Harness curses under his hoary breath as the goblin bounds away on its beast. The warforged leaps after it, skirting the platform and rounding Eydor to keep the creature contained.
Round 4
Full Round Action: Double move.
oh no you don't
Snyk runs low to the ground to catch up with the fleeing goblin. Learning his lesson he attempts to nimbly evade the goblin/mounts attacks
He makes a desperate lunge to stop the beast.
The goblin rider takes off to the south, trying to get away to use his bow some more. He maneuvers the dog out of the way of Eydor's swing, but takes a very solid hit from Harness when he does so. The dog hits the ground, but the ride stays on his feet. He drops his bow and draws his sword, preparing to do battle down to the last.
Attacks of Opportunity:
Seeing the goblin go down, Girnt draws a bead on the now less-mobile creature and fires, ready to end this fight.
Elery charges levelling her spear to flank the newly dismounted goblin with Harness, but alas she is not quite agile enough to catch the agile little so and so.
Fela strides across the platform, firing another ray of frost, this time at the goblin.
Come on, Fela, Puncture the skin!
Having lost his mount, the goblin had drawn his sword and prepared to do battle to the death. He was not prepared for the arrow that took him on the side or for the blast of icy magic that then connected to the side of his face. When the small snow blast clears, it leaves behind lifeless eyes as the final goblin breaths his last and falls backwards, dead.
After a brief moment of heavy breathing, the new found silence is shattered by a shout from the man hiding behind the well.
The man leaves off from hiding behind the well and walks over towards the group. Heroes! All of you, heroes! You saved my life, and you saved the town! Heroes I say. As he approaches, you notice the state of his clothes. Obviously of fine make, they are now tattered from the fight. Small bloodstains mark where he has been cut and soot marks on his clothes and skin show where he has been around fires. He starts shaking hands of all of you, his smile large and genuine. Alderan. Alderan Foxglove. I'm so glad you are all here....A reward! You deserve a reward! Meet me tomorrow morning at the Rusty Dragon and I'll have something arranged for you. Something grand! You all notice that when he gets to Fela, he shakes her hand for extra long time and eyes her appreciatively.
Fela tries to pull her hand from Alderan's grasp.
"Nice to, er, meet you, Mr. Foxlove. I'm sure the pleasure is yours."
However, that reward does sound nice...Hopefully, I'm not getting too involved with a creep. Well, in for a copper piece...
"I'll see you at the tavern, tomorrow."
And I may need to get a head start there, tonight, after today.
Elery snorts, "That is all well and good, but stand still you are a mess! Anyone wounded please gather close to me!" Clutching the carved wooden stags head that hangs about her neck she concentrates and sends forth a faintly green emanation of light that brings with it the scent of a forest after a spring rainfall. Cuts and scrapes touched by this energy heal with a fresh tingling sensation,
"What makes you think we have saved the town? Are you sure there are no other goblins? I am not one to object to rewards, but I feel we still have more pressing matters. We should patrol see if there is any more trouble right? Maybe seek out Sheriff Hemlock and see if he requires our assistance?" As she speaks she turns to those who fought alongside her, worry still painted across her pixie like features.
Sheathing his dagger and returning to Harness's side "There's always another goblin. hmph."
Girnt keeps his bow at the ready while he stays on the watch for any other goblin activity around. "There very well may be. I've never seen a goblin attack like this before."
He eyes the man with a curious look when he gets his hand shaken.
I don't like the look of this... But it's not like he's even a threat at the moment. I'll just warn them both, and I'll get a free night for what I would have done without a reward.
I'll be there, but first I'll make sure the city is safe if you don't mind. Oh, and this bunch too while I'm on that, but this one doesn't need that much of a hand in combat does he?
He pats Harness on the shoulder, feeling the metal on his body.
Is that an armor or...?
This town just turned into hell in a handbasket, so we better hurry up and save as many as we can.
He then takes a look at Fela and Elery
A word with both if I may when this is finished?
Very good, very good. Exactly what I'd expect from a fine group of heroes such as yourselves. Alderan continues, smiling broadly and attempting to straighten out his clothes. Yes, you lot take your golem there and secure the rest of the town. I'll just be here, in the chapel, until things calm down. Until tomorrow morning. he finishes, giving Fela a wink as he leaves.
