The ride to Low Town and the delicious food and comfortable beds of the Rusty Dragon beckons to you. As you ride down the once gay, but now forlorn streets, the town has made quite a transition from that morning. The crowds have evaporated, market stalls are closed, fires still crackle and smolder here and there. A few bloodstains mar the streets.
As you enter the cozy common room of the Dragon, a cheer goes up from the patrons. Even Ameiko gets in the act: "Free room and board for a week, for the Heroes of Sandpoint! Hurrah!" She then breaks into a heroic ballad about knights slaying dragons. Morris is kept busy bringing you free drinks purchased by the other customers. Bethany clucks over you like a mother hen, making sure everything you need is readily available.
You settle into comfortable seats or take restful baths awaiting the arrival of Aldern Foxglove for dinner.
After a brief wait, Cadas is shown to Father Zanuts. The man looks harried and lines of worry crease his face, his hair is unkempt and his cassock stained with blood.
"Yes, the Sherriff has already been here asking me about any missing relics," he says in a weary voice. "I have Brother Phineas looking in the vault and reliquary, but on first inspection, they do not seem to have been broken into. In fact, there is no evidence the goblins came into the Cathedral at all. If we find something amiss, we will send word to the Sherriff, but for now, we are all quite busy tending to wounded and comforting those who suffered more grievous loss."
His temper seems short, but it is likely stress and not his nature.
At first Cadas is pleased that nothing seems to be missing from the cathedral, but then a worried look crosses her face and she speculates What if they brought something in and not took something out. Strange times these are. You let me know if this servant of Gozreh can be of service. And with that she bows out, leaving the Father Zantus to his duties.
She has one remaining channel for the day and will try to find a group of wounded to use it on on the way back. She still has two first level spells in reserve if something bad happens before morning. After she makes for the Dragog and tries to clean up before dinner.
Rogar takes an hour to clean and rebraid his hair and beard. Carefully weaving coins and trinkets into the braid. He then dresses in his mail and tosses a tunic with his family colors and shield.
As he looks for the others, he hears Ameiko's claim. Immediately, he gives up his search and goes to the bar.
"A couple of ales, if you don't mind."
Smoke navigates a seat near the front of the Dragon, in a booth nearest where Ameiko is performing. He enjoys the attention of the other patrons, but appreciates more the quiet calm and dim light of the booth; removing some of his armor, he treats his wounds the best he can, wrapping them in old cloth or rags negotiated from Bethany and Morris.
Mostly, he keeps his eyes on Ameiko. She seemed to be coming on strong. Was it just a game or was she just like that? Smoke wasn't really sure. He gave it some thinking while he watched her play and flit about the bar.
.
He dozes lightly as the night moves on, not quite catching on that everyone else is having dinner with a noble. Even if he did, Smoke doesn't own other clothes. It's leathers and breeches or just breeches. One let his Skoan-Quah tattoo show, and the other even more. There was no 'noble' wear for the son of a Shoanti priestess and a Sczarni magician.
When Tinuviel arrives at the inn, she sits with the others and orders a small glass of sherry. She stares at it sadly until the little man finishes his story. When he arrives at the crescendo of his tale, she takes a tiny sip of sherry and resumes looking at it.
Smoke sense of Ameiko is that she is quite flirty and would perhaps have a fling with him but she is not looking for a commitment. She smils as he sits near the front.
Robin enthralls the crowd with his larger than life stories if the battle. Even though most know they aren't really true, they hang on his words and laugh along with his exaggerated antics.
The rest of change from battle gear to evening dress and as you return to the common room, Foxglove arrives. He has a retinue of 3 servants and they secure a private dining room in the back. He orders a fine Chelish wine and soon you are all seated enjoying the first course.
"Welcome my friends! I am so happy you have decided to join me. Let us break bread while you tell me all about yourselves. How did Desna bring you to Sandpoint? What are your future plans?" He seems to speak to all of you, but his eyes return again and again to [b]Cadas.
The meal is well-prepared and delicious. Foxglove's servants pour the wine, and it flows freely, as you tell your stories.
After the introductions, Foxglove moves onto compliment all of you on your on-field prowess. He especially calls on Rogar's weapon free combat style ("Could you teach me to do that?"), Smoke's charging offensive approach ("Aren't you tired from all that running?"), and Cadas' gigantic stature ("The most amazing thing I ever saw...").
