"Missed me you little prick! Eat wood sucker!"
With a roar of rage Reynard fires again, "You little $#!% I'm going to kill your whole family!"
His movements are stiff and awkward, hindered by the three arrows lodged in hid body.
Spoiler="Reynard, Dean, Witz"]Reynard's bolt misses the goblin completely, and seeing how quickly it's friends have been wiped out, it turns and runs into the forest.[/spoiler]
Time passes, and the sun continues to shine, all in all, a beautiful day to have a hog roast, and a sit by a stream. After some time, when the crackling is going a nice golden colour, the baron moves towards Emanual "I say, old chap, is the thing nearly done? Don't want to spoil the meat!"
With a roar of rage Reynard fires again, "You little $#!% I'm going to kill your whole family!"
"Now, now. No need to get medieval on their asses. There families didn't shoot you. Hmm, I smell dinner."
"Those look unpleasant, Reynard! Perhaps I have a salve that might aid in your clotting?" Wits digs through his bag, producing a greyish sludge that he adds a single drop from a small vial into. The sludge bubbles and suddenly goes clear purple in color, but emits a brackish stench.
"Here! Apply this to the wounds!"
Cure Light Wounds:
"Yes Baron, I'd say she is just about ready to eat. I'll cut you the first piece. The leg is spoken for I'm afraid, but still plenty meat to go around."
"Thanks Witz,"Reynard replies, slowly removing the arrows and applying the odd looking salve to the wounds. He is surprised to find it instantly soothing, helping to relieve the worst of the pain.
Waits for meal...
Forest Group:
Making your way back the way you came, you rejoin the other group in the forest glade. The smell of roasting pork is intense and sweet, and just a little too much like that of burning flesh, after the morning you have had.
The sun shines brightly, and birds have begun singing gaily, all in all, far too nice a day to reveal such carnage.
As the roast boar begins to be served, the other group emerges from the tree line. They are covered in blood, and gore and appear to be carrying lots of bundles equally covered in gore.
They walk slowly under the weight, but do not appear badly injured.
"I've suddenly lost my appetite. Does anyone have any strong wine?"
"I've suddenly lost my appetite. Does anyone have any strong wine?"
The Baron, hasn't noticed the bundles, or at least hasn't realised what they are, yet. "Lost your appetite? How on Golarion have you managed that man? Well, wine we have; a good vintage too. I will have my men bring it up, when they return."
"Your men are dead, hacked to death by goblins, who are also now dead. We saw to that. We bear their remains. We should head back, if there are more goblins in these woods, we do not want to encounter them in the night."
"The little bastards will be likely looking for apyback at this point."
Reynard dumps a pile of remains at the baron's feet.
"What're the odds these men didn't have families?"
Ninian drops his grizzly sack, but eyes the spit boar greedily. "Boy, I've worked up quite an appetite out there. Don't mind if I do." He takes a chunk of shoulder from Emanuel and gnaws on it hungrily. "Manny, this is delicious!"
The baron looks aghast at Wit's words, "They, they were men from local farms, hired for the day for a silver. They will be missed greatly, and by many. We must get the remains back, so that they can be properly buried." At Dean's words, he looks and shakes his head sadly.
"Come. This is a bad end to what I hoped to be a wondrous day."
With that, he turns and begins walking back in the direction of the horses.
"Forgive my absence during your encounter friends. I had not expected to find trouble this day. Thank The Lucky Drunk that no harm came to you, and may he watch over the souls of those poor men. I'll gather the rest of the food and meet you at the horses."
You make a very sombre way back to Sandpoint, reaching the town as afternoon draws into evening. About a half mile before the gate, the Baraon makes his farewells, and departs, asking if you could take the bodies to the Father, whilst he goes to the families of the dead men.
He quietly thanks you once again, for saving his life.
Luc thanks the Baron for the hunting trip and offers condolences to the family of the dead men.
You arrival in Sandppint is not at all what you would expect. Moving through the bustling town, nothing seems amiss. No one can tell what the bundles you carry contain.
Your arrival at the cathedral is met by Father Zantos himself, in as good mood as ever you saw him. He welcomes you brightly.
"So there's more goblins about. Not here but in the woods a few miles out. Could be gearing up to make another run at it. Is the sherriff around?"
The Father looks quizzically at Reynard "Indeed, that is the message I have for you. The Constable is mired in bureaucracy in Magnimar, and will be some days. There is a woods woman though, and elf, who visits these parts often, she has news of the goblins and awaits you with the mayor in the town hall. They would like for you to make you way there as quickly as is possible. What is it you have in these bags? Dead animals?"
