Triel stands up from her seat and adjusts her helmet.
"You said you'd like to do the song and dance of the Old Light sometime. Why not do it now?" She asks, stepping onto the dance floor. "Come on--I'll need music."
Once Ithylia's music starts up, Triel begins in earnest. Soon enough, her graceful movements, even in her armour, carry her away. It isn't long before she's all but forgotten about Lonjiku and his lack of manners.
I wonder what Gorum would think of me dancing like this. He'd probably insist that I swing my sword about as well... or he'd just scratch his head in confusion.
Ithylia lets out an excited squeal and hugs Triel before hurrying after her with her fiddle. With a hum of a little tune, lights appear and Ithylia begins to the music for Old Light, her orbs of light moving around.
Her face hosted a big smile the whole evening as she moved from one song to another and enjoying the time with friends.
No matter how many times Ithylia hugs her, it never fails to make Triel feel warm inside.
...you know, I wonder why she hugs me so much. And why it feels so pleasant. Hell. Vindir never did that...
She feels a pang of... something again. Right... still, can't start asking questions yet--it'll only bring suspicion down on me.
She chases the thought off and focuses on her dancing, Ithylia's music, and the party as it goes on into the night...
You dance and drink late into the night, each one of you retiring when you see fit to your rooms, and drifting off to sleep.
The next morning you awaken to the familiar stern tone of the Sheriffs voice.
Sheriff Hemlock: Hello, heroes of Sandpoint? I apologize for the early interruption, but I have much business to attend to. The first piece of that business being Jack Churchill.
"Did he do something else?" Vanya asks in a voice tinged with concern.
The morning treated Triel suspiciously well. After getting into her armour and making sure her helmet is secure on her head, she walks out of her room and sees the Sheriff waiting for them in the common room.
"...what did he do now?" She sighs and rests a hand over her face.
"I'm sure whatever he did wasn't in half-measure." The mage quips, sipping at his drink.
Vanya guffaws at Cian's probably ill-timed short joke. "Cian! This is serious!" Even though she chastises Cian, the waif is still smiling.
Jack Finally rises from his slumber. His hair is a mess, he only has pants on, and he appears to be drinking from a mug of ale he took to his room last night.
Sheriff, are we getting medals?
Sheriff: No Jack, I'm afraid I am here to take you Magnimar for trial. We have delayed far too long on that, and your actions after the fact did little to make it any better.
However, in light of your recent actions saving the town from goblins, the Mayor has recommended leniency, and has written a recommendation on your behalf. I'll also be presenting evidence both of your crime, and of your character, which should help you.
As for the rest of you, I have a favor to ask. While in Magnimar, I am going to request troops be sent to Sandpoint, as a precautionary measure against more goblin attacks. This however will take time, and I hate to leave Sandpoint without proper protection. I would like to have you assist the guards while I am away. I will leave you with my friend
Charde Flaskbreaker, who can help you with anything you may need.
At this point the Sheriff steps to the side to revile
Charde Flaskbreaker.
Sheriff: Apparently there is already a small matter that may require your attention. Bethana, the maid here at The Rusty Dragon, was quite excitable this morning when I entered. I asked if everything was alright, and she said yes, but that she needed to speak with you when you awoke.
Jack, prepare your things, I would like to leave immediately.
This is boar s%&$ sheriff and you know it. But fine, I'll stand trial because I'm the only one who can still stand.
Jack enters his room, and exits a few minutes later with his backpack, and armor on, with his ax over his shoulder.
But we are getting my horse before we leave. I ain't walkin that far. Plus you're stablin it in Magnimar.
Oh right, i'm lousy at goodbyes, so goodbye I guess. With any luck I'll be back. Try not to kill too many Gobs without me. I'll need something to do when I get back.
Sheriff and Jack then head out of the tavern, as the door closes you can hear Jack ask Hemlock Do you like singing sheriff?
Triel listens impassively to Sheriff Hemlock as he explains why Jack is leaving.
Listening to what else the Sheriff is planning to do seems to put Triel back into a normal mood. Visiting another surfacer city for reinforcements... on one hand, ideal for warding off goblin attacks. On the other hand, one less voice of reason in my favour if things get out of hand here.
She folds her arms and listens as the Sheriff says that Bethana (Is that the name of her servant? I suppose I must have missed it...) wishes to speak with them.