"Pffft, well somebody thinks highly of himself." Elery says watching Aldern leave with a frown, "Eydor, right? Thank you for the help I will certainly speak with you when things are settled, but for now I plan to patrol the streets looking for more trouble."
Raising her voice she adds, "I would very much appreciate it if you would all join me."
Then she sets off planning to patrol through all of Sandpoint's few streets keeping an eye out for trouble and Sheriff Hemlock.
"Of course," Girnt replies, setting off with her. "Glad we had some able swords joining us in this fight. But I'm left with so many questions. Hopefully the Mayor and Sheriff will have some answers."
Harness is oblivious to any of the ragged well dressed Ma n's social gaffes or overlong glances. He smiles with pride at Eydor's familiarity then falls into step with Elery and Girnt, his desire to be helpful and serve still ingrained within despite his yearning for freedom and free will. He smiles down at his shadow. "Heh. Golem. Hear that Snyk - Harness the golem!" The warforged chortles, a sound resembling the stoking of coal in a furnace.
Fela looks at Eydor, and motioning toward where Elery is heading says, "Come on. We can walk and talk at the same time."
"Surely he missed your sparkling wit." says Synk with a dry sarcasm.
Heroes? are we heroes now?
As you begin to move out of the town square and explore the town for more goblins, you notice Father Zantus let Alderan into the cathedral and shut the door tight behind.
As you move down the streets, you see signs of the attack all over. Scorched walls, dead pets, the occasionally dead person, turnover carts, party fare strewn across the ground. You also begin to notice that the noise has quieted and before long come across another group of defenders. Town guard lead by the man you know as Sheriff Baylor Hemlock. His dark skinned, bald head glistens with sweat and several of the guards sport bloody cuts and bandages.
Spotting your group, he motions to several of his men to carry on past you and stops to speak to Girnt and Elery. You lot seem to be unharmed, good. Did you meet any goblins at all or were you just that capable in dispatching them? Have you been to the square? Are the people there okay?
Elery replies briskly, glancing at the cuts and bandages.
"If you are injured pleased gather around!" She hollers, clutching her holy symbol and sending out a wave of fresh scented healing energy that erodes scrapes and cuts away into smooth healthy flesh.
Eydor looks at all the destruction while hearing the conversation, then looks at his bloodied scimitar stained from more than a single goblin, then approaches the rest of the party who's not talking with Baylor, speaking a bit low as to not be heard outside the group
Is he blind, or do We look that weak? Well, whatever... I didn't even had to use magic back there. I've seen worse at the academy, and I'm sure you're not peasants seeing how you fought without a second thought.
In any case, it looks like the party's over. Both of them. Honestly, I came here to take a rest... But it's not going to happen. Should we ask them how to give a hand in town?
"We held off the goblins while the people got away," Girnt informs the Sheriff. "Father Zantus is sheltering many of them in the new cathedral. Do you know anything about this sudden attack? Goblins in the streets, clans working together, fighting to the death; this isn't normal goblin activity. Have you heard from Shaelu?"
The gathered guardsmen all give their thanks to Elery, some mumbling, others exuberantly. From the back of the crowd comes a young women, obviously not a guard but well armed with blood on her sword that obviously isn't hers. You've all done the town a great favor. Please accept accommodations at my inn while you rest up. Elery and Girnt can easily recognize her as Ameiko, owner and proprietor of the Rusty Dragon Inn here in town.
Sheriff Hemlock responds to Elery, Alderan Foxglove? I didn't think he made it the festival this year. If I'd known he was here, I'd have been keeping an eye on him. The sheriff muses. Well, good to hear that everyone is safe. We'll go to Father Zantus and get the people there back to their homes. Come see me in the morning if you're willing to help with the damages. Girnt, I'll tell you about Shaelu then. With that, the sheriff and his men (and women) continue on towards the town square, calling out that the attack is over, all is safe for now.
Girnt lets out a breath and slings his bow back around now that the attack finally appears to be over. "Seems the worse is over. Ameiko owns the Rusty Dragon Inn here in town right down the main street, for you travelers. There will probably be work for us after all the damage those goblins caused. Will you all be coming to help as well? If so, we can meet up at the Rusty Dragon and arrive together."
Elery nods in response to Girnt's words, and smiles at the group, "Thank you Ameiko. Yes it would be nice to meet up since Master Foxglove plans to reward us all anyway, we might as well make his life easier. Besides fighting together makes us friends already I hope, it is always good to get to know people who can be relied upon."
