Grizmark will attempt to find any available tracks
There is a robe lying in a corner of the room; and a sarcophagus lies opened. There are no tracks available in this room, and nothing is missing, other than the corpse from the sarcophagus.
Parii ponders about the missing corpse from the sarcophagus. "Who's remains were in this? Someone decided to go grave robbing...but robbing the entire body? Why?"
Sheriff Hemlock enters the room, looks around, and hears the gnome's question. "That'd be the now-missing corpse of the previous high-priest... The fact that they wanted that paticular corpse is... interesting, and confusing. Thank you'll for your help dealing with those, skeletons, let's go deliver this," he holds up the robe, " and the info on what is missing to the father." he pauses, "Also, would someone grab those bones? we might want them identified..."
Grizmark will gather the bones and put them in his pack. Except one, perhaps a radius, which he will surreptitiously give to the dog as a treat when he has a chance.
"Enough. Let's not argue in front of the humans. Grizmark, don't even think about it. We don't want to offend the locals.
"Surreptitiously" apparently means every one notices and feels like having an opinion about it before it even happens. As if this game wasn't going slow enough, we're wasting time dictating what other characters do. Don't do that. I'll run my guy, you run yours and we'll have a swell time.
So when you say that you are going to sneak a bone to the dog, it isn't out of the realm of possibility, especially given the circumstances, for another character to say 'hey, don't do that.' And then a third character, who being in front of you wouldn't have seen anything, to turn around and say 'both of you knock it off.'
I just don't see anyone dictating what other characters do here.
I guess I will have to be more clear in the future when I say, 'when he has a chance'. I did not mean it to come off as, 'I immediately and in front of everyone give a dog, who is not even in the room, a bone, so that everyone can notice and have an opinion about it'.
You are led by the Sheriff to the temple, in front of which is the priest. Father Zantus looks over the robe, and several of his acolytes begin to study the bones. The acolytes are unable to identify whose bones they are, and Zantus soon reveals why. "This robe is a Robe of Bones, depleted, but still faintly magical. Whomever planned this wanted to make it seem like he raised a few priests back to life, but forgot to take the used robe with him."
"What good would breaking into the vault do him? And why do it while the town was under attack?" questions Hemlock.
"Why indeed, says Zantus, "Why because, that was part of the plan! Don't you see? The raid wasn't an attempt to burn down the new temple! It was a diversion to collect the body of the previous high preist! The real question is, who had the pull to bring all of the goblin tribes in the area together, and what do they want with a consecrated body that can't be raised as undead?"
"Hmm, I see," muses Hemlock, "I'll get together a council, and call in Shalelu, she might know something.."
"Shalelu is the local Goblin expert, and an accomplished adventurer, at least when she was younger," supplies one of the acolytes.
Hemlock leaves, but is replaced by the approach of one, Ameiko Kaijutsu,"Hello, my name is Ameiko Kaijutsu, perhaps you've heard of me?" Her elegantly eastern features are nearly, but not quite, drowned out by her rough-looking hair and full adventuring garb. Not really waiting for an answer, she then says, "you guys did great work out there today, and I want to thank you for it. This town may not be that large, but it's home to me, so having complete strangers help save it meant a lot to me, I want to give you guys a free week of room and board at my inn, the Rusty dragon, and" she whispers this part, "If you ever need hard-to-get merchandise, magical or otherwise, I may know a cheep broker.
Would you like to say anything in response, and how would you like to spend your evening?
Khaz smiles at [EDIT] Ameiko. He clenches his fist over his heart and gives a short bow.
"And ye have our thanks for yer kindness. I believe that I can speak for all of us when I say that if ye are in need of our aid in this investigation, ye but need ask. Afterall, ye'll know where to find us.
Khaz smiles at Shalelu. He clenches his fist over his heart and gives a short bow.
This is Ameiko, Shalelu hasn't even shown up yet, she was only mentioned, but nonetheless she accepts your gratitude.
The Rusty Dragon Inn provides excellent food, as was expected by the reception of the dishes which were provided by Ameiko at the festival. The ale is good, and flows freely for "the town heroes" including you, and all of the city guards who are at the inn tonight, and one or two of the men who happened to have a weapon on them when the trouble broke out. Your beds are comfortable, and the rooms well serviced and furbished, unlike what one would expect from a woman as seemingly rough and adventurous as Ameiko.
The night passes uneventfully, and the next day dawns. Would you like to go anywhere in paticular, or do anything in paticular?
