Ferocia rolls her eyes at the incessant chatter and sighs, but makes no further remark, instead concentrating on her surroundings. She keeps an eye out for danger, further goblins, smoke or people in trouble, and listens for the sounds of goblin songs, screams or crying children.
As your group arrives ye can see several goblins around the body of a recently deceased dog. While two goblin dogs keep Aldern Foxglove cornered three goblins kick and jeer the dead dog. A fourth is better equipped and clearly in charge slicing off the dead dogs ear and eating it to the delight of his underlings.
Milgen
Miron
Anneka
Azalia
Drazh
Ferocia
Goblins
Looking a bit tussled but with only a few minor injuries Aldern steps forward when you kill the last of the goblins "Fantastic, such grace and skill in battle. Truly I am in your debt." He turns most of his attention towards Anneka and Azalia. "With ladies of such beauty I would be honored to have dinner with you but given you have saved my life I must insist. Please I'm staying at the Rusty Dragon, I will have Ameiko set a feast for you all tomorrow for dinner!"
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Drazh looked coldly at the man, noting with some distaste on his attention had shifted to easily to his female companions. Planting his bloody hammer on the ground, he looked over the destroyed bodies. Barely worth their time. But to think, that such goblins could have done this much damage to the town? And to think, he had come to warn them about giants!
"So long as you have beer, ale or mead."
He still wasn't sure whether or not he had been invited. But just incase, it was good to make sure it would be worth his while.
"I will gladly accept your invitation, Lord Foxglove. Tell me, did the goblins let slip anything about the details of this attack? They have struck across Sandpoint."
"There will of course good Sir, ale, mead, wine whatever satiates your desires. I don't think so, I had only bought this dog for hunting two hours ago. A shame it died but if it wasn't there to buy time til your arrival it might not have worked out as well for me. I can hold a sword correctly but along against so many I do not fancy my odds!"
Ferocia scoffs aloud as the nobleman clearly focuses on the two human women. With a shake of her head, she smirks.
"And you're picking up the tab for ALL of us?" Ferocia confirms. "How generous," she continues without waiting for an answer. "I hope you've got deep pockets."
Ferocia turns and catches Anneka's eye, giving her a look and a raised eyebrow that clearly asks, 'You alright with this guy?'
Aldern smiles at Feroica "A mere token of my appreciation, justly earned by your adventorous heroics... and excellent timing."
Milgen shrugs. "Never turn down a free meal, just make sure you know what the price of the free meal is, before you accept it." He repeats, somewhat enigmatically. He bows to Foxglove. "I shall attend at 6?" He turns to the others, and holds up a hand. "Anyone want a cleanup? You're all rather dirty and bloody."
Assuming there's no more sounds of goblin attacks, Milgen will clean himself and anyone else who wants it with Prestidigitation, then repair any tears or dents with Mending in equipment.
"With ladies of such beauty I would be honored to have dinner with you but given you have saved my life I must insist. Please I'm staying at the Rusty Dragon, I will have Ameiko set a feast for you all tomorrow for dinner!"
Azalia bows and agrees to dinner, smiling winningly.
Shouldn't get on the wrong side of that one.
She thanks Milgen, but cleans herself up with the same spell, and then if there seems to be no additional threat to the town, returns to her shop.
"I will gladly accept your offer of cleansing and repair."
Miron is starting to feel a touch fatigued and hopes the goblins are quiet for the rest of the day.
Milgen gives Drazh a nod as he puts his mace away. Then he proceeds to cast the spell and maintain it on Drazh, moving the effect over his head, then down his torso, walking around him, and then down his stump legs. When he's done, the Dwarf is as squeaky clean as if he'd been stripped naked and dunked in a barrel of soapy water a dozen times by his own mother.
Not seeing any damage to the dwarf, he moves on to Miron, and repeats the cleaning, starting with the Varisian's head, and moving down to his shoes, leaving all his metal trim flashing in the light. Then he spends a minute touching tears in cloth and dents in armor, as well as scrapes and cut marks, leaving the man's clothes and armor in pristine shape.
"Many thanks." Miron says afterwards.
Anneka strains to get a view of the nobleman's lips. She almost regrets it, her cheeks flushing scarlet at his compliment. She is not used to such attention from a man. And certainly not a refined gentleman like this one. That's twice today nobility has surprised her.
