As he watches his new new companions leave, he calls after them:
"So we'll meet back here in the morning? Shortly after dawn?"
Waiting for a response and a perhaps a belated invitation to share an accommodation ...I don't take up much space..., the gnome hears only the murmur of voices in the common room, weary and subdued after a long day of fear and violence. Drained himself, Zafzalurg waves down a server and asks for just one more finger of that dwarfish whiskey before enquiring after a room.
The last few remaining patrons take their final drinks for the night and file out as Zaf sips on his own glass then heads for the warm bed that's been prepared for him upstairs.
After an uneventful nights rest, you wake to see the brightness of the dawn creeping into the sky as overhead rain patters across the roof. The smells of sausage, bacon, biscuits and eggs pulls you further from your beds.
The inn is mostly quiet at this hour, but Ameiko bustles from one table to the next getting things ready for anyone who ventures in.
"Good morning to you, hope you slept well enough. Just sit down right here and we'll get you some breakfast."
"Good morning, Ameiko - thanks for the room; I'm a bit sore, but I think that's something I'm going to have to get used to. Something to get the day started sounds great."
He greets his companions as they show up at the table. "Good morning! Unless there's any other urgent business, I suggest we be on the coast road as soon as possible. I plan on visiting Savah and maybe the general store as soon as I'm done here." He picks up a sausage and shoves the whole thing in his mouth. "Let's meet at the north gate when we're ready to go - agreed?"
He pauses for a moment, asking Cayden Cailean for strength to face another day, and drains his tankard. He shakes it out, affixes it to his pack and readies himself to leave the Inn, hoping it's not the last time he sees the place.
Hieronymous comes downstairs feeling unstoppable after a good nights sleep. He eats with Garrokmal, Zaf and Katarina.
" I agree Garrokmal, better to get going before the rain washes every sign of our enemies away."
He devours all his food. When Ameiko passes by the table he stands, bows, and thanks her for the hospitality and meal. When Garrokmal readies himself to leave, Hieroymous gathers his belongings as well and smiles at his friends. "Not the last meal we'll be sharing together!"
He wanders out the door and proceeds toward the general store to buy supplies.
"Delicious, delicious, delicious. Normally free meals taste that way, but your establishment has given my mouth cause to sing."
Zafzalurg plops another hunk of plump sausage in his mouth, then clears his throat around the morsel.
"However, it is early and I think my friends here would prefer to enjoy their meal in silence."
The gnome grins and shovels the last of the meal into his mouth. He leaves a silver on the table as thanks and trots after the half-orc. He doesn't need to buy much, but he's forgotten where to find Savah's. Plus, he likes the company.
With a basket full of goods on one arm, his daughter, the girl from the Inn gets a delighted smile as she turns to see you.
You wander through the aisles of the shop and see that has a wide variety of items. Everything from Farm equipment, weapons, tack, tools, furniture, food, even a case of homemade pies.
As you fill a small basket with items you want to purchase a female voice startles you from behind, "Hi! Can I help you with anything?" You turn to see the redhead smiling at you.
You enter and Savah sets behind the nearby counter. Beside her sets a well used armor cleaning kit and she appears to be polishing the rust from a dented breastplate. She gives you a big smile as she enters and says, "I knew you lot would be back, you have the smell of adventure about you. How can I help you?" She lays the breastplate and steel wool aside.
"Savah! Thank you... There have been moments since I was here last when I wasn't sure I'd be back, myself! This hide armor has served me well while I trained and hunted wildlife in the forest, but we're up against something deadly. I'd like a set of scale mail if you have one, and you can take my hide armor from me. Hang onto it - someday it'll be worth a fortune because it belonged to Garrokmal, Hero of Sandpoint!" He grins and laughs heartily.
"I'm also in need of a warhammer. If we come up against any more skeletons like we did yesterday, I'll want a weapon I can count on to turn them to dust."
Feeling better about his monster-fighting prospects, Garrok stops very briefly in the hut that serves as his home in Sandpoint since he left his parents' house. Quite a dump compared to a nice room at an inn... I'll have to keep up this adventuring business! He removes his handaxe from his belt and places it on a small table. It also pays better than chopping wood - as long as I don't get myself killed, I may never need this little axe again.
