Orin is awake and stoking an early fire for aunt Sara and his brother when the messenger delivers the message. Hustling off to work early is nothing new, and when he arrives it seems the others are ready to meet with the Sheriff.
He shrugs at the others and says, "A new lead? Or did we foul up something else?"
Slightly alarmed by the sudden call, Diego hurries and prepares himself for duty. After grabbing his things, he heads directly to the office.
Once there, he glances around the room acknowledging his squad. "I'm not sure Orin, I was simply told to show up."
"I didn't figure you'd let it go without some kind of response. Nice one, well played."
Nico has to get ready too hurriedly to ask the messenger for specifics about 'be presentable' and what that might mean. She adds some rouge for her cheeks, darkens her eyelashes with kohl, and wear her best shirt.
She's hungry but at the garrison in about 12 minutes.
"The inhumanity of it. I haven't had a chance to brush my beard. Hopefully this is worth it." Alistair says walking in, absently stroking said beard as he does so.
The lot of you run into one another on your way up to the sheriff's office, wondering aloud at the unusual summons. Orin is about to knock on the door but it opens before his knuckles make contact, a tired looking Belor Hemlock throwing his dress cloak around his shoulders as he exits and nearly collides with you all.
"Good, you're here. Let's go." He closes his door behind him and leads the way, making towards the exit of the garrison. "Sorry to wake you. But the goblins are escalating, and the mayor wants to speak with you all. Not much time to explain before we get there, and I'm sure Shalelu will be able to fill in the gaps, but the short version is, I'm bound for Magnimar just as soon as we finish this meeting to get us some reinforcements. And I've told Deverin I'm leaving the group of you in charge of Sandpoint's safety while I'm gone."
Jaymin tumbles out of bed, runs a comb through his hair, and gets dressed. 9 minutes and 50 seconds later, he’s standing in Hemlock’s office, listening attentively.
He perks up upon hearing Shalelu is back in town.
Diego stays somewhat silent, listening to Hemlock, as he falls in line behind the man. "Reinforcements from Magnimar? Must be a large escalation."
The sheriff nodded at Diego. "They've been hitting folks travelling the road, and as of last night, apparently they've added burning farms to their list of fun new activities."
"Sheriff, will this extra responsibility cause me to lose my hair like you did? If so, I'm going to have to pass." Alistair says jokingly while wondering if the town could find itself invaded again.
"We'll be talking with Shalelu then?"
Nico begins to wonder what Hemlock meant by 'presentable'. From what she knows of her Shalelu doesn't really fit the term as it typically used. Maybe her extra makeup was a wate of time.
"We'll keep things steady here while you're gone" she assures the Sheriff.
The last detail he mentions is the one to really grab her attention.
"Burning farms?! Where?!" Nico is alarmed.
"Son, this head could grow a mane to put yours to shame. I prefer it clean shaven. Doesn't give your enemies anything to grab, and it looks intimidating on me, not that I ever had to ability to cow you, gods know."
They exited the garrison as they talked, and made way directly across the road toward the town hall, and presumably the mayor's office.
At Nico's sudden worry, Hemlock held out his hands, palms-outward, placatingly. "Don't worry, it was my first question. Your family is fine. They've actually agreed to take in a neighboring family who lost their home, until they can rebuild. Shalelu will have the details, I don't want to keep her or the mayor waiting longer than we have to."
He opened the front door to the town hall. "After you." You'd all occasionally ferried messages over for the mayor, and knew the way to her office on the second floor.
Her door was open, and as you entered you saw Mayor Kendra Deverin seated at a small table alongside Shalelu Andosana. Both women stood to greet you all as you filed in -- there were enough seats for everyone, and an extra to spare.
Shalelu is looking a bit worse for wear. For all that the sheriff told you lot to look respectable, the elf appears not to have bathed for a few days. Brambles dot her hair, and dried blood stains one cheek where a small cut seems to have clotted at least a day ago. She bears several bruises, but doesn't seem to pay them much mind as she stands tall. Her face shows concern, but she manages a brief smile and nod of greeting at Jaymin in particular. "Was sorry to hear about your delayed nuptials, kid."
The mayor waits for everyone to settle in before commencing the meeting.