Turning to the Sheriff she asks, "Speaking of Master Foxglove, you said you would have kept an eye on him? Should we be wary? He seemed... appreciative, if a little arrogant, but then what Noble is not?" The last is said with a wry self mocking tone, and Elery's own Noble accent, though somewhat faded, tells everyone why.
"Looks like we landed on our feet here, eh Snyk? And at the Rusty Dragon! It sounds very...metal." Harness appreciates the naming convention of Ameiko's inn and heads there if Snyk, Fela and Eydor do.
"Seems the worse is over. Ameiko owns the Rusty Dragon Inn here in town right down the main street, for you travelers. There will probably be work for us after all the damage those goblins caused. Will you all be coming to help as well? If so, we can meet up at the Rusty Dragon and arrive together."
"Sounds good. I think I'm going to get a head start over there now. I could use a quick drink to reset the senses. Name's Fela by the way, to those I've not met yet. Good to see you here today. You lot do some nice work," she says eyeing one of the remaining goblins still lying dead in the street.
Eydor looks at Elery while she speaks, then turns to Fela It is a pleasure, I guess. I'm not good with words, but just as a heads up, that Foxglove or Foxlove or whatever he's called is a total creep. Let's say he was... Appreciating your features and Elery's from behind while we took our chances with the goblins and risked our lives. Wouldn't blame him if it wasn't for the danger at the moment, but honestly, if I were you, I would take care when dealing with him if you plan to accept his offer.
"Ah, well there is nothing wrong with a little appreciation, so long as a fellow is respectful and doesn't try to take without asking. I mean it is just a reverse damsel in distress situation, I don't think a man is a creep just because he gives a Lady the glad eye, within limits," Elery says glancing back.
"I mean he got assaulted by goblins, rescued and offered a reward. Its pretty decent behaviour all things considered, not everyone is a fighter. Though I appreciate your concern Eydor."
Sheriff Hemlock responds to Elery's question with a start, as if surprised to be caught thinking out loud. Noble? Oh, he's not a noble. Rich, yes. But not nobility. As for being wary, well I won't go into detail. Let's just say he's had a few issues in the past. Been known to get into the drink, bit of a temper, that sort of thing. Just rather he not cause a ruckus, is all. He looks around the town. Turns out that's the least of my worries.
As you travel through the town, you see the citizens beginning to peek their heads out as the guards call the all clear. You see some already in the process of repairing damages to their walls and roofs, scrubbing scorch marks off, helping clear the streets. You hear a violin being played somewhere near by. Elery and Girnt you presume that it is Cyrdak (the owner of the town's theatre) trying to lift spirits.
When you reach the main road through town, you see the Rusty Dragon Inn. Locals know that Ameiko bought the inn from it's previous owner with the money she made as an adventure with Shaelu. And that her time as an adventure also forced her out of favor with her father. Entering the inn, it is clean and nearly empty. And in one corner, near the ceiling, is a large metal statue of a dragon. The iron is completely rusted over, giving it a brownish red color. Whether the statue was commissioned after the inn was named or the inn got its name from the statue, everyone calls the dragon Rusty and one of the local tavern games is to throw rings at his teeth.
The only person in the inn at the moment is an aged Halfling Woman (again, locals know her as one of the workers named Bethana Corwin), who looks up when you enter, surprised.
Oh! Elery! Are you all right? Are you hurt? What...what brings you here? The injured aren't gathered here. But, no, you have friends with you. What..what can I do for you all?
Snyk has been quietly enjoying the conversation so far, and is more at ease being indoors again.
I wonder what their cheese selection is like here.
Elery smiles, "Oh, hello Bethana, no I am fine, I got stabbed but, well, cleric, so all better. I expect Father Zantus and the others have things in hand? But I will head over later and see if I can be of any assistance. I am told Ameiko offered to put up our new friends here, so I guess we were hoping to get them settled in. Did you have any trouble here?"
