"That sounds perfect!" declares Ninian. "I'll be around. I can usually be found at the university library though for the next few days I'm sure we'll all be investigating what the hell is going on."
"Sounds good to me. I'll be around town. Iget the funny feeling this isn't over."
The inspector continues to the door. "Thank you for you help, and that of your friends. Sandpoint will not forget it. I shall send an officer to accompany you out. The bathhouse is not far, even in this rain you should get there unscathed. Goodnight." With that he leaves.
The trip to the bathhouse is indeed short. Short, and very very wet. Stood in the porch, another peephole is opened to your knock, and another stern face looks out.
It turns to shout behind "Hey Fred, get a look this, it's them chaps an offed that goblin singest woman." With that he opens the door. Light floods out again, and warmth, and clean smells.
Fred is revealed, sat towards the back of the room, to be a 6 foot, 3 inch half-orc woman, with muscles that would rival a blacksmith. Her pale green skin glistens slightly where her sleeves are pulled up to the elbows, with the oils of her trade.
"Well lads, " her husky baritone questions, "what can we do for you? On the house after today's exploits, of course." Her halfling companion turns to her askance, taking a seat at the shock of giving a job away....
Ninian steps into the room and addresses the masseuse with an extended hand. "Well that is a generous offer, one I cannot refuse. I am Ninian and am well in need of your expert hands."
Reynard grins widely at the masseuse. "Ah, truly you are a saint m'lady, I surrender myself to your mercies."
The bath's and massages prove as soothing and theraputic as could be wised for. Muscles are pounded, steeped in oils, steamed, washed, dried, and re-oiled. All the while, the halfling whitters on about how courageous the fighters looked from his second story vantage point.
Hours later, you are back at the church guest quarters, eating a lavish meal prepared by Emanuel.
It is late, well past the hour that most would be in bed, when there is a knock at the connecting door to the church. Farther Zantos enters, obviously tired, and more than a little upset. He stands worriedly by the door.
"Please, forgive my intrusion. I have just had some most terrible news. I could think of no one else to discuss this with, the garrison will be shut up tight by now. I believe I may have discovered the reason for the attack today. A grave has been robbed, the bones are missing. The grave of my predecessor."
"Bones stolen, eh? Why would someone wish to steal a dead priest's bones? I can't think of any alchemical infusions that would require a dead priest's bones. Perhaps a necromantic ritual?"
"Interesting. Maybe they need to talk to the spirit. Father, do you know whose bones have been stolen? It may be important. I can't imagine them going through this kind of trouble to reanimate a skeleton."
"Where were the bones buried? In the church mausoleum? In a nearby graveyard?"
"the bones are those of my predecessor, as I mentioned. I went out to the mausoleum once I had tended the last of my patients, as is my want, to calm my mind before I rest. The mausoleum is a building to itself, a little way from the edge of the graveyard. The door had been broken from it's hinges, and there were scuff marks all around. I checked inside to be sure, only one body is missing."
"Since when do goblins plan an elaborate distraction to steal bones? Doesn't make sense. Sounds too smart for the little bastards.....sorry father."
"Oh, indeed! I really hadn;'t thought of that. It does seem strange now that you mention it. I shall ensure I speak to the Inspector first thing in the morning. Before I go though, are the accommodations to your satisfaction? We don't get many visitors out here now a days."
"Who was the dead priest? Was he important?"
"Well, I wuldn't say there was anything special about him at all. He was named Father Tobryn. He had an adopted daughter, who was assimar, named Nualia. They both died in the church, when it burnt down some years ago. I took over not long after coming from Magnimar for the job."
"Aasimar, eh? Plane walkers are rare, their spawn even more so. Was her bones stolen too?"
"Perhaps we should have a look at the site. Maybe we can find some clues there."
"Aasimar, eh? Plane walkers are rare, their spawn even more so. Was her bones stolen too?"
"strangely, her bones were never found. They were thought to be burnt in thd hottest part of the fire. I would advise you wait until morning to look, the rain mayvwell wash away any tracks in the meantime, but it would hamper your search now more in my opinion. I would guess you have more experence there than I though." he smiles
"I need to finish a night's sleep if I am to be fully effective tomorrow. Plus, I think the likelyhood of finding or not any tracks in the morning versus now in the dark and rain would be a wash."
"Night isn't your friend when you hunt something that sees better in the dark than you do. I say morning as well."
"I thought you may agree. I shall leave you to your rest, and speak to the inspector in the morning. Thank you for your time.
with that, the father leaves. The rest of the night passes without incident, and at dawn the father finnishes healing wits. Following this you all gather at the mauseleum. The site has very obviously been attacked by goblins. The doors are roped violently apart, and a dog slicer even lies in the mud.
Reynard crouches down over the muddy ground, studying it carefully.
"They had human help, see the prints here and here?"
Anyone want to do anything else in particular with the mausoleum?