"Unfortunately, good Priest, we bear the terrible burden of the mortal remains of the good Baron's retainers. Goblins ambushed them and slaughtered them in the wood. We returned the favor and sent the brutal little bastards back to their dark gods."
The priest gasps in shock, and clutches a hand to his chest. Staggering backwards, he puts a hand out to find a chair that sits in the reception area of the church. He sits with a heavy thump.
"This is grave news indeed," he starts as he recovers his breath. "Leave the remains here, you must get to your meeting, and see what can be done about this menace!"
"As you wish, Good Priest. Thank you for seeing to the state of their souls." Wits will bow slightly and head off with the others to meet this mysterious elf.
"The funerals will take a day or so to arrange properly. It is not a part of my job I enjoy, but it is the part I play."
"Hmm.. a woodswoman. If she's local in these prts, must be quite skilled....I'm sorry father it seems you're beig handed nothing but death and chaos. Hopefully the next news we bring will be good."
The Father, nods at Reynards words, "Indeed. Please, leave the remains on the alter through the first doorway, I shall go an find Acolyte to transfer them to the proper place." With that, he leaves through a small door to his private rooms.
After leaving the remains, and cleaning up a little, it is a short walk to the town hall. You are shown immediately inside, and upstairs to the Mayor's office.
The Mayor is sat, whilst her companion, a female Elf, stands. The Elf is obviously not a person of the town. her clothes are designed for heavy wear, and made entirely of natural fibres. She certainly doesn't follow the latest fashions, and wears pants and boots, rather than the bustle you are used to seeing on a Lady. She also has a longbow, with a quiver of arrows stood next to a small backpack, sitting against one wall. Her appearance clashes with the sleek, modern, polished oak finish of the Mayor's bookcases, and the thoroughly modern gas lights on the walls.
The Mayor's conversation has obviously been interrupted by your arrival, neither of the room's occupants speaks, and in the uncomfortable silence, a grandfather clock mechanism is the only sound.
"We did not mean to interrupt mayor. We were told we should speak to the woman about the goblin attacks on the area. I'm afraid another 2 citizens were lost today. "
"These goblin attacks must end! Too many innocents are dying. Pray, this elven lass has some news to take the fight to the goblins."
Ninian limps in and finds himself a seat.
The Mayor stands, "Ah, yes, thank you." she says after a few moments.
"I am sorry if I appear a little stilted, usually the Constable would take care of these issues, but with him still in Magnimar, the duty falls to me.
"Allow me to introduce Shalelu Andosana. She is a local of these parts, and often acts to help the Constabulary in matters of wood craft, and the various natural denizens of these parts. Shalalu?"
The elf steps forward. She is tall and lithe, but quiet, and passionate. "The Mayor has told me of your work against the goblins—well done.
I’ve dedicated the last several years of my life to keeping them from causing too much trouble around these parts, but they’re tenacious and fecund little runts. Like weeds that bite.
Anyway, there’s five major goblin tribes in the region, and, traditionally, they’re pretty good at keeping each other in line with intertribal squabbles and the like. Yet from what I’ve been able to piece together, members of all five tribes were involved in the raid on Sandpoint. A fair amount of the Mosswood tribe goblins I dealt with yesterday were already pretty beat up, and there was a lot of chatter about the ‘longshanks’ who killed so many of them. Now that I’ve met you, it seems obvious from their descriptions who they were talking about. Seems like you’ve made an impression.
In any event, the fact that the five tribes are working together disturbs me. Goblin tribes don’t get along unless they’ve got something big planned, and big plans require big bosses. I’m afraid that someone’s moved in on the goblins and organized them. And judging by these recent raids, what they’re organizing seems like bad news for all of us."
"Thank you, Shalelu." the mayor says. Taking her seat. "Now, you mentioned more deaths, I have no news of this yet."
"Yes my lady, 2 others who were in the employ of a Mr. Foxglove were killed just a few miles outside of town. Their killers have already seen justice, but as the woods lady said, it seems there is a larger concern. Perhaps there is something more we can do to help."
"The planning is all way too organized to not involve some sort of outside help. Is thereanybody who would have a reason to strike at the town?"
The mayor looks up "The Baron's men? I thought his household staff had long since departed.", glancing at Shalelu she continues "Indeed, that is our assessment of the situation too. We must discover the ring leader. No doubt it is some hobgoblin or other out to cause trouble. We will await the return of the Constable, and hopefully reinforcements, and then we shall take the battle to them, and root out the cause."
"I thank you again, my friends for the work you have done for our town. I shall inform the townspeople to be vigilant in the coming times, and would ask that you remain in Sandpoint, until the Constable's return."
"Thank you too Shalelu, you are all free to go now. I have much to think on."
