"Shalelu, am I right to assume that you'd be joining us on this hunt for goblins? I believe that the infamous Goblinstalker is someone we'd love to have in our company in such an event."
"What, and steal all the glory?" Shalelu replies with a smirk. "I've already got a lot of practice with hunting them down--I don't think it'd be fair if I hogged them all for myself."
"What do you think, you and you're crew will be sstuck here for ssometime, would thinning the goblinss be of interesst? It would certainly make travel ssafer for everyone."
"I'd agree, definitely." Sandru nods, looking sheepish. "Believe me, I'd love to come along, but I've got repairs to make and supplies to procure. Caravan's not going to get those itself."
"Aunt Koya, and here I thought you said you shouldn't just join up and start adventuring with people you just met in a tavern!"
Koya shrugs and offers Gilbert a knowing smile. "Eh, I say a lot of things."
"Still, since you're set on this, please try to stay out of too much trouble." Her smile turns into a look of concern. "Those goblins are dumber than rocks, but that don't mean they aren't dangerous."
"Amie-chan! Wanna go hunt some goblins with me! We can earn some money with it! Finally some adventure again."
Ameiko offers Yui an apologetic look. "It sounds like fun, but, well..."
She gestures to the crowded tavern. "...I've got a lot of work ahead of me, and I'm not going to let Bethana handle all this on her own. Think you could bring back a souvenir for me?"
By the time the posse arrives at Sandpoint's garrison, there appears to be quite a crowd around the place. There are a lot of locals here, some looking barely out of their teens. The best weapons they have are little more than repurposed farming tools--a pitchfork here, a pickaxe there, at least three rakes, and many more sharpened shovels are just a few examples of the motley 'weaponry' the hopefuls have.
Their armour is hardly any better--there are some locals in the crowd who look like they're wearing actual leather armour instead of the clothes on their backs, but they're decidedly in the minority. To put it bluntly, most (if not all) of the people here are (at best) grossly under-qualified for the job of hunting goblins.
From the sound of things inside, Sheriff Hemlock is aware of this. A sizeable group of grumbling farmers' lads stalk out of the garrison, their axe handles tucked into their belts and their eyes on the road to the nearest tavern.
One of the militia guards notices the party and waves them in.
"Still, since you're set on this, please try to stay out of too much trouble."
"Bah! I managed to be out hunting while the giants, the dragon, and quite possibly something else were taking their sweet time in my town! If anything, trouble never looks for me, so I'm looking for it for a change!" Gilbert says with a hint of slight regret.
Seeing the crowd, Gilbert smirks and says to his companions, "At least Sandpointers make up in will to fight! However, even though as a nobleman the sight of a crowd armed with pitchforks and torches makes me weary, I don't think that they'd be much use versus the goblins on their home territory."
He then continues. "I do quite admire their courage and will to fight however. As time has shown, the good people of Sandpoint are a match to any threat to the town. Gah! Look at me yammering like an old fishwife! Let's get this started with, my friends!", he says, apologetic of his rather wordy rant.
Yui pouts the biggest pout Ameiko has ever soon. A bit disgruntled she walks over to Ikoma and asks to join. "Amie seems scared of the little gobsies. Can I join you?"
She hobbles along with the group and comments on the villagers. "They have the will, but not the strength to fight. Sneaky gobsies will take a hefty toll from them. Hemlock should have thought of that before he put up the poster."
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Pondering the request for a moment the young man finally nods.
"Your ability to work with shadows can be quite helpful with those stupid goblins. I think you are quite an asset."
Leaning over Ikoma crosses his arms across his chest and speaks louder over the group.
"Sheriff, I think Gilbert and me will build a posse to hunt a few goblins, if you had any leads that would be helpful!"
Rather excited at the prospect of this adventure Nestasha tells the group, "Go on ahead, I will meet you there, I want to grab my gear real fasst."
Her enthusiasm seems dampened by the sudden dose of reality Ikoma throws at her, "I ssupose you're right Ikoma, I jusst thought it would do to to look the part. I'll wait on my equipment until tomorrow."
"Hah! It's a good think to see someone being the voice of reason. It sure as hell isn't going to be me!" says Gilbert. Seeing Nestasha looking disappointed, he then adds, "I'm sure that initiative of yours will come in handy, so don't worry about it."