Of course, she's quick to point to her ears and shake her head. "Im sorry, I can't hear, m'lord." That usually turned men off. She figures this won't be any different. "But I can read lips. Thank you. It's nothing. We are only protecting what's ours--our town, our friends and families. I'm Anneka. Anneka Avertin. I shouldn't speak for others but, I think, we would be pleased to have dinner with you."
Just wait 'til she tells Arika about this.
As ye discover as the day winds onwards though a few people were injured no one was killed by the goblin raid. People cheer ye in the street having recognised your heroics in the square. A few people buy you a drink or are given small gifts, people want to talk with ye. Some have half jokingly called the 'Swallowtail Goblinslayers'.
Ameiko, the owner of the Rusty Dragon Inn, offers each of you to stay free of charge at the Rusty Dragon with three square meals included (beyond a basic glass of wine our dwarven friends will have to spring for booze).
Aldern is a bit more in his element while holding court at your feast, all he offered being given with plenty of variety available in both food and drink. A small chest lies in the corner of the room. "As another token of appreciation and hopefully growing friendship." He gives a winning smile "I've put aside a small sum to show my thanks. The next time you're in Magnimar call by and we can catch up." There's a small glint in his eye as he looks at Anneka and Azalia. Anneka will note his interest in her has cooled but isn't entirely gone though his interest seems to favour Azalia.
Azalia plays along with Aldern, since she doesn't want him to pry too far into her affairs. She is friendly and talkative, but she doesn't encourage him in any other way.
If there is even the hint of him going further or getting her alone, she goes and sits down next to Ferocia and starts an argument about ancient dwarven artifacts.
Milgren raises an eyebrow. "Korvosa. It was purchased from a young dwarf with moon eyes.. or so I've been told, it was about 15 years ago. You could say it was a hand me down. The story goes it was a graduation crafting, a proof of skill. If the stories were to be believed, the dwarf was terrified it wouldn't sell." He finally replies.
Milgen shrugs. "Well, my aunt has said that an older brother looks my spitting image. So that's where the mace came from. It's been useful. Although the balance could be a bit better. Maybe you'd like to rebalance it sometime?" He asks, a small smile on his face.
Noting that Anneka seems fine with the foppish mans attentions, Ferocia shrugs and leaves the town square, looking for more goblins to fight and people to save.
By the time she's sure it's safe she's looking a little worse for wear. Having not accepted being cleaned by a stranger--magical or otherwise--she's got dirt and blood smeared over her legs and arms, with more than a few drops of blood splattered over her clothes and face. Her clothes are torn in places, from the goblin's knives.
Unconcerned with her appearance and feeling triumphant, Ferocia returns to the Hagfish, where she accepts a few free drinks and buys more than a few of her own.
By the time she shows up to the Rusty Dragon she's good and drunk. She's still filthy, but doesn't even seem to notice when someone magically cleans her for everyone's comfort
She looks surprised at the offer from Ameiko, but turns down the room offer. She does accept the free meals, though, planning to cash in on the offer for however long it lasts.
Sitting down at the table, Ferocia stuffs her face and drinks more than her fill of liquor. She seems to think Aldern's soft and absurd, and is seen scoffing, rolling her eyes or making sarcastic comments to nearly everything he says.
She finally introduces herself, to those at the table who don't know her name, saying her name is Ferocia, but revealing nothing more.
"I'll be returning to Magnimar but was hoping to go into the wilds about here for a spot of hunting if anyone is interested in joining me. It's good to get away from the rush of the City of Monuments for a while."
Turning to Ferocia, Milgen nods. "Ah, I was told by my aunt that during the founding of the town, a young dwarf had been found with white hair, Ferocious I was told, I realize now that the name was mis-translated in the stories. My aunt will be glad to know that everything turned out well for you." As he talks, he cleans Ferocia up, so she's less of an eyesore in the Dragon, using the talk to distract her. He doesn't mend her clothes, figuring he'll wait for the dwarf to pass out for that.
Ferocia lets out a spiteful laugh. "Found? Dragged into town kicking and screaming, more like. "
She takes another sip of her beer and looks at him closely. "Ferocious is right, though. Ha! I bit a lot in those days!" she laughs drunkenly, clearly thinking that whoever she bit deserved it.
