Poppy makes her way to the table, Spot starts to sniff Foxglove to see if he is safe.
Hi, I'm Poppy, but you probably know that already. your a trader? I had some marbles once I traded my red one for a green one. but that was a long time ago.
thinking of being a hero, I don't think I'm a hero, but I do smash goblins when I can. they are nasty buggers actually.
As Poppy makes her point, Foxglove answers her "Well, that is smart! If the green marble is worth more than the red one, I mean. Are you a trader as well?"
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Dart smiles as Foxglove responds so positively to Poppy's marble story. He realizes that he was useless in the fight and asked for help learning to fight, and now he's being sweet to Poppy. This guy's okay, Dart thinks to himself. Oh, and I suppose I should try to let Izumi know he's sweet on her. I mean, regardless of whether she's interested, knowledge is good.
Dart tries to catch Izumi's eye contact and use slight head movements and facial expression to deliver the "he likes you. I mean, like likes you" message to Izumi while Foxglove is focused on Poppy.
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Poppy blushes a little, nah, that was a long time ago. I was happy just working the forge with my Pa back in Whistledown. but those pesky goblins took my Pa away. now I got to let them know that us Pomegranite's an't ones to be to be messed with.
at about this time Spot shoves his face in Foxglove's face and starts to sniff him.
Spot get down, he's alright
"Thank you, sheriff. I guell I'll visit them soon." Now, I just need to grab my backpack at the Dragon, then off to the old sage... Dolgrin thought, when walking back to the Inn.
Arriving, he couldn't overhear the laughter at his new friend's table and thought Well, another beer, won't hurt. And an old sage won't run away suddenly. So he sat down at the end of the table, where also Mr. Foxclove was, who, as Dolgrin suddenly remembered, had offered something yesterday.
"So, Mr Foxclove, how about that ale you promised?"
Dolgrin arrives as Poppy is trying to pry Spot away from the aristocrat. He seems he smells very good, or sweaty, because Spot doesn't give it up. It figures, given that the last few days have been warm.
Foxglove orders the drink of Dolgrin's choice. He seems to be glad that the table is filling. He comments about Poppy "You sure is a force to be reckoned with. I'm sorry about your Pa, too. Look at my luck, meeting trader made smithy made warrior." He strokes Spot's head, but Spot strangely pulls away from his hand. He changes the subject "I guess you had the chance to repay some goblins in kind, then, huh? How did that feel?", he asks genuinely curious.
Afterwards, he says to Dolgrin "I hope the ale is passable for you. Ameiko's product is said to be agreeable even among dwarves. I suppose asking you how you've come to be so brave would be insulting to a dwarf, but I do wonder why you've come to defend this town. You're not from around here, I heard."
It does seem that Foxglove has some sort of prior knowledge about the group, as though he has been asking around.
"My dear, while I would love to partake of the dalliance of which you offer, I am afraid that I must decline. For you see, I am sworn to another, and I would take my own life before straying from her. I know that you understand what it means to love so deeply. I am sure that you could have your pick of nigh any man (and I dare say, quite a few of the women!) that you might wish, but I am alas not available to be taken."
Before she can object, Jonathan adds "I know such a beautiful young woman as yourself would never attempt to force the issue on such a sad man as I. Should you but require it however, I believe I could be of assistance with helping you procure a mate"
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Dart gives Dolgrin a smile and a nod along with the simple greeting of, "Master Dwarf," as he joins the table.
As Foxglove turns his attention to the Dwarf, and since Dart has done what he thought was right in sharing Foxglove's interest with Izumi, discreetly, he turns his thoughts to a mental practice over his audition piece for Drokus...though his thoughts keep straying to his own work trying to mentally frame how to ask to court someone. And then the other occasional thought, Where's Johnny? He's good with the ladies and the whole courting thing. I'll bet he'd be a lot of help to me right now.
After taking a large swig of his ale, Dolgrin eyed Foxglove wearily. A few seconds later he answered. "You heard right, I'm not from here. There aren't many dwarves to be found in these flat lands. My clan has been living in Janderhoff for many centuries. We mine the best mithral and silver that Torag has ever created. I am merely passing through Sandpoint, one could say. And no dwarf will ever withdraw from the possibility to crush a goblin's head!" He said the last sentence very loud and hold his mug up high.
Shayliss responds negatively to Jonathan's refusal. Her face is that of anger, but still, she unlaces her dress.
