Brenton sends a message back to his order explaining the events and excusing his tardiness while he looks into the source of the goblin attacks.
Zeriax is quick to react at the woman's comment - "Well... In that case Emrys, I believe you should accompany the lady... I... I am not much of a conversationalist you see" - he says with an apologetic grin.
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Whispering, with a sly grin on his face;
I don't think its your "conversation" she's interested in, friend.
Then he slaps the palm of his hand to his forehead;
Ah, you know what? I just remembered what Megekki said about meeting him at the Hagfish, we were going to compare notes on that robe you found. Careful with those rats, I hear some carry particularly nasty diseases! he claps Zeriax on the back and strolls off down the street.
He pauses briefly when some kids come running up around him, calling him the 'magic guy' and begging for a trick.
Ok, ok! Here we go. he quickly says a few words and casts prestidgitation.
He takes a deck of cards from his bag and starts shuffling them. You see magic is all about the detail. You've got to watch every little movement, see every little pattern. Excuse me... AACCHHOOO! he makes a big show of clasping his hands to his face when he sneezes but to the children's delight the cards hover in mid-air and continue shuffling themselves. Clasping them again;
Ah sorry about that, where was I. Oh yes! You've got to study very hard and learn all kinds of things that seem to have nothing to do with magic. You boy, pick a card but don't show me. Happy? Slip it back in the deck. he continues shuffling. You might have to learn what a mephit eats for breakfast, or how many eggs a dragon lays, or even how fast a bolt of lightning travels! ALAKAZAM! he shouts, drawing a card out swiftly. And then one day you too might call yourself a wizard. This is your card isn't it? The Ace of Hearts.
With a pouty lip and shake of them head the boy indicates it isn't
Really? Are you sure? Look again.
The boy gasps when he looks down and sees that he does indeed hold the Ace of Hearts.Then, all the children burst into laughter when Emrys starts to flick the rest of the cards into the air where they briefly burst into puffs of smoke in the shape of butterflies and drift off on the breeze.
Ruffling the boy's hair he says. Keep that card safe, kid, it's magic!
With the noise of children's laughter ringing in his ears, he continues his stroll down the main street.
Zeriax seems split between his dismay at the young girls' dissapointment, and seeing Emrys walk away down the street - " Shayliss... My apologies... I intended no offense..."
Then shouting for his companion - "Wait a moment Emrys! It shouldn't take long..." - then turning back to the girl - "They are just rats after all... right..?"
Shaking his head at his own confusion, the disciplined monk steadies himself - "Very well then - do take me to where these rats can be found and let us get you rid of those pests" - he bows and offers a courteous arm to the young girl.
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She leads you to the basement, complementing you on your features...your looks that would turn most people off seem to just get more attention and praise from her.
Shayliss reveals her true intentions as soon as she leads you alone in the basement of her father’s store; her bodice comes off and she slides herself into an embrace as she tries to guide you over to a convenient
cot someone’s set up in the back of the room.
Perception Check, Zeriax.
Zeriax gasps as the girl starts undressing, as if mesmerized. But he does not move forward - "Shayliss... I... You are indeed beautiful..."
Zeriax turns around as he hears noises approaching - "Rats?" - He questions the girl, as he draws his longbow from behind his back assuming a fighting stance.
Zeriax looks back and forth between the father and the daughter, trying understand what to make of the situation.
Then he bows to the man, and puts the weapon away - "My honest apologies sir, I feared that it would be one of the vermin rats infesting this cellar, and was ready to lay it down" - he offers the man a smile.
Zeriax has his arms to the side in a peaceful gesture - "Please wait a moment sir, this is surely a terrible, terrible mistake - I am sure we can have a conversation on this matter"
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Was rats he hunted, that is true.
He found them not.
The minx? A shrew.
The dad, a bear, all righteous rage.
His mouse, had too oft'
slipped her cage.
The blinded bear, faced hen-house monk,
Who asked to talk.
Do you smell skunk?