"Did I bite your aunt?" After a moment of thinking she shrugs. "Probably not if she'd be..." Thoroughly drunk, Ferocia loses her train of thought here for a minute. "Happy to... Whatever. Your family's from Sandpoint then?"
Clearly she hasn't been listening to the conversations much.
---
In response to Aldern's hunting invitation, Ferocia groans. "Just thinking about that place gives me a headache. I'd rather swear off ale than visit Magnimar!" She grumbles a bit, "Sandpoint's bad enough."
"Where are you hunting?" she asks suddenly.
Milgen spreads his hands. "My family are Merchants, we are from everywhere. Sandpoint, Korvosa, Riddleport, Magnimar, even as far away as Goka." He grins. "My family likes to travel a lot."
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”Your brother? Makes sense. And aye, if ye get me the material I’ll get it to your tastes. Likely just too heavy for ye. But that’s nothin’ I can’t work out. I’ve learned a trick or two over the years.”
Later in the evening, pointedly ignoring his fellow dwarf (didn’t her clan teach her when to stop? Shameful!), he picked up on the hunting trip. While he didn’t give a rat’s arse about hunting, an idea hit him. This was a noble! If they could find a giant, maybe this man could convince the town to take action!
”Aye, I’ll join ye for huntin’, I’m halfway decent at following tracks.”
Milgen turns back to Drazh. "Excellent, I'll see about procuring the materials then." He frowns though at the hunting thing. "Not sure I can work free of family duties to go hunting."
Azalia agrees to go hunting only if a whole group is going. She isn't going to get caught alone with this guy.
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Anneka's first task had been to check in on mama and Arika at their home above the bakery. Only then had she rejoined the others at the Rusty Dragon. Anneka's nearly relieved to see Lord Foxglove take an interest in Azalia. She feels terribly awkward and self-conscious around men. Besides, it's about time Azalia found a boyfriend.
As the others sit around chatting, she enjoys a glass of wine (mama wouldn't need to know, nor would she care after a day like this). She tastes Ameiko's dumplings, trying to determine the ratio of spices used.
"Not far, I had other plans but now I'm set on Tickwood Forest, no reports ever come from there regarding goblins. But it does have plenty of wild boar, deer and firepelt cougars as well as giant ticks."
Giant ticks? That doesn't sound very pleasant. And what a thing to hunt. Do people really put tick trophies in their houses?
"Some do but I'd prefer to get my hands on a firepelt cougar but a boar or deer would still be quite acceptable."
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"The Tickwood?" Ferocia confirms. Then she lets out a deep bellowing laugh. "No wonder you need company! A fellow like you? Alone the ticks will bleed you dry!" She chuckles again. "Yeah, fine. Why not. I'll make sure you come back in one piece. I need to get out of this place anyway... What time are you leaving?"
---
Not long afterwards, once the food is finished, Ferocia suddenly stands up. "I've got to go. It's time to celebrate tonight properly. Bye."
And with that she turns and leaves.
---
Once she's outside, Ferocia takes a few deep breaths, getting what fresh air she can into her lungs. This place made her feel like she was suffocating. Drowning, almost. In a sea of stink and... people? Whatever. Analogies were for poets.
She focuses on the sky. The stars are out now. And the moon. When she's calmed, Ferocia trudges through the streets and out of town, past that stupid 'Welcome to Sandpoint' sign and into the scrap of forest down the road. It wasn't where she wanted to go--not really--but with the goblin attack she couldn't be sure the woods would be safe tonight.
Damned goblins.
She heads to the centre of the little patch of forest, and sits down. Stares at the sky for a while. Listens to the trees... The breeze.... For the first time in weeks she feels at peace. Her headaches gone, and can breathe out here. Everything spins for a moment and she suddenly remembers she was drunk.
"Damned town." she grumbles aloud. "Lucky it doesn't drive me to worse."
After a long stretch of silence, Ferocia starts to sing a song. It's an old song, ancient when the dwarves first saw sky. A song the fairies taught her. She sings it in a strange language, reminiscent of grinding stones and blowing wind, and rustling leaves. She's never known anyone else who could understand it, but out here, she didn't care.
As she sings, she tries to coax a nearby owl into coming close, but has little luck. It flies off silently. A while later she has better luck with a bat, though, and manages to scratch the little thing on the head, and pass it a slice of fruit before it flies off.