He laughs at Robin's antics and teases Tinuviel about her lack of accuracy with her acid darts. All in all, he does a good job of engaging you in conversation, but he continually comes back to Cadas, leaning towards her and looking at her when others are talking. He seems to be quite taken with her.
Just as the dessert is served, one of the servants whispers in his ear. Foxglove cries out:"Aha! A capital idea Mortimer! A capital idea indeed. That solves my problem; such an elegant solution." Barely restraining his excitement he turns back to the table. "My friends, Mortimer here has a most excellent suggestion. I am scheduled to go out to the Tickwood tomorrow morning for a boar hunt before returning to my townhouse in Magnimar. The plans are all made and the supplies prepared, but I was wondering." Again, he casts his eyes at the Shoanti priestess. "Would you all like to join me on this hunt? It really is great sport and it would allow us all to spend more time together. It would be my great honor to be your host, and I really must insist. We leave around mid-morning from Tanner's Bridge and will be back before dusk. I have all the spears and supplies and mounts prepared. Come now, you must join me."
As you stumble wearily to your chambers led by the motherly halfling hostess, you can't wait for sleep to overtake and refresh you for another day. Not long after hitting the pillow, Desna blesses you with fantastic dreams of far-away places so you don't have to re-live the terrifying scenes that actually occurred here today. Your sleep is deep and contented.
End 1 Rova
Foxglove, to Smoke, is how he imagines people who have too much money and not enough sense. Not to be rude, but the guy kind of didn't understand. The fact that he'd bring up Tinuviel's rotten aim like a joke they could share solidified it: This guy must've felt like they weren't in a life-or-death do-or-die situation at all. His idolization insulted the degree of danger they were in.
But hell, hunting. "Sure! Well, unless... something else comes up." He casts a glance to Cadas and Ameiko in short order, then wonders if, now more than ever, the Sheriff might entertain his talk of defense-- he could even help out with the rebuilding process.
Smoke didn't mind that Ameiko saw him that way, he just hoped it might be a little more. He preferred the shy, simple kinds of girls to the ones who would hurl themselves at you like boulders. Down here, it seemed, there were only two kinds of girls: the kinds who threw themselves at you, like the gals in the Pixie's Kitten, and boulders, like Cadas.
But hell, she was hot, right? He mulled over how best to romance her, idealizing his own cleverness in a million different situations that all ended with her shouting "Take me, hero!" and dragging him into a kiss.
Smoke had only kissed, what, two girls before? And one half didn't count. There wasn't a way that he didn't imagine she wouldn't be disappointed.
But hell, he might as well try.
Monsieur Foxglove's teasing makes Tinuviel feel even smaller. As soon as she feels it is not a faux pas, she excuses herself and heads for bed.
At dinner Cadas tries not to sit by Foxglove. She is warm to him but is not at all romantically interested in the man and is not worldly enough to consider leading him on for some other reason. She gives him a strong negative stare when he teases Tinuviel and later finds a chance to praise the wizard for her bravery and willingness to fight the goblin attackers even though she was not armed or armored or trained in the arts of battle, not stating the obvious, that Foxglove, given similar choices chose to cower and not fight.
At the invite to the hunt she looks to the others and then responds Only if the sheriff release us. And you must ask him yourself or we will not be able to go. I have given my word the the sheriff that I am his to command until this danger has passed.
When Tinuviel excuses herself Cadas will stand and thank their host, explain that she must see to her friend, who for some reason, Cadas shoots Foxglove a hard look, is not feeling well. She will check on the wounded ranger and cast a healing spell on her, before going to comfort Tinuviel and turning in.
On hearing Floxglove's jape at the Elf Wizard, he interjected with his answer to the Noble's request about learning how to wield a shield in battle.
"A noble dwarf is trained from birth to use hammer and shield, both as veapons and both as protection," Rogar responds. "By adulthood it is as natural to swing your shield in battle as it is to shape stone. I could no more teach an adult human how to vield a shield like I do as I could teach you to always carry your veapon on your side."
The intent of his comments were clear. A coward should not make jabs at those willing to fight when he cowers behind a stone.
But his distaste for the Noble, did not hinder Rogar's taste for fine food. And Ameiko's cooking was superb.
"A meal vorthy of the Halls of Janderhoff," He tells Ameiko as she passes. "If you vere but a bit shorter and had dwarven hips. I'd pay your father a double dowry to make you my vife."
