Waiting until we all are close, Menelei whispers a silent prayer, "Dreamsinger, let your stars restore us."
She raises her arm, displaying the sleeve of her blouse embroidered with a swallowtail butterfly.
Channel, healing anyone who took damage for...1d6 ⇒ 6points. A good roll at last.
In a twinkling of starlight, the wound on her belly disappears. Smiling a little, pleased to feel the Goddess's power. Before the group leaves for the sheriff, she clears her throat.
"Thank you all. I am Menelei, and I am proud to have fought beside you." When she finishes, she turns to Aldern with an uncertain smile. "I owe you a life."
Menelei takes up the pint and raises the glass to the man who gave it to her. When she sees who it was, she freezes and a little sloshes over the edge and splashes on the bar. For a heartbeat, she looks at the little puddle and frowns, but then she gives what passes for a carefree laugh.
"It seems I can't hold my ale much better than Dunkin," she quips, smiling at him. "I was just wondering if we might see you tonight."
Just then, Ameiko says something very loud and clear about him putting the moves on her, and her cheeks pinken. Not that I don't want him to, she thought. But I haven't had much luck with men in the past. Just don't do anything stupid, girl. Like drinking one of those. She watches the handsome man pouring tiny glasses of dangerous looking liquor.
"I really sh-" shouldn't, she thinks, but a huge yawn stops the words from coming out. By the time her yawn is through, she has a glass in her hand. Go on, live a little. It's all borrowed time after that wound anyway. With a sweet, sleepy smile for Aldern, she raises the glass. "To The Great Dreamer, the Swallowtail Festival, and victory!"
Things were getting a little fuzzy around the edges when Dunkin handed her a bag of gold, and she watched him walk away with the goblin blade. It was definitely time to find a bed to crawl into.
Eyotah nods at the tall half-elf, "The Shundar-Quah are brave warriors also. It is rare to find a half-elf amongst the spire clan though, your lands are far from the forests." she says, as Tinuviel takes her seat and begins flirting with the dark one. Taking her lead from the pretty elf, Eyotah smiles, "And tell me, what do you all do?" she says, just as she's distracted by the strange sound from the redhead. She turns, startled "Are you alright?" ... He really does have the loveliest eyes!
Stifling a yawn she sips from her ale, watching the others and trying to figure out why the handsome men would be talking to her. It was worth a bit of tiredness to find out...
The red headed half elf with dreamy eyes clears his throat. Ahem Ahem yes, i'm fine. Sorry. It's just Ameiko's roast mutton is a bit rough tonight. Got some down the wrong pipe. Excuse me!
Just then Eyotah hears Menelei...Swallowtail Festival, and victory! The little boy Dunkin hands Ameiko the horsechopper. The crowd cheers as she places it up on the mantle of the bar, and says...
Alright folks alright, quiet down. and turning from the horsechopper on the mantle to you all Now, great heros, you will stay here for free tonight...and in the Morning what will you do? Have you a quest? What adventures will you be headed off to?
As she finishes her question a man walks in the front door. He's tall, thin, early sixties maybe. Dressed in fine merchant clothes. He stands at the door and listens to what's going on.
The pup is silent eagarly awaiting to hear what you will all say.
[ooc]
Dair gladly does his fire-eating/breathing routine, juggling the colored balls and performing simple magic tricks in between. The little man is quite the virtuoso, even weaving a few short tales into his performance as well. The grand finale has him once more reach the two circles of a dozen intertwining balls, and breathing a blast of flame that looks like a butterfly, one of the symbols of his goddess. He ends with a flourish of his patchwork cloak and a wink at Menelei.
Amazing! shouts Adel at this display of dexterity.
The old man by the bar shouts out to the little girl step back little one! That halfling be doing some dangerous stuff! Pretty impressive though, I admit.
Boo was torn. On the one hand she neededto go check up on her aunt and uncle. On the other hand: Free room! Then again she was getting a little fuzzy. And, free room! The . generation could wait until morning, she decided. maybe she could ask the pretty cleric to come with her. In the morning.
"I am a bit tipsy." she declared. Turning to Raphael, she asked "You're so big and strong. Would you help me back to my room?" She smiled genially at him.
Thumparr squelches a yawn and then roars in approval of the Fire Breath, quaffing a shot and yelling, "To the great dwarven kingdom!! Har!!"
