"I was thinking of Risa's Place. It's the tavern by the smallest gate, famous for its cider, but serves many other drinks as well. If any of you need something to eat, Vodger can whip up some of the best potatoes you'll ever have eaten!" At that moment, a sudden groan sounds from the green heap on the ground, and all eyes are drawn to the stirring goblin. It opens its eyes slightly, but closes them again and yelps, musing something in a scratchy sounding tongue.
Aldern takes a step back from the stirring goblin. "You said that you needed to talk to this thing; I'll leave you to do what you wish with that goblin and sit over there in the meantime." He points to a bench and begins walking towards it, leaving the party alone with the goblin.
The goblin finally opens its eyes and slowly draws them up Hakan's body, recoiling slightly at the man's expression.
"You guys go on ahead, we'll find it. Just remember your promise to pay when we get there Mr. Foxglove!" Natsu called out cheerily, seeing full well Odihna's intentions.
As Aldern walked towards the bench, Odihna slid up beside him and gently grabbed his hand her breasts accidentally squishing into his arm. "You heard the woman, why don't you and I head on over there and leave these siblings to their work."
"Aye" Bri added from half a dozen paces behind. "Hakan ain't the type ta get lost, they'll join us when they can. It's been a few days since I've hit Risa's Place, lets get movin' "
*********
While Odihna worked her magic and Brygerri urged them onwards to the booze, Hakan knelt down infront of the hogtied goblin, a mellow look on his face as he responded in Goblin.
"I get what you're saying Myrgar, dogs are pretty scary. You did good though Myrgar, you killed it good and dead. But why were you and your friends here in the first place? You should have known how dangerous a human town would be."
Aldern blushed slightly, becoming increasingly aware of Odihna's playful behavior. For once, though, he decided to go along with it, smiling back at her and wrapping an arm around her waist as the they walked down the darkened streets of Sandpoint.
When the welcoming glow of Risa's two large outdoor lanterns came into view, Aldern noticed Brygerri pick up her pace slightly. He couldn't help but speed up himself; the idea of a drink certainly seemed welcoming after a long evening of running from pyromaniacal goblins. The tavern door itself had a small sun etched into the wood, a magical golden light radiating from the carving. On the doorframe, what looked to be the ancient carving of a feather seemed to have been deliberately chiseled away at, as though it had been some sort of inexpertly carved work that was more pleasant to look at in its hacked up state than its original form.
Aldern dismissed the thought and brought his hand to the door handle, pulling it open and inviting his companions to enter before him. As soon as he entered himself, three young adults, a man and two women, greeted the party earnestly from behind a bar. The shorter of the two women looked to Brygerri, grinning and immediately asking if she wanted "the usual."
The atmosphere was suddenly so lightened, it was as if the disaster at the festival had never occurred.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Back at the Northern Gate, Myrgar looked up at Hakan in surprise. "You, Human Beastie, speak to Myrgar?" He shook his head slightly, then began talking as if he had completely forgotten about his previous revelation, as well as the fact that he was currently tied up and surrounded by the corpses of his dead companions. Well, that, or he'd just seen Hakan's weapon arsenal. "Myrgar know that town of human things is big danger. But the Message Human tell Chief Stomachmasher that there be good party in town of human things. He say that we get to eat all of the food our bellies could hold. He say that we could eat a big feast of we work with the damned..." The goblin trailed off, a snarl on his face. He seemed to struggle with the next phrase, but regained his composure and continued his speech. "Umm, work with the Best Trader tribe. Best Trader tribe gets lots of nice things, because they be the best trader goblins. Chief Stomachmasher says that they actually be nasty, demon goblins who can steal words out of books, but Chief Stomachmasher get confused sometimes. Chief Stomachmasher be good chief, though, because he can mash lots of things. Myrgar see him mash fish, once. All the scales, mashed with his big fist. Myrgar be better at mashing things than Chief Stomachmasher someday, then he be chief. Myrgar think his new name be 'Chief Stonemasher,' though, because stone be harder to mash than stomach." The goblin signed contentedly, lost in his dreams of goblin chiefdom.
You aren't entirely sure that he even knows that you're there anymore.
Lenalee, the shorter of Risa's two daughters, grinned at Brygerri's question. "Trying something new; how adventurous of you!" She nodded at her sister, who grabbed a mug and hurried over to a large barrel. "Due to the rather unfortunate circumstances revolving around the Swallowtail Festival's final speech, we didn't have as many customers stop by this evening as we'd expected. Lucky for you, that means that we have plenty of today's special left." The elder and taller of the two sisters approached Brygerri with a now full mug of beer, and set it down in front of her.
"The recipe's known as Golden Chalice," Bask remarked. "The special ingredients give it quite the sweet taste!"
At that, Aldern straightened up a little bit, and took a step toward the bar. "Odihna, how's having a mug of Chalice?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------
Myrgar's face contorted into a frown. "Message human betray us?" He stared at his feet for a minute, slowly processing the suggestion. His sudden reaction was intense. "Myrgar knew human people stink! Myrgar no trust human, but human brought news of food. And then Myrgar smell food today..." The goblin nearly spat. "Filthy human thing! Nasty! He tell us there be food, and then human people ambush us! He say we no lose! But Myrgar have no squeally flesh to eat!" Myrgar ground his teeth together. "He no tell us name. Why we need name? He say there be food. But he set goblin tribe up! Bad human. Bad, bad human thing..."
"Och, ya know me better'n ta think I'm such a stick in tha mud 'nalee! Shure I've figured out most'o the best stuff a tavern sells but I still mix it up now'n then."
