As Haelvor heads off on his own, Shaedeen has to fight off the urge to go with him. He'll be fine! the rogue chides herself. It's only you who might be endangered by walking alone through the quiet streets of Sandpoint.
Old habits were hard to drop, however. When she'd been in training with the Tower Girls in Magnimar, the young ladies always traveled in pairs or trios. The thought process was: Two pair of eyes are better than one, and three pair are better than two. Someone always had your back and you had theirs.
Once everyone has conducted their business with Savah, Shaedeen meekly asks Serolt if she can again approach and attempt to pet Regin. As before, she squats down near the firepelt's head, holds out a hand for him to sniff, and then briefly pets his head (twice this time) before giving the great cat a scratch behind one ear.
"Not only are you handsome--you're so smart!" she coos to the firepelt. "Now remember--Shaedeen's the one you don't tear to pieces, okay? Good boy!"
Smiling at Serolt when she rises, Shae asks, "Did I hear something about you buying a round of drinks at the Rusty Dragon?"
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Once everyone has conducted their business with Savah, Shaedeen meekly asks Serolt if she can again approach and attempt to pet Regin. As before, she squats down near the firepelt's head, holds out a hand for him to sniff, and then briefly pets his head (twice this time) before giving the great cat a scratch behind one ear.
"Not only are you handsome--you're so smart!" she coos to the firepelt. "Now remember--Shaedeen's the one you don't tear to pieces, okay? Good boy!"
Serolt very nearly follows Haelvor until Shaedeen corners him, or more specifically, Regin. Regin rubs up against Shaedeen a little and flops over on her back as if inviting a belly rub.
Serolt cautions against it, laughing, "Careful, it's a trap. He'll rake you like as not. It's his way of having a little fun." he shows an arm with several scratches.
Smiling at Serolt when she rises, Shae asks, "Did I hear something about you buying a round of drinks at the Rusty Dragon?"
"Yes, let's!" He heads out to the pub to have something refreshing after their brief sojourn beyond the walls. He invites anyone still about to come along.
Shae chooses food and drink with Serolt and Vanea over a friendly mauling from Regin.
I won't drink or eat too much. I want to check on the theater later, and find if I can be auditionned.
At the table, Shaedeen asks Serolt all about Regin: How old the cat is, did Serolt find and train it from a cub, what does he feed him, is Regin usually allowed inside taverns or does he have to stay outside, etc.
After getting all that information, Shaedeen decides it would probably be rather rude not to ask about Serolt himself, so she makes a vague inquiry about the man's past.
When the subject comes back around to her own past, Shae is short and sweet about it, saying that her parents were murdered in Magnimar and she was put in an orphanage there for a few years. Once she outgrew the orphanage, she lived off her wits for about a year before coming to Sandpoint a week ago. It's pretty obvious the girl's leaving out things while glossing over others.
Shae also says she'd like to accompany Vanea to the theater to see how the Sandpoint version compares to those in Magnimar.
"We can leave a message with Miss Ameiko if Ratimir and Haelvor haven't rejoined us by then."
"What are they putting on Vanea? Or are you simply vying for any part you can manage?" Serolt asks curiously.
He's not one to perform on a stage, or really watch much, but it has fascinated him a little. He's never known a performer before. Well there was that one juggler, but they were crusty.
Uncomfortable talking about himself, he's vague without meaning to be, though he does give Regin's specifics pretty clearly. He's proud of his cat, and considers their relationship to be more of equals than master and pet.
"He helped me realize my potential, out there in the wild. He's a very good boy." he reaches down and scratches Regin behind the ears.
"He accompanies me everywhere, and, in general, where he's not allowed, neither should I be!" he laughs.
I'd be glad to have some company -and onlookers-at the theater. I don't know yet if there is a place there for me. I know I sing well, and I can probably play a part in a show, but that's it... I don't know much about instruments, for example. So I feel I'm lacking in some areas, and I want to be a more well rounded performer. Not too much well-rounded, I still want to fit in my clothes
Shaedeen giggles at Vanea's last comment. "I know the feeling! I haven't eaten this well in years! Being a hero sure has its perks! All this inn food and free bakery goods...if we're not careful, we'll all be too fat to go off chasing goblins! Or bugbears. Not sure I want to chase that fellow."
