Meg takes Kizzy's hand and offers a faint smile in return. "Thank you. Maybe that would be nice. I cannot do solitude for long. For most of my life, there was always someone else in the room when I slept. I shan't want to impose on you, though."
She waves off the offer to check into Nualia and the idea of Pachemu sniffing about. "That is fine. The sheriff knows what he is doing. Something he said just set me off, that is all." She looks away as she tries to decide how much she can say without saying too much. "I simply know what it is like to be put on a pedestal because of appearance."
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Sitting on the cliffs edge playing his lute, Seamus occasionally looks around, feeling like his friends are near. 'I wonder what the others are up to.' He smiles slightly, 'I bet Izomandakus' mom made him help with the baking.' He starts to play a military march. 'I wonder if Kast and Kizzy found the time to spar, I know Kast was really impressed with her technique.' He stops playing for a moment, looking out to sea. Smiling once again, he begins to play a bawdy bar song. 'I know Meg went straight to the Rust Dragon and started drinking. She should be in full form once the party starts.' Taking a deep breath, 'Speaking of the party.' Letting the lute hang from it's strap, Seamus pushes himself back and then up. Stepping away from the edge, he heads back towards the 'Dragon.'
Strumming his lute as he heads down Main Street, he stops in front of 'Sandpoint Savories' 'It looks like Izomandakus got the window repaired.' Looking in the window he sees his friend's mother and sister but not Izomandakus. Shrugging, 'He must have left for the party already.' Seamus continues across the market square and down Market Street to the 'Rusty Dragon.'
As he steps into the 'Rusty Dragon' he tucks the lute behind his cloak, approaching one of the wait staff he smiles and asks. "Pardon, could you show me where Lord Aldern's party is?"
The party walks past the open door from which Seamus’ playing can be heard, and you almost catch a glimpse of him as you pass. Marching onto the graveyard, Pachemu sniffs around Nualia’s grave marker as you all poke around. It’s much less impressive than the beloved Father, but no less maintained.
Searching the immediate area, you’ll find lots of boot prints, as the church acolytes have searched here, and the sheriff, and who knows who else at his bidding. So if there was any evidence of a goblin presence, it’s likely long gone now. The stone marker (Our beloved Daughter, may she Rest in Peace) is unblemished, unlike some others in the graveyard, which suffered some random damage at the goblins passage.
If you make a pattern out of the damage the goblins wrought, it seems clear they came across the Tanner’s Bridge, climbed the escarpment (not a particularly difficult task though somewhat time consuming), and went straight to Father Tobyn’s Vault.
You then head over to the Rusty Dragon, where the smell of cooking boar is already strong on the wind. When you enter, there are the usual group of miscreants drinking the day away and eagerly looking forward to a free meal - thanks to the party and Lord Aldern. You settle into a nice table by the door which Seamus picked out as a servant comes up and collects drink orders.
People continue to congratulate you, even now - days after the event. You wonder, idly, how long the friendly streak will last - but it is nice. Seamus finds his tips increased, and all of you are enjoying the discounted offered by various business owners. And of course being everyone’s friend is enjoyable - at least up to a point.
While you sip your drinks and await dinner, and Lord Foxglove, you notice an older gentlemen enter (image) - slamming the door open and bellowing a sharp-tongued command in a strange language.
- - -
Izomandakus takes note of the goblins jumping and coming through Tanner’s Bridge "Perhaps we can try to follow their tracks, now, or perhaps during the morning with more light"
Back at the Rusty Dragon, they boy is happy to order some beer and appetizers while the group waits for Aldern and the boar "Hei, Seamus, how was your afternoon? I guess you lured someone more interesting than the Sheriff to your flute"
Izomandakus follows the nobleman as he enters the room, and explains for the non local ones "That is Ameiko's father. Lonjiku Kaijitsu. They say his family came from Tian Xia. He is a great businessman, can you believe he put built up and runs Sandpoint Glass Works. Real fine work. I wonder what is he saying, he has quite a temper this one..."
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Kast finishes his patrolling for fun (no, not patrolling like looking for fun things, but as the very act of patrolling were fun), and enters the Rusty Dragon. He has a smile on his face as he is anxious for upcoming boarfest. And also because he knows a lot of people here. He waves and greets those he knows.
Know (Local)
Lonjiku Kaijitsu? Wow, he's here. I haven't seen him in a while.
He stumps over to greet his new friends, the rest of the heroes.
"Have any of you seen Shalelu yet? Probably not here, but thought I might ask because I'm _supposed_ to tell you when I see her," Kast says with a foolish grin on his face. He's hilarious and he knows it.