With gentle poise Odihna followed along with Aldern's movements, her hip naturally swaying against him with her steps. "I'd be willing to try it if you are, but I'm not so sure I can finish a drink I've never tried before... maybe we should share one first?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------
"Rule of Hum-Gob trade number one- never trust a human that doesn't speak Goblin. Rule of Hum-Gob trade number two- never trust a human that betrays his people- traitors are traitors and can't be trusted. Rule of Hum-Gob trade number three- never trust a human who makes promises of the future instead of payment in the present.
"If you're wondering why I know all this, my father did a lot of trade work with the goblin tribes around here before we moved away and he made sure I knew the rules." Reaching into his backpack, Hakan pulled out a sizeable slab of of cured Venison.
"I can't release you right now because I still need your help to try to at least get a drawing done of the Message Human so we can stop him from hurting more of both of our peoples. i'm going to have my sister feed you now, be careful not to bite her so I won't have to kill you."
Transitioning back to common- a language the goblin likely understood anyway- Hakan delivered his instructions.
"Alright Nii-san, if you insist" was the simple reply as the lazy girl gingerly knelt down beside the hog-tied goblin, taking the meat from Hakan's hands and holding it by the bone infront of the goblin's mouth, careful to keep her hand as far from its mouth as possible while rotating the meat for him, a gentle smile on her face. "Is it good, Goblin-chan?"
Aldern smiled, pulled a stool out from under the bar, and took Odihna's hand, guiding her to the seat. He waved to Lenalee to catch her attention. "Lady Odihna and I are going to have a mug of the Golden Chalice, if you please!" While Lenalee grabbed a mug, Aldern placed a palm over Odihna's hand. "Would you like the first taste?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Myrgar looked down at the ropes, unamused, but still begrudgingly accepted the venison from Natsu. After a hesitant first bite, he greedily took another, then swallowed and went for a third. "About Message Human," the goblin said between chews, "He really strange. Wore big black cloak, so Myrgar no see his face. He do speak Goblin, though, so Myrgar supposed to trust him?" Not appearing to expect an answer, Myrgar took another bite of the meat and changed subjects. "You no have to kill Myrgar if he bite." A strange expression, maybe one of thought, passed over his face. "Myrgar probably stab biter really good, but he no have to."
Aldern allowed her to tip the mug toward him, and took a small sip of the drink. "My, Odihna, that's good! It's different than most beers I've had in my time, but the taste is lovely!" He tipped his forehead forward and touched it to Odihna's, looking her in the eyes. "You know, Odihna, I doubt that I have ever been or ever will be as pleasantly surprised by a goblin attack as I was tonight." With that, he placed his hands over Odihna's on the mug and tipped it toward her, a slight twinkle in his eye. "Have another sip. It really does taste better when shared."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
The goblin tilted his head back, slightly confused. "He speak Common. Multiple kinds of Common there are now? Myrgar only think there be one. It sound like Common to Myrgar. What be this new Common that human speak of?" Myrgar shook his head. "You all be longshank to Myrgar..." He trailed off. "Myrgar leave real quick now?"
Aldern gazed into Odihna's crimson eyes, and felt his own eyes shift slightly as his grin widened. With a playful wink, he set the mug on the bar and placed his hand on Odihna's back, drawing her into a gently placed kiss on the lips. To his right, he heard Lenalee chuckle softly, but payed her no mind. He simply enjoyed the moment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Myrgar seemed to grow excited as Hakan delivered his passionate call to action, but as soon as he heard the request, he sank back, crestfallen. "Myrgar no know where to find human. Me look if human with big black cloak come to tribe again, but Myrgar never told where longshank's den be. Stupid, filthy human be big coward..." The goblin's ears lowered slightly. "Myrgar leave. If he find human, Myrgar stab him with knife and make big fire of him. It be very nice." A strage sort of gleam passed through the humanoid's eye. "Very, very nice... You no see black cloak human again if Myrgar find him first."
((Skipping the above part for now as I hope to have the parties meet back up at Risa's in mine or your next post. Your choice. Also, this was really short, but I'm quite sleep deprived, so I hope to catch up tonight.))
Myrgar looked confused. "Ah, place?" He thought for a moment, and his face brightened a bit as an answer crossed his mind. "Oh, oh, Isle of Chopper! We go to Isle of Chopper, because no nasty longshank go there, except maybe stupid childs, because longshank childs be stupid sometimes." He stared up at Hakan expectantly. "It be above town. Myrgar go by beach. You go by human trail." Myrgar squirmed in the ropes. "Myrgar go now? Back to other goblins?"
"I know the place, we have a deal Myrgar." With a swift movement Hakan sliced open the ropes that bound the goblin before twisting the polearm around and pulling the ropes off with the weapon's haft and planting the butt end into the ground while waiting on the little guy.
"Take your weapon with you, I'd hate to see you hurt on your way home but be quick, the longshanks here are angry over their interrupted festival and might attack if you linger too long. Stay safe Myrgar."
Once Myrgar was gone Hakan heaved a sigh of relief, turning to face his sister and giving a thumbs up. "Looks like that's been settled. No telling if it'll pan out but I just might have a lead on the human who stirred up the goblins into launching this attack."
"Can we go to the bar noooow Niisan? Foxy said he was paying and I'm really thirsty."
"Of course we can, but it's got to be a fairly long walk are you sure you can handle it?"
Without waiting for his answer Natsu leaped up onto her brother's back, wrapping her soft legs around his waist, one arm around his shoulder and the other around his chest clasping in the middle. "But I have my big brother, why do I need to walk?"
Sighing softly to himself at her antics, Hakan acquiesced. "Wallace this fatty's just about my limit, I'm going to need you to grab my backpack and drag it with us."
And like that, the two people and Palagoat made their way south towards Risa's Place...
