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Emrys looks at the nobleman with a cocked eyebrow, as if he does not understand the question.
In the tavern all those people were wanting to buy me a drink, a beautiful woman serving them to me. That was fantastic! I didnt ask for any of that but I wont say I didnt enjoy it. Besides, I was rather enjoying the festivities until those goblins turned up.
He runs his hand through his hair.
Listen, Aldern, theres been a few times in my life where ive needed a hand up. What a world we would live in if those able to help refused to do so.
By the way, was no one else disturbed by that bloody massive tick!?
"Megekki not afraid tick. Afraid what tick bites on." Megekki shudders.
"Megekki use arcane, intriguing? Arcane use Megekki, that intriguing. Notes, agreed. And basket-head, is make boys laugh. Good, holds hood down from wind. Good, can hold things. But first, is make boys laugh. Oh, Megekki forgets. Stops forgetting, now. Wizard say, thing we find, in place we go, it makes two things. We find them, already." Meg begins a rapid intra-mask bickering in Orcish.
The party presses on.
The noblemen notices three boar in the distance, about 60' ahead. The party has concealment from them as they hide behind bushes.
Zeriax pulls out his bow, while keeping an eye on the beasts and crouching.
Megekki takes station beside Megekki, with his long spear ready, prepared to set it against a charging boar.
"Hits the frog. Megekki sees the frog."
Megekki checks the line of charge for the boar, making sure he and his long spear are on it, ahead of Aldern, and if possible in reach of Zeriax. If in reach of Zeriax, Meg casts Mage Armor on Zeriax, then minds his spear, intent on the boar.
Brenton unloads his crossbow on the boar
He drops his crossbow and pulls out his morningstar.
Zeriax falls into his usual blur of motion as he fires two arrows at the approaching boar.
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The beast falls as a couple of bolts hit it. It doesn't even reach Megekki's spear.
Good show! Foxglove exclaims. What a healthy beast too! He pats Brenton on the back. Excellent shot my friend. He looks at Zeriax. You too!
As you all examine the corpse and prepare it for travel, he looks at Brenton. So, you never did answer me earlier. What about you? Tell me more about yourself. What makes Brenton...Brenton?
"Milani makes me who I am. I work to free people of oppression and only came here as a delegate to witness the opening of the new temple. I hope to one day prove myself worthy enough to continue Her good works."
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You load the boar up after its been properly prepared. You note that the nobleman takes pride in his work, and isn't afraid to do a little of the heavy lifting or get his hands dirty. He continue to ask you all about who you are and what it means to be a hero....almost to a point of irritation. You are happy to return to Sandpoint in the early afternoon. He hands the boar to Ameiko, who is very excited at the sight of such a fine beast. She assures you that she can have it ready by the dinner hour. She makes sure you will all be there. Foxglove indicates that he will use the time to wash up and take care of a few errands in town.
You have some time to utilize before supper, should you want to do anything.
Megekki makes himself helpful in the kitchen, opportunistically obtaining bits of fur or teeth or bone as the boar is butchered.
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As it heads into evening hours, the Rusty Dragon Inn is packed with patrons. Apparently, word of the success of your hunt has spread through the small community like wildfire. Everyone is enjoying the food, company and, of course, the drink. Everyone that is, except Zeriax... as he feels a hand over his shoulder and down his chest.
Hey...you ran out on me the other night. That wasn't very....heroic of you!, a familiar female voice whispers in your ear. Her warm breath so close, you can feel it.
Brenton tries to uncover any local rumors some of the locals are willing to share. In particular he is looking for anything regarding stories of the late priest whose skeleton is missing. He does not make any mention of the missing remains.
Zeriax cannot really pretend to himself that this beautiful girl is not growing on him, but he can certainly pretend for the others present... Or try...
Not really knowing what not being polite and respectful means, the young monk smiles as he hears the familiar voice. Turning around he stands up with a greeting - "Hello again. I trust you had the opportunity to clarify that unfortunate misunderstanding with your father yesterday? And yourself? Are you ok? Or have the rats been pestering you any further?" - he asks with a smile.
"Please sit down" - he offers, pulling a chair, but then with a more serious look, adding - "Are you sure we will have no further misunderstandings?"
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Well, I can't help my father sometimes. He doesn't understand that a woman has..... needs. It gets awfully lonely in that store sometimes. And lately, he just seems to be gave all the attention to my sister. Really, she's really an attention whore. But enough about her. Why don't you tell me about you...? There's practically a purr in her voice as the words drip out of her red lips, one by one.
Brenton is unable to find out anything more about the 'late priest.'
As you all finish your meals and enjoy conversation, an older, tian man slams the tavern's door open and bellows out a sharp-tongued command in a strange language (Minkaian...anyone know that language?)
In the face of his yelling, the other patrons grow very quiet and put their heads down...more interested in their meals or drinks.