For now, she eyes the newcomer with a critical eye. "Hello." Her tone is flat.
"Don't worry, Jack, I'll get a count of gobs we down and get it to you next we meet.. You've been as decent a person as you can, I think, and I have nothing against you for that."
Triel gives Jack a nod. "Farewell, and best of luck."
He's a drunken, aggressive little man with anger issues that rival Qilué's, who happens to be skilled enough with an axe that he has prevailed against all who would challenge him in a fight. He's mangled the noble's name (Aladdin? Alderney? Oh, great. Now I'm doing it.) more times than I can count, and seems to have little in the way of social graces.
But... oddly enough, I think I'll miss him. The thought makes Triel look down briefly before looking up at the newcomer.
Vanya is sad to see Jack go, but she puts on a brave face. She leans over him and says, "Desna will see you back to us." She kisses him gently on his forehead and waves goodbye. Once he is gone, she studies one of the strange paintings on the wall. And of course she doesn't have a tear blurring her vision. That's just a little dust in her eye.
Stepping forward at Hemlock's command, this mountain of a man might as well have been chiseled out of marble and the hurriedly painted, for that's exactly what he looked like. Statuesque and broad-shouldered, it's clear that this young man bears strong Shoanti bearings, only ever so slightly muddied over the generations. Though he certainly stands out against a crowd with his plethora of armaments, strange concoctions belted to his person, it's the ever-familiar Sandpoint guardsman's attire that pushed the young soldier into the limelight when thrust into the scene with more motley-garbed townsfolk.
"You as well," replied the burly warrior as he returned the woman's steely gaze, his voice surprisingly high for someone so physically imposing; dark and mellow, but not quite boisterous or intimidating. "It'll be a pleasure to lend any aid I can to the folk who risked their lives for Sandpoint at the Swallowtail Festival."
Looking back only momentarily as the sheriff and his newly procured criminal took their leave, Charde returned his attention to the heroic individuals he'd been attached to.
"I wouldn't worry about your friend. When Sheriff Hemlock says he'll do his part, he does his part. He'll find a way to convince the judge to lessen those charges."
Ithylia made a bit of a face at the news that Jack was leaving to go on Trial. "Be safe, both of you. May Desna guide you and protect your travels. I pray she lets our paths meet up again." As Jack and the sheriff left, she waved her arms big in goodbye before turning to the newest addition to their group.
"Hi! I'm Ithylia Nyssam. It's so nice to meet you! Do you like music? Dancing? You are going to help us hunt down the mean гобліни? And possibly the meany making скелети?" Her bright happy smile dimmed with a cringe at the mention of скелети. But it faded as quickly as it had happened. "Maybe today holds something fun for us! Maybe Bethana wants us to perform again! We could form a traveling troop! All of us! It would be so much fun!" ^^ The more she talked the faster she spoke and the more she started bouncing from excitement.
гобліни - Goblins
скелети- Skeletons
Triel has a bit of a smirk on her face under her helmet as Ithylia makes her introduction.
"I'm Triel." She nods at the newcomer, Charde. "And it appears you've already met the most excitable of us."
Ithylia playfully sticks her tongue out at Triel.
"Yyyyyes?" responded Charde, caught off-guard and unsure how to answer the rapid-fire queries from the obviously energetic young lady. She was certainly more enthusiastic than he was expecting!
Clearing his throat, the guardsman's regained his composure, shifting his gaze to the only other fellow present now that Jack and Hemlock had taken their leave.
"You must be Cian, then. Well met," Charde nodded, his greeting both brief and professional. It was clear the young man held the assembled heroes in high regard; a facet made even more obvious when his stoic visage finally broke and gave way to a small, but nonetheless genuine, smile.
Ithylia sticking her tongue out at her strikes Triel as being a confusing (yet oddly adorable) gesture.
"What? You are."
Ithylia just laughs before looking at Charde and spotting his smile. "See, we are fun to be around!" She gave a big grin before looking at the others, bouncing a little. "Shall we go find out what is in store for us today?"
Triel nods. "Might as well--the Sheriff would appreciate it."
Not sure what the hell he's thinking, asking me of all people to help his guards... then again, as far as I know, he just thinks I'm one of Gorum's (reluctant, I might add) faithful. At any rate, I intend to make the most of this... opportunity.
