The second any of you enter the tavern, applause comes from every direction, as well as handshakes from various men and thanks from various mothers that clutch wide-eyed children, showing them "the heroes of Sandpoint" that saved the town from a goblin attack.
A table has been set aside for you by Ameiko. Six plates of a fresh, traditional Varisian* breakfast await your arrival.
*****
*
Sarvin will eat his breakfast quickly and head out to find the scholars he was speaking with yesterday...
perception to locate
"We didn't do that much... really." Krissina claims quietly.
Digging into her breakfast she frowns slightly as Sarvin devours his food and heads out. "He seems busy."
An assault of sound slammed into Karl as he descended down the stairs in slow and somewhat lazy footsteps, the mercenary had to resist the urge to to snap his shield into his forearm Can't they keep this friendliness till after I've had breakfast He thought as he made his way to the table that was surrounded by familiar faces, not failing to notice the departure of the wizard who helped them in yesterday's battle.
"Indeed he does red, indeed he does" Replied Karl as he took the empty seat next to Krissina, took a fork hostage and began digging into the food that was prepared for them "Did the sheriff show up while I was asleep or maybe this Shalelu person you mentioned yesterday?" He continued before placing another morsel into his mouth.
"I've not seen them, I'll walk you down to the Sheriff's office after breakfast if you like? Shelelu spends a lot of time in the wilds, but I dare see she'll be back soon if she gets wind of the attack."
Nante sets his fork down pointedly, radiating concern. "I would accompany you as well, Krissina. As I said yesterday, just because the Chelish dog can fight does not mean I would walk with my back to him."
Krissina smiles at Nante, "I'm not going to be walking down any dark alleys with him, and I'm sure he's not going to try anything on the way to the Sheriff... still, the company is welcome."
mm. I as well shall accompany you, if you would permit. There is a thing or two I would speak to the sheriff about as well. Good ameiko, the food and drink, as always, was magnifico.
He gives a slight elegant bow and speaks in elvish for his last word.
Nante sets his fork down pointedly, radiating concern. "I would accompany you as well, Krissina. As I said yesterday, just because the Chelish dog can fight does not mean I would walk with my back to him."
Karl sneered at the Shoanti as he finished his plate "That's what I like about ya Nante, you don't trust anyone easily, that's good, thinking like that will keep ya alive" The brown haired bounty hunter downed a glass of water and placed the empty glass next to his plate "Won't win ya a lot of friends, but hey at least you'll live to tell about it eh?" Following those words Karl got up and walked away from the table.
"Food was wonderful, beautiful" He said to Ameiko as he made for the door "I'd love to stay and talk but I've got business to attend to with the good sheriff"
Nante shrugs and dips his bread in the delicious red sauce. "A Chelish dog with his back to me, on the other hand? That, I can abide." He bites into the bread, then motions with his fingers. "Pass the lamb, would you?"
Once she's finished with breakfast Krissina will head over the Sheriff's office with Varian and Nante (& Karl if he's not already gone).
Jovalson is waiting at Sheriff Hemlock's office, eager to ask about Shaelu .
Unless you've somehow disguised yourselves, it is impossible for you to walk through town without being recognized as "The Heroes of Sandpoint". A small number of townsfolk come out to shake your hands, women whisper excitedly whenever you pass by and children dare each other to shake the hands of one of the various heroes that pass.
"Well, this saves me the trouble of looking for you. Say..."[b] he squints, frowning as he looks you over. [b]"Where's your tiefling friend? Hmmm...that's alright. But let me first begin by thanking all of you for the safety of the town. By the time the guard mobilized to full ranks, there were only stragglers left which were easily disposed of. Civillian casualties were low, only four people dead, but that's still four too high for my career..."
He pauses to to take a deep breath before he resumes: "Now is there anything that you would like to say before I continue?"
"Yeah, are Shaelu and the Mayor going to attend this meeting? I suspect Shaelu knows more about the goblins' location, and the mayor has the resources to fund an expedition, rewards, etc., which I'm sure some of the heroes might be interested in."
Knowledge (local)
Nante clears his throat. "In your speech yesterday, you mentioned a fire at the church some time ago." He strokes his chin absently. "I cannot explain why, but the fire and the goblin attack seem to me connected. Can you tell us more of this fire?"
Krissina is in a perpetual state of embarrassment by all the attention en-route.
In response to the sheriff's question, "I'm hardly a hero, I didn't really do anything much."
"Yes, I am here to inquire about the spoils of our battle" Said Karl bluntly as he shrugged his left shoulder and began massaging it with his right hand "I'd say we earned whatever those goblins owned, wouldn't you agree?" He stated, as his grey eyes remained trained on their stoic host.
Varain takes a side glance at karl. Then responds to the sheriff.