Zantus is distracted by a young man, waving from the cathedral door, and he beckons the figure forward. It turns out, in fact, to be a boy, around 13 years in age and somewhat out of breath, having apparently run full pelt to the cathedral to deliver his message. After taking a couple of seconds to recover, he bows and addresses Ratimir.
"Master. Sheriff Hemlock sent me. You're to go and meet him at the Dragon, forthwith. Sorry, the Rusty Dragon, I should say, though there's no other inn here called the Dragon, but the Sheriff will have my hide if I don't read it proper."
He looks at Ratimir expectantly. "I can go with you if you wish?"
Shalelu nods to Ratimir and smiles. "You'd better go, then. The good sheriff wouldn't call you unduly. We can continue this conversation later."
===
"Certainly, Miss Andosana. If you want to join us, well, the good lad here will tell you that we're staying at the Dragon—the Rusty one, it seems," he finishes, winking at the boy. "Come and meet us." He bows to Shalelu and Father Zanthus and takes his leave, following the message boy. Ratimir smiles and cheers up the kid. "Boy, lead the way, I think I've completely forgotten how to get there! A good thing the Sheriff sent me an expert on Sandpoint, so I won't waste my time with wrong turns. You first!"
Upon reaching the Rusty Dragon, the cartomancer gives the boy a gold piece before parting ways. He enters the inn and finds the group gathered at the table. With open arms, he walks towards them, looking for an empty seat. "Ah! Supper!"
The boy eagerly leads Ratimir through the backstreets of Sandpoint. Along the way he stops to tell another boy: "I got one of the heroes with me, that sliced up the gobbos. He's not much to look at, but he's one of em for sure. I'm his personal escort, duly appointed!"
Noticing that Ratimir can hear him, he reddens somewhat then moves on, the bounce back in his step. On arrival at the inn, he bows deeply to Ratimir and seems delighted with the gold piece. "Master, thank you!" he says. "I'll buy me a sword and join up with your adventurers when I've gotten good. You see if I won't!"
And with that he dashes off into mill of the afternoon crowd.
===
The sheriff arrives shortly after Ratimir, with several other individuals in tow, including a grim looking Haelvor, carrying a large bundle of books.
There's also a tall man with dark, straggly hair, ill shaven and covered in a patina of dust - the sure sign of someone who's just spent several days on the road without ever having time to tidy himself up. He wears a breastplate, which looks as though it's normally kept polished, and beneath it his clothes have a red and blue official trim. Around his neck is a medallion bearing the city symbol of Magnimar.
Finally, and most incongruously, there's a young woman, downcast and her face apparently stained with dirt and tears. She's carrying a baby, currently asleep.
The sheriff addresses the group. "This here ..." - he points to the man in the breastplate - "... is Deputy Kornasz, up from Magnimar. Apparently, well, their library seems to have been burned down, what was it, three months ago?"
The man in the breastplate nods politely without looking at the sheriff, then quietly says, "four."
"Well, anyway, it seems your associate here, Master Thawne, had something to do with that. And he has to go to Magnimar to, um, face the music, so to speak."
Haelvor stares miserably at the ground. "It's a condition. I told them," he mutters. "Ask Master Quink. And I said I was sorry."
The sheriff puts on his best sympathetic expression. "Now, I think this may take a couple of weeks to sort out. Three weeks tops. Plus the time to get there and back, of course. And, to show my gratitude and as a mark of good faith, I'm sending a man there with some money. He'll find an adviser who can provide council and smooth things over. But it'll need sorting out."
He pauses, and tries to think of something reassuring to say to Haelvor.
"And, as luck would have it, you seem to have plenty to read up on, so you won't be bored."
Shaedeen is shocked at the latest development and again does that funny/annoying thing where her mouth hangs open as her brain searches for the right words to spit forth. None come this time, however; the intimidation factor of facing two lawmen--one from Magnimar, no less--effectively paralyzes the young woman's vocal cords. She finally closes her mouth before looking at Haelvor with sorrow and a sort of helplessness before turning a more hopeful look upon Ratimir. He got her out of a tight spot--maybe he can do the same for Haelvor.