P.S. I forgot to mention it, but you were invited to the grand opening of the temple, which has now been demoted to a private affair among a select few, and will occur this morning.
There are other things to do, such as window shopping around town, or assisting the town-guard in cleanup, or anything else you can think of that you would like to do.
Khaz happily partakes of what is offered and plans to attend the temple opening 'to see what all the fuss is about.'
The opening ceremony of the temple is a quiet, solemn affair, but the inside of the Temple itself is a grandiose sight, and has a small shrine, or altar, dedicated to all of the good and neutral aligned gods common to varisa. After the ceremony, Sheriff Hemlock approaches the characters "We're holding a town meetin' tonight about what to do with the goblins, and to see if we can figure out why the sudden raid. Normally we don't invite stranger's, but for you all, we want to make an exception. It'll be here, in this temple."
"we will be there."
"Aye, ye can count on us bein' there. Ne'er heard of gobbos usin' necromancer before, an' I for one want to find out what's goin' on."
Giving the dog a human bone, or any other once sentient creature's, which could be percieved as an evil action, would likely offend the conscience of a neutral good cleric.
I'm sorry, but I could not disagree with your logic more. It's a bone. It was okay to kill the skeleton, but you can't give it to a dog? "Any sentient creature," means all good characters are vegetarians, as killing animals and eating the flesh from their bones is an evil action?
You guys are killing me. We haven't done s@#$ in this mod so far, and now there's several post about me wanting to give a dog a bone. G%~$$@n...
Seriously, if we're going to quibble over what everyone else does, while accomplishing absolutely nothing, then this is like playing with 3rd graders and we should just go about our own business.
Does anyone want to do anything before tonight? If not, I'll post the evening's events sometime later this evening.
I will drop this however, as I for one think it inconsequential whether or not the dog gets a bone, I just think there are better ways to go about getting it, especially as beef bones are dirt cheep, or could be pulled out of nearly any dumpster.
"A week ago, a farm, just south of here, was burnt to the ground. By goblins, the little swine. I was fortunately nearby, and managed to drive of the Goblins, and save the family. However, it did catch my attention, and caused me to start investigating. I've dedicated the last few years of my life to keeping the little runts from making to much trouble, and they've always came back, like little weeds that bite.
"There are five goblin tribes in this area, as most of you already know, and generally, they do half my job for me, what with internal and external squabbles amongst each other, but from what I've been able to figure out, all five tribes were involved in the raid on Sandpoint.
"The few I've managed to round up since yesterday have been beat up, and talked about the 'longshanks' who killed so many of them, I can only assume they were talking about you.
"whatever the reasons, the fact that all five tribes have been working together disturbs me. Goblin tribes never get along unless they've got something planned, and big plans require bigger bosses. I'm afraid that someone has moved in on the goblins, and organized them. And judging by these recent raids, what they're organizing is bad for us.
If you wish to go somewhere other than the inn after the town meeting, don't read this next one, and tell me where you are going.
After you return back to the Rusty Dragon for the evening, everything seems to be going well, the food is good, the ale flows freely, until a rich looking man strides in, and barks in an unfamiliar tongue towards one, Ameiko Kaijitsu (unless any of you understand Minkaian, no one understands the language). He begins to stride menacingly towards the kitchen. The other patrons grow quiet and interested in their meals. If you would like to intervene, or make knowledge local rolls, untrained even, they are permitted at this point.
Everyone needs to state what they are doing, preferably within a couple of days.
Grizmark, having returned to the Rusty Dragon inn and perhaps sensing a need for his mediation skills, tries gain an edge on the situation.
He will follow the menacing looking fop and try to intervene. Quite short on coin, perhaps earning respect from the kitchen staff or owner will prove beneficial.
The man's name is Lonjiku Kaijitsu, he was supposed to speak yesterday at the ceremony, but they said he was ill, but he looks healthy right now. As he steps toward the kitchen, he spots Grizmark approaching him, and he immediately whips around, takes in that all of you are present, and begins to berate all of you, this time speaking in common. "Ah, our little 'heroes' of the village. I suppose your here to celebrate your victory? Well, it wasn't a victory! It was a foolish act of stupidity! that's what it was! Fighting off the goblins like that has probably doomed this entire town! And now, your trying to intimidate me into not talking to my own daughter!? I've no idea how things are ran whichever hole you came out of dwarf, but here, such acts are deemed very unwise."