Good sheriff, I have merely come to offer my blade should there be any retaliatory attack upon these filthy beasts, and to say that though the people name me a hero, I am merely doing my part. I need no real reward, the bed and food of one of the townsfolk is good for me. Though an extra knife never hurt no one whom travels.
Sheriff responds thusly in response to the order of business presented to him:
@Jovalson: "Unfortunately, both Shaelu and Mayor Kendra are preoccupied with their own business, the former still in her wilderness travels and the later swamped with disaster paperwork from last night's unplanned pyrotechnics. As for an expedition, we would best wait until Shaelu comes back with her weekly report on the goblins."
@Sarvin: "Directions for Quink's house? You can find the old man in his hut right next to the ruins of the Old Light, that hunk of crumbling stone next to the bluff." He points out the window to what appear to be the old ruins of an ancient building.
@Nante: He frowns. "While that does seem like a logical conclusion, there isn't enough clear evidence to support that...but as for the fire, it was a horrific ordeal. Father Zantus' mentor, Ezekiel Tobyn, and his daughter Nualia burned to death in the old cathedral. It was a sad time that no one else wants to dwell on for long...""
@Krissina: A small smile cracks across his face. "You still did better than the rest of the town, what with them screaming their heads off and running amok..."
@Karl: He frowns. "You should have taken the spoils last night. I've already made plans to have any metal of value melted into ingots and miscellaneous trinkets be sold to start the repair funds. If you have any problem with that, mercenary, I suggest you take it up with the Mayor."
@Varian: He smiles. "If only the world were filled with honest souls such as yourself..."
He sighs before getting up with sheafs of paper and a hammer and nails. Walking briskly to a nearby board, he nails the parchment swiftly and deftly. He turns back to you and says, "Come back after lunch. I'm sure that the repair effort will go by quicker and happier with the Heroes of Sandpoint with the various jobs..."
*****
The Quest Board
* 1st Poster
As of this day, Moonday the 23rd of Lamashtan, the Sandpoint Goblin Bounty is reinstated in light of last nights events. For every pair of fresh goblin ears brought to the garrison, 10 Gold Pieces shall be given to the adventurers who do this.
I will be off then, I have matters of lore to discuss with Quink...
As Sarvin heads off he will visit the market stalls for some good bread (like French bread etc...) to take with him on his visit to old light and his fellow scholar...
@Sarvin: The loaf of bread is literally shoved into your arms by the pump woman running the bakery, who chastises you for being to thin and suggesting that you eat more. With a smile on her face, she throws in another one as she sees that your on your way to Quink's residence.
As Sarvin carries the loaves of bread he recognizes that it might also be a good idea to go about purchasing some wine or other fine alcoholic beverage...
Ezekiel Tobyn and Nualia, thinks Nante, committing the names to memory.
"Zantus' mentor, eh? And the fire started just as Zantus was about to deliver his sermon..." He begins to nibble his lip, as he often does when deep in thought. After a moment, he says, "You know Zantus best, Jovalson. Perhaps it is you who should ask him for more information. Or we could do so together."
Nante's eyes align with Hemlock's again. "I have other questions. First, what do you know of Aldern Foxglove?"
You don't have to worry about that, I plan to Karl's face showed nothing but neutrality as he turned from the sheriff and towards the bounty. How many times has he stared at a hung parchment such as this? It surprised him how most bounties were actually were well written and how casually one placed a price on who they wanted dealt with Ten gold, not bad...also if I say the right things to the mayor I can probably get something other than the weapons, and here I thought you were honest Hemlock... Karl then moved to the door in quiet and light steps that conflicted with his large frame "I'll see you around sheriff" He said with a single wave of his left hand, not bother to turn his face as he opened the door with a creek.
No sense in wondering the forests looking for the elf ranger, besides I was never much of a woodsman Karl stepped into the busy streets, returning whatever greetings he received as diplomatically as he could Can't hurt to be popular, not when it means more jobs Karl's continued wanderings finally lead him to the mayor's office.
Time to see what the mayor is like when she isn't giving long and boring speeches...
With a quick farewell to the others (unless anyone tries to get her attention) Krissina ducks out of the Sheriffs office.
Krissina will try and busy herself for the rest of the morning, still being mortally embarrassed whenever anyone praises her.
She'll head over to where the damage to the town was worse, and while she's not skilled at construction or engineering, she's fit and healthy and not afraid of hard work.
She'll return to the Rusty Dragon at lunchtime for some food.
Make a Strength DC to help lift rubble with the men and dump it over Junker's Edge (). There is no set DC, but how well you roll will determine the worker's reaction to your efforts ().
Make a Fortitude Save of 10 to avoid being Nauseated by the smell of goblin blood mixing together with garbage.