Eyes watering, he slaps Ameiko on the back and says, "Me next adventure is to find a woman named Nualia! I think she mighta started the whole mess tonight with the gobbos and body snatching! But before that, another shot!"
At the mention of the name Nualia the entire room falls deathly silent. All eyes turn to Thumparr. People start to whisper to one another:
"Nualia? No...has she returned?" There is fear building in the air. Then the man who just walked in the door steps forward and addresses Ameiko...
Daughter He says Come. Enough of this foolishness. We are leaving Sandpoint and returning to Minkai. All the arrangements have been made. I expect you to come with me once and for all and I don't want to hear any more about your precious tavern or the people here. Either come with back home to Minkai, or you are no longer my Daughter. You will have no place in my Will. Everything will go to your brother Tsuto...
Watching the balls cascading through the air was nearly hypnotic, and Menelei cheered loudly when the halfling blew a blast of flame in the shape of a butterfly into the air. She grinned at his wink and had just turned to head up when Thumparr loudly announced his plans.
The reaction of the room when the dwarf mentioned Nualia was enough to sober Menelei up, at least a bit. She felt a sinking feeling and a cold awareness growing that the night's attack was only the first move in a deadly game. A game that she would have to see to the end, now that it had begun. She turned to Aldern, her fingers curling around his, and looked into his eyes.
"You know who this Nualia is," she whispered. "Come with me, and tell me everything." She starts to pull him towards the stairs when the thin old merchant at the door speaks.
What the...? Minkai? Ameiko has a father? And a pompous one at that.
"What kind of father doesn't care about his daughter's friends and her business?" she mutters, loud enough to be heard, having had a father of that sort herself.
Lonjiku glances in the direction of the dis-respectful elf at the bar. He bites his lip.
Ameiko: Father, we've been through this. I figured this ultimatum would come, but I thought you weren't planning to return months from now. What has changes? Has Tsuto revealed your 'business dealings' to the noble families of Sandpoint?
Lonjiku looks furious. He strides toward his daughter, pushing past Thumparr, grabs her by the hair.
You are as ungrateful as your mother. You will come with me now, girl!
He tries to drag her toward the door.
Ameiko is not weak, she could probably break her father's grip with relative ease...but the emotional power her father holds over her is great. Ameiko screams out in pain...
FATHER LET GO, YOU ARE HURTING ME!
Seeing his dear friend, and somebody he cares for a fair amount being hurt, Dair bounds towards Ameiko and her father, standing in front of them. He speaks to him in Minkaian "Sir, please do not do this. Ameiko is such a good person, such a kind soul. She loves all the people here in Sandpoint, and shows them nothing but compassion. Let her stay here and continue to own and operate the Rusty Dragon. She is the heart of this town, please, do not cut it out!"
Lonjiku regards Dairkal with contempt.
I saw you tonight in the festival square, antagonizing the goblin raiders with your antics. Surely we would all have been better off had you but left such a matter to our town watch, trained professionals as they are-- He looks about the crowd many of whom are your very own brave sons and daughters, am I wrong?
The patrons around you mutter to each other, their pride perked up a bit. Patrons begin passing glances back and forth, and then sizing you up wondering what you might have to say for yourself. And only a moment ago you were heros!
Ameiko waits patiently during this exchange, her hair being tugged viciously by her very own father.
"So you wanted me to just wait for a guard to show up and save the day? What if while that happened, little Adel was hurt? or kidnapped? or worse? Gladly do I bow to the superior fighting prowess of the town watch, but I too am a resident of this town. Should I have just stood idly by while one of its daughter's was hurt?" He looks to the crowd, many of whom he knows on first name basis.
"What say you people of Sandpoint? Should I, a newly adopted son of your town, just stood by while MY home was attacked? Maybe I should have just gone about my business, while little Adel was left to face one of the goblins on her own"
Tinuviel sways slightly as she speaks. As she speaks she straightens slightly and takes particular care enunciating the trickier words.
By the end of her speech she is standing straight, holding her staff in both hands and glaring at Lonjiku.
The blond-haired man standing sitting next to Eyotah now stands up .
I dare not translate what Tinuviel the Elf-Wizard just said to, Lord Lonjiku, but for your own good: release your daughter Ameiko.
