Arcilde tosses the bag with the clockwork into her dropsack and hefts it over her shoulder. Which building shall we check next?
With that Gilstrom pushes for the next building over to the south with the intent of working through the walled-in buildings in a circle.
Gervase links arms with Arcilde. “Just follow that gnome, Ms Smith!”
“His legs are too short to run away from us.”
Walking south from City Hall, you see the name “Arkley” carved into a wooden sign nailed next to the doorframe of a log cabin. You recognize the name Arkley, or specifically Rayland Arkley, as the leader of the first group of colonists.
A single, closed door faces northwest, and the structure has two wooden-shuttered windows. The architecture is otherwise the same as many of the other buildings.
The door is shut and latched, but not barred. The inside of the house is relatively organized and tidy. It contains plain wooden furniture, with simple amenities such as wall racks for weapons and armor, a modest dining table and chairs, and a sitting chair with a makeshift cushion and footstool. A separate bedroom features a wooden bed frame and pallet mattress, a boot rack, and a large unlocked chest of folded clothes and other personal items. The entire house is a study in normalcy, though Gervase finds just enough dust to ascertain that the house has not been entered for 3–4 weeks.
Glancing upward, Gervase spots the corner of a sheet of folded parchment resting on top of a crossbeam, nine feet above the floor. Pulling a chair over and helping each other up, you discover that the parchment is actually four sheets that have been folded together and tightly creased. When unfolded, it proves to be the Talmandor’s Bounty colony charter. This legal document declares the island and the colony to be under the protection of the nation of Andoran, outlines the colony’s relationship to the Bountiful Venture Company, and enumerates the rights and responsibilities of all colonists. It bears the sealed signature of three members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Bountiful Venture Company, and every colonist that came aboard the Liberty’s Herald.
Further search locates a silver pocket watch in the cushions of one of the chairs. Such timepieces are rare in the Inner Sea region, and this one also functions as a compass. It is quite intricate, and probably extremely valuable.
Finally, tucked under the mattress in the bedroom is a fifty page spellbook, about two-thirds used. Inside the front cover is an arcane mark that reads, “Hendrake.” Checking the charter, you find one of the colonists was named Una Hendrake. Additionally, a spell component pouch is tied to a brass ring bound into the spine of the book.
“The compass will come in handy if we have to travel overland to meet up with Ms Avandth at the ‘Plan B’ landing site.”
Gervase gestures at the inside of the governor’s quarters. “I guess this place will be hers.”
“Are we ready to check out the next building?”
Moving south from the Governor's house, you pass a large gate set in the fence that can be barred from within. The gate is open, however, and the large wooden bar leans against the fence. Beyond the gate is an unpaved road where homes have been built or are in various stages of construction.
The next building is is a long, rectangular building that also appears to be a home, though larger than those beyond the palisade to the south. It has three windows, all covered with wooden shutters, and a single door facing northwest, which is unbarred and slightly ajar.
Simple wooden furniture is in disarray throughout the residence. Tables and chairs are knocked over and pushed aside, though none appear willfully broken. Articles of clothing and household items are scattered across the floor as if they were examined briefly and discarded. A large pallet bed is visible in a separate room through an open interior door. A third room with no windows is next to the bedroom but is completely empty.
Although the home has been ransacked, there is no evidence of foul play or personal violence. A casual search reveals any number of common domestic items, such as boots, spare cloaks hung on pegs, cookware, and plates and mugs—sundries that one might find in any dwelling. In the main room, Arcilde find a gold wedding band left sitting on a windowsill. “My dearest Livvy” is engraved on the ring’s interior. There are no other direct clues as to who lived here, but there is only one “Livvy” listed on the town charter you found.
Gilstrom, close to the ground, notices a few large circles on the floor where no dust has accumulated. The bare circles correspond to the size of an average wooden barrel, if set upright on end. No barrels can be found in the house, although there is a clear path to the door. This prompts Gervase to look more closely outside, where she sees an odd set of tracks that appear to be about a week old. One set is wide, heavy, and flat, as if something were pushed or rolled; set within that track is a set of odd, starfish-shaped prints. The tracks lead south down the road, where they become harder to see.
