Valeria is visibly relieved to be back in Sandpoint, a silly girlish smile on her face as she watches the kids playing in the streets. When Ameiko rushes towards them, Valeria steps forward to meet her and offers her a friendly hug, saying "Thanks, Ameiko."
At her question, Valeria turns and adds, "This is Cerenity. We met up with her in Magnimar. She's nice. Cerenity, this is Lady Ameiko Kaijitsu, owner of the Rusty Dragon that I told you about."
She then looks back to Ameiko and asks, "How is my place? Didn't fall apart while I was gone, did it?" with a playful nudge.
It's a pleasure to see you again, Ameiko.
Andulian is behind Valeria. The half-orc was distracted, looking around, when he heard a somewhat familiar voice. His tone is absolutely calm, very low.
Valeria turns and jokingly scolds Andulian, "Gone for months, and that is all the enthusiasm you can muster at being back!? Loosen up a bit, big guy!"
She then takes a deep breath, in, savor in the scents of town. The smell of freshly cut wood from the mill, the cooking fires of the Rusty Dragon, even the smell of the stables all were welcome aromas to Valeria. "It's good to be back!"
Horp hurries to the front as Ameiko approaches, waving enthusiastically. "Good day miss Kaijitsu! How are you doing? How is business? Any new foods since last time we visited?" His voice didn't seem to match the way he spoke, the raspy goblin voice and perfect articulations and intonation just did not match.
Sandpoint was a good place. Here he could actually walk around as himself whereas in Magnimar he had to disguise himself.
The young woman gives a slight bow, when she comes up she has a big grin on her face
"Good day miss Kaijitsu! It is a pleasure. Heard a great deal about you and your business. Cant wait to sample all the dishes Valeria mentioned. Such high expectations! Hmmmm.... salivating allready. Excuse me"
Valeria follows along, her smile never fading.
"What's going on, Ameiko? You know I hate surprises!"
Erasmes steps down from his magic carpet, dusting the dust off the road off of his colourful garb. In unison, both Erasmes and Sajjad drop into a sweeping bow. "Dawnflower greet you, Shareek. I trust business is well?" the Keleshite asks, his twisted grin revealing his several golden teeth. The monkey at his side clambers up onto his shoulder, whispering frantically into his ear. He frowns for a moment and smiles apologetically.
"Ah! Where are my manners? We may talk business while the others are settled, no?"
"And here i was hoping for a famous meal... who is this person? Seems you all know her. She important? " she asks tilting her head slightly
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"Shalelu!?" Valeria asks surprisedly, the shock evident on her face. "I thought she was going to spend some time at Fort Ranick? What is she doing back so soon?"
Horp gets a disgusted look on his face the moment the name Shalelu falls, "Why did it have to be Shalelu? She blames me personally for every goblin attack in Varisia and I never did anything against her. She is probably trying to figure out a way to blame me for the ogre attack on the fort as well." He shakes his head. Shalelu was good for Sandpoint but she was a silly, stubborn elfshanks.
Andulian follows the comments of his companions, until he finally speaks.
Concerns apart, it seems to me we shouldn't wait to go see her. It's probably very relevant, and our mission never ends.
Erasmes chuckles at Horp. "Of that at least, I think you are innocent, sadiq. I daresay those cannibals would sooner turn vegetarian than put you in one of their stewpots." he says. The comment is meant in jest, but he gives an involuntary shudder. "Let us not dwell on the horrors we saw in the shadow of Hook Mountain. I am like to lose my appetite. Let us see this friend of yours so we might sooner start the banquet."
As you approach her she looks up, the faintest of smiles crossing her lips. She scans the group and smiles a little wider "Finally got rid of that goblin I see. About ti... she pauses as she sees him, the dour look returning to her face. "...Oh.... She flushes and looks to the note on the table "Right...my men at the fort intercepted this...I figure you guys would want to know..."
Barl,
Latest contact with Teraktinus indecates he has narrowed the search- he believes a human town called Sandpoint could hide what my lord seeks. Teraktinus will lead several of the people, as well as a dragon, on a raid into the town soon. When they return, they may be pursued, and I may need your ogre slaves to aid in Teraktinus's retreat to Jorkenfist. Be ready to return at my command![/b]
The letter is signed with a letter M.
