Looks over at the sheriff "Would you be so kind as to watch out for these?"indicating the sacks of goblin gear that he was intending to sell.
The Boneyard is deserted save the party and Sheriff Hemlock. Sheriff Hemlock says, "Yes. I will watch your possessions for you."
"This is strange. Maybe they were led by a bugbear or a hobgoblin. It is known they lead those lesser vermin."
"During further interrogations, the little monsters indicated that there were lead by a "longshanks' like us. As best we can guess, that would be either a Human, Elf or Half-Elf that is leading them," the Good Sheriff offers.
Garrath looks more carefully, "Six of the goblins, and another set of footprints, and if there is sound from inside, at least some may still be there. Garrath throws a shoulder into the door to open it.
Lyr looks around, I'm not sure how long I'll be staying. If things continue to be as eventful as they have, I may have no choice. A small laugh escapes her lips. Let's see this tomb.
Lyr gasps as she sees the door hanging askew over the entrance. Who would . . . A small growl escapes her. She looks around following the tracks Brandark pointed out, Ah, but I believe you missed the fact that these tracks lead back to the wall. I do not believe the goblins and . . . longshanks, she says the word with distaste, are still in there.
She holds up her glaive as she enters a few moments after Kelvin, casting light on the blade, it glows, lighting up the tomb.
"Damn, skeletons" says Kelvin, as he steps in to the right keeping his back against the wall so he hopefully does not get flanked. He catches the skeletons flat footed and shoots an arrow at skeleton one barely wounding it.
An arrow strikes sends bits of bone flying off on one of the skeletal horrors(S1). Then all three attack with a clang of bone on bone and metal on bone wielding rusty broken scimitars.
The third Skeleton gets a lucky thrust hitting Kelvin.
Brandark looks at the walking dead, grimaces, grips his axe tighter, and steps into the fray, attacking number 3.
Lyr shouts, You are not welcome here! She holds out the symbol of Shelyn, concentrating.
"Back to your graves!
Garrath's Falchion slices into the Skeleton's bones.
Elektra's spray of acid spurts overhead of the skeleton.
Positive energy from Shelyn's symbol springs forth.
The skeleton splintered by Kelvin's arrow drops into a heap of bones, as does the Skeleton Garrath sliced into.
Positive energy staggers the mindless undead, but it continues its assault.
Brandark's Battle axe is deflected by the Skeleton's rusted armor.
Round Two
Kelvin steps back and fires another arrow, hitting the remaining skeleton, but not doing any damage to it.
The lifeless creation of foul magic swings its rusted scimitar at the Dwarf.
But it doesn't even scratch Brandark's armor.
Brandark, with a grimmace, attempts to remove the head of the skeleton that is scratching at his armour.
But only seems to do moderate damage.
But it was enough to drop the foul evil thing into yet another heap of bones.
End of Encounter.
After the battle with the Skeletons, Sheriff Hemlock motion Father Zantus over to the Crypt.
When Father Zantus looks inside, he sees that Father Tobyn’s sarcophagus has been opened, and the remains removed. He then begins to weep. ”Why would anyone want to take Father Tobyn’s remains; and go to so much trouble to do so?” the distraught priest says to no one in particular.
Sheriff Hemlock will look at the party with concern etched upon his face, ”Please. We must keep this a secret for the time being. The town is already at edge from the Goblin raid. I do not even want to consider some of the panicked responses that would ring out if they knew that the raid was to cover the stealing of Father Tobyn’s remains. The purpose of such a thing cannot be for good,” he declares in a matter-of-fact manner.
Father Zantus regains his composure and looks at the party, ”Thank you again. In about an hour we are going to dedicate the new Cathedral with the funeral of those lost.” He chokes up for a moment, then continues, ”We plan to honor those lost by making a memorial to them amongst the Standing Stones.” The Padre looks at Brandark, ”After that your assistance with the burial will be appreciated.”
Brandark moves some of the skeletal remains out of the main chamber. "Father Zantus, I will be to both of those."
Looks over at the other members of the party. "I hope you don't mind, but I will be back. Meet you at the dragon in a few hours?"
He then walks out, picks up the sacks of goblin equipment, and takes it to the smith, for the much delayed selling.
Those skeletons seemed resistant to blade and bow, I wonder if they will suffer from a blunt object.
Brandark looks to sell some stuff. He finds his way to Savah’s Armory. There he is greeted by SAVAH BEVANIKY. She becomes excited when Brandark enters, ”You are one of the heroes that saved Sandpoint!” She bubbles with excitement, gladly buying Brandark’s stuff for 25GP more than he had imagined.
