Donimah breathes slowly to try and get her own temper down.
"You've...got quite a way with words, Zeldrith. I'll take that drink. A good stiff one."
Donimah declines to comment on Zeldrith's new job or circumstances. She rides closer to Persephone.
"You do a lot of listening, but not a lot of speaking, don't you?"
Isabel begins laughing!
Persephone smiles.
My joy comes from listening to others enjoyment, experience, dreams. Desna teaches that listening is the highest form of curtsy.
The Varisian then giggles.
Although I am Varisian so...haha!
Foxglove listens attentively to all the tales and recounts. He seems very satisfied at the name "Arrian's raiders" that Zeldrith came up with for the group of heroes. He says "This is most fitting.", then looks at Arrian for an uncomfortable amount of time. He is interrupted by the arrival in the woods.
It takes some time, but Arrian manages to find some game tracks. Zeldrith notices a few eaten leaves which helps] him get on a deer family's track. However, the group is surprised to find a couple of wild boars near their territory. They are attacked, and a ferocious combat ensues. However, the group prevails without any serious injuries.
Back to town, Ameiko gladly accepts the boar carcass with glee. Since there are two, Arrian can even take one of them to Jargie too.
Ameiko's staff helps bring in the carcass into the kitchen. It certainly makes all patrons look, and also some people that were walking closeby as well. Foxglove goes to his room to change into clean clothes. After the animal is brought in, Ameiko comes out and loudly announces "Dinner is gonna be goooooood! We have our heroes to thank for that!" to which most people respond with a mix of applause, hurrah and some awkward thumbs up. She then goes into the kitchen to start the seasoning of the boar.
Some more people stream into the tavern, making sure they get a table to enjoy the food. One of them is an elderly Tian man. He barges in, clearly innebriated and barks something in Minkaian "娘はどこにいるんだ"
"Where the hell is my daughter?"
Anyone from these parts identify him as Lonjiku, Ameiko's father. He is known for his angry outbursts. The patrons around the tavern that know him become suddenly very interested in their plates and tables.
He starts by scanning the room looking for someone. When he sees the group of adventurers, he seems somewhat surprised then angrier. He shouts at the group in Common "You there! Endangering the townsfolk with your... antics against the goblins! Why don't you leave the defense of the town to the city guard! They are trained professionals!"
He sets his eyes on Zeldrith and says with a smirk "At least you will face some justice. You deserve what's coming to you." Despite speaking loudly and angrily, he does not move towards the group.
Arrian returns Lord Foxglove's stare for a bit and then goes back to looking for tracks.
"Jargie always told me to listen to my gut and it's saying something isn't quite right here."
Juriya puts on a nice, warm smile, and begins speaking calmly to the inebriated Lonjiku, "お願いします、ロンジクさん、私は一日の大半をゼルドリスと一緒に過ごしており、他の人たちも彼を見守っています。彼があなたの娘に何かしなければならない理 由が何でしょうか、そして私が何かを隠さなければならない理由が何ですか？深呼吸してください。あなたは明確に考えていないようです。素面で落ち着いているうち に娘を見つけることができるでしょう"
"Please, Mr. Lonjiku, I have been with Zeldrith for the majority of the day, and other people have been watching him as well. What reason would he have to do anything with your daughter, and what reason would I have to hide anything? Please, take a deep breath, you do not seem to be thinking clearly, and you will have better luck finding your daughter while sober, and calm."
She then switches to Common, so the rest of the group aside from Ano knows what is being said, "Besides, we only attacked the Goblins that were in our vicinity. The other goblins were dispatched either by similar people attacking those that would threaten their livelihood," she says, trying her best to retain her emotions and seem collected, "or the city guard themselves."
Ano was enjoying herself at the Inn, that boar hunt put her in better spirits than usual. And all that good feeling flew out the window the second Lonjiku came into the scene.
When he started accusing them all of endangering the town, the catfolk looked deeply hurt by that, and tried to shy herself away. Though she did get a bit of courage to speak.
"M-Mr. Kaijitsu, sir. We couldn't just...st-stand by and let people get hurt. I-I know I might've acted...off...but I swear, we only-"
Donimah hangs back during the battle with the boars, leaving it to the more physically adept members of the team.
