Dolgrin handles the attention as humbly as one might expect from a dwarf. That is to say, he graciously accepted the townsfolk's thanks and drinks. He frequently points out that the goblins stood no chance once faced up against dwarven steel. After about an hour of socializing, he returns upstairs and asks one of the staff to help him don his armor properly before heading out to request a meeting with both the sheriff and the mayor.
Edlethron appreciates the praise but is clearly uncomfortable with the amount. In his home elven community, everyone is expected to fight, so there are no victims. He struggles with the attention through his breakfast.
When Dolgrin departs, the elven magus happily joins him as much in budding friendship as an excuse to escape the crowd.
Sejanus greets the morning with a bath, shave, and spot-cleaning his clothes. Can't be looking scruffy for a meeting with the Mayor! He is all smiles and handshakes down among the tavern patrons, recognizing them as his own friends and community. He seems preoccupied at times, though. He doesn't see a few familiar faces, and knows that despite the festivities, there will have to be a few funerals as well.
When the time is right, he follows the rest of the group toward the town hall.
Alphonse is a little taken aback by the welcome but warms to it quickly. Still he chides himself for the way he has been distracted from his mission. Goblins and carnivals are not the reason he came to Sandpoint, maybe he can finally get the chance to ask some real questions of the Sheriff.
As the group makes its way outside, they are soon met by a friendly but serious-looking man of Shoanti descent, who greets them and introduces himself as Sheriff Belor Hemlock, with a rare smile and a nod to the already familiar Sejanus. "I've heard tales of your bravery during the raid. If truth be told, it's thanks to your quick action that Father Zantus survived - the goblins hit hard around the area of the chapel, and that was where they struck first." He looks at Dolgrin before continuing. "I've also heard that you've been interested in meeting with myself and Mayor Deverin. You're in luck - the Mayor would like to honor each of you in a small ceremony this evening, and I'm certain she'd love to speak with each of you. In the meantime, I have a task I would appreciate your assistance with." He thinks for a moment. "It should be nothing, but as we found yesterday, it never hurts to be prepared. If you have weapons or armor, I suggest you bring them - I will wait if you need to return to your rooms. I will explain the situation on the way, and we will have time to talk as we walk."
"It would be a pleasure to assist you, Sheriff." Edlethron replies ready to go.
"Pleasure be mine, Sherr'f. Ah been hankerin' ta talk wit' ya since ah got 'ere, but thing's 'ave kept us both busy, obviously."
When the sheriff mentions bringing weapons and armor, Dolgrin simply smiles, as he always wore his gear to meetings such as this. Mainly because it was the closest thing to formal attire he owned.
"I'm always up for a little heroics." Sejanus falls in, keeping an ear on the conversation and his eyes searching for trouble.
Sheriff Hemlock waits until the heroes are ready, and leads them north through the town streets. A few blocks down, the smiling face of Father Zantus greets the group, the elderly man approaching to shake the hands of his saviors as he joins the group in their walk. "Desna's blessing upon you all! Your rescue last night... it was providence that you were present. It's why Sheriff Hemlock was so keen to ask for your assistance today!" As they travel, Zantus explains. "This morning I noticed something had been disturbed over at the boneyard behind the new cathedral. Now, the Sheriff and I agree that it's probably nothing more than perhaps a goblin straggler who got in - but caution is prudent at all times, of course, and the Sheriff suggested that we bring you all along."
The Sheriff chimes in. "Indeed. Always best to be careful, especially with goblins. Sejanus, I know you're a crack shot - I've not seen the like among any of the other guardsmen. But I've not seen the rest of you fight. What are your skills? What can each of you do?"
"You may call me Edlethron. I'm an elven warrior from the Mierani Forest." The elf replies. For him, elven warriors fight with sword and spell, so there is no need to elaborate. And he has lived for over a hundred years, of course he knows a few things.
"I'm afraid I've never been witness to the battles of the Mierani elves," the Shoanti man replies. Even by human standards, he is young for one to hold the rank of Sheriff, pushed into the role as he was by the previous sheriff's death. "I know a spell component pouch when I see one though - I take it you know the ways of magic?"
"Yes, I know some ways of magic. My village trains warriors to fight with sword, bow and spell. How do you know a spell component pouch when you see one?" Edlethron kindly replies and returns the conversational question.
"Besides the smell?" He chuckles. "They're common enough, and all the little compartments inside give them an odd shape." His tone is friendly as they talk. "What's brought you to Sandpoint, Edlethron of Mierani?" His pronunciation of the unfamiliar elven name is relatively good, for a human.
