Still on the defensive, Sylvia continues calling upon Shelyn for aid, "Mistress, shield me from the darkness ahead so that we may freely shed the evil and see its beauty in the light!" After she calls upon Shelyn's aid yet again, an invisible shield of force forms before her and hovers in place.
Ekan: +2 deflection bonus to AC and +2 resistance bonus on saves against evil creatures for 19 rounds
Sylvia: +4 shield bonus to AC for 20 rounds
"Fulko, bounty hunter, deputy and the man every mother in Sandpoint warns their daughter about" Fulko gave his captive another shake upon mentioning that he was a deputy.
"And don't worry about manners, our host thinks I don't have much of those either" Chuckled the warrior, clearly delighted by the conversation "But you know my fellow deputies..." He motions with a wave at Ilya and Nicat "And yourself bring up a very interesting point, what if someone tried to steal from you? And of course you answered no one has been stupid enough to try, and I think I know why, because your clever, unlike this idiot" Fulko's hand slithered past the man's shirt and onto his neck instead, but made no attempt to choke him "You see your smart enough to hire people to make sure that no one steals from you...or wouldn't be stupid enough to try it anyway" Fulko shifts his neck to the right and left, then shrugs his right shoulder "The sheriff is a clever man too, he hired me and other talented people to do the same thing, but for a town instead of a person, he knew that we were good, I'd say better than the two guys standing next to ya...you should really consider hiring better guards, too bad I am taken" A roar of joviality echoed in the area.
"As I've said you seem like a smart man, and as a smart man you would know that if you run a business you have to be sure that people know that you can deliver, and since the sheriff hired my services I plan to do just that, even if it means filling up the prison with every criminal I am lucky enough to find" A large tooth filled grin drew itself on Fulko's face, his eyes showing just a gleam of something wild and uncontrollable.
"How would I treat someone who tried to steal my money?" The leader looks skyward briefly. "Good question. Nobody's been stupid enough to try before--perhaps I should give it a bit of thought."
He looks back at Fulko, a smile on his face. It's difficult to tell if it's genuine or not. "Ah, but I must have left my manners back at the Feedbag. Jubrayl Vhiski, at your service."
"And what 'service' do you provide, Jubrayl Vhiski?" Ilya walks over to Fulko's captive, examining him far too closely for the man's comfort. "Surely not legal advocacy."
"This man may not be able to pick pockets, but he can speak for himself, yes?" Ilya waggles his fingers in front of the man's face. "If you are concerned that he might lie to cover his misdeeds... you needn't worry. I have means to see that the truth comes to light."
The goblin shrieks in annoyance and pain before swinging its knife at Ekan once more!
He once again fails to make a hit, Ekan's reflexes and Shelyn's favour proving too much for his aim.
-----------
Shalelu shrugs. "And when that sort of power is unavailable to you, what's your backup plan?" She rests an arm on the bar as Ameiko returns, busily carrying a tray of mugs past the two of you.
-----------
Jubrayl chuckles. "Of course, Fulko. Of course." His buddies don't seem to share Jubrayl's good humour, eying Fulko with no shortage of suspicion.
"And what makes you think I provide a service, Ilya?" He shrugs. "I'm simply a humble Varisian fellow doing his best to look after his friends--but in his case--" He nods at the pickpocket still in Fulko's grip. "--I'll make an exception."
His smile disappears, and a cold glare appears in its place, directed at the hapless thief. "If you're stupid enough to be caught stealing during one of the most profitable days of the month, boy, it's clear that you still have much to learn." He folds his arms, a wicked-looking knife suddenly appearing in his hand. "You can sit in the Garrison for all I care. Maybe one of the gentlemen there can teach you how to pick pockets with more subtlety than a drunk dwarf."
"I...I dunno. How do...how did you survive that Bruthassa...Brotherthazz...bugbear attack?"
Sylvia again lays a hand upon Ekan's shoulder, "May Shelyn's luck guide your strikes and lead us to victory over the darkness, Brother."
