"Ok. What are we going to do then?"
"Varg, come along if you'd like. We best hurry, lest the wounds worsen." With that, Lona turns her attention to Aldern. "How are you doing? Hang it there, Aldern, we will be at Father Zantus' shortly."
She asks Aldern to confirm the location, and rides off to Father Zantus' place, not bothering to check if Varg follows. Once there, she spoke to Father Zantus of the events that lead to the injury, and stays with them while Father Zantus and his assistants attend to Aldern's wounds.
"There has been more business with the Goblins?" Lym asks of the deputy. "This attack was not an insular incident? How deeply disconcerting."
"Father Zantus worships Desna, I believe, and the cathedral houses a church for each of Desna, Erastil, Abadar, Shelyn, Gozreh, and Sarenrae." Aldern pulls out several small leather bags that jingle. Before I forget again, let me give you the reward I promised." Aldern gives out one to each who accepts. Inside each are 50 gold pieces.
At the cathedral:
The cathedral is just inside the city (#1 on the Player's Guide map). The largest building in Sandpoint, the newly-finished building is made of stone and glass. Inside the cathedral is an open-air courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard are seven standing stones, placed around a circular stone altar. To the south, the shrines of Erastil and Abadar sit. To the west, offering a view of Old Light, the ancient ruined lighthouse, are the shrines of Shelyn and Gozreh. To the east, having a view of the boneyard (#2 on the PG map), are the shrines of Sarenrae and Desna.
Inside Sandpoint Cathedral (made by Paizo forum-member, Chinchbug).
Father Zantus is inside Desna's church when you search. When Aldern and Lona approach and tell their story, Zantus accepts Aldern into his care. "Looks like you had a little too much fun today, huh?" he smiles at Aldern. Calling other clerics to help him, they are able to heal Aldern's wounds.
Around the town:
The White Deer (#3) is the northernmost building in town. Next to it, The Way North (#4) is a one-story building and looks fairly new. A couple of the more noticable structures are the stone fortress barracks/jail (#10) and the two-story town hall (#11).
Further south is the glassworks (#20) and Turandarok Academy (#27), a school and orphanage. The theater (#23) is just east of that. In the middle of these large buildings is a smaller one, standing out because of its sign reading, "The Curious Goblin", and showing an image of a wide-goblin reading a book (#22).
The Hagfish (#33) tavern sits on the harbor, next to the fishmarket (#34). Many different shops and markets are in the southeast part of Sandpoint.
Walking down the street, Markum often catches one or more citizens looking and sometimes pointing at him and his dog, sometimes whispering something to a nearby peer. A couple of times, the druid receives cheers and applauds from a passerby or loiterer. A woman stops Markum, running from her bakery and carrying a loaf of bread. "You're one of the those heroes, aren't you?" she says excitedly. "Here, you look hungry." She hands the loaf to Markum.
Buying a weapon:
Asking and searching around for a weapon store, you're pointed to the Savah's Armory (#12). The general store (#26) and the boutique (#41) are also said to sell some weaponry.
Savah's Armory bears some scars from the Sandpoint Fire from a few years ago, but still stands strong. Inside, on display are many different weapons, including those of masterwork quality, and those of a more exotic nature: a spiked chain, a dozen masterwork shuriken, and a repeating crossbow with a darkwood and ivory stock. A woman introduces herself. "I'm Savah. How can I help..." She pauses. "Wait a minute. I know you! You're that woman who fought the goblins in the raid!" She claps. "Anything you'd like to buy, 20% off!" (You can purchase a weapon for 80% of the listed price in the Pathfinder rulebook.)
Lona accepts the reward with a hearty thanks, and escorts Aldern to the cathedral, spending the day there. She asks the father for a chance to freshen up, but otherwise stays with Aldern, continuing to engage him in conversation and doing her best to lessen the trauma of the harrowing experience.
I am uncomfortable with the attention I get until the baker woman gives him the bread. He soon gets the idea of using his newfound fame as a way to help locate his father. He goes to find Kaddock.
