"Of course, if you rather stay at home you can have some free drinks, Viridi, just don't tell your mother i'm getting you drunk!", she laughs again, turning to the others. "You can pick whatever free room you like upstairs.
Movement has slowed down in the tavern as well as outside, it seems the townsfolk want to leave this day behind as soon as they can.
Viridi wanders upstairs and finds a modest bedroom at the Dragon. She lets Ameiko know what her choice of room is before starting to settle in.
Alright--tomorrow, I'm going to have to start going around town and seeing if there's anyone I can help.
It is oathday, 24th of Rova, and the cathedral has been consecrated. The ceremony happens indoor, and is much more subdued than the festivities of the day before, few people attend, mostly the ones responsible for building the church and the ones who pray for their lost family and friends in the goblin attack. It is almost lunch time as the ceremony ends, and the mood around Sandpoint seems to be slowly improving as the townsfolk get back to their daily lifes.
Squeeze decides to stay a little further from the city during the day to avoid problems. He keeps his crude disguise most of the time, nevertheless. To occupy his time, he discusses with the local authorities on the previous day to use his abilities and be stealthily moving around the city and searching for traps, disabling them in the process.
Early to bed—well, passing out in front of your bed still counts, right?—and painfully early to rise, Kalais spends most of the morning's twilight wandering the before-dawn streets, failing to work out a stubborn stiffness in her neck before taking a brief trek out to the ocean's edge. The shores of Ilsurian had Lake Syrantula, of course...but watching the sunrise with her feet in the surf and salt in her hair puts a far better start to the archer's day than memories of home, and her later attitude (and appearance, two gallons of sea water and a half bar of soap later) quite clearly proves it.
Sandpoint's pantheon (and hence its consecration) hosts nothing of Iomedae, but it doesn't stop Kalais from mouthing a good prayer for the Cathedral from her stance at its door. Or, well...at least she's trying. Inheritor, Dawnflower, Harborwing; any one of them will do...
Sandpoint's had enough for one week already, and frankly so has she...but there's always something more to do, and (once she's satisfied that Squeeze isn't about to get himself in an bind) Kalais doesn't hesitate to check with Father Zantus, in case any further concerns have been raised by the locals. If not, the archer checks in with the guard for the same. If nothing of immediate notice comes up, she puts herself to leisurely patrolling the town—with perhaps one inquiry as to whether those archery targets from the day before would be up for a few more rounds—before later bothering to entertain Aldern's company. It's not that she has anything against Foxglove—and how can she? The guy was nearly butchered by greenskins—but the nobility reminds Kalais of her mother, and Lords know that that's one hell of a quick way to ruin her mood.
After the consecration Ansgar will stay and admire the Cathedral for a few hours, examining the stone work and making small talk with any others who are doing the same.
When he is done, Ansgar will return to the Rusty Dragon and go talk to Aldern.
"How is it going?" Ansgar says to him as he approaches and sits with the man.
---
Garbund spends his day conversing with townsfolk and trying to get his hands in any study material he can. A stop at Turandarok Academy, the town's school and orphanage, doesn't help him much, although a few history books hint at the idea that the seven standing stones inside the Cathedral have been there for millenia and could be primitive shrines to the gods made by ancient civilizations.
The half-orc also finds a bookshop called the Curious Goblin, a building with a sign of a wide-eyed goblin reading and upside-down book; the store has a big and surprisingly complete, but also very pricey collection of books on various subjects, and Garbund feels that on another visit he might be able to look more closely at the collection and find something useful.
It also doesn't seem like locals know much about the Thassilonian empire, but by the end of the day, some point to Garbund that an old man called Brodert Quink has been studying some ancient empire and is always babbling about it, although no one takes him very seriously. Garbund is able to find out where he lives and can make a visit in the future.
---
Squeeze spends his day around town searching for traps; the goblin raiders have left some crude but well-concealed traps around town and on the roads, most of them seem designed to injure dogs and horses as they travel. Whether this was done to discourage pursuers as the goblins retreated from the raid or just out of spite for their natural enemies, is hard to tell.