Upon their return to the Rusty Dragon, she basks in the admiration of the townsfolk before Lord Kaijistu storms in ranting. She immediately draws herself up and gets that cold, stern expression on her face again, about to open her mouth and say something arrogant before Juriya intervenes. She doesn't understand what's being said, but the tone clearly conveys she's opting for the diplomatic approach, so she doesn't say anything, though she nudges Ano a bit when she tries to apologize.
"Don't waste your breath, Ano, this man's looking for something to be mad at so he can make a scene. Apologizing will just give him an excuse to bully you."
Zeldrith steps forward in the battle with the boars, charging into combat with practiced ease and careful to stay out of the range of the boars' goring tusks.
At the Rusty Dragon, as Lord Kaijitsu storms in, Zeldrith initially stays in his seat, his head hunched, but shame fills his thoughts. What am I doing? This uniform's not just clothes - it stands for something, and I can't back down from every arrogant old man just because he's got a temper! Bolstered by his resolve (and a few sips of liquid courage as reserves), he stands, smirking as he brushes himself off. "I'm a soldier, Your Spinelessness - there's a school of thought that goes that I am a professional. Of course, I don't fault you for missing that - I understand it's hard to make those sorts of observations when you're cowering under your bed soiling yourself." He cracks his knuckles and grins. "Of course, if you'd like a demonstration, we can have a private little war here, just you and me!"
Persephone and Isabel both enjoy the hunt. They both seem enamored with being in the woods, feeling the breeze and breathing the fresh foliage.
While the boars were being handled by the boys, Persephone watched with a smile on her face.
At the Rusty Dragon, they both partake in conversations, food and frowns at the impromptu bullying of a rich drunk.
They studiously ignore him.
More properly equipped for 'battle', even though its against boars and not goblins or skeletons, Arrian is glad to have performed well enough to feed his friends and some of the residents of Sandpoint. It would be nice to give the people something to be happy about!
Arrian was preparing to leave for The Hagfish with the boar for Jargie braced over his shoulders when Mr. Kaijitsu storms in and makes his scene.
Conflicting emotions cross Arrian's face as he struggles a bit as to how to respond. Instead of shrinking down and lowering his head as he used to he now steps forward, looks Mr. Kaijitsu in the eyes, and simply says, "No. You're wrong about us and Zel won't be facing any justice from you. I'm not the little boy you chased out of apple orchards. None of us are children anymore. You need to not only accept it; you need to respect it. I need to get this boar to Jargie because I provide for my family, friends, and community."
Flexing his muscles and adjusting the heavy weight across his shoulders Arrian leaves the Rusty Dragon for The Hagfish.
At The Hagfish Arrian presents the boar to Jargie and all of the patrons with promises that Jargie and he will get it cooked soon for all to enjoy. He motions to Jargie to join him in the kitchen where he puts the boar down on the slaughtering table and takes a seat, gesturing for Jargie to do the same.
"Mr. Kaijitsu just made a scene at the Rusty Dragon where he accused my friends and me of endangering Sandpoint and threatened Zel with 'justice' for something."
As Jargie starts to stand, likely going to the Rusty Dragon for a 'talk' with Kaijitsu, Arrian stops him.
"Wait! There's something else I need to tell you. I've been around here long enough and watched, learned, and know some of the people who you 'associate' with."
Arrian stops Jargie from objecting, "Please let me finish. This isn't judgement or anything; you're the best...
Growing emotional he struggles to continue, "father I could've hoped to have. I need your help. You told me to trust my guy and my gut tells me there's something odd about this Lord Foxglove. I need you to make inquiries with your associates to see what they can learn about him and his estate outside of town. He seems far too interested in my friends and I and our histories and backstories. I just want to make sure I'm not walking into the wolf's lair."
Drying his eyes Arrian says, "For now we need to get this boar butchered, on a spit, and over the fire. We'll eat well tonight!"
He smiles at Jargie as they go to work.
Old man Kaijitsu stands without words after Juriya talks to him in his mother language. He stands a bit awkwardly, ignoring Ano, but then he hears Zeldrith and Arrian standing up to him. He exhales noisily and says trying to stay on a high horse "Just what we need... a filthy band of vagrants to attract even more trouble to town."
He turns to leave, apparently having forgotten what he came here for. Just then, Ameiko comes from the kitchen, still carrying a ladle with potatoes and a liquid which must be vegetable stock from the smell. Annoyed to be interrupted in the seasoning of her boar, she demands "What's going on? No fighting in my tavern!" The old man turns to her and says some things in Minkaian with resolve "私たちはマニマールに戻る。一緒に来るように命令する"
"We're moving back to Magnimar. You are to come with me, I order you."
