"Um, right. Boar spear. If it...charges...I can what now? Set the spear. To catch the charge. So I can hold the boar. That doesn't sound like a good idea to me, but..."
Nicat will follow the Bear's insane suggestion and buy a boar spear, thinking all the while, If a boar charges me, I am going to roll right out of its way and get it from behind. Tough hides they've got, but everything's got a soft spot.
"You're most welcome, Lady Mayor."
As they are being walked out, Chavana feels a little better for the events of the past day or so. She's glad to have found new friends, although some are a little more... angry than others. She heads back to the Rusty Dragon, and heads back to her room quietly (after wishing Darpan a good evening, of course!). She has a great deal to think about.
You all have an uneventful evening at least in comparison to last night, finally able to get a decent nights rest. Though recent events such as the missing priests remains may weigh heavy on your thoughts. You wake to a clear, new morning. A great day to go hunting.
Darpan finishes his morning devotions, then takes time to clean and ready his bow for today's hunt. He check the arrows, ensures he has an extra string, and then gives the bow a light waxing, to protect it from any water they might encounter. Once completed, he heads downstairs for a frugal breakfast.
Chavana prepares her crossbow, morningstar, and straps into her armor. She also ensures that, while only trail rations, she has enough food for everyone in her backpack. Once she finishes her preparations and earlier than normal prayers, she heads down for bread and cheese for breakfast, seeing Darpan, she brightens a bit.
"Good morning, Darpan. This should be an interesting day, to say the least."
She tilts her head and smiles warmly.
"I'm also hoping Mr. Bear and Nicat are on time. Time out of the city seems like it would be good for Mr. Bear. I'm not so sure for myself, Nicat, or yourself, but Mr. Bear could certainly use the time out. That, and he seemed very excited to hunt. This should be a nice outlet for him."
As you head out of the tavern you find Aldern waiting for you. He has 7 horses and a pony. Two burly men, dressed in studded leather accompany Aldern. "Ah good morning all! I'm extremely excited about our hunt." He motions to his other companions "This is Rufus and Argil, they are my assistants." Turning to Chavana he smiles "Are we ready then?"
Nicat smiles and shakes his head, thinking The rest of us could disappear in a puff of smoke - or get run down by a boar, I suppose - and as long as Chavana's here in her pretty dress, Foxglove wouldn't notice a thing. Ah, well, I don't need a nobleman's notice, as long as Desna's got her eye on me today.
"I'm ready to go!" he answers, holding his new spear out somewhat awkwardly. "And armed for boar!"
Darpan moves to hold Chavana's horse while she mounts. He ignores the mount Aldern has for him, and moves to stay by Chavana's side, his bow out and ready.
Nodding, Chavana turns and smiles at Darpan, she mounts the horse and replies to Lord Foxglove.
"We are ready. Let's go find ourselves a bore!"
Heading off to the Tickwood at an easy pace Aldern starts asking questions "So what brought you all to Sandpoint? Have you known each other long?"
"Being born brought me to Sandpoint. Wasn't until I left town that I met these fine folks while on the road, travelling with a caravan. So I've known the Bear for a while now, Darpan and Chavana I met more recently. But we make a Desna-blessed team, don't you think?"
After a few minutes, Nicat slows his horse a bit to ride close by Chavana's side and asks quietly, "I couldn't quite tell if you meant we should go find a bore or a boar. 'Cuz I think we've already found one of them..."
Overhearing Nicats comment, Darpan almost chokes as he tries not to laugh!
Chavana smiles demurely at Nicat, but does not answer his question.
Speaking loud enough for Lord Foxglove to hear, she answers his question.
"I was born in Korvosa but found it to be less than to my liking. I helped on caravans, eventually making my way to Windsong Abbey. I met Darpan there and we've been close ever since. We came to Sandpoint to view the opening of the temple, something to give people hope, a great thing for my faith in Milani. We met Nicat, Mr. Bear, and a few others, before settling down to being just four strong."
While Chavana is answering Lord Foxglove, she's going to size him up as far as preparations for the hunt, as well as the two 'assistants.'
"So, Aldern, how long have your assistants been working with you? What kind of trade do you bring to Sandpoint?"
Aldern nods to Nicat but listens more intently to Chavana. "Quite the journey it sounds like. As for my assistants they have been with me for a few months now. I hire people as I need them for my business. I trade in various things and have done well enough for myself I suppose."
Now that the conversation has turned to him he takes the opportunity to relay quite a few stories about the high life in Magnimar and how he has all the important contacts and works with all these prestigous people. After some time of him dronning on as he is about to start up another story one of his men points out a game trail, likely of a boar. You dismount to track the beast on foot. After some time you come to a clearing with some bush on the other side, where you hear the sounds of an animal, you assume your prey in the bushes. Aldern looks to you all "After you, what sort of host would I be were I not to let you take the glory of the kill."