The lustful young woman's dress is halfway to the ground, showing a very smooth young body with full breasts, when a voice is heard from the stairs. "What is happening here?" Both Jonathan and Shayliss, whose dress is completely on the ground at this point, look at the source of the shout to see Ven Vinder, the woman's father, looking at Jonathan with furious eyes. He comes down putting up his large and meaty fists as though readying a punch.
Foxglove hears Dolgrin's tale with interest and, despite claiming to be a merchant, doesn't start a conversation about starting a partnership with the dwarf. He says "I'm glad you are here. I see you use a pick for fighting. Why did you choose that? I mean, so you can help me decide what sort of weapon I could use if I am to become a hero too."
Dart smiles as Foxglove responds so positively to Poppy's marble story. He realizes that he was useless in the fight and asked for help learning to fight, and now he's being sweet to Poppy. This guy's okay, Dart thinks to himself. Oh, and I suppose I should try to let Izumi know he's sweet on her. I mean, regardless of whether she's interested, knowledge is good.
[Bluff to Convey Secret Message DC 15]18
Dart tries to catch Izumi's eye contact and use slight head movements and facial expression to deliver the "he likes you. I mean, like likes you" message to Izumi while Foxglove is focused on Poppy.
Her eyes widen, then she blushes... then she tries to hide her feelings, going stone faced.
She's happy to say very very little and let others carry the conversation, though she seems to brighten when Dolgrin arrives.
"Your daughter wanted to try and entrap me into marriage, even though I refused her advances as I am sworn to another. I attempted to explain that I am not interested in cheating on my oath. Please remove your daughter so I can leave."
Dolgrin seems not to be interested in making conversation or friendship with foxglove. "A pick is not for you. It's a miner's tool and you need years of experience to handle it correctly. In and out of a mine."
The shopkeeper yells "Nice try, thug! Keep your hands off my daughter!" and tries to punch Jonathan. However, he trips and falls on the ground.
Foxglove says to the four heroes "Well, then. Allow me to reward you for your service! Here's fifty gold pieces to each of you. I believe there was another in your group? Here's his pouch." Looking at the four of you, he says "What a unique group of people to have come together... I wonder if you'll stay together. You're all religious, I've heard. Won't you fight over religion?"
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In response to Foxglove's delivery of a coin purse, Dart says, "This is most generous of you, good sir. Completely unnecessary, but very generous. I'm likely going to donate a decent chunk of this to the temple or to help repair damage done in the attack, so your generosity will go to good causes."
"Regarding the idea of your learning to be a warrior, I would suggest something more like a longspear like I use. A ferocious warrior like Dolgrin, Poppy, or Izumi should be right up in an enemy's face, but people like you and I are more suited to stay a bit further back and help create openings for our allies. Speaking of our allies, I wonder where Jonny Jonathon, sorry, is?" and Dart picks up the pouch for him as he mentions him. "I'll just hang onto this for him."
"As for religious differences," Dart replies to Foxglove's quandary, "Shelyn embraces all colors of the rainbow, so I value the religious leanings of all my friends as simply being their own forms of art."
"You, sir, may keep your daughter. I am leaving." says Jonathan as he moved around the father and up the stairs.
Dolgrin looked puzzled about Foxclove's apperant stupidity. "Fighting over religion? That's rediculous. Every God has its portfolio and specific concerns. And unless you find some cult who loves misinterpretation, there shouldn't be much overlap that could lead to arguments."
As I always have understood it, is that many Gods cover many needs - why fight?
Jonathan leaves the Vinder basement and manages to see both shopkeeper and daughter looking at him angrily, each one for their own reason. Jonathan hears from Kesk the jewel crafter that his necklace will be done by day's end. Jonathan makes his way back to the Rusty Dragon.
By the time Jonathan arrives, a large baked hog has been sliced and served at Foxglove's table for everyone to eat. Foxglove says "I've hunted this myself!" Izumi, knowing aristocracy, can tell that there was probably a troupe that helped him do it.
As Jonathan approaches the group, the half full tavern goes silent and the patrons become very interested in their meals as the tavern door is slammed open by a slightly tipsy elderly Tian noble scans the room and says something in a foreign language.
His eyes wonder a bit until he finds the PCs. With apparent resolve, the man staggers towards the group's table and starts speaking angrily "You! Your ill-advised ''antics'' against the goblins endangered the townsfolk! You should leave the town's defense to trained professional, not play with danger!"
Foxglove means to intercede, but sits silently.
Izumi is horrified by the ill manners of the Kaijitsu elder.
Deciding that she needed to rely on her own strength to weather this storm of anger, and to not be drawn into a quarrel that can only result in a loss of face, she just regards Lonjiku with a neutral, somewhat bored expression. She withdrew into herself, pushing the rush of emotions deep down, to be resolved later.