Ekan: +2 deflection bonus to AC and +2 resistance bonus on saves against evil creatures for 18 rounds
Ekan, Sylvia: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saving throws vs Fear effects for 17 rounds
Ekan: Roll all d20's twice and take favorable roll for 1 round
Ekan weaves away and then returns with another blow hoping to finish this goblin off.
Ekan's second blow smashes right into the goblin's chest, and an audible *CRACK* fills the room. The goblin's eyes widen, and it drops its knife as it falls over, gasping and choking on its green blood as it loses consciousness.
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Shalelu looks at the bar, her face a mask.
"By carrying a knife." She looks up at you. "See, Eostre, I specialize in fighting from a distance with a bow. That's not to say I'm adverse to getting in the fray, but I prefer to minimize risks when fighting. Suffice to say, if I'm taken by surprise, my normal tactics are of little use."
She takes out a knife and rests it on the bar. "Bruthazmus specializes in ambush tactics--he works alone, striking from the shadows and retreating before anyone can get a bead on him. He prefers attacking lone targets... as I was when I was returning to Sandpoint." She spins the knife on its tip. "He managed to knock my bow from my hands and forced me to engage in close range. If I didn't have this, I'd be dead."
She stops twirling her knife. "What I'm suggesting is that it would be a good idea for you to develop other means of protecting yourself instead of constantly relying on one method. If your magic fails you, and you don't have any other way of defending yourself, then what happens?"
"I have a VERY solid glaive. My older brother made it for me."
Ekan calls out, "There was a goblin, but its down now." And in a softer voice he says to Sylvia, "Should we try to keep the goblin from dying and arrest it? It may know something of value to the authorities."
Shalelu eyes your glaive. "Then it'd be a good idea to make the most of it. This Tammerhawk strikes me as being entirely invested in his magical prowess... perhaps it will give you an edge if you ever cross paths with him again."
"Know any good inshtructurz?" Eostre slurs.
"It might, but if it was of any importance, I doubt we'd have found it hiding in a child's closet. Bind it and we'll take it to the jail. If Shalelu is still in town, she might be able to get some information from it, if any," she says as she closes her eyes. As Ekan binds the goblin, she grasps her holy symbol, a painted carving of a colorful songbird, and a rush of warm energy pulses forth, washing over everyone and healing their wounds.
Turning to the Barret's, Sylvia explains what their plans are, "I am sorry for the mess, but the creature left us little recourse. We will be taking it to the constabulary, now, and away from your family, where it shall do no further harm to you and yours."
She kneels down next to Aeren, "You have been very brave to have gone through this. Now your family will need you more than ever, though." She looks up to Amele, "Please, take your family to Father Zantus, and tell him of what happened here. He has been worried, and I would have him look over Aeren personally, if he could. It would be good for both your family and him."
The monk disarms the goblin, strips him to bare essentials and binds him tight ready to strike him again if need be.
Then the healing washes over them all, and he tenses should it rise even now.
He nods, though his eyes are still on the foe, at Sylvia's comments to Aeren, "You helped us capture this little monster. We'd never had known about him without you. I shall mention your good deed to the sheriff."
Fulko's wolfish grin widened when he saw the familiar gleam of steel in the man's hand "You hear that" He turned to the pickpocket "You're all mine" This time the muscled man's laugh sounded far more sinister, its echo slowly disappearing as he made his way to the garrison, his prisoner still held above the air.
.......................................................................
Upon finding an empty cell in the garrison, Fulko throws their prisoner in violently and locks the door "Now, what did I ask you?" Asked Fulko feigned forgetfulness and then in an instant planted his boots against the metal bars causing them to shake "Sczarni, are you with them?!" He asked again, but this time his voice was much louder.
Shelyn's love pours out from Sylvia's holy symbol, and the goblin's breathing steadies. He doesn't wake up as Ekan binds him.
Aeren, shaken and utterly terrified by the sight of all the blood, just nods in response to the duo's answers. A baby's cry can be heard from the other room. "Oh, Erastil..." Alergast sticks his head into the room before immediately turning and leading Aeren away from the scene.
Amele reappears in the hallway, holding a baby girl that's squalling and red-faced in her arms. She simply nods and carries Verah away, speechless.