"I think it would be wise for those martial inclined to buy a secondary weapon to cope with opponents of a peticular kind, resistant to diffrent kind of weapons. Skeletons are hard to kill with blades, but very well with heavy weapons that inflict massive trauma. Zombies on the other hand a better to destroy if you have a slashing weapon."
After the loot is shared, Elektra will return and buy a rapier.
Lyr watches the last skeleton crumble. Hmph, she grunts, I hate that anyone would destroy the peaceful rest of these people. She leans down and begins to put the piles of bones back into any apparently empty spots. Yes, I will come and help with both as well. Who was Father Tobyn? Why would they want his remains?
”He was the head priest whom I replaced.“Then looking at Lyr, Father Zantus, somber almost to the point of despair begins, ”Our town of Sandpoint has been cursed. We call it the Late Unpleasantness. It started in 4702 AR, with the gruesome Chopper murders. Jervas Stoot, was an eccentric artist who created hauntingly beautiful woodcarvings of birds. All over town these carvings were displayed. It was a sort of pride for a business or residence to have one of these carvings. We even had a name for it, ‘sporting a Stoot.” Father Zantus smiles briefly then continues, ”But what everyone thought was a harmless eccentric hermit, became a murderer of nearly two dozen folk in the most brutal ways. Those, I guess, he felt had wronged him over the years. When the town found out that the Chopper was Jervas Stoot, people took hatchets to the wood carvings. The scars from those wood carvings are all over town.” Father Zantus pauses in reflection.
”Then there was the church fire that took the lives of Father Tobyn and his beautiful adopted daughter Nualia,” Father Zantus starts up again this time doing everything he can to hold back tears, ”The fire was massive. It took out the White Deer and several other buildings. It was so hot of a fire that it completely consumed Nualia’s body. And now with this Goblin raid the Late Unpleasantness’ continues,” Father Zantus closes his eyes for just a moment,"But I cannot even imagine why anyone would want Ezekien Tobyn's remains. I fear that evil purposes are behind this. Unpleasant times, unpleasant times, our Sandpoint is cursed."
Interesting. Fact one: The goblins were led by a longshanks. Longshanks seems to be a word for a larger humanoid person. Also It seems it did not belong to the goblinoid species, as goblins have special words for them. More likely no gnome or dwarf, to much racial hatred. I would guess also neither an elf. This leaves a human. Most likely a human.
Fact two: The desecration of the crypt was led by a humanoid and some goblins. At the same time as the raid.
Conclusion: The raid was a diversion for the desecration.
Fact 3: The remains of one person were stolen, 3 more were turned into an undead.
Conclusion: The person is either capable of magic or has easy access to it and the means to use it.
Conclusion 2: All this noise was just camouflage for stealing remains of one person
Question: Why take the remains of one person. What is the benefit?
Who has a motivation and the means of such a dead?
Usual Suspects: Family, Opponents, Enemys
"Sir, I have a question. Can you please tell me about the late Father. What were his enemys. Any family, any friends we could question?"
Garrath looks about the tomb, "A cold place to be buried. He then looks about to see if the goblins and larger person were looking for anyone else. "May your souls finally leave this place and rest."
As Brandark starts to leave, Kelvin comes up to him, "let me help you with that. After not doing any damage to those things, I think I need to get a mace or something at the armory, just in case we run into more of them." He shoulders one of the bags of goblin junk and helps him bring it to the armory.
"Thank you Savah" as they are given the extra gold. "Do you have a simple mace that I can purchase?"
"Thank you kelvin, the bags are a bit awkward. However, Elektra was right, I think a back up or two would make things easier"
At Savah's upon receiving the extra money"Thank you Savah, it was not a problem."
"Sir, I have a question. Can you please tell me about the late Father. What were his enemys. Any family, any friends we could question?"
Father Zantus looks at the Elf Woman, "The only enemies Father Tobyn would have had were those that served the cause of Evil. But in that he likely had many. The only family he had was his adopted daughter Nualia; and she too died in the fire. And I was his best friend, you may ask me anything." Father Zantus offers Elektra a kind smile.
Garrath looks about the tomb, "A cold place to be buried. He then looks about to see if the goblins and larger person were looking for anyone else. "May your souls finally leave this place and rest."
Edit: Our post crossed. If you looked around, you find the robe.
"Thank you Savah" as they are given the extra gold. "Do you have a simple mace that I can purchase?"
Giddy with excitement with another opportunity to help one of the heroes, Savah says, "Yes, yes we carry Maces. We have several."
Garrath snags the robe with the tip of his curved falchion, and lifts it from where it lay. He brings it back towards the others still there to examine. "Does this belong on the floor of the tomb?
"Whoever stole Father Tobyn's remains likely left it behind. The tomb had been sealed," the Good Sheriff surmises.