The guards, most of whom are still confused about Squeeze's race, are thankful for his help, and drop him a few coins so he can buy himself a drink.
---
As Kalais speaks with father Zantus, the cleric thanks her again for helping save the church and attending the consecration. "Things seem fine for now, or at least as good as they can be after what happened...If i need anything, I’ll ask, and you can do the same if there is anything that i can help you with."
As she checks in with the guards, the archer notices they seem very active. "The attack yesterday has put folks here on high alert, some of the militia are considering a shift to full time guards, many of the townsfolk volunteered for militia, and both guards and militia want more training. Problem is we don't really have a way to train everyone, investigate the attack and protect the town at the same time...So, if you could lend a hand in anything, that would be very helpful.", says Sheriff Hemlock, as he is on his way to investigate the north gate.
As night arrives and she patrols through town, Kalais notices an unattended ladder left against the wall of the cemetery and something that seems like goblin tracks, the tracks follow into a large stone burial vault, the vault's door hangs ajar, and the ground around it is churned up, and has very obvious goblin footprints, as well as those of a larger humanoid.
---
Ansgar spends a few hours in the cathedral, the building is even more impressive from the inside than from outside. With six chapels dedicated to Abadar, Desna, Erastil, Gozreth, Sarenrae and Shelyn, all under the same roof. The center of the chapel is a open-air courtyard that surrounds a set of seven standing stones, which themselves surround a circular stone altar.
Many townsfolk come over these hours to make prayers before starting their days, and a few stay to mourn their losses. Some walk up to Ansgar and thank him for helping the town during the attack, while a few others seem resentful and refuse to make eye contact.
Upon returning to the Rusty Dragon, Ansgar finds Aldern and the noble orders food and drinks while they talk.
"I still can believe what happened yesterday, that attack, oh, you and your companions saved me from certain 'goblining'!", he seems much more relaxed than the day before, and recalls the events with a laugh. "You know, I’m going back to Magnimar in a few days, but I’ve heard of the boars in nearby Tickwood Forest. So I'm going a boar hunt before i go back, i would really appreciate if you and your companions come along, and we can later bring the boar here so Ameiko can cook it, sounds good?"
Kalais glances about the exterior of the crypt with a quickly narrowing glare, careful not to disturb the trail as she examines the beaten ground. Your average ranger might need something to help with the dimming light, but Kalais has few problems detecting the scurry-marks of one, two...six goblins and...would you look at that—something much bigger. Certainly heavier and, if she were a betting sort, probably more than marginally traitorous.
Glancing back at the ladder, it doesn't take long for Kalais to put two and two together and she quickly marches for the nearest guard, suggesting—in her usual, uncompromising manner—that they watch the graveyard in her absence, offering no more explanation than "It's in the public interest."—before running off again, this time to find Hemlock.
Happy with his new gold coin, Squeeze goes back at night to meet with the others. He hopes that his daily activities, more than generating fantastic profit (as he judges), will also serve to create more trust between the guards and him.
Squeeze found traps on the surroundings! Found and disabled! Now longshanks safer. - says the goblin, hiding the fact he wouldn't mind if some dogs and horses still end up hit by some trap he failed to find.
What about friends? How was day of friends? - he asks towards the rest of the group, as his companions arrive back at the inn.
Viridi spends her time with Father Zantus, tending to the wounded and making trips around town to see if anyone else is in need of help.
----------------
"Kinda exhausting, really." The vishkanya sighs as she slips into a chair. "A lot of folks were pretty shaken up by the goblin attack."
Boar hunting...
"I would have to ask my companions if they wish to go, but I am interested. I am here from Magnimar myself to see the Cathedral, and I wouldn't mind exploring the country side a little." Ansgar says while getting comfortable in his seat.
"I spent the day trying to find out about the old Thassalonian empire."
"I found a few scraps of information. Not a lot, but it's a start."
The guards follow the Kalais' suggestion without asking for much explanatio. It doesn't take long for her to find Hemlock, the Sheriff looks at her and reads her expression. "What happened?"
---
Unless Ansgar interrupts him, Aldern goes on to talk about boar hunting in great legth, telling stories and explaining techniques, he goes on like this for a long time and at some point Viridi, Squeeze and Garbund also arrive at the Rusty Dragon.