In the bedroom, Lily spots a small metal chest shoved far under the bed and against the wall. The chest is locked.
An odd set of tracks ... One set is wide, heavy, and flat, as if something were pushed or rolled; set within that track is a set of odd, starfish-shaped prints.
“I’m going to assume the person that left these tracks wasn’t wearing novelty slippers.”
“Could unconscious people have been carted off by a marine aberration? Though I note the tracks head south, rather than directly back to the sea.”
Gervase frowns. “It’s starting to look like foul play was involved. I think we should speed up our search for resources, in case there are people that need rescuing.”
Lily calls out.
Hey guys! Found another lock box! Gilstrom, you mind using your hammer?
She brings it to her friends in the main room and looks at the starfish shaped footprints.
Star shaped feet? I'm guessing more tentacles.
“Could unconscious people have been carted off by a marine aberration? Though I note the tracks head south, rather than directly back to the sea.”
Star shaped feet? I'm guessing more tentacles.
“Hoping, you mean.”
Gervase scurries over to help Lily carry the box. “Another nail in your larcenous coffin, Gil.”
“Once we’ve searched it (the inside I mean, Hayseed ;) should we move onto the next house? I’m hoping we'll get more info on what happened before trying to track something we know little about.”
“Thoughts?”
Lily blushes blight red.
Why you.... ugh.
She shakes her head and bites down on her grass stalk for a moment.
We should finish searching the houses. Whatever made off with the barrels didn't do it so recently that we'll change things by running off now rather than in a few minutes.
You pull the chest out and realize it is mostly made of metal, which will make cracking it open much harder than the wooden box was.
Leaving the opening of the box for later, you move on to the next building. This large building is durably built in a log cabin–style construction with a thatched pitched roof and three gables. Its several open windows are uncovered, and the sole entrance on the east side of the building is bereft of a door. A small porch covered by a gable shelters this door, though the porch has not been swept and dirt and dust have started to accumulate, while one end of the gable is starting to sag from neglect.
The interior of this building suggests a modest place of worship—not quite a temple but more than a mere shrine. A table near the center of the west wall appears to serve as an altar, draped in a white but dusty cloth. Behind the table, a large wood carving of a humanoid figure with a stag’s head leans against the wall. Two rows of benches face the altar, although some have been knocked over and two piles of ashes are visible in the aisle between them. Scattered throughout the room are assorted objects related to public worship, such as a chalice and a ceremonial rod. An ornately carved longbow hangs on the wall near the altar, as if on display.
Against the north wall is a smaller shrine. Nearby is a wooden statue roughly three feet tall that depicts a male half-human and half-avian creature. One carved wing hangs partially broken from the statue.
"Ransacked... strange tracks. Beg your pardon ladies, but despite the horrific disappearance of our fellow colonists is this ever exciting, wowee! I can't wait to tell Peresphone about this!"
He thinks. "Maybe we should go look at the gobpus and see if the tracks match. Later though, more to explore. And it's Gilstrom, I've already shortened my name more than is reasonable for human consumption."
Gilstrom pushes southwards on to the next building in the circular community.
What the heck could ‘Gilstrom’ be short for? Gilstromboli??
“Can anyone detect magic? I’d like to have a quick look at the longbow please, Gilstrom.”
“I know from school that the stag-headed statue represents the deity Erastil. His favored weapon is the longbow.”
“Can anyone detect magic?
Aye, Hawk, I can see magic today, thanks t' Arqueros.
Erastil? Oh, right--he never interested me much. One story was enough.
Hm...this blood 'ere is sev'ral weeks old--maybe e'en a month. Wha' 'appened, I wonder?
You enter and begin looking around. Arcilde casts a spell, and quickly notes from across the room that the bow has a strong magical aura on it.
You spread out a bit, checking things out, when suddenly the silver chalice flies upfrom the floor and slams into Gervase's back . The sudden noise causes you all to turn and look, at which point you are confronted with a frightening specter.
Lily yelps in surprise and shock before holding up her hand, forming up the wooden lance in her hand and firing it!
A GHOST? A REAL THRICE DAMN GHOST?
She looks over to Hawk and gulps.