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Dart waves Jonathon over to the table as he sees his friend enter. "Jonathon, my friend, so good to see you. Glad your admirers haven't captivated all of your time," Dart says, having no idea what Jonathon just went through.
Shortly thereafter, a loud, angry man comes up to the table screaming at the heroes for being heroic. Dart finds the man ridiculous, but again, the actor knows how to play to an audience.
"Greetings, friend," Dart says, acting as if the man's blatantly aggressive behavior wasn't off-putting, "it seems you have a wonderful insight into Sandpoint and I would love to calmly discuss your concerns so that we, many of us being strangers to Sandpoint, can represent ourselves in the best light. Perhaps you'd care to discuss this over some of this fantastic meal that our dear friend Lord Foxglove hunted himself."
Popy finally manged to get Spot down nd calm him enough (Well actually bribe Spot with some meat) and once things have settled Poppy enjoys her meal, eating almost as much as a halfling.
but her mel enjoyment is interrupted by the sudden entrance. Spot looks up and starts to growl, sensing something about the man that entered.
Poppy stares at him, obviously intrigued by the language that he speaks. she seems lost in thought wondering if she has heard this voice and language before.
Not knowing the old man, Dolgrin presumes him an old fool and ignores his words. Nobody's gonna judge a Stonecaller.
Entering the Rusty Dragon, Jonathan is relieved to see his comrades well. He is about to explain what happened when the elder man burst into the room and started ranting. Jonathan let him finish, then said calmly:
"So you are of the opinion that we should not have acted, and instead should have allowed many people to die? Clearly, you care little for this town."
The elderly replies in Common "Bah, your pretty words mean nothing! And I don't care that you know my mother tongue. I know your lot. You're just bullies who don't care about your families and ours. You want fame and gold and you'll leave this town after you've dried it of all that is good. You should leave!"
Taking Dart's hint, Jonathan turns and pointedly ignores the ranting man and says "I was trapped in a basement dealing with a local problem that I should probably warn you about, actually." he then leans close conspiratorially and whispers to Dart:
"You should be careful around Ven Vinder and his daughter. She is opportunistic, and seems to want to try and romantically ensnare one of the males in our little band. We should warn Dolgrin too."
Continuing to ignore the man, Jonathan says "So, what's for lunch? I'm starving."
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"Hmm, good note," Dart says, trying not to let his face give any hint to the potential seriousness of the threat Jonathon just shared.
"Well, this feast," he says, continuing to ignore the man, "was provided quite generously by Lord Foxglove over here," and then leaning in and adding in a stage whisper, "he hunted it himself!" and nods as if that's very impressive before adding, "And he has some interest in become an...apprentice warrior, I suppose. I suggested a longspear like I use might be best for him. What do you think?" And throughout all of this, Dart never even glances in the direction of the rude, loud old man.
The elderly man yells angrily "You will not ignore me! Have some respect where it is..."
He is interrupted by Ameiko who is coming out of the kitchen with a ladle dripping with soup in her hand. She says something in the same language he talked earlier. They exchange words, raising their voices further and further.
Ameiko: "What are you doing here bothering my customers?"
Elderly man: "I am leaving to Magnimar and you will come with me."
Ameiko: "I think I am well where I am. I have no desire of leaving!"
Elderly man: "You are my daughter and you will do as I say."
Ameiko: "Excuse me? I am my own woman. Don't treat me like a child."
Elderly man: "Come with me or you are no longer my daughter"
The elderly man says something last with a hurtful look. Ameiko smirks as she is about to answer.
"What a lovely feast you have provided by your own hands Lord Foxglove. I give you my thanks."
Jonathan's tone of voice was the same as it had been moments before as he bowed to Lord Foxglove, but his fingers were digging so hard into his palms that they were drawing blood.
"ya. Thanks. But excuse me, I gotta run." Dolgrin tries to leave the table without being too rude.
As the group continues to ignore the discussion, Ameiko says in Common "Get out of my tavern, you worthless idiotic noodle eater!"
The elderly man, infuriated, says "You will come with me", and attempts to grab Ameiko by her hair. She dodges his hand and in a single motions hits him with a ladle full of soup in the head. Pieces of fish and potatoes fly on the man's clothes and some soup drops on Dolgrin attempting a sneaky exit. Full silence follows this. The elderly man stands upright, clears his throat and speaks, although his voice is hoarse "You are as dead to me as your mother." He turns and leaves. Ameiko pulls a piece of cloths and attempts to clean Dolgrin uttering an apology.