Hakan, Natsu, and Wallace glowed in the lantern light of Risa's place. The closer they grew to the tavern, the more clearly they could hear the voices of two people within. As Hakan grabbed the door handle and softly pulled it open, the party saw Aldern giving Odihna a gentle kiss on the cheek, and heard Odihna whisper something to Aldern before pushing a mug of beer toward him.
The couple only noticed their three friends standing in the doorway when Lenalee straightened her back and threw her arm into the air with an enthusiastic wave. "Hey, it's great to see some new faces," she called. "What can I get for ya?"
"The pleasure is all mine," Aldern stated graciously. "Trust me; I might not be here to drink anything if not for you! The drinks are my thank you, but truly cannot compare to what you have done for me." As he completed his statement, he turned to Natsu. "I'll get you a desert, but you should probably give your brother a break if you accept it. I don't know how well he'd walk with a girl stuffed with pastries hanging around his neck." He shot a sympathetic glance at Hakan, before turning to Lenalee, who was already filling a mug with frothy, bubbling ale. When she placed the mug on the old wooden bar next to Hakan, Aldern leaned toward her and whispered something in her ear. Lenalee was off to the kitchen with an enthusiastic nod.
After a few moments of quiet chatter were shared between the group, Lenalee returned holding a small, delicate roll with a flower cut into its crust. Jelly was visible through the cuts, and a handful of green grapes had been placed around the roll, contrasting beautifully with the bread. With a clink, Lenalle set the plate in front of Natsu with a smile. "Please enjoy; it's one of my personal favorite recipes!"
"Hehehe, he's already been walking with a girl stuffed with pastries! I was working on my fourth piled-high plate of deserts when the Goblins showed up today! But it would be pretty hard to eat up here..." Natsu acknowledged, unclamping her legs from Hakan's waist and sliding down his back. She looked a bit uncertainly at the bar stools...
"Bar Lady do you have any chairs or benches or anything... I uh..." she blushed, stammering softly whilst looking away. "I don't really fit very well on stools." Anyone who took a close look at the girl's figure would clearly see why, although gifted with a narrow waist and slender [but soft and slightly jiggly] limbs the girl really packed the pounds on behind and on her wide-framed hips.
"You'd fit better if you stopped eating so many sweets and exercised a little more Natsu" Hakan chided her gently, patting the girl on the top of the head as she stood beside him waiting for a response.
"I'd say we all benefit Aldern, you're still here and I got to meet you" Odihna whispered softly in his ear, her breath light and warm and moist. Shifting back to her normal voice she chuckled aloud. "Well, we all benefited except your pocket book when Bri finishes drinking and Natsu finishes her sweets."
Upon hearing her name, Brygerri clanked her mug down firmly. "Aye, ya should've done yer homework before promisin' ta pay fer all our drinks. I've only had four mugs, 't'aint too late ta call it quits and stick me with tha tab fer any more."
No sooner had Bri finished speaking than Lenalee returned with her dish extracting a bit of a squeal from Natsu. "It looks reeeeallly good... but it's so small. If I like it do you think you can make a family sized one?"
Reaching out the young woman reached down and grasped the roll in her hand, taking a small bite before a look of joy flashed across her face. "It's really REALLY good!" Without hesitation she took another bite, eyes closed in bliss as she thoroughly chewed and swallowed paying no further attention to the rest of the group.
Aldern chuckled at Natsu's thorough enjoyment of the pastry. At Brygerri's comment, though, he nodded and called out to Lenalee again. "I think we can settle up now, Lenalee." He saw her jot a few figures down on a piece of parchment, and return to him with the price, which he fished out a few gold coins to pay. After thanking the three tavern workers, he grinned at his newfound companions.
"It's been quite the pleasure to meet all of you, despite the unfortunate circumstances under which we met. The merriment has certainly outweighed the negative, though, and I have you all to thank for that!" He took a seat next to Odihna after the group address, and took her hand in his own. "It has been lovely getting to know you, lady Odihna." As he spoke, he lowered his head to her hand and graced it with a kiss, looking into her eyes as he straightened up once again. "I am sure we will meet again soon, but I must leave for now. My home is a short ways away from here; I'm growing tired." He once again stood up to look each party member in the eyes. "I wish you all fare well."
At Natsu's request a playful smile slipped across the barmaid's face. "We don't usually stock one but I can see what I can whip up for you, just wait here."
Upon hearing Aldern's call to settle things Lenalee called back "Sure just let me whip this up and I'll be back in a jiff." She was already crunching numbers on a parchment pad as she walked into the kitchen.
Meanwhile Odihna played her part to a T, giggling pleasantly as Aldern kissed her hand whilst gazing back into his eyes. "For me as well Aldern, pray tell when shall we meet again?"
Half-way regretting her offer to end the free drinks, Bri called out in a cheerful voice "Aye, 'tis been a fine evenin' afterall, be careful goin' home Foxglove, ya never know if a few stragglers might've set up camp just outside o' town."
"Bri's right Mr. Foxglove, take care not to end up in a stew pot."
Before Natsu had a chance to add her farewells to the mix, Lenalee swept back into the barroom carrying a large platter of the sort usually used to serve whole roasted poultry or whole hams. On it lay a magnificent treat, a massive version of the previous desert made in the approximate size and shape of a huge Baguette, Jelly faintly oozing out the top. Simultaneously the barmaid laid down the plate and began to process Aldern's payment.
"Foxy I love it! Thank you so much! You better see us again" With a squeal of glee Natsu gave her heartfelt thanks and quick farewell the redhead lifted her treasure with a grip like the sandwhich after which it was modeled before diving into it with reckless abandon, purple and red jelly smearing the corners of her mouth and pale cheeks.
