Celestra listens carefully to the room beyond the hanging stone door, but she is careful not to touch the door yet.
I wonder how well guarded this place is? At least, I think we still have the element of surprise.
Perception
I walk up to the halfling. Good afternoon. My name is Ailetha. I was directed to this fine establishment by a very pleasant guard. I am looking for Ms. Bethana or the matron of the establishment, Ms. Amieko, if either might be about.
Once, and assuming, the halfling introduces herself as Bethana.
I am looking for a room for a few nights as I am long on the road and hoping to stay here in Sandpoint. I was also hoping to learn from yourself or Ms. Amieko about the adventurers which are apparently taking the war to the goblins, or so I have heard. Having both a sword and a knack for stories, I would love the chance to speak with Ms. Amieko about these adventurers.
Finally, I do not wish to interpose, but I understand that Ms. Amieko is going through a difficult time after suffering some tragedy. I have a fair knowledge of stories and songs from many lands, I would enjoy the chance to speak with her. I find that frequently a story or song about a person who has experienced similar tragedy can help a person recover.
Diplomacy:
@ Ailetha:
The halfling woman listens attentively and nods several times, when you have finished she gestures towards the taproom and says
Come in my dear, we surely have enough rooms, so you can stay here as long as you wish.
While you walk in and Bethana fetches a galss of berry juice for you, she goes on
Ameiko is still in the Kaijitsu Mansion. I haven't spoken to her for three days now, but I hope that she will visit me at the beginning of next week.
And even though you are a wanderer you have already heard of our Sandpoint Saviours? They are just awesome, tough, strong, brave, handsome, every inch heroes! Oh forgive me, but when I think about them I always start romanticising, tee-hee.
@ Dungeoneers:
You can't hear anything, you guess the room beyond the door is empty.
"I think there is something you just don't get in the puzzle here. I can forgive it, because, and you'll just have to pardon my forgetting formality and title here for a minute, but you are bit wet behind the ears and have spent too long in a position of privelige protected fom the hard realities of life. Now you can complain that so far a couple of people have had a rough day and I have pout the frighteners on them, and sure that migth be a little scary and make them cry a little... but at the end of the journey so what? They feel a bit upset? They were put out for a while as their nerves untangled?"
"The truth of the matter is that aside from being a bit upset for a while they are very much alive and in one piece. There might even be a short moment of pain as they are roughly handled, but lets compare that to a dirk in the guts or a real blade to the head, which would you prefer? being yelled at until your bladder betrayed you, or simply be stabbed until you were dead? Show me the bruises on either of em."
Harry lets that sink in...
"Now lets consider what this lot did, they staged an organised raid on Sandpoint, with people killed horribly in cold blood with no regard for man woman or child, a girl barely in her teens bled to death in my arms from a Goblin gutting, part orchestrated by that woman you are caring for and worrying about me being scary at. She'd not have had a moments pause cutting off your head, or simply throwing you to the Goblins, so spare me the goodwill chatter about playing nice... these are rough and monstrous people who have chosen to abandon humanity and commit crimes against decent people that would make aRiddleport Pirate Captain go green in sickened disgust. To be blunt the only reason any of that lot back there have a head is because Sir Karlan here represents Sandpoint law, and Kanyk and I have agreed to abide by it. That Vankaskerin fellow is a Riddleporter, and he knows full well the Law there says if he is caught with arms in defence of the enemy his life is forfeit... so no wonder he was happy to go along with us eh?"
"If you see me torturing people on the rack, killing the innocents out on a walk by the harbour, or nipping off the heads of family pets then you can feel free to come chastise me on my own invitation... but until then, accept this is bloody and mean business, and this lot are the bloodiest and meanest of the bunch. Those good people of Sandpoint rely on me to keep them from harm, those good people of Sandpoint are good people, and I am the large growling dog that is set on keeping those good folk from harm. I do the horrible things so that they don't have to."
Harry thinks for a second.
"Ma'am"
Harry pushes through the next door.
”Well I’m certainly glad to hear that you are not inclined to use the rack and nip heads off of the pets! However, just because I have not killed a score of people and do not torture individuals, does not mean that I am completely green behind the ears. I admit, I am not familiar with your ways of Riddleport, but I have seen my home destroyed by ogres and my parents killed and I understand that there is great evil in this land and a time to use my blade. However, you should show a little more appreciation that I can still see things with a lens for compassion and forgiveness."