"Passing through actually. I was on my way to Magnimar to investigate the Thassilonian ruins. I'm in no hurry." He replies leaving unsaid,Time passes so much slower for Humans that they always appear to be in a rush.
"Helping you is a welcome diversion to the lonely trail. And yourself? You appear to be a bit young even by Human standards to a hold a position of authority in such a settlement."
"Thassilon, eh? An interesting piece of the land's history. Are you colleagues with Brodert Quink? He's a historian in town specializing in the region's history. I seem to recall he's interested in Thassilon." To the follow-up question, his face darkens. "I didn't welcome the job, but the town asked it of me when the previous sheriff fell victim to the Chopper." He frowns. "I'm sure you've heard talk of 'the Late Unpleasantness' around town. This town's been through too much, but it's strong. We'll pull through."
"Brodert Quink? No, I don't know the historian and would greatly appreciate an introduction." Edlethron's enthusiasm is easily detected through his nonverbal excitement to meet another Thassilonian historian.
The uncharismatic elf breezes right into the next topic like someone stamping mud into a clean house, "Chopper? No actually, I haven't heard anything about 'the Late Unpleasantness.'"
"I'm not personally acquainted with him, but I assure you that he'd fall over himself to get to talk with someone else interested in that bit of historical lore." Hemlock explains.
At Edlethron's statement, both Father Zantus and Sheriff Hemlock frown. Father Zantus replies. "We've had a run of bad luck here in Sandpoint of late. There was a string of murders... the late Sheriff's men found no leads for weeks, but the bodies were... gruesome. Mutilated. The sheriff was his last victim - he managed to wound the killer, and his men, well..." Zantus looks to Sheriff Hemlock.
Hemlock continues. "I found the body. There was a trail of blood... I summoned the guard and we followed it to the island off the coast, where old Jervis Stoot had lived. Found him there, dead, with his victims' eyes... crazy bastard'd been collecting 'em." He grits his teeth at the unpleasant memory. "We thought that the hard times were behind us, but a few months later, there was that terrible fire that destroyed the old church and several other buildings nearby, and took the life of Father Tobyn and his little girl." He sighs. "And then a goblin raid. But that... well, it could have been much worse." He manages a smile at the heroes.
"Speaking of Fater Tobyn..." Father Zantus interjects. "It's his tomb that's been disturbed at the boneyard, as a matter of fact. I noticed the sealed door hanging open when I looked this morning. We think it's likely one of the goblins got in there. We're hoping it's not still lurking inside, but that's why we've brought all of you. One goblin'll be no trouble with you around."
Edlethron listens intently absorbing and cataloging the descriptions like a clinician. Supposedly solved murders by serial killer. Terrible fire destroying old church and tenants. A goblin attack to cover the tomb raid of the fire victims. Maybe connected somehow. "Would any of you happen to know if there was anything in Father Tobyn's tomb worth stealing?"
The two look at one another, and the sheriff nods at Father Zantus to answer, who replies, "Perhaps some ceremonial funeral trappings, I suppose. Nothing of any true value to a thief, though."
Dolgrin scowls as the elf commandeered the conversation, but walked along patiently as the two had their discussion. Finally, after a pause in the conversation, Dolgrin says, "Ah be Dolgrin Girndmar, o' 'igh'elm. Ah'm a cler'c o' Torag, Father o' Creation. 'E 'as blessed me wi' 'is divine gifts, especially wi' a forge an' 'ammer. Ah can make some o' tha finest arms an' armor ye e'er seen, me own is a testament ta tha'. An', ah ain' bad ah puttin' 'em ta use, either. Though, ah'm nay the warrior me brother was..." he casts an appraising eye towards the sheriff when he mentions his brother, to see if he has any reaction.
Alphonse will listen with rapt attention. He had been waiting for a proper telling of what had happened during the troubled times. In my experience thieves are sometimes unpredictable creatures out for many a strange curiosity. Not to mention: The goblin attack would have proved a perfect cover for a clandestine operation. I would like to get a chance to get a closer look before any evidence is disturbed."
"Girndmar?" the Sheriff replies, taken aback. "I take it you received the Mayor's letter in Highhelm then." The young man rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably as he continues. "We didn't know what family he had..." He sighs. "Kordin spent many a week in Sandpoint, and was as sure to make an appointment as the sun was to rise each day. He kept going on excursions outside the town at night - wouldn't tell anyone where he was going, though we knew it to be dangerous. Came back one night with deep wounds - and not from jagged goblin blades either. Looked like he'd been hurt with magic, too. Father Zantus got him healed, but he was gone again the next night. Promised he'd be back to help with some business in town the next morning... and never returned. That was nearly seven months back." An uncomfortable silence falls as neither the Sheriff nor Father Zantus knows what to say next.