Valeria is all smiles and waves as she is greeted home by her friends and neighbors. Shalelu's sour face, however, forces her to focus on the note. She reads it silently, then passes it along. "What could Sandpoint have that an army would want? It doesn't make any sense! And what is 'soon?' A week? Day? Is this still even going to happen since we stopped Barl?"
"Ya nhar eswed! Oh black day!" Erasmes exclaims, ringed hand shooting to his mouth. It takes a sharp slap from his simian familiar to get his mind racing again. "Word will surely reach us off a giant's approach. I can take to the skies, if your rangers can set up a perimeter, fair one." he says to Shalelu, sinking into a chair.
"But a dragon... Sarenrae preserve us."
She accepts the 'abduction'. Listening carefully. She nods
"I understand. This is important. This person will be my target. And this comes from the temple?" after the affirmation she goes back and joins her companions
She looks around. This place sure looks delightful.
When the note is read/shown. She gasps.
"Ogres? A dragon? What will we be able to do against that? I know a little bit of sword play. But fighting those things? I thought the ogre threat was over? "
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I agree with my colleagues that the note is too vague... And we don't know how legitimate it is. Nevertheless, the risk is too big. We need to investigate.
He leans forward.
We already dealt with Ogres and we can deal again. And about the Dragon... That's what I was born to do. My blood is that of a Dragon. We shall save the World again.
This wasn't a surprise for anyone that accompanied Andulian before - but maybe it never made so much sense like now.
"Excuse me...who are you" Shalelu says almost snatching the note away from Cerenity. "This is a private matter not something for the eyes of a simpleton, back to your drinking wench."
Horp notices Cerenity sneak off but ignores it. It was something he'd have to figure out later.
Horp ignores Shalelu's jibe at him but when she scolds Cerenity he buds in, "As cheerful as ever, aren't you miss Shalelu? How is your father? He seemed very appreciative of the help a lowly goblin lent in saving his life. Now this is our friend Cerenity, she helped us destroy the threat behind the ogres at the Fort."
"my my. Such a temper. My apologies. But hear me. I do not drink. But im sure if we both go and have a drink you would win very quickly" she smiles sweetly
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She scowles as Horp starts speaking then looks to Valeria and shakes her head. "Its a wonder you have been as successful as you have with the company you choose to keep." She then shakes her head. "Anyway if you would like me to stick around a few days and keep an eye out on things I can. Father has his hands full anyway at the fort so I won't be missed..." There is a hint of sadness in her words.
"Come on now, Shalelu. Horp here has done his part in helping the town. Try to cut him a little bit of slack. And Cerenity is a friend. I wouldn't keep something like this from her anyway."
The longer she pondered on the meaning of the note, the more anxious she became. She could feel her stomach knotting up, like it did with Aldern's creepy notes.
"I think it would be best if you stayed here for a few days, if you would, Shalelu. If more ogres are headed here...I don't know if the sheriff and the guards are enough to protect us, especially if they have a dragon. How do a bunch of ogres get a dragon to work for them? It makes no sense."
"Not so fast, friends. This letter is addressed to their Stone Giant leader. I fear we might be facing more fearsome foes than ogres."
Erasmes frowns, stroking his long thin beard. "I have no skill at divination, but have heard tell of a seer in this town. We have a name. Perhaps we can scry on this army if this woman has power enough?"
Andulian shook his head, agreeing with Erasmes. He didn't say anything else, though - he had his mind stick in the idea of facing a Dragon. It was his destiny.
Valeria folds her arms across her stomach, feeling half-sick at the idea of a stone giant army marching on Sandpoint.
The fight with Barl was bad enough, and now his superiors are on their way here? With an army of his kind? How many stone giants makes up an "army?" How can we even stand against that, let alone a dragon!?
She looks around the room at all her reveling neighbors, unaware of the doom that could be heading their way, and a tear forms in the corners of her eyes as she looks pleadingly to Shalelu.
"Maybe, maybe since we defeated Barl, their entire plot will fall apart? Maybe they will give up on the plan? You think that's possible, Shalelu?"
She gives Valeria a weak smile and put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. [b]"I'm sorry lass but I do not. I will scout the area and see if I can find and for sure keep you posted. Are you thinking that we keep this underwraps for now until things are a little more confirmed"
Valeria hangs her head silently. "I...I don't know. I don't want to cause a panic...but I don't want the town to be unprepared. I'm not a soldier. I don't know the answer to these kinds of things."