"I am not saying that your methods have no place. I am just saying that we could try some diplomatic means before we go in and start threatening every living creature we find down here. Sometimes, we might be able to get more information from a person if they feel as if they are being helpful. Coercion may have its place, but it is never going to be as effective as if they were compelled to help us by their own volition. Perhaps next time you should let me see what I can do with a little charm. If the results don’t yield much, then you can have a try with your approach. I just think we should try and hold ourselves to a higher standard of conduct and not just immediately start acting like brutes. . . Sir!
And moving onwards. Heading towards that door nualia is supposed to be opening.
Cool, rugged and cute, hard to beat that.
So what happened to Ms. Amieko? From the way that the guard described it, something terrible must have occurred.
.
Also, tell me more about these adventurers? Where did they come from and where are they now?
Ignoring Harry and Celestra's argument Kanyk moves out slightly ahead of the party, moving as quietly as possible and trying not to wince at the raised voices behind him and the echoes that bounced around the deserted rooms.
@ Ailetha:
Bethana frowns for a moment, then she replies in a low voice
Ameiko was...abducted by her brother, Tsuto and his goblin companions...I...I don't know what she experienced but as she witnessed how Tsuto killed her father...he dipped him into molten glass, her...she...I...
bethana stops speaking at this point, staring at the next wall.
@ Kanyk:
Two Pillars support the ceiling here. In many places the stone walls, floor, and ceiling are caked with ancient grime and soot. Alcoves in the north and south wall contain partially damaged statues of a man in robes holding a book and a glaive. The entire room is canted towards the west and whatever ancient upheaval caused the complex to tilt knocked the statues from their bases so that they now lean against the southern walls of their alcoves.
Celestra drops the argument and follows in after Kanyk getting back to the business at hand.
"What do you think caused this giant upheaval? Was there an earthquake recently or do you think this was from a long time ago?"
My goodness. Her own brother did that to her father? That is horrible. I can understand why she has gone into hiding. I hope that my father did not suffer the same fate. I fled Cheliax several months ago when me and my friends were found by some Hellknights. While I was able to hide from the Hellknights, several of my friends were caught and, after the mockery the Cheliax devils call a trial, horribly killed. When I saw what happened to them, I immediately fled my homeland and hope that my father and friends did not suffer any horrors because of my support of good from the disciples of Asmodeus.
Here, let me sing a short song for you which might help.
I will sing a short happy song to help improve her morale.
Perform(sing):
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Harry mutters under his breath "Diplomacy? 'Excuse me sir, I know you are a stone blooded killer who just attacked a village with no quarter for no good reason, and though I am armed to the eye teeth and invading your lair as part of a bloody assault do you reckon we could have a cup of tea and a polite chat about you seeing the error of your ways and obligingly laying down your arms and showing us where all the treasure is and the location of your allies? There's a good sport...' the number I have seen killed stupidly who thought a flag of parley was going to be honoured..."
Harry just shakes his head unbelievingly.
With no warning to consider otherwise, Harry pushes down towards Kanyk.
Celestra, feeling undervalued, misunderstood and exasperated, realizes that Harry has a completely different outlook on these matters and feels that perhaps it is futile to argue further. With resignation and a hint of anger in her voice, she replies,"Ok, Ok, Mr. Handsome. I see your point. They are killers that will show no mercy and have no interest in diplomacy. It is obvious that I need to take lessons in hardening my inner soul and learn to crush my enemy before being crushed myself. I will look to you to see an example on how to do that! Thank you, Sir, for taking the time to explain all of this to me! I feel as though I have a much better understanding now. I will try not to take up any more of your time! Go ahead and lead us onward!"
@ Dungeoneers:
Waiting for Kanyk or Karlan to lead on through the door or further investigation of the room.
@ Ailetha:
Bethana looks terrified as she hears of your friend's fatal encounter with Chelaxian jurisdiction.
The next Chelaxian outpost from here is Korvosa, but I heard a lot of positive reports of the hellknight's work from there, maybe they are not everywhere that bad?
Her mood gets better again as she listens to your song and after you have finished there is a single tear of emotion in her right eye, she quickly wipes away.
Oh...I...you must be hungry and I have just made a very good apple pie with rum soaked raisins and cream, interested?