While Reynard searches around for tracks, Ninian looks for any other clues that may have been left behind as well as he helping with the tracking.
Dean, you can see the spoiler above. Also this:
Emanual will wait for them to finish and hear what they think.
Luc asks if the former priest's whole skeleton was taken or just the skull.
"It appears that only the priests bones have been taken. Nothing else has been molested."
As you stand and look. The Father, and the Inspector make an appearence.
"So, you've come out to have a look too? Anything interesting that you've spotted?" The inspector says aimiably, as he walks up.
"Hello Inspector," Ninian turns his head to address the newcomer, shifting his weight off of his cane and bad leg, onto his good one. "The old priest's remains were the only ones stolen. All others are lying as they were laid."
"Hello Inspector," Ninian turns his head to address the newcomer, shifting his weight off of his cane and bad leg, onto his good one. "The old priest's remains were the only ones stolen. All others are lying as they were laid."
Indeed? Well that is interesting. Have you seen anything else? I can see from the detrious that this was don't by goblins, but stealing just ond set of bones? And not firing the place after? That is decidedly odd.
It would seem there is more at work here than meets the eye. I will be leaving at once for Magnimar, by coach. The trip will take a few days, perhaps s week if ghe help I require is hard to clme by. I would ask you good people to remain here, and to be vigillant, the goblins may come back, although I don't expect it.
"That we will. By the way, did the good father have any enemies in town. A necromancer perhaps?"
"I shall stay inspector. It would be an honor to defend this city in your absence with these fellows here."
"That we will. By the way, did the good father have any enemies in town. A necromancer perhaps?"
"The ex-father, or the current one?" the inspector laughs. "In seriousness, no, neither had any enemies that we are aware off. The old Father's bones have been undisturbed these past 5 years."
"Thank you all for staying, I will attempt to make some monetary recompense when I return from Magnimar. I feel a lot better knowing souls such as yourselves will be here while I am away."
With that, he turns and leaves, the father remains behind, and begins tidying small things, closing the mausoleum doors, etc etc.
Wits wanders about the graveyard, examining tombs and inscriptions discreetly. He favors his left side, where the goblin had opened him up.
"I will stay, of course, because I have no other prospects and a great many formulae I wish to test. And given your city's somewhat less than strict policies on disruptions in the street, I have found it a most... pleasant place to be, indeed!"
Luc will try to find some information in town about the late Father Tobryn and his daughter Nualia. Knowledge (Local):
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Luc will try to find some information in town about the late Father Tobryn and his daughter Nualia. Knowledge (Local): 1d20+4
Anyone else?
Reynard will hit a few local tevarns to be visivle, make people at ease.
The next few days pass calmly and quietly in a haze of simple nice surprises. Now that the excitment is over, the town has settled down. The Inspector and Father seem to be the only ones who thing the Goblins may be any further threat.
Everyone has stories of the stupid goblins setting themselves on fire, or downing themselves in rain barrels in their excitement. As no one in the town was fatally injured, and the church did an outstanding job of getting them healed without injury, they are now quite light hearted about it.
The best outcome is that you all have become local heroes. You don't pay for anything for the next few days, where ever you go. Local ladies run up and hug you in the street, thanking you for saving their sons (whether you did or not!). Bakers give you free loves, and inns serve you free drinks, in exchange for a retelling of your tale.
It's after one of there retellings, that a local girl, Shaylis Vinder, daughter of the general store owner, sidles up to Raynard. Shaylis is a buxom young lass, not quite into her twenties and human, with a lithe figure, improved further by her corset.
"Excuse me sir, I know this isn't a very good use of your valuable time, and skills. But my father has some rats causing trouble in the basement of his store. They are bigger than cats, and the cats are even scared to go down there. I wonder if you could come and remove them in some fashion."
"Well I suppose I could come by and see to them. Can't have big rats scaring such a lovely lady can we? After all what type of monster hunter would I be to deny such a request?"
"Oh Thank You!" Shaylis exclaims, "If we leave now, we can have you back to your friends, before the next bell. I'm sure it won't take a strong man like you long." she giggles, stands and holds a hand out, to lead Raynard out of the Inn.
The best outcome is that you all have become local heroes. You don't pay for anything for the next few days, where ever you go. Local ladies run up and hug you in the street, thanking you for saving their sons (whether you did or not!). Bakers give you free loves, ....
Ninian is going to try and investigate any of Nuallia's suitors, to see if they remember anything useful from the time of the fire, and about Dalek.
Smiling, Reynard allows himself to be led.
Smiling, Reynard allows himself to be led.
As they walk across town towards the shop Reynard studies girl, trying to ascertain her intent.
Sense Motive
Wits will spend the next few days enjoying his fame, regaling anyone who will listen about the virtues of using a manure based fluid over the more popular liquor based fluids that most (read idiot) alchemists use...