Thus released, Ameiko steps away from her father, behind Dairkal. She places her hands on his shoulders. Lonjiku eye's the Halfling, taking note of the rapier hanging from his hip. He is no stranger to politics, and glancing around the room he see's Dairkal's logic and Tinuveil's resolve that steeled the patrons.
So be it. Fairwell daughter. You have made your choice!
With that he turns and leaves.
There is a long silence, then Aldern straitens up to speak. Laying his hand over the top of Menelei's he speaks with the voice of a leader:
Alright everyone, it's been a long night. I'm covering everyone's tab tonight, but with Ameiko's permission the bar is now closed. Go on home. Hug your kids, love your wives and husbands. Let the troubles of this night be but dreams in the morning.
There is general consensus, and after a short time the room is cleared. Ameiko locks the door behind them, leaving you all alone with her and Aldern. She turns and walks back in to the room, wiping a tear from her eye and settles into a chair near Dairkal.
Aldern pounds another shot of firebreath, just to settle the nerves.
Alright. Let's talk about Nualia. Where should I begin?
When the old man left, Menelei stared at the door for a long moment, her eyes burning with outrage. Just the sight of the old man, attempting to physically drag his own daughter out of the life she had chosen infuriated her. Only Aldern's hand covering hers stopped her from following the man into the street to give him a piece of her mind. As it was, she was still scowling when she turned from the door.
She took another shot of firebreath, which nearly floored her, but she was burning hot with righteous anger.
"Nualia?" she said, trying to remember what that name meant. The one who burned the church and sent the goblins to desecrate the priest's body. "Right. So something needs to be done about her. But who is she? I know she burned the church and tried to steal that body, but what's the connection? And what kind of power does she have over these goblins?"
A thought seems to float just out of reach, and she frowns even harder. Something to do with the seven old standing stones around the altar in the Cathedral's courtyard. Her voice is soft, asking herself more than anything, "Wasn't the symbol on the dead priest a seven pointed star?"
"I was 'bout to ask the same thing, Menelei," Thumparr says, carrying the tray of Fire Breath to Aldern's table. "Wonder if Nualia carved that in him or did someone else? So, have a drink, Aldern, and tell us of this woman who I aim to kill when I find her."
Aldern does take a drink. Winces as it goes down. He begins to tell you the tale.
Nualia was the adopted daughter of the dead man whose remains you saved tonight, Ezakien Tobyn the priest. She was an Aasimar, the most very beautiful of them all.
But her unearthly beauty was a curse continues Ameiko. causing most of the people around her to become either jealous or shy. I remember one time a rumor went around that touching Nualia's long white hair could cure warts! By the time she came of age she must have felt more like a freak than a young girl. That's when she met Delek Viskanta. He was the first person who was ever nice to her. She practically fell into his arms.
But Nualia knew her father would never approve. So she met with Delek in secret, in the old smuggler's tunnels beneath Sandpoint. When she realized she was pregnant she told Delek.
I remember when that happened. That Hong-$hei Delek drug her out of the White Deer Inn, threw her in the mud. He called her a slut and a harlot. Then he fled Sandpoint, too cowardly to face her foster-father's wrath. Nualia faced that alone...
He forced her to sit in front of Desna's shrine for days, repenting from what she'd had done. This of course only fueled her discontent. Her hatred for her father, and for the town that never accepted her, grew.
Then one night, something odd happened. While in the chapel late at night the seven cairns surrounding the courtyard of the chapel lit up like a light-house spotbeam pointing strait up to heaven.
It was the strangest thing. Nualia was about seven months pregnant by then, but something went wrong. They found her in the chapel. She was in labor and they sent for the mid-wives. But what came out of her was something un-natural. The mid-wives described it as as hideous deformation. Apparently is lashed out even from the birth canal! The mid-wives, along with father Tobyn, 'got the situation under control.' They took the thing away.
Nualia was furious.
In a rage Nualia locked her father's bedroom door while he slept in the family chambers in the Chapel. Then she barricaded herself inside the chapel with him, and lit a fire. Everyone assumed she died in the blaze, but I always had my doubts. They never found her body...
"That's...a rather disturbingly interesting story. So if she yet lives, perhaps she helped the goblins attack tonight, to help gain revenge on the town and against the church?" Dair is a bit shaken by the story, but shrugs it away when Aldern seems to have finished.
