"Would you mind? I'm accumulating them fast enough."
Vanea let her hands stroll on the ranger's body, tracing lines on his chest. She kisses him on the neck, and her lips leave two yellow bands on his flesh, before they fade slowly.
This simple kiss got Blue's head buzzzzzzzing for a few seconds.
Blue 'submits' himself to the healing and considers the tracks that he went over that second time very carefully. The medium humanoid... did it appear to be walking normally or stiffly the way a mindless creature might? I assume it was shod and not barefoot.
Maybe there's lingering magic in the area that will givr a clue... what do you think Natalia?
"We'll see then."
She walks to each tomb and the center of the mausoleum, trying to pick something up.
"This robe has a faint lingering of a magic aura, but it feels worn out. Still, i'd better pack it, maybe my mother can eventually identify what type of aura was used on it."
She folds the robe and takes it with her.
"It seems the goblins were following a larger creature. In my limited experience, that usually means a 'obgoblin or such. It's 'ard to say from the boot size. They pretty much sprinted 'ere, so I'm guessing they knew jess what they were looking for. The old priest wasn't involved in any kind of scandal, was 'e, sheriff? Or did 'e 'ave any special involvement with one partic'lar goblin clan? An' Natalia, is it usual to put magic on some holey robe? Maybe the magic was used to close up the holes?"
"Who knows, i can't tell unless the faint trace is identified."
"'oley magic is usually the work of some evil priest, I c'n imagine."
"This is troubling, goblins would not steal the body of a long dead priest. Something else is at work here. What do you think Eloviel?"
This is a foul deed which will need retaliation, by the teachings of Calistria. Someone must been giving orders to the goblins, they wouldn't dare stealing a corpse all by themselves, I think.
"Per'aps it's best to consult someone who knows the local goblins. They might be able to identify the clan where we cannot or even know of new powers in the area."
"One moment. I recall now that they're Thistletoppers. If we want answers, we'll 'ave to seek 'em out!" he says, flourishing his bow.
"If there are any left that is, plus if they attacked any remaining wouldn't be too friendly towards us either."
"Where is Thistletop Blue? Perhaps we should assault their lair?"
"Did you find out where the tracks lead Blue? The attack on the town might only be a diversion for this, and if so there is someone more dangerous in control." then focusing onto the sheriff, "What do you think Sheriff Belor? Do you know anything of these Thistletop goblins?"
"Let me see...
"I recall the name..."
The tracks lead to a fence, jumping it appears to have been their entry point.
"That sounds probable. I'm gonna have to do a bit of investigative work here and see what I can come up with. I ask that this information on the vault stay between us until I get things figured out."
"Of course, sheriff; my lips are sealed. I'm going to take a quick look on the other side to confirm their numbers and direction. If you could just put your hands on my waist and give me a lift onto the fence there, Hemlock."
"Also, maybe there is someone in town that knows about these goblins. I mean, since this was a festival, so there's bound to be other adventurers." wonders Eloviel out loud.
After Blue and the sheriff are done with their scouting, Eloviel will wander around town to find information regarding Thristletop goblins or someone who does for the rest of the morning.
Natalia does the same as Eloviel, just a different route.
So, we have nothing more to do here?
"The gate works just fine."
The sheriff thanks you and heads back to his duties. As you are walking through the street conversing you are approached by a frantic woman. She runs up to you sobbing, clutching a baby in one arm and clinging to a boy with the other. "Your, your the goblin slayers of Sandpoint. I'm Amele Barett and I need you help. My son Aeren saw a goblin light a cat on fire during the raid and he hasn't been the same since. Every night he cries in terror which sends our dog Petal into a barking fit. When I or my husband investigate he always claims theres a goblin in his closet. My husbands checks the closet several times and never found anything. It's been getting more and more frustrating and last night Alergast threatened to make Aeren sleep in the woodshed if he could learn to man up and sleep through the night without telling stories."
The woman pauses and begins to break down again. "Last night Alergast didn't go to Aeren when he cried out. This morning we woke to Petal yelp as our son again begain to scream, but they soon turned shrill." She grabs her sons arms and thrusts them out for you to see, which are covered in fresh goblin bites.
"When Alergast burst into the room he found a goblin perched on my sons chest. Petal was dead with a knife shoved in his ear and the goblin was frantically trying to chew Aerlen's arm off.My husband attacked the little wretch and drove him back into the closet where it clambered into a hole it had hidden under a fur." The woman appears quite sincere as she pleads to you. "He started tearing up the floor and I ran for help. Please, please help us!"
"This is shaping up to be a long day. We shouldn't waste time, let's go, take us there miss."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Prior to the woman asking for help, Natalia shares her finding with the others.
"One of the townfolk told me he'd seen goblin scavengers at Junkers Edge."
At the child being shoved forward she kneels down, holding the poor kid's arms. One look in the scared kid's eyes and she looks back up.
"Of course we will. We'll make sure the goblin responsible will be gone soon."
Blue is clearly incensed by the woman's story. "Where is the boy's foolish father? 'e'll get a piece o' my mind once we've dealt with this goblin. It seems the incursion isn't over yet, after all!"
Blue saves the location of Thistletop for a more appropriate occasion.
"When he found the goblin on Aeren he attacked it and chased it back into the closet, but I'm not sure what happened after that. We ran for help."
The woman leads you to her residence but you arrive to find the house silent.
Grouping
Blue
Gresgurt
Eloviel
Vire
Natalia
Vanea
Blue
"Keep Aeren outside with you, Amele. Let us take care of this green scourge." Blue draws his longsword as he follows the scent of blood into the house until he sees the carnage in the second room and walks cautiously in, alert for an attack from under the bed. He leaves room before the closet for the more effective fighter, Vire.
You enter to find Alergast as if he had attempted to crawl into a hole in the floor of the closet and got stuck. His body lies motionless.
Everyone is free to act
As Blue enters, Eloviel peers through the open doorway.
It will be a tight fit in there for all of us... I'm not skilled enough with the bow yet so better leave it to our fighters at the moment.
With a quick glance to Vire she says, "I will remain here to keep Amele and Aeren company, but feel free to call if you need me. A goblin is barely a challenge for you I think."
Natalia walks in though, stopping at the square beneath the chair.
Blue steps forward to help Vire move the body away from the closet, fearing he's about to see it missing its head. He is alert for movement by the critter.
As you pull Alergast's corpse from the closet you find a great deal of his flesh has been gnawed away. Out of the corner of your eye you see a frantic goblin lash out at you.
Everyone is free to act.
Vire lands a resounding blow, yet the goblin does not fall.
Natalia moves a bit, "Girls, the boys are fighting, care to enjoy the view?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
If Vire and Natalia's heroic actions are not enough to fell the menace, Blue stops pulling the dead man's leg and takes an amateurish swing at the goblin, grateful for the dimmer light within the house.
Natalia lands her spell but Blue misses. The goblin's focus remains on Vire.
Everyone is free to act.
As long as Blue's longsword was already in the closet, he swings it back in the other direction, hoping not to further embarrass himself.
His hopes dashed, he utters a curse and steps out of the way so the others will have a better chance.
"Die you evil little monster!"
Vanea peeks from the outside door and asks Natalia
Is everything all right in here?
"Sure, Vire's frantically chopping away in there."
He's gone in a chopping spree?
"Onto one particular target...so no. He might need another caring if the goblin strikes back though."