Furnok picks his teeth.
Well I am heading back. Furnok does so to report to the sheriff.
Furnok gets the group back on track and heads to the Sheriff to report on the Catacombs. With a sigh of relief, he pats Furnok on the back and says "Well done, all of you. I can't thank you enough for what you've done. Now we can feel just a little bit safer. However, work is never finished around here. We still have the goblins to worry about, and I have my hands full with the Sczarni these days. Good news though, if you head over to the Town Hall and see the Mayor, we've saved up a bit to give you a reward. It ain't much, but we can't go on with you all working for free."
Much obliged Sheriff, I'll head over to the Mayor right away.
Thank you sir Cleo says to the sheriff before she scurries off to the inn, for food, a bath, and bed. In any order.
Furnok (and anyone else) heads to the Mayor for their reward. Mayor Deverin thanks everyone for their hard work, saying that it would take them forever to do on their own. 50 gold sails wait for each person. Mayor Deverin says that Sandpoint is getting low on funds, but she promises more if you're willing to help diffuse the goblin situation.
Cleo heads straight to the inn. She asks for a bath to get ready, then grabs food while she waits. The bath is ready before she finishes her food, so she takes it with her. Then, she falls asleep in the bath.
It is currently late afternoon, so you have a couple hours before bed time if you like.
We'll deal with those goblins for certain, haven't forgotten what happened during the festival.
"We're waiting for the harvest money to arrive from Magnimar and a few small towns. With news of the goblins spreading, we're also losing business from peddlers and caravans. After much bickering, the four houses have agreed not to raise taxes here during our emergency, but that also means that we really don't have much of a treasury. I'm sorry for putting this task onto you, especially the younger ones. We're in a real bind."
we might be able to scrounge whatever the gobboes Have, I believe the Thistletops are the ones we need to be going after.
"Well, each house may accept a donation, but whatever you find out there is technically your's to own. Thank you for your concern, Furnok and Maria. Once the goblins are gone, we'll be much better off within the month, I'm certain."
Every time Helgarr touches a skeleton, the remains suddenly turn to dust.
Helgarr is sweating heavily after having dragged zombie corpses, demonic remains, and severed flying heads around. The plan was simple - to burn it all in the furnaces of the Glassworks, making sure they got rid of it once and for all, having no one raising any eyebrows at the creatures they had encountered and fought under Sandpoint, and get the place back up in working order again.
For now, she simply packed all the gory mess together in one place down below, shaking her head at the pungent smell.
All of a sudden, the barbarian realizes she is alone - "What the..?" - she growls, cleaning herself up as best as she can, and going to look for the others.
Furnok goes for a little shut eye himself.
"Thanks for the help" - Helgarr nods at her companion - "It is definitely not a pleasant task, but something I think should be done"
The young woman smiles when Vandra inquires about her life in the tribes - "It is a good life among the Quah" - she replies - "And those of my clan have a more open mind than most of the barbaric tribes, even though sometimes it does not seem enough" - she ponders even while dragging corpses around.
"I love and respect them all, please understand that, but I am the youngest of four, and for the Rite I found it better to take the Journey away from my family, to fend for myself" - the barbarian smiled again - "I do miss them though" - she pauses for a moment.
Ali looks up when Helgarr talks about missing her family and nods in agreement. "I miss my family too. Well... I think I do. I never really knew them. And even though you left them Helgarr, I am sure they know you love them. They will be there for you no matter what!"
Ali moved back to his work, focusing on the removal of the bodies once again.
As Helgarr, Ali, Azeri, Vandra, and Jeaux finish clearing the bodies, a small bird flutters about. After it perches, it sings a quick and pleasant tune, then disappears.
Pharasma, the lady of graves, is pleased with you for returning the long lost souls to the afterlife.
Ali frowns, staring at the bird with a look of confusion on his face, quickly followed by horror. "Wait... if there is a bird, then there is an opening to the outside. We have missed a secret door or something, we have to. What if the Goblins can get in?"
When the bird disappears Ali stares around before shrugging. "Oh... it was just magic."
Starday, the 10th of Lamashan, year 4711AR.