Krissina throws herself into the work, even the smell doesn't bother her so much.
The aide scrambles out the door in search of the fictitious guard and the "missing" reports, leaving the door to town hall unguarded and open to you. He shouldn't be back for a long while...
The workers respond positively to your efforts and beam as you work through the mire where others gag and need to sit down. By the time midday and lunch rolls around, you have successfully cleared most of the rubble from the town center. Your reputation as a Hero goes up as one who not only defends the town from monsters, but also helps those affected by its after-effects.
"As much as I value the heritage I was raised in, I no longer put much stock into things I cannot prove to exist. When and only when I see for myself that the house is haunted will I believe that it is, which I won't be doing anytime soon since Aldern is behaving himself."
Sarvin will pay for the wine and then head towards Quinks...
Varian speaks to the sheriff again.
I've got nothing to do, are there any things that need doing? If not would you happen to know if and where the closest gathering area of the goblins is or would be?
*****
@Karl: You hear [b]"Come in!" from behind the door and let yourself inside the room.
The mayor's office is what you would expect from a magistrate, with shelves of books lining the walls and art displayed proudly on mantle hooks and tables. An oil painting of a sunset over Sandpoint hangs behind a lacquered desk, from which Mayor Kendra Dervin is busy inspecting parchments whilst her free hand scribbles onto a ledger.
She looks up from her work and frowns, perplexed. "I was under the imression that I told Lerring to only let Hemlock and Zantus into my office."
*****
"Oh, it's you, Mister Wizard!" he says. "I'm afraid that I wasn't expecting company, but I'll do my best to change paradigms. How can I help you?"
"Was that his name? He seems like a loyal fellow, a tad gullible, but you know what they say...good help is so hard to find" Commented Veryl, as he looked about the office Such a nice place.. Then his eyes fell on the painting of the town he was staying in Hmmm what have we here? Her way of admitting her love for Sandpoint? Or just something to make whoever visits her think that her feelings lie in that direction Karl's left hand moved towards his light beard and his fingers began running through it.
"You see I understand that very well, which is why I am offering you my services mayor Kendra" Began Karl "Now I know that you have the good sheriff and his men to help you protect the city, and I can tell that sheriff Hemlock is quite competent, but he can't be everywhere at once, and neither can you...which is why you need an enforcer, someone who will act on your behalf and leave you with the daunting task of running this town" Karl stopped for a few moments to let the mayor consider what he has said, an enigmatic smile decorating his face.
"I know, that you may have certain reservations about hiring a mercenary, but lets face it, if all your problems could be solved by the local guard, there wouldn't be any heroes of Sandpoint, would there? there wouldn't be any mercenaries either" Explained the brown haired man, a certain bit of amusement could be felt coming from his words, while his eyes focused on the effective leader of the town he stayed in.
Kendra smiles dangerously. "I'll consider your offer, brave warrior, but until I call for you, you have one minute to vacate the town hall before I call for the town guard...starting now."
I bring with me bread and wine I assume you haven't as of yet had lunch?
That is true, lest a warleader or the sort rally them to larger raids. Pray tell, What areas are there frequent, or at least some, reports of goblin sightings? Also, tell me about this haunted house, and where it is located. I can go and search around for you.
"Foxglove will know more of the hauntings, Varian," says Nante. "But that can wait, I think. The goblins are our most pressing concern."
@Nante: You do not see any tattoos visible on his face, but you can see the faint outline of white Shoatni at the edge of his wrist. Anything above is covered by his armor.
@Varian: Hemlock thinks about it for a few seconds before pointing to a spot on the map. "Tickwood is where travelers see them the closest to Sandpoint. I'm sure that there are other areas where they gather, but I'm more concerned about keeping them out. Extermination is a long-term project anyway..."
Quink straightens his clothes and smooths his beard. "Why thank you! I've been too busy making sure my collection of Thassalonian artifacts and books were undamaged by the fires. Praise to Nethys that the knowledge is safe, I suppose. Do come in!"
You step into the small house. It is a four-room home about thirty by thirty feet, with a library study, kitchen, bedroom and living room. The walls are decorated with art from across the world, with some pieces from as far as Tien-Min. Over the fireplace mantle in the living room, a decorated quarterstaff hangs with the inscription "Old Hickory" above a small jar labeled "Ashes of Problem Monsters". Above the staff, a portrait of what appear to be a band of five adventurers grin out of the painting, including a younger Brodert (with a head full of hair) and Miwon the Elven merchant. In the study, shelves line the walls, filled with books on Thassilon and relics (stone etchings, tablets, scrolls and the like) from the ancient empire. That is not to say that there are only Thassilonian artifacts, but pieces of history and culture from around the region and the continent.