"Nothing wrong with that." Cleo replied quietly, hoping no celestial ears were listening. "As one of the faithful I'm probably supposed to convince you that you are wrong... but... she plopped her chin in her hands "You can probably tell I'm not the best cleric. Barely trained. Too young. Too nervous. And running away from the center focus of my god's domain."
with a big sigh, added.
"Family"
At that moment enters Father Zantus along with Sheriff Hemlock. The two have been conversing and at first don't notice you. Then with a bit of surprise, the middle aged priest says "Oh! You're here early."
But Hemlock butts in "Good, good. Glad to see some initiative here. Get things done quick, I like that. Hopefully the rest of your group gets here early, well at least on time."
"Yes, but it isn't as if they're your guards, Belor." Father Zantus returns "Our lady Desna teaches us of patience. Good things come to those who wait."
It is at this time that the rest of the group enters the cathedral. "Ah! Welcome everyone. See Belor, I told you good things come to those who wait. Now, let's get some chairs and whatnot. I'll make some tea, and the sheriff can start the discussion."
After getting comfortably seated, Sheriff Hemlock addresses all of you. "First, I want to thank you all for everything you've done to repel the goblin threat yesterday. Because of each of you, many innocent lives were saved. But as many of you likely know, Sandpoint has never been attacked by goblins before. So I've asked that you join me here to talk about the events yesterday, and then after that I'll need to ask a small favor from you. But to start with, did you learn anything interesting regarding the attack?"
Might be some bigger kind of goblinkind running the show. Little bastiches are easily led.
Ali moves to the altar of Shelyn and makes a silent prayer of thanks to the Eternal Rose, bowing his head in appreciation of the new day, before returning to the group. "There were two types of Goblins upon the field last night, the Clan we are used to dealing with in day to day life, those who can be seen at the dump, the small Green kind, and the larger, greyer kind. These greyish Goblins it seems are more vicious, more dangerous than their little green cousins. It seems that the little green wretches have recently been taken over by these others and are being driven to assault Sandpoint." He paused, glancing up at Azeri for a moment before nodding softly to himself.
"I know this is something people will have probably thought about already but... why now? Why Sandpoint? We are a fortified town, Goblins aren't this brave. They are this stupid but usually their cowardice would keep them in check. There has to be something we are missing, something they are after. Did they focus on anywhere in particular? Or maybe not focus, more accurately? Maybe someone sneaked in to town during the commotion and took something, did something untowards. Gods! maybe there is an explosive under the Chapel!" Alis eyes went wide with panic for a moment, before Azeri clipped him on the ear, hard but not roughly.
"Stop talking nonsense kid!"
"OW! Okay okay... So no explosive but... still this doesn't seem like something Goblins would do. I mean there are plenty of people who live outside of town right? In the wilderness all around? Wouldn't it make more sense to attack isolated houses?"
|
A young human male slowly walks into the chapel, a strange bipedal animal wearing leather armor and wielding a glaive following him. They walk over to the alter of Sarenrae, where the animal appears to give a quick prayer while the human looks around. Spotting the group over to the side, he leans down to the wallaby and says, "Hey, mom, do you think they can tell us where Daviren is? I think that's the sheriff over there with them, so he might know."
Getting a shrug and a feeling that screamed maybe from his mother-in-wallaby, he walked over to the group and asked, "I'm sorry for the intrusion, but do you happen to know where I might find Daviren Hosk?"
Cleo shakes her head, "No idea. Sorry." she's answering the young man's question but it applies to the attack as well. She knows nothing of goblins, or why they fight, or anything other than they were two different colors.
"I believe that sums what we know" - Helgarr crosses her arms over the chest, then turns to look at the young man and animal who have just arrived - "I am afraid I do not know anyone by that name" - she offers, raising an eyebrow at the interruption.
The sheriff listens to Ali's thoughts with a serious demeanor. It would seem as though he is taking this very seriously. "Yes, it would seem strange for them to attack us instead of the farmlands to the south-east. I don't have nearly enough men to patrol both areas, so they have formed a small militia to protect themselves. Fairly nice place, lots of halflings there. Anyways, what I find difficult to understand is how they managed to get so many into a fortified village like Sandpoint. Sure we don't have great stone walls with mounted ballistae, but they managed to get through our gates too easily. As for someone sneaking into the village to take something, I believe that to be an actual possibility, though I doubt it would be for explosives. I just find it strange that they would risk so many goblin lives for anything. Lastly, I'm not an expert on the goblin tribes, but I do know that the green ones with giant heads are known to be very aggressive. They come from Mosswood, if I recall correctly."