Ratimir catches Shae's glance and stands up, a look of surprise on his face. "Officers, we have spent time with Haelvor, and I can assure you it's all a misunderstanding: I'm yet to meet someone who loves books as much as he does. He'd never burn down a library, and if so, accidents are thus called for a reason." The cartomancer has dealt with lawmen enough to know that these words will not suffice to change their resolve, but still he hopes to imbue them with some a friendly disposition towards the unfortunate half-elf. "But, I can tell it's already decided, and this is more of an explanation than a consultation." He walks up to Haelvor and grabs his shoulders. "I wish you good luck, and trust you'll be returned to Sandpoint in no time. If there's evet anything I can do for you, send word through your adviser and we'll answer your call."
As Ratimir says, "But, I can tell it's already decided," the hope drains from Shaedeen's eyes. As the Varisian adds, "...we'll answer your call," the young woman makes eye contact with the accused half-elf and gives Haelvor a swift but firm nod of solidarity.
Thoughts of a rescue along the long road between Sandpoint and Magnimar are already formulating in Shaedeen's mind. Such an action will likely put a nail in the coffin of her short career as a hero, however. And can I get the others to help out? she wonders doubtfully; they seem to be a law-abiding group in general.
Serolt looks helplessly as Haelvor gives himself up to the authorities. I'd rather be banished from civilization than spend time in prison. he thinks to himself, worried for his newfound companion.
"Is there anything we can do to help you?" he asks him pointedly. He studies him for the response, as well as any hidden meanings.
Haelvor shakes his head. "I ... I don't think so. But thanks to you all. I've sort of known this was coming, or believed it was, anyhow, for a while. I need to go back and put this behind me, I think. I ... er ... look forward to rejoining our little band. I had this new spear thing, I was looking forward to trying it out. Am looking forward, I mean."
He catches Shae's eye, and momentarily returns her gesture, with a forced show of confidence. I'll be all right, I think.
He looks at the deputy and nods, blinking quickly. The deputy picks up the books; Haelvor hefts his pack onto his back.
"Goodbye, my friends," he says. "I'm sure I'll be back soon."
And he turns to leave.
And the voices say: You won't be back. You'll be shut up in a dark place for a long time. Don't worry though; you'll have us for company in there. Oh yes you will.
The deputy opens the door and walks out. Haelvor, head down, follows him.
The door closes behind them.
The sheriff coughs. "So, er, now that's been dealt with, a nasty business I'm sure, but don't worry I'm sure you'll be seeing your friend again soon. Anyhow, now that little bit of business is completed, I need to introduce you to Mistress Barrett here. Mistress Barrett has been having trouble of her own with goblins, isn't that right, madame?"
The woman looks at the sheriff and bursts into tears, waking the baby, who joins in, bawling and screaming.
Ratimir shakes his head. "That's a shame." He picks up a mug of ale and raises it in the air. "Got to give it to Haelvor though, for having the courage to go there and face it upfront. Fortune favors the brave. To Haelvor, and may Desna guide his path!" He takes a sip and puts the mug down, turning to the sheriff and the lady next to him. "More goblins, you say? Do you want us to take a look at it?" He then approaches the woman and her baby. "Calm down, we're here to help." The notion of being a hero is troubling to Ratimir too, but he has a hard time turning away all the people that seem to be placing their hopes on him and his newfound friends.
"To Haelvor," Shaedeen echoes Ratimir's toast half-heartedly, sipping from her mug. She wonders if the part about Haelvor facing up to his troubles was a not-so-subtle dig at her and her penchant for running away.
As the woman and her baby start bawling, Shae's troubled glance turns to the door Haelvor and the Magnimar deputy just exited through. She forces herself to look at the crying woman again as she awaits the details of this new goblin issue.
The woman collapses, crumpling onto a nearby bench.
"Calm, calm," she says to the baby, still sobbing as she speaks.
She turns to the adventurers.
"I ... I need your help," she says.
