"You're right. Let's save them", smiled Kadrian. "Poor devils." The swashbuckler and the summoner continue their journey back to The Rusty Dragon.
The inside of the Barett house is eerily quiet. Nothing stirs as Rak and Akuleh make their way through the door way and into the living room. The house is above average size for Sandpoint as the Baretts have done well for themselves.
Opening the half-shut door to the boy's room reviews a room most parents in Sandpoint would occupy. A large bed and fine wooden furniture occupy most of the room. On the floor near the bed lies a still dog with a shard of metal embedded in it's skull. A pair of human legs lie half-in and half-out of the closet.
Quick and shallow breathing can be heard coming from inside the closet.
Akuleh freezes in the doorway at the sight of the mutilated dog. "Gods, what a mess," he whispers to Rak. "Quick, let's check on whoever that is in the closet." With his morningstar at the ready, the Shoanti moves toward the closet.
"I don't know what we're looking at here, Akuleh, but let's be cautious all the same." Rak mutters a quick prayer, "oppdage magien," then scans the room, looking for any magical threats.
Rak detects no magical auras in the room. Even as Akuleh moves closer to the closet, the man on the floor doesn't stir.
As Kadrian and Izbela make their way through town, a steaming middle-aged man storms toward them. Ven Vinder, owner of the General Store in Sandpoint is obviously upset about something as he clomps in the lovers direction.
Shayliss Vinder hides behind the corner of the next building, watching the scene unfold.
"You there! Deverin boy! How dare you dishonor my daughter and family name" he shouts. "And now you traipse about town with another, that, that harlot! I'll knock your block off!"
Taking a step away from Izbela, Kadrian slowly approaches Ven Vinder.
"Ven. What are you talking about?" questions the swashbuckler. " I apologize for not being able to take care of your..basement issue earlier, but that is no way to get the help you ask for by attacking people's character."
"How does that bring dishonor to your family?"
Rak approaches the body laying into the closet along with Akuleh. He motions for the Shoanti to approach from the right as he begins circling to the left, hoping to catch a view of the closet interior. He extends the tip of the spear towards the man's leg, jostling it to see if there's life.
"Ho there, you okay?"
Akuleh circles around to the right as Rak had instructed through his silent signals, his morningstar head ready to strike if anything hostile emerges from the closet.
"Now just a moment, sir", Izbela says as she steps around to Kadrian's side, her tone making it clear that she does not take lightly to being called by such degrading names. "I don't believe you've been told the entire story. The only thing Kadrian has dishonored is your daughter's pride when he rejected her advances." She lets that pointed remark linger for a moment, hoping that its impact would take the wind out of the enraged father. Then, in a markedly softer tone, Izbela continues, "You may not wish to believe it, but there are a number of witnesses who would tell you the truth of what transpired. No one would want to think the worst of their own blood, but is it possible you may not know your daughter's behavior as well as you think you do? Have you spent much time with Shayliss of late?"
Kadrian looks impressed by Izbela's hot varisian blood, cutting to the heart of the matter. The noble will give Ven a few moments to process what Izbela said.
Akuleh's six sense gives him an edge when the lone goblin comes jumping out of a whole in the closet floor. Still, both heroes are taken by surprise at the sudden explosion of green fury. Akuleh stumbles backwards in surprise at the emergence of the goblin and it's just enough to save him from the wicked edge of the goblin's jagged horsechopper.
While Ven was ready to smack Kadrian into next week, Izbela's hot tempered response was enough to fight fire with fire and give the big man pause.
"What are yer sayin? That dis one didn't lay a hand on me lass? Dat's not the story I was told."
"Your lovely daughter asked for my help in ridding your basement of a giant rat problem. I kindly told her I had to wait at The Rusty Dragon for a message from Father Zanthus, concerning more possible goblin attacks in other parts of the city. I kindly asked her to wait until my business with the head cleric was over. Sadly, she left in a huff. On this, I swear."
"Ah!" Akuleh shouts in fright as he swings his morningstar almost instinctively. Unfortunately, his instincts don't guide him to attack with any real accuracy or power, and he merely swats at the goblin's weapon.
Rak jumps at the appearance of the goblin, but responds quickly, more startled than surprised. Knew one of these nasties had to be in here somewhere.
He takes a quick step to the side, placing the goblin between he and Akuleh. He studies the goblin before striking with his longspear.
"What are yer sayin? That dis one didn't lay a hand on me lass?"
Despite her best efforts not to let her temper get the better of her, Izbela can't quite contain herself at the absurd thought of Kadrian sullying Shayliss' reputation, and gives a derisive snigger at Ven's question, which, soon after, she tries to cover up as a sudden fit of coughing.
Ven turns even brighter red and turns to glance over his shoulder. "SHAYLISS!" he shouts. He completes his turn about and sets storming off back the way he came, deep footprints left in his wake. Someone is obviously going to suffer the man's wrath.