She wants to stay out here. Sleep out here tonight, but with goblins on the prowl it's not safe. So she sighs deeply stands and stretches.
"Another time."
She trudges back into town in a good mood--for her. Makes her way home, to her shack on the edge of town, and barely gets in the door before falling asleep on the floor.
Agreeing to meet for the hunt the next day, Azalia excuses herself, checks on her shop and makes sure it is locked up tight, and then retires for the evening to the excellent accommodations they have been provided for free, instead of holing up in the back room as she usually does.
Miron does a round of visiting. His parents, his brother and sister and their young families, a handful of friends, business owners that he got on well with in his youth. He does ask questions about the events of the last few years, especially about the goblin attack. To see if he can put together a better picture of what has happened and why.
****
Over dinner, he muses while looking at the glass of wine that he has been nursing and swirling for a time.
"What a day. And this is quite the company we find ourselves in. "The Swallowtail Goblinslayers", indeed!"
To Foxgloves' offer, "I am ill-used to hunting so I shall decline your offer, worthy as it is."
Wait, what? Hunting?
Anneka has never been hunting a day in her life. At best, she might roam the nearby forest for mushrooms and wild herbs or flowers. But since she lost her hearing, she's become frightened to wander alone, for who knows what dangers might lurk in those woods.
She shakes her head in polite declination, reading Miron's lips in relief. "Thank you, Master Foxglove. It was very nice to ask."
Melgrin signs to Anneka across the table. Sign to me if you need a translation at any time, I'll be happy to provide it.
Anneka smiles shyly and signs her thanks to Melgrin, then looks down at her hands clasped on the table before her.
What should she say? She's terrible at this.
A surly visitor slams the tavern’s door open and bellows out a sharp-tongued command in a strange language. This well dressed Tian gentleman repeats the statement in the strange tongue.
The man is speaking Minkaian.
Those familiar with Sandpoint will recognise Lonjiku Kaijitsu, father of Ameiko Kaijisu the owner of the Rusty Dragon. Most the locals get quiet and keep their eyes on the meals and drinks before them.
Milgen signs to Anneka. The rude man speaks Minkaian, but I don't know what he says. Milgen watches the two men.
I think it's Long Kaijitsu? Maybe a retainer of his. Wonder why he's here making noises? He continues, keeping his hands were Miron and Anneka can see, but not the two strangers.
Miron salutes Lonjiku in a respectful manner and walks over to him, clearly familiar with him.
"Hello! It has been some time. What troubles you?"
His face scrunches up in annoyance but he does address Miron in common.
"You've grown up to be a trouble maker with your antics. You should have left dealing with the goblins to the guards. Vigilantes have no place here, the trainned professionals would have dealt with them safely instead of endangering the festival goers like you did."
Before he can continue to berate Miron Ameiko rushes into the front room, a ladle dripping with soup in her hand, to find out what all the ruckus is about. She seems rather confused at his presence but before she can ask him a question he addresses her in the foreign tongue.
The two quickly devolve into an argument in the language they alone in the Inn understand.
Miron is well aware that Long could be irritable but he is being inaccurate or misinformed. Before the debate kicks off, he tries to get a word in.
"Vigilante? No, sir, I am an Inquisitor of Abadar and thus empowered to fight anarchy. I bid you good night."
Lonjiku is Ameiko's papa, Anneka signs silently to Miron and Milgen. Foul-tempered and antagonistic. I don't know what they're arguing about.
She tries to grab Miron's arm as he starts to argue back, to tell him to stay out of it. Lonjiku is bad tempered, but he is all bark, as far as Anneka can tell, and she's hopeful he'll simply say his piece and leave.
"Ah, Lonjiku? My father told me stories of a Lonjiku, from back when the town was founded. Something about how he was always yelling at people as if he were a king, rather than just a jumped up minor noble. Surely that's not the same man?" He says loudly enough to carry over the argument. "My father always told me the man looked like he'd bitten into a lemon instead of a teat when he was born, to get his first drink of life. Surely such a man would never come to a place like this." He continues, waving a hand negligently.
Under the table, his other hand signs to Anneka. Stay back, let him scream at me. I'm used to getting yelled at.
When the disturbance starts, Azalia just speeds up finishing her meal, and then retires to her room, not wanting to be involved, and hoping that the argument won't devolve into the free room and board being taken away. She likes her place, but it's always nicer when someone else does everything for you.