"We were at the festival, the other day. Me and Alergast and Aeren and little Verah here. And we were enjoying it so. Aeren - that's our little boy - Aeren in particular. But then the goblins came. And they set a cat on fire, and dance around it, oh it must have been five feet from us. And then the fight broke out, and your good selves saved the day, but Aeren, well he went all quiet. He couldn't forget the cat, you see?"
She draws a deep breath.
"And that evening, he was yelping in his sleep. And our dog, Petal, she went into a barking fit. Barked loud enough and long enough to wake all the ghosts in the boneyard, she did. And Alergast - Alergast is my husband - went to check. My Aeren ... he said there was a goblin in the closet. So Alergast, he checks it, and there's nothing there. And an hour later, it all starts again. The crying and the barking and all the noise. And Alergast, well he's on edge as well, so he gets angrier and angrier about it. In the end, when this has happened a few times, he tells little Aeren to 'be a man about it'. And the next time it happens, he doesn't go in, and he doesn't check. But he gets this strange feeling, and he says to me 'what if it's true?'."
"So he gets up and he goes in, finally. And ... and .. and .."
"You'd better finish," says the sheriff. "These people are here to help."
She nods, holds back the sobs for a second.
"And he finds poor Petal, lying there dead with a knife in her ear. And a goblin, a real live goblin, mad and vicious and evil as anything, gnawing at Aeren, trying to bite off his arm! Well, we dragged poor Aeren out - he's at my sisters now, she's looking after him - and Alergast has gone after the goblin. But he's no goblin hunter! He works at the scribe's office near the town walls. Oh, please help us, I'm worried sick for him."
She collapses once more into sobbing, holding the baby close to her as it continues its own howling.
An invisible goblin... are you ready for this? Serolt worries and scolds himself just as quickly, My community comes first, and I will contribute to it all that I can. If I don’t give something back, who will?
Ahhh, so this is 'my' community now huh? You've been here not a week yet and already doing their work for them.
Remember too, I must offer the poor in my community assistance, but I may not do the work for them - instead, I must teach them to contribute to the settlement. It is only through cooperation that a community grows strong.
His eyes flicker to the woman, and wonders how good a boyer she could be. No, someone must care for the children. The husband maybe.
"I'll go. We'll catch up to Alergast and join him in his fight. Show us your home, and which direction your husband took. We'll track him down with a little luck." he smiles comfortingly.
Shaedeen's mouth again drops open as she tries to process the incoming information. Isn't a rogue goblin a job for the town sheriff to deal with himself, rather than waiting to delegate it to the new town heroes? What if the woman's scribe husband dies because of the sheriff's choice to wait? Then another even more disturbing thought crosses the girl's mind: What if making sure Haelvor was taken into custody was more important to Sheriff Hemlock than rescuing an endangered Sandpoint citizen?
Serolt's declaration to help snaps Shae out of her dreadful daydream.
"I'm coming with you," she says resolutely, standing and loading her crossbow.
The woman laughs through the sobs, almost hysterically.
"Thank you, thank you, gentles! I knew you'd help. I knew you were hero types! I told Molly - that's my sister, Molly - I told Molly you'd come, though she said nought would come good of it. Alergast is still in the house, he's pulling all the boards back to find the goblin and kill it. I can show you the way."
The sheriff stops her. "Amele ... Mistress Barrett ... you've had enough today, what with chasing after me and the deputy and all, on our way here. And you've little Verah here to take care of. You should stay here, I'm sure Ameiko can make sure you're seen over to your Molly's. I'll take our heroes over to your house and we'll see what's what."
He gives the heroes a grim look. "Better get over there, then," he says, checking the hilt of his sword over his shoulder.
Vanea is used to short term relationship, so she doesn't understand fully what the fuss is all about with Haelvor having to go.
Besides, she doesn't understand the slang used by the guards, and believes he goes to a concert, as he must "face the music".
Don't worry, Haelvor, I'm sure you will find some good singers. Not as good as myself, of course. When you come back, we'll arrange for a ..private concert, if you want.
She winks playfully and tease the man, but quickly loss interest, as the other says their goodbyes.
Then someone else talks about a goblin in a room. And everyone else seems to forgot about Haelvor.
Vanea follows the others, out of habit more than anything else, singing for herself.