She can feel her insides twisting around, as if Aldern had his claws buried inside her and was stirring her organs around. Her skin was growing more and more pale by the second.
She looks up as the new barmaid comes by. She takes the drink and smiles politely, "Its nothing. Just usual drama. You replacing me already, Ameiko?" Valeria tries to ask playfully to change the subject.
Valeria smiles at her friend and employer, before adding quietly to the group, "I'm going to try to keep everyone distracted, no sense in worrying anyone yet."
Valeria stands up and moves towards the stage, trying to calm her emotions as she approaches, before finally deciding on a translated elven ballad to sing, moving between the tables as she does so, taking care to never draw too many eyes towards her friends.
___________
Cerenity listens and taps her foot along with the rythm. Enjoying it. She looks up after a bit
"But we can make preperations, yes? Traps. Pit falls. Maybe get a some magic to help us? Maybe some of those bane arrows or i dont know. Not like i have had any real combat experiemce like you people"
She has seen more combat than what she is letting on
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Andulian simply hears what people says in silent, until he finally speaks something. His eyes go deeply on Cerenity, but he doesn't let anything out of what he notices.
We should definitely make preparations. The best one, for now, might be resting and planning. If Shalelu will scout the area, this should provide us enough information to act accordingly - even prepare the most suitable traps.
He calls the bartender to ask for another beer. He was clearly seasoned and covered in scars, and didn't mind making it obvious. There was obvious suffering about the man and his prayers, but he kept it to himself.
"Well, maybe I could try and scry on this guy?" The corners of his mouth crack into a smile the moment Horp realises his words rhymed. "I just need a big reflective surface, a good silver mirror I think."
While talking he moves his feet on the rhythm of Valeria's song, he never seems able to resist a song and always reacts in some way.
Erasmes strokes his thin beard, shaking his head in wonderment. "I have seen many things on this great plane, my friend. But ever are you full of surprises."
Shalelu leans over to Erasmes as Valeria is performing.
"I will be taking my leave of the festivities and start scouting. I'll be back in 2-3 days to check in. Do you want me to try tracking Teraktinus and getting something of his to help with the scry? I'm not a fan of helping Horp but it was your idea so..." her words trail off as her eyes drift down to the goblin.
what are these guys doing to me...I would have killed him on sight a year ago, now I let him dance in front of me...maybe they're right...I mean he isn't that bad. And he did help save my father...
"...so I can try to grab something if you like."
After speaking she makes her way over to Ameiko, gets some meat and supplies for the road, and then heads out.
She smiles and waves at all her friends and neighbors, laughing as they throw coins her way, "Alright, alright! Enough of that you ruffians!" she says playfully, tossing them back at them.
That actually helped me clear my head a bit... she thinks to herself as she moves back to her friends.
"So, now that I've had time to think on it, I seem to remember hearing about this Teraktinus from some adventurers that passed through once before. They mentioned him being way more skilled than his kin, like, some sort of ranger or something. Though, I never saw them again after that. If they went after him...they must not have succeeded..." she says quietly.
"You people seem to know a lot about what is going on, so how can I help. I'm not too bad with a sword or two... but I would prefer someone helping me out a bit when we do have to use... force" the young woman says a bit sheepishly
"You guys all know my magic is mostly of benefit to others...so...IF this actually happens, I think we either stick together, or else I need to find a large group of the town guards to try to lend aid."
"Oooh! You know magic? What kind? Sounds a bit like the magic I can use... mostly to get me out of trouble though..." she claps her hands together enthusiastically
"Just some auras mostly, though I can work a few spells. But mainly, I can make people around me, as well as myself, better at things."
"Sounds for sure like mine. But as i said. Mine usually only works for me. Mostly" she chuckles
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After Valeria leaves the stage another act takes it. The crowd comes to a dead silence as they recognize who is on stage, though none of you recognize her.
After a moment of silence with her eyes shut on stage she starts to sing the most entrancing song you have ever heard. A look of pain and anguish fills her face as she pours her soul out on stage. As the song finishes a single tear runs down her cheek and the room explodes with applause. She takes a bow and waves the room silent and once again the room grinds to a halt as she starts to sing another haunting tune.