She quickly goes away, apparently not to the kitchen.
A few moments later, Foxglove gets up and says "Thank you for your company" and retreats to his room. He seems to have been touched by that family business.
Not able to dodge the accidental soup attack, Dolgrin stands in the room puzzled. Together with his attacker, he tries to clean up most of it, before excusing himself to his room. "That's fine. It was an accident and the old man had earned it."
He then retreats in order to change into fresh clothes.
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In the midst of the outburst and the attempts to continue ignoring the old man, Dart notices how much the man's confrontation gets to Jonathon and moves to be in his friend's line of sight and gives him an "I understand" sort of nod.
When the mayhem comes to its close and Foxglove makes his exit, Dart says, "So, Jonathon, you have impeccable taste and I have an audition for the theater. Would you, perchance, be willing to come with me to help me choose what to wear for it?" all the while thinking, I'd been thinking it would be helpful to chat with him about my courting concerns, but maybe he has concerns of his own he needs to discuss.
"I'd love to help." Jonathan said, his fists declinching his fists but keeping his hands closed.
Nodding to Dart, he followed him out of the room.
"Yes, you seemed to have figured out my secret. I am indeed in love with Ameiko, but I am trying to take things slow because I don't want to scare her off."
Jonathan cleaned his hands and said "So, what did you really want to talk about?"
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And after Jonathon has a chance to share, Dart will share his side saying, "And yes, it's not actually fashion advice I was seeking. I...kind of have relationship stuff of my own. I have grown rather fond, rather quickly actually, of miss Aneka, the baker. I'm told that asking her other about formally courting her would be the proper step to take, but...I kind of don't know how to do that. I mean, do I just ask? Is there a formal way of asking? Is there a gift I'm supposed to present first? (sigh) Give me a script and a stage and I have no shortage of confidence, but put me in a situation like this and..." and he just shakes his head and leaves it hanging.[/b]"
"Yes, I do indeed love her. Look at her. How can I not?"
Shaking his head, Jonathan explains about his plan to both be a hero and make a bracelet for her in order to woo her.
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After hearing Dart's story, Jonathan says "Seems like we're in the same boat."
Jonathan thinks for a moment then says "I don't know the exact process of courting cause I was raised in an orphanage monsastery, but whatever help I can offer is yours."
Jonathan clasped Dart on the shoulder.
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And so, with their conversation ended, Dart and Jonathon part ways. For his part, Dart heads off towards the theater. As he goes, he thinks to himself, To think, a few days ago I had little more than my faith and the hopes for a chance to be on stage. Now, I have an audition, hero status, good friends, and...love? Hmm, yes I...I really need to stop by the bakery after my audition, and he found himself smiling. Not his stage smile, but a true, genuine, heartfelt smile.
Jonathan nodded to Dart and said "To each of our successes!" while he put the coin purse away.
"Now go destroy your audition."
Izumi's hand flashes down to her hilt as the Elder attempts to assault his adult daughter in public. She readies herself to intervene even as Ameiko defends herself.
She closes in on the scuffle even as Lonjiku disowns his daughter.
Hear me Lonjiku, Elder of the Kaijitsu - this day your actions have bought shame on you, and you have lost you the favour of Shuzuri - Empress of Heaven! Until you atone and apologise to your Daughter, you have NO standing in the Sandpoint community!
Poppy really didn't want to get involved in the whole spectacle and really didn't seem to understand what happened.
who was that guy anyway. and why does he want Ameiko dead? Poppy really seems to understand this dynamic.
The Kaijutsu patriarch pauses at Izumi's words, she seems to really get to him. However, he doesn't turn to face her and moves on to leave.
Dart finds his way to the theater and is gladly received by Cyrdak, who listens to the audition and applauds at the end. "Hired!", he says. "Your performance is worthy of the grand elven classics!", he exaggerates. A true compliment, however, comes in the form of a half smile by Alishandra herself who watches with her baggage packed and is ready to leave back to Magnimar.
The day goes by without any further incidents. Night comes and Jonathan retrieves the ordered bracelet from Kesk's shop . It is a very elegant piece whose emeralds are placed in growing size to culminate in the clustered sapphires.
The temperature seems to be rising, and the air is somewhat stale, making people sweat a little.
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Delighted by the news, but ever the showman, Dart simply gives an appreciative bow and says, "Master Drokus, it is truly an honor to have a place on your stage. Thank you for this opportunity."
Of course, once he is out of the theater and out of Drokus' line of sight, he smiles happily to himself and immediately thinks, "I have to go share this news with Aneka! and makes his way to the bakery to tell her.