Jayse and Straehan wander the small town and discover that all of the 'major' (using the term loosely) businesses are located on the central part of the shingle, up from the pavilion.
They run across the militia 'office' first. It is a small stone building - the only one in town. They freely walk in and see a few beds, a desk, some basic equipment stored neatly - blades and leather armor - and a small single cell. The building is empty. As they exit, they decide to investigate the businesses.
Most of the businesses are found in the large central building. There they find the local watering hole called the "Pilot's Wife", the green grocer, the butcher, the local healer, and the all denomination church. As they wrap the corner of the building, they encounter the curiously large sign for the general store. Jayse notices that one of the inscribed languages is Tengu and another one, rather faded, appears to have some of the same characters that decorate his body.
As this fact is registering with Jayse, they note the town seems rather empty until they see there is some sort of town meeting happening in the pavilion. It is being chaired by Thrane and it seems most of the town adults are in attendance.
Jayse grabs the gnome's sleeve and points out the faded letters, his eyebrows arching in surprise. pointing at one of the similar symbols on one of his hands, he comments, "This may give us a clue to these." His eyes note the apparent lack of adults present, "Though we'll have to go grab someone to ask."
He's also curious to find out what the gathering is for.
The store's door is open and Jayse can see that Fin, Ushari, and a set of young elves are inside purchasing clothes, presumably from the proprietress mentioned on the sign - Brynna. Seeing as she is probably the best person to ask about the writing on the sign and doesn't appear to be going anywhere, Jayse and Straehan choose to investigate the meeting beneath the pavilion first.
Fin and Ushari finish their business and notice Jayse heading past the store - something close to the water has caught his attention. The ladies and their elven friends follow, to see what is going on.
They amble down the shingle and join the edge of the crowd. It is clear this is an adult's only gathering; they see several children are shooed away in the care of older siblings. Straehan pulls Jayse with him towards someone he recognizes along the periphery of the meeting - a tall, reasonably attractive woman with horns. Straehan smiles at the tall woman and says, "Jayse, this is Milaflora. Milaflora, this is Jayse. I may have mentioned him last night but frankly, most of the evening is something of a blur for me."
Milaflora chuckles and curtsies to Jayse, "You did tell me a bit, Strae. It's a pleasure, Jayse... Is it true you kicked a shark to death?"
Before Jayse can answer, Straehan adds, "What's going on here, Mila? You all church-going folk?"
She snorts pleasantly, "No, Town Meeting to discuss the goblin situation. Thrane is Hetmon but everyone has a say in how we handle problems here. Anyone old enough to hold a blade and has defended the town has the right to speak their piece."
They listen as Thrane continues, " ...so Buli and our visitors were ambushed on the beach by the Headland. They killed six Goblins and two Hobgoblins. One got away. It was a far more aggressive and organized ambush then we've seen before. This is the third attack in the last week or so. You all know how unusual this is. Even though our best estimate has another flare-up several years away... I think we have to assume that our estimate was off and this isn't an isolated set of incidents. I think we should assume the Goblins are serious again and call up the militia. That means some of you folks will have to put down your nets and take up swords."
A poorly dressed man stands up, "Thrane, some of the most profitable runs are starting now that it's spring! We've got to bring in the catches to get them to market. It does us no good to maybe protect the town through the spring if we starve by winter."
Thrane nods, "I understand. We may have to share catches and resources, maybe fish communally. It might be a lean winter with low profits but we aren't going to let anyone starve, Birk. But there is another problem we have to gear up for. As you know, the visitors' boat was storm-wrecked. Well, it turns out they crossed paths with some Reavers on their way in. Based on what we know about where they were at the time - it looks like Reavers are operating in the Strait - between us and Aamari Isle."
There is a serious murmur of concern through the crowd at that news. Thrane continues, "We've already sent word to Orfallen and Colona, Aamari, Talin, and even Long Lake. So far, no answers... but whether Orfallen sends troops to help us or not, we've got to start preparing now. I think we've got to switch to a war-footing - increase our guards, bring the outlying farmers into town, prepare escape routes, and anything else we can think of."
Ushari nods politely to Mila, trying to hide her astonishment on seeing the other ladies horns. Is she cursed?
She listens to the report given by Trane, remembering all too well the feeling of terror when she saw the Reaver ship, and the fear she felt during the goblin ambush. She glances at the other townsfolk, and thinks, These people have opened their arms to us, and now they need our help. It would not be right to leave here without making sure these threats are taken care of.
She turns to Jayse and Straehan, "I think we should try to help them out, but to be honest, I don't know where to start. Maybe trying to find out if these goblins are in fact organizing for a war?"