He considers ordering a plum wine but that would be drinking on *two* consecutive days and who does that? Lushes probably. And drunks. No way Kast is going to risk that.
Seeing Izomandakus enter Seamus stands and waives, reaching out to shake his friends hand. 'lured someone more interesting than the sheriff?' Giving his friend a quizzical look he answers. "The afternoon was fine, I repaired a broken bed, then wandered around the old light house, then practiced my lute for a while. What did you do?"
Seeing Kast arrive, Seamus waives then stands to offer a 'lastwall' fistbump, 'Seen Khalely yet?' Wondering what caused his friends silly grin. He asks, bluntly; "Kast what in the blazes are you talking about?"
Turning to see who Izomadakus was speaking of, Seamus stares for a moment., "So that's what Ameiko's dad looks like, I've never actually met him,"
Kast Lastwall fistbumps Seamus back, almost not expecting it from the strumming man. "Oh, no, it's Sha-lay-loo. Shalelu. No need to multi-ask," Kast explains what happened with the Sheriff.
Kast looks around the bar, trying to fit in. But he's sure, inside, that he doesn't. Also, he's sure that everyone knows he doesn't fit in.
He puts on his bravest smile and looks around, trying to enjoy the lead up to the boarfest.
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Meg takes Kizzy's hand and offers a faint smile in return. "Thank you. Maybe that would be nice. I cannot do solitude for long. For most of my life, there was always someone else in the room when I slept. I shan't want to impose on you, though."
Qetsiyah shook her head, "No imposition at all. Bound to be better beds in the double rooms than in the VIP Suite." She was glad Meg seemed to brighten at the idea of sticking together. They were the only two among the group who were outsiders, just visitors whereas the others called Sandpoint home.
She waves off the offer to check into Nualia and the idea of Pachemu sniffing about. "That is fine. The sheriff knows what he is doing. Something he said just set me off, that is all." She looks away as she tries to decide how much she can say without saying too much. "I simply know what it is like to be put on a pedestal because of appearance."
Clearing her throat, she asked, "And that's... bad? The pedestal thing, I mean." She was perhaps beginning to have an idea of the discomfort of unwanted attention, at least since meeting Aldern Foxglove. But having grown up comparing herself to the painted image of her late mother, she still had some notion that being admired for one's beauty would be wonderful. Her older sister Olivia seemed to meet smiles wherever she went. Is it different for Halflings?
Assuming the group is granted access to the graveyard, Izomandakus will let Pachemu sniff around helping Kizzy to find where else the mysterious 'longshanks' has been "What are we looking exactly for Kizzy?"
"Well, that's the thing about clues. You don't really know what they will be until they leap out at you. Oh, sorry, Pachemu, not literally leap out at you. Just look for something out of place." But there didn't seem to be anything for them to find. Still, it was good to have looked and identified the path the goblins took and wasted a bit more time before dinner.
_______________________________________________________________________
Qetsiyah was similarly surprised by Ameiko's father. Beyond a slight family resemblance, she would have had no idea who the man was without Izomandakus to explain. "They've been a little estranged for while, haven't they? He didn't like her going off to become an adventurer." She offered, remembering the little Ameiko had shared about her father. She didn't prefer to speak of him much.
Kizzy wasn't sure what he was saying, but it was clear by his tone that he was upset. She observed him closely, trying to understand why he was hollering in the common room of the Dragon.
Meg has never considered that being put on a pedestal could ever be thought of as a good thing. Having to actually explain why and how that is the case is a new experience. She only ever vented about such subjects to Sapphira, and she always just understood. ”Well, think of it this way: what do you put on pedestals? Statues. They are also pretty and people like to admire them. But think what it is like to be stuck there in some pose other people picked for you unable to move. It gets boring. Infuriating, even. You begin doing whatever you can just to move an inch every once in a while, but it just reminds you of what you cannot have. And then—“ She shakes herself out of the explanation quickly turning into a rant. ”My apologies. I am getting carried away again. I really should leave explaining such subjects to someone who is more insightful.”
Meg jumps in her seat at the sudden eruption of shouting in a foreign language, her hand immediately jumping to her sword. She relaxes as she turns and sees the man responsible.
Ah, the Kaijitsu patriarch. The real Meg’s parents were not particular fans of his, even before they became competitors, at least from what she told Valena. She stands up and approaches the older man.
”Lord Kaijitsu, what is wrong? Can I be of any help?”
The other patrons of the bar, recognizing him and knowing of his reputation for wrathful outbursts, grow very quiet and intensely interested in their meals. Lonjiku stalks farther into the tavern, his eyes scanning the room for his daughter only to alight on Sandpoint’s newest heroes as Meg walks up to him. He looks tired, and hostile.