Having entrusted the woman and child to Ameiko, the sheriff leads the group through the town to a small, nondescript house, a couple of street crossings away from the cathedral square.
"This is the Barrett place." nods the sheriff. "You need me with you?"
"Oh, I think we can manage one goblin." Serolt says confidently. I only hope we can! he thinks more critically.
He walks up and knocks politely on the door.
Shaedeen's jaw again drops as Serolt shows some ill-timed manners by actually knocking on the front door of the Barrett home. I suppose if the scribe managed to kill the goblin that's the right move...but if the goblin prevailed, he just warned it of our presence.
"I'll circle the house," she says softly. "If there's a back door, I'll try slipping in there."
As she circumnavigates the small abode, Shae thinks a bit further on Serolt's choice to knock first. Probably not such a bad idea after all, considering that Regin's gonna be right at his heels. A cat that size would unnerve most folks.
Excuse me...
Vanea tries to open the door.
There's no answer to the knock, and when Vanea tries the door it simply but easily creaks open. The house is simple, with a front room a small kitchen area and some stairs going upstairs. It's disturbingly quiet.
Shae, at the back of the house, can see the party entering from the vantage point of a rear window. Given there's no obvious exit from (or entrance to) the upper floor, and given that the window is closed, she rejoins the party and enters via the front.
There's no movement downstairs, nor sound of anything upstairs.
Serolt heads upstairs, but he carefully checks for tracks in the building as he goes. He doesn't expect to find anything, but maybe he'll get lucky.
There are two rooms upstairs. One, large room contains a double bed, a cot and a tin bath behind a screen.
The other room is smaller. It contains a small bed, alongside which is a basket, of the kind a pet dog would use to sleep in. At the far end of the room is a large cupboard, the doors of which are open. Lying on the floor, face down, is the body of an adult human male, surrounded by a drying pool of blood. The top part of the body is within the cupboard's surroundings, as if it had crawled into a hole in the wall behind the cupboard.
The room, like the rest of the house, is eerily silent.
I don't like that...
For once, there seem to be real concern in Vanea's voice, as she takes the man right leg in her hands
The blood is dry, I guess we're too late. Shae, take the other leg, we'll pull him from that hole. Boys, be prepared to.. whatever.
Shaedeen frowns, perhaps because she doesn't like taking orders from Vanea, perhaps because she doesn't like the fact that she'll be momentarily unarmed if she complies, or perhaps for both these reasons. In the end, though, she stows her weapons and grabs hold of the fallen man's left leg, trusting in the menfolk (and Regin) to protect her and Vanea while they're vulnerable.
Serolt draws his bow and provides cover, though he expects none will be needed. He stands ready just in case.
Taking a leg each, Shae and Vanea tug at the body, which twists over as it pulls free of whatever was holding it in the cupboard. The face and much of the front upper torso has been gnawed away, making for a grisly sight.
Almost immediately there emerges from behind the body, having apparently been hidden in the hole behind the cupboard, an enraged and apparently thoroughly insane goblin, shrieking with rage and waving a dagger.
The goblin lunges for Vanea ...
... slicing nastily across her arm.
Shaedeen lets out a startled (perhaps even frightened, but she'll never admit it) "Yeep!" when the goblin leaps out and stabs Vanea. Then fear turns to anger and resolve. She draws her rapier, moves into flanking position, and stabs at the murderous goblin.
for
for
Upon spotting the dead man in the hole, Ratimir shakes his head in desolation. His first thoughts are about Amele Barrett, now widowed—a trauma he is all too familiar with. He is still wondering how to break the news to Mrs. Barrett, later on, when Shae and Vanea move the body, releasing the furious goblin into the room.
Quick on his feet, the cartomancer reaches for a pinch of wool on his pouch and presses it between his fingers, creating a burst of light right in front of the goblin.