Making a point of talking to Ulrich and being very respectful of his abilities, knowing that he has spent much more time in the wild, she talks and asks the important question.
"Mr. Bear, I believe this would be closer to your area of expertise. What do you think?"
I have no idea how to hunt a boar!
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Nodding deeply to the nobleman, the half-orc hefts his long-spear ready to plant it to take a charge from a distance. "Come Nicat, be prepared to catch a charge on that spear as I showed you. If it frees itself from your spear, then we go to blades. I will keep it busy, while you harry the flanks."
With silk scarves swirling behind him the Bear stalks forward confidently after his prey.
Darpan keeps his bow at the ready, just in case something goes wrong, or the spearmen need assistance.
The boar hears you coming from the other side of the brush, cornered, it charges forward trying to charge someone on it's way to escape.
It charges toward Nicat who manages to set his boar spear just in time for the boar to spear itself and fall limp to the ground.
Aldern rushes over seeing the event "Ah wonderful!" He looks back to his two companions and slaps one on the shoulder "See, what did I tell you, mighty heroes if I ever saw one!" He starts to clap and his companions, grudgingly follow suit. Even with Nicat killing the beast Aldern moves over to Chavana "A wonderful job ineed. We shall feast well tonight and have marvelous stories to tell!"
Nicat is a bit stunned at his easy success with the spear, but quickly sees the cause of it. "Once again, Desna has smiled upon me! That boar didn't stand a chance against a spear blessed by the Song of the Spheres!"
Watching the Bear rig his quarry for transport, Nicat continues, obviously puffed up with pride, "It will be delicious to eat boar that I slew myself!"
Darpan moves over to the group and bows to Nicat.
"A well placed thrust. Efficient and merciful. Well done."
Chavana stands there, mouth agape at the events that transpired.
"Wow. That... that was... wow. Nicely done Nicat and Mr. Bear!"
She dismounts and moves to help the Bear spit the boar onto the spear.
You take some time to get the boar mounted and one of Aldern's assistants takes it with him on the horse. Heading back to town Aldern starts recounting the tail of their hunt embelishing a number of details to include him helping root out the boar for Nicat's glorious kill. Getting back to town, you ride to the Rusty Dragon where he has his assistants take to boar into Ameiko and her halfling assistant Bethana to prepare for a feast.
Aldern pays for a few rounds of drinks on his behalf and everyone takes advantage of the mini-party going on at the tavern as Ameiko sings songs of her adventures. As Ameiko does some work in the kitchen, and Bethana continues to clean or see to remaining customers a surly visitor slams the tavern’s door open and bellows out a sharp-tongued command in a strange language. "到底在哪兒是我的女兒嗎?"
The other patrons of the bar, seem to recognize him and grow very quiet and interested in their meals, an almost eeiry quite falls over the establishment. Bethana rushes back into the kitchen while the man scans the room as if looking for someone.
Chavana watches the man, looking at him suspiciously. He hasn't brought harm to any patrons, so she stays at her table with the rest of the group at the moment.
Bully. I wonder who he is...
She whispers to Nicat "Who's the angry man?"
Darpan starts at the sound of anger, and begins to get out of his seat, reaching for his bow as he does. He keeps his eyes on the newcomer, waiting to see how others react to his outburst.
Nicat looks up in alarm as the door is slammed, and he is not calmed any by the man's angry tone. As he sees that other locals recognize the man, Nicat looks more closely at him to see if he knows him from his life in Sandpoint.
Nicat leans over the table and signals his friends to do the same, saying quietly, "That's Ameiko's dad, Lonjiku Kaijitsu. He's very rich - owns the glassworks, maybe the biggest business in Sandpoint, and lives in a big manor outside of town. And he's not happy about something."
Reaching her hand across the table to Darpan, Chavana gives him a pained expresssion.
"Well, Nicat says this guy's not a troublemaker. Sit down, please."
Chavana warily watches Ameiko's father, not happy about his tone and certainly not happy that he silenced a relatively happy place.
Darpan reluctantly sit, but keeps watch on the elder Kaijitsu.
After a few moments of scanning the room, he meets eyes with your group, noticing Darpan sitting back down he stomps over to your table wagging his finger out you all "Ah if it isn't the heroes of Sandpoint." he rolls his eyes as and continues "You know you've endagered this whole town and the people that live here with your ill-advised antics against the goblins. You should have left the defense of the town to the city guard and other trained professionals!" He looks at Nicat specifically.
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Insulted, Ulrich growls deeply and stands up. "You would have us let the goblins rampage and allowed innocent blood to be spilled? I think maybe your anger has you saying things you do not mean old man. Insulting those you have no quarrel with. Let us not make a scene that you will regret once you have calmed down. There is no need for anyone to get... Angry."
At Ulrich's words Lonjiku moves to him to give him a piece of his mind. Just after he starts Ameiko rushes into the front room, a ladle dripping with soup in her hand, to find out what all the ruckus is about.