Zeriax grabs the opportunity with both hands and takes his leave, nodding to the man without a word.
As he leaves the cellar, he cannot avoid but looking back once again, and offering a nod also to the young woman.
What was THAT?! - he ponders to himself as he exits the premises in a calm, but determined pace.
Megekki is seen chasing his wayward spear, cursing at it in Orcish as it dances just out of his reach. This distracts somewhat from the wicker basket-helm and tart-blanket coif recently added to his... armor.
Scolding his willful weapon, Megekki enters the inn. To the chuckles that greet him, he poses artfully, and declares, "Ronnie Merrow, Megekki."
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As you all return to the inn, and relax for some food, Aldern Foxglove enters. Ah! There you are, my friends! he says as he opens him arms towards you. He walks to the table and drops a small bag of coins in front of each of you. As I promised, a small token of my appreciation for your very heroic act of saving my humble hide. Some of the patrons laugh at the joke. He pulls up a chair.
I was wondering if I might convince you all to ride out with me to go on a boar hunt tomorrow in nearby Tickwood Forest. I'd like to bring the good townsfolk a good meal before I return to my townhouse in Magnimar. A fresh day of just us men heading out and hunting down some game would be a great chance to get to know one another better!
Ameiko brings you all a round of drinks, and whatever food you ordered. It should would be nice to have some fresh meat to cook. It would help to get the people's spirits up as well, especially if the hunt goes well. She puts a hand on Aldern's sholder. Just be careful out there, eh? We're not completely sure those goblins aren't out there...or something worse.
"Pig is good to eat.", Megekki says from under his mask, and basket-helm. "Megekki will hunt, first time.", he says, removing the basket and loosening the melt-face mask in preparation for eating. He looks about suddenly, before finding the bag Aldern dropped before him, in his own left hand. He softly scolds the hand in Orcish while the right hand takes the bag, and puts it away.
"Thank you for the offer Master Foxglove - it will be a pleasure to attend this hunt" - Zeriax chimes in with a huge smile on his face.
"Is this a local custom? Hunting expeditions?"
Brenton eyes Aldern peculiarly. He tries to imagine what hunting would be like with him. After seeing how he handled those goblins, its no wonder he's asking us to go with him. Somehow I bet he still manages to get himself hurt.
Ameiko's mention of goblins rouses Brenton. Maybe we'll come across something regarding the attack. Its a long shot but better than finding out anything else poking around town.
"If you're serious about hunting, perhaps I should go in case someone gets hurt." He says hoping Aldern doesn't catch his implication.
Megekki makes honeycomb patterns on the tabletop with the coins from Aldern Foxlove, counting softly in what seems like four languages at once, "One. Dubbe. Fic. Marh. Five..." He stops at each complete hexagon, and traces the spiral.
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Aldern wakes those of you up who aren't awake at 4am on the dot. He says something about the best time to get them is in the morning.
He has horses ready for everyone. One the ride out, he talks only a little about himself. It's clear that he's well educated, well read, and a great conversationalist. He then turns to Emrys. Please, tell me more about yourself! Each of you...I would love to know more about the Heroes of Sandpoint! Who are you? Where are you from? How long have you been fighting goblins? Do you have any harrowing tales of your adventures? .
How are you this evening, Zeriax, you're very quiet. You didn't suffer from premature conversation I hope?
Shaking his head, Zerax comments with his companion - "My friend, would you believe that the young girl in fact had no rats whatsoever in the cellar..?! Instead, her father therein appeared, apparently extremely upset and actually wanting to attack me... I am still unsure of what has happened, but it would seem that he imagined that I was somehow... how shall I put this... Taking advantage of his daughter?"