He turns toward her angrily and, loudly, begins accusing the entire party of endangering the townsfolk with your ill-advised ‘antics’ against the goblins. ”You should have left the defense of the town to the city guard, and other trained professionals. Who knows the extent of the damage you’ve done!”
*angrily limp, drag, limp*
Kast stumps with annoyance as he moves to the party’s defense. He wasn’t expecting this from the older man.
”I was THERE,” Kast growls back. ”I won’t hear you badmouth the city guard, the militia, or the watch. We beat back the goblins soundly.” He moves to stand in front of the man.
”What damage did you think *I* did while protecting the town? Tell me, won’t you?” Kast resists putting his free hand into a fist.
Meg uses all of her willpower to prevent herself from rolling her eyes. One of those people that cares more about propriety and rules than results. She does her best to remain calm.
”I am sorry that we have caused you any distress, Lord Kaijitsu. I think when you look the damage we prevented, you will see we did a good job. Not to mention that the sheriff and mayor have given us their blessing.”
As Kast explains about todays meeting with the Sheriff and the invitation to speak with Shalelu Andosana, Seamus nods attentively. 'Maybe I should stop trying to avoid the sheriff, fortunately I'm Familiar with Shalelu.' Once Kast is done explaining the details, Seamus asks his friend. "Do you think the sheriff would mind if I come to the meeting too?"
Watching from his seat as Meg gets up and approaches offering to help the local lord, Seamus raises an eyebrow. 'Leave the defense of the town to the professionals?' Smiling to himself, 'I didn't defend the town, I defended a little kid. Then I helped a friend do what the sheriff told him to.' Seeing Kast rise angrily, Seamus unconsciously reached towards his bandolier pocket that holds a dagger. Realizing Kast was in no real danger from the old man he forces himself to relax and withdraw his hand empty.
As Kast reminds the lord that he is a part of the watch, Seamus nods and mumbles under his breath, more to himself than to Izomandakus or Kizzy. "That's right you tell him Kast, we were doing what the sheriff told us to." As Meg tries to soothe the crotchety old man, Seamus shakes his head, mumbling again. "Either she's had too much to drink or not enough, sometimes I can't tell."
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Qetsiyah's jaw dropped as Ameiko's father launched into a diatribe against them. She was torn between disrespecting her friend's family or standing by and letting her friends stand alone. Well, she certainly wasn't apt to do the latter. Hopefully Ameiko would understand.
She was surprised to see Kast react so strongly. Maybe Meg had the right idea with trying to smooth things over, but she could not help but respond to the nobleman's slight against her friends. She stepped beside the watchman to back his play. "Kast is one of those 'trained professionals' you mentioned, Lord Kaijitsu. And even if the rest of us weren't employed by the town before, we are now. It was hard enough to accept that we couldn't be there to protect everyone and you think we should have sat on our hands and not helped anyone? So you think the new cathedral should have joined the ashes of it's predecessor? Seamus should have let the little boy face a Goblin dogslicer on his own, and Lord Foxglove should have been left to become a human pyre. Well, to that I say, No Sir! 'When evil forces combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.' All evil requires to succeed is for good people to stand by and do nothing. So what were you doing, M'lord?"
At first Izomandakus is startled. He knew Lonjiku has a bad temper, but this was unexpected. After the initial surprise the boy stands up and takes Kast hugging him from the back and pulling him back to the table "It is fine Kast, the old fellow does not know what he says. He is likely angry about something not related with the goblins or us"
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”I was THERE,” Kast growls back. ”I won’t hear you badmouth the city guard, the militia, or the watch. We beat back the goblins soundly.” He moves to stand in front of the man.
”What damage did you think *I* did while protecting the town? Tell me, won’t you?” Kast resists putting his free hand into a fist.
"YOU are in the watch?” he asks incredulously, ”And you expect me to believe that? A gimp in our watch?" He sputters, flecks of spittle foaming at the corner of his mouth, ”Why I’ll convene a meeting of the council, and we’ll see about this. You in the watch! Why I never. The things people get away with when the nobles aren't watching.”
”I am sorry that we have caused you any distress, Lord Kaijitsu. I think when you look the damage we prevented, you will see we did a good job. Not to mention that the sheriff and mayor have given us their blessing.”
”And who might you be at the end of the day? Some pretty drifter no doubt, without a job or prospects.” he declares to any who would listen.