During the explanation of the Late Unpleasantness, Sejanus is quiet. He stares at the ground during their journey toward the graveyard, his usual enthusiasm and snark strangely subdued.
When they arrive at the graveyard, he loads, cocks, and shoulders his crossbow. "Swing open the door and let me have a clear line of sight inside. Wait on either side. I'll skewer this gods-damned goblin, or he will run out and our gauntlet will cut him down."
Dolgrin watches the Sheriff's discomfort as he speaks, but the more the man talks, the more aggravated he becomes. "Aye, me kin an' ah got yer le'er. Ye go' any leads on who 'e 'ad been scrappin' wit'? Or wha' 'e was up ta?"
Dolgrin steps to the side of the door, hammer and shield readied to bash the skull in of whatever may attack them from inside.
Poor Dolgrin. That's what brought him to Sandpoint. Edlethron keeps silent for his friend's sake.
--------------
When they enter the graveyard, Edlethron casts Detect Magic with a decisive, "Cesta gul." He then cautiously proceeds while concentrating surveying the area around him.
Upon arrival at the graveyard, Alphonse will draw steal and sing under his breath, "The boneman swings in the winking moon, the boneman sings to greet your doom..."
Ustalav had gifted him with a large repertoire of creepy nursery rhymes and poems. It was considered best that children always sleep with one eye open.
"We knew he'd been slaying goblins," Sheriff Hemlock replies, "But that wasn't what hurt him the night he returned all bloody. Some kind of dark magic had gotten him - his wounds were twisted and blackened."
Father Zantus interjects. "His wounds bore the mark of un-life... the negative energy wielded by servants of the dark gods. It was a priest of something foul he found - little else could have made those wounds."
-
As the group arrives at the boneyard, Sheriff Hemlock has Father Zantus wait by the entrance as he leads the group towards the crypt. Sure enough, the heavy stone door is ajar. Tool marks near the edge show where it was forced open - tool marks which are too high for a goblin's tiny reach.
Nothing emerges from the pitch-black interior, and even Dolgrin and Edlethron's darkvision only reveals a sliver of the chamber.
Dolgrin steps up and swings the door open, shield raised and braced for attack.
Dolgrin drags the heavy stone door open. As light spills into the chamber beyond, an unnatural chill wafts forth into the warm morning air as two clattering figures stalk forth - human skeletons, finger-bones sharpened to points as their arms reach forth for the living.
Edlethron casts Disrupt Undead speaking the catalyst words in Elven which launches a bright yellow light from his outstretched hand toward one of the skeletons. The dazzling ray uselessly connects with the stone door.
Then, the elven warrior draws his longsword and breathes "skeletons," through a fierce grin.
Alphonse will roll his eyes with exasperation knowing that his rapier was nigh useless against the bare bones of his foes. He slides into a defensive posture and begins glancing around for a makeshift bludgeon.
"Father Zantus! A little help, please. Show them some of Desna's love." He fires, but in his attempt to avoid hitting Edlethron he misses wide.
Dolgrin is stunned by the appearance of undead at the tomb. He tightens his grip on Thunderer and takes a wild swing, but fails to connect.
The two skeletons reach out, clawing for those closest. One attacks Dolgrin, and the other steps forth and swings its claws at Edlethron.
The creatures' swings fall short, the experienced warriors expertly dodging out of the way of the clumsy strikes.
Father Zantus hears the shout from across the boneyard and begins hurrying over, reaching for his holy symbol as he does. It will take him a few moments to make it here.
Edlethron sternly repeats, "Terhat Morgul," and casts Disrupt Undead. The bright yellow light launches from his outstretched hand toward one of the skeletons and again uselessly connects with the stone tomb.
Two shots go wide. Sejanus looks somewhat mortified at his inability to hit the skeleton, especially considering the praise he just received from the priest and the guard captain on his marksmanship.
The skeleton in front of Edlethron follows, swiping at him with its claws even as the one before Dolgrin tears at the dwarf's armor uselessly.
Sheriff Hemlock steps up beside Edlethron and swipes at the skeleton with a longsword, but his blow too falls short.
Dolgrin recovers from his previous, sloppy attack as the skeleton ineffectively rakes against his armor. He focuses himself this time, and makes a much more deliberate swing at the undead fiend.
__________
The frantic assault of the skeletons is halted by a mighty blow from the dwarven cleric, his hammer blasting the creature's bones apart as it clatters to the tomb floor, unmoving.
Alphonse continues fighting defensively but moves to provide flank