"Don't look at me!" Maerra laughs, "unless they're paying for their own, then I've got no problem. I'm skint!"
Eventually Ameiko acquiesces and brings a round of drinks for the half orc and his friends and your own party gets a fresh round as well and you spend the time trading stories....
Lilyroot spends all nights studying alchemy and similar.
Sorush sleeps off his hangover, and hopefully doesn't miss his appointment at noon.
Toilday, 24 Rova, 4707.The Day After the Goblin Attack
You are awoken by the smell of breakfast being served and eventually, after refreshing yourself with a needed bath and hearty breakfast, you prepare for the day. Most of you find yourself on some errand or another, making sure all your affairs are in order and getting some things done before meeting with the Mayor at lunch. As you travel around the town, you notice quite a few people staring or even whispering your names. Some even shout them out.
"Milah, the Fancy Sword Cat!"
"Lilyroot, the Walking Plant"
"Aurica, the Divine Spirit"
"Maerra, the Stout Warrior"
"Zev, the True Shot"
"Sorush, the Bravest"
The epitaphs vary, but the fact is that the entire town of Sandpoint has by morning learned who you are. They are very happy to see you still here. Some of the locals begin offering you free samples of their wares, knickknacks to remember to come back and shop with them, food to taste, some have.. other.. offerings. As you revel in the town's adoration, you notice that it seems people are getting back to work rather quickly, as if last night's events were but a fleeting nightmare. You overhear some folk talking about it as if it were a mere comedy show than anything, describing and then laughing at goblin antics. Strange, you don't remember it being that funny. They do silence themselves when some of the militia walk by carrying bodies in a cart. You see Gorvi's Boys out with their Red Wagons picking up the rest of the litter as well.
Eventually you make your way to the Deverin Manor, the Mayor's Home up on the hill over looking the town from the South. The butler at the door asks that you remove any obvious weapons and he will have them cleaned for you while you visit with the Mayor. Her home is a study in the balance of opulence and practicality. Things are far cleaner here than they are below the hill, but they are also functional. The dining hall you are brought to contains a long table with several chairs and food already set out. A couple of servers stand at the side awaiting to pull your chairs out for you. Mayor Deverin stands as you enter. She is short for a human woman, but her demeanor suggests someone must taller. Sheriff Hemlock, a large man of Shoanti descent, is already there and is already standing by her side.
"Ah.. I finally get to meet all of you face to face. Please, make yourselves at home and enjoy lunch. It isn't often I get to entertain heroes, so I am most gracious for you coming. As you know, I am Mayor Kendra Deverin and this is Sheriff Hemlock. He and I were apprised of your actions last evening and for them I must extend my deepest of gratitudes and those of Sandpoint itself. If it weren't for you, we may have lost many more." She bows her head for a moment and then continues. "At Hemlock's urging and my own curiosity, I've asked you here to get to know you and perhaps endeavor to find a way to continue to be appreciative of your services for the foreseeable future. Having a band of adventurers in town is sure to keep away some of the more troubling things we have been dealing with of late, the goblin attack not withstanding. Enough about that for now. What are your plans here in Sandpoint?" At this, Sheriff Hemlock looks at each of you and leans in to listen.
Milah looks at those assembled briefly before starting. "My plan, Lady Mayor, is and has always been to assist in Sandpoint's defense. Granted, I had assumed I would be fighting giants rather than goblins, but my rapier's sharp enough for either one, I'd wager." She shows her sharp teeth in a wide smile, clearly amused.
Lilyroot straightens her sitting a bit, and answers, "My plans were to conduct my research, ask around about citizens who may be able to help, and then, well, see where things go from there. Attacks are, of course, most disruptive to such matters, so if I can help, it seems mutually beneficial."
Maerra looks uncomfortable. "Uh, likely I'll be here a few days before some joker wants a guide. If there's more gobbos around I could lend an axe there. No plans to stop here forever to keep away your troubles though."
Zev eats heartily of Ameiko's delicious food, then sleeps soundly in the very comfortable bed she provided.
Spending the morning exercising, his father's words echoing in his head, "Forewarned is good, but prepared is best".
Later on the way to the groups noon-time appointment, Zev notices the regard of several of Sandpoint's more eligible womanfolk. His cheeks burn crimson in his bashfulness.
Ushered into the Mayor's dining room , he's in awe of the table, never seen one so big inside someone's house.
He tries hard to pay attention to the mayor as she speaks, but his attention does drift a bit, catching her last quesion, looking a little askance at Hemlock "Zev wants to help. Zev heard of giants. Zev came with turnips. Zev fights gobs. Zev fights....bad things..." he declares simply.
Sorush looks ponderous for a moment, then says "Sorush is with Zev on this one. Fight goblins. Not sure about... turnips. But goblins bad."
The mayor listens as you each explain what your thoughts and ideas are. She nods and ponders in turn. Eventually she speaks again. "Well, giants haven't been a problem of late, they usually keep to the north of the Storval Plateau. The attack last night seemed bigger than most raids we've ever had. I wish Shalelu would stop in. She would be able to tell us more. " At this, the sheriff sighs audibly.
"That elf comes and goes as she pleases. Would have helped if she would have warned us ab..."
"Belor, please. She may not have known. " Mayor Deverin turns back to you. As she is about to speak, an acolyte from the cathedral comes rushing in, along with a very flustered looking butler.
"Apologies for the intrusion madam, but Father Zantus sent me to fetch you right away, he says it has to do with last night's attack."
The sheriff looks at you. "I don't suppose you'd want to come along?"
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"I'll pass, you can fill me in later," Lilyroot says.