The short hallway (E3) rises in a slope to the east. Five feet from the western door, the floor is polished and shiny, unlike the dusty floor elsewhere. A pair of stone statues depicting stern men wielding glaives stand in alcoves north and south of this section of the hallway. At the eastern end stand two stone doors, their faces carved with with strange runes. Between the doors is a rthird alcove in which a partially collapsed statue sits. The top half of the statue is missing, leaving behind a ragged stump of a torso.
Five feet from the western door, the floor is polished and shiny, unlike the dusty floor elsewhere. A pair of stone statues depicting stern men wielding glaives stand in alcoves north and south of this section of the hallway.
"It looks as if even the statues are out for blood. I would not be surprised if these glaive wielders tried to sever us in half as we pass by them. We may even look like the torso at the end of the hallway if we are not careful."
Celestra casts Detect Magic upon the two statues and the smooth section of floor.
Mmmm, fresh apple pie sounds great. I have been on the road for a while and have not had a good fresh apple pie for a while. So what else is going on in the town? I hear that you have recently had some incursions with goblins, isn't that rather unusual here in Sandpoint? And where are these adventurers I have heard about? I would like to meet them, I bet there would be some great songs and stories from their adventures.
@ Dungeoneers:
Waiting for Kanyk or Karlan to lead on through the door or further investigation of the room.
Gonnawait on celestra's word on the magic then press on.
Harry examines it, maybe a mundane explanation... does it slide? Different material? Trapped?
Perception
@ Dungeoneers:
Indeed, there is a faint magical aura around the statues.
@ Ailetha:
Bethana puts a piece of cake and a large heap of cream on a plate and shoves it over to you
Oh yeah, we had a goblin raid exactly on the day, the new cathedral was consecrated. It was terrible! This ghastly monsters totally freaked out leaving a path of destruction behind them. Hadn't Harry, Nieve, Kanyk and Ser Karlan been here, the town would now lie in smouldering ruins. By defending the town they became the Sandpoint Saviours and courageously as they are, they brought the fight to the goblins. I guess they are exactly now storming the throne room of the goblin king.
@ Harry:
Doesn't look trapped.
Karlan cautiously moves across the room to the door on the other side adn listens to the room beyond.
As Karlan steps between the two statues, the tile he just set his foot on sinks down and the two statues slash with their wicked glaive at the knight
who is hit by a massive strike.
He turns to absorb the impact of the first glaive only to get torn across the back by the other letting out a grunt and stepping off the tile.
AC:18 (previously 20 with ward)
HP: 14/22
With a rattling sound the statues slwoly retake their initial positions, after Karlan has passed them.
Leaving a small trail of blood as he stumbles to the other side KArlan calls back. "Found the trap."
Celestra smiles smugly at her prediction, but chooses not say anything about it.
"I'm sure if I simply jumped over the pressure plate, the statues would not activate. Stand back, I am going to take running jump."
Acrobatics Check to do a running long jump to clear the plate.
However, underestimating the weight of her armor, she misjudges the distance and lands upon the smooth plate activating the statues again.
Fortunately, her armor protects her enough that she narrowly avoids taking damage from the blades.
Harry instead simply moves to the edge of the plate and jumps over onto the statue and tries to determine whether there is a way to disable the trap itsef, or simply bind the statue so it cant swing (ie tie the blade in place).
Cool - these Sandpoint Saviors must be pretty tough, I would love to meet them. Is it common to be attacked by goblins here? I thought that the goblins in this area usually did not attack human settlements, and that was why Sandpoint does not have a formal wall or gates.
.
Do you think that there is any way I could track down the Sandpoint Saviors so that I can recount their assault on the goblin stronghold. This sounds like an epic adventure in this area and I would love to be the person to first sing of it.
I take a bite of the pie.
Mmmm, this tastes even better than the description, which was pretty good. Have you ever entered in any baking or cooking competitions? I am sure that you would place near or at the top in the baking competition.
Kanyk takes a couple of steps back and then leaps across the patch of clean floor, landing with a thump on the other side.
"Could we not just smash the statue arms? Stone is pretty brittle when it's all carved like that."
"Just checking that now cousin" Harry replies from the statue...
While Harry examines the statues Kanyk moves further down the corridor to the two doors leading north and south. Checking their map he listens carefully at the north door before pushing it open with a boot and stepping through.
@ Ailetha:
Bethana looks at her cake like a mother at her baby
Oh yeah, home in Fiddleville, I took part in several competitions, yet was often beaten by a halfling from far away, Bobo was his name, a chef of impressive talents....the Saviours? I think they went north, following the Lost Coast Road, you should be able to find them, I mean, if they didn't leave the road.