Shoanti
"I thank you for your gracious offer," Lym says with a courteous bow of the head in Savah's direction. "And I promise not to abuse it."
Lym spends a little time browsing the stock of weaponry, and finally brings out a heavy crossbow and a quiver of ten bolts to go with it. "This looks promising," she says to the weapon merchant as she deposits her purchases on the counter and starts putting down well-worn gold coins to pay.
"You sell fine weapons here," the Mage chatters on. "I suppose you do good business, if there are Goblin rais on a regular basis? Though it seemed such a surprise to everyone ... Tell me, are Goblin attacks a common occurrence?"
Aldern pulls out several small leather bags that jingle. Before I forget again, let me give you the reward I promised." Aldern gives out one to each who accepts. Inside each are 50 gold pieces.
"Ah Mr Foxglove, I don't see how I could ever..." Varg pauses. "...refuse such a generous offer. Thank you."
Aldern is restored to health with aid of Zantus and his clergy. A monetary contribution is made by Aldern in response, before leaving the cathedral. Later on, as evening approaches Aldern, and any of the twon's goblin-fighting heroes who wishes to go along with, attends the opening production of Cyrdak Drokkus' latest play.
After the play, Aldern holds his boar feast at the Rusty Dragon. Business is booming tonight in the tavern, as word had spread of the hunt by the noble and the heroes, and of the upcoming feast. Ameiko announces the arrival of Aldern and the brave champions, and with the help of her halfling maid, Bethana, begins serving meals to the customers. The meat is served with a spicy medley of vegetables and freshly baked bread.
Celebration continues on for a couple hours. Foxglove, as he's wont to do, buys everyone a round of drinks. He has a few drinks, himself, and becomes very flirtatious with the women around him, especially Lona.
Eventually, late into the night, the crowd dies down. Only the those staying the inn overnight are left, and they soon go to bed.
...
Four days later, Aldern leaves for his home, inviting all you to come visit him whenever you're in Magnimar. Each night staying at an inn, from this point on, costs 2 gold pieces and includes meals.
Later that night, after Aldern's departure, you're approached by woman. She's hysterial and in tears, clutching a baby to her chest with one hand, and clinging to the back of a small boy's shirt with other. "YOU FOUGHT THE GOBLINS! PLEASE, YOU HAVE TO HELP ME!"
"What is it woman? What do you need?"
"We were there at the festival, when the goblins attacked! Aeryn here saw one of the goblins light a cat on fire, and he hadn't been the same since." The woman nods towards the boy. "Every night he would cry in terror, which sent our dog Petal into a fit. My husband and I would investigate, and Aeryn would say he saw a goblin come out of his closet. We didn't believe him!
"Alergast, my husband, became fed up with our son and threatened to make him sleep in the woodshed if he couldn't learn to be a man, and sleep through the night without crying and telling stories. Then tonight, Aeryn started crying out again, but we ignored it. Then, Petal was howled out in pain and Aeryn's screams turned shrill!" The woman pauses and grabs the boys arm, showing it to you. You can see that they're covered in fresh bite marks.
"When we burst into Aeryn's room, there was a goblin crouched on his chest! Petal was dead, with a knife deep in his ear, and the goblin was trying to chew off Aeryn's arm! My husband attacked the goblin and chased it back into the closet and clambered into a hole under an old fur. Then Alergast flew into a rage, tearing the closet apart to get to the goblin, and I grabbed our children and ran out to find help! I had heard the heroes were staying here, so I came here."
"Direct us to your home, then go find the sheriff!"
"Yes, hurry!" Lym agrees with Markum. 'This seems unlike Goblins,' she thinks as she follows the terrified woman. 'Far too concerted an attack. What is going on in this town?'
"I know what it's like to be a boy finding murderous monsters in his house. Direct us at once!"
What a strange story, thought Lona to herself and she gets herself ready to join the group. There does seem to be trouble a'brewing, and she needs to know what it's all about! "I am ready when you are." She takes a look around to see who's answered the call. "It's good to see the group together again," she smiled.
"I know her home, I'll lead the way. Ma'am, just take your son to the Sheriff's, and we'll go see to your goblin problem."
