robe of bones, a creation usually of necromancers. They enchant weak undead creatures like zombies and skeletons to be stored on the robe as a patch. Tear off the patch and the creature is reactivated by magic. It is probably the source of the skeletons.
Sheriff Hemlock, who has stepped right up to the sarcophagus in the meanwhile, peers into the gloom. The expression on his face darkens, his face reddens a bit. "Gone! Father Tobyn's remains are gone!" he says, his voice shaking with anger.
Ahdak bows his head as the priest consecrates the remains, adding his own prayer for the departed in a whisper. [smaller]"Take the souls of the dead into your arms, mother of earth. Embrace them, and usher them into the afterlife."
He follows the others into the crypt, studying the cloth that Darnak carries over. His normal stoicism breaks as Father Zantius explains the nature of the item and he grimaces. His scowl is not abated as the sheriff explains what he has discovered, "It seems that there was a were many misdeeds, more than it had seemed. I grieve for the loss of your friends remains."
Alesta watched as the half-orc says a prayer to the departed souls that were forced to become undead. The aasimar was curious about the Shoanti's ways. But first she said her own prayer asking the empyreal lord Zohls to aid in the passing of the departed.
Alesta was a bit taken back by the discovery of the theft of the remains of Father Tobyn.
"Odd for goblins to a priest's remains. Were his adopted daughter's remains taken as well? And I'm sorry that such a terrible evil was committed today. It would seem that so many evils were done against the good people of Sandpoint. I pray that the grace of Zohls aids Sandpoint in recovering and I'll do what I can to help if you're willing to let me."
"I'm guessin' we are ta start lookin' for the Father's remains, right Sheriff? I'm not much for trackin' but I got eyes. I'll aid ya in any way I can, Sheriff."
"I will take what help I can at this point," Sheriff Hemlock says. "But I think it best if you all pledge to keep this quiet. The last thing I need is for the town to panic or stew over this when we know so little."
He steps out of the mausoleum to get a better look at the grounds.
Father Zantus, his face pale, gets a closer look at the open sarcophagus and the urn spilled on the other slab and shakes his head sadly. "It doesn't look like they've taken much of Nualia's ashes, if any, the poor girl. We were never able to sort out her remains properly so she had to be entombed with a lot of extra ash."
He sighs. "I suppose I had better fill you in on town history if this is to make much sense. It all relates to the consecration of the cathedral today, something that must have some significance, I feel. Maybe your perspective as outsiders will help us understand what is happening here."
"Five years ago was a time that we tend to call the "Late Unpleasantness". That's really an understatement. Five years ago, Sandpoint was the hunting ground of a murderer. He was called Chopper because of the way he chopped his victims apart. His last victim was Belor's predecessor, Sheriff Avertin. He might have continued on with his spree if the sheriff had not fought back and seriously wounded his attacker. That enabled then-guard Hemlock to track him down and end his reign of terror."
"But just as we thought we had put and end to our sorrows, fresh tragedy struck. Our church building caught fire and was gutted not a month after Chopper's death. We found Father Tobyn's remains. He had apparently been trying to leave his personal chamber when he succumbed to the smoke and flame. But his daughter Nualia's chamber was far more damaged and there wasn't even enough of a body to bury, so we gathered up what ash we could and put her to rest in this urn. Such a tragic death for someone of such grace and beauty."
"Now, after five years of reconstruction efforts, the cathedral is open and ready for all faiths. Today's Swallowtail Festival was also to serve as the new cathedral's consecration ceremony. And you see how well that went."
Alesta nodded and told the group she had already heard about the town's Late Unpleasantness.
"I'm sorry to hear once again about the town's tragic past. So many innocents destroyed by evil. I hope the empyreal lords watch over this town. I know that the empyreal lords are not really worshipped in Sandpoint, as I haven't seen any shrines dedicated to them since I got here, but I hope you accept their blessings and graces Father Zantus. But tell me, where did the fire originate? Could some sort of evil...person have caused all of this?"
The aasimar archaeologist awaited the priest's answers as she prepared herself to explain the empyreal lords the best she could to those around her.