"Seem you're all doing a lot to help, no wonder you're the talk of town!", he says, ordering more drinks and food. "Isn't the archer lady coming as well?"
"She must be talking to someone who isn't taking her seriously."
"She's a lot like my friend, Phéde, in Magnimar and her father, Antoul."
"Saying 'no' or brushing them off does not end well."
"Found a few tracks along the cemetery. Six greenskin trails and a man-like gait. Barely a day old. Looks like they jumped the wall and cracked into one of the crypts during the raid," Kalais explains, arms crossing. "I've a couple of your men watching the area for now. Figured I'd report it first. Not a fan of disturbing the dead without warrant."
Hemlock nods. "There could still be goblins stuck inside, as well as traps or other nasty surprises; all my man are either on watch or recovering from injuries, so if you could go get your friends that would be very helpful. I'll search father Zantus, we can meet here in a few minutes.", he waits for Kalais to answer and moves toward the cathedral.
---
"Oh, really? So thats how she is? Sounds difficult!", Aldern laughs, "And you're from Magnimar as well? Mr. Ansgar here was telling me the same, and i'm going back there in a few days. Like i was telling him, i wanted to invite you all for some boar hunting in Tickwood Forest before that."
"Only difficult if you say 'no' to something important to her."
"Her judgement is sound and she's quite observant, though."
"She should be here soon. She must have found something interesting."
"A boar hunt sounds interesting. Don't get to do that in Magnimar."
Kalais gives a firm nod. "I'll see what I can do." Nary a moment later she's off again, taking her leave.
------
A minute or two later, the party's arcanist has the pleasure of having Kalais's gloved hands suddenly clamping at his shoulders.
"When you're quite done wooing the aristocracy, Garbund," she scoffs, quickly releasing the scholar. "Might've found a motive for the raid. Cemetery's got a broken crypt and six sets of blighter tracks. Hemlock's men're spread too thin to cover investigations so, unless you're too good for it, that's our cue." She purposely neglects to mention the presence of a humanoid trail, for now. Not exactly the sort of thing she's about to mention in the centre of a popular bar, now is it?
"Greetings to you too, Kalais.", Garbund responds with a grin.
"You found something more interesting than I today."
"Any idea whose crypt was broken into?"
"That is a peculiar target for a goblin raid."
"I assume, then, you want us to set off straight away."
"Let us go to the crypt and investigate. Disturbing the dead is beyond disrespectful." Ansgar says in response to Kalais.
To Aldern, "I would find the hunt interesting, but it will have to wait until this business is finished up." Ansgar then stands and prepares his equipment.
"Not up for it, Garbund? Then stay. The fewer civilians I need to baby, the better."
Kalais's line might have a little more bite than necessary, but it's clear from her expression she's just trying to bait the Half-Orc to action. Ansgar, however, earns a firm nod of approval as he moves to retrieve his gear. Aldern gets a half-wave, but sadly Kalais is very much in 'guard duty' mode and hasn't much patience to entertain Foxglove at this very moment in time.
As to whose's crypt it is, the archer shakes her head, choosing to describe the burial's location instead, hoping perhaps that sheds some further light. Perhaps Viridi would know, being local and all that, but Kalais doesn't put it on her shoulders to answer. "Hemlock's retrieving Zantus. There's...a little more to it than that, I suppose. You'll see when we get there."
"Seems you're needed once more.", says Aldern. "Maybe we can talk more later, then. Good luck to all of you."
Responding to Kalais, Garbund rolls his eyes.
"I'm coming! I just don't like rushing a pint."
He then throws back his ale, almost inhaling, it and jumps up.
"I'll be right back!"
Once back, adjusting his backpack and other gear, he says:
"Sounds like that crypt is the resting place of Zanthus' predecessor."
"He died in a fire too, apparently."
"I doubt that's a coincidence."
Viridi stands up and moves next to Kalais. "I'm ready to go if you are."
Squeeze ready! Let's go! - says the Goblin, much happier than he should be about this kind of stuff. He probably didn't have a clue where they were going or what kind of danger it could entitle.