The two argue in Minkaian for a moment as Lonjiku seems to be issuing ultimatums and Ameiko aparently telling him to leave, pointing the laddle at the door.
Chavana stands and softly places her hand onto Ulrich's shoulderm, reaching up to do so a bit.
"No one will be happy with everything we do. What we must do is give people hope that people like us will do the right thing when the time comes, Ulrich. Come, sit, I believe he has been settled."
Chavana sits.
"While those with money hide in their castles, those without starve and suffer. We must give those that starve and suffer hope, for without hope there is only suffering, even for those who hide in their castles. With hope there is joy, there is happiness, there is fun to be had.
Aldern, thank you for providing us with a reward. We have used a portion of it to help repair the city and help with injuries suffered in the town. It gives me hope that some will reward such as you have and, indirectly or directly, helped to repair the town. I believe our feast should be in celebration of that."
Chavana sits, across the table from Lord Foxglove, next to Darpan and Ulrich.
Darpan watches the two Kaijitsu argue. If it looks like the old man might resort to violence, he is ready to spring up and stop him.
Enraged, Lonjiku tries to grab Ameiko by the hair to drag her from the tavern, but she dodges and brains him with her soupy ladle, spattering fish stock and potatoes all over his hair and outfit. After he sputters for a moment, he finds his voice and utters, “You’re as dead to me as your mother!” before storming out of the tavern.
Ameiko, regaining her composure comes over to the rest of you and bows "I appologize for my father, he can be rather rash and are family is...less than perfect."
Chavana watches Lonjiku leave the building and nearly jumps out of her seat when he grabs her before seeing Ameiko deftly take care of the problem.
"Not all of our parents are so... nice. And you aren't the one to apologize, he shouild be. I accept your apology for the interruption in your fine business, but he owes everyone in the building an apology for such an outburst. I hope that he didn't mean what he said to you. That's an awful thing to say to one's daughter. I believe he owes you an apology most of all. As a matter of fact, I'm going to tell him such."
GM:
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Ulrich remains standing and stares out the door for a moment, his body rigid. He then laughs out loud, the tension leaving him, and says, "Deft with a ladle you are my hostess! There is no need for apology when you handle an insult with such a tasteful response. Let us have drinks!" And the Bear sits laughing quietly.
"Excuse me for a moment, I'm going to go... umm... powder my nose. I'll be right back."
Chavana steps out of the bar.
GM:
"I've never met a man who had a respectable business and his daughter has run a respectable business as well. I don't know what your issue is, but you owe the Rusty Dragon's patrons an apology, and your daughter an apology most of all.
What kind of parent does that? Are you mad? You are the one shaming your family, and it is my sincere hope you make amends for such with your daughter most of all!"
As she departs, Darpan quietly slips out and follows the girl, keeping to the shadows and watching. If the man attempts to harm her, Darpan will move against him.
Stealth:
Lonjiku swivels around at the Chavana's words "What do you know you foolish girl?" He waves his hand dismissively and turns to continue walking "Hurry back to your little party I have more important matters to attend to."
Lonjiku strolls off with an air of disregard hurrying out of sight.
As he hurries off, she follows for a bit.
"I don't know which you are, a fool or a coward. Family is most important, everything else is a far second. Either way, I feel sorry for you."
Chavana turns around to head back to the Rusty Dragon and the rest of the party.
I don't believe him. That is the most uncaring father I've ever seen.
Darpan slips back into the tavern after Chavana.
Stealth:
As Chavana and Darpan follow Lonjiku, Nicat responds to Ameiko, ”It’s okay, everyone’s family is a bit nuts – if you don’t mind my saying so. And the Bear is right, you’ve got a good hand with that ladle – almost as quick as my mother was… If you don’t mind my asking, what was your father so upset about?”
Ameiko shrugs "It is hard to say with him, though ever since the goblin attack he has been in a tizzy." She shakes her head and walks off toward the kitchen.
Aldern chimes in "Well.... seems like the mood has been sufficiently killed. I'll be heading out in a day or so anyway, so I should probably retire so I can prepare for my trip." He looks around at the others and nods to them as he heads out he catches Chavana on her way back into the tavern. He bows to her and smiles "It was a pleasure to meet you. Should you find yourself in Magnimar please don't hesitate to look me up, I'll give you a night to remember."
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Having had a few ales, the Bear has a warm smile on his face and the interruption is already forgotten. He speaks in his thick Varasian accent, "So my friends... what now? Shall we venture forth to right wrongs, rescue maidens, and discover vast treasures as happens in the stories? I for one think we work well together and it would be a good life we are well suited for."
Darpan slips back into the tavern and takes his seat. He nods in agreement to Ulrich's comment.
"We still do not know what happened to the body from the crypt, or why the goblins attacked. Too many questions and not enough answers. Perhaps we should discover some of these answers!"