Father Zantus smiles, "Don't worry, Alesta. The cathedral is designed to be ecumenical. Sandpoint does well for itself in shipbuilding and with the glassworks, but the residents prefer not to spend their tithes on many places of worship and have elected to build one to serve all. Desna has her special prominence in honor of our Varisian residents, but nearly all faiths are welcome. And the ones that aren't, are not the subjects of good conversation. You'll even find a few glyphs carved into the stones in the central courtyard dedicated to Empyreal Lords."
He shrugs, "As far as the fire's origin? We do not know for certain. Fires are common enough in towns like this where the majority of buildings are made of wood. Much of the old chapel was as well - considerably more than the new cathedral. In that respect, at least, I hope to not follow in Father Tobyn's footsteps."
"We thought that perhaps the fire could have been deliberately set. But if that was the case, we never found a witness nor any conclusive proof. We brought a few investigators from Magnimar into town, but they were unable to find conclusive evidence of arson either."
With his arms crossed, the dwarf listens in on the story. Shaking his head in disbelief, "Blast. Such tragedy for such a small town like yerself. My condolences to ya all, Father. I'm gonna go see what I can do ta help the sheriff. It's best we find out who or what's behind this as soon as possible and put a stop to 'em. The sooner the better." The dwarf nods and excuses himself, heading out toward the grounds as well.
As he makes his way outside, he notices the sheriff looking around and Darnak follows suit. "Have ya found anythin' of interest yet, Sheriff?"
Goblin tracks seem to be primarily confined between the Tobyn mausoleum and an area of the wall. In fact, the ground at the wall has some indentations that suggest something like a ladder was leaned up against it.
Sheriff Hemlock stoops to the ground to get a closer look. "That's a recent track alright. We should get a look outside the wall as well. Are you up for a climb, Darnak?"
Meanwhile, a new ship has slipped into a berth at the docks. The smoke rising from the buildings the goblins managed to ignite has been visible to the ship's crew for some time, but with a signal from the harbormaster on duty, the captain ordered the ship to land and make ready to unload cargo and passengers. When inquiries are made, the man on duty informs the ship, "Today's festival day and, wouldn't you know it, goblins raided right during services. Have no fear, though, situation's under control. White Deer is full up, I hear, but the Rusty Dragon may have beds yet, if you're sleeping on land."
Somewhat less official referrals, from the general dockworkers rather than the officers in charge, point out (with much winking) that the Pixie's Kitten is also open for the evening and that the Shoanti bouncers there are not to be trifled with.
Goblin tracks seem to be primarily confined between the Tobyn mausoleum and an area of the wall. In fact, the ground at the wall has some indentations that suggest something like a ladder was leaned up against it.
Sheriff Hemlock stoops to the ground to get a closer look. "That's a recent track alright. We should get a look outside the wall as well. Are you up for a climb, Darnak?"
"Ready as always, Sheriff." Darnak starts out on his climb but manages to lose his grip quite easily and falls. "Though ta be honest, Sheriff, climbin' is not one of me strong suits," he tells him in a way as to retain some of his dignity.
"Fair enough, friend dwarf. We will go out through the gate," Hemlock says as he leads the way out of the boneyard and ultimately through the city's front gate. Walking along the exterior of the town's defensive wall, it isn't long before he and the adventurers are opposite the tracks in the boneyard. And there it is, tossed aside in the undergrowth, a ladder tall enough to scale the wall.
Ahdak listens to Father Zantus' story in silence, face stony as he recounts the town's hardships. It is not just the Storval Plateau that sees death and sorrow. Whatever my people's stories, there is death and blood to confront in this town. He nods in agreement with Darnak's words, "A time of hardship indeed. It is regrettable that a celebration of rebuilding was interrupted. A fire in spring is more devastating than any other."
Ahdak watches from a distance back as Darnak begins his ascent. He merely nods in the Sheriff's suggestion, but his companion, Noctua, flies to the top of the wall and peers down. When the group finally arrives back on the other side of the wall, she hoots at them before launching into a smooth glide that ends on Ahdak's shoulder.
You are not certain, but it almost seems as if the owl is looking at you smugly while preening.
Ahdak looks at the ladder, then the wall. "It would seem your enemies are careless enough that they do not care that they give evidence of their passage." He studies the ladder, curious as to its make and possible origin. Taking a step back, he looks for signs of further tracks or marks of who has passed through.