She was surprised to see Kast react so strongly. Maybe Meg had the right idea with trying to smooth things over, but she could not help but respond to the nobleman's slight against her friends. She stepped beside the watchman to back his play. "Kast is one of those 'trained professionals' you mentioned, Lord Kaijitsu. And even if the rest of us weren't employed by the town before, we are now. It was hard enough to accept that we couldn't be there to protect everyone and you think we should have sat on our hands and not helped anyone? So you think the new cathedral should have joined the ashes of it's predecessor? Seamus should have let the little boy face a Goblin dogslicer on his own, and Lord Foxglove should have been left to become a human pyre. Well, to that I say, No Sir! 'When evil forces combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.' All evil requires to succeed is for good people to stand by and do nothing. So what were you doing, M'lord?"
”Another one without a job I suspect. My money and hard work built this town you young hussy. My. Town.”
Just as he’s about to spew more venom, and quite possibly get beaten for his efforts, Ameiko rushes into the front room, a ladle dripping with soup in her hand, to find out what all the ruckus is about. Lonjiku turns his back on the party then and confronts his daughter. The two yell at each other in a foreign tongue for a short while - neither seeming to get the upper hand over the other.
Suddenly, slightly pink-faced and clearly fuming, Lonjiku tries to grab Ameiko by the hair to drag her out of the tavern. She’s too quick for him though as she dodges his reach and brains him with her soupy ladle, spattering fish stock and potatoes all over his hair and outfit.
This act of public defiance wounds Lonjiku’s pride more than anything else, and after he sputters for a moment, he finds his voice and utters, in common, “You’re as dead to me as your mother,” before storming out of the tavern, alone.
His cruel comment almost brings Ameiko to tears, yet as her father leaves, she bravely picks up her ladle, inspects it, pulls a hair out of the mess, and says, “I’ll need a well-cleaned ladle now, since jackass stew’s not on the menu!” The resulting cheers and laughter from the tavern’s patrons help her attitude immensely as she heads back into the kitchen.
Just as she does so, Lord Aldern Foxglove strides into the room, all smiles. He sees the party and joins you, ”I knew I should’ve come sooner. Seems like I just missed something. What was the cheering?”
Meg is taken aback at the man’s pure gall. She is not used to being talked to with such brazen disdain. It was...exhilarating. People had been pulling their blows her entire life. Not even her husband could have given her the service of a single knock-down, drag-out fight. Oh, how she wished she could take up the gauntlet now, eviscerate this tired bull of a man as he deserved. But it is not the time nor place. Ameiko needs her support, not her interference.
She waits until the scene calms and the patriarch leaves, then she goes to Ameiko.
”Ameiko, darling, I am so sorry I could not calm him down any for you. He was absolutely horrible to you. Absolutely horrible. If there is anything I can do to help, I am at your service.”
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Having stood as the nobleman insults his friends, Seamus shakes his head in disbelief as the events play out. Relaxes slightly as the old man finally leaves,. Smiling at Ameiko's comment about jackass stew. He watches as Meg tries to console Ameiko, then turns to the others, "So that's the moron the sheriff has to take orders from? No wonder he's always grumpy." Looking at Kast, he shrugs. "Seems to me the guard is better with you than without you." He smiles as he takes his seat. "But just in case, don't ask Lonjiku for a reference when you apply to last wall, right."
Seeing the little lord come in and join them, Seamus shrugs calling across the table. "Ameiko was just taking some trash out."
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Kast turns his face away to avoid the spray of the quick bisquing, managing to avoid the borscht of it. He chides himself inside for not making more room for the intra-family squabble.
He backs up and wipes off his face, trying to regain his good humor. He limps away, nearly worried that he just almost had his first drunken bar brawl and he wasn't even drinking yet.
"I didn't need to see that. That's never good to see family fight," Kast opines, feeling that Ameiko had the right of it. "I just wonder what the old man was so mad about. He seemed to think the Watch screwed up, but I can think how it might be. Except for making stopping the attack before it happened, but not sure how that could be. We're not even sure how they got in. Shalelu will be able to explain, probably."
Izomandakus is left a bit worried, but generally just looks how the man gets out of the tavern "Are you ok Ameiko? What was his problem?"
To the others, he just shrugs and attempts to continue with the dinner as planned "You are right. We just had a great boar hunt, and we are going to enjoy our work now."
"So... who should keep the tusks trophy?" Izomandakus includes Lord Foxglove in the question as he sits with the group.
Qetsiyah gaped and scoffed an incredulous laugh as the Tian nobleman tries to imply Kast isn't fit for duty and that she might as well go apply for a job at the 'Kitten', as Seamus so often referred to the place. Maybe I should stop wearing this scarlet scarf in my hair. She wonders for maybe the tenth time since meeting Lord Foxglove, but dismisses the idea almost immediately. Perhaps it meant something that this had been her mother's favorite scarf, but to her it only mattered that it was.