"Zantus? The sawbones, right. Yeah, lets find out if that singing goblin had anything to say." answers Maerra.
Milah shrugs and nods, gathering her things and following the sheriff.
As the rest of your group approaches the Cathedral, you notice several militia members have cordoned off the back area. The acolyte with you and the sheriff's presence makes them move aside. The acolyte takes you through to the graveyard. Father Zantus is standing by an open above ground tomb. He looks crestfallen.
"Sheriff, I'm glad you brought the heroes ofSandpoint. It seems last night, someone used the attack as a cover for a theft. His body is missing. "
The sheriff nods and looks at each of you. "Looks like there's more to this than a bunch of goblins, right? We'd be obliged if you checked around inside, see if you find anything while my men and I keep the people away."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Milah looks quizzically at Father Zantus. "His? Who is he?"
Zev scratches his head, "Body? Missing? Who'd take a body?"
Lilyroot nods to Podiker, "I do, I like to think I have a deft touch. You know the practice as well? You wanted to speak to me about something?"
"Bleeding body-stealing necromancers," growls Maerra. She stomps over to the tomb and stoops to examine the ground nearby for tracks.
Father Zantus looks at the sheriff who nods in return. Sighing, as if resigning himself to something, he answers Milah and Zev. "Father Tobyn, my predecessor lay here. His death was... not natural and is a source of much of our town's grief in the past. As to who would steal it, your guess is as good as mine, but I can assure you, it was no one from Sandpoint. Everyone loved him. Everyone."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Zev looks down at Maerra, a frown of puzzlement on his face "Nec-a-what?"
Lilyroot considers for a moment, knowing her expressions may be hard to read to those not use to her and deciding to play the innocent, then responds to Podiker, "Ah, you're saying you don't wish me to sell alchemical products in this town, without guild fees or such? Worry not, I use the practice mostly for bombs!"
Sorush hastily explains to Zev "They mean bad wizards who make zombies. Nasty stuff. Used as cheap slave labor by more... shady folk."
Milah shrugs, "Well, fair chance they're not here anymore. Let's go in and see what we can see."
She makes her way into the tomb, keeping her eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary.
Aurica muses aloud, "It seems oddly specific to steal the dead body of a revered priest, if any old body would do. There is some strange purpose here. Let's see what we can find."
With that, she follows Milah into the tomb.
Maerra follows, tapping the case holding the head of her axe.
No sooner you enter the tomb, two skeletal creatures detach themselves from the back wall and move to attack you!
Milah advances on the skeletons, thrusting her rapier at the one on her left.
Maerra moves up to the skeleton on the right, "Always get yer axe out before going into a tomb, girl, if the haints there take offence they ain't true dwarves!"
"Oh, but we may have business," Lilyroot says to Aliver, "And it would be possible coin would be involved. You should have an ear open for any discovers or places of interest that may be interest to those in the practice... and if you did learn information that was valuable, why, then I could feel grateful right here at your shop."
Zen nods at Sorush's expanation, grimacing at the wrongness of it all.
He follows into the crypt, eye widening as the skeletons rush forth. He moves foward , quelling any fright, bringing his flail to bear...
Aurica moves to the center of the room so that her magic may cover everyone, and then initiates her glowing aura as well as her magic that twists fate.
Sorush will move forward and implant a trick in Aurica, giving her evasion against one reflex save, and a +2 to initiative until she has to use that bonus, or the end of the day, whichever comes first.
As the party moves forward, the skeletons move faster than the eyes can follow, slashing at you.
As they do, Aurica moves into the room and the area begins to glow with her magical light...
"Oookay," Lilyroot turns and leaves the shop.
"I wonder if the others are having better luck.... I'll see if I can catch up with them, though I suppose they must be finished by now..."
Round 1 Defence
The skeleton's claws rake at Zev, the tall man bring's his flail chain up between, tryin to foil the attack...
Milah's rapier beats aside the skeleton's clawing attack and responds in kind.
"Ca - Milah, that shiv won't break bones. Try giving Zev a hand?" Maerra calls out.
Zev easily deflects the skeleton's hasty attack but it also disrupts is own counter attack, causing him to have to readjust the grip on his flail to ready for another strike.
Milah attempts to help Zev and only manages to chip some bone fragments as she moves easily between the two skeletons.
Maerra and Sorush race into the fray as well, each giving the others what help they can.
The two skeletons continue their assault, giving no quarter and expecting none in return. However, the one that Milah nicked loses its animating force and falls apart, bones shattering at Zev's feet.
"Now y'for it!" exclaims Maerra.
The skeleton is barely able to even reach through the dwarf woman's defenses. With Zev and Milah's help and the bolstering power of Aurica and Sorush, the two skeletons go down. You are left in a small crypt with a pile of bones on the floor and six sarcophagi, one of which is opened...
Milah moves over to investigate the sarcophagus.
Zev comes out of his combat stance and stands over the bones, a bit confused.
He pokes at the fallen skeletons a bit, wondering how they managed to stand up and fight just a moment ago.
Maerra follows Milah, axe in hand.
+2 if stonework
You go over to the open sarcophagus. The lid was haphazardly shoved aside and left there. The funeral wrappings were left inside, but the body that used to lie there, one Father Ezakien Tobyn according to the engraving on the lid, is gone. Left in its place is a crumpled robe of deep black and silver trim.
Sorush shakes his head sadly at Zev's confusion.
Maerra carefully lifts up the robe to see if there's anything underneath, or any traces left on the robe.
The robe seems to be made of a silky substance but is heavy. On closer examination, you can see some pieces of thread sticking out, as if something was ripped from it.