Rising to her feet, Odihna approached where Aldern was standing for the farewells and stood up onto the tips of her feet, giving him a brief peck kiss on the lips. "Don't keep me waiting too long Aldern."
The first beams of sunlight crawled over the horizon, touching the trees of forests and the corn stalks of fields that surrounded Sandpoint. The shadows cast by the plants and buildings grew dark and long, grabbing at the landscape beneath them, but slowly began to retreat as the sun continued its ascent into the cloudless blue sky. The town of Sandpoint rests, sleepy after its festival's disastrous finale. The only sounds heard by the listeners of the town are the chirps of birds and whispering of gentle breezes flying around corners and into any open windows that they can find. It's nice to have such a pleasant morning after such a stressful day.
As the early glimmers of sun turn into a hot, boiling ball just above the horizon line, a few horses whinny and a doors slam shut as the salespeople of the town prepare for the daily business. You wake up as your roommate yells sometching from their bed.
After getting dressed and greeting your friends, you head down the rickety yet somehow spotless stairs of the Rusty Dragon Inn. A woman armed with a sturdy oak wood broom waves cheerfully to you in the hallway, obviously bored with her early morning work. It is when you reach the bottom of the stairs, however, that you are truly surprised. An energetic ebony haired female wearing an elegant outfit of black and write fabric peeks out from behind a counter at your party, and addresses you in a rediculously quick voice.
"I hope you liked your rooms! I might have forgotten to introduce myself last night, sorry; I'm Ameiko Kaijitsu, proprietor of this lovely establishment!" As that, she grabs several plates from behind the counter and begins scrubbing at them furiously. "Please, allow me to make you a breakfast worthy of true heroes!"
"Hah! You are quite smart, aren't you, little hero?" Ameiko responded in Minkan. "It isn't often that I meet another who speaks my mother tongue!" Noticing some of the odder glances from the party members who couldn't understand her, Ameiko slipped back into the Common language again. "I have decided to personally prepare your breakfast for you; it isn't often that my little Rusty Dragon in graced by the presence of warriors so brave!" With that, she got to work whipping flour and eggs together, cutting up fruit, and preparing Bri's coffee, chatting with the party all the while.
"Where did you all meet in the first place, anyway?" She asked after proper personal introductions had been made. As she spoke, she handed Bryggeri her coffee and sprinkled powdered sugar and bits of fruit over Natsu's waffle. "You seem quite well acquainted, and I've only seen Brygerri around here before."
"It's not only your native tongue, Ame-chan. I was born there!" Natsu responded in kind, a playful smirk on her face. It wasn't the first time someone had missed her heritage, given her height and facial features were pretty much the only indicators that matched.
"We've all spent a pretty fair amount of time over there. Well, except Odihna but she picked it up from us." In a simple way, Hakan explained the details still speaking in Minkan.
"How could I not? Fresh from living there with her parents you guys always used this language between eachother, I wouldn't understand anything going on if I didn't figure this language out."
"Aye" came Bri's reply in kind. "Minkan be where I found meself in this new body, 'twas the first language I learned, asides' Samsaraan and Skald that is, seein' they were there when I 'woke."
"As for our story" Hakan continued, having given each of the women a chance to speak. "I was born here. As a old child looking towards adolescence my half-sister came to live with my father and me, along with her mother. That would be this little chub" he teased, clapping his sister on the back.
"In another year or so, Odihna moved here, but Nat and I only stayed another year after that. We traveled around with the old man a bunch and eventually wound up at a school in Minata, where we met Bri and invited Odihna to join us by mail."
"And now we're here again!" Natsu chimed, clapping her hands over her plate and whispering the Minkaian word for thanks before digging in, covering her waffles in sweet thick fruit syrrup and whipped cream.
"Oh, you can all speak Minkaian; the whole lot of you!" Ameiko smiled a bit as she prepared the kitchen for the cook to come in for the day. Dish towels were folded in a neat stack, plates sat in a clean pile next to the wash barrel, and the bag of flour used to make Natsu's waffle had been put back in its cupboard.
"I'm just going to warn you, going out on the street may be a bit of a hectic experience for you today, as word spreads quickly around this tightly knit town." Ameiko looked in Brygerri's direction. "I'm pretty sure that Bry over there can vouch for that." As Ameiko spoke, the Rusty Dragon Inn's thick oak wood front door flew open, and a squarely jawed man with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail scrambled in. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the party sitting at a table chatting with Ameiko.
"Well, if it isn't the saviors of Sandpoint! My kids have been re enacting your fight with the goblins in Cathedral Square since yesterday night!" He spoke in a deep, resonant voice, a twinkle lighting his brown eyes and a knowing smile on his face. "Don't want to derail your talk with Ms Ameiko too heavily, but I simply needed to let you know that my family appreciates you for keeping us safe during that horrible goblin raid!"
"All in a day's work pops" Natsu replied with a grin, the corners of her mouth smeared with fruit and whipped cream from her eager eating. "They've got a catchy themesong but the gobbos interrupted desert!"
"What my sister means to say, Mister, is that we're happy we could help. Granted it'd be nice if the Mayor can pull together a reward of some kind, but we did it because we were there not to try to extort payment."
"Aye, those green gets had it comin' to em, stormin' right into the middle o' town like a bunch o’ rats out ‘o hell.”
“You let them stick around and watch that fight Rictor? What if a goblin had slipped away from us and taken a bite out of one of them? I’ll bet the Misses gave you a good reaming when she found out… if she’s found out?”
While the others were speaking Natsu had busied herself with finishing her plate, going so far as to lick it clean before holding it out towards Ameko, lightly waving it whenever the woman was facing her direction to get her attention. “Okawari!” [Seconds please.]