How exactly does one kill a ghost?! Aracile! your priest right?! Can you do something?!
Apparently, ghosts are scary. Who knew?
Gervase turns around to face the phantom, more surprised than pained by the blow. Though she knows the pain will come …
“I am considering a tried and tested battle tactic, Lily.”
“Running away!”
"GAHHHH!" Gilstrom shrieks as he sees the spirit. Quickly, he grabs his hammer, before he charges at the thing, taking a mighty swing!
I think that's a poltergeist. They can't hurt ya too much, but we'd have t' know why it's here-- As Arcilde begins a detailed explanation about poltergeists, the specter turns and flies toward her face. Her composure shatters, and the gray-skinned dwarf runs to the door. Och! Get away from me, ye ghostie beastie!
As Gervase is about to suggest the time-honored tactic of running from the scary thing in the chapel, everyone else is already doing so.
Shortly thereafter, you all reconvene near the well. About a minute later, the noise of things flying around inside the chapel dies down.
I don' know wha' came o'er me. I can help us resist tha ghostie, if we want t' try again. Whate'er made that thing start hauntin' might be a clue t' wha' happened.
Gervase leaves the longbow and hightails it after the others, possibly overtaking Arcilde and Gilstrom on her way to re-joining Lily at the well.
”PHEW, Freefield! My father warned me about chasing fast girls.”
She holds her potion vial on high and recites a traditional Gray Corsair toast. “Ladies and gentleman, President Codwin! Talmandor bless him.”
“I vote to search the next building. We can always go back to redeem our lost honor once we have some magic to fight the ghostie.”
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Gilstrom does not take a swipe at the poltergeist but instead bolts, screaming all sorts of bloody chaos. When he finally recovers with the group, he peeks at the hosue.
"I'd like to get my hammer back, I only have five or six spare weapons after that one. Here, I'll see if I can do it again. To be honest, that was sort of fun."
Gilstrom makes his way over to the hosue and tries to run in to grab his weapon.
Gilstrom successfully runs in, grabs his hammer, and runs back out. Despite the flying objects, the spook remains unseen.
Lily gulps down air, panting from her panicked run.
I'm okay with Hawk's plan. No offense meant Arcilde, but don't things come back if you can't put them to rest? We don't even know who's in there, let alone how to put them to rest.
She creates a new grass stalk and chews on it, a panicked motion and she shudders.
Halcamora save me from a fate like that.
Gilstrom scampers back out. "Yikes, that thing is angry. What fun! I wonder if I can get it to throw food in my mouth." He listens to the others for a moment. "Well it's not going anywhere and we have a job to do. I'm sure the ghost will be just as cranky later on. We will need to get rid of it to settle the colony though. I imagine screaming and running around while a ghost throws plates at your head would get boring after a few days."
Makes sense--it will still be thar tomorra--an' tha next day...an' tha day after...
Which building should we check next?
Resuming your clockwise inspection of colony center, you go north of the chapel to find an L-shaped building constructed of mud bricks on a wooden frame. The western portion is of the structure is enclosed by four walls. This section has a single open window on the south side, with a canvas curtain hung across the opening. The single entrance is a wooden door, standing slightly ajar, on the southern end of the eastern face of the building. A ten-foot extension connects to the building on the east side. This extension has only a northern wall and is otherwise just a roof sheltering the space below, which is open to the outside. Underneath this cover is a forge with an exhaust flue directly above it, a worktable covered in metal scraps, a small tub of black water, and a partially sheltered anvil.
The outdoor worktable is covered with a few blacksmithing tools and pieces of metalwork, such as weapons, tools, or farming implements abandoned halfway through being forged or repaired. The water in the tub is filthy with soot, ash, and charcoal residue. Arcilde can tell that the forge was last lit about a week ago.
Inside the smithy building, the space is divided between personal living quarters and an indoor tool storage and work area. A pungent animal smell lingers in the air and a tussled pile of blankets on the wooden cot is soiled. The room is in a state of disarray, with tools such as tin snips, pliers, and files carelessly strewn all over. A few weapons and pieces of armor are strewn among the debris.