She felt a surge of anxiety as Ameiko came out and began arguing with her father. All families had to disagree from time to time, but this seemed worse somehow. Then Lonjiku tried to grab Ameiko and Kizzy's hands rose to interfere, but her friend was too fast for the old man. She joined the crowd in reacting as she bashed him with the ladle, "Ohhhhhhhh!" Likely adding to his humiliation.
Still, she was stunned by the man's pronouncement. It had a terrible finality about it and the hurt on Ameiko's face was so plain she felt an ache of sympathy in her own heart. She knew very little about the father-daughter dynamic she had just seen played out here but she suspected that it might be easier to not know one's father at all than to be so publicly disowned by him like this.
She followed after to check on Ameiko along with Meg and Izomandakus. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have gotten involved, he was just saying such awful things... I probably just riled him up more. Are you alright?"
Meg, Izomandakus, and Kizzy head to the kitchen for a moment, where Ameiko is furiously putting the finishing touches on the boar.
”Oh think nothing of it, I’m fine. He’s always been a ‘bore’.” she laughs, pointing at supper and trying to make light of it. It’s clear she’s annoyed, but it could be the public nature of the thing that irritates her as much as anything else. And you’re crowding her in her kitchen.
Seeing the little lord come in and join them, Seamus shrugs calling across the table. "Ameiko was just taking some trash out."
Lord Aldern pauses a moment, then laughs, ”Someone a little too much in their drink?”
”I hope everyone’s afternoon went well.” he tries, politely, to sit next to Kizzy, but will make do if the ranks are closed to him.
"So... who should keep the tusks trophy?" Izomandakus includes Lord Foxglove in the question as he sits with the group.
”Oh, one of you should have it surely.” the lord suggests magnanimously. He even manages to not suggest Kizzy for a change.
The evening passes enjoyably if uneventfully, and with good cheer. Ameiko, unsurprisingly, does a wonderful job with the boar, and everyone in the place gets a plate the thing was so large. By the end of the evening, Ameiko is wondering what she’s going to do with all the leftover food - but she’ll manage.
Lord Foxglove does become rather more persistent in his pursuit of Kizzy over the course of the evening. As the night comes to a close, he offers, ”My dear Kizzy, why don’t you ride down with me to my home. I need to spend some time there over the next few days, and then onto Magnimar. Won’t you join me?” He sees some hesitation and adds, ”At least for the tour of the mansion. It’s in horrible shape, but you’ll see the potential I see in it surely!”
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Kast, even after all his internal admonitions, *does* have a second plum wine. No, not a second on the night (that would be way too much), but a another after yesterday's. It's because of the jerk, the near fight, and the emotional release of it all.
Part of it is the cooking, the victory, but mostly, it's the friends he's made that he's happy to smile with and celebrate while he can.
Soon, he will have enough money to go to Lastwall. Kizzy will be marrying into the Foxglove clan (it's so obvious). Izo and her pig will stay here to continue their studies (magic and mud respectively). Seamus will no doubt fall in love with a pretty milkman/maidperson, and Meg will be...uh...hmm...she will be, uh, hmmm...uhm...
Kast smiles and offers a toast. He had polished off a big plate of boar and considers seconds.
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Watching as Kizzy, Meg and Izomandakus follow after Ameiko, Seamus looks to his friend Kast, "None of us needed to see that. But old Lonjiku was in the wrong and at least Ameiko was willing to challenge him about it. I hope if I have kids, that If I'm being an ass in public or not, they will have the sand, like Ameiko, to call me on it."
Too much to drink?' Kunala, shrugs, "Not sure if it was too much or not enough. Or if he just needed a hug. Anyway, let's not let it ruin our evening."
As the group sits and eats, Seamus watches and listens. Fiddling with his silverware, his glass, his plate, occasionally reaching back toward the lute; remembering where he is at, he looks towards Ameiko and leaves be. When he hears Ameiko wondering what she will do with all of the food, he clears his throat asking; "Um Miss Ameiko, there were several injured people at the temple. Maybe we could send some of it to them. I'm sure they would enjoy it."
As the lord invites Kizzy to his house for a private party, Seamus interrupts and asks, "Kizzy, Kast was telling me about a meeting with Shalelu?" he gestures towards the little lord, "You may have to take a pass."