Jayse nods somberly at Ushari's words without looking away from the speech. "I was thinking the same thing, Ushari. He's asking for blooded folk to fight. I fit that description, at the very least as of recently." He looks over at Straehans new friend, trying to ignore the horns, "Is there someone specific I should speak to in order to show my willingness in the defense of the town? Thrane, perhaps?"
If Mila notices Ushari's and Jayse's over-long looks at her horns, she doesn't seem to mind. Her attention stays firmly focused on the conversation - the back and forth between Thrane, Buli (who leans against a post near him), and the other fishermen and farmers. To Jayse she says, "If you want to pitch in - Thrane would be the right man to speak with. He's the... hold on a moment." She raises her voice to carry over the crowd to Thrane. "I hate to bring this subject up, Hetmon, but... have you sent her a message?"
Before Thrane can answer, an older farmer pipes up, "Ha! To say what?! 'Thanks for sending those Goblins!'"
Mila rolls her eyes, "You and your foolish superstitions, Faegin. Why would she help us one day and send Goblins the next? Use your head, old man!"
Faegin gives her a scathing look and spits, "Bah! She's never helped no one but herself. Whatever 'good' she done had a foul purpose behind it, mark me!"
Looking at the crowd, you notice that more people look skeptical at the old man's words, particularly the women in the audience, but there are several of the older folks who nod in agreement.
Thrane nods to Mila giving her a see what you started? look and interjects, "Since she was the first to notice the pattern of Goblin attacks and is the closest to the Goblins, I did send her warning and offered her shelter here. She hasn't responded and the messenger bird hasn't returned. Given how active the Goblins are - I'm not willing to risk sending people out there."
A variety of discussions and arguments break out about Thrane's decisions and what they, as a community, are going to do. It is a bit of people voicing their fears and a good bit of negotiation. Thrane lets it proceed for several minutes before saying loudly, "People. PEOPLE! This is a meeting to inform you, not solve every problem right now. Over the next few days, we'll figure out a plan. I just wanted you all thinking seriously about what you can do and what we can do. For the moment, I've called up all the militia that can be spared from your farms and boats. Hopefully, we can get some men from Orfallen. We'll see. Buli agrees with me that no eelers can go out alone. The coast isn't safe anymore. If you need to pull pots, talk with Buli. We'll figure out a way to do it as safely as possible." He reads off a list of names of the people called up for duty. After answering a few more questions, Thrane speaks with Buli and leaves, heading back up the shingle. Many people remain beneath the pavilion, discussing the situation, negotiating for help based on who has been called up to militia duty.
Mila stays where she was, watching the continued negotiations. She says, to no one in particular, "Well, there you have Forestal - part cooperation, part concern, and part jackass superstition."
Even without her Aquan-speaking friends filling her in, Fin is able to gather that the entire town is worried about those weird little creatures you fought the other day. She is a bit surprised to see that there are so many different kinds of people all living around one another. Indeed she goes on at length in Aquan that she's never seen so many people in all her life.
Upon seeing Straehan, she smiles and waves noting that the two humans she helped pull ashore are still hanging around with him and that they seem to be on amiable terms. She walks over to her short friend, makes the eye motion and gestures to her new clothes. She smiles broadly and gives him a thumbs up.
Straehan gives a cocked eyebrow look at the excessively tall elf. He looks her up and down, brushes some dust from her boots and then feigns a heart attack at her beauty and falls over. He gets up, laughing, and gives her two thumbs-up.
Ushari nods at Mila's words, and replies in a confused tone, "I don't understand, Mila. What do you mean by sending her a message. Who are you talking about?"
Mila glances at the smaller Ushari, "She is a bit of a controversy in town. We are talking about a woman who lives out in the forest. I would call her a Wise Woman. Some call her a Sage, others a Midwife... and some of our more crotchety citizens call her The Hag and think she is a witch who plots the destruction of the town."
Fin gives a big smile at Straehan's approval and hugs her shorter elven friends one in each arm as she expresses her gratitude for their help.
Ushari looks even more confused now. "So, this Wise Woman, as you call her, is not well liked by those in town. I guess I can understand that, I mean, not everybody can get along with each other all of the time, right?"
She pauses, and then adds, Why would some townsfolk think she hates Forestal? Was she wronged by some of them, and she wants revenge?"
She thinks for a moment, and finally responds, "We should try to find her. If anyone has information about these goblins, it would be her."