Human Rogue(Swashbuckler) 1
Meanwhile, a new ship has slipped into a berth at the docks. The smoke rising from the buildings the goblins managed to ignite has been visible to the ship's crew for some time, but with a signal from the harbormaster on duty, the captain ordered the ship to land and make ready to unload cargo and passengers. When inquiries are made, the man on duty informs the ship, "Today's festival day and, wouldn't you know it, goblins raided right during services. Have no fear, though, situation's under control. White Deer is full up, I hear, but the Rusty Dragon may have beds yet, if you're sleeping on land."
Menlo skips down the gangway with an aggressive bounce, landing with his feel planted together and his arms spread; but for all his physical enthusiasm he wears a concerned and somewhat frustrated expression. "Under control the situation may be, but it sounds like the festival is disrupted, and with it my chances to earn an honest coin. I feared when the ship was delayed that it was going to cost me, and now it seems straight certain it has. Is there any chance, good harbormaster, that the day's intended revelries have been extended until tomorrow?"
He ponders for a minute, considering the dock area. "Or perhaps it is other business that I should turn my attention to. These goblins you mention, is there perhaps a bounty on their heads? For it is well known that the Amazing Menlo is as skilled with a blade as with a tumble, throw, or jest."
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Firdall appears on deck with a seabag over his shoulder. looking at the gangplank with distain he casually leaps down to the dock from the ship with feline grace, landing next to Menlo.
Asking the man on duty:
"Would the Rusty Dragon be the right place to find work around here? I'd be interested in bounties, tracking, or just adventurers looking for some extra muscle."
Turning to Menlo, "Would you care to split a room at the inn until we get on our feet? It make the coin last longer, and we've gotten along well enough on the voyage."
Firdall looks back at the sea, then surveys the town while sniffing the air "It will be good to be back on land for a bit. This town looks like a right enough place. Small enough to be friendly and with enough trouble to not be too boring"
Human Rogue (Swashbuckler) 1
"True enough Firdall, and I'd be as happy to save the coin, under the circumstances. Kindly offered, and I accept."
Darnak looks to the owl a moment curiously. Ya know, if I didn't know... Nahhhh. he thinks, simply waving it off and moving on.
"At least it's a start. Where there's a ladder, there are tracks ta be found." After a moment searching, "But I can't seem ta find any."
Down at the Harbor
"Aye, the festival was disrupted . The townsfolk all went to their homes and safety, but there should be fellowship enough at the Rusty Dragon. Plenty of travelers there and the innkeeper likes a good evening's entertainment, particularly tales of adventure. She got a bit of the wanderlust herself a few years back before coming back to town to take over the inn," the harbormaster explains.
"If you are earnest in seeking goblin bounties, you can count on there being one after today. Daviren Hosk the man you want to see about that - he's out at the Goblin Squash Stables - but keep in mind you gotta bring proof of death. He posts up the ears he takes and pays good coin, or so I hear. You might want to take up the matter with Sheriff Hemlock as well. I'm sure he'll want to know about any goblin hunting groups operating out here in Sandpoint territory."
"In the meantime, welcome to Sandpoint," he says as he starts going over cargo and other shipping documents.
Outside the Boneyard
"Well, they were goblins, after all," Sheriff Hemlock says in response to Ahdak's comments about careless evidence. "They managed to steal from the boneyard right in broad daylight. I don't think they were worried about leaving evidence."
Looking about the outside of the wall, quite a bit of the underbrush is disrupted but it is proving devilishly hard to pick out a single set of tracks to analyze much less follow.
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"Well, let's head to the inn, get a room and park our duffle . We can get some grub before we head out to the stables. We can keep an eye out for the Sheriff."
Firdall will quickly ask the harbormaster (or any nearby local if he is too busy) for a description of the Sheriff and directions to the Rusty Dragon and the Goblin Squash Stables. Once Menlo is ready, the two will casually head to the Rust Dragon with Menlo. On the way, Firdall will keep an eye (and nose) out for anything interesting or threatening.
Human Rogue (Swashbuckler) 1
Menlo nods and accompanies Firdall towards the Rusty Dragon. As he walks through the small town, he takes three small leather balls out of a pouch at his side, and juggles them. If anyone shows interest, he'll proclaim "The Amazing Menlo, performing juggling feats to amaze and astound, athletic stunts that defy the senses, and acts of legerdemain that have left audiences mystified from Magnimar to Riddleport! Performing tonight, if the gods so permit."