Another fairly warm morning comes about as summer desperately struggles to stay. The town of Sandpoint is a bit on the windy side today, but still pleasant. The familiar sounds of waves crashing upon the cliffs and shore, seagulls calling and squawking, and fishermen betting on who comes back with the biggest haul, fills the air.
Today is Starday. Folk will normally work extra hard today so that they may have time off tomorrow for prayer. At night, if the sky is clear, worshippers of Desna and Gozreh will stay up to stargaze.
Furnok wakes and takes breakfast before meeting with the others. So, we heading after the goblins on Thistletop?
Cleo had nightmares of... things... she thinks. Kind of left her when she woke up. A little bleary eyed but happy the sun is up she attacks breakfast like... something hungry I guess.
|
"I'm lucky that I still have my mother here, after a fashion," Vandra said, giving a small smile to the working wallaby. "I don't know what I would do if I had been the only survivor... Anyway, my father died when I was really little. From what my mom told me, he was a good man, if a bit absentminded at times. He's where I got my talents at magic, was a member of the magical academy in Absalom before he took up traveling. My mom actually saved his life when they first met. She was tracking down a small bandit camp and found him a captive. First thing he told her was, 'Pardon my manners, o' angel, I'd give a proper bow but I seem to be a bit tied up at the moment.' From what my mom used to say, that statement literally had them all stopped for a moment, nobody able to do anything, before she snapped out of it. They had been together ever since..."
As they finished up their work, a sudden bout of birdsong caused his head to snap up. Spotting the bird, and feeling slightly eased by the sound, Vandra was surprised to see the bird just vanish in thin air. His mind immediately started going through every scrap of knowledge he had to figure this out, and was stunned when he realized that it was a sign of Pharasma, one of the gods that he feared meeting, showing her pleasure at their actions. "I...I think that was the Lady of Graves telling us thanks," he barely got out, weak with relief that he wasn't currently in Her court for judgement.
That day, Vandra woke up feeling well rested, if a bit sore from the heavy work he helped with the previous night. Once his morning ablutions were finished, he and his mother proceeded down the stairs, where they grabbed a plate of breakfast and proceeded to watch a starving halfling try to gorge herself to death. "Uh...are you even tasting the food?" he asked.
Cleo stops, suddenly embarrassed from toes to nose, and excuses herself to bring something decent for Aggah to eat.
Vandra is well educated on the subject of Pharasma. He understands that she represents the indifferent judge of the afterlife. Those who die are judged by her, and are sent to the various realms depending on the life they lived (with exception to devout priests). She absolutely despises the undead, for they disrupt the flow of souls, and torment the soul in ways that cannot be fully mended. There are militant groups of Pharasmin priests who seek out the undead to put them to rest.
Cleo brings Aggah some meat, since she knows that goblins are mainly carnivores. Aggah is absolutely delighted to see Cleo, and bellows "HIII!!!!" much to the irritation of Vachedi and Hemlock.
Ali looks up when Helgarr talks about missing her family and nods in agreement. "I miss my family too. Well... I think I do. I never really knew them. And even though you left them Helgarr, I am sure they know you love them. They will be there for you no matter what!"
Ali moved back to his work, focusing on the removal of the bodies once again.
"Why is it that you never met them Ali?" - the pragmatic barbarian inquires, without a second thought.
At Vandra's recount, Helgarr laughs out loud - "That is quite amazing my friend, and I can only imagine the impression your mother must have left on him so that he reacted so. And the other way around also, to be sure"
Then she stopped short, just like the others, staring at the bird above them, her hand going to her weapon however as soon as the creature dissappears in mid air - "How is that possible..."
"I...I think that was the Lady of Graves telling us thanks," he barely got out, weak with relief that he wasn't currently in Her court for judgement.
"It cannot be" - Helgarr shook her head - "Gods have their own business, and probably don't give a fig about a couple of mortals cleaning a catacomb"
As they all finish their tasks underground, Helgarr still asks her companions if they could take a look at the current state of the Glassworks - "We need eventually to declare it safe"
Then she heads back to the inn for a simple bath and a strong meal.
----------------------
Furnok wakes and takes breakfast before meeting with the others. So, we heading after the goblins on Thistletop?