The man let out a chuckle. "Ha, Windy would probably have my head if she found out that the kids were in the streets! Luckily, they weren't. My children and I were listening to Father Zantus's speech from a friend's porch opposite the cathedral, and were able to duck inside of the house when the fighting started. I'm just ever so thankful that no one in my family was injured in the attack!" He cast his eyes downward. "My friend's old father wasn't so lucky, though. A stab wound from one of those rusty goblin blades got him, and he'd bled out by the time my friend found him."
After a moment of quiet, the man sighed and looked back up. "On that somber note, I've a bit of business to attend to here!" As he walked toward a door on the inn's back wall, he called out behind him. "Hope to see you all again!"
Ameiko, meanwhile, had pulled out a bag of flour to make Natsu another waffle. Looking between the other party members, she inquired; "I see that we have a hungry one here, but how are the rest of you? Does anyone else want a waffle while I have the supplies out?" She glanced toward Natsu, who wore a look of complete satisfaction. "I'm happy to prepare this last waffle for you, but you should probably stop eating after this. I once heared a story about a girl who ate so much food that she popped!"
Smiles and chuckles surrounded the table at Rictor's comments about his wife, though they faded as his story turned grim regarding the old man. Before Natsu decided to open her mouth- thankfully- the man made his exit through the back door.
"Hehehe, I haven't popped yet! I know my limits, but they're preeettty high. I had a salad, a main dish plate and was working on my fourth desert plate yesterday when the goblins attacked."
"Aye tha' she did, an' tha lass was munching on festival snack all day. Lord knows if I ate like tha' it'd all go to me belleh but she packs it well."
"That... is really not something to be bragging about sis..." turning to face Ameiko Hakan flashed a bit of a smile of his own. "She'll stop when she has to, I've seen her stomach bulge a bit from her habits but I've never seen her get sick from it. I'll take whatever breakfast you wanted to make us before you got distracted."
"That goes for me too, I'll take the house special Hostess." Ever polite as always, Odihna had finally finished her first cup of tea. "I'd appreciate a refill on my tea as well."
"This hangover's still hittin' me pretty hard, I'll pass on tha food but please bring me 'nother strong liquorcoffee."
Ameiko nodded at Odihna, and trotted into the kitchen. After a moment, she poked her head out of the doorway and called, "Oh, Odihna? You are welcome to call me Ameiko!" She dove back into the kitchen and returned again with a glass of hot tea, then set it down on the party's table.
"Ah, Brygerri, I'll have the coffee done in a min- AEEK!" Ameiko screeched as the Rusty Dragon's front door opened once again, but this time it was opened so quickly that it slammed into the wall. A few glasses clinked together on their shelves from the impact, but nothing fell. In the entrance to the inn stood the tall man who identified himself as Sheriff Hemlock at the announcements of the day prior. Ameiko immediately calmed and rolled her eyes when she saw the man. "Goodness, Balor, you really know how to make an entrance. Just try not to bring the building down with you when you exit, okay?" She chuckled to herself, and her subtle smirk became slightly more prominent when she saw the sheriff's unamused expression. "Hey, you just surprised me a bit. Anyway, what can I do for you today?"
Sheriff Hemlock advanced toward the party's table and pulled out a chair from the table next to them. "Miss Kaijitsu, your coffee sounds great right now." He looked away from Ameiko as she walked toward the kitchen again, and fished a copper piece out of his pocket to pay for the hot drink. "You; adventurers. I commend you for your aid last night. Our militia was able to take care of several other groups of goblins, but your efficiency in taking care of the ones in Cathedral Square saved lives." At that point, Ameiko entered the room holding two steaming cups of coffee, and set them in front of Brygerri and Hemlock. The sheriff casually handed the copper piece to Ameiko before continuing his talk. "Father Zantus came to me at the brink of dawn this morning to deliver some news. Apparently, the grave of Ezakien Tobyn, our town's ex-cleric, ('gods rest his soul,' you hear him murmur under his breath) was opened last night. I don't know by who or what, but I thought that I might ask you four if you wished to help me investigate." He took a sip of his coffee as Ameiko returned to the table again, placing a dish of over-easy eggs and a small cut of pork in front of Odihna.
"Tomb-robbing a former high priest huh... seems like whoever it was has something big in the works." With practiced grace and poise, Odihna bowed her head slightly towards the Sheriff. "I can't speak for my companions, but I'm interested."
"Yeah, whoever's scheming this has got to be up to no good. Count me in... after I get breakfast that is."
"Nii-san I don't wanna go" came Natsu's groans of complaint, eagerly watching Ameiko busying herself in the kitchen waiting for her second helping of waffles.
"Git yer 'ead out of yer fat arse Lassie, where d'ya think yer gonna find yer peace and comfort if whoever's behind all o' this shite gets their way? Ya gonna run all the way back home ta yer ma 'n da? I say we see this shite through to the finish."
"Bri is right Natsu, whatever's going on smells really fishy to me, and I don't mean fresh fish. Odi just got her food and I haven't had mine yet, so you've got time for at least one more plate."
"Ame-chan! Stack my plate reaaaalllly high with waffles and fruit and whipped cream! Looks like ima have to eat and run."
Meanwhile Wallace was contentedly munching on a small bale of hay Hakan had bought off a local horse stables after the events the previous night. In town there wasn't exactly an abundance of pasture and browse for the Palagoat.