Frustrated at the lack of finding anything, "Blast it all, Sheriff. We need us a tracker. I don't suppose you've got one on staff, do ya?"
Ahdek nods in agreement with the sheriff, "You are right, of course, Sheriff Hemlock. I do wonder where they found a ladder made with more care then I have ever heard from goblin kind. All I have heard is that they are fit only for destruction, like a raging fire, with no patience for arts demanding skills. If this is so, where did they find a ladder? Perhaps some farmhouse that might indicate from whence came this devious burglar?"
He turns to Darknak, "I am Shoanti, and to be Shoanti it is necessary to be able to read the trail signs that point to hidden dangers ahead. Give me a moment."
Alesta was curious about what Ahdak said.
Mustering her courage, she asked him, "Ahdak...um I mean Mr. Ahdak Speaks-With-Stars? Is tracking a necessary skill amongst the Shoanti? I apologize if it is a stupid question to ask..."
The aasimar blushed a bit, embarrassed with putting herself on the spot.
He turns to Darknak, "I am Shoanti, and to be Shoanti it is necessary to be able to read the trail signs that point to hidden dangers ahead. Give me a moment."
Darnak nods, stepping out of the way to allow the half-orc to work.
Outside the Boneyard
There are goblin tracks all around the ladder, but also the track of someone bigger, someone sized more like a human. While the goblins seem to wander about quite a bit, the human footprints are more disciplined and meander about less. There are both incoming and outgoing tracks, the incoming ones seemingly moving cautiously - the steps are closer together and tend to move from patch of undergrowth to patch of undergrowth. The outgoing tracks seem to be more direct and faster with a longer stride.
Most tracks head in a generally easterly direction, though several peel off after about half a mile or so and head more southerly. The bulk seems to continue mainly eastward with no sign of slowing or otherwise letting up.
Meanwhile Sheriff Hemlock responds to Ahdak's musings about the ladder. "It's definitely not goblin-made but that does little to narrow down our choices. I suspect most of the farms in the region have at least one ladder.
In town with Menlo and Firdall
The harbormaster gives a description of the sheriff as a former Shaonti tribesman, "A no nonsense kind of guy. They say he gave up his tribal membership to join the community here at Sandpoint. Didn't seem to make him happy. His face would probably crack if he smiled," the harbormaster wryly jokes.
The Rusted Dragon is actually quite easy to find from the waterfront. A fairly ostentatious metal dragon, now mostly rusted, looms above the roof of the shop, giving the inn its peculiar name. The inn's proprietor, a Tien woman named Ameiko Kaijitsu, spots the arrival of Menlo and Firdall as she steps out of the kitchen and into the common room. "Looking for rooms or food, gentlemen? I've got a couple of rooms available now, if you're interested. If you're in town for the Swallowtail Festival, you're too late. At least the butterflies were released before the goblins attacked. "
"We'd like a room to share, if you've one that's big enough. And alas, I was here for the festival, intending to perform for my bread. I don't suppose, mistress Kaijitsu, that you've room for another entertainer in the taproom this evening?" Menlo cascades the balls he's holding from one hand to the other by way of explanation.
"I"ve certainly let people play for their supper before, so if you can keep the patrons happy, you're welcome to work it off. But I answer to Ameiko, not Mistress Kaijitsu. That's a school marm name and this isn't the Turandarok Academy."
"I also trade in stories, boys. If you can wow me with a tale of today's excitement, tonight's on the house - you don't even need to perform."
"With the lot of these tracks headin' east, I say that's the way we go also," Darnak offers. "We might as well go for the lot instead of the few."
Sheriff Hemlock looks to the skies and the afternoon sun. "You are free to do as you will, friend dwarf. But my guards have already been in some dangerous fights today. I'll not risk taking them into the country with riled up goblins, not without more information. We've got messengers trying to make contact with Shalelu Andosana. She knows the region's goblins better than any."
Sheriff Hemlock looks to the skies and the afternoon sun. "You are free to do as you will, friend dwarf. But my guards have already been in some dangerous fights today. I'll not risk taking them into the country with riled up goblins, not without more information. We've got messengers trying to make contact with Shalelu Andosana. She knows the region's goblins better than any."
"If she's got information that'll help us catch the buggers then it's probably best we wait 'til we can meet with her. What do the lot of you think?" he asks the others.