"There are Goblin tribes all over the place. They've only ever done small farm raids for as long as anyone can remember... As for how many tribes were involved, I don't have the exact number, Shalelu, our town's local trapper, would know that better than I would, but I'd probably say anywhere from 4-6 tribes were involved in the raid. Most of them are dead, or licking their wounds though. the goblin threat has been mostly contained, your main job is to figure out who convinced the goblins to join together, and why."
"Shalelu visits town from time to time, but she lives a little ways northward out of town, 'comfortably far' I believe is how she puts it."
Rostislav nods and begins stroking his beard,"Ve should qvestion zis Shaleu person for definite. But!" he holds up his index finger, "Maybe ve should qvestion around town first. It veird. How does people know non-goblin organize goblin raid? Maybe town know more."
That is all they could get out of the captured goblins.
"Perhaps this tracker is our best lead after all."
"In my experience it is a mistake to expect human commoners to know anything beyond how many fingers and toes they have. Let's not waste our time and go straight to this tracker. If she knows nothing, we find one of the more battered goblin tribes, capture their leader, and torture the information we need out of the beast."
"Ah! My apologies, I had quite forgotten you were there. I will try to speak a more common tongue for now on. But suffice to say, I agree with your assessment."
Rastisdlav's face swiftly changes from a studious curiosity, that seems to be constant at this point, to a furrowed death glare aimed at Elthaeron. With only a hint of an accent, "You can insult short lives of humans, naivety of humans, but if you ever insult my intelligence again.." *spits*
His face shifts back to the studious curiosity and to the rest of the group, "It vould seem ve are all agreement zhen. To Shalelu."
He leans slightly toward Brentol and whispers, "Let us not let prejudice hinder our mission Master Snow"
With his eyes narrowed and his voice tinged with offense, Elthaerion responds: "Only your wisdom, as nobody insulted YOUR intelligence. I would advise you to either listen more carefully, or be more humble in your assumed mastery of another's language. I merely pointed out in jest how unlikely it is that human commoners will have any pertinent information. The fact that you think this was an attack on you personally- He stops, mid rant, and with visible effort takes a deep breath. "No matter. No matter. Let us continue before our mission becomes endangered by words, rather than enemy blades."
Sheriff Hemlock will provide more exact directions if this is the first path you would like to take. Even with the directions you will need to make a survival check to reach there safely due to the unfamiliar terrain.
"Let us be balanced my friends. Life, death, and change are the only constants. But with you lot, bickering is starting to become a force of nature."
"Hmm..I have knowledge of natural occurrences such as these, but ability to navigate..I admit, i have no knowledge in this area. Zough I may have overreacted, Elthaeron, you are obviously quite skilled in zis. As ve go, might you inform me on how to navigate? I endeavor to learn new tings." Rastislav asks in an apologetic tone
With a nod Elthaern does just that. He motions the wizard to come closer, and he touches a stone on the ground. It begins shining with an inner light, which illuminates the tracks that he was following. The elf starts explaining how he was following the tracks, but after a few minutes he remarks with a hint of admiration "I fear there is little that I can actually teach you, friend. Your knowledge of nature, as well as geography, far surpasses my own. What little I know is from trial and error. But come, walk with me. Perhaps you can learn a trick or two of mine from doing, and I can learn from you why it works."
That 21 will work. After about an two hours worth of walking and following the directions given to you by the sheriff you finally arrive at a house, which you presume to be Shalelu's.
An ordered but filled clearing, this land piece has a small house, a barn, a slaughterhouse, and a large garden. working next to the slaughter house on some sort of leather is a middle-aged elven woman. seeing you walking into the clearing, she finishes up her task quickly, but expertly, and begins walking over to you.
"Hello there strangers, what do you need all the way out here? Supplies are better found in town, and I don't rent out any room or board." She doesn't seem violent, just stern and cautious.
Damien, not known for his tact and possessing an unintentionally creepy demeanor, decides to try and be sociable.
"We were told you could tell us more about the goblin problem. They have apparently become... unbalanced."
Damien stares unblinkingly waiting for a response.
"Ah, you must be some of the recruits that Hemlock headed out for. in that case, you'll want to come on inside? we can sit down and talk there, as I give you guys some info."
Shalelu opens up her front door and motions for you to go inside as she speaks
Raastislav heads inside. As he passes Shalelu, he says quietly, "Thank you for your assistance."
Following closely behind Rastislav, Elthaeron follows the mage into the trapper's home.
Damien follows as well
In response to the wizard Shalelu says "there is a reason I prefer the common tongue of the region. I have little to do with my kinsfolk, and I prefer solitude, so, I live out here. As for my experience fighting goblins, I once slaughter an entire raid party, fortunately that was the last time I've had to fight them as after that they are generally to scared to attack." Sitting down at her table she continues. "There are five goblin tribes in the area, and all of them were involved in the raid. The guard managed to capture a few goblins, and in typical goblin fashion, they knew next to nothing, except, one thing. The raid leader was, in their terms 'a longshanks' a derogatory term they use for any race that is taller than they are. Also, none of the tribes are in their usual haunts, making keeping track of them more difficult than usual."
"Not much of an idea, but most of the signs seem to suggest that the collective camp is northward, as that seems to be the gate they came through, and what little activity I've heard/seen has been from north of town, save for the farm that got raided a couple days after the big raid."
"And do you have any advice on tracking these goblins? Northward is somewhat vague, and I'm sure your advice would hasten our arrival."