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Shalelu glances at the glaive before turning back to you. "If you're inclined to learn more of wielding glaives, perhaps you could speak with Savah." She stands up from the bar. "From what I've seen of her shop, she not only sells more exotic weaponry than swords, axes and the like, but also knows how to use them."
"Although she's not going to teach you if you're that drunk." Ameiko comes back to the bar and takes the remaining bottle. "Why don't you do yourself a favour and sleep it off for now?"
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"Yeah...yeah yer right. *hic* I freakin' suck at bein' a dwarf, you know? I'm a *hic* wizzard an' I can't hold' my damn liquor."
She gets up from the stool and wobbles a bit before falling and landing on her backside.
"An' I'm too soft. My bruther gets rock hard abs at the forge, an' at th' liberry I get fat." *burp*
Shalelu moves to help you up off the floor and upstairs, not saying another word.
Well, until the two of you reach your room. "Well, if it's any consolation, I doubt I'm much better at being an elf." She steps aside. "For starters, I'm actually doing something with my life."
"An' thas'...thas' what makes you best elf ever!"
Eostre goes into her room and goes to the bed. Before long, Shalelu can hear her very loud snoring.
"And what makes you think I provide a service, Ilya?"
Ilya looks at him quizzically, replaying the conversation in his head. As he mouths the the words, he finishes by muttering, "Jubrayl Vhiski, at your service."
He follows along as Fulko drags the prisoner off. "Only because you told me so..." he says as a parting shot.
Nicat is pleasantly surprised when the Sczarni don't decide to unite against them, and follows Fulko proudly as they march their captive off to jail. Once there, he's surprised by the vigor of Fulko's approach, but curious to see how it works out.
Unsure what to say to the family that hasn't already been said, Ekan leaves it to the good cleric and with a nod of respect carries the bound goblin out of the house and towards the authorities.
Before leaving the house, Sylvia tosses her cloak over the unconscious goblin (so it's not immediately noticeable in the streets), again pleading with the family to see Father Zantus before they head off for the jailhouse for more unforeseen Fulko, Ilya, and Nicat shenanigans.
"Maybe when we drop this creature off, we should find Eostre and get some lunch. It's nearly lunchtime now, and I'm famished."
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The walk back to the garrison is swift and unpleasant for the thief over Fulko's shoulder. People move out of the way of the walking wall of weapons being trailed by a blue mage and over-excitable halfling.
One of the guards is happy to lead Fulko into the jail of the garrison and a free cell.
The pickpocket practically scrambles away from Fulko as he drops him and kicks the bars. "NO! NO I'M NOT! I SWEAR!" The man practically screams. The other guards snicker but for the most part don't move to intervene.
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The Barrets don't need any more encouragement to go to Father Zantus--by the time Sylvia and Ekan are on their way with an unconscious goblin in tow, they're well on their way up the street to the cathedral.
The walk to the garrison is mostly uneventful. The bundle in the monk's arms draws more than its fair share of glances, but nobody stops the two. By the time the two reach the garrison, sounds of activity can be heard inside.
"Ekan? Sylvia? Didn't think you'd be by today--what's in the bundle?" One of the guards asks, an eyebrow arched.
The sound of a man screaming can be heard coming from the basement of the garrison--presumably, that's where the jail is.
Eostre continues to shake the Rusty Dragon with her late morning nap's snoring...
"Ekan? Sylvia? Didn't think you'd be by today--what's in the bundle?" One of the guards asks, an eyebrow arched.
"A goblin we caught that was hiding out in a..."
The sound of a man screaming can be heard coming from the basement of the garrison--presumably, that's where the jail is.
"Oh sweet lord of the serene path," The monk exclaims at the sound, and moves quickly towards the sound, goblin still in arm unless someone insists otherwise
"Wow, that's weird," Nicat comments as he listens to their prisoner, "he sure looked like Sczarni to me."
As Ekan and Sylvia enter the prison, Nicat turns and says, "Hello, fellow deputies! We captured some guy who was picking pockets! I thought he was Sczarni, but he says he's not, and I've got a hunch he's telling the truth. As a deputy sheriff, I've learned to trust my hunches, you know?"