Almost without thinking, she holds out her hand to Ithylia's and takes it. "Shall we?"
"The one and only." Cian replies, grinning a bit. "Well, if you know about us I guess you need to tell us about yourself."
"There's not much to tell. I'm no heroes like you lot, nor is there any noble blood in my veins," mumbled Charde, finding the man's forwardness somewhat refreshing as he waved for the ladies to lead the way, revealing a swathe of intricate ink-work along his hands and wrists.
"My ancestors were Skoan-Quah refugees who settled here some six decades back. I was born and raised right here in Sandpoint; never knew nor been anywhere else. After the Late Unpleasantness and the burning of the first cathedral, I found there wasn't much need for me to be serving as an herbalist. Might have ended up on the streets, but Sheriff Hemlock found something that suited me; gave me a way to give back to Sandpoint. I've been with the guard ever since."
The man paused, swallowing hard as his face soured momentarily, though he quickly regained his composure, even managing to muster a small smile as he followed along behind his newest attaches.
"Like I said, there's not much to me."
"We're not too complex either. You now saving festivals and chasing tomb robbers. Isn't that all the rage in Magnimar anyway?" By the laugh dancing across Vanya's eyes, it's obvious that she's is not serious at all. "Really, I am just a girl from Riddleport, hoping to make my way to a further destination." The waif giggles and says, "Oh now I sound like Varisian caravaner!"
"Now where is Bethana? She's supposed to have some news for us."
"We're not too complex either..."
Triel scoffs a little in mock annoyance. "Says you. Some of us pride ourselves on being enigmatic."
"Like I said, there's not much to me."
Triel shrugs (*clink*) "If you say so."
I doubt anyone here is as simple as they claim to be. At least, that's what I like to think. Perhaps I'm wrong...
Van, as you ask, a woman pokes her head around the corner. She is short, and well fed. You recognize her as someone who works in the Rusty Dragon. You remember her serving drink and food, as well as cleaning.
Bethana: Hello, I was hoping not to involve the guard, Amekio trusts the rest of you, and you're the Heroes of Sandpoint. Do you trust him?
She is obviously motioning at Charde. As she speaks she trembles slightly, something is quite obviously bothering her.
Triel arches an eyebrow at the short lady from behind her helmet. "If the matter doesn't involve anything illegal, then I see little reason for him not to be present." She glances at Charde. "For now, I'm inclined to let him be here."
"Right, no reason to leave him out. Sheriff Hemlock said something about he's here to help us."
Kneeling down to match the stature of the woman, Charde just nods as the other vouched for his worth.
"You have my word, Bethana, that whatever you have to say will be held in the strictest confidence. Though I may be a guardsman, my job currently is to assist these very same heroes, in whatever capacity that might be."
Behtana walks closer to you all, her hands clutching something to her chest as she her eyes show a slight hint of fear behind them. "If you say that I can trust this man as well, then I suppose that I have no choice to include him as well. Can you tell me, have you seen Ameiko at all this morning?"
Triel shrugs (*clink*). "Not really--I just woke up."
So she's absent today... can't say I like the direction this conversation is going in...
"No. But when does she normally shake the rust off of this dragon?"
"It's not uncommon for her to head out in the morning. She is after all a busy woman. But after last night, she was shaken with the words of her father. They haven't been on good terms for a long time now, and it still gets to her. She may have put up a brave face last night, but I can assure you that she's not quite there after what he said..." Bethana says as she points her eyes down in sorrow. She quickly raises them back up to you continuing her words. "To the point though... I went in a few moments ago to see if she was okay, but didn't find her in her room. I found this on her table though, and thought it was a note of instruction for me. However it's not... I hope I translated it well for you to read, it was originally in her native tongue..."
She hands you the piece of paper that she has clutched in her hands for you to read:
Hello, sis!
I hope this letter finds yo u 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 honor 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
Triel's face is an emotionless mask behind her helmet as she reads the translated letter.
Suspicious. Her brother wants to meet with her, alone, at midnight. He doesn't want her to tell anyone else about this. And he says it's because he suspects her father had something to do with the goblin attack during the festival.
This is one of the most obvious, most amateurish traps I've ever seen. Gods, even Qilué would have been more subtle than this.
...actually, that's unfair. Talice would have been more subtle than this. Qilué wouldn't have bothered with a letter.