"As a healer by trade and by gifts from me goddess, I wou' first like ta congratulate ye on yer recovery from yer illness. However, when I see a man aggressively approachin', and tha patrons seen ta have experienced this behavior before, I feel tha need ta intervene. I like ta help people, whether that means diffusin' tha situation or escortin' ye out of here be yer choice. Lastly, I wou' ask ye if ye think it wou' have been better for us ta simply let tha little buggers keep slicin' throats, as ta nae incur their wrath? Where was yer daughter when they attacked, was she at tha event? Perhaps she wou' preferred ta die ta protect yer sensibilities instead of havin' tha townsfolk rise up ta put tha murderers down.
If ye're aimin' ta cause trouble here, ye will find I nae be so easily made timid by a fancy dressed man throwin' a tantrum fit for a grumpy baby just pulled off his ma's teat.
Hearing the commotion, Ameiko emerges from the kitchen. Spotting her father, she shouts at him in the language previously spoken by the man. He talks back, in the foreign tongue, and soon an argument is started between the two, and it escalates into him grabbing her by the arm. You may have a standard action to react at this point if you wish.
Not having is weapon ready, Grizmark will attempt to grapple to man, aiming to pin and subdue him.
Grizmark successfully grapples the man. Lonjiku screams, and wiggles free from Grizmark's grasp. As he flees out the door, Ameiko hollers after him, "And I hope you never come back here, you monster! Terrorizing my guests like that." He turns and looks at her just before leaving. "You are as dead to me as your mother." he turns around and leaves, just as the ladle in her hand flies out and barely hits the back of his coat. This produces one more shriek out of the fleeing nobleman, and Amieko, slightly shaken, walks over, picks up the ladle, turns around and announces to her patrons. "I'll need a well cleaned ladle now, since moron stew's not on the menu tonight." The resulting cheer from the tavern immediately brings a smile to her face as she turns to Grizmark and thanks him for his help. She announces a round of mead on the house, and the tavern then truly gets deafening. What are your character's plans for the night/morning?
2810/4 = 702.5
P.s We are on the fast track for Xp.
The new morning dawns. Any specific plans for the day?
The same as before. Though has Khaz made any money yet, or even found work? A well made breastplate won't pay for itself...
With the drama for the day hopefully over, Grizmark will wondering around town seeing if anyone needs help recovering from the attacks.
Khaz: No, you can't find any real work to speak of, you've made around 1 silver piece on random chores though.
Grizmark: A lot of people are scared, but nobody is really injured.
tomorrow, I'll post a new update.
That evening, you are approached by the noble who you saved from the Goblins during the raid, at which point he properly introduces himself. "I am Aldren Foxglove, pleased to make your acquaintance. I hope you don't view the events two days ago, or last night, as commonplace events here in town, or for this area. to try to make up for these unpleasantries, as well as for saving my life, I'd like to ask you to accompany me on a boar hunt tomorrow, sporting fun if you've never been on one, good food follows as well." He leans over and whispers conspiratorially to the gnome. "I know it will be good, I've recruited Amieko to roast it." Straightening up, he once more addresses the whole group. "Also, as a more substantial token of gratitude, I'd like to give you all this..." He pulls out a small purse containing 50gp.
How do you respond?
"That be certainly a generous offer, and I'd be a fool ta turn it down. I'd happily take yer coin and and try ta peg some squealers with ye"
To the group in Dwarven:
"What say ye? Good be a bit too generous maybe, but I'd be lying if I said I weren't broke.
"Well seeing as how my skills aren't otherwise paying the bills, we'd be fools to say no. I'm in." Then turning to the human:
"Yer far too kind. But I agree with me kinsman here. Will be an honor, says I."
"Excellent! I look forward to our hunt!" Grinning, Aldren turns around and walks off, and asks for his meal to be sent to his quarters. Is there anything anyone wants to do before tomorrow?
I can't think of anything to do, I'm happy to move on. I feel like I'm missing a hook or a hint, but can't make it out, sorry.
Agreed.
The next morning, all seems to be going well, until, just after breakfast, a terrified woman comes into the inn, followed by her young son, screaming for help.
Khaz sighs as he sees them run in, and mutters to himself "They don't bloody pay for this." He reaches for his axe as he says much louder "What be the problem, more gobbos?"
"yes, yes!! she frantically shouts, "There is a goblin in our house!! My husband sent me to find help!! he stayed back to keep it inside, oh!! come quickly!!" without waiting for you to follow she heads towards the door. how do you respond?