With that, Kaddok leads the way to the home.
The Barett family's home is less than 100 feet down the street. Entering the door, the house is completely silent. On finding the boy's room, you find Alergast laying still, on his stomach, as if he had crawled into the closet.
"Luces saltantes pendantes inflammo!" Lym snaps as soon as she sees the recumbent body, and snaps her fingers after wiggling them in a complicated gesture. A foursome of floating spheres of light flies from her hand and drifts into the closet, fully illuminating the scene there.
You don't see or hear any goblins. The front of the Alergast's head and shoulders is sunk into a hole in the closet.
"Someone pull him out," Lym whispers, one hand rising to her mouth. "Oh, by all the powers of good, I think he might be dead ..."
Lona frantically scans about the room, looking for any clues for what could have happened here or where the goblin could've gone, if he's no longer around.
perception
Kaddok grabs the man and tries to haul him out.
Vuvo moves into the home heading right for the man's prone form. He sniffs and starts growling. Markum stands over the body with his weapon out.
"Pull him out I'll kill it when it tries to come out."
Varg joins Markum. "May I suggest that YOU pull him out and I'LL kill it?" As an afterthough, he adds "Oh, or were you talking to your dog?"
Lona shakes her head, clearly exasperated. "Men."
"Let me help you with this body, if I can." Lona joins Kaddok, offering what little strength she has to the effort.
OOC
Edited: Added bold to the speech texts.
With only slight resistance, you're able to pull the man's body out. A heavy streak of blood is left on the floor, from underneath the body, as you drag it towards you. An instant later, a goblin leaps out of the hole and onto Alergast's body, shrieking in rage. "THAT'S MY FOOD!" It holds a small fragment of metal, wielding it like a knife.
"A goblin!" Lona cried as she reaches for her rapier.
OOC
initiative
"You -- your -- what? Why, you stinking little bugbear dropping!" Lym shrieks, fury overtaking shock at a lightning pace.
Initiative
Markum strikes like lightning
Scimitar Damage
And Vuvo attacks
Bite Damage Trip
The goblin wards off the attacks of the druid and his dog.
Rather than waste a spell this early in the day, Lym whirls around her quarterstaff and tries to whack the Goblin in the skull.
Lona, rapier in hand, finds an opening and strikes at the goblin.
crit check (apply 22-24/x2)
attack
damage
Kaddok immediately lashes out with his free hand, cracking the goblin in the face.
Lym's staff glances off the goblin's head, creating an opening for Kaddok to smash the raging creature's skull. It falls limp.
You hear someone coming into the house.
Markum points to the door and yells, "Watch out!"
"Watch what comes from below, instead!" Lym cautions, and chants a spell she had cast scant minutes before: "Luces saltantes pendantes inflammo."
Four torches appear out of empty air and float into the hole, illuminating what lies within and beneath.
Lona takes advantage of the light, and peers into the hole.
[ooc]perception
The hole is barely large enough for the goblin, and there's nothing in it.
Who's coming through the door?
Leaving the boy's room and heading to the front of the house, you see the woman who sought your help. She stands there and asks worriedly, "Is the goblin dead?"
Varg is more interested in whether ALERGAST is dead or alive (even though the odds of him being alive are infinitesimal.) He checks.
Poking and prodding Alergast's body doesn't get a response from him. Turning him over, you see that the flesh on his face, neck, and chest have been eaten away.
"I think so. But we killed the goblin, so your home is safe again."
"Where's Alergast?" she asks.
Lym comes to the door when she hears the woman, winces at the question and bites her lip. "Please sit down," she suggests to the woman, taking her hands as gently as she can, and guides her to whatever spot provides itself outside the house. If the lady of the house allows herself to be guided, Lym asks: "Please wait here a moment." Turning back to the others, she mutters: "For pity's sakes, cover the poor man's face or something. She doesn't need to see him like that. Is any of you experienced in dealing with the freshly bereaved ...?"
"Covering his face won't make him any less dead. Just let her in to see him if she wants to see him. Though I don't think it's a good idea. She'll probably start crying."