Both Akuleh and Rak's surprise at the savage goblin is enough to save the little terror the strike of their weapons. Blood still dripping down his face and chin, the goblin brings his horsechopper around, this time at the dwarf. The narrow confines of the closet doorway prevent the goblin from landing a telling blow, but the swing is enough to draw blood.
Now in a more advantageous position together with Rak, and having recovered his senses a bit after the goblin's surprise, Akuleh swings the heavy head of the morningstar again, aiming for the top of the little green monstrosity's head.
Rak maneuvers so that he has enough room to strike with his longspear again, maintaining a flanking position with Akuleh.
"Ya made a mistake here, little nasty. Sandpoint ain't friendly to you mischievous critters right now. You'll pay for what you've done here."
Watching the elder Venner stomp out of sight, Kadrian waits until the shopkeep is out of sight.
Looking to Izbela, Kadrian speaks, "Well! It look to be a bad day for the Venner House."
Holding out his arm once more to the summoner, the swashbuckler patiently waits for her queue to leave.
Izbela also watches as the general store owner and irate father leaves them as abruptly as he came, the knowledge that Shayliss would have to explain herself to Ven helping to mollify her temper, if only slightly. Whatever hurt feelings the summoner nurses about Ven's accusations disappear when Kadrian offers his arm again. Her smile is a little tired, though genuine, as she takes his arm once more, and the pair resumes their walk to The Rusty Dragon. "At least this whole ordeal has helped to put things into perspective. Suddenly, telling my father about us doesn't seem like such a bad idea."
Akuleh's morningstar smashes into the goblin who smacks hard into the doorframe but doesn't go down. Rak's spear misses the goblin and digs a deep furrow into the wooden frame. The goblin glares at Akuleh with menace before raising his horse chopper and slashing at the man. The rusty blade comes down hard into the floor, cutting a deep gash in the wood alone.
"You should have quit while you were ahead, little one," Akuleh says menacingly as he looms over the desperate but ferocious little goblin. He swings his morningstar once again, catching the miniature monster in the chest and audibly cracking its tiny sternum, sending it to the floor in a heap.
With the goblin dispatched, Akuleh kneels beside the limp human figure in the closet, checking for any signs of life in the man.
"Good strike, my friend. I've about had it with these goblins and their mischief. I'd thought we chased them all away at the festival." The dwarf's voice betrays his concern as his thoughts continue.
Just what are these goblins up to, anyway? They're more organized than they should be; they're working on coordinated actions to distract and achieve hidden ends. Stealing the former Father's body; they clearly had some other leader there, someone larger! And now this; did this fellow get lost, or did they leave strike forces behind to sow more discontent?
"I don't like it, Akuleh, I don't like this at all."
Rak joins Akuleh at the man's side, where he too investigates for signs of life, or a way to help.
"Good strike, my friend. I've about had it with these goblins and their mischief. I'd thought we chased them all away at the festival."
"I thought so, too," Akuleh replies, kneeling opposite Rak across the prone man. "I wonder, though, if this one is here as a new part of their assault, or if he was a leftover from yesterday. Perhaps he was left behind somehow."
"I wonder, though, if this one is here as a new part of their assault, or if he was a leftover from yesterday. Perhaps he was left behind somehow."
"I hope you're right. If not.... I don't like to think what that means. Shalelu, the elf that keeps an eye on the goblins, she had some concerns over their recent tactics. If they're leaving strike forces behind to continue to cause trouble.... What could they be up to?"
Rak returns his focus to what must be Mr. Barett. He grips the man's leg firmly and gives a strong shake, trying to wake the man. "Mr. Barett. Are you OK? Your wife sent us to check on you." If he fails to wake him, Rak will roll him over to get a better look.
The man is unfortunately quite deceased, with a large wound in his neck and half of his face gnawed off. Within the closet, a loose floorboard now cast aside reveals a crawl space under the house. The smell emanating from the hole is rather repulsive.
The small horsechopper is in remarkable good condition .
As Akuleh and Rak exit the dwelling and begin the long walk back to Mrs. Barett, Kadrian and Izbela round the corner, arms locked together as they approach.
Kadrian turns the corner with Izbela and sees Rak and Akuleh, exiting someone's house, with dire looks upon the shaonti's and dwarf's faces.
Taking Izbela's hand, the swashbuckler runs to meet with the shaman and inquisitor.
"What has happened?" The noble questions.
"Are you both all right?"
Akuleh asks for Rak's assistance in moving the poor man's body out of his son's room and into his own bedroom. He does his best to clean the man's wounds with a rag he tears off of his own cloak.
Returning to the child's room, he also removes the shard of metal from the dog and moves the animal elsewhere, preferably into the area behind the house if there is such a place.