When Vandra makes his entrance, Sheriff Hemlock smiles and says "Ah Vandra! I was looking for you this morning. Come have a seat, you've earned it from our battle together against the goblins yesterday." He addresses the group. "Let me introduce Vandra. This young man and his familiar fought beside me at the garrison yesterday against the goblin attack. I believe he is a magic user of sorts."
Furnok nods to Venja. So we should get patrolling into the Mosswood and see what is up there?
|
|
Vandra, upon hearing the word familiar, glared at the sheriff and proclaimed, "This is not a familiar, this is my mother, thank you very much."
The wallaby slapped him on the small of his back, giving him a glare in return.
"Er, sorry about that, I'm a bit picky about the subject," he said, giving a small bow. "That said, I was happy to help last night. And yes, I do use magic, though I know I'm not the strongest at it. Anyway, what were you looking for me for?"
Vandra gazes around the group, remembering some of the people from the festival last night, like the large Shoanti woman and the young man with the bear-like guardian. "Like the sheriff said, I'm Vandra Geaux, and this is my mother, Jeaux Rai. Pleasure to meet you all."
"Nice to meet you, Vandra. It is very impressive that you stood up helped the sheriff when you did."
|
|
"Bah, I'm not a shrimp, shorty," Vandra said, grinning and shaking her hand.
Jeaux walked over to the young woman and shook her hand after her son, assessing her like only an overprotective mother can.
While Jeaux was looking over Maria, Vandra turned to the young halfling and grinned sheepishly. "It was nothing, I couldn't just stand back and just watch. My mother would have skinned me alive if I did that." He chuckled good-naturedly at the comment about his mom.
Cleo's eyes go wide and she steps away from the strange pair, hopefully discreetly.
|
|
Vandra sighed as he realized that he would have to explain things to people once again. "Jeaux is my mother. Well, was, anyway," he said, looking at his mother before looking down at his feet, his hands clenched in anger and shame. "A couple years ago, our village was attacked by an unknown cult, and I watched her get struck down in front of me, taking a blow that would have killed me if she didn't. In a fit of anger and grief, I somehow captured her soul with my magic and planted it in the body of our pet wallaby." Tears slowly trickled down his face as he sat down on a nearby pew. "I kept her soul from traveling the great river to Pharasma's judgement, and now she's stuck here with me."
Jeaux came over and sat on the ground before him, placing a hand on her son's knee and sending him love through their connection.
Helgarr was wide eyed at the story, but manages to speak - "As amazing as that tale may be, she has done as a loving mother would do, and deserves my respect for that" - she nods towards Jeaux - "Well met, I am Helgarr"
"You mean scary..." Cleo whispered, before realizing she could hurt the boy with her own anxieties. "I mean... maybe she decided it wasn't her time. Gods and goddesses are hard to understand at times."
|
|
Jeaux nods with a small smile at Helgarr, giving Vandra's knee one more pat before standing up. She grips her glaive and gives it a twirl, smirking at the people around her. She points at herself then mock-thrusts at imaginary enemies, showing that she is willing to fight to protect her son even as a wallaby.
Vandra gives a watery grin as he watches his mother show off for everyone before he wipes away his tears. Standing up and clearing his throat, he says, "Anywho, embarrassing moment aside, I doubt that it was Pharasma herself I kept her soul away from, more than likely it was one of her psychopomps. What I really meant was that I kept her soul from passing on."
Sheriff Hemlock sits there completely perplexed as the rest introduce themselves and talk of Jeaux and Pharasma and Psychopomps.
"Well... right. To answer Furnok's question, I don't recommend going into Mosswood to stomp out the goblin tribe. We could easily be talking about fighting dozens of goblins in their own territory. I'd recommend staying in the village for now, defending against any additional raids. Your group right here outnumbers my guards, most of which have just arrived from Magnimar not two full moons ago. The good news is that I have some work for you in the meantime, that is if you want to continue helping the village."