After breakfast, you find yourself heading down dusty streets toward the cathedral, and finally get an opportunity to see the buildings of Sandpoint without massive crowds in front of them. An empty Market Square allows you to clearly see into the open faced Grocer's Hall, piles of produce, seeds, feed, and tack piled high on tables and plows lining the walls. On the other side of the street, the strange plant covered house appears to have all of the curtains drawn, save for a single window with an orange cat staring out of it. Outside of the Sandpoint Theatre, a man with a broom dutifully sweeps the large stone stairs up to the theatre, obviously quite absorbed in his work. After passing by a well kept building proudly labeled "Savah's Armory," you find yourself at the steps up to the cathedral.
Sheriff Hemlock steps in front of you and grasps the handle of one of the two large wooden doors, and with a tug, pulls it open to reveal the beauty that is the interior of Sandpoint Cathedral.
The white tiled floors of the cathedral shine with multicolored light passed through windows of magnificent stained glass, all depicting heavenly deities or holy symbols. The most prominent window is of a massive purple butterfly, its extended wings spreading all the way across the wall behind the alter. Three different families stand in different alcoves in the sides of the cathedral, giving offerings to the various deities of their veneration. In the dead center of the cathedral, dwarfed by the massive columns surrounding him, is Father Zantus reciting the words of an ancient language while looking skywards into the brilliant dome of the cathedral. Tiny shards of glowing stones dot the ceiling as if a fragment of the night sky itself was ripped from the heavens and brought down to earth.
As the wooden door closes with a click that reverberates around the entire cathedral, the words of Father Zantus's prayer die away into whispers and finally silence. He lowers his head and lets out a breath before turning toward the entrance to the cathedral, his royal blue robes fluttering in the force of his motions. The chesnut haired man nods at Sheriff Hemlock and advances toward the party with purpose in his strides. He bows his head in greeting when he is within ten feet of the group, and quietly utters a simple, curt command. "Follow me."
A brisk walk to the lower left corner of the cathedral reveals the heavy wooden door opens into a cold, dark stairwell; the path down into the underground tomb of the clergy.
Though she faintly grumbled the whole way- muttering under her breath- to her credit Natsu didn't whine once the whole way, though she was nursing a slightly swollen stomach that was slightly noticeable through her dress after devouring a massive stack of fruit pancakes that had towered just high enough on her plate to be a little wobbly.
“So this is the new Cathedral’s interior huh. I can’t really remember the old one that well, it’s been around two decades since I’ve been here.” Hakan couldn’t help but be a bit impressed by the architecture, he hadn’t expected a place this grand in a town so small.
“I’m thinking we should be quiet and focus on the task in-front of us Hakan, I’m getting funky vibes from our mission.”
“Jes’ keep yer lips shut will ya? This blarin’ ‘eadache is finally startin’ ta fade away, don’t be rilin’ it up again.”
Like that the quartet and their goat companion made their way through the temple, falling silent as the priest approached and then led them to what seemed to be small scale catacombs… inside the church!
“So Mr Priest guy are you planning to come with us or were we just supposed to follow you to the stairs while you hang back where it’s safe and let us do all the work?” Blunt as always, Natsu didn’t hold back in the slightest, still a little slighted at having to walk all the way here right after breakfast.
“We’re the ones who were asked to take care of this sis, we’re going in. It is a tomb and someone was here before us, lets use the standard formation incase they left something behind. Everyone on high alert. Odi, Lights.” As always Hakan sort of assumed command by default in a danger zone, it being in his nature to take responsibility for his friends.
As instructed, Odihna lifted her Holy Symbol and chanted briefly, four spheres of light appearing before her and floating down into the stairway well ahead of them, until their illumination just barely passed the doorway. “Lets get moving people.”
His words finished, the group slowly made their way down the stairs and into the crypt, searching thoroughly for any clues left behind by the perp and any dangers that might be lurking within.
Perception Rolls
Father Zanthus stepped in front of the party as they reached the base of the stairwell and cleared his throat to indicate that he wished to speak. With a nod from Sheriff Hemlock, he relayed his account of the night prior. "Firstly, I wish to thank you all for your assistance. It's wonderful to know that the cathedral has the protection of people such as you." With a shake of his head, he continued. "You see, however, I came down here last night to pay my respects to Ezakien, as I often do, but noticed that the door was ajar. While this might seem trivial to most, I only open the door when I visit, or when a visitor asks to see the grave of Ezakien themselves. No one ever comes down here alone, without my knowledge. It's an unspoken law in this town. Thus, when I saw that the door was open-"
Sheriff Hemlock interjected. "You came to find us. It was good of you to think of coming to me. Considering that we had an attack on the town last night, I wouldn't hesitate to be too cautious." On that note, the sheriff pointed down a tunnel to the right of the stairs, and motioned for the party to take the lead. He pulled his trusty crossbow out of the sash that secured it to his back, and loaded a bolt into it.
The tunnel itself was lined with stone, but had a floor of bare earth. Torches lit the hall. Before the group had walked for a full minute, they came upon a heavy stone door that was cracked open slightly. Wallace seemed uneasy for a moment, smelling the putrid stink of goblin, but pushed his horns into the gap anyway and pulled the door open with a loud creak. The sight inside is one of spine tingling desecration.
Ezakien Tobyn's sarcophagus has been thrown open, the lid cracked in half on the ground. Inside, only fragments of flaked bone and cobwebs remain. Ezakien's body is nowhere to be found. Suddenly, from out of the darkness, two walking skeletons tear toward Wallace, who notices them just before they can swing at him.
[???] Skeletons
[18+] Hakan
[18-] Wallace
[14] Odihna
[5] Brygerri
[4] Natsu
Skeleton 1 against Wallace's AC
Skeleton 2 against Wallace's AC
Three of four claws pinged off of the goat's armor or punched in whilst failing to penetrate his hide. The last claw- however- struck gold, punching through a weak point in the hide well enough to elicit a pained grunt from the Palagoat. He'd been through far worse than this in his life, he wasn't going to scream over a single claw.