Noting the bundle Ekan is carrying, he continues, "What ya got there?"
Pacing around the cell like a wild animal, Fulko kept his eyes trained on the cowering prisoner, listening to every he uttered, taking in every movement and tremble as he attempted to tear away all the walls that stood between him and the truth.
The unpredictable warrior smiled, a toothy, fearsome smile "Stealing and lying to a deputy" Another kick to the prison bars shook the cell, but this time Fulko kept his foot propped against the metal bars separating him from the whimpering liar "You are stupid and suicidal, my favorite kind!" And then Fulko was silent, seconds past and it almost seemed like a personal winter had dawned on him and frozen him in place...until the non-existent bonds that held him shattered, and he was suddenly inside, leaving a swinging cell door in his wake.
The pickpocket was held against the wall with one hand, his fear ridden expression was met by Fulko's beastly yet jovial mask "If you aren't Sczarni then you are certainly trying to impress them" He brought the man close, much closer than comfortable.
"If you do not talk...I'll come for you, not now, not today, but sometime when you least expect it, you can scream to them, tell them that I've threatened you, but who'll believe a pickpocket over a deputy?" Whispered the bounty hunter, his voice a mixture between wild seethe and a gravely, rough tone.
"You see I know how to do what I please and still survive this jungle, you? You have no idea what you're doing, you're a rabbit waiting to be gobbled up by one of the bigger monsters here, and you know? This may be the day. Do you want me to be that monster?" He continued in a low voice, meaning to keep others from hearing.
Ekan arrives downstairs in time to see Fulko slamming a man dressed in dark brown scarves, shirt and pants against the wall of a cell.
Noting the bundle Ekan is carrying, he continues, "What ya got there?"
"A goblin we took prisoner that was hiding in a closet in a local household," He answers Nicat.
He watches as Fulko slams a man against the wall of a cell, and whispers, "Nicat...what is going on here?"
Ilya intervenes as Fulko's interrogation becomes physical. He interposes his slender frame between the terrified thief and the monstrous bounty hunter. "Why don't we take a break? Ekan's going to be here momentarily with something that needs your attention."
After Fulko lets the thief down, Ilya guides him to the cell's bench. "Relax," Ilya consoles the frightened man. "He'll be busy for a minute. I can probably calm him down, but you'll have to give me something to tell him."
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The guards turn away from the cell as Fulko roughly shoves the pickpocket up against the wall. The thief scrambles for the corner and starts cowering, too terrified to even speak.
It takes a bit of coaxing, but Ilya is able to get the man to the bench.
Ilya's spell calms the thief's nerves considerably. "Okay, okay... just-just please keep him away from me!"
He takes a breath, trying to keep his fear in check. "I'll admit, I was trying to get in with the Sczarni. I don't have any other skills that'd work for me--not a lot of demand around here for... fugitives. Especially when they're running from Korvosa."
"I screwed up. The thefts I was trying to pull today were my entry test." He looks down, ashamed of himself.
Joining Ilya as he chats with the pickpocket, Nicat says sympathetically, "Wow, that sounds rough. Can I ask, why are you running from Korvosa?"
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"Oh, it wasn't anything that important." The thief looks down. "I kinda tried to rob this noble-looking guy. Dressed all in fancy robes--thought he'd be an easy target. Sorta threatened to burn me alive if he caught me trying to steal from him again."
He giggles a little, more out of nerves than any real humour. "I don't learn quickly, it seems."
Ekan is still frowning at something, but for now keeps a firm grip on the goblin and waits.
Fulko did not resist when Ilya took over his interrogation and left him with a friendly pat on the back, but did his best to measure his strength this time as he didn't want his fellow interrogator to appear easily taken physically.
"Ekan! I see you've found your way here, you got a prisoner as well?" Asked Fulko in good nature, as he looked particularly interesting on what the martial artist had in his arms.
"I do, a goblin was hiding in a boy's closet," Ekan answers honestly, but also sounds worried and lowers his voice, "Fulko, just how far were you going in an attempt to get information? I think there are ethical concerns to going too far."