Diego moves into the office, leans his sword up against the wall, and then quietly takes a chair. "I have a feeling this is much bigger then a tribe of goblins gone rogue. Way more brazen than normal goblin activity. I suppose attacking the city would also be considered abnormal as well."
Jaymin is quite distressed to see his mentor in such a state. ”Nuptials? Oh right. So much has been going on I—what happened to you?”
"Thank you for thinking to find out about my family" Nico replies to the Sheriff. Her gratitude is clear in her voice.
Belor nodded to Nico. "I only seem like an uncaring hardass, Solter. I know my people, and we all have one another's backs here."
Shalelu snorted a humorless laugh at Jaymin's question, and looked to the mayor questioningly before answering, who in turn looked to the sheriff, and the empty chair.
"We may as well begin. I think the first time Stoutspear shows up somewhere on time will be my funeral, just to spite me," Belor said dryly.
"Very well," Mayor Deverin said. Her voice was both soft and clear at the same time, as she enunciated carefully in the way nobles were wont to do. She wore a casual dress that almost resembled a robe, wrapping around and tied shut in the front. It was clear she'd been sleeping very recently, as well. "Thank you all for coming so quickly. I believe you all know Shalelu. She brings rather grim tidings that I will let her share in her own words." The mayor nodded that Shalelu had the floor.
The blonde elven woman rose and worked one shoulder with an audible pop. "Belor's told me of your work against the goblins in town. Well done. I've dedicated the last several years of my life to keeping them from causing too much trouble around these parts, but they're tenacious and fecund little runts. Like weeds that bite. Some harder than others," she added, eyeing Jaymin and tracing the cut on her face with her thumb, vaguely answering his earlier question.
"There are five major goblin tribes in the region, and, traditionally, they're pretty good at keeping each other in line with intertribal squabbles and the like. Yet from what I've been able to piece together, members of all five tribes were involved in the raid on Sandpoint. A fair number of the Mosswood goblins I dealt with yesterday were already pretty beat up, and there was a lot of chatter about the 'longshanks' who killed so many of them. Seems like you've made an impression." She grinned.
"In any event, the fact that the five tribes are working together disturbs me. Goblin tribes don't get along unless they've got something big planned, and big plans require big bosses. I 'm afraid that someone's moved in on the goblins and organized them. And judging by these recent raids, what they're organizing seems like bad news for all of us."
Sheriff Hemlock leaned forward across the table, elbows on the edge of it. "And so, I'm heading south to the city to see about securing additional soldiers for a few weeks, at least until we can determine the extent of this threat. I've asked Shalelu to sniff around Shank's Wood, Brinestump, Mosswood, Devil's Platter, and wherever else she can to try and suss out what's really going on. You," he looked around at all of you, "will be in charge while I'm gone. Orin, you're acting sheriff until I get back. Acting. Don't go mad with power. Seeing you around town will do a lot for keeping worries down over the next few days."
"I'm certain we won't let you, or Sandpoint, down." Orin replies, trying not to visibly bristle at the added responsibility.
Diego fidgets in his seat a bit when Shalelu mentions that all five tribes where in cahoots.
"That's a lot of goblins. Shouldn't we put a a force together and eliminate the nuisance once and for all?" Diego asks while glancing over at sheriff Hemlock. "Surly, with a handful of seasoned warriors, we could eliminate one faction at a time and be done with it."
"In addition to Shank's Wood, I would recommend the Nettlewood as well. We found some rafts on the beach just west of town and suspect some goblins floated down from the north. Those two areas seemed the most likely staging points for such a venture." Alistair throws in. "Perhaps we can mount an offensive when the Sheriff returns. That should give us enough bodies to guard the town and strike out." Alistair suggests.
Nico frowns slightly at Diego's and Alistair's take on what's been said. It seems to her the real point of what Shalelu has told them is the appearance of a big boss.
"But if the tribes can only be held together by a big boss, the thing to do is take down the boss. No more boss, no more unity. Locate the boss and strike there."
Nico looks at Shalelu as another thought comes to her.
"You said it looks like 'someone's moved in on the goblins and organized them'. That doesn't sound like you think a goblin has has risen from within to take control. Do you really mean you think the 'big boss' isn't a goblin?"
"You all found signs of a person working with the gobbos during the invasion, didn't you?" a vaguely familiar voice asks from the doorway.
As people turn that direction they see the blonde-haired Ulfen watchmen, Lief Stoutspear, leaning on the door frame and making a half-hearted effort not to look like he believed his being called to the mayor's office was a great inconvenience. "People don't usually take orders from those nasty little idiots, so if there was one working with them there's a decent chance he or she were calling the shots."
"Well, good morning, sunshine," Hemlock said, eyeing the latecomer flatly. He looked around to the rest of you. "You all know Lief, though maybe not very well, as he's usually on duty while you're all cozy and warm in your beds. I'm moving him to days, and your squad. Don't let his fashionably late appearance fool you, he's usually passably capable at his job. Figured another pair of eyes wouldn't hurt." He rose and addressed the mayor. "The sooner I'm gone, the sooner I'm back. By your leave?"
Mayor Deverin nodded. "Of course. Safe travels, Belor. And hurry back."
Hemlock nodded to the rest of you. "Do me proud." He moved to the door, waited for Lief to stand aside, and departed.
Shalelu belatedly addressed Nico's question. "I've got plenty more I can tell you about goblin bosses, but I'm famished. If Mayor Deverin is finished with the lot of you, I wouldn't mind continuing this conversation down at the Rusty Dragon while I stuff my face."
The mayor nodded. "Of course. Once you're all done being briefed, you can begin your patrol. You'll report to me in the sheriff's absence, but he trusts you to do your job and so do I. Bring me any noteworthy reports, but you needn't fear a heavy hand on my part. Keep our town safe, my friends. I worry there are dark days still to come." She rose, and it seemed you were all dismissed.
As the briefing comes to a close, Diego sands and then retrieves his large blade. “Continuing this at the Rusty Dragon sounds like a good plan. I’m a bit hungry myself.” After strapping the blade to his back, he turns and joins anyone heading to the tavern.
"Ya gotta eat." Alistair says and follows up with, "it's amazing Shalelu, even after several days hard work and crawling through brambles your eyes still sparkle. Marvelous." Followed with a big grin.
Nico gets up to go. When her back is to Alistair she rolls her eyes.
When the sheriff rises to leave, Lief steps out of his way then sits down in the chair he had been sitting in. When everyone begins rising a moment later, he sighs and stands back up as well. “I’m definitely going to need some coffee,” he remarks, “since, apparently, I’m working both shifts today.” He waits while everyone files out and then trails along behind them on the way to the Rusty Dragon.
Shalelu smirks at Alistair. "Don't forget wrestling a bugbear. But I suppose I haven't told you that part, yet."
The group of you headed south through town towards the Dragon. There were a handful of folk already up and about this early -- fishermen preparing to set out for the day, folks visting wells to draw up some water, and the smells from the bakery set your stomachs growling.
Ameiko is already making breakfast, though you lot are the first ones to enter the common room of the tavern. She smiles widely at the sight of Shalelu, though the expression fades to concern at the elf's haggard appearance. "Lulu! Everything okay? Didn't expect you back for another month or two."
Shalelu smiled reassuringly. "Everything is not okay, but I am. Wouldn't mind a hot bath, though?"
Ameiko nodded and set the cast iron skillet full of breakfast meats she'd been cooking off to one side. "Of course! Bethana!," she called to the elderly halfling woman who you all had seen working from time to time. "Can you take over down here for a moment?" The adorable silver-haired woman smiled sweetly at all of you and pulled a stepstool over to the counter to work on food while Ameiko went to draw up a bath. "Coffee, anyone?" she asked.
Shalelu nodded and turned a chair around backward at the table, swinging a leg over it and sitting, leaning on the chair's back with her forearms. "So. How much do you all know about the goblin tribes, and the chiefs that run them?"
“Seven…” Lief answers the halfling, “…for me. The others’ll probably want some too, though.” He takes a seat next to the wall and tips his chair back so that the wall supports it and his head.
You know the Birdcrunchers are the closest to Sandpoint, on the western edge of the Devil's platter, but they're the least aggressive. The Licktoads live in the Brinestump Marsh. Shank's Wood is home to the Seven Tooth tribe, who raid Sandpoint's junkyard to make armor and weapons. The Mosswood are the biggest tribe but prone to infighting. And finally, the Thistletop goblins, who live on the Nettlewood coast atop a small island.
You're unfamiliar with specific chiefs, but know of a bugbear named Bruthazmus, who trades among them and is a fearsome foe even Shalelu has yet to best.
Diego takes moment to observe the assorted meats before taking a seat at the table. “I’m not much for coffee, but I would enjoy a helping of those fine meats you were working on.” He replies while adjusting his chair into a more comfortable position. “As far as goblins are concerned, I personally don’t know much about them other than they are nothing but a headache for anyone who comes into contact with them. They seem useless and problematic. I would venture to say, it would probably be a service to everyone if they where simply eradicated. But, what do I know. maybe the are important to the world's echo system in some bizarre way.”
"Well..." Lief begins as he watches the halfling work, "there's five local tribes. The Birdcrunchers are the closest to Sandpoint, on the western edge of the Devil's platter, but they're the least aggressive. The Licktoads live in the Brinestump Marsh. Shank's Wood is home to the Seven Tooth tribe, who raid Sandpoint's junkyard to make armor and weapons. The Mosswood are the biggest tribe but prone to infighting. And finally, the Thistletop goblins, who live on the Nettlewood coast atop a small island."
Nico doesn't speak up. She knows no more than most, simply that goblin tribes can be found in most of the desolate or hard to get to places in the region.
"That's about the extent of my knowledge as well. I haven't heard anything about the various chiefs. And how does bugbear wrestling come into the whole thing?" Alistair asks. When the coffee arrives he will offer to pour Shalelu and Nico a cup before pouring his own if it comes in a pot instead of individual cups already.
"Bruthazmus," Shalelu says as Bethana brings coffee and a heaping plate full of ham and bacon. She blows on the hot beverage for a moment. "He's damn canny for a bugbear. I'm ashamed to say he got the drop on me and we had a hell of a back-and-forth. Bastard collects elf ears and has his eyes on mine." She took a sip. "We ended up fighting to a standstill, and I took a calculated leap into the Turandarok to make my getaway. I'll get the bastard eventually."
She stabbed a slice of ham with her fork and didn't bother cutting it, just took a huge bite. "Still," she said, mouth full, "Even he couldn't bring all five tribes together. And he's probably the strongest of the six 'heroes'."
Diego's eyes open wide as Shalelu impales the ham. Within moments he gets a big smile on his face and follows in suit. Stab, chomp...chomp..chomp, followed by a second stab and a third. Diego looks like he is truly delighted. "My, this is quite a treat! Well, I guess goblins brought about this meal, so maybe there is some use for them after all."
"There are six heroes? But it sounds like you don't think any of them are who we're looking for?"
Shalelu shook her head as she continued to enjoy the food, all leftovers from your boar hunt. "Goblins live short, violent lives. Sometimes one of them gains a little notoriety for surviving. There's Big Gugmut, in Mosswood. He's a hobgoblin, and he's real big, but not smart enough to plan anything. Koruvus is one of the Seven Tooth tribe, all he's known for is having a magical longsword -- it's too big for him but he doesn't care. He disappeared a couple months ago but the goblins think he's out there as a ghost or something. They don't talk about him like he's leading them all."
Bethana brings out some more food -- a plate of scrambled eggs, and a basket of freshly baked sweet rolls. Shalelu nods her thanks and grabs a roll. "Vorka's a cannibal from the Licktoad tribe, they aren't gonna follow her. Rendwattle Gutwad is too fat to move. And Ripnugget? Well he's got the best lair, at Thistletop, but he's pretty set on keeping it. Nah. None of them are masterminds. Somebody else is organizing them."
She wiped her face with a napkin and leaned back. "I'm going to clean up a bit, get a catnap in, and then I'm heading back out to patrol the farms until Belor can get help. What about you all? Any leads left to follow in town?"
Lief claims some meat before Diego eats it all, and adds some eggs when they arrive, though most of his attention is on drinking his coffees. He actually pays some attention when Shalelu lists off the goblin 'heroes' but quickly grows disinterested again after the information ends. When the elf begins to excuse herself, he interjects, "I'm sorry, can I ask you one more question? I'm sure these fine investigators have plenty more leads to follow up on, but before you go... can we all call you 'Lulu' or is that just for Ameiko?"
Nico shoots Lief a sidelong, disapproving glance. But otherwise she sticks to her eggs and coffee. There's not much she knows about Lief that has helped in forming a good impression of him.
"Well, honestly we're a bit stuck. We do know the goblins who attacked seem to have had some inside help. Someone to could show them how to get in and out, and probably give them directions on where to go once they were in. We don't think the goblins themselves were scouting Sandpoint in preparation beforehand. It doesn't seem their way."
"We think they may have come around the point by boat or similar, at least some of them. But the goblins who scavenge Junker's Beach have been down there doing it forever and they've never caused any trouble before."
"So, short of leaving town to hunt goblins somewhere, we don't have much to go on."
Eggs...munch, munch, munch,....role.. munch, munch,...another role,....munch, munch, a lot more meat,...munch, munch,...more meat,...
" I kind of feel like we should be out there carving up some goblins rather than playing defense, but I suppose protecting the city has to come first." After finishing off the last of the ham, Diego stands up and prepares for the days patrol. "Well, the meal, absolutely delightful. Wish I had more to share about goblins, but the truth is I know very little about them. That is outside smashing them when I get a chance. How much should I contribute for the meal?"
After settling up, Diego looks to the others to see if they are ready to head out for the days patrol.
"I have a long shot hope of checking wagons in town. I suspect someone ferried several in under cover in the back of a wagon. If so, I thought it possible the person may have abandoned the wagon. If we can find such a wagon perhaps we can discover who it belongs to. Mostly grasping at air but I figure it is better than nothing at the moment." Alistair says eating his eggs and sipping his coffee.
Shalelu smirked at Lief. "I've know 'Mieko since she was a toddler. That was just how she said my name, and it sort've stuck when she grew up. So if you'd like me to think of you as a little girl, be my guest." She winked.
She nodded to Nico and Diego. "That's the hard thing about your jobs. They're either boring, or innocent folks are in danger. I know patrolling the town feels like you aren't accomplishing anything, but we don't know what the next step is -- if they strike the town again, after luring its defenders away, I don't like to think about the consequences." She rose and tested her injured shoulder again, gingerly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go soak in a tub of hot water for a while, pick the twigs out of my hair, then head back out there. Keep vigilant, and stay patient. This isn't over yet, and Sandpoint's depending on you."
Barring further questions, Shalelu makes her way upstairs to the room Amieko always has set aside for her. Bethana, hearing Diego's query, shakes her head. "You all stocked us up on pork for the week, at least, it's on the house this morning."
Diego nods to Shalelu as he heads out the door for patrol.
"Well, if you all will assist, I would like to try and check all the wagons in town. Particularly those that don't look as if they have been used since the festival. It's a long shot but about the only direction to pursue here in town unless someone else has an idea." Alistair says as he follows Diego out.
Jaymin eats sparingly of the spread, too concerned with Shalelu’s state to enjoy himself and when the elf announces her plans to head for a bath, Jaymin almost offers to escort her there before catching himself.
”What about abandoned buildings, or maybe checking out Chopper’s Isle? If the goblins came in on rafts, they may have stayed on the far side of the island to organize, and we might find clues.”
"Checking the wagons is a great place to start. It shows the townsfolk we are still investigating. If we want to explore leads outside of town, we should wait until after our shift ends so we don't short our patrol. I'm sure the mayor would authorize a little overpay." Orin says as they finish up the meal.
"I'm game. Wagons it is." Diego states as he joins the group.
"Sure. Wagons."
"Later, Lulu," Lief says with a mischievous smirk as the elf excuses herself.
He sighs again as he rights his chair and slowly rises from it. "Wagons, huh?" he asks as they head towards the door. "I suppose if someone snuck goblins into town and then made themself scarce before the attack started the wagon could still be sitting somewhere; what would we learn from that though?"
"I suspect that the force behind the organizing of the attack had help from within the town. If we do discover a wagon that was used, we can locate its owner and ask a few questions." Orin replies.
You all take your leave of the Dragon, full from a hearty breakfast, and continue your conversation as you head across town. The goblins hit the square first, so your search should start there. As Orin pointed out, it also made you more visible.
You spend the next couple of hours looking and asking around. Most of the townsfolk are happy to help, giving you solid claps on the back and thanking you for all your hard work.