After waiting to hear everyone's agreement (hopefully no one says no) he starts again. "This has to do with what Ali was talking about earlier. I suspect someone took a strange opportunity during the goblin attack yesterday. You see, Father Zantus spoke with me this morning that a mausoleum had been entered during the attack."
Then Father Zantus takes the lead. "It probably happened sometime around late afternoon or just after dark. I check our graveyard every night before I make my final prayers before going to bed. When I checked it last night, I saw that the doors were left ajar. Now I spoke with the gravekeeper this morning, and he assures me that it was closed in the late afternoon. I'm worried that someone may have tampered with the remains, stolen something, or perhaps there may even be a goblin lurking about."
Sheriff Hemlock quickly wraps it all up. "What we're asking is if you would accompany me and take a quick look inside. Perhaps one of you has a more keen eye in spotting anything rather than one of my green men. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes, are you up to it?"
Cleo agrees.
|
|
Vandra and Jeaux listened intently to the sheriff and priest, both wondering if this might tie in with the strange cult that cause their current plight. Feelings flowed between them as they heard the request and they nodded to each other in agreement. "Sheriff, both me and my mother agree to investigate the mausoleum with you," he told the man, giving a small nod to the priest as well. "What time are you wanting to head out?"
Certainly sheriff, can't be letting those goblins violate our graves.
Father Zantus nearly faints when Maria expresses her concerns.
Mar'a sits down in a more shaded area of the cathedral, eyes closed as the cool air soothed her throbbing head.
With one eye slitted open , she listened to the Sheriff and the others talk.
When Vandra and his mother entered and explained thier relationship, both her eyes opened wide and she leaned forward , headache forgotten.
Her eyes travel up to a brightly colored window, where Shivi sat watching over her, "Are you my mother, Shivi?" she whispered, a smile twitching the side of her mouth.
Rising, she joined the others, "You are well met, Vandra and mother-spirit. " she then addresses Maria, "He merely expresses the common reaction to talk of the risen dead, Maria. "
She looks at the Sheriff, "Whose mausoleum was disturbed, Sheriff?"
"T'is true, Maria. But the unnatural, by its very nature, disturbs most...." Mar'a pauses, realizing they were probably upsetting the Father more, "Maria, let's discuss this later, we've upset the Father. "
"Let us investigate this mausoleum then" - Helgarr nods - "How big is it anyway?"
Ali listened to the conversation going around him without really having any input. When it seems to die down, he steps forward and offers Vandra his hand to shake. "Good to see another magic user. I mean we do have three already, but another one sure as hell can't hurt. We should all sit down later and talk about what we do, see what areas we have covered and what areas we are lacking in! And it is a pleasure to meet you too, Mother Vandra." He looks at M'ara and Cleo as he speaks, before looking back to Vandra.
"As for this mausoleum, aye, probably for the best we check it out aye. We need to be doing something after all!"
The sheriff nods to each of you as you agree to help. He gets up from the chair, does a quick stretch, and says "I'm not sure, Mar'a. It's one of the biggest ones though, probably for the nobility or something. Right. Let's get going."
Set in the shadow of the Sandpoint Cathedral and accessible via a gate to the north or from several doors leading into the cathedral itself, this expansive cemetery overlooks the Turandarok River. Stone vaults owned by affluent members of the town stand near the cemetery's edges or at its center, while dozens of humble plots, each marked with a simple gravestone, sit amid trees and shrubberies. The mausoleum in question stands on the far north end with its stone doors still hanging ajar. Even from here, you can see numerous religious symbols carved into the walls, which span roughly 30ft by 20ft.
As you approach the mausoleum, what would you like to do?
Furnock gets out his falchion and heads up with Maria.
Just as Maria sneaks up to the door, Furnok draws his curved blade. Unfortunately it makes a ringing noise as it is unsheathed, spoiling the surprise. Fortunately for Maria, however, she does not see anything lurking inside. Within the mausoleum reside 6 sepulchers.
Cleo will follow the others, longbow draw, nervous looking for the dead Maria talked about earlier. To distract herself she'll look at the religious symbols to see what they mean.
Cleo can identify the basic symbols that signify Pharasma (goddess of death), but most of the symbols are too complex.