"I guess it is time for us to address that matter yes Furnok - have you seen Shalelu around?" - the woman looks over the breakfast room for the elf - "But also, I think we should pass by the sheriff and declare the Catacombs and Glassworks safe for now, but also alert him of the pile of corpses that should be burned" - she frowns, then turns a smile at Cleo's hunger - "A good breakfast will make you strong as an ox Cleo"
Turning to Furnok and the others, she adds - "Are we all equipped as necessary?"
Cleo greets Aggah with a smile and a pat, and MEAT, as the goblin digs in, she sits and talks I know its hard, but you need to try and not make too much noise around the others. Drawing attention from those bigger than you is rarely safe. her mother had told her that many many times. So Many Times. ugh.
After a bit she continues We're going to Thistletop soon. I doubt it will end well, for us or anyone you might care are about up there. If there is anything you know to help... but I understand if you don't want to. she's kind meandering in her thoughts today.
Cleo will give a tired smile at Helgarr's comment. She'll let the big woman know where she'll be, and that she's all packed, she'll just need food and to get her pony ready.
Aggah tilts her head this way and that, as she's still very very new to the common tongue. "Thistletop!" She says "Thistletop bad. Thistletop kill Cleo. Cleo no go. Cleo no go."
Speak of the elf, Shalelu enters the Rusty Dragon inn just as Helgarr asks. She is accompanied by Grunyar the grumpy. The two seem to be bickering, again.
"Well I mean I met them I am sure, I was born, they loved me and took care of me but..." Ali shrugged as he struggled to carry his share of the load. "They died before I was old enough to remember anything. I hear nice things about them though..."
We have no choice. They will come here, kill all the people I care about, unless we go there first and stop them. Helgarr, the large warrior, has seen to it that if we don't come back you should be safe she hoped at least.
All that is in broken crappy attempts at goblin mixed with common, meaning it probably can't be understood by ANYONE.
"Well I mean I met them I am sure, I was born, they loved me and took care of me but..." Ali shrugged as he struggled to carry his share of the load. "They died before I was old enough to remember anything. I hear nice things about them though..."
"It would perhaps be good to know more about theirs and your history Ali? One's bloodline is important, and something we should strive to know more about, don't you think?"/B]
As Cleo left for the prison, Vandra gave a worried look to the others. "Has anybody else noticed how worn Cleo's been lately?" he asked.
"I have noticed - I will have a conversation with her later on. We must understand what is disturbing her so" - Helgarr replies.
I need to pick up some more arrows.
"Let us take care of it then, and be on our way" - the barbarian agrees - "I will buy some rations, and we'll get Cleo as we are ready to leave"
Aggah's face hardens. She says in a similar jumble of goblin and common "Take Aggah with! Aggah know lots and can help! Aggah protect Cleo."
Cleo does doubt the goblin's survival-bility once she leaves, especially if she doesn't return. Aggah, we're going to be fighting your people. You shouldn't get stuck in the middle of that.
Cleo does not sense any deceit.
Aggah says "Not Aggah tribe no more. Aggah captured by Longshanks, so Aggah no more Thistletop. Thistletops attack Aggah now if see. All tribes attack Aggah if see. Aggah join Longshanks or die. Aggah want join Cleo. Cleo nice, give food, not hurt or hate Aggah. Cleo teach Longshank tongue too."
"Long time, goblin name Tup. Tup fail Thistletop, so Thistletop get rid Tup. Other tribes kill Tup. Aggah no want be like Tup."
I'm sorry you lost your family, but am very glad you are willing to help. If you want to come with us, then you will come with us. Let me go talk to the others and then Cleo will go convincing. Where ever the party is at the moment, Cleo will make the case I would like Aggah to come with us. She knows the area, and what to expect, and she will be killed by them if she ever returned so she's not going to help them. she'll express what the goblin said as best as possible. Crossing her arms and looking as unmovable as possible And I believe in her.
Vandra Cleo says slowly Have you been drinking?
And all she has to do is tell us where they normally lay ambushes and we have a great advantage, and not be Dead. she huffs.
Ambushes we might spot. Might. Also have you ever been to Thistletop, know anything about how it is laid out, even one little bit?
Ehhhh...... Furnok looks doubtful.
See Furnok agrees!