When they have finished clearing up the boy's room, Akuleh turns to Rak and says solemnly, "I'm not sure what these monsters are up to, but it must stop. This cannot become the new state of things for this town." Stepping out into the sunlight in front of the Barett home, Akuleh gathers himself to deliver the bad news to Mrs. Barett when Kadrian and Izbela rush up beside them.
"What has happened?" The noble questions.
"Are you both all right?"
"Yes, we're alright," the Shoanti replies steadily, "But there has been another death." He turns toward the frightened woman and her small child and, with as gentle a tone as he is able to provide, tells of Mr. Barett's death. "We have dealt with his killer, but I am afraid we were too late to save him. I am sorry." He bows his head toward them in apology and steps back to allow them space to mourn.
Rak assists Akuleh with moving the bodies and getting the boy's room back in order. He conjures both water and wine as needed to help clean up Mr. Barett and the stains in the boys room.
"Cayden be praised, but this was never how I wanted to use your gifts. Give me the strength to make this town safe again."
When they get outside, Rak keeps his voice down as Akuleh delivers the sour news to Mrs. Barett.
"Another goblin. It terrorized that young boy and killed the husband. Barett. Did you know the man?" He asks Kadrian and Izbela this cautiously, knowing that the possiblity they were old friends of the Barett's was only too likely in such a small town.
"Another goblin. It terrorized that young boy and killed the husband. Barett. Did you know the man?" He asks Kadrian and Izbela this cautiously, knowing that the possiblity they were old friends of the Barett's was only too likely in such a small town.
"No, sadly I don't believe so", spoke the swashbuckler.
"Listen, go to the widow Barett. I will guard the door, until the Baretts or the watch comes to relieve me, as to keep the gawkers at bay."
Rak nods at Kadrian's advice. He silently approaches Akuleh and the widow Barett. He says nothing to the widow, preferring to wait for her to comment first, but wears a supportive and compassionate expression on his face.
Izbela takes in the grave news quietly, shaking her head in answer to Rak's question. She could not say that she was familiar with the Barett family, and she was, in all actuality, likely as much of a stranger to them as Akuleh and Rak. Still, what little Izbela has witnessed of the dwarf's and Shoanti's character has spoken to her of a depth of wisdom and compassion, and so she trusts the grieving family's care to the two for the time being, and tries to quietly excuse herself to go find help. "I'm going to go find Father Zantus, unless you think we should bring them to the Cathedral?"
"That's a good idea", whispered Kadrian. "He'll know what to do."
Amele falls to her knees, babe in hand, and begins to sob. It's a few minutes later when Father Zantus comes rushing up in response to the commotion. He does his best to comfort Amele and manages to slow her crying and get her back on her feet. He begins to escort her back to the church when she turns and glares at Akuleh.
"Too bad you heroes weren't a bit more thorough in your heroing, savage."
Stunned by the widow Barett retort, Kadrian watches Amele be escorted away.
Placing a hand on Akuleh's shoulder, the varisian speaks to the shaonti, "What she said was in a place of anguish and misery. Don't take it to heart."
Rak looks after the departing woman, shaking his head. "We didn't do this. You didn't do this, Akuleh."
I can only imagine her grief. I hope the Father can bring her comfort.
Akuleh's head hangs in sorrow for the woman and her family as she weeps. When she calls back to them and throws her insult at him, however, his head snaps up, a look flashing between indignation and sadness. He opens his mouth to speak in response to the widow's curse, but quickly thinks better of it as his friends rally around him.
When Father Zantus has lead Amele a suitable distance away, the Shoanti turns to face the house again. Looking up at the building, his lip begins to tremble slightly, and his arm begins to quiver, until he is no longer able to contain the rage and sadness. He slams his bare fist into the door with a furious shout. When his hand comes away, his knuckles are bloody and raw, and a few flecks of blood remain on the wooden door of the death-filled house.
After a few deep breaths and some more angry grunts, Akuleh once again composes himself. "She was right," he says quietly, "And yet, what else could we have done?" He pauses and begins to pace around in thought. "We must trace this back to the source," he says a moment later. "That is the only way to end this."
"That we will, my friend", assures Kadrian. "That we will."
Rak gives Akuleh the space he needs to process things, until the Shoanti slams his fist into the Barrets' front door. He rushes up to the warrior and grabs his hand to inspect the damage. He looks up at the tall barbarian. "Akuleh! We all know that we're doing what we can to help this town. It's not your fault that this happened, and you can't take it to heart like that."
Rak reaches into his bag and finds a clean cloth for binding. He conjures some wine into his mug, and dips the binding in the wine to sterilize it. He starts carefully wrapping the works around Akuleh's knuckle. "It's not so bad that you need Cayden's healing, but you need something to keep it from festering."
"Let's get back to the Dragon and see what sense we can make of things."