A knowing grin appeared on the warrior's face "Let me tell you something Ekan, a man in pain will say anything to get the pain to stop even if its a lie, but a frightened man? Much more truthful" He replied in an equally hushed tone "As long as I am not reaching for any of my friends here, then I am not out to hurt someone, does that make the picture clearer?" Continued Fulko as he motioned towards his various sheathed weaponry.
"Want me to demonstrate on this goblin?" A animalistic set of teeth flashed, as the tips of the bounty hunter's lips turned up
A look of relief crawls on the monk's often stoic face, "I suppose I should apologize to you then, please accept it. As for the goblin, well, it spoke a little common but I'm not sure how versed it is. It's alive, thanks to our good cleric's mercy, but hardly in high health. Is there a cell small enough for it? I don't want it slipping through bars"
A loud guffaw escaped Fulko as he slapped Ekan's back in a friendly if rough manner "No need for apologies, lets just focus on finding a cell for your friend here" The warrior whistled to get the guards attention "Lads, think you can find a place for this little monster? If ya make sure both it and our pickpocket are ready for when the sheriff arrives, I'll be sure to buy you something mouth watering from the Rusty Dragon"
The other guards take the goblin off of Ekan's hands when Fulko asks. "Sure. We've got a box or two we can stuff him in." One of them says, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"We're not killing it, Weiss." Another guard says, shooting the other one a nasty look. The two guards take the bundled-up goblin and take him away.
Ekan inclines his head to the guard who said they weren't killing it, "Thank you, honorable sir."
His business done at the garrison for now, Fulko leaves after shining Ilya and Nicat an approving smile. The roads of Sandpoint were as peaceful as he'd known them to be, he nodded at whoever recognized him. He moved with a purpose towards the Rusty Dragon, recalling the conversation they had with Shalelu before he left...which caused an idea to appear before him, so now his long strides were even longer, as he took what few short cuts he knew to get the inn.
........................................................................... .........................................................................
"Anyone seen Shalelu?" Came the voice of the walking armory as the doors of the Rusty Dragon swung open.
Wringing her hands to steady them, Sylvia turns to everyone else, "Well, enough of that nasty business. Shall we return and have some lunch. Ekan and I were discussing that on the way here, actually."
"You're a smart one, Sylvia!" Nicat says enthusiastically, "Lunch sounds like an excellent plan!"
With business at the Garrison taken care of, the party (sans Eostre) set off down the streets of Sandpoint to return to the Rusty Dragon for a hearty lunch.
Ameiko is plucking away on her samisen as the party enters, and Shalelu is sitting at the bar, sipping from a teacup. Her armour looks cleaner than when you last saw her.
--------
What seems to be hours later, you awaken to a pounding headache and throbbing eyes. Peeking over the side of your bed, you see what appears to be a lumpy cloth bag. That wasn't there before...
Ilya's spell calms the thief's nerves considerably. "Okay, okay... just-just please keep him away from me!"
He takes a breath, trying to keep his fear in check. "I'll admit, I was trying to get in with the Sczarni. I don't have any other skills that'd work for me--not a lot of demand around here for... fugitives. Especially when they're running from Korvosa."
"I screwed up. The thefts I was trying to pull today were my entry test." He looks down, ashamed of himself.
"There, there," the hedge-mage placates. "Not so hard to admit. You're safe enough, now. I don't think our bounty hunter friend will be looking for any more."
"You know, keeping the peace is more trouble than I imagined. Funny that... me getting caught off guard!"
What seems to be hours later, you awaken to a pounding headache and throbbing eyes. Peeking over the side of your bed, you see what appears to be a lumpy cloth bag. That wasn't there before...
"Sodding bastard beer givin' me a soddin' headache! I am SUCH a sodding lightweight!" Eostre cries as she awakens.
Noting the bag, she fumbles out of bed and grabs her glaive from where it was leaning against the wall, and cautiously pokes the bag with it.
The bag offers no resistance to being poked, but the poking does reveal a note tucked underneath it.
Courtesy of the management.
--Ameiko
Eostre blushes, feeling silly for being so paranoid. She opens the bag and examines its contents.