"Wallace, Hakan I've got this job covered but I need some time! Hold the line boys!" Odihna was caught off guard and totally unprepared for the sudden assault, but this was her field of specialty and if at all possible she didn't want to miss this opportunity.
Grunting in annoyance at both the claw that hit him and the damned necromancer woman in the back, the Palagoat did as requested, taking a defensive stance and bracing himself to hold these things off as long as he could.
Sighing softly to himself at the positioning and arrangement, Hakan drew a club from its sheath at his side and stepped back into the hall, freeing up space for Natsu and Odihna to do their work.
With Hakan out of the way, Natsu 5' stepped into the space he had vacated, casting Stabilize on Wallace.
Wallace HP: 4/7 [took 4 damage received 1 healing]
The skeletons both lurch at Wallace again, slashing with their brittle claws and creaking like old wood as they move.
Skeleton 1 against Wallace's AC
Skeleton 2 against Wallace's AC
Both skeletons immediately fall over in heaps on the ground, seemingly lifeless, at least for the moment. The worst of the danger seems to have passed.
"Success!" Odihna let out a sigh of relief, the gravity of the situation with Wallace down and Hakan filling his shoes hitting her like a ton of bricks.
Tears streamed down Natsu's face as she knelt over him, casting stabilize every six seconds, the desperation palpable in her eyes. Meanwhile Hakan sheathed his club and walked over to her, kneeling beside the girl and gently clapping a hand on her shoulder.
"He's going to pull through this time Nat."
"You two skeletons, crawl into the corner of the room closest to you and sit doing absolutely nothing else until given further instructions."
Her command given, Odihna made her way into the crypt with Bri following in her wake, beckoning the Sheriff. "Looks like yer guess was on tha money Sheriff. Lets get on with the investigation while the siblings deal with their injured."
When at last Wallace awoke, Natsu continued her healing as her tears of terror turned to tears of joy.
With Wallace safely out of danger, Hakan rose to his feet and made his way into the room to join the investigation while Natsu continued to heal the goat.
While Odihna and Brygerri aimlessly searched through the stone chamber, Hakan immediately noticed a strange mound in a dark corner of the tomb and picked it up to find that it was a black cloth of some sort. He picked it up and looked over it, but even careful inspection revealed no further information about the cloth.
Then, however, the young man was struck by the idea to investigate the cracked stone that was met to seal Ezakien's sarcophagus. Getting down on his knees and carefully inspecting the sides of the stone, he realized that the general shape of the tomb robbers' hands had been imprinted in the thick dust that coated the stone. Someone who knew more about the subject would be able to figure out what kind of creatures these prints belonged to.
"Odihna get your butt over here" Hakan called out as he stood over the handprints. "These prints seem kind of humanoid to me and you're the one who studies bodies the most out of us, can you figure out what they are?"
Coming over to the stone as requested, the woman looked it over carefully. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure these are..."
While the other three people searched the tomb, Natsu continued healing Wallace for another minute before the goat finally pushed himself to his feet, nuzzling his muzzle against her face.
As she knelt there holding her brother, the young woman looked back up at the Sheriff and flashed him a thumbs up. "Mission accomplished!"
Odihna leaned down next to Hakan, and drew her gaze along the edge of the cracked stone where he pointed. Sure enough, seven pairs of handprints lined the dusty sarcophagus's lid, one much larger than the others. It took mere seconds for Odihna to decipher who the prints belonged to- six goblins and a human man. When she communicated the information to the rest of the party, Sheriff Hemlock stepped into the chamber, one of his brows raised. He opened his mouth, paused, then spoke.
"So the attack by the goblins wasn't an isolated event."
The words, though already known by the members of the party, hung in the air for a moment before anyone moved. The gears in Hemlock's head could almost be heard grinding together in the quiet of the tomb, plugging every puzzle piece together until he found the piece that fit. After a moment of the silence, the sheriff extended his hand toward Hakan, and shook it firmly, then extended his hand to Odihna, Brygerri, and finally Natsu. Before he turned to leave, he gave Wallace a quick pat between the horns, and stated: "It was a pleasure to work with you four-" He paused and looked down at Wallace. "Well, five today. Our town is indebted to you for everything that you've done to help us up to this point. If there's anything that I can do to help you out, or any information that you need to from me, you are free to come speak with me when I'm breaking from my patrols."
At that, Balor Hemlock led the party up the stairs, where a nervous looking Father Zantus stood waiting. The sheriff turned to the party.
"I can handle the situation from here. Go enjoy yourselves around Sandpoint."
"This lines up with what Myrgar was telling me yesterday. Sheriff, there's something I need to tell you before we part ways today. The Goblins don't just have some tagalong human who went crazy and joined in with them somehow, they're being guided by a human. I don't know why he'd want to raid the previous priest's corpse, but this dude went through the trouble of gathering the goblins under him and manipulating them into launching that attack on the town. An attack that the goblins should have known would be way too dangerous."
Hakan gave his explanation to the Sheriff as the man led them up the stairs but before they reached the current priest. Whether or not the Sheriff felt the priest should know was his business, he certainly wouldn't want to cause a panic and he knew the old man better than anyone in the team.
The rest of the group followed behind Hakan, each of them contemplating what to do with their day after. No sooner did they reach the top than Odihna began to speak to that very same priest.
"Father, there are two subdued monsters inside the tomb. I'm going to need to return with a container to bring them out and take them away from town. Please seal the tomb but don't go in it, and please grant me entry when I return later today. Hakan..." she paused, gently tugging on the back of the man's tunic. "Please come with me, I need a strong back."