When Kast yells, "TO BOARKILLER KIZZY!!" Seamus raises his cup "To Kizzy" Taking a sip, he adds, "who drew blood second." He lifts his cup to her, winking and takes another sip.
Meg pats Ameiko on the shoulder and then moves to uncrowd the dear proprietress of the The Rusty Dragon. ”The offer stands, regardless!”
Meg smiles at Seamus’s suggestion to send the extra food to the temple. If and when she makes it back to Sapphira, she shall definitely need to introduce him to her. A perfect fit for her and her work.
Meg raises her own cup as well, never one to turn down a toast.
She spends the evening drinking and playing cards. She is happy to play any games suggested and will happily teach a few of her own. She prefers anything that involves having to fight over communal cards. The physicality and excitement of slapping down on a card first has always been her favorite part of card games.
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Qetsiyah lingered in the kitchen with Ameiko for a moment. She had known her long enough to see when she was putting on a brave face. She said nothing more but placed her hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. She wished she could communicate all of her sympathy and admiration through the gesture, but warmth and support would have to do.
She returned to the table to find the last few seats had been left open for her and Lord Foxglove, side by side. Maybe I should have said something to them about it. She lamented internally, but surely it would only compound her shame to let them know she'd let a married man turn her head. Well, maybe she had been a fool, but that did not mean she had to persist in being one. She made sure to drink a cup of water between her cups of wine and ate heartily. Ameiko really was a talented cook. She smiled sheepishly as she was toasted and raised her glass of wine. It was bad luck to toast with water, after all.
"That's a good idea, Seamus. I'm sure we can find enough hungry mouths to feed the remainder of this delicious boar meat. We could also take some down to the Academy for the kids. Probably enough left to do both." She offered when Ameiko came by their table and mentioned the leftovers.
She maintained a polite, respectful distance in her words with Lord Foxglove and when he made his pitch about her 'going away' with him, she uttered a heavy sigh. "No, I must to pass on the journey, m'lord. I have a prior engagement to attend to. I made a commitment to the Sheriff to continue to look into this goblin raid. So it seems I've found employment after all. You understand, of course. There's always a bit of a honeymoon period, if you will, with a new job. A time to demonstrate one's devotion and fidelity." Her gaze was direct and unflinching and she wore only the ghost of a smile as she looked for his reaction to her words.
Lord Aldern is genial in defeat, and he heads up to his room to rest for a big day working on his manor. The inn gets quieter without his boisterous presence, and a few more townsfolk drift on home as well. Just as you’re considering what to do yourselves, a frantic woman stumbles into the bar with a baby clutched to her chest and a small child held tightly by his shoulder. Tears streaming down her face, she tries looking for someone.
After a moment, she recognizes one of you and stumbles forward, collapsing on her knees. ”Please, come help. Please.”
”Alergast, my husband, and I (Amele) have two children (little Aeren and baby Verah) and a loyal family dog, Petal. We were present at the Festival, where Aeren saw a goblin light a cat on fire and then caper around the burning remains - the poor boy really hasn’t been the same since.” she blubbers a moment before finding the strength to continue.
”Every night, his howls of terror send Petal into a barking fit, and when we investigated, Aeren claimed a goblin came out of his closet. Alergast checked the closet dutifully but found nothing, and ever since, his complaints about the “closet goblin” grew more and more tiresome. Today, Alergast threatened to make Aeren sleep in the woodshed if he couldn’t learn to “be a man” and sleep through an entire night without crying and telling stories.”
”Oh, if we had only listened!” she bawls for a while, before her hiccuped breathing normalizes enough to speak again, ”Tonight Alergast didn’t go sooth Aeren when he had his night terrors… but but a few moments later we heard the dog cry in pain and Aeren’s screams turned shrill as he ran down the stairs.” Amele pauses, takes a breath, and then shows you Aeren’s arms.
They’re covered with fresh goblin bites.
”Alergast went up to check after sending me to get help. He’s no fighter, please, you must come!”
Kizzy leaped to her feet as she struggled to make out the woman's words through her sobs. Her heart went out to the panicked little family. She wished she could offer them words of comfort but there was no time. "Of course, show us where, quickly!" She was out the door first, and then looked back for the Amele to follow and point her in the right direction. She called over her shoulder as she set off at a run, "Get Father Zantus!" to anyone who would listen.
"Um Miss Ameiko, there were several injured people at the temple. Maybe we could send some of it to them. I'm sure they would enjoy it."
"Of course! This is an exceedingly good idea!" Kast notes the wise thought from Seamus, agreeing completely.
* * *
Kast is somewhat relieved to be called away before he gets too deeply into his second drink in two days. He wouldn't want to be one of *those* people, but maybe on special occasions.