"Perhaps you could join us in investigating? Your experience with the area would be a great boon."
"Northward from the town is about all I know... However, I've gathered that they are located northeastern, possibly along the coast somewhere. As for joining you, while I am honored at the request, I don't think I can abandon my duty as the northern watch-tower of the town. If you need me to track something specifically however, I'd be happy to assist..."
She is cut short by the messenger from the town guard who comes running breathless into the house. The young man has brought enough horses for all of you, and has an urgent message. "We have a missing person in town, a bartender by the name of Ameiko Kaijitsu. I was told to come and fetch you, as the sheriff believes you five to be the most qualified to deal with the issue, and thinks that it may be related to the Goblin raid"
Assisting you in your haste to set off, Shelalu shares the last piece of information that she is aware of. "Be careful as you engage the goblins of this area. While goblins tend to live short violent lives, and never really amount to much, there are five goblins in this area that enjoy the status of "hero" among their peers. Goblin hero's earn their titles and nearly always these are well deserved, and likely all five of them were involved in the raid... Ah, yes, there is also a bug bear who lives in the area, and," She pauses to glance about at the elf and two half-elves in front of her, "He really, really, hates elves. Well, good luck, and find Ameiko! This town would suffer a great loss without her cooking and running that inn!"
Elthaeron's ears perked at the mention of the bugbear. The town was paying, so it was important. But a creature with a vendetta against elves? That grabbed his interest. "This bugbear. Who is he, what is his grudge against the people, and what connections does it have with the goblins?"
"The bugbears name is Bruthazmus, and we've met several times before. Neither of us have gotten the best of the other, but we've both added some scars to the others person. He mostly strong, but don't underestimate his intelligence if you should meet him. He may be goblin-kin but that one is nearly as clever as a hobgoblin. As for the other "heroes," I do not know much. Big Gugmut is an unusually large and muscular Goblin. Some say he had a hobgoblin father, but I feel that that is unlikely, either way he is stronger than the others. Korvus looked pretty normal, except he wielded a normal-sized long sword, and was even decent at it. He has disappeared though. Vorka is a hermit, and might not be an issue, but she is known to eat other goblins, which is pretty much the only meat taboo to goblins, nasty critter that one. Rendwattle is an obese monster, but he never leaves his throne. In his youth he was quite the warrior though. finnally there is Ripnugget, a fairly new chieftain who controls thistle-top, a small island to the northeast. That is all I know of them, I hope it helps"
"Let us go. By the sounds of it, each of these goblins suffer from a lack of moderation. I am still concerned they appear to be organizing. The bugbear may be drawn to us once he hears of our progress, I doubt he will abide so many of us in one area. Be careful Shelalu, he may assume we are working in concert because we share similar racial characteristics."
When you finally arrive back at the guard-headquarters, Sheriff Hemlock greets you. "I'm afraid that we've received word that just this morning Ameiko never showed up at her inn, the rusty dragon. This is odd, as she is never late, and lives in the inn. We've searched the room, and all we found was this note." he pulls out a small envelope, reaches into it, and removes a small letter. "unfortunately none of the guardsmen can read it, nor do we even recognize the language. I though perhaps one of you might."
Elthaeron hands the note to Rastislav. "I believe that you are the most qualified among us to handle this task. What do you make of this letter?"
Taking the letter, Rastislav inspects it for a couple moments..
"Hmm..interesting.."
It is written in minkaian.
The comprehend languages spell reveals this:
I hope this letter finds you well, and with some free time on your hands, because we’ve got something of a problem. It’s to do with father. Seems that he might have had something to do with Sandpoint’s recent troubles with the goblins, and I didn’t want to bring the matter to the authorities because we both know he’d just weasel his way out of it. You’ve got some pull here in town, though. If you can meet me at the Glassworks at midnight tonight, maybe we can figure out how to make sure he faces the punishment he deserves. Knock twice and then three times more and then once more at the delivery entrance and I’ll let you in. In any case, I don’t have to impress upon you the delicate nature of this request. If news got out, you know these local rubes would assume that you and I were in on the whole thing too, don’t you? They’ve got no honor at all around these parts. I still don’t understand how you can stand to stay here.Anyway, don’t tell anyone about this. There are other complications as well, ones I’d rather talk to you in person about tonight. Don’t be late.
Tsuto
After reading the letter Rastislav turns to the grouping of people and say with a serious face, "I vill need place to work and transcribe letter." He then turns to around to exit the guard headqarters and says as he leaves, "I vill borrow letter."
"Very well, if you discover anything, please tell us immediately." Says Sheriff Hemlock.
Note: A knowledge local check by anyone who has read/been read the letter can reveal things about individuals and places in the letter.
"Just so we are clear here, what takes precedence? Finding this girl or getting to the bottom of the goblin attacks?"
"I remember noting a building called the glassworks when I reviewed a map of the area upon arriving."
It didn't sound like Rastislav read the note aloud, but if he did, and I misunderstood his intent, or if he does, then your 18 will be used as your roll.
"Just so we are clear here, what takes precedence? Finding this girl or getting to the bottom of the goblin attacks?"
You are currently mecenaries under hire for your unique abilities and skills by the city of Magnimar helping out its daughter port, Sandpoint. As such, Sheriff Hemlock is your supervising officer, and has stated it is his belief that this disappearance is somehow related to the raid, and also the person missing is an important member of the town, and so currently her safety is the one taking precedence