The walk back to the tavern is filled with quiet tension. Could there be more goblins hidden in town? How did they get in in the first place? What are they up to? Shared thoughts echo through the minds of several as they march through the Sandpoint streets.
Arriving back at the tavern, the heroes are greeted by Aldern Foxglove. "Haha, you have returned! And just in time for lunch! Please, join me. We have much to celebrate, and in the morning, we hunt. Come, come, sit. Ameiko, please, bring my guests something to eat."
"We've nothing to celebrate today, Foxglove. But Cayden urges me to forgive you, and so I shall, as you know not what we've just been through."
He sits, regretting his sharp response, and digs into Ameiko's food when it arrives. "I think a hunt could be just what we need. It would be good to distract our minds for a while."
Akuleh is stunned by Rak's words, and his jaw hangs slack for a moment as he takes in the scene. "How?!" he asks, sitting down next to the dwarf. "How can we possibly set aside this burden to join in some vain hunt? After what that woman said...I...I just...I don't know how I can rest until we've scoured this entire town and cleared every crevice of the little green filth."
Rak nods his head at Akuleh's concern. "I know, it seems... indulgent... to go on this hunt in these circumstances. In a sense, though, it's what we were asked to do." His eyes stray around the table as he tries to defend this assertation. "We're supposed to make the town feel like it's business as usual. We can't go rooting around in every single cellar in town. We don't have the resources, and it would increase alarm, not soothe fears."
"If we are comfortable indulging in an innocent diversion, perhaps the town will be comfortable with a simple return to normalcy."
"Rak speaks true, Akuleh", says Kadrian to the shaonti. "Revenge will have to be another day, but it is coming!".
The swashbuckler takes a mug of mead from the serving girl and begins to drink, if nothing else, to slightly dull the pain.
Akuleh grunts his assent and follows Kadrian's lead, seizing one of the mugs the serving girl offers and taking a long drink. He slams the empty tankard down and looks across the table at the young nobleman. He places his elbow on the table between them, his open hand extended toward Kadrian. "To our coming day of vengeance," he growls, waiting for the man to take his hand.
The rest of the day passes fairly quickly. It does seem as if the food and wine never stop coming, or that Lord Foxglove ever stops talking. At least his obvious interest in Izbela seems to have waned, while in Kadrian's immediate vicinity anyway. His conversation is polite if annoying and almost more so than the food, his question never quite stop coming.
He pleads to hear about Akuleh's experiences outside of Sandpoint. Never one to be very far from a town or city, Aldern is obviously interested in a different perspective from his own and has trouble understanding and appreciating why anyone wouldn't want to sleep under a roof or have room service constantly available.
Eventually his attention shifts to Kadrian and Izbela and their family's histories in Sandpoint. Before you know it, the sun has set and Aldern stands and stretches. Thanking you for your company, he politely excuses himself for the evening.
"Going to be an early day tomorrow. Be ready by 8 bells and we shall set off in search of wild boar! Uh, I will have horses and spears available but if you need anything else just let me know and I'm sure we can find what we need. Goodnight all."
The swashbuckler politely stands and watches Lord Foxglove retire.
With a small yawn of his own, Kadrian remarks, "You know? Aldern's starting to grow on me."
Looking to his three friends, the noble smiles, "It is wonderful spending some time with you all, outside of municipal duties. By your leave, I will escort Ms. Vauni home for the evening, and see you all on the morrow."
During the dinner, Rak encourages the flow of wine and food, hoping that it will continue to take the edge off the day and ease his companions pain--particularly Akuleh's. While he's happy to see the Shoanti indulge in this form of pain relief, he keeps an eye on the warrior's consumption. Rak is definitely willing to step in if it looks like the Shoanti is taking it too far. Cayden is always there to relieve one's burdens, but a soul free of all burdens is in great danger of becoming lost.
"He only grows on you because he's stopped trying to catch Izbela's eye," Rak replies. "But, that is an improvement, nonetheless."
"Kadrian, Izbela, enjoy your walk; we have an early morning, so we should all be off to bed. Akuleh, can I walk you to your room?"
Though Akuleh's mood during the dinner is not cheery by any stretch of the imagination, he does settle down some, perhaps thanks to the quantity of drink he consumes throughout the night. He tries to moderate himself, but the faces of the dead keep floating into his mind's eye, and the drink seems to be the only thing holding them at bay. By the end of the night, he cannot help but to relent to Rak's guidance back to his room. "Yes. I think I will accept your offer, Rak." His voice is somewhat slurred and his eyes are a bit glazed, but he still stands straight and tall as the dwarf guides him to his room. "Thank you, Rak, for letting me take tonight to...work through some things. I'll be better in the morning, I think."
"He only grows on you because he's stopped trying to catch Izbela's eye," Rak replies. "But, that is an improvement, nonetheless."
Kadrian smirks, "Well.., we had good chat earlier, and we came to an understanding."