Isme preens herself while waiting, chattering in Varisian to Chaise every now and then.
Chaise detects some goodies.
Tsuto's cloak is made of thick grey cotton, and its inside is lined with odd runes in plain black thread. Spectrum recognizes that the runes translate as 'protection, forbearance, defense, salvation'. The cloak emanates a powerful aura of magical defense.
Tsuto is wearing two belts. On the outside is one that is thin, wide and made of simple brown leather. Beneath it is a second belt, made of aged blackened leather, fastened with a steel buckle shaped like a grinning, monstrous face (anyone who has K. Religion, roll it please). The belt emanates strength-intensifying magics.
"These are very valuable items," Chaise murmurs to himself. He peers at the design of the inner belt, feeling that it's familiar. "I wonder how he got them."
Chaise recognizes the belt's insignia to be that of Lamashtu, the god of all that is monstrous.
"This is Lamashtu's symbol," Chaise says, holding up the blackened belt after confirming that it's safe. "It might have something to do with the man responsible for the goblins."
Wyam assists Noro (as opposed to having Noro assist him) in securing the goblins and Tsuto in the jail, and stays there to make sure they don't start any trouble while Noro pokes around the office.
He didn't know Ameiko or the family situation with Tsuto, so preferred to wait for someone more familiar with it to handle any questioning.
Once he was convinced that Amiko was stable, Spectrum went to speak to the mayor and address the tragedy of the Glassworks.
Chaise
Chaise leaves the glassworks carrying Tsuto's belongings, following Spectrum. Checking that she reaches her bed okay, he returns to his own room and scans Tsuto's items for magic, finding several items of considerable power.
Spectrum
Hoisting Ameiko up, Spectrum carries her through the glassworks, being careful to avert her eyes from the corpse of her father. Returning to the inn, the other employees gasp and crowd around their mistress momentarily before Spectrum wordlessly asks them for some space. Taking her to her room, Spectrum settles her into bed and checks her pulse and temperature and wounds- she is stable. Leaving, he heads to the mayor's office. By this time the working day is almost over and she is preparing to head to her home. She raises an eyebrow and asks "Greetings, sir Spectrum; back from the Glassworks, might I assume? An aide of mine heard some gossip about the glassworks being barred up with smoke coming out of the chimney- unusual, to be sure, but when I heard you fellows had gone to examine it I knew all would be well. Now, how might I help you?"
Wyam and Noro
Noro and Wyam collect their prisoners and carry or drag them to the sheriff's lock-up. The already-caught goblin prisoners seem unmoved as more goblins are thrown in with them, and Tsuto is (presumably) given a cell to himself.
Searching the sheriff's desk, Noro is able to find in the bottom drawer two glass bottles of different make and brand. One is the foulest and strongest moonshine available, and the other is a good vintage of local wines. Both are about 5/6ths full.
In the jail cell, Wyam tosses the goblins into a second cell and puts Tsuto in manacles in a third cell. He then proceeds to carefully go through all of Tsuto's clothing and other equipment to make sure he didn't have any hidden tools or weapons. At this point, he made sure that the valuable equipment Chaise had found on him earlier was locked into a desk drawer in a room out of sight of the prisoners.
Satisfied that he wouldn't be able to escape, he settled down to "man his post" and keep an eye on the prisoners while waiting for what he guessed would be Spectrum's inevitable return to question Tsuto.
"Miss Amiko's brother seems to have been in league with the goblins. They killed the workers and Mister Lonjiku. He has been captured and is being held in the jail."
Wyam, searching through Tsuto's clothes, discovers a small, unmarked black book hidden in his sleeve.
Mayor Kendra is visibly shocked. "Amiko's... brother? Tsuto? Gods, I never thought he would come back after what happened previously with his father. And goblins...?!" Closing her eyes for a moment, she composes herself. "Now... now. Tsuto has been captured. We had no warning of his work, with the goblins or at the glassworks. I will leave how you deal with Tsuto up to you, our temporary sheriffs, but I would strongly suggest interrogating him. We do not know what is ahead." Putting down her bags, Kendra pulls her overcoat tighter around her shoulders. "I and my aides will organize a party, including the undertakers, to retrieve the bodies of the poor workers. Can I assume that the glassworks is safe? Are there any goblins left?"
Wyam does not open the book, but puts it in the drawer with Tsuto's other equipment.
"I do not believe so, but goblins are quite adept at hiding. I would recommend your party go well armed."
The mayor nods and, if you have nothing more to say, heads out to a grim evening's work.
Chaise remains at the inn, making sure Ameiko recovers. In the meantime, he asks those around him about Tsuto, also planning to ask Ameiko when she wakes about her brother.
After speaking with the mayor, Spectrum walks back to the Rusty Dragon and resumes his vigil over Amiko.
Ten minutes after drinking deeply from the bottle, Noro suddenly feels herself grow strangely weaker; she's not drunk (yet), this is something else.
