His stomach still churning, Torillan follows the group quietly, fighting the waves of queasiness.
** spoiler omitted **
Torillan knows that if he eats, he will be seeing that meal again...immediately.
'Yelena, I must ask you. Wherever did you acquire your amazing talent? I mean the way you charmed those vile, wretched creatures! Surely they were as smitten as...well as they could be.' He says with a slight grin, touching your hand.
Lord Foxglove seems to be eating and drinking lightly, no doubt the more to enjoy his time talking to Yelena. The rest of you are, if anything, an afterthought.
** spoiler omitted **
Yelena engages Lord Foxglove in witty banter. Which, as everyone knows, is the finest sort of banter. She keeps an eye out for any social faux pas from her compatriots.
Gimble barely touches his food, distractedly picking at it with his fork. He watches Foxglove intently, a look of confused consternation passing over his face as he studies the human's behavior.
He looks a bit taken aback by the sudden removal of your hand. Lord Foxglove takes a long, slow, drink from his glass, his eyes never leaving Yelena's face. Just at that moment, a dog begins barking in the distance. It continues for a minute, a fierce, protective bark, suddenly ending in a long drawn-out howl.
His voice breaks the spell caused by the mournful howl of the dog. Everyone, including his servants, turns slowly to look at him. He sits leaning as closely as he can to Yelena, seemingly oblivious to the haunting sound.
'Your features? Your features?' He asks with some surprise. 'Why my dear, I find your features...inspiring.' He says, reaching forward to brush the back of his hand along one of her ears.
Torillan, obviously uncomfortable, closes his eyes and tries to will the nausea to go away...
Thinking to himself, "Is this meal ever going to end?", Rogar suffers through as best as possible.
Yelena laughs into her wine glass, "Well I certainly hope they are inspiring!" A hidden flash of revulsion and anger at his touch. Taking a drink, "Although you really must tell us why you are here. Come now! Be a gracious host! What brings you to fair Sandpoint?"
'Why I'm here for the Festival of course. A welcome break from the business of reclaiming the family estate, really.' He begins, 'Which you really should see my dear. It has a beautiful view of the sea.'
He punctuates "beautiful" with a determined look as he leans in to kiss Yelena.
"Oh...I think I'm going to be sick!!" Rogar exlaims, trying to hold down his supper.
"Oh...I think I'm going to be sick!!" Rogar exlaims, trying to hold down his supper.
With a sour look on his face, Torillan mutters to no one in particular "Me first...".
Irritated by Foxglove’s apparent obliviousness to his surreptitious shenanigans, Gimble turns to Rogar, Khalad, and Torillan and asks with a fey-like pique, “So, fellas! How’s about a greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray?”
Irritated by Foxglove’s apparent obliviousness to his surreptitious shenanigans, Gimble turns to Rogar, Khalad, and Torillan and asks with a fey-like pique, “So, fellas! How’s about a greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray?”
For Gimble:
Lord Foxglove stands up abruptly, knocking his chair over. His face has turned a bright shade of red, and there is a quiver of anger in his voice.
'A childhood illness indeed! I bring you into this place to show you my appreciation for what you have done, and this is how I am treated? Very well. I can see that it is impossible to consort with the...common folk...on equal terms, despite their apparent heroics. You needn't worry about the bill, all is paid for,' he says looking at the male members of the group. 'Good evening.'
He brushes his lips with his fine linen napkin before going the door. Once there he stops, turns slowly, and takes a last look at Yelena. A wistful smile touches his face before he turns and swiftly exits with his servants in tow.
Rogar, his color a little pale after Gimble's comment, looks at the group "I must say, the guy knows how to make an exit!"
Yelena is slightly puzzled at how easily Lord Foxglove saw through her bluff. "Well, at least now we can eat in peace." With that, she puts down her silverware and uses her powers of prestidigitation to eat her food. "Dibs on his leftovers."
The rest of the meal is somewhat subdued in comparison to how it started, and those of you who can, finish your meal in peace.
By the time you are done, it is late, the autumn moon rising high above the Varisian Gulf. You make your way back to your beds, wondering what tomorrow may bring.
The day rises bright and clear, a fresh breeze slipping through your windows. Sandpoint daily life is already stirring outside, bringing the sounds of it to you early this morning.
Your peaceful respose is abruptly interrupted by a knock on your door. A guardsman stands outside, and in a official tone, somewhat mixed with awe, he says:
There aren't many people in the Dragon this morning, just yourselves, Bethana the halfling who works for Ameiko, and sitting at a large center table, Sheriff Hemlock, a steaming mug in front of him. Across from him sits an unfamiliar elf woman, her feet propped up on the table. The Sheriff waves you over to the table and gestures for you to sit.
'I'd like to introduce you to someone,' he says. 'This is Shalelu Andosana, an honorary member of Sandpoint's Guard.'
At this, the elf snickers, and drops her feet to the floor as you sit.
'So. You are Sandpoint's newest heroes. I guess you'll be getting your "commissions" soon as well.' She says with a grin toward the Sheriff. 'Welcome.'
Ignoring her comment, Hemlock continues, 'Shalelu rarely comes to town, usually every three months or so... he looks over as the elf nods ...so when she arrived unexpectedly last night, asking if there was new crop of heroes in town, I took notice. I'll let her take it from here.'
'Seems as if you've made an impression, she begins, 'I stopped a goblin raid on a local farm last night, lost the buildings but the family is safe. Anyway, I questioned some of them and all they could talk about was the "longshanks" that wrecked their raid on the town. Can only assume that's you. That's not the concern here though, while its good work, we have bigger problems.'
With eyes wide, Rogar points to Yelena, "What she said."