@ Dungeoneers:
@ Harry:
You think you could topple the statues over, the impact would surely shatter them and if not, they were still useless.
@ Kanyk:
You don't hear anything from beyond either door.
Hmmm, is there anyone in town who would know where they went. Or do you know if there are any goblin encampments near the North Road? I am guessing that they will not be taking the fight to the goblins by just staying on the road.
If she names someone who would be good to contact, I will see if I can find them and ask about where exactly the Saviors went.
"Kanyk, I don't know what lies beyond the northern door. According to the map, it looks like a living chamber of sorts, but if we are to make haste to Nualia before she summons this evil fiend that was spoken of, we must proceed south through this door on the right. I do not know if we are too late as it is!"
@ Ailetha:
The sheriff might know what path they exactly chose, and I'm sure there are a lot of goblin encampments north of Devil's Platter. I think someone mentioned the Thistletop area, that would be north of the Lost Coast Road once you reach the Nettlewood.
Thank you very much Bethana, I shall see if I can find the Sheriff or the trail of the Saviors.
I put my stuff in my room and then head out into the town to find the sheriff.
Once/if I find him: Good day Mr. Sheriff. My name is Ailetha. I am a wandering bard recently arrived in your fine town only to discover that a group of adventurers, who have been named the Sandpoint Saviors, is currently on some quest to attack a nearby goblin stronghold. Would you per chance know where they went? I would love the chance to catch up with them and record their exploits so that the adventures of the Sandpoint Saviors will be recorded in song and script.
As you leave the inn, Bethana shouts something about Beware, he is a very grumpy...
And indeed, as you meet the sheriff in front of the garrison, he glowers at two kids playing nearby...upon your address, he turns to you and eyes you curiously
Oh, welcome to Sandpoint, m'lady. you are quite surprised by his unexpected friendliness...The saviours are on a secret mission, I cannot share details about...but...would you like a tour of the town instead?
"Right let's deal with thsi quickly." Taking a deep breath and briefly focusing his faith to heal his wound he goes through the south door.
Lay on hands
Kanyk steps away from the northern door, moving across the corridor to follow the injured knight southward. He jogs quickly down the short corridor beyond the door and listens for a few moments at the next door before pushing it open.
Harry sees the others have abandoned any concern for stealth and have now taken a direct approach... he levers the statue over until it topples and breaks quickly before rushing to join them. Axe at the ready.
Celestra follows the others south through the door. She has her rapier drawn and is on high alert for any danger.
Perception
"Nieve, my friend, are you still behind me watching my back?"
"Nieve, my friend, are you still behind me watching my back?"
"Right behind you miss Zomesco"
harry would have caught up to her after ensuring the statue was down, Thumper following him.
Well, if I am not going to be able to write about the current exploits of the Saviors, a tour of the town would be great.
While walking - So, do you have any idea what has led to this recent series of tragedies and bizarre events? I understand that the town was first attacked by goblins and that a day or so later the owner of the Rusty Dragon's father was horrifically murdered by his own son.
Diplomacy:
@ Dungeoneers:
The southern wing of this L-shaped hallway ends at a pair of stone carved doors with the depictions of two skeletons reaching out to clutch a skull between them, while to the east the hallway narrows down to frame a circular carving of what seems to be an immense stack of gold coins that rises from floor to ceiling. The edges of these coins are carved with spiky runes.
@ Ailetha:
The sheriff guides you around, shows you the lumbermill, some taverns, the orphanage and school, the new cathedral and other buildings of note like the townhall and the garrison.
Oh, you heard about that? Yeah, Tsuto Kaijitsu, Ameiko Kaijitsu's brother, a bastard, fathered by a travelling elf, murdered his "father"...who never loved him. A tragic family story. Strangely Tsuto had made deals with the goblin tribes to support him. I think he wanted to see the whole city pay for what his father did to him.
Harry stares a little agape at the coins, but he didn't come here for that, he came here for cold revenge... he instead looks for doorways that might lead to its unleashing.
If Nieve has left the group, would you want me to change to a mage/wizard/sorcerer of some type? Or stick with the bard - I am good either way.
Thank you very much sheriff, I should get back to the Rusty Dragon and get cleaned up. I have been on the road for a while. But before I go, is there anything that I could help you with? I feel that any community that allows me to stay within its protection and entertain its people is a place I should try to help.