Spectrum returns to the Rusty Dragon and his Vigil over Ameiko. As the sun reaches the horizon, she blearily opens her eyes and yawns, stretching- and contorting her face in a grimace once the stretching pulls at her wounds painfully. Opening her eyes she looks at you blankly for a moment before it all rushes back. Sitting up against the headboard, she takes a few deep breathes to assert herself and looks at you. "Okay. Fill me in, Spectrum. And thanks, in case I forget later."
|
Ten minutes after drinking deeply from the bottle, Noro suddenly feels herself grow strangely weaker; she's not drunk (yet), this is something else.
Noro just relaxes a bit in the sheriff's office relishing the thought of finally being on this side of the bars for a chamnge. then suddenly it hits her she feels weak and fall to the floor.
Damn, what wash in that shtuff? Wyam! shomething ish wrong here she calls to him apparently a bit wobbly but not drunk possibly more like drugged.
"Okay. Fill me in, Spectrum. And thanks, in case I forget later."
Spectrum smiles "I was hoping you could enlighten me. We know little. I found the note on your bed and we made to the glassworks as quickly as possible. We found goblins and many dead. In the basement we found you being held captive by your brother. He is now being held in the jail."
"What did he want?"
Ameiko sighs and half-closes her eyes. "In short? My brother is an overgrown evil child and obsessed with disproportionate retribution. He... he sent me a letter yesterday morning, asking me to come see him; I've always felt that I never did enough for him, enough to protect him; so I went. I was glad to see me at firs but then that bast..." she pauses for a moment and continues "But then my brother told me how he was behind the goblin attack, and hinted that he's got 'big plans' for Sandpoint in the future; plans I don't want to be in town for. He asked me to join him at Thistletop, with the rest of his goblins, join him in his plans. So I punched his tooth out, pressed my blade to his neck and ordered the rest of the goblins to let em free and let me take him. But they just piled on me anyway and I couldn't... I couldn't kill him. Urgh. Damned sentimentality, even if he is my brother..." She sighs and finishes with "The goblins overcame me, tied me up and stuck me in that closet you found me in. You know the rest."
Sitting up, she gives a weak smile and turns to Spectrum. "Anyway. You should let me father come see that I'm alright. I'm sure he's worried sick, though he wouldn't show it. Of course I'm also sure he's ready to crow about being right about Tsuto all along... urgh."
"Noro, what's going on?" Wyam asked, looking up from idly sharpening his dagger to see her wobble and fall.
Spectrum's usual stoic mask cracks and he swallows trying to speak. It takes him a long moment to find the words.
"Your father... He... The goblins. They killed him, Amiko. We didn't get there in time to save him."
Ameiko sighs and half-covers her eyes with a hand. "I... I know. Tsuto said so as I was being dragged away." Looking up at you sadly, she continues "Sorry for making you think you were the first to tell me, but I... I just really wanted it to be a lie. He is- he was my father." Pulling aside the sheets, Ameiko stands, wincing slightly as her wounds are tugged on but steady on her feet. "Let me alone now if you would, my friend. I need some time alone to mourn my father... and complete some funeral rituals of his own land he taught me after mother died. I'll thank you more on the morning; I owe you a great deal."
Spectrum nods and quietly makes his way out of the room, wishing he could do more.
As Spectrum closes the door, Array hops down off his shoulder and onto the bed, curling up like a cat, comforting Amiko silently as only animals can.
Ameiko smiles and scratches Array under his neck as she begins her rituals, involving small sticks ofincense and muttered words in another language.
Lying down on the ground, Noro feels the strength drain out of her slowly before the effect ceases.
Chaise appears from nearby as Spectrum exits. "I heard she was awake but didn't want to disturb you two. Is there anything I can do?" His next words are somewhat hesitant. "And when you feel up to it, perhaps we can gather the others and share what information there is so we can piece the puzzle together."
"I am afraid not. She has lost her father. She needs time to grieve. Let us check on the others and see if they have learned anything from our prisoner."
"Noro!"
Wyam bolts over to his new friend, and tries healing her of whatever seems to be wrong.
Regardless of effect, Wyam lays her out with a cushion and blanket in an attempt to make her comfortable until someone came by to provide further assistance (or she recovered).
Wyam's divine aid sadly does not help terribly much, or at all.
Glimmer hopped down and poked Noro with the end of a wing. What happened to miss Noro? I thought she liked drinking things that smelled bad?"
Spectrum stood in the jail eyeing Tsuto with look of flat consideration. He hadn't said much since he and Chaise had arrived, but he was clearly thinking about something.
When Wyam and a staggering, bleary eyed Noro joined them, Spectrum gave their resident pugilist a sidelong look and a sigh.
"How much did she have?" he said pulling out a small mortar and pestle and unrolling a leather case full of pouches of herbs and powders.