Caerwyn sees the crowd gathered around the Sheriff's office and shakes his head in dismay. "Looks like we're going to have our hands full tomorrow. The guard is going to be spending most of the time pulling these people out of harms way. Too bad, I'd hope to get a little hunting in for myself. A few extra silvers wouldn't hurt, a guards pay never seems to go far enough."
The sheriff's office is unusually cluttered today--several stacks of papers can be seen strewn about his desk, with a couple of writing utensils poking out from under the piles. The party catches glimpses of the content of the papers: they appear to be written complaints about the goblin attacks, most of which end with the writer demanding compensation for the damage his caravan sustained in their raids.
Sheriff Hemlock looks up as the party enters his office, his expression turning from sullen annoyance to a more hopeful (but still stoic) look. He arches an eyebrow in surprise when he sees Caerwyn walk in.
"Caerwyn? Well, can't say I expected this. Come on in--sit down." He nods at five chairs in front of his desk. "Come in, all of you."
"You see those people. They have enthusiasm, but they are more dangerous to themselves and others than to the goblins."
"Indeed." The sheriff sighs, leaning forward in his seat. "I'd be lying if I said I couldn't understand why they're so eager, but just because some of them have lived through giant attacks and dragon raids doesn't mean they have the skills needed to take goblins on."
"That being said, tell me--what are your skills? What makes you think you'd be ideal for hunting them down?"
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Looking around at those that are close the samurai speaks up:"I can not speak for all, but Gilbert is a well known tracker, who is decent with the bow and knows the way of the land. Yui might look like a little girl, but I do know she is able to bend shadows to her whim. A great talent to distract enemys. For myself, I am decent with a blade. But thats not the main reason I am here. This town has been good to me. Even before Lao Wu, well, be honest, I am a mediocre tattoist, but a decent swordsman. And I want to repay the kindness the folks gave to me." And very silently speaking."And I do need the money and something to do with my time... something meaningful!"
Nestasha speaks up, "I am ssomewhat sstealthy, good with my kukri, and can posssibly dissarm trapss."
Yui jumps on the desk and two little shadows exude out from her sleeves. The two shadows have small faces on them, one keeps a constant grin and you can hear him constantly giggling. The other only has one eye and makes a little grumbling sound while looking at everyone with his big red shot eye.
"I am very stealthy! I also have Happy and Grumpy to help me with and dangerous gobsies. If needed I can put gobsies to sleep, or let them run away scared like...gobsies... he he!" Yui says with a big grin.
"Ikoma says it better than I, though I must add that I do have some magical power of my own, and will be able to mend some injuries. But it's going to be preferable if we don't sustain any, isn't it!", says Gilbert in his slightly drunk speech.
"I don't suppose that you would know that, Sheriff, but do you reckon you can tell us how many of the beasties are there? Preparation is key for the hunt. You don't go bear hunting with a shortbow, after all."
Sheriff Hemlock listens to each party member as they explain what they can do.
Sheriff Hemlock nods and stands up from his desk. "I've seen all I need to--you all look like you can handle this." He moves some papers aside on his desk to reveal a map.
"I don't suppose that you would know that, Sheriff, but do you reckon you can tell us how many of the beasties are there? Preparation is key for the hunt. You don't go bear hunting with a shortbow, after all."
"Can't say that I do, but I do know someone who would." He points out a part of the swamp at the edge of Sog's Bay. (Area G) "A halfling woodsman named Walthus Proudstump lives in this corner of the marsh. He's a bit of a reclusive sort, but he's quite knowledgeable about Brinestump Marsh--he'll be able to provide you with more information."
Sheriff Hemlock hands off the map to any of the party who reaches for it. "Make whatever preparations you need for this--we're counting on you."
He nods at the party. "On your way, then."
Gilbert goes to the Rusty Dragon afterwards and stays the night. In the morning, he visits Koya to tell her that he's leaving again, and is eating a hearty breakfast as the time to leave comes.
Retruning to where she stays for the night, Nestasha returns to the Rusty Dragon the next morning with her equipment, her bow on her back, her leather armor on, and no obvious sign of her kukri. She sits down and orders some breakfast while she waits for everyone to arrive.
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Yui is extremely happy going on her second adventure this month. She very enthusiastically recalls all she knows about goblins to Ameiko over breakfast and how many ears she will bring with her so that she can finally pay for her room.
Caerwyn returns to his family's homestead that evening thankful that he had just returned from patrol and wasn't scheduled to go back out for another two days. He goes to bed early but his sleep is fitful and eludes him. Finally giving up he rises early and eats breakfast with his mother and father before gathering his gear and heading into town. Once in town he stops by the Sheriff's office for any last minute advice before joining the others at the Rusty Dragon.