"Awwww, but I wanted Nii-san to come with me while I cruise around trying sweets" Natsu whined, Wallace nuzzling against her thigh to comfort her.
"Dinnae worry aboot it Lasseh, I'll be comin' with ya. Most o' tha places ye'll be headed are customers of mine anyway, and asides I need s'more booze to break this hangover."
"Alright Bri, you're with me I guess. Nii-san can go get some alone time with Odihna hehehe"
"Hey, wait a minute don't I get a say in this. I don't want any... alone time... with... Odi...hna..." Hakan stammered, a blush coloring his face. "But I suppose I'll go since she needs my help and all."
And so the quartet split in half, Natsu and her goatbrother going with Bri to eat and drink their way across the town -starting with the White Deer, whilst Odihna led Hakan to the boneyard where she'd spent her first year in town working as an assistant to the gravekeeper/undertaker.
Brygerri and Natsu make their way through the streets of Sandpoint, which have begin to come alive with Sandpoint's usual vigor. While there are nowhere near as many citizens galumphing up and down the streets as there were on the day of the Swallowtail Festival, farmers still guide horses pulling wagons full of produce down the lanes, and the occasional mother and child enter a general store or trot by with a basket of goods between their hands. It only takes a five minute walk to reach the White Deer, and the familiar smell of baking bread and ale can be smelled radiating from the inn. The exterior of the White Deer commands respect and a bit of awe from passerby, as two massive wooden dear painstakingly carved from birch wood stand guard beside the double doors leading into the tavern.
As Brygerri and Natsu open the door, they are confronted with a puzzling sight: there are far more people in the White Deer than there normally would be on a typical afternoon, and a buzz of cautious excitement rises up from the crowd. A few snippets from various conversations make it easy to figure out what the topic of debate is today- the goblin raids of the previous night.
"I heard that a nobleman was attacked."
"They set fire to me 'ouse! Nearly burned the 'ole northern wall down!"
"Hey, there are some of those traveling goblin hunters!"
In a moment, several of the tavern goers turn around in their chairs to face Brygerri and Natsu, slight adoration on a few of their faces. A short potbelly of a man speaks first, raising his eyebrows in question. "You, little one there! Is it true that you once singlehandedly took out a whole village of goblins with your magic? Can your goat really trample three of the pesky green menaces with one charge?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG... BRONG...
The resonant clanging of the cathedral's massive bells rang out over the whole town, solemn yet clear, beautiful in their chimes. Hakan and Odihna were graced with their ostinato as they entered the Sandpoint Boneyard, a perfect complement to the melancholy sight of the tombstones. In truth, the boneyard itself was gorgeous, well tended trees and flowers growing in beds around the graves. The thick grass that covered the yard like a carpet caressed the duo's ankles, almost like an invitation to lie down and watch the clouds roll by alongside the restful spirits of the dead.
The only break in the sea of grass and flowers and stones were several holes freshly dug in the ground, piles of dirt crushing the grass near the holes and a single shovel lying on the ground. The shovel's owner was nowhere to be seen.
Natsu couldn't help but to giggle at the crazy claims of the villagers, her ample chest heaving lightly with laughter. "Not quite people, not quite. Wallace might manage to take two down with a charge if he got lucky hehe. Wallace give me a lift please" she instructed to the goat as she sauntered playfully into the tavern, lifting her foot and planting it on the goat's strong back before stepping up and sitting on a clear space on the bar tavern.
"If you want the one with the potent magic it would be my friend Bri here" she gestured with a flourish to the more slender Samsaran woman who had herself trudged up to the bar and was preparing to order a drink.
"Bri-nothin! All ya bloody bastards in here ought-ta know it well I go by Gary when I'm out drinkin'" she called back, a bit of dwarven gruff peppering her womanly voice.
"Hehehe, Gary then. She's the one with the boomspells. So tell me fellas, do you feel like feeding your heroine some sweets? I came here looking to try the desert menu. The whole desert menu hehe."
“So what exactly are we after Odi?” Hakan inquired as he walked behind the woman he’d only just reunited with after two years apart, focusing his eyes squarely her hair that fell between her shoulders… though occasionally they would slide down her dress to those long legs before slipping back up to where he felt they should be.
“A chest to hold those things. I had it crafted in such a way as to resemble an armory crate, but if you really boil it down its basically a coffin.”
Interrupted by the echoing chimes of the Cathedral’s Bell, the woman fell silent as the pair wandered into the graveyard until at last they stopped.
“Voooosk, Voooosk are you here old timer? Where are you old man?” Having worked with him for a good year, Odihna had essentially ‘adopted’ the old man as a sort of uncle figure and it wasn’t like him to just leave his shovel lying around. A slight trace of concern flashed across the woman’s eyes as she wondered if he’d hurt himself or fallen into a grave or something.
A heavyset blond woman grinned at Natsu as she sat down in the empty seat next to her, obviously pleased to be able to talk to the local hero. She hesitated for a moment, debating upon what to say, but finally made up her mind and spoke in a rather soft tone for a busy tavern. "Natsu, was it? One of my neighbors saw you bravely fighting the goblins; it's just so kind of someone who doesn't even live in our town to still help us out in our time of need. Just goes to show you that there's still quite a bit of good in the world!" She paused for a moment, and drew up a devious smile upon her face. "You want a desert, yes? And you are a traveler?" At Natsu's nod, she continued. "I'll buy you my favorite pastry from the White Deer if you'd tell my friends and I a story from your travels! It's called chocolate bread, a flaky roll with a piece of melted chocolate in the center. How about it?"
At the words 'story from your travels,' several men and women sitting near the blond looked up, obviously excited by the prospect of a tale.