Kalais grants Viridi, Garbund, and Squeeze another of her nods, even if the latter does make her a little unnerved. Without a further word she marches out from the Rusty Dragon and makes her way to the graveyard.
The five meet Hemlock and Zantus close to the crypt. Hemlock has a battleaxe in hand and a serious expression, while Zantus seems appalled with the situation.
"Why would those goblins desecrate the resting place of Ezakien Tobyn? This doesn't make sense!"
Hemlock shrugs. "You might want to keep your distance, priest."
The crypt door is still ajar, the churned ground and footprints are easy to see to those looking for them. Hemlock extendeds his hand to the crypt door and awaits the group to be ready.
"Goblins and a man, Father," Kalais corrects on arrival, chin jutting to a few tenuous tracks in the dirt. "Must make sense to someone."
That said, her hand briefly lingers on the longsword beneath her coat, but then Kalais looks to her companions—all largely more comfortable in the art of melee than she is—and instead takes to her bow with a nod. "Volunteers?"
Viridi swallows nervously and nods.
Viridi swallows nervously and nods.
Walking his armored figure to the entrance, Ansgar looks back at the others.
"Best I go first, I think." He says to those gathered around the entrance.
Readying his sword and shield. Ansgar will then step forward, open the door and enter.
"I'm as ready as I can be, I reckon."
"Before you go in, Ansgar, let me give you a bit of luck
« પ્રતિકાર! »
Garbund casts the Resistance cantrip on Ansgar.
Asngar opens the door to the crypt and immediately a moving human skeleton jumps out, ready to attack, those with darkvision also catch another human skeleton and two undead goblins inside the pitch black of the crypt.
Initiative Order:
Garbund, Viridi
Sksleton A, Skeleton B
Squeeze, Hemlock, Ansgar
Goblin A
Kalais
Goblin B
Garbund and Viridi are up.
The moon provides some dim light to the cemetery, while the insides of the crypt are in complete darkness.
Garbund chants quickly when he sees the skeleton .
« એસિડ આગ »
Garbund shoots a fire damage Acid Splash at the first skeleton he can see
Gold Draconic and Efreeti arcana combined; spell does fire damage, and add +1 damage per die
Squeezes cowardly shakes his entire body when the undead appear, but tries to quickly adopt a fighting stance.
Garbund splashes fire at the closest skeleton and his magic is just enough to burn the skeleton's bones and disable it.
As everyone's voices turn to gibberish in her ears, Viridi steps forward and brandishes her holy symbol of Irori.
Without even saying a word, her holy energy courses forth, trying to undo the evil forces holding the skeletons together...
Viridi sends a surge of holy energy towards the crypt, making the remaining skeleton desintegrate and fall apart. The undead goblins recoil from the channel but stay on their feet.
Ansgar will charge forward and shield bash Undead Goblin A.
Ansgar charges against the first undead goblin and hits the creature with a solid bash, the goblin is still moving, however.
Squeeze goes around and tries to flank one of the creatures, if possible.
As Squeeze positions himself, he tries to bite the creature. He fights with impressive expertise for someone of his... Well, race.
Squeeze tries to acrobat his way towards the goblins' back but the enclosed space of the crypt is difficult to navigate and the undeads take swings at him.
After dodging two attacks, Squeeze is able to flank and bite one of the undeads, tastes terrible!
Hemlock walks up to the remaining enemy and swings his battleaxe.
Swinging blindly in the dark, he misses.
The first undead goblin attempts to hit Squeeze twice.
Squeeze dodges the first attack, but is hit in the head by the second and goes down.
With her keen darkvision allowing her a relatively decent view of the utter nonsense currently occurring in the depths of the crypt, Kalais wastes no time in lining up a shot where she can.
Alas, the arrow doesn't seem to leave quite as cleanly as she intends. Goblins she typically has no issue firing upon; but ones that're already dead? Evidently not her forte.
The undead goblins don't move as expected of live ones, but Kalais' training is enough to ensure she lands a shot. The arrow lands on the goblin's chest and that seems to be enough to make it stop moving.