Ameiko, still holding the ladle without letting it drip, looks at him amused and replies in Minkaian also "私に命令することはできない。私はここに残るから、好きなようにしてくれ" She feigns calm, but the more perceptive in the group can notice that the ladle is slightly trembling.
"You can't order me to do anything. I'm staying here, you do as you please."
The old man barks in return "私と一緒に来るか、さもなければ私の意志からあなたを切り離す" He takes a step towards her.
"You WILL come with me, or else I'll cut you out from my will."
Ameiko scoffs and says "私の宿から出て行きなさい、ロブスターの糞みたいな年寄りの言い訳。" Her eyes seem to be misting a bit.
"Get out of my inn, you old excuse for lobster dung."
This last remark seems to have hit the old man wrong. He rages up and charges towards her and tries to grab her by the hair. She dodges the grab and swings the ladle in her hand, hitting him on the forehead, spattering him with potatoes and the stock. The old man looks at her in shock for a moment, then says "私にとってあなたは、あなたの母親と同じように死んでいる。" and marches out of the tavern.
"You're as dead to me as your mother."
Bethana, the halfling quickly runs in to clean the mess and looks at Ameiko without knowing what to do. Ameiko finally finds the strength to move, takes the ladle from Bethana's hand and readjusts her hair. When she speaks, one can hear the trembling voice "I'll need a well-cleaned ladle now. Jackass is not on the menu!" This makes the patrons crack in laughter and cheer, which certaintly helps her with her mood.
Jargie hits Arrian on the arm a little harder than needed, but the slap is still friendly. He says "Well, boy, that Kaijitsu old man is more trouble than help. I've heard he has some weird business with the Scarnettis, and that's never good news. I'll ask about this Foxglove man, haven't heard much myself."
Ano understood the entire conversation, and her spots flashed a slight shade of her light blue when Lonjiku tried to grab Ameiko by the hair. She was about to storm out and throttle Lonjiku, only to get pecked repeatedly on the head.
"There! You calm?" Cherry asked sternly.
"Yes. I am. But don't peck me again." Ano replied annoyingly. She then turned to Ameiko and talked to her.
"Ameiko? Are you okay?"
Zeldrith watches without comprehension as the two Kaijitsus argue in Minkaian, scowling and returning to his seat as the arrogant nobleman storms out. "You'd think that with all that money, he could buy some manners from someone, yes?" He glares at the retreating figure of Lord Kaijitsu. "Not even his own daughter can stand him - no surprise why he didn't show up to the festival."
"Filthy?!" Donimah exclaims at the words Lord Kaijitsu deigned to speak in Taldane to them.
She listens sternly as Ameiko appears and Lonjiku shifts his attention to her, nodding as Juriya and Ano translate. Lord Kaijitsu rushing to attack, however, is a language anybody can understand, and one Donimah despises.
"DON'T YOU F*CKING DARE, TSHAMEK!" she roars before Ameiko adeptly humiliates him to the point that he storms out. Donimah takes a few deep breaths through her nose to calm herself before turning to approach Ameiko.
When Ano asks if she's okay, Donimah sighs a bit.
"No one would be okay after an argument like that, Ano, if half of what you told me they were saying is true."
She gives Ameiko an approving look.
"You did the right thing. Any who would abandon their kin for foolish pride are not worth your time nor anyone else's," she says matter-of-factly.
Juriya swears in Minkaian as he leaves, and also confirms that that is, indeed, what Mr. Kaijitsu has said. "To hell with the future of my family's business! And if he's going to Magnimar anyways. Agh! When the hell was this decided on?!" She's practically tearing her hair out until she takes a deep breath.
"He's usually an absolute jerk like this, I can confirm that. No chances ruining business if the shipping cost will just increase anyways! Now I'm free to bash him all I want! HA!" she says as the inner mania she usually keeps suppressed just comes bubbling to the surface. Once she finally manages to calm down, she gives a nod to Dominah, regaining her composure once more, "I'm with you in the anger here!"
At the Hagfish
Jargie hits Arrian on the arm a little harder than needed, but the slap is still friendly. He says "Well, boy, that Kaijitsu old man is more trouble than help. I've heard he has some weird business with the Scarnettis, and that's never good news. I'll ask about this Foxglove man, haven't heard much myself."