The ale has made the usual stand-offsih dwarf, jovial and he genuinely has begun to enjoy the company of this motley crew. He eats and drinks twice what those he sits with drinks, though seems no worse for wear. He notices the Wizard take her leave and his mood turns slightly sour. The noble has insulted his shield sister, a grave mistake in dwarven company. So when the noble mentions a hunt.
"I suppose ve are to take the place of your loyal hound, to stand between you and the vild boar, while you thrust your spear at it from horseback, vell away from it's sharp tusks?"
He takes a long drink of ale as he stares at Foxglove.
Foxglove is quite taken aback as you all decline his offer (I'm guessing Smoke would stand with the group?) of a hunting trip. To him it's the highest of sporting fun, and the concerns of Sandpoint don't really intrude in his world.
He meant no offense to Tinuviel so is also surprised when she withdraws and at the icy atmosphere created by his rash words.
He stammers in reply to Robin's challenge, and makes some excuse about the plans for the hunt already being in place.
He tries to make eye contact and start conversation with Cadas inquiring about the Shoanti and also about Gozreh. When it's obvious he's going to be shut down, he calls for the check and stands, excusing himself with the idea that it's an early morning after all...
Ameiko catches the compliment thrown by Rogar. "If you were 2 feet taller and shaved that beard, maybe I'd take you up on it." she says good-naturedly. She comes over and plants a big smacking kiss on the dwarf's cheek, giggles and heads to the stage.
Boo is asleep, which she has been told knits the raveled sleeve of care. Kvothe is snoring, which, since she is a raven, she does quietly but with enthusiasm.
Dawn, 2 Rova 4707 Absalom Reckoning
Much much sooner than you'd prefer, a knock on the door announces that you have a visitor in the common room. Bethany whispers:"It's the Sherriff, and he's here on business and in a mood."
As you rise, the battle of the day before tells in your joints and muscles. Working out the soreness and stiffness, you make your way down to see Sherrff Hemlock tucking into a hearty breakfast.
Morris lays out eggs and sausges and fresh bread for all of you as the Sherriff speaks:
"Followed up on leads from last night, and thought you'd like to hear the update."
The large Shoanti talks more between bites of the breakfast which is quite exquisite.
"Zantus tore the Cathedral 'part lookin' for any goblin theivery, but didna see any. However early this mornin', the sextant, Naffer Vosk, reported odd sounds out in the Boneyard. Turns out that old Father Tobyn's vault is standing there ajar, and they're thinking maybe more gobbies'r holed up inside."
He looks up and scans your faces. "I'm headed over there ta check it out now, if it's not too early, wanta come along? I could use a hand from some Heroes 'bout now."
"Go 'head and get geared up while I have a little more grub. I'll wait until you're all ready to head up there."
Smoke nods. "Interesting. I'll go get my stuff."
It takes him all of five minutes to pick up his greatsword, strap into his leathers and walk back downstairs. In that time, he lets himself think about what the Sheriff said.
Rogar yawns at the news and scratches his wild, unbraided beard.
"I'll go get my shield and javelins," He grunts. He stands to leave but not before grabbing a few sausages off the sheriff's plate and tossing them in his gullet.
"Damn that voman can cook," He says loud enough for Ameiko to hear. He walks quickly to catch up to Smoke and says much quieter. "Damnit boy, I don't know vhat you are vaiting for, but a voman like that doesn't vait forever."
Fifteen minutes later the Dwarf returns. Dressed in his scale, his shield brightly burnished and strapped to his shoulder, and three javelins strapped to his back.
"Vell Sheriff, vhen do ve leave?"
Tinuviel memorizes her spells. She does not leave her room without her full repertoire. When she is done she grabs an apple and stands ready to go to the nasty creepy icky graveyard in full daylight where the grass grows and the birds sing. Then she remembers that graveyards are typically rather nice during the day.
Cadas, up with the sun to prepare her spells, would not have been awoken by the knock on her door unless it was very early indeed. She listens to the sheriff as she eats a light breakfast and quickly agrees to go. She will again go check on the ranger before asking Tinuviel to assist her into her armor. Fully armed and armored, and proudly displaying her holy symbol of Gozreh, she makes her way downstairs ready to go.
Tinuviel will of course help Cadas with her armour.
The Sherriff says to Robin:"Aye, could be tha' but what they'd want with some old bones is the question. More likely, its some kids playing a prank, and worst case, a loose goblin hidin' in there."