At Savah's emporium, Brandark expresses interest in the collection that she has. After perusing, Brandark has made his 3 selections, and sells off his trusty battle axe.
He then proceeds to the Standing stones.
Father Zantus leaves the crypt. He summons a pair acolytes and tasks them with repairing the crypts door. And to do it quickly.
Elektra will hurry after Brandark and Kelvin, as she wants a decent blade.
The dedication of the Cathedral, as one would imagine, was a very somber affair. A far cry from the jubilant festivities of the day before. The services, dedication and burial would last until late afternoon. But afterwards as the party heads back toward the Rusty Dragon with a trip to Savah's Armory possibly for some, the atmosphere is lighter and more upbeat on the streets.
As the party works it’s way back to the Rusty Dragon, citizen after citizen stop the party to shake their hands and pat them on the back. The local baker charges out of her shop and introduces herself to Kelvin as he passes by, ” I am Alma Avertin, and deary you look starved.” She presses a fresh baked loaf of bread into Kelvin’s arms.
Eventually the party will make its way back to the Rusty Dragon. The Rusty Dragon is already crowded. When the party arrives cheers ring out from most of the patrons. An older Halfling Woman approaches the party, ”I am Brathana. I will be taking care of you. We have a room for the Ladies and another for the Gents. Later in your rooms we will have a hot bath prepared. But for now, we have reserved a table for you in the front. I will be bringing out our curried salmon and spicy potatoes. We have both local and Elven Wine; as well as, local and Dwarven Ale. What would you have?”
"I would like a flagon of sparkling ruby elven. And if possible some venison. That would be lovely!"
Sitting down awkward, not yet used to sit down with a rapier at her side, she takes out a small notebook and makes a few last minute notes.
Garrath roars with laughter after the woman that gave Kelvin the loaf of bread leaves, not wanting to offend her. "You are just skin and bones, you know. I fear for you if a seastorm blows in, Kelvin, we may not find you for miles." He claps the elf on the shoulder good-naturedly.
Coming into the Dragon, and hearing Brathana, he smiles, as he sets aside the new 7' hammer he just purchased. [b]"I would like a local stout, so dark you cannot see through it, and with a head so thick I can rest a gold coin on it!"
Lyr smiles, The local wine for me. She sits down with the others, Thank you very much Barthana.
Well this has been quite the adventure. I must admit, I was not expecting to be so . . . busy when coming to Sandpoint.
Brandark, walking in a couple of minutes later, after checking on, and feeding Abacus, hears Brathana and says "Dwarven Ale good lady"
He then goes to his room, drops off most of his purchases, and returns to the table in time to get the ale and the meal.
"Kelvin, may I be seeing that bracelet and the pearls for a minute, I am going to see if I can figure the value of them"
Kelvin walks over to the light maces, takes one, checks the balance, then puts it back and tries another. He finds one that is too his liking, and tells the girl "Savah, I will purchase one" and he hands over the five gold coins, and she hands him back two silver coins. After Brandark finishes selling the goblin arms and armor, he heads back to the Inn with Brandark and Elektra.
As the baker presses the loaf of bread into his arms, Kelvin sputters in surprise, but then remembering his manners (you are not out in the woods, these are good people, remember that he think to himself) and he says simply "thank you Alma for your generosity". He breaks a piece off and offers some to Elektra, Garrath and Brandark, while chewing on some himself. "Good bread" he mutters while chewing and walking. "The better to not be seen or heard in the woods" he grins back at the big man. "I think the forest creatures would know about you from miles away" he chuckles and returns the back slap, not with anywhere near the force of the large man.
"Just water for me please, Brathana." When the others look at him "I live in the woods, and have not gotten used to the finer portions of my heritage. However, a hot food and a hot bath sound a lot better than cold trail rations and a dip in the creek" he chuckles.
"Sure Brandark. Here you go" and the elf scout pulls the bracelet out of his pouch, takes a quick look at it, and hands it over to Brandark. "It is a beautiful piece of jewelry, isn't it."
He chuckles at Lyr, "But busy we are, and it is good! He sets about devouring the salmon, and drinking his ale. He laughs at Kelvin, speaking around a mouthful, "He lives in the woods, and sneaks through them. When he travels with me? All the better, for I will drive off any creature not worth hunting, and Kelvin will hunt down mighty prey."
He watches Kelvin produce the bracelet, and then remembers, "I found this in the to...the place we went to, left by the people we tracked." He throws the robe on the table for all to inspect. Hoping that people didn't notice his gaff at almost mentioning the tomb.
"Busy is good, just glad that we can help the people of town." Looks over at Garrath over the near slip, and the robe "I cannot see how that could help us?"
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