Mila shrugs, looking irritated. "I don't know if they have any better reason to hate her than she is a bit of a mystery, can be temperamental, and is a woman of power living on her own. In the past, she sometimes clashed with the farmers who started clear-cutting too much forest for their farms. When they had bad turns of luck, they blamed her for cursing their crops."
"Then I say we go speak to Thrane. If this woman is powerful and temperamental, then we may be the right people to go speak to her, being neutral in their prior conflicts. Though she sounds like a woman out of a child's story, to be honest."
Ushari replies jokingly, "How do you know we did not come out of a child's story?" She adds in a more serious tone, "She may be able to help us with our memory loss, if nothing else."
"Ushari, will you make sure Findelgwing is okay with this as well? She doesn't have to come if she doesn't want to, but with how much she hates both the pirates and those goblins, I definitely want her with us if we run into either one." he looks down at the gnome, "You in with this plan, too? It'd be good to have your… uh… talents."
Mila says, "Memory loss?" She looks discerningly at your group and particularly at Straehan, "That explains a few things. I figured you were blind drunk. I see now, I was mistaken. I expect you folks didn't mention your memory problems to Buli, otherwise you'd have been treated to a show of spitting and growls of 'Sea Devils be the cause!' I love the old man, but he does enjoy his superstitions." She laughs with clear affection. "If I had a memory problem, I'd go speak with her about it. Our healer is a nice man but he is better at fixing bones and treating infections than handling anything out of the ordinary."
Ushari turns to translate Jayse's words, but she realizes Fin's newfound Elvish friends have the translating taken care of. She is glad for this, as her Elvish is quite rusty, and she could never be sure she was pronouncing the names properly.
Straehan looks at Jayse as if the question is utterly absurd. "Of course, I'm in! Powerful, mysterious women who can unlock the secrets trapped in my skull are a specialty of mine." He gallantly gives Mila a kiss on the hand in thanks and goodbye, which draws notice from a few locals and will no doubt be fodder for the town gossips.
Mila curtsies to you all and moves off about her business.
Straehan continues, "So, talk to Thrane to get some directions and go find this gal? Or do you want to track down that language on the 'Store' sign first?"
When Fin realizes that Straehan is planning to go along with the two humans, she speaks quickly to her new friends before dashing off for their home. When the others ask the elves where she's headed off to, they explain, "Oh, she left her sword and bow back at our parents' home. She wanted to go get them so she can help keep um... 'little brother' safe."
Straehan smiles at the 'softened' translation and is, nevertheless, touched that the tall Elf has taken an interest in his safety. He jests with the elven youths, "I'm sure 'little brother' is a slightly inaccurate translation. Clearly she said something like 'small-in-stature-but-still-an-utterly-ferocious-killing-machine'."
Straehan continues, "So, talk to Thrane to get some directions and go find this gal? Or do you want to track down that language on the 'Store' sign first?"
"Yes, thanks for the reminder. We'll check in on that after we chat with Thrane."
When Fin returns, your group heads up the shingle and catches Thrane with little effort; He is still fielding questions from any number of concerned farmers while he walks. He clears out the remaining folks with a few final quick answers and turns to you. "Good morning, I trust you all slept well. You folks look like you've got something on your mind. Just hungry for brunch or were you coming to find me?"
Jayse grins, "I wouldn't turn food down, but we came looking for you. We heard about what the town is doing and we want to help. Seems only right after all the hospitality. Seeing as there seem to be some people wary of this woods woman, we thought we could pay her a visit... pass on the warning to her. Of course, if there's anything you could specifically have our little group do, we'd be open to hearing that, too."
At the idea of food, Thrane perks up. You follow him home where he sweet-talks Etta into preparing brunch 'for our guests'. Over hot sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, Thrane pulls out a map (one of several in the hutch) that covers the area from Forestal to Orfallen. Forestal Map from the GSI site
He wipes crumbs off the map as he speaks. "If you want to speak with Isolde, the 'woods woman', you are welcome to. I've offered her shelter in town every time we have had goblin troubles in the past but she's never taken the offer and never really seemed to need our help - to be frank. Still, it's neighborly so I offer. I'd catch hell from my wife and some of the ladies in town if I didn't."
"If you still want to speak with her, then you could really help us out in two ways. First, keep your eyes open in the forest. Anything you can find out about the goblin activities, numbers, and movements could be helpful. Second, barter with Isolde for some more of her healing potions. We could use six or eight more. We can trade her a cow, two goats, five pound of mushrooms, and three bushels of wheat or corn - whichever she prefers."