"Yes, lead the way!" Kast picks up his longspear as he exits, using it to quickly limp after the man.
'More goblins, this time attacking peoples homes?' Surprised by the new of goblins attacking a home, Seamus, seeing Kizzy move first, jumps to his feet as Kast begins to stand. Calling to Kizzy, "Wait for us!" Leaving his cloak, hat and lute behind, Seamus runs out the door as well.
Running past Kizzy, Seamus calls to her, "Follow me I know where they live!" Sprinting the couple of blocks to their house, Seamus stops in the doorway. Drawing his bow, calling out
Meg jumps up at the first sign of trouble, downing the rest of her drink in moments, not wanting to waste any by leaving it unattended. ”After you, Boar-killer!” She chases after the others, only drawing her rapier once she is outside.
Izomandakus is quietly chewing a piece of boar when Amele stumbles into the Rusty Dragon. Letting the other pose the questions, he looks down at Pachemu and picks up his staff. Taking a last piece of meat and giving it a great bite he moves to the inn's exit "Fffo not fffforry fffffAmele. Fffe are goinfffg to solfffe this" he gives her a strong reassuring hug while the others dart out and swallows the last piece of meat "End up the boar, it would be a great spoil and it is actually delicious"
Boy and pig run through Sandpoint's streets and arrives to the house a bit later than the others. There, he slowly enters the house "Amele said the boy went down, thus, his room must be in the second floor"
Izomandakus takes it to the stairs and looks for the boy's room.
'What does he think he's doing?' Surprised that Izomandakus bolted past him, Seamus follows more cautiously, keeping a keen eye out for anything unusual.
*limp, drag, limp*
*limp, drag, limp*
*limp, drag, limp*
When you arrive, after a few quick blocks, at the Barett house, you find it disturbingly silent (just taking 10 under the assumption you’re in a hurry). The house is somewhat lit, with a few candles and a lantern at the top of the stairs.
Upon reaching Aeren’s room at the top of said stairs, you find Alergast Barett on his belly, as if he had crawled into the closet and gotten stuck. He doesn’t immediately respond to your call.
Kast, with longspear lowered, moves in to check on Alergast, laying his hand to check if there is life left in the body.
Heal
"Oh no!" Izomandakus gasps on the sight of the fallen man "Alergast? Is he sleeping Kast?! What's on Kast?!"
Izomandakus readies his staff for an unwanted attack, while entering the room and looking at the closet but not approaching it "Is the goblin-monster there?!"
Willing to discover if he can trick the goblin to dart out of the closet, Izomandakus produces a bit of wool from his pouch and blows one of the candles to soak the wool in the still melt down candle wax. With this ingredients he whispers an arcane word pointing at the closet.
Immediately inside the closet is heard the loud neigh of an upset horse "Hiiiiiiiiiyyyy!!!"
While Kast checks the body, Meg immediately begins searching the room for any sign of the closet goblin. She can only imagine what being stuck in a closet could do to someone. She is thankful that she herself is not stuck in a closet. There is no way she would let that happen.
No way.
At all.
Grabbing the lantern at the top of the stairs, Seeing the man on the floor, Seamus blurts out; "Blast! I hope Alergast is ok.' As Kast checks on the man, Seamus moves to the closet. Shining the light into the small space he takes a careful looks inside.
Qetsiyah moves into the room, drawing her greatsword. She let the others look into the closet and placed herself behind Meg as she looked, keeping a careful watch for a fleeing goblin attack.
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You see the family dog, with part of a dogslicer blade stuck through its skull near the bed. When Kast checks Alergast and pulls him back, he comes free rather more easily than you’d hoped as he’s missing a head and most of his arms. They’ve been gnawed away in part. Another victim of the goblin raids.
A horse's whiny from Izomandakus rousts the goblin who bolts from a well concealed hole in the back of the closet - a warchanter! He wields a broken dogslicer, and still has human blood dripping from his lips, and a bit of hair.
The warchanter also carries the slightly healed wound from Seamus’ blade during the initial raid. This is the goblin that got away from you in the initial fight…
The goblin bolts into the middle of the room, unable to get past the party to the exit. In its panic, it has exposed itself to the party (you are all within reach). It's a cramped space, so you can't 5' step anywhere, though you may withdraw to the door or beyond without provoking. Kast, there is no room for your longspear.
'Clearly a goblin weapon!' Looking from the dead dog toward Kast drawing the body out into the light, Seamus' stomach begins to churn. Turning away from the body, He lifts the lantern in time to see the goblin react to Izomndakus' magic.
recognizing the familiar goblin, Seamus moans, "It's the one that got away!" Realizing the goblin was too close to shoot, Seamus drops his bow, drawing his blade. Thrusting the longknife at the warchanter's bulbous head.