Gimble gets very excited when introduced to Shalelu. "Shalelu Andosana!? I've heard A LOT about you. Boy, are we lucky you showed up today!"
The excited young gnome whips out a piece of parchment and hastily sketches a picture of Shalelu, then begins taking notes as Yelena fires off questions, waiting to note down Shalelu's responses.
With a knowing look, Sheriff Hemlock kicks back his chair and lets Shalelu begin.
'First,' she says, 'some things you should know about goblins.'
- Goblins hate horses, something about being stepped on.
- Goblins hate dogs more than horses if possible. The feeling is mutual.
- Goblins love your trash. They are very adept at killing you with what you threw out yesterday.
- Goblins love to sing. Catchy lyrics, creepy songs.
- They're sneaky. Excited goblins are noisy, chattery menaces. The most dangerous ones you never hear coming.
- They're a little crazy. Ovens make good hiding places...for a goblin.
- They will eat constantly...anything.
- They like fire...but you knew that already.
- They get stuck easily. Thin body, big head. That and they think places like ovens are good for hiding.
- They believe writing steals your soul. Go figure.
'And then there's Bruthazmus,' Shalelu says acidly, ' a bugbear ranger who visits all of the tribes to trade things he's stolen for alcohol, news, and such. We've fought before he and I, so far to a draw.'
Her knuckles turn white as they grip the arms of her chair as she adds: 'I won't be the first to fall in this little war.'
There is silence as Shalelu comes to grips with whatever private war she is fighting. She sits back in her chair and continues.
'Anyway, the five tribes have until recently kept themselves in line with their petty squabbles. Yet from what I've been able to piece together, members of all five tribes were involved in the raid. Goblins don't get along unless they have something big planned, and big plans require big bosses.'
She shakes her head at your questions. 'No. The goblins and others I just spoke of have been around a while without stirring up this kind of organization. I'm afraid someone new has moved in on our neighbors and organized them. Someone big, someone tough, and someone with a plan that means no good for all of us.'
Sheriff Hemlock leans forward. 'So. As far as what I want you to do, keep to what I asked you before. Maintain a visible presence in town, make the people feel safe. I've asked Shalelu to scout around, see if she can find more information about their future plans. I am off to Magnimar today to secure additional reinforcements. The Mayor has authorized a stipend for each of you - three gold per day - to act as my deputies until I return, probably in two weeks.
When he is finished, he and Shalelu stand up to take their leave. The elf ranger nods to you as she walks out, but the Sheriff stops to add one piece of advice before he goes.
'Try to refrain from drinking hagfish swill while part of my garrison will you? It sets a bad precedent.'
Torillan listens intently to the Sheriff and Ms. Andosana, puzzling over the implications what the elf just said. ...big plans require big bosses... seems to be echoing the most...
Rogar looks at Shalelu, 'Are there any other towns around here that may have been attacked as well? If not, is there someone who would hold a personal grudge against the people in this town? I know you don't care for Bruthazmus, but do you think Bruthazmus may have some more information in regards to the other tribes? Maybe he knows something we don't?'
Rogar looks to the group, 'I hate to stir up old wounds and I'm not familiar with the town or the surrounding area, but do you think the Old Lighthouse or maybe where this Chopper person use to live could hold some information? Didn’t I hear that less than a month after the deal with Chopper was taken care of was when the issue with the old church took place? Maybe there is some kind of connection between this Chopper guy and the missing bones of the old priest?!? I mean this Chopper is supposed to be taken care of, but what if some buddy of his has a problem!!'
'I'd like to have a look around the town, maybe see what could be shored up to make us more defensible. It was too easy for the goblins to get into the town at the festival. Maybe see if we can arrange a full time gate gaurd, and so on.'
"Every traveler coming in or out needs to be questioned and reasonably searched, with suspicious activity relayed to the Sheriff and approved before they are allowed to enter or leave."
"So with the Sheriff out of town for the next two weeks, does that mean that suspicious travelers should be reported to US before they are allowed to enter?" Gimble asks querulously.
Rogar looks at Shalelu, 'Are there any other towns around here that may have been attacked as well? If not, is there someone who would hold a personal grudge against the people in this town? I know you don't care for Bruthazmus, but do you think Bruthazmus may have some more information in regards to the other tribes? Maybe he knows something we don't?'
'No other towns for days.' The Sheriff replies.
'Hmmph.' Is Shalelu's opinion of Bruthazmus having more knowledge of the tribes than she does.
Rogar looks to the group, 'I hate to stir up old wounds and I'm not familiar with the town or the surrounding area, but do you think the Old Lighthouse or maybe where this Chopper person use to live could hold some information? Didn’t I hear that less than a month after the deal with Chopper was taken care of was when the issue with the old church took place? Maybe there is some kind of connection between this Chopper guy and the missing bones of the old priest?!? I mean this Chopper is supposed to be taken care of, but what if some buddy of his has a problem!!'
Dark looks all around from the locals at this suggestion.
Sandpoint is a fairly open town. There is a wall across the north end of the town. The wall has a gate and there are always two guards posted there. To the east, the town is "guarded" by the Turandarok River and the two bridges that cross it. It isn't very wide, and not very deep. The bridges are simple wooden affairs without fortification of any kind. Guards generally patrol singly, and do not carry any sort of signal device.
Dark looks all around from the locals at this suggestion.
"Well....in that case...I can help with the fortifications around the town and make my presence known as the sheriff has suggested keeping an eye on the various posts we will have manned."
For statement above:
Knowledge(Engineering)
'Probing for loyalty?'
"Magical probing for loyalty?"
"Well, it does seem that the gate was left open, so that means someone inside the town is responsible...".