"I hope I'm not the only one who's suspicious of this." She turns to the party, handing them the paper to read.
"I hope I'm not the only one who didn't know she had a brother." Cian says after a few moments. "But yes, it's a little strange. Why not meet her here, at her inn?"
"Maybe he really didn't want to point out to everyone his worries. Their father wascsurely horrid enough last night, he might be in league with the toothy little pyros."
"He may be a grouchy old man, but I don't believe that Mr. Kaijitsu would actually align with those goblins. But then again, everyone does have their secrets..." Bethana says with a sigh. "Will you see if she's okay? It's very rare that we even hear from her brother, and something like this... I just want to make sure that she's okay."
Triel nods. "I see little reason not to."
If I'm ever going to get breakfast, I'll have to find her.
"Admittedly, I didn't get that impression from him. If he's as loyal to this town as he claimed, he would have very little reason to assist in its destruction..." She says, thinking aloud.
...unless of course, there's more to this than I think.
If we are going, now's the best time, right?"
"How much do you know of her brother? I agree with Triel, something just doesn't feel right about this."
Bethana sighs slightly as she begins to explain the story behind Tsuto. "Tsuto is, well, the best way to put it, Ameiko's illegitimate half brother. He was born a year before Ameiko as it seems obvious in certain ways, as Mr. Kaijitsu isn't his father. No one but his mother, the late Mrs. Kaijitsu, knows about him. It was quite the scandal back in the day to say the least. A noble woman having an affair behind her husband's back, it wasn't pleasant, and many of us believed that Mr. Kaijitsu's stubbornness was the only reason they never truly dissolved their marriage, and was also the reason that brought Ameiko into this world. Besides the point, Mr. Kaijitsu sent Tsuto away, and later on in life, Ameiko found out about him and tried to help him. Even as a child, that woman has had a good heart. But something happened between the two of them that caused her to leave Sandpoint. She only came back from traveling the world for her mother's funeral. And even then, it wasn't pleasant for a funeral standard at that. Tsuto accused Mr. Kaijitsu of murdering Mrs. Kaijitsu, in which cast he promptly broke Tsuto's jaw. He left that night, and never came back. Ameiko has tried to locate him, but to no avail. But after last night..." she continues on as she notions to the letter, "it just didn't add up in my head, and I wonder if it's Tsuto that we have to worry about."
Vanya gasps, "So, there was really bad blood between father and son? " She looks to Ithylia and Triel, "Maybe you two aren't wrong..." The waif frowns and her thoughts wander away. Bad blood between father and son. I wonder if mom would hurt me when I go home? She brightens quickly, then, "We need to hurry to the glassworks right away!"
Triel listens to Bethana's story, her arms folded across her chest.
"Hmm." I still think their family is less dysfunctional than mine.
"I think that would be a reasonable assumption, Bethana." She nods. "I mean, if Tsuto really wanted to speak with Ameiko about the goblin attack, why not just speak with her here? If it's privacy he wants, the two of them could have easily gotten themselves a room--the walls aren't thin enough for guests to overhear them."
"Anyway, let's get going. Charde, Cian." She moves to the doors and looks back at the party. "Ithylia, Vanya, shall we?"
Here's hoping the sun doesn't blind me too badly...
"Yes, but let us be careful. Rushing in blindly could get people hurt or killed." Ithylia checked to make sure she had everything she would need on her before heading out the door.
Grinning, "When do I ever do anything unprepared?"
As you all prepare to leave, a woman carrying an crying infant comes into the inn, her face both pale and red at the same time. "For Desna's sake, some one please help me! My husband he's... Please help, I need someone now, can anyone helps me?" she rants and screams frantically as people begin in the room begin to watch what seems as if a spectacle of horror is about to begin.
Triel stops in her tracks as the hysterical mother bursts through the door, incoherently begging for help. Something about her husband, if she heard her right...
...oh, great.
She keeps herself composed as she steps up to the distraught woman. There's a part of her that's sorely tempted to roll her eyes behind her helmet, but it's promptly given a mental kick in a very sensitive spot to silence it.
"Calm down. What's wrong?" She asks, her voice clear and authoritative.
I think I can guess.
halfway out the door, Vanya gets bumped by the upset woman. Waiting, she listens to the plea for help. But, the glassworks? Oh, blast it!
"Yes, what happened?"