Aldern looks at Dair with narrow eyes. The tallow candelabra's around the Dragon are dying down. The mood has become downright eerie. Accept for Thumparr who releases a contented burp as he enjoys the house ale during the tale.
Indeed, Master Halfling. A vindictive young lady is one thing, but then there is the seven pointed symbol. After I left you last night I went to see Chask Haladan. He's the only person in town who would have been able to confirm what I suspected. Have any of you ever heard of the ancient empire of Thassilon?
Dair nods "Yea, I have, sort of. Mostly tales, legends, that sort of thing. I did wander around Varisia for nine years, after all, and I've heard some stories"
"Left the mines and walked into a dang horror tale!" Thumparr winces, sucking down another of the fire breath shots. He can barely hold his head up. "Reckon that Nualia lady lives close by, seeing as how the gobbos and their human companion were talking about telling her what was going on here tonight. Wonder where that be, ye reckon?"
That's m' good Dwarf, itchin' for battle!
Until you heard her name dropped tonight, Master Thumparr, everyone in Sandpoint, including me, believed her dead. Were there no other clues? Other names? A token? Anything?
The only thing I can think of is that there are several Goblin Tribes nearby, the most powerful being those of Thistletop to the north. You can see it on any map of the hinterlands I think. They've never been organized enough to be much of a threat, but if there anyone were to try to bring the tribes together, they would have to start with the Thistletops...
They are a long way off though. The nearest are the Birdchruncher Goblins, living in the caves along the western edge of Devil's Platter. It's on your map too. Then there are the Licktoads, who live in Brinestump Swamp.
As Ameiko's father grabs her, Eyotah stands ready to talk, but is interrupted by the tall blonde next to her. As he speaks she nods in agreement: "This is not the way to treat a daughter! This is how the cruel treat a horse!"
As the pair tell their tale, Eyotah listens intently. "The ruins of the Thassilonians litter this land" she says, "The tribes tell stories of these places - bad stories. This girl, did she have anything to do with your father Ameiko? He seemed.... agitated when her name was mentioned."
Sense motive:
What Tinuviel knew about Thassiwhatsis could be written on a piece of paper and still have plenty of room for other, more important things. Still they sounded dangerous even if she was pretty sure they all died at least a hundred years ago.
More to the point, if this Nualia was involved with goblins there were going to be a lot more partially chewed dogs, cats and babies and that was very, very bad.
"I'm for bed, unless the goblins attack. Long day tomorrow." Turning to Raphael, Tinuviel leans into him and says "Will you help me get there? I'm not feeling very steady."
I don't see how my Father had anything to do with Nualia, but I can't be certain. He's had...dealings...with certain un-reputable groups in Magnimar, so he's been plugged in to the world of black markets for a long time. Many of these deals have affected local people in Sandpoint in ways they can't even imagine. It's one of the reasons my Father and I don't get along. He always feared the locals here in Sandpoint might find out. I have a brother named Tsuto who knows about these dealings too. If Tsuto wanted something from my father I wouldn't put it past him to blackmail father. But I can't see how either of them might be connected to Nualia. I wonder if something happened between them that led to father's visit here tonight. Thank you again, each of you who spoke up, for your help. She runs her fingers through Dair's hair playfully.
As Tinuviel addresses him, a dark figure stands up from the corner table and walks into the tallow candle light. No one even realized the undertaker was still in the room. Aldern instinctively jumps in his seat, hand reaching for his sword until he recognizes the dark face of Raphael.
Forgive me for intruding. I stayed behind to hear the tale. I know that my part in coming events will be small. But I can sense each of you is about to embark on a quest to uncover the truth behind what's going on. Allow me to impart a piece of wisdom to you. And also give you a gift...
The spirits of the dead have been whispering to me more than usual in my work lately. Something is going on, something bigger than goblins and a vindictive young women. In my minds eye the spirits place an image: a beautiful butterfly. But it is held in a cage and cannot escape. A bejeweled hand holds the cage. Then the vision goes dark.
And it's at that moment that the dead have been whispering a name, one which we all fear.
Lamashtu...
As for a gift, please take this...it's all I can offer.