Round 1, Init 15
Kast drops his longspear when he realizes there is no room to bring it to bear in the small space. He notes the nakedness of the goblin, and realizes the goblin, though a murderous jerk, was probably just looking for a suitable outfit.
Kast doesn’t care about that, he draws his morningstar and tries to brain the creature.
to hit;
damage.
hp: 9/9
AC: 16/13/13 + 2/shield
Saves: F1/R3/W2 +2 vs. enchantment
Aroden's Verve: 0/0 used
GlitterBomb: 0/0 used
Extend GammaRadiation: 0/0 used
Quantum Leaps used:
Pathfinder Carry: 0/0
Staff of Courage: 0/0
[ dice]1d20+3[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d8+3[/dice] damage.
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"Oh no!" Izomandakus gets scared when the goblin gets out of the closet with blood dipping from his blade "How did he survive the raid?! It must be a goblin hero"
The boy tries to step back, but finding no way out, he enters in total panic. Picking up the staff with both hands he tries to defend himself striking with all his strength just in front "It's going to butcher all of us!"
From in between the legs of the boy Pachemu growls menacingly at the goblin.
Seamus quickly switches weapons and gets a flanked attack in, but to no avail as the little creature dodges out of the way. Kast also switches weapons, but manages only to take a chunk out of the closet door as the goblin slides easily under the blow. Izomandakus grabs a stout piece of wood and proceeds to bludgeon the little goblin into paste!
The warchanter collapses in a heap, his broken dogslicer clattering to the floor. There’s a big dent where his frontal lobe should be and his purple tongue lolls to one side.
The house grows quiet once again as you look down on the bloody bodies.
Watching in disbelief as Izomandakus crushes the goblins skull with his staff, Seamus raises an eyebrow but just looks at his friend in disbelief. Sheathing the long knife, he picks up his bow putting it in it's scabbard. He looks towards Kast, shaking his head, asking, "What would the militia want us to do with the bodies?"
"What would the militia want us to do with the bodies?"
Kast nods, already moving to the bed to grab a blanket to wrap the body.
"We'll take him to the Cathedral. They will see to it. But we should remove the body so the family doesn't have to see what is left," Kast replies.
"Kizzy, would you mind keeping the family out? This is going to be grim business," Kast asks, and would happily reverse roles with Kizzy if she wanted. Kast certainly didn't want to do this, but it what was right for right now.
"Get the legs and whatever else is left. We'll wrap it up and take it out. Maybe, Meg, you should ensure that there is nothing left in the closet? Oh, and I guess we'll need another wrapping for the goblin...there is quite a bit of brain all over the place, Izo."
Kast gets to the grim work of cleaning up so the family doesn't have to deal with it.
Qetsiyah was stunned by the carnage caused by just one goblin. She kept looking for another wave of them to come pouring from the hole beneath the closet. "What was he thinking, sticking his head down a bloody hole?! You're always at a disadvantage like that! He sent her for help and then he didn't wait for it to arrive? Where is the sense in that?" The fool was just asking to lose his bloody head. She thought, but did not say at least. This death had been senseless and it made her angry! Or at least it was easier to feel angry right now than it was to feel pointless, useless. She nodded to Kast's request and headed back down the stairs to guard the door.
Is this being a Hero? She thought bitterly. Always a day late and a mark short of being able to do any real good?
Meg nods and follows Kast’s suggestion, though it is more out of a desire to keep her attention away from the bodies. She is thankful he has the presence of mind to just tell people what to do. Being a meathead is good for something, she supposes. Her whole body tenses with anxiety and frustration. Nobody was able to catch the little a#%**** as he ran away? She did her best—they all did their bests—and they still came up short.
She gets a whiff of the smell of blood and viscera and gags. She pulls out an old trick and takes a piece of cloth and casts a spell to give it the scent she calls “An Entire Jug of Ginger Extract” and then ties it around her face and mouth as a mask.
"Oops!" Izomandakus lifts the staff to look at the fallen goblin and pushes it a bit with the right foot making it roll upwards "Do you think he will talk?"
With the goblin danger gone, the boy looks at the carnage around and frowns "It really is frustrating Alergast did not wait... beef-head boy... such a mess"
"I guess all we can do is try to clean up the worse of it and seal the room until the magistrate arrives. It is better Amele does not see her husband dismembered" Izomandakus cleans the staff with the leathers of the goblin "I can talk with Amele and explain her what happened"