As you leave the Mayor's building, not quite understanding why you were called to such an abrupt meeting, with so little resolution, Shalelu catches up to you. She speaks quietly, as you she is used to making no noise at all for prolonged periods, and her whisper is firm, but ethereal.
"I would say again, it seems that you have indeed given the local goblins a hard blow, that they know of you across the tribes so quickly. It may do you well to know of the tribes, and their various distinctions in case you encounter some more. I am staying at the Rusty Dragon today, would you join me for a meal? I can give you much information about the vermin."
"I would enjoy that, I think we could learn alot from each other. Unless my companioons have any objections, we accept."
"I'm always up for a meal. Especially in the company of one so lovely as yourself madame." (sp?)
Shalelu just nods, in her quiet way, and leads you all off to the Rusty Dragon. Once there she quietly organises a private room, and for lunch to be provided for you all. A little while after you are seated, a selection of the house specials arrives.
Shalelu asks about the goblin raid in more detail, and how you all came to be working together, and during the conversation, drops the following pieces of information.
- The closest to Sandpoint are the Birdcruncher goblins that live in caves along the western edge of the Devil’s Platter, although traditionally these goblins are the least aggressive of the five.
- To the south are the Licktoad goblins of the Brinestump Marsh, pests that are excellent swimmers. East are the Seven Tooth goblins of Shank’s Wood, goblins who’ve secured a place for themselves by raiding Sandpoint’s junkyard and rebuilding the stolen refuse into armor and weapons.
- Further east are the Mosswood goblins, likely the largest tribe but one traditionally held back by feuding families within their own ranks.
- And finally, there are the Thistletop goblins, who live on the Nettlewood coast atop a small island that some say holds a passing resemblance to a decapitated head.
- Big Gugmut is an unusually muscular and tall goblin from Mosswood who, it is said, had a hobgoblin for a mother and a wild boar for a father.
- Koruvus was a champion of the Seven Tooth tribe, who was as well known for his short temper as he was for his prized possession—a magic longsword sized for a human that the goblin stubbornly kept as his own (despite the fact that it was too large for him to properly wield). Koruvus vanished several months ago after he supposedly discovered a “secret hideout” in a cave along the cliffs, but the Seven Tooth goblins remain convinced that he’s out there still, a ghost or worse, waiting to murder any goblin who tries to discover his hideout.
- Vorka is a notorious goblin cannibal who lives in the Brinestump marsh, a “hero” mostly to goblins other than the Licktoad tribe.
- Ripnugget is the current leader of the Thistletop goblins and controls what the five tribes agree is the best lair.
- And then there’s Bruthazmus, an infamous bugbear ranger who lives in northern Nettlewood and often visits the five tribes to trade things he’s stolen from caravans for alcohol, news, or magic arrows. Shalelu notes that Bruthazmus has a particular hatred of elves, and that they have fought on several occasions. To date, neither of them has managed to get the upper hand on the other, but Shalelu bitterly vows that she won’t be the first to fall in their private war.
As your discussions with Shalelu come to an end, and devolve into who did what to which goblin, and how gruesome the result was (a contest that Shalelu wins without half trying), there is a quiet knock at the door.
A timid halfling enters after a moment, and is obviously upset. Shalelu takes her leave, as the halfling looks uncomfortable with her in the room. Once the Elf has left, the halfling begins.
"My name is Bethana Corwin, I work here at the Rusty Dragon. This morning my mistress was not about her duties at her usual hour, a most unusual situation. I took it upon myself to go to her room, and discovered that she was missing. Lying upon her desk was this note. It is written in the native tongue of Minkai. Ameiko has been teaching me to write in that language, and it has taken me the whole day until now to translate it. It does not bode well; the workers from the glassworks have not come for the usual pint, and although I can see the furnace fires glowing from this building, that note does not look right. Please help."
At this she places a note down on the table, with foreign writing on one side, and a translation in Taldoran on the other; and breaks down in tears.
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 honour 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
"I say! The glassworks? Why, I was severed from employment there not very long ago. Your mistress is the daughter of the owner, then? I have heard of her. She is quite kind and generally cheerful, even when I have accidentally set things ablaze. I shall definitely look into this loss!"
"Hmmmm...looks like there may be problems at the Glassworks, I'm in. Hopefully, your mistress and the workers are fine."
"Damsel in distress, misanthropy afoot, count me in!"
The halfling looks much relieved, and as you leave, she follows you to thd common room yo take a seat at the bar. "Return with good news, please. she says, trailing off to a whisper.
Your journey to ghe glass works I'd quick and uneventful. Outwardly all looks as ig should. Fumes pour from the chimenies, and thd area smells faintly of thd chrmicles used to colour the glass. The doors though, when tried, are locked.