Once you are all together, the Sherriff enjoins you to walk up to High Town with him. Along the way, he approaches Cadas, conversing in their native tongue:
At the top of the hill, you arrive at the gate to the Boneyard. There, Father Zantus and a twisted and crippled acolyte with a lurching gait, await.
Zantus introduces you to Naffer Vosk, the Cathedral sextant. The Sherriff asks Vosk to explain what he saw in the graveyard. "I were doin' my mornin' chores in the yard yonder an' saw bunches o' them little footprints up an' down the path. Followin' em, they led right ta ol' Father Tobyn's tomb. Comin' closer, I seen the door open, an' somethin' bangin' roun' in there. I reckoned it were them wee goblins still hangin' 'round, an' I ain't no fighter no more, so I fetched the Father here, who sent word ta the Sher'f and now heres you all are."
The Sherriff orders Zantus and the sextant back inside but asks them to lock the Boneyard gate first. He also askes them to bar the churchside entrance to the burial area, effectively closing off the cemetery which is surrounded by an 8-foot high stone wall, with the Cathedral and town walls making up the other sides.
It is an hour after dawn, and the light isn't quite full, but provides enough to see by without penalty. Hemlock beckons to a 30x30' square mauseoleum. It is to the west, set against the back wall of the Yard, and the entrance is turned away from you, on the north side. (See the Sandpoint map. Area 2 is the Boneyard, the tomb in question is farthest to the NorthWest side, near the town wall end tower.)
Anyone looking at or listening at the tomb:
Smoke looks around for a moment. It seems like he's thinking, examining, but then he breaks into a yawn and says "Is that one it, there?", pointing at the closest mausoleum.
Boo sends her feathered friend for a little flutter around the place.
...and apparently they are both too bleary eyed to see much of anything.
Rogar steps forward and looks over the tomb before getting low to examine the tracks.
He quickly raises his hand motioning for everyone to be silent. With a finger pressed to his lips, he turns to his companions. He mouths.
"More than goblins."
He then quickly looks down at the tracks to see if he can get any more information.
He points at the goblin tracks, careful not to make a sound. and raises 6 then 8 fingers. He then points to the perhaps overlooked human tracks and raises 1 finger. He points in the direction the goblin tracks go off in, then points back at the tomb again as he mouths.
"No goblins."
You have me. But I do not claim to be exalted. Wait and let my actions decide if I deserve such praise. Perhaps I will win Gozreh's favor, but I am young yet and not yet proven. Smoke will stay. she predicts. These others seen true, but I only met they yesterday and cannot speak for them my brother. At least you have us all this morning. She smiles at the man obviously enjoying being among her people.
She grows quite at the dwarf's warning, but seeing how dark the crypt is quickly enchants her shield to shed light.
Smoke prepares himself, drawing his greatsword and holding it tightly.
Surprise them? Do you think we still have that? he mouths back to Rogar, taking a closer position.
"Not sure," The dwarf mouths. "Shock and awe."
He then looks at his companions, points to himself and Smoke and raises a finger. He points to Cadas and raises a second finger. Then points to the two casters and raises a third, before pointing to Hemlock and holding up his hand as if to say stay.
"Agreed?" He mouths to them.
The cleric nods efficiently and motions for action.
Hemlock raises his eyebrow at you as if to say: 'No need to treat me like a defenseless babe' but understands the need for stealth and silence and consents with a nod. He does draw his longsword, just in case.
Kvothe perches on top of the tomb.
Rogar attempts to ease his way to the door and open it more to look inside.
Stealth
Good Guys
Bad Guys
Round 1 - Desecrated Vault
The dwarf ranger pushes on the vault door, which opens easily but with a loud creak. The bright sunlight floods into the crypt and reveals 2 armor-clad skeletons wielding scimitars. One of the skeletons shrieks out loud and begins to advance, but the other is slower to react.
Initiative Order
22 Robin
18 Cadas
16 Red Skeleton
12 Blue Skeleton (surprised)
11 Rogar
11 Tinuviel
4 Smoke
Boo moves to the spot indicated and waits.
Rogar takes a half-step through the door right toward skeletal warrior before him.
"Return to your well earned slumber warriors of old," He shouts as he swings his shield at the skeleton in front of him. His left arm braches behind the shield as he throws all his weight behind his shield.