As you start looking around the smithy, Gilstrom turns a corner and finds himself face to face with a somewhat surprised creature that looks like a brown-skinned, simian goblin. The creature shrieks, disturbing two others that were apparently napping nearby.
Monkey Goblin 3
Monkey Goblin 2
----
Gilstrom
----
Monkey Goblin 1
----
Gervase
Arcilde
Lily
Gilstrom pauses as he comes face to face with the goblin. He and the goblin stare at each other before they both scream. "GAHHH! GOBLAPE!"
Knowing full well that it is probably stabby, Gilstrom tries to give it a whack with his hammer but being caught off guard his attack is pretty lousy, all things considered.
Even taken by surprise, the goblin is able to dodge Gilstrom's initial swing.
After missing his first attack Gilstrom sets his feet, and realizes he has a colony to protect. No time to gape like an idiot at everything new that shows up.
"You there! You shall threaten these fair colonists no further! YAH!"
Gilstrom recovers from his initial shock, and lands a solid blow on the goblin. The goblin responds with a jab of his spear, which comes close to Gilstrom's neck, but at the last moment glances off his armor.
Monkey Goblin 3 (flat-footed)
Monkey Goblin 2 (flat-footed)
----
Gilstrom
----
Monkey Goblin 1 (6 damage)
----
Gervase
Arcilde
Lily
Standing outside the covered area, Lily holds up her hand and focuses for a moment on the one fighting Gil, breathing out slowly as the lance curls up to her wrist, ribbing itself with thorns, then launches out with a thin whine of speed.
Lily quickly shoots out a dart, which strikes deep into the goblin's shoulder. The small creature passes out from the sharp pain.
Gervase drops her bow and quick draws her harpoon as she moves to engage one of the remaining monkey goblins.
Arcilde steps up and attacks a goblape with her battleaxe.
Gervase and Arcilde move up to engage the other two monkey goblins, one with more success than the other. The one Arcilde hit seems a little less enthusiastic than his unharmed companion but both jab their spears ineffectively at their foes.
Monkey Goblin 3 (9 damage)
Monkey Goblin 2
Monkey Goblin 1 (16 damage - unconscious, bleeding)
----
Gilstrom
Gervase
Arcilde
Lily
Lily steps a little to the side, getting her angle again before taking a deep breath, the thorn spike forming around her arm again.
As the goblins clang against her friends armor, she jumps however, her hand going to cover her face, and launching the thorn into the roof instead of into Goblins. Sheepishly she holds out her arm again, hoping that Hawk and the others are to busy killing goblins to notice her embarrassing mistake.
“Is that mistletoe you’ve hung, Lily?”
Gervase’s eyes flick from the ceiling onto the jungle goblin before her.
“Lovely thought, sweetie. But I don’t think he’s my type.”
'ang on, 'awk--let me 'elp ye line up yer shot. Arcilde moves around the goblape and eyes Gervase's harpoon. A little 'igher, an' a bit t' tha left.
Arcilde moves around, and the goblin stabs, with just as much effect as before. She and Gervase both attack it, and with its attention diverted, Arcilde is able to hit it again, bringing it down.
Gilstrom tries to line up with Arcilde, but being unused to fighting with the dwarf their body language is all wrong and he completely misses with his warhammer.
Surrounded but undaunted, the two monkey-goblins chatter to each other and try to improve their positioning while continuing the fight. One of them manages to land a strong spear jab on Gervase!
Monkey Goblin 3 (9 damage)
Monkey Goblin 2
Monkey Goblin 1 (16 damage - unconscious, bleeding)
----
Gilstrom
Gervase
Arcilde
Lily
Gilstrom fails to appreciate the subtleties of his opponents tactical mindset, and instead shouts angrily at the gob-ape that stabbed Gervase. "Hey! Stop that!"
Angrily he sets himself and tries for another swing, which again misses terribly.
Blushing at Hawk, Lily calls back...
Yeah, not nearly enough slime to be your kinda guy. Or maybe if we gave him one of those poofy wigs?
She concentrates, forming the lance again and launching it at the injured goblin.
This time the thorned lance sprouts a rose as it hits.
Better ways to show off a romantic gesture than holly anyway! Remember that man from the backwoods? He didn't seem to fond of my roses either!