The party gains a scroll. Raphael explains that it is a special single use scroll of teleportation. It will instantaneously teleport all living beings within a 20 ft radius to the Undertaker's funeral home in Sandpoint (Area 49 on the map).
I've had this with me for years just in case, but I never leave Sandpoint. So perhaps you will all be able to use it better than I. At my home you will be able to rest and recover from your trials.
With that he turns to Tinuviel.
Come, elf maiden. Since you are feeling unsteady, I shall help you to the best room upstairs...
"Thassilon. There were ruins in Riddleport said to be from that age, but I know little more than that." She rubbed her eyes and tried to shake off the wave of exhaustion that seemed to creep over her as her as her anger faded. "Did this Chask person tell you more than that?"
"Ancient civilizations and sevens, and a woman born of an angel turned to evil. A little girl vanished from a farm. And goblins," she says, yawning. "All things that will have to wait until tomorrow."
When the undertaker spoke, she frowned. The image of the butterfly in the cage was an unmistakable threat to the goddess, but it also seemed that it could have been her, a week ago, though the cage was a ring. She glanced at Ameiko, thinking that it could have been her, had her father had her way. What place Lamashtu had in this was too much to guess at now, but it could only be for evil.
She turned to Ameiko "I don't know you well, but I'm glad you have stayed with us. Nobody should be forced into a life not of their choosing, not even by family. No butterfly should be caged."
"Goodnight, my newfound friends."
You are all exhausted. Aldern bids you each goodnight, and with a glance up the stairs after Menelei, takes his leave out the door into the dark night. Ameiko furnishes each of you with a clean room. Each room has a wooden-cask tub and running hot water serviced via cast iron pipe that runs through the back of the Inn's hearth in the bar. Anyone who wants to stay up drinking can do so. But the rest of the world zonks out.
The next morning you find the inn empty. Ameiko has left a large plate of fresh fruit and left over boar meat. There is a pot of thick dwarven coffee bubbling in the hearth. Warm sun shines through the window on the booths overlooking the street.
At some point you glance out this window:
Tinuviel spent the necessary time to prep her spells. Rested and refreshed she noted the continued lack of anyone other than Kvothe in her room. Apparently the only people more stiff necked and reserved than elves were half elves. Maybe that's why nobody likes them? She pondered this point through out her ablutions without reaching a conclusion.
Still early, she headed downstairs and grabbed a mug of coffee and an apple. Fruit made an excellent start to a day. Finally awake, Boo contemplated for the fiftieth time the idea of starting a daily compendium of news. This news-parchment would compile the previous day's activities into one or two sheets of swiftly read material. And for the fiftieth time she dismissed the idea. Not that much ever happens she decided firmly and no one is that nosy to have to know everything that is going on.
Looking outside she noticed the funny looking man from the previous night. He had two friends with him. It's good to know that everyone has friends, even if they are seedy looking she thought fondly. Perhaps he's come to apologize to his daughter?
Recollecting her own family duties she left the inn and swiftly headed for her uncle and aunt's place.
Dair escorts Ameiko to her room, before finding his own. So many cute girls, so little time. That Menelei is real pretty, but then Tinuviel is quite the looker herself. Of course, Eyotah is easy on the eyes as well.
Come morning, the little halfling goes through his daily arming exercise, hiding over a half dozen knives on his person, along with his starknife, then strapping on his rapier last. So equipped, he heads downstairs, to see if Ameiko needs help. Finding Tinuviel already down there, he wanders over to her "Morning, how'd ya sleep?"
Menelei makes her way downstairs feeling surprisingly well, all things considered. It's hard to believe that only yesterday, she stepped off a ship into this little town, and found herself suddenly embroiled in fighting goblins, defending innkeepers from their father, and becoming involved in this mystery of Nualia.
Taking an apple and a cup of coffee, she heads over to sit by the window, where she sees the other elf and the halfling. Before she sits, she sees the old man outside, with what looks like a bit of hired muscle. Setting her breakfast on the table, she strings her bow and slips her quiver over her shoulder where it is most comfortable.
"Morning Tinuviel, morning Dairkal," she says, distracted by the sight of the men outside. Just as she sits, the other elf sets out on an errand, and Menelei sips her coffee, keeping her eye on the window.
"I suppose we couldn't expect him to just pack up and go without taking another shot, could we?" she says to Dairkal.