Round: 1, Initiative: 18
Weapon Equipped = Bow
Regular Arrows = 13/15
Cold Iron Arrows = 25/25
Conditions = None
ranged: Attack: BAB +0, Dex +4 (rapid shot -2) Damage: +0
melee: Attack: BAB +0, Str +2 Damage: Str +2
Animal Focus (Su/Swift) (1/1m)
Spells (Caster Level 1, Concentration +3)
Zero (12): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mending
First (13): (2/2) Cure Light Wounds, Entangle, Summon Nature’s Ally
Conditions = None
Animal Focus: Bull (+2 Str - applied)
melee: Attack: BAB +1, Dex +5, Size +1 Damage: Str +2
Tricks: Attack x2, Come, Down, Flank, Heel, Sneak
Serolt does his best considering the tight quarters. And his best is pretty poor at this level - shooting into melee and with cover. :)
(point blank, in melee, cover) (point blank)
(point blank, in melee, cover) (point blank)
Regin, spurred by Serolt, dives in and tries to rip the goblin to shreds.
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Hey, I liked this arm, you filthy beast! Don't you dare hitting me! By Calistria, I'll have my vengeance!
Vanea steps back, taking her sword out of its scabbard and trying to bury it into the goblin's head
Regin's jaws close on the deranged goblin, knocking it sideways as Serolt's bolts zing by its head. The goblin, toppling slightly, is scraped from behind by Shae's rapier blow, then finally taken down by Vanea's strike, to the extent that the effect of Ratimir's spell is rendered irrelevant.
Shae decides that the goblin won't be getting up any time soon. She steps out of the way in case anyone wants to try to heal the mauled homeowner or Ratimir chooses to save the goblin for further questioning.
"I'll go get the sheriff," she tells the others before scooting down the stairs and fetching Hemlock.
Serolt wonders why Shaedeen is so keen on getting the law. He shrugs and looks down the hole trying to see where the goblin was hiding - checking to see if there's anything else there.
Meanwhile, Regin sits on his haunches and cleans himself. Clearing the blood off his fur one lick at a time.
Seeing nothing of note he waits for the sheriff.
"Damn goblins..." he mutters to himself.
Shae returns promptly with the sheriff in tow. He eyes the scene grimly.
"Oh," he says. "This isn't good. No it isn't good at all."
"Well, there's nothing much more to be done. It must have been a rogue left behind after the attack. I wonder how many more there might be."
He draws himself up. "Thanks for sorting it out, anyway. The deputies are on their way and they'll ... they'll clean up, I suppose. I'll go and sort things out with his wife and her sister. It's ... um ... they'll not take it easily. You gentles might as well get back to the Dragon. Thanks, thanks again."
He absently waves the party away, his mind obviously very much on how to communicate news of the tragedy to the man's family.
Well, that wasn't too bad, at least for you. I was badly hurted...I'll need some healing.
Vanea holds her bloodied arm, visibly in pain
"Sorry sheriff. By the time we found him, there wasn't anything we could do. Can we help search the town for more? Or do your men have that covered? I don't want to get in your way naturally."
He moves to Vanea's arm, and does what he can to help her while talking with the sheriff.
"Here you go."
He casts Cure Light Wounds, healing:
- - -
Later, he moves dejected back to the inn. "Damn goblins. We need to find out why they're attacking so. They seem awfully organized for goblins attacking the whole village like that, carting off bodies, and the like."
Shaedeen realizes a problem with having run off immediately to fetch the sheriff--now she and her new friends would seem callous and/or greedy if they looted the goblin corpse. Not that being either of those two traits would be anything new to Shaedeen, but...she preferred to keep her callous and greedy moments to herself, not display them to the world...or to a lawman.
She starts to follow Serolt and Regin back to the Rusty Dragon when the Shoanti does some thinking aloud.
"The goblins--or more likely their hidden master--only carted off one body: the high priest from the burned-down cathedral," Shae replies quietly.
Thank you Serolt, I feel better now. Let's hope there are no more hidden goblins now. I wouldn't like to be wounded again.
The group makes its way, glumly, back to the inn. Ameiko is waiting expectantly. She starts pouring out a number of flagons of ale as soon as she sees them come through the door.
"Everything go well?" she says. "There's a visitor here to see you. Well, not a visitor, since he's staying here as well. But he's here to see you anyway." She nods in the direction of one of the tables.
Sitting there is Aldern Foxglove, the aristocrat rescued by the party during the battle against the goblins in the town square. He smiles, obviously aware that he's the subject of the conversation, and motions the group over to his table.