"She's a bit feisty at times, so don't try to haggle too much or you might rile her up. Just tell her what we can offer and what we need. As for finding her, it's kinda odd and easy all at once. Just head up the trail to Colona. After a day or so, when you feel the shadow of the Hill Tower on you..." He points to the stylized drawing of the square tower on the mountains east of the road, "Turn directly away from it and head into the forest. After a day or so, when you get into some foothills, keep going up. Eventually, you'll come to a hedge. On the other side of the hedge is her land. You should have no problem finding her after that."
Jayse smiles over at Ushari, Straehan, and Findelgwing, "Does 'you should have no problem finding her after that' sound really ominous to anyone else?" He turns back to the dwarf, "We'll take the assignment, and we'll keep our eyes open while in the field. So two or three days out and we should find her, and then the same back? We're gonna want to take some food with us, and I'm going to need to pick up a water-pouch. Maybe back at that store we passed." His eyes slip to Straehan, a subtle reminder about the language on the sign.
"You guys have any questions before we leave?"
Before leaving, Fin will head back to Brynna's to see if she's willing to trade a few more of the round metal shinnies for a good cloak she can wear over her nice new clothes. She doesn't want to get them messed up in the woods.
Ushari nods at Jayse's suggestion, "Yes, getting some camping supplies would be a good idea, like a tent, and bedrolls for everyone."
She asks Thrane, "Is this road well traveled? Have any others run into any problems while on the way to Colona?"
Thrane looks relieved that you are willing to take on the task. He says, "At this time of year, it should only take you a couple of days to find her and a couple of days back. I'd take a week's worth of food just in case - unless you enjoy foraging." He scribbles a quick note and hands it over, "Since you are about on town business, you don't need to buy anything. Just give this note to Brynna and she'll see that you are kitted out with whatever we have. There should be bedrolls and at least two or three tents available. We keep some on hand for scouts and foresters."
He turns to Ushari to answer her question. "The trail to Colona is reasonably well traveled in spring and summer; we trade goods with them. And it is usually a pretty safe trail except when the goblins act up. Their village is somewhere between Colona and us. So be careful. And thanks for pitching in."
You take the note to Brynna and she sees that you each have a bedroll, a week's worth of rations, and waterskins. She shows you the tents she has. There are three of the smaller pup tents that are suitable for two people to use. They are lightweight (about half what a regular tent weighs), are covered with some sort of treated fish skin that is waterproof and is dyed in forest camo. She also has a bigger tent that will hold 4 or 5 people. It is quite heavy but its weight can be parceled out. The choice is yours.
Brynna looks puzzled, initially, when you ask about the language. She double-checks her sign and then has a flash of insight. "A stranger passing through some years back offered to add that one. He said I was missing a few important languages. At one point, just to keep them all straight, I had a list of which languages where which since I barely speak any of them." She begins rummaging through a roll-top desk. After five minutes of searching, she pulls out a tattered piece of parchment. "Got it! That language is called 'Bollini'. It's a human tongue from the Mainland."
As soon as Jayse hears the name, he recognizes the truth of it, as if it was a fact that just slipped his mind. The fact conjures up others - Bollini is 'from the Mainland' only in so far as the language is spoken on a set of islands near the Mainland. The islands are collectively called Bolline. He also knows that the name is derived from an ancient word for a very specific sort of knife.
I guess that means she can't translate the words, then. Oh well. At some point i'll be able to put all these little answers into something greater.
"Thank you, ma'am. For the gear and the help with the language. It's much appreciated.
The trail to Colona starts at the top of the shingle as a wide, well-traveled, avenue used for hauling logs. You proceed at a good pace along the winding roadway as the sandstone and granite of the coastline gives way to the spongy needle-coated ground of the ever-thickening forest. The trail narrows considerably after you pass the last of the farmsteads and clear cutting areas. The trail becomes a pair of wheel ruts, barely wide enough to accept a cart. Despite that, it is easy travelling and you make good time on the first day. You see no sign of goblins or their tell-tale damage.
As evening falls and you set about making camp, you see in the distance the Hill Tower that Thrane mentioned. It is a spike of sharpened stone nestled deeply among sheer rock cliffs. You assume there must be some easier way up the rock on the far side because moving that much worked stone up the faces you can observe (in any mundane fashion) would be nearly impossible.
The night passes without incident. In the morning, you set out early. Throughout the morning a slow feeling of unease grows in your mind. As you are about to stop for a midday break, you are gripped by a profound sense of cold. You realise, you are standing in the dark shadow of the Hill Tower spire.
But it is noon.
And the Hill Tower has to be at least 20 miles from you.