Deciding he should augment his rations as well, he heads to the General Store. There he picks up four more trail rations and sorts it all in his pack. Food for a week - should be more than enough... I hope.
His supplies complete, he heads to the north gate and waits for his companions to head out into the wilderness and an uncertain future.
Hieronymous flushes red when he turns around and sees the redhead from the bar. He starts out quiet but then gets control of his voice back as he tries to recover from her intimidating beauty.
"Um, er, hi there, that is..." he looks around a bit and says "Well, I could use... do you work here?" He then proceeds to imagine himself kicking himself over how awkward he must seem.
"Sorry, of course you do, please forgive me, I find myself a bit out of sorts all of a sudden, I am not sure that I have ever met someone that could put me off my game with just a look! Of course, I mean that in the most complimentary of ways. Name's Hieronymous, whom do I have the pleasure of meeting on such a beautiful day?" He then imagines himself stabbing himself in the foot, Beautiful day indeed, it's raining outside! He looks out the window at the rain, and then quickly looks back at her and puts on his best smile.
Hieronymous stands there, a bit bewildered. Guess I better give her some space, and besides, I have places to be just now.
He finishes his shopping and approaches the man at the front of the store with:
Trail rations (14 days)
Hemp rope (50')
Empty sacks (2)
Shovel
Dagger
"Hi there, name's Hieronymous, I think I've got everything I need here" He sets the basket down. "Does it usually rain all day?"
He waits for Vin to tell him how much his supplies will cost.
Assuming nothing more than small talk happens, Hieronymous looks around one last time hoping to catch a glimpse of Shayliss, and then exits the shop and heads for the north gate.
Wow she is pretty, I might have just found a new place to call home!
Garrokmal and Zafzalurg mill about near the north gate, waiting for their companions to catch up... "Quite a welcome you've had to our little town, eh? My own arrival here was no less violent, as it happens. Yup - always something going on in these parts."
He adjusts his gear and looks north along the road in anticipation.
"Indeed. There has been no shortage of distractions or danger in fair Sandpoint. Still better than waiting for the beets to take root as my father says. You say your own arrival was equally marred by trouble?"
Zafzalrug plunks his backpack to the ground and prepares to listen intently.
Everyone arrives at the old North Gate at relatively the same time. The morning rain and the slight chill of the early hour effect you little as the excitement at your journey rises. The road is muddy and has turned into a bit of a quagmire at the entrance to the town, where many feet have churned it up. To the North, the road stretches and into the wilds.
Hieronymous arrives at the north gate lugging a heavier backpack, feeling ready to go. He sees Garrockmal, Zaf and Katarina there, and can't help smiling, he feels comfortable with these people.
"I know it's only been a day, but I feel like I've known you all for quite some time, this is sure to be a good day."
He looks around and spreads his arms, as if the rain and mud weren't there, as if he were standing in a field of flowers.
"Shall we go?", he looks up the road expectantly with a gleam in his eye and a smile, shifting the weight of his pack a bit.
"I arrived here with a Sczarni raiding party. When it was routed, the Sheriff took me in..." Garrok trails off, realizing that yesterday wasn't the first time that rushing in with more bravado than sense nearly got him killed...
When his friends are gathered, he brightens up.
"Yes, Hieronymous! I think we're ready to face whatever the day can throw at us." With that, Garrok steps quickly to the front and leads the group through the city gate and onto the road.
Your group heads out the Old North Gate and follows the road for a few miles, dodging your way around mud holes and the piles of animal excrement that litter the sodden track.
As you get further and further from the settlement, the number of tracks dwindle and you can start to make out the trails of specific individuals and carts. Sadly enough, none of them appear to be goblin.
You diligently search both sides of the road for several miles, all along the borders of the road, eventually finding yourselves at the Thistle river bridge which marks 6 miles from the Old North Gate.
Dammit! I hope we didn't wait too long to come after them... I can't go back to the Sheriff empty handed!
Garrokmal sighs as he looks around, futilely.
Despite all the mud and water, Hieronymous barely notices the trek to the bridge, he even tries to whistle a couple of times.
Some of those road apples were nearly as big as me! Sure gets quiet once you get a little ways outside Sandpoint... Ah well, perhaps we can take our ease by that bridge and rest a bit.
Garrok, Katarina, Zaf, and Caine make their way further down the muddy road toward the bridge seeing nothing of note other than the miles of forest that you've been looking at for the past few hours.
Hieronymous pauses as his companions start to cross the bridge and shakes his head sharply, he squints his eyes and then widens them as far as they can open.
"Wha... Hey, does anyone else see that path?
He proceeds to leave the road and points out the path he thinks he sees.
"See how the branches have been pushed aside?"
He then starts to walk into the forest a few steps, using his spear to help push aside the branches and then looks back to see if everyone is following him.
"Well spotted, Hieronymous! Yes, now that you point it out, it looks like something headed off the road here. While teaching myself the lay of the land around town, I never ventured that direction. It's supposed to be a dangerous forest, though if the danger is from flora or fauna, I cannot say.
I suppose there's nothing to do but follow the tracks. See that your gear is securely fastened!"
Garrok looks at his companions, expectantly.
HIeronymous motions for Garrockmal to lead and holds the branches aside for him, Zaf, Katarina and Caine.
{b]"I may have spotted the path, but I'd rather someone with better vision take the lead."[/b]
Wow, I sure am glad I spotted that, maybe my vision isn't actually getting as bad as I imagined
"Oh, good catch!" - Katarina exclaims excitedly - "This might be worth checking after all. Come on, come on, let's go, let's go!"
The young girl turns to the others, eagerly waiting for someone to follow the tracks and lead the group.
"Alright! Watch your step..."
Garrokmal hoists his shield and uses it to push branches out of the way when necessary. He's also a little weary of a sneak attack. He leads the group along the track, keeping a wary eye out as he goes.
You wander through the forest for some time in the rain and mud, attempting to follow the path that Hieronymous has discovered. Several times it seems to disappear into the dense undergrowth, at others it seems almost as clear as the road you so recently left.
After nearly an hour of trudging through what can only be called dense forest you hear an all too familiar sound. The ring of steel on steel. You emerge onto a clearing littered with the bodies of dead goblins, each pierced by a white fletched arrow. At the far side of the clearing you, can just make out a tight gathering of more goblins and a form further back and the flash of a blade accompanied by the cry of a goblin.
As you near, a wary goblin notices your approach and alerts a group of his friends. They advance with eyes full of murder.
Garrokmal
Zaf
Katarina & Caine
Hieronymous
Goblins
The goblin leader takes a quick look over the situation, pulls a black barbed arrow from his quiver and fits it to his shortbow. He yells something in goblin and fires it at the threatening barbarian.
Garrok hear's a whishing sound as it sails past his ear to imbed in a tree a few feet behind him. The leader extends his arms and shakes his head in an obvious tantrum.
Alright, Garrok - time to fight smart, not like last time! I wonder who that is fighting over there - can't think about it until we're safe...
Garrok sees the goblins and hears the arrow land in the tree behind. He feels glad to have the improved protection of his new scale mail. A little shiny for my taste, though... Let's get some goblin blood on it!
"Stay near! Don't let them separate us!" he yells as he draws his sword.
He decides to try to draw the goblins in. He runs to his left, along the edge of some denser trees, and stops. Keeping the trees near for interference, he yells at the goblins in their own language. Something untranslatable about dogs and their closest family members.
"So this is what a hornet's nest looks like when you kick it..."
Zafzalurg smiles but there is no humor in his eyes. He begins a to sing, a low but lilting shanty about the sea and its ceaseless tides, whose unyielding insistence can grind rock to powder or carry the lost home on its wide back. Maybe one day it will carry me home.
Zafzalurg then steps up beside Hieronymous, giving him a short but sure nod.
"Give 'em hell Garrok!" - Katarina shouts from behind the resolute half-orc - "Show those little monsters what BIG trouble they're in!"
With a mischievous chuckle, the young witch makes a few arcane gestures, then points a finger at the imposing barbarian. 'Hey, I'm getting good a this! Mom would be proud!'
"Со силата на гигантите!"
Garrok grins as he feels the spell take effect "Thanks, my lady! Now they're in for it!"
Thinking, Wow, that's a lot of goblins, Hieronymous puts both hands to his heart and mumbles something incoherent and then holds them out palms upward. A faint white moves outward from him and envelopes Garrokmal, Katarina, Zaf and Caine.
He moves up near Garrokmal and shouts at the Goblins, "Come here you half wit mongrels, my spear thirsts for more Goblin blood, many of you died at our hands yesterday, the rest will follow today!"
He hopes that they will take the bait and Garrokmal will smite a couple of them as they try to reach him.
The goblins charge at your group with their crude dogslicers held high, their high pitched warcries piercing the air. The first angles in on Garrokmal only to be bisected by his over-large sword. The rest come charging behind not even noticing as their ally falls.
The sound of intense fighting fills the air from in the forest where the victim of the ambush stands, but you hear the wail of dying goblins.
The leader pulls back his bow once more and sends another arrow at the looming half-orc.
An arrow thuds into your shoulder, denting your new armor.
The goblin's dogslicer scores a hit on Garrok's side. Ha - call that a swing? I'll show him... Just then, an arrow hits him hard in the shoulder. Argh! That one stung - I need to get to that archer before he hits someone even worse.
But to do that, he needs to cut his way through the goblins attacking him. Garrok swings at goblin #2 as he takes a 5-foot step to his left.
Goblin #2 dies as a giant sword neatly disconnects him from his spleen.
I can't help my friends with that swarm while this vermin is in my face.
Zafzalurg continues his song with added ferocity as he swings at the goblin before him.
Seeing Zaf trying to repel the goblin while keeping up his inspiring song, Katarina decides to help her friend with a little trick of her own.
Familiar words of power dance on her lips, before her delicate finger raises to point at the wretched goblin.
"אַבליוויאַן נעמען איר"
Hieronymous grimaces in pain and prays that the little miscreants don't get another hit in.
"You're going to have to do better that that!"
He thrusts his spear in the general direction of goblin 5.
Garrok takes a wild swing missing one of the goblins in front of him.
Zaf slashes his sickle across the goblin's face as Katarina releases a spell. The goblin blinks wildly and starts to fall asleep but the pain in his face seems to keep him conscious.
Hieronymous stabs at a one of his attackers with a spear but the goblin manages to roll away from the blow cackling.
The goblins retaliate with a maniacal bloodlust.
The goblins swing with blood in their eyes, but their attacks are clumsy and inexperienced allowing you to avoid them with little effort.
The goblin with the bow slides another arrow into place and pulls back his bow and sends an arrow at Hieronymous.
The arrow goes wide into the trees above and the goblin throws his bow down in rage, pulling a horsechopper off his back as he advances.
Garrokmal's eyes go wide at the sight of the horsechopper. One of those nearly did me in yesterday... Need to focus and kill these vermin fast! He glances at Hieronymous at his side. "Get them between us!"
Garrok takes another swing at the same goblin, at the same time moving away from Hieronymous in hopes of getting at least one of the goblins trapped between them.
Garrok catches one of the goblins on the tip of his sword and sends him to join his brethren in goblin heaven.
The sound of the larger melee nearby lessens ever so slightly with the sound of two more dying goblins.
I seem to have undone Katarina's magic. I best finish this one quick, so we can both focus on the throng hacking at Garrok and Hieronymous.
Continuing his song, Zafzalurg takes another swing at the monster.
Zaf slashes his sickle across the goblin's torso, opening a wide gash that sends the little humanoid crashing to the ground in a spray of blood.
"Yes! Way to go Zaf, that was an excellent hit!" - Katarina cheers the gnome, glad he was able to dispatch the goblin without getting injured in the process. 'Still a few to take care of... Better put them to sleep!'
Focusing on the closest enemy, Katarina lets obscure power well up inside her, then releases it with a dreadful invocation.
"אַבליוויאַן נעמען איר"
Hieronymous takes another stab at whatever goblin is still standing.
The goblin Katarina targets droops its head and hits the ground in a deep slumber. Its snores readily apparent.
Hieronymous stabs at its companion with his spear but manages to get tangled up with his feet, missing.
One of the goblins takes a step into the underbrush hoping to get around to Hieronymous' backside while his cohort keeps him busy, taking a stab at him. (also receiving a concealment bonus)
The other goblin takes a whack at Hieronymous while his friend moves.
The Leader moves forward dodging past Hieronymous and Zaf to attack Katarina, shrieking something about heretic magic as he charges toward her. (just a phrase, doesn't actually charge)