Still wearing a dumbfounded look on his face he adds - "Quite surprising... Fortunately I managed to reason with the kind gentleman, and we were able to leave it at that"
"Megekki adventure. Megekki human boy. White-skin. Powerful magic, is white skin. But human boy does not know. Plays in woods. Bag on head! Rock on bag! Megekki orc boy now. Teach the magic, orc say. Megekki not know, not teach. Orc hurts the boy. Teach the magic, orc say. Boy does not know. Bad, bad years. Harrowing. Is fits-well word. Bury and come out, is harrowing. Fits well."
Brenton examines the countryside while looking for signs of goblins and boar. He stays quiet and keeps his crossbow loaded and handy.
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Emrys decides to accompany the morning jaunt with some sweet tea which, incidentally, he reheats every now and then with prestidgitation.
He takes a sip and answers Alderns question.
My father is the assistant curator of the Blackros museum in Absolom. For a hundred years he travelled seeking all kinds of esoteric knowledge, spending more time reading about ancient civilisations than he did with my sister and I. But we inevitably caught the bug. He started teaching us magic before we could walk! But once we found our feet we followed him everywhere. He's retired now, from adventuring at least, but we carried on his work, poking into all kinds of different tombs, crypts and barrows always looking for the signs of our fathers true passion, ancient Thassilonia!
Another sip of tea.
Well we haven't had much luck in all that time. And my sister went and found herself a husband to boot. Now I deal in trinkets and artwork. It was the new cathedral that brought me here.
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As you approach your destination, you see a rather large tick off in the distance, but only briefly. The oversized insects are rare, and are the namesake of the forest.
As you stop near a clearing, and get off your horses to tie them up, Aldern looks at the elf and asks, That's fascinating... but, really...what makes you wake up in the morning, put on your gear, and say, "I'm going to defend the weak? The innocent? The noble?" What made you jump out in front of those goblins to protect me? You could have been killed!
He pulls a heavy crossbow and about a dozen bolts from his saddlebag as he awaits your answer.
"Killed is only lifts-the-veil" Megekki interjects, dismounting like an arthritic ancient crone from his superbly-well-mannered, even-you-can-ride-it horse. He pats the animal affectionately, saying something in Orcish*, then checks his crossbow, cocking but not loading it, and letting it hang at his side. He keeps his long spear ready, with Aldern and the wizard in its radius, if he can. Aldern, if he must choose.
He mutters softly, nearly continually, often seeming to be arguing with himself in two voices, but Spellcraft proves some of that mutter is Guidance, some Detect Poison**, or Detect Magic.
"I hate to interrupt your discussion, but could we find another place to find game? I'm pretty sure there is a rare forest creature about, and I would hate for one of us to 'accidentally' kill it. That would not make me very happy."
Brenton watches Megekki casting spells while arguing to himself. He tries to emphasize the point by adding, "I think Megekki agrees with me."
Megekki laughs. "One of Megekki, yah!" He does a sort of dance in time to his laughter, then stops both at once. "Good joke. But bug far away. Is bug? You worry for bug? Is far, that bug. Bug go...", Megekki skitters one hand one an invisible belly-high surface. "We go...", he adds, with a sort of gamboling-gallop gesture from the other hand, diverging from the bug-hand's path. "Maybe more bug?", he asks, with a perfect Varisian Gypsy shrug. "I should know?"
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Aldern glares at Brenton for a moment, befor his general, polite countenance returns. The bug? You're worried about the well being of a bug? Interesting. Perhaps I should focus some of my questions in your direction. What makes YOU tick. He lets out a hearty laugh in response to his own joke. As he snaps his travel bag close, Do not worry. The insectoid will not bother us if we do not bother him. Really, it is the boar who need to worry.
Zeriax mumbles to himself smiling - "I doubt it is even possible to catch any creature unawares with all this ruckus..."
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Aldern turns towards Zeriak. Eh? What's that? Surly you wouldn't think that I would have us ride directly upon the boars on horseback do you? Only an amateur would make such a foolish mistake. No, we still have a half mile or so to walk...and more time to get to know each other on the way. He looks at the elf, again. Now, about my question...
Brenton recalls what he knows about rare ticks.
He compares what he knows to what Aldern said.