"Kaijutsu. Longiku.", Megekki says for those at his table. "Too sick for festival. Better now."
Brenton casts comprehend languages.
Ameiko looks up from behind the bar.
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He starts to shout something at her, but stops when he sees the party.
YOU!
He marches over to the group, putting his finger right in Brenton's face. With a Tian accent, he yells, Your group endangered our townsfolk with your ill-advised antics against the goblins. You should have left the defense of the town to the city guard and other trained professionals!
"You were sick.", Megekki declares from beneath his mask. "Town could not wait for wiser, better, patient man, home in bed. We were there. Town cried for help. We did. You go get more goblins, we let you fight them." Megekki stands and raises a hand solemly. "Promise."
"I wouldn't call coming to the towns defense ill-advised antics. You could barely have asked for better trained professionals than my companions here." Brenton waives his hand towards the others.
"Perhaps you should ask Aldern Foxglove if he would have been better off waiting for the town guard to come to his rescue."
"There is nothing to get excited about, please won't you sit down and share this meal with us and have a drink. I will toast to your fortune." Brenton tries to calm the man.
"Sir Kaijitsu, no respect, but I'm only here on church business to represent Milani for the opening of the new Cathedral. Certainly you don't intend to call a priest in attendance to the festival a vagrant. An educated man such as yourself may like to share his knowledge of this area to a curious student of all things. Or you may have questions I could answer. Please sit and let us speak as friends."
Ameiko rushes into the front room, a ladle dripping with soup in her hand.
You will NOT speak to my patrons in such manner!
Ameiko repsonds, telling her father (in common) to leave her inn (albeit with a string of creative and shocking profanity).
Enraged, Lonjiku tries to grab her by the hair to drag her from the tavern, but she dodges and brains him with her soupy ladle, spattering fish stock and potatoes all over his hair and outfit.
Megekki stamps his spear on the floorboards of the inn, until he has a silence into which to speak. "Kaijutsu Longiku, who was sick, regrets his absence from the battle just passed. He saw nothing, and cannot know, when and how we acted. He cannot know, the Sheriff directed us. He cannot know, if we did well or badly. He cannot know, and he does not ask. So why does he say we did badly, wrongly, vagrants, filthy? Megekki does not know. Megekki does not care. And does not answer, wrong things, that are said. Megekki only say, one thing." Megekki walks to confront Longiku, until too close for the spear, too far for his gauntlet, but a good distance for an icy glare. "Kaijustu Longiku", he says, "We deserve respect."
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After she beans him, he looks shocked, and surprised, allowing Megekki and Emrys a moment to get in their words. Clearly they cut him to the quick. His surprise turns to red-hot anger.
He shouts in common. You’re as dead to me as your mother!
He storms out the door, and yells at her in Tian dialect again.
The cruel comments almost bring Ameiko to tears. Yet, as her father leaves, shouting, she picks up her ladle, and bravely declares “I’ll need a well-cleaned ladle now, since jackass stew’s not on the menu!
The resulting cheers and laughter from the tavern’s patrons help her attitude immensely.
She turns to the party, Thank you. Really. I want you stay in my inn for free for another week. Dinner's on the house!
Everyone cheers.
"Things he said, was about us. Why he say them, was not. When a large tree falls, it is an old rot."
"Sometimes my education gets the better of me Shayliss... I cannot imagine lifting my hand against an elder, even less my kin. I get divided in such moments"
Zeriax's fist had been clenched tight around the wooden mug in his hand, and its marks are now visible as he relaxes, the wood showing cracks in a few spots - "My heart races however when I am confronted with such feuds - the girl Ameiko has treated us with politeness ever since we have set foot in her establishment, and that man simply barged in with accusations - I did feel the urge to topple him, but discipline is as important as quick action. What was that all about anyway? Is the girl of noble blood? And why the feud in the first place?
Ameiko answers Emrys, My apologies. You men come here to relax, and deserve to do so. I'm sorry for my father's outlandish behavior towards you. He's always felt that those who adventure for living or for principle to be beneath him.
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Shayliss answers Zeriax, Yes...you just witness a fight between one of the richest nobles in Sandpoint, and his own flesh and blood. It's amazing when one considers that the old fart's father was one of a few survivors who fled over here from one of those countries all the way in Tian Xio... or so I've been told. I'm not sure why he's so upset with Ameiko, dear. But, I've never known a noble, or a daughter or one, to be caught dead running a tavern. But, enough about her. Let's talk more about us...
"It is unusual yes, but I can imagine more than one reason why one would welcome a simple and honest traders' life..."
Zeriax smiles at the straightforwardness of the young woman, and with a nod he acquiesces - "Very well then , tell me more about yourself - can I offer to buy you some tea while we talk?"
Brenton excuses himself from the party saying he needs some fresh air and will be back soon. Once outside he casts Detect Magic and follows the father. He tails behind him trying to stay unnoticed.
Brenton follows walking about 200 feet behind.