Gilbert, seeing everyone gather, and on time to boot, stands up from the table, a tiny piece of bacon falling from the edge of his mount, as he says, "Ah! Noone decided to have second thoughts! Good, good. I assume you all have horses, yes? I suppose Yui can ride Duchess, if she promises she isn't going to bite!" Gilbert winks at Yui, implying that it's not the wolf...hound that would be the one who bites.
Laughing at what Gilbert says, thinking it is a joke, Nestasha replies, "A horsse? Horssess don't care for me very much, nor can I afford to own one right now."
As the party says their farewells to friends and family in preparation for the journey into the marsh, they're interrupted on the way out of town by a militiaman.
"The sheriff's told me to tell you what you'll earn for this bounty: 10 gold per fresh goblin ear with a 300 gold bonus if you bring back the goblin chieftain's head."
"Ah! Is the bounty still payable if we return with our tails tucked between our legs and an angry goblin tribe pursuing us?", asks Gilbert, in high spirits, playing with an arrow.
Seeing as there are not enough horses for everyone, Gilbert will offer Yui or Nestasha to ride on his horse, in order to be able to move or flee faster.
"Caerwyn, you were trained by Shalelu, if I recall correctly? May I suggest us to stay about a hundred or so feet ahead of the rest? Ikoma is an excellent swordsman, I have no doubt, but his armor makes more noise than when Yui raids the pantry in the Rusty Dragon.", says Gilbert seriously at the half-elf, before smiling at Yui.
"I told her, I was sleepwalking!" Yui says in protest.
She continues mumbling "They never heard or saw me all the other times and blamed mice...".
She still takes the offered ride from Gilbert and hops aboard.
"Well, if ssomeone can give me a ride then I appreciate it."
"You two ladies can probably fit on ol' Tromp. He's not a big horse, but he carries my ale-loving girth, and you both probably weigh less than me."
If possible, Gilbert would have them both on his horse. If not, he'll let Yui ride, due to her being smaller and having shorter legs. Also, the horse is now called Tromp. Deal with it.
"That iss fine with me Gilbert."
"Capital! I suggest we plot a course through the marsh, a safe one. Crocodiles are real nasty if they catch you unaware, and I believe I saw a hydra once. Hydras are quite the unfair beasts, even in death they inconvinience you by taking so much space on your trophy wall..."
Gilbert will try and find the best way to go through the swamp, taking into account the sunken roads, the weather and other unpleasant things. He mentions dangerous things like sinkholes and poisonous flora with unnerving smile on his face. He will ask his comrades for help with the plotting of a safe way.
Regardless of results, he will suggest to stop burning daylight and get going.
The party sets out from Sandpoint, the early morning sunlight at their backs. Normally, the journey along Lost Coast Road to Brinestump Marsh would take at least a day, maybe two at most. However, thanks to Gilbert's navigational skills, the party is able to cut the travel time down to a little over half a day by taking lesser-known, but more direct travel paths.
The Brinestump Marsh looms before the party as they arrive on one of the swamp's well-worn trails . The surrounding area is silent, save for a few chirping crickets.
Gilbert stares intently in the distance, unusually quiet. His concentration is interrupted by a whimpering Duchess, and a samurai being held in the air by a surprisingly quick horse.
"Easy there, Ikoma. We don't want to do the goblins' work for them.", says the hunter. "I suggest we hurry, this way may be shorter, but it would take us a lot of time regarless..."
"Sure are a lot of crickets about." Yui says between humming tunes.
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Laughing at Yui's observation, "You are right missss Yui."
Caerwyn kneels down beside the trail, studying the footprints before calling Gilbert over "I don't think I've ever seen tracks like this before. What do you suppose made them?"
"Tracks? I didn't see any... Oh... I am shamed to admit I don't have the slightest clue. But, they do seem to be left by something, and that means that we need to find it!"
"Hah. This beastie is quite elusive, it seems. Either that, or I overestimated myself with the ale last night. Duchess, follow that trail, girl!"
Duchess roams around for a bit, then goes back to Gilbert and whimpers.
Duchess, indeed, is unable to follow the tracks. Perhaps it's the reek of the swamp that is impeding her nose.
"The tracks are at least a couple of days old. Whatever made them is long gone by now."