The shadow it casts seems to come from a hidden sun that sits near the horizon... for nothing else could explain the impossibly long shadow. Even from this distance, you can see there is something odd about the Hill Tower. It looks untouched by rain, wind, or time... as if it was built this morning. The corners of the building are impossibly sharp. You expect that if you were to run a hand along one, you'd be cut. And yet, for the new appearance of it, there is a profound sense of age to the thing. It sits, like a brooding old man, and watches you. Looking at the building, your spirit quails and you find it a relief to turn your eyes from it. Fin and Ushari, in particular, find it almost impossible to look at the daunting structure.
Thrane's instructions become clear. As soon as you are looking directly away from the Tower, the feeling of watchfulness lightens. You proceed into the forest. Somewhere up ahead, you will find Isolde. As you move through the springy turf beneath the trees, it becomes more and more apparent that Straehan is slowing you down. At a break, he asks if he might ride on someone's backpack.
+ X
Still uneasy from the experience with the strange tower, Jayse has been quiet for most of the afternoon trek. When the gnome asks for a life, he's happy to help out, lifting him easily onto his pack.
"I wonder how long we'll be hiking til we see this hedge."
Sharing something of Jayse's mood, Straehan says, "I don't know. I think we'll either see this hedge too soon or not soon enough. Should I be more bothered about that tower or this woman who we will find, or who will find us, with no effort?"
Ushari is quiet as well, thinking about the strange tower, and how much it unnerved her. She wonders whether she had what it takes to be an adventurer. Aren't they supposed to laugh at this kind of stuff?
You travel for a few hours and notice the terrain becoming a bit more hilly. A mental cloud looms over all of you as you walk through the dim and quiet forest. You realise, though you can no longer see it, the shadow of the Tower seems to continue pressing on your mind. Only Jayse seems relatively unaffected (but not unaware) of it.
Threads of a weird wispy fog weave through the forest. They almost seem to be paralleling your course. Between the weird fog, strange Tower, and oddly quiet woods, you almost miss noticing the band of goblins. Seemingly discomfited by the eerie effects as well, they are also surprised to see you. There are about 10 of them. The nearest being about 80' distant from you. All appear strong, nervous, and are armed with bows and dogslicers.
You are traveling West or possibly a hint Southwest and they are directly South of your location. As the hills have grown, the trees have thinned some, so they don't present much of an impediment to vision or weapons fire.
With the speed of a pit viper, Jayse is the first to react...
Goblin #:
Spec:
Distance: x 10 ft = 80'
Position:
Position: <-- reroll
Position:
Jayse reacts instantly, sending a quarrel speeding towards the nearest goblin.
Then he loads another quarrel with a step towards the front of the group, trying to be ready for where the combat takes him.
Findelgwing looks to see if there is any cover to hide behind then knocks and arrow and takes aim on any goblins armed with ranged weapons.
Jayse's quarrel flies true, nearly skewering the first goblin's heart. The bolt is narrowly turned by a scrap of metal in the creature's armor. Even still, the small hellion nearly collapses, half stunned from the staggering blow.
Fin's arrow strikes another goblin nearly as well, gashing the creature's neck but missing the main artery. Fin seeks cover but there isn't much to be found immediately around her. She moves towards the nearest sizable tree.
The two strikes cause the Goblins to scatter briefly before their leader starts barking orders. The goblins rally. The muted twang of nearly a dozen bowstrings making an odd symphony in the quiet woods.
Arrows rain down. Fin and Jayse manage to dodge some very close calls. Unfortunately, single arrows find both Ushari and Straehan. Since they haven't fully recovered from their previous wounds, the arrows exacerbate their injuries.
HIT Miss
HIT Close
HIT Close
HIT Miss
HIT Miss
HIT DAM
HIT Miss
HIT DAM
The final goblin pulls a horn and begins blowing a set of long and short notes.
Straehan says urgently, "That leader said 'call the squads!' Sounds like more than one!"
U's HP: 3 of 9
S's HP: 4 of 8
ORDER:
Ushari points to the nearest cover, while yanking out the arrow currently sticking in her right shoulder. "I think it might be a good idea to retreat, especially if there are more of them coming!"
She does however take a shot at the horn blower, hoping to drop him before he can finish his signal.
Ushari's arrow misses and she scrambles for cover.
Straehan manages to remain on Jayse's backpack well enough to cast a spell. His magical bolt flies unerringly at the hornblower. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop the creature from finishing his coded message. Silence descends on the forest.
RANGE: 100' +10'/lv
EFFECT: 1 missile Damage
ORDER: