Kemras sighs inwardly, struggling with the notion that his name is now known to everyone here. And everywhere else in this town, soon enough. Gods, small town gossip... Even more than a decade after leaving his family's caravan, he still remembers how quickly word can spread in smaller communities. Give me the anonymity of the city any day. Especially when what I'm famous for is something I don't do well at all.
Despite his struggles, he does offer what comfort he can to the other four who seem to need it the most. A thought niggles at the back of his mind, however. Am I lacking in compassion, that I don't feel sorrow for the dead or injured - both the citizens and the goblins? That I brought death to those small lives? I mean, I do feel bad for them, but... not emotionally. It's all in my head, not my heart. He takes a quiet breath. I should feel for them, for both the injured and dead civilians and the dead goblins. I regret their deaths, but is that enough? What was it old Visha used to say? "If you cannot pray in your heart, then pray that you may one day be able to pray." Maybe that applies here. He can at least act with sorrow. In time, that may bring out actual feelings of regret.
When Tot arrives, he glances up, a lopsided grin briefly ghosting over his face. "If there was an ogre, no one told me. Maybe it was an invisible one..." He rubs his chin in mock contemplation. "Bulvarius, Sara, Audra, Joanna... do you think we might've accidentally slain an invisible ogre?"
Bulvarius the Brave rubs his chin in mock thought;
"We could have... Tho' as the monster is invisible, perhaps it lies slain and unseen somewhere within the town... with its invisible treasure!"
The young noblewoman blushes at Garridan's praise. She feels that she's a rather poor storyteller. Moments like the one she'd just had were rare. Still, she graciously accepts the innkeeper's words and thanks him for both them and the food. As she eats and feels the events of this evening weighing on her, she notices the playing children, and feels her face heat even more when she hears them wanting to be her. Tot's arrival, though a surprise, is a welcome distraction. Hearing they'd slain an ogre is much more surprising, though.
"If we did, it wasn't much of an ogre. I don't think we even noticed it," Joanna says. "Best not keep Miss Ameiko waiting while we try to figure out if we did kill an invisible ogre or not."
Sara lets out a sigh of relief at Garridan's words about her family, and graciously thanks him for his warm meal.
With her worries lessened, she finally manages to relax a little, and even joins the others with their meals, the stew warming her body and helping her put the harrowing experience out of her mind. She even gives an honest smile as she sees the kids playing out the group.
At the very least, it seems our actions have given the people a reason to cheer and celebrate, rather than focus on the ruined festival. I'll have to thank Joanna later for her inspiring tale. And who knows how many more would have been hurt if it weren't for us.
As the talk switches to the invisible ogre, Sara even lets out a small chuckle. "Hmmm, an invisible ogre, that only Lord Foxglove could see? I'm guessing it might have been pink, too. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out he indulged a little too much on the free drinks... Would explain his more... eccentric behaviour when we rescued him, too."
Tot's mouth hangs agape at first , her cheeks reddening as she's gently teased by the group...then she smiles, getting the joke, "Oh...invisible...ha..ha..ha!" she says, shaking her head at her own gullibility.
"That Lord Foxglove can truly spin a tale! But come, Ameiko wants to feed you and put you all up at the 'Dragon for the next week!" she says, beginning to lead you in the direction of the Rusty Dragon.
At the Rusty Dragon, the customers already there rise up and cheer your arrival. You see Ameiko push through the crowd of well-wishers to hug both Sara and Joanna, and give earnest arm-holds to Kemras, Bulvarius and Audra.
"Well done! You saved many with your heroics! Your drinks and meals today are on me! And you each have a room for the week!" she declares, to the cheers of the on-lookers.
There's much back patting and handshaking after that, as the group is drawn into a celebration, both of their exploits and a need to put the horror of the attack out of each other's minds.
Ameiko notices Joanna's eyes seeking someone in the crowd, and asks "Are you looking for someone?". She then scans the group of Joanna's and Sara's friends and notices someone was missing, "Ah...the big man? Darius? ".
At Joanna's nod, she affirms, "I saw him fighting down near the docks! He was doing quite well, so I'm sure he's fine."
Joanna thanks Ameiko for the information before finding Sara and letting her know where she was going. Ameiko is probably right, but something nags at Joanna as she hurries off to the docks. Why hadn't Uncle Darius come back to find her after the fighting was over?
Kemras decides to spend the later evening searching for any information on whether the sage Quink has survived, and where exactly any places of study (libraries, schools, and so on) are available. While he does so, he tries to make sure to check in on the injured and express his sympathies to those he asks.
Audra planned to find this 'Jubrayl Vhiski' character the next day.
For now though, a meal sounded good, and maybe a chat with Toth.
You head for the docks, seeing signs of damage all over, broken doors and windows, scorch marks from brief and some not too brief fires...even splashed of blood here and there.
At the docks, you can see that the docked ships were not spared, many with rigging and sails in tatters , a couple floating free as they'd been cut loose by the marauding goblins.
People bustle here and there, setting things right, cleaning up debris, tending the wounded.
It is in one of these groups that you find good Uncle Darius, sitting on a a barrel, being tended by a local woman, who was wrapping his head with a long makeshift bandage.
He sees you and shouts, "Ah, my Dear Joanna!" and attempts to rise to meet you , but is sternly pushed down by the woman, "you just sit yourself down, now! I'm almost done!" she says.
The turns to you , "This big idiot won't sit still for me to tend to his only wound! Sit Still! Slew seven of those beasts! Was quite the sight!" she says, alternating between bossing Darius and chatting with you .
Darius snorts, "Aye, I was doing well until I was brained...buy a chamber pot! Thrown by one of those bastards! A chamber pot....ow!" he exclaims and the woman finishes tightening her bandage.
Leaving the raucous celebration in the Rusty Dragon, you start asking around for what places of learning might persist in the town. You come across a garrulous elderly man, who is all too pleased to acquaint you with his thoughts on the recent attack , as well as information pertintent to your endeavor. "Books? Learnin'? Quink? That odd fellow? You'd best head over to The Curious Gobling , you'd find all you seek there! " he instructs before walking off muttering to himself about goblins and what he'd have done had he been 35 years younger.
Following his instructions, you find The Curious Gobling , identified by a sign that shows a wide-eyed goblin reading and upside-down book nearly as tall has him. The sign shows signs of the attack, hanging from one hook and splashes of something dark all over it. Within you find a few people slowly picking up a multitude of books and manuscripts from the floor and placing them on the shelves that fill the bookshop. One of them straightens when you arrive at the door, "Sorry, closed until we can sort this out....unless you'd like to help?"
** spoiler omitted **...
Joanna sighs and smiles wryly when she finds Uncle Darius alive, if hurt.
"Please forgive him, ma'am. Uncle Darius is a stubborn man, even if his body tells him it can't do as he wants," She says before her smile turns warm and grateful. "Thank you for helping him. He's very dear to me and my family. If I may, I am Joanna Whitehall. May I have your name?"
Sara joins Joanna in going to the docks, wanting to check up on her father and cousin as well. She hugs her dad tightly when they arrive. After making sure thy're safe and unhurt, she even gives a weak smile as she sees the trouble with Uncle Darius.
The next day, Sara will get up early and visit the graveyard - kneeling down at her mother's grave as she quietly recounts all that happened the previous day, and thanking her for watching over her and everyone else.
Upon arriving at the Curious Gobling, the half-elf takes a swift glance over the mess. "Did the goblins get into this place as well?" He asks, concerned. "No, they would've burned it all down. So what did happen? Wait, no. Let me help, and if you want, you can tell me." Kemras busies himself doing just that.
After a making sure that Uncle Darius isn't going to do anything too reckless, Joanna feels the last bits of energy drain from her. She leans against Sara as the two of them head for her home, and it takes all of Joanna's willpower not to just collapse onto the bed wearing clothes that still smell of smoke and blood despite all that magic could do.
With no one else around, after she and Sara have gotten ready for bed, Joanna holds her cousin tight as the dam holding back her emotions breaks.
"I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry I made you worry," she blubbers into Sara's shoulder. "I'm sorry you got hurt. I'm sorry the goblins ruined everything!"
The next morning, Joanna goes with Sara to the graveyard, though she gives her cousin as much privacy as she wants. Instead of the sturdy outfit she wore yesterday, she wears a white shirt with a blue vest and skirt and a black hat with a blue band. Glittering on her breast in the morning sun is a silver pendant depicting a thrush with a long tail in seven colors.
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The old man, his arms full of books and parchments he just picked up off the floor, he exclaims, "They tried! Didn't they Isolari?" questioning the less older man tiding up a table full of books nearby.
With a smile, the man, Isolari nods, "Our dear friend, Sabyl " he says, indicating the young woman at the far end of the room using a broom to sweep up some debris, " happened to be in the back room when the goblins tried to fire the place. She took care of them!" he says proudly.
The young woman smiles but offers no comment.
The older man heaves his armload of writings onto the table in front of him, then sticks out his hand in greeting, "Brodert Quink, at your service!"
After a day of relaxing and tending to other affairs, the group finds themselves back at the Rusty Dragon, the guests of a now absent Lord Foxglove. He has laid out a feast of wild boar, just caught that day, for the group. In a letter left with Ameiko, he declares, My dearest friends and benefactors, and most beautiful Sara, matters of import call me back to Magnimmar, but I could not leave without a small token of my respect and admiration. Feast, drink, enjoy your victory! Should you have cause to visit Magnimmar please visit me at my home.
On the table at each of your place settings is a small bag containing 50gp!
"Well, you certainly made an impression on Lord Foxglove, he couldn't stop talking about you all...especially you Sara!" Ameiko jests as she fills your wine glasses, "Your food and drink is on the Lord's tab this evening!"
It is then that the tavern's door slams open and a local dignitary enters in a rage, Longjiku Kaijitsu, Ameiko's father.
"Where the hell is my daughter?"
The other regulars of the tavern all grow quiet as Longjiku stands, seething, in the doorway, looking around for Ameiko.
Ameiko for her part, having filled your wineglasses, had retreated to the back rooms.
Striding forwards, Longjiku scans the room, his eyes finally settling your group. Rushing forward, he looms over your feast, his eyes slitted, lips twisted into a derisive sneer, "Ah...our 'heroes' having their well deserved feast! he spits out, "Ha! Had not your ill-advised antics endangered the fine townsfolk, I'm sure the city guard...trained professionals all...would have finished their job that much more quickly!"
Joanna isn't sure what to make of Lord Foxglove's infatuation with Sara. Something about the man and how quickly he'd fixated on her cousin makes her wary of him. As she sits down to enjoy the meal, she starts trying to remember everything she can about the Foxglove family. Before she can act on what she recalls, however, Lonjiku Kaijitsu comes storming in and squashing the conviviality right out of the Dragon's common room.
Unfortunately for Joanna's peace of mind, she is all too familiar with Lord Kaijitsu's type, snide, condescending, and far too sure of their own competence in matters they have no experience. After yesterday's events and seeing how they had affected her cousin and the town, Joanna's own emotions are just a tad too raw to let the man's blathering go unanswered. She stands up and faces Lord Kaijitsu with a precisely correct curtsey.
"Lord Kaijitsu. It is good to see that you are doing well after the illness that prevented you from attending the Swallowtail Festival yesterday. Truly, you must be blessed with amazing eyesight to see all that transpired yesterday from your sick bed."
Bulvarius enjoys the feast, but also tries to recall what he knows of the Foxgloves;
The armiger assesses Master Kaijitsu, his face hardening as the dignitary attempted to pour scorn upon the group's valour.
He rises slowly joining Joanna, ire and menace clear in his voice;
"Ware your words sir, should you continue to cast doubt upon the proficiency we showed upon the field I would deem it necessary to give you a personal demonstration. Now begone from our presence before you force me to forget my manners..."
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The Foxgloves are a very minor noble house out of Magnimar with some quite successful merchant activities. Probably has had some dealings with Whitehall Mercantile Company.
Lord Kaijitsu sneers as Joanna speaks, about to refute her statement. His verbal volley is interrupted, however, by Bulvarius and is non too subtle theat.
The color drains from Lord Kaijitsu's face, his mouth opens , once, twice as he tries to find a word to say in the face of Bulvarius' menacing warning.
Finally , he musters whatever courage he has to shriek, "You dare! Why , if I were a younger man!" he begins to sputter and mutter, his eyes wide with fear.
At that moment, Ameiko returns, a ladel dripping with soup in her hand, "What's all the ruckus?" she demands, then sees her father.
Lord Kaijistu sees his daugher, and with a wary glance at Bulvarius, runs up to her , yelling in his native tongue, Ameiko yelling back in kind.
"Enough of your foolishness....I'm moving the family back to Magnimar and you're coming with me. This attack proves this town isn't safe!"
"I'm not going anywhere, this is my home!"
"Home? Home is where your family is....with me! You'll abandon your little project here and do your duty to me ! "
"I won't!!! Now leave me alone....leave my inn...right now! I hate you you old dried up, honorless, bitter old man!"
The go back and forth, getting louder , until Ameiko yells at him , right in his face!
Enraged, Ameiko's father attempts to grab her by her hair, but she easily dodges and brains him with her soupy ladel, spattering fish stock and potoatoes all over his hair and outfit.
Amazed by her act of defiance, Lord Kaijistu sputters for a moment, the with a cold tone, says "You're a dead to me as your mother."
He then turn and leaves the inn swiftly.
A sniff from Ameiko brings attention back to her, as she successfully prevents herself from tearing up. She picks up the ladle, and picks a hair out of the mess and says, "I'll need a well-cleaned ladel now, since jackass stew isn't on the menu."
Joanna resists the urge to glare at Bulvarius. She's certain that she could handle Lord Kaijitsu on her own. His threat of a duel, at least she hopes it's for a duel, is far more likely to get them into trouble, but seeing the bitter old man gape like a fish does a lot to soothe her irritation, at least until Ameiko emerges from the kitchens and the argument gets truly heated. She doesn't follow what's happening, other than it's steadily getting out of hand, and she's slow to react when Lonjiku reaches for Ameiko. Joanna reaches out needing to do something, but unsure of how to help. She freezes in place, though, as she marvels at how easily Ameiko avoids the old man's grasp and smacks him with her ladle.
Despite how things have escalated, she's isn't prepared for what happens next and stands stunned as Lonjiku storms out. She ignores him, focusing on Ameiko as she holds back the tears.
That old man did that on purpose, didn't he, Joanna thinks as Ameiko tries to shrug off what happened with a joke. Well, she can do one thing to make things a bit easier.
Joanna sings a short bar of notes and puts on a smile as she cast a spell to clean off the ladle.
"Probably still needs a good scrubbing, but at least his bitter stench is gone now," the young noblewoman quips with a grin before getting close to Ameiko and whispering in her ear.
"Do you need a moment? I can keep everyone entertained for a little while if needed."
The following morning, Kemras is up and about as soon as he can be. After carefully meditating on his various trinkets and relics, he joins the others at the Rusty Dragon.
The message prompts him to raise his eyebrows. "Fascinating man." He says. And wealthy, as well. Shame we couldn't spend more time with him. I'd like to have gotten a better measure of who he is.
The arrival of Lonjiku brings Kemras' good mood - such as it is - to a swift end. "Why yes, sir. Next time we'll certainly throw ourselves on the goblins' weapons while trying to get the professionals to deal with it." He says dryly, then winces as Bulvarius takes a much blunter approach to matters. I hope this isn't a man with influence.
He can't intervene in the conflict between the relatives before it's over, but does catch the words Joanna offers to their hostess. Uncomfortable though he is with the spotlight, he does raise his voice to speak in a deeply sardonic tone. "Charming man, really. He could teach at a school for the wealthy youths in Magnimar... or was it asses? I confess, I get the two confused too often."
When Kemras compares wealthy Magnimarian youths to asses, there's a flash of something like pain in Joanna's eyes, but it's gone just as swiftly as it appears.
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As Joanna whispers in Ameiko's ear, the tavern owner initially straightens to look her friend in the eye, and Joanna is sure that she was going to stubbornly refuse, but then a sudden welling of tears appeared in both eyes and with a swift nod and wan smile, Ameiko retreats to the back rooms. However, she does pause and nod her thanks to Bulvarius and Kemras and any others who came to her defense.
A number of regulars approach and congratulate the group for standing up to Lord Kaijistu, "That was well said! , "You told him...here have a drink!" , "That put him in his place, it did!!"
Joanna returns Ameiko's smile with a grin before hopping up onto one of the tables. She can hear her tutors clucking their tongues in her head, but she ignores them. Well, she'll just have to deal with her guilty conscious later.
"Bah! Forget that old man! His kind thrive off spoiling everyone's good mood," Joanna says, miming tossing something away as she speaks. She holds her arms wide as she turns to address everyone in the room. "Sing! Be merry! Dance! Let him hear us having fun all the way across the Turandarok in his house on the bluff, and not a breath wasted on him!"
She stomps on the sturdy table and claps her hands to start the beat then begins singing a merry old tavern tune and dancing along the table. It isn't her best performance, but it's more than enough to get the Rusty Dragon's patrons into a merry mood and joining in.
Unfortunately for Joanna, she gets too into it and misjudges how much room she has on the table just as she begins the last verse. As she sings "downsides go up," her heel misses the edge of the table and she goes tumbling back with a look of surprise and panic.
Either Desna smiles on Joanna or her reflexes are that good, she manages to avoid adding more embarrassment and turns the misstep into a somewhat awkward hop off the table. She gives a sheepish smile to the crowd as her fair face turns bright crimson before finishing off the song.
I think I'll keep my feet planted on the floor the rest of the evening, she thinks before starting another song.
With everyone in the evening, Audra sits looking around.
Who of the townies hasn't she spoken to yet?
Someone must know something about her contact? Her efforts bore no fruit the previous day.
Despite your efforts, it's difficult to get anyone to talk about Jubrayl Vhiski....two possibilities come to mind. Either they don't know the man...or they do, and are too afraid to talk about him.
As Kemras introduces himself, Quink squints at him, "Ah...one of our valorous heroes! I hear you and your friends did our good town a equally good service. Hear! Hear! You have our thanks as well!" he declares, and the others murmur their own congratulations.
As the clean up continues, Kemras' probing questions reveal a deep knowledge of Varisian history, including it's time as a Thassilonian nation. He prattles on about this ruin and that, especially the Old Light, right here in Sandpoint!
As Ameiko retreats and Joanna's impromptu performance begins and almost tragically ends, the other customers respond and clap and laugh and sing along with one of their new favorites.
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The mention of the Lost Light intrigues him. "Yes, I've heard that many folk here don't believe your theories about the Lost Light. Could you expand on them?"
Kemras smiles, clapping along with the song, though he refrains from singing. If only to spare everyone else the sound of my singing voice.
Audra's frustrated nobody's talking.
Curses.
Instead, she tries asking for places people hang out to relax...aside from the inn. To her idea, perhaps the guy can be found in more viceful establishments.
As you change the direction of your inquiries, a very drunk villager leans in and says, "If whoever yer lookin' fer , don't really want ta be looked fer...try the Fatman's Feedbag...careful tho'....lots of fights there...hic..."
"Ah...modesty! Tut! " Quinn exclaims, the wincing , reaches back to rub the small of his back, "Ach...too much bending over. I must retire! " he says, placing a book on a towering pile.
Shaking Kemras' hand , "It was a pleasure to meet you , Kemras. Glad to meet someone curious about the past! " Quinn says, then with a wave to Kemras and the others ,totters out the door and down the street.
Whether Joanna continues to entertain or not, the festivities in the Rusty Dragon continue into the early hours, until the staff convince the die-hards to go home.
The next morning finds the group in one of the Rusty Dragon's private rooms, chatting with Ameiko as she and her staff bring food and drink. The trouble of the night before seems to have been forgotten....for now.
Into the midst of this meal, Father Zantus arrives, his brow furrowed with concern.
He waves at you to finish your meal, as he steps out into the corridor to have a low conversation with Ameiko.
When he sees that your repast is finishes, he enters and says, "I've found something unsettling in the Boneyard. I'd appreciate it if you'd accompany me to investigate...." he stands , wringing his hands.
Joanna does spend some more time singing, but after she nearly fell off the table, she keeps her feet firmly on the ground. The staff of the Rusty Dragon finds the young noblewoman sleeping at a table with her head resting on her folded arms. Exhausted, she winds up spending the night in one of the rooms that Ameiko had offered after the raid on Sandpoint had been beaten back.
The next morning, Joanna spends some time in prayer to Shelyn, sketching and dancing as she mentally recites the words and meditates on them. After washing up and making sure her appearance is impeccable with some judicious use of magic, she joins the others downstairs for breakfast. Father Zantus' appearance is unexpected, but it's his nervousness that has Joanna on edge.
"Certainly, Father Zantus," Joanna says, wondering what's going on and what has the kindly priest so nervous. "Should we be expecting trouble?"
Father Zantus raises his shoulders, "That I do not know, " he says in response to Joanna's question, "But with the attack...." he says, leaving the obvious unsaid.
He continues, "I asked the Sheriff to assist, and he suggested seeking you all out as well. He waits for us at the Boneyard gate..." he says, his eyes pleading for you to come.
"Oh, Father Zantus, there's no need to look like that. I'll come regardless of what awaits us, but I would like to dress properly for the occasion," Joanna says with what she hopes is a disarming smile that hides her own nerves. Uncle Darius would likely not want her going at all, but what kind of mischief could she actually get up to with the sheriff and Father Zantus there watching over her shoulder. "Still, I imagine that he'd not appreciate waiting while I go back to the Deverin manor and change. Would it be possible to borrow some arms and something more appropriate for any trouble we may find," she asks.
After hearing the drunk's comment about finding people who want 'privacy', Audra decides to do so next day.
Audra finishes her bread with cheese and tea. She wasn't a fan of being rushed for someone else's convenience, except when it's family or friends. The 'father' wasn't one, so she walks over to the bar at a casual pace to hand off her plate and mug.
Only then does she head over to join with the others.
"Trouble at your graveyard? Of many places, why there?", she muses out loud.
Ameiko arrives and says, "We're of a size, Joanna, you can borrow whatever of mine you want...plus you can check our junk closet for anything else..."
The news from Father Zanthus gives Bulvarius pause from his breakfast and elicits an eager nod from the Hellknight Aspirant;
"Perhaps those dead goblyns have risen anew for another tilt at us! If it is a problem concerning the undying, then we will send them to the Boneyard again... More fame to add to our storied fame eh my friends!"
He rises, leather creaking despite the daily oiling it recieved as part of his dawn drilling and exercises. He reaches for pack and pike...
"Let us not keep the good Sheriff waiting..."
"Thank you, Ameiko," Joanna says when the Rusty Dragon's owner offers to loan her a change of clothes and something to help protect herself if trouble did arise. Though, as she stands and hears Bulvarius speculate, the young noblewoman starts to wonder if arise might be an ill choice of words.
Is that even possible, she asks herself as she follows Ameiko.
After a few minutes, Joanna comes back now dressed in one of Ameiko's outfits and wearing a borrowed sword at her hip.
"Apologies for the wait, Father Zantus."
"The Boneyard?" Kemras asks when the priest arrives, his brows furrowing slightly. "Your cemetery is named for the plane of the dead?" He shakes his head. "Never mind, not important right now."
"Like my fellows, I'm willing to help out by looking around." He hesitates. "I'm not sure how much use I'll be if it comes down to a fight, but I'm... rather good at noticing things that might be amiss."
Still, at least I don't need any equipment. He muses, looking at Joanna. All I have is what I'm carrying. He rises. "I'm as prepared as I'm going to get, absent a buying spree of potions or the like."
Father Zantus offers profuse thanks as he lead the group through the streets of Sandpoint back to the scene of the goblin attack. There he follows a crushed stone path around the cathedral to a gate where Sheriff Hemlock stands, arms crossed.
He nods greeting to the group, then advises, "Stay in the Cathedral, Father, just in case...". He then opens the gate and gestures for the group to follow him inside.
"The good Father hadn't had a chance to perform his ususal maintenance of the Boneyard since the attack, but when he did, he found something disturbing. He came to me at once..."
He stops in front of a fairly large tomb, "That's the tomb used to inter the remains of previous caretakers, priests and acolytes who served at the Cathedral. " Hemlock explains, then points at the slab of stone that should be unmarred.
It is standing slightly ajar, marks in the stone showing where someone had used tools to open the tomb.
The ground in front of the the place is churned up ...many of the footprints are goblin prints, but some seem to have been left by a larger humanoid.
You can tell that about 6 goblins and one Medium humanoid climbed the wall then approached and entered the vault.
Her own trained skills of use, Audra notices the tracks, and takes a good measure of the sizes and numbers.
"All those footprints, i'd say 6 green nuisances and one medium sized humanoid got over the wall, then made their way in."
Joanna looks around, but can't see what Audra does, even when she's pointing it out.
"I'll have to take your word on that," the young noblewoman says. "But why would someone being working with the goblins, and why this crypt? If they needed a body, surely there are easier ways to get one."
Looking at the entrance to the crypt, Joanna softly hums a few notes and summons four motes of light to her side.
"Should we let light guide our way," she asks.
Kemras nods his agreement with Audra. "Your assessment matches mine." He says, frowning. "But... goblins eat almost anything, yes? Would they bother going into a tomb to eat the corpses?" He looks at the Sheriff, then at the other natives of Sandpoint. "It seems like a lot of effort for the goblins to go to, even if there is a relatively fresh corpse inside. Presumably, then, it was at the behest of our larger tomb-breaker."
The half-elf thinks. "We're left with questions and a handful of conclusions: First, who would want to desecrate the tomb of previous caretakers? I don't know local politics well enough to say, but I would guess that the humanoid is a local with a grudge against the priesthood... but then why go for the corpses rather than the living priests?"
He folds his arms, glaring down into the dark. "The goblin attack was probably a ruse - or rather, a distraction. At the very least, someone was willing to use the chaos in the plaza as a means to get at the tomb. Someone doesn't like Sandpoint very much or is very callous, to allow - or cause - that atrocity solely to tomb-rob.
"Beyond that... I can't conclude anything until we go down there."
"That sounds like this had more thought put into it than goblins normally put into things," Joanna observes.
First, who would want to desecrate the tomb of previous caretakers? I don't know local politics well enough to say, but I would guess that the humanoid is a local with a grudge against the priesthood... but then why go for the corpses rather than the living priests?"
"If goblins eat almost anything, one could argue the fact that corpses don't fight back, and this place was remote enough to potentially get away with it. But that wouldn't explain a medium sized person to accompany them."
"I'm rather to ask, what did that person offer the goblins, that prevented the goblins from outright killing them?"
Bulvarius follows the others, happy for them to use their skills.
At the notion of goblin's eating corpses he grimaces;
"Goblin ghouls perhaps? Who knows that those little devils come across..."
At the group's theories the big Hellknight-Aspirant questions the Sheriff;
"Do we know which priests tomb was desecrated? If so what was their background... and cause of death?"
Joanna shivers visibly when Bulvarius mentions goblin ghouls.
"Goblins and ghouls are bad enough on their own from what I've heard. I do not relish the thought of facing something that foul," she says as she tries to ward off a chill that has little to do with the pleasant autumnal weather.