Oh no. Ameiko's father came in looking for her, stormed out when I told him that she'd hone out to fight the kobolds. After that, I barred the doors and the few.... the few customers pushed tables in the way. We just put everything back and they went home. She looks relieved to not be alone anymore. You saw Ameiko? And free rooms? Well, alright. I don't think you'd fib on such a thing, and if you did, she'll be back soon enough to set things straight. Not that I'm implying anything, mind you. Please, everyone have a seat and I'll get you all something to eat and drink. Hopefully the stew hasn't burned. She hops down from the stool she was standing on behind the bar and disappears into a back room (presumably the kitchen).
"Appreciate it Bethana, just apple juice for me if that is alright," Elery replies carefully leaning her spear against Rusty and taking a seat at a large table.
Girnt gratefully takes a seat after everything that had happened. "So, I got a couple of your names, but how about we go over introductions again now that the chaos has died down. I'm Girnt, a local of Sandpoint."
"Elery Deverin, I am from Magnimar, Cleric of Erastil, I have lived in Sandpoint for a few years now, and consider it my home." Elery adds, giving a brittle smile as she recalls her old life.
Snyks ears twitch slightly at the mention of his hometown. "What part of Magnimar?"
"The Naos District. I do not really like to talk about my time Magnimar too much." Elery says, glancing down at the table, "Are you from Magnimar then, um, it was Snyk right? I heard there were some ratfolk, but I have never met one before."
"Yes, we're mostly underground. I have cousins who do business in the Naos district."
I probably have cousins in every district, but one thing at a time
"We don't have many ratfolk come by Sandpoint," Girnt comments. "But we have even less warforged visit. You are a warforged, right...um, Harness? I've only heard rumors of them before."
Harness nods to Girnt. "You are correct, Girnt - I am a warforged - I was a noble's slave in Magnimar Thankfully Snyk here rescued me. [here turns to Elery] I'm not familiar with Magnimar, so I'm not able to tell you much about it, even while I was there I was kept rather ignorant.",
Elery blinks, "That is quite alright, I much prefer Sandpoint. I am a country girl at heart, otherwise Erastil would never have chosen me. Magnimar is too much."
I was born on Galduria. Spent most of my time as a lumberjack, and decided magic was also my thing, so I've spent quite a bit of time at the Twilight Academy blending magic and sword. I got bored of such a simple and monotonous life, and decided to start a journey that not even I know when will it end.
Harness struggles to understand how blending sword and sorcery could be either simple or monotonous, but that is likely due to the fact that he finds magic fascinating and near-legendarily enigmatic; and also because he is fairly literal in his conversational understanding and fails to parse nuance within a complex sentence. (For "complex" read: more than very basic, or where a sentence following another sentence disagrees with or counters the central tenets of the first).
To whit: Harness smiles broadly and nods.
Harness struggles to understand how blending sword and sorcery could be either simple or monotonous, but that is likely due to the fact that he finds magic fascinating and near-legendarily enigmatic; and also because he is fairly literal in his conversational understanding and fails to parse nuance within a complex sentence. (For "complex" read: more than very basic, or where a sentence following another sentence disagrees with or counters the central tenets of the first).
To whit: Harness smiles broadly and nods.
Bethana brings buy a large cup of apple juice for Elery, brings Girnt his usual (whatever that may be, if he even has one), and defaults to ale for everyone else.
No charge, of course. If...if Ameiko said you can stay for free, I'll certainly give you a..a round for free as well. A few minutes later she brings over a large pile of towels, then a few large bowels of water. If you all leave your clothes outside your rooms tonight, we'll see....see them cleaned by morning. Armor will cost you extra, though. And...and weapons.
Elery glances down at her hated scale mail, "I will just head outside and deluge myself with a few dozen create water spells before bed, then air this wretched thing out overnight. If you have the room Bethana I might stay over to, unless it is inconvenient? I am sure Aunt Kendra will have a lot of important guests and I would like to avoid being touted to every wealthy, or "noble", son whose father has come by for the Festival."
Girnt leans back and sips on his apple cider, enjoying this momentary rest. He knew there would a lot of work for them starting tomorrow, so best to enjoy what time they had now.
"It's not too late, so how about a tale to pass the time? I had one prepared for tonight, but it seems my audience will be a bit smaller than expected."
"Now this tale begins with a young halfling who decided..."
Relieved to amp down after the recent flurry of activity, Elery sits back and sips her apple juice listening to Girnt's tale. Afterwards she heads to the Cathedral quickly to offer the rest of her channeling to tend any injured, then hurries back to join the group curious about these strange newcomers and enjoying the camaraderie.