Arrian nods and smiles, "I'll let Zel know about the Scarnettis; it's something he needs to be aware of."
Arrian does the heavy lifting of the boar and the first rough cuts while Jargie, more skilled in cooking, does the finer knife work. Once Jargie is happy with how it looks, Arrian sticks the boar on a spit and sets it up over the fire for all to see and smell.
"So much changing so fast...I hope we're ready for it. I hope I'm ready for it!"
Ameiko looks at Ano and Donimah lovingly and says "Bah, he was disappointed in me already. I guess, he just put a nail in the coffin. But thank you." She is clearly trying to show tough skin, but her smile is truthful.
Ameiko's boar turned out to be delicious, with some heavy spices and dark beer sauce. The next few days, people were still commenting on how Ameiko managed to get the meat all tender. Arrian notices that Jargie's version was not as well received. He defends himself saying his specialty is sea food.
Over the next few days, there aren't many events. The townsfolk already speak of the goblin raid in jokes, recalling how the goblins ended up harming themselves more than the others.
After some time, Jargie tells Arrian that while he did hear mentions of people who worked with Foxglove, all think he's just a pompous aristocrat that has too much free time in his hands. Foxglove himself mentioned his townhouse in Magnimar where he lives, but there are mentions of a family estate between Sandpoint and Magnimar, but he just doesn't go there. It seems to be abandoned, some say it's haunted.
After the meal, and making doubly sure that Ameiko's okay before leaving, Ano returns home at night. Waiting for her on the table is her mother.
"So...word is that you went on some little gallivanting with a nobleman and your...friends?" the elder catfolk asked in a low tone.
"Ama, it was just a boar hunt, and we were all invit-"
"So that's good enough to break your promise? I told you not to leave the town without telling me. And I also said no more heroics."
"Ama, I-"
""
A cup whizzed and shattered at the wall near Ano and Cherry. The bird, being the closest, squawked and flew off to hide in a moment of panic, while Ano stood in shock. Her mother had her outbursts before but...this is different...
"Familia ez al da garrantzitsua zuretzat?!"
"Ama, calm down!"
"How can I be calm when you're out pretending to be of any worth to this town?! Do you want to end up like your father?!"
The silence after that lasted for what felt like an eternity, before Fosyo cleared her throat.
"Then again, you were invited, and it would be rude to turn it down...So. You have been given one final chance. The next time you slip up, you will break the Oath. And we both know what will happen if you do so, yes?" Ano could only nod, in which her mother responded, "Good. Now off to bed. And remember-this is your last chance."
After that surprising turn of events, Ano kept to her word, and kept her head down. She has been mostly seen helping her mother, and barely had any word to talk to her friends. Whenever she did try to get a couple words in, Fosyo would appear and, without saying a word, the catfolk bloodrager would leave with her mother in silence. However, Fosyo did have a talk with Jargie and Juriya's family, stating that she is disappointed in them both and believed they were better suited for keeping their children out of trouble. When Donimah, Persephone or Zeldrith was the one being conversed with, Fosyo shot them a similarly dirty glare like the night of the raid, only this time with much clearer venom in her expression.
The only time Ano wasn't around her mother was when she helped Arrian and Jargie with the Hagfish, helping out to the best of her abilities. A barmaid she wasn't, but she was hoping to at least be good enough to lighten the burden on her friend and his father figure.
Cherry didn't stay with Ano when she was around her mother; the outburst scared him badly, and he spent much of his time with one of the other five-usually Juriya or Arrian, but once with Donimah and Zeldrith. If asked what's going on with Ano, he keeps his beak shut and tries to shift the conversation in a different direction.
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Juriya spends her day doing the usual, helping out the family alchemy business, as well as checking on Ano as discretely as possible.
"Wait, they're moving back to Magnimar?!" the mother exclaims, nearly loud enough for those outside to hear, while reviewing anatomy texts to refresh her memory.
"Yes, they are. At the very least, Mr. Kaijistu is. If he goes through with it, we should look into converting our glass supplier for potion and infusion glass. The only reason the Kaijitsu glass was even less expensive to begin with was the lack of cost for imports en-masse, right," Juriya announces.
"Mhm," the deep voice of the father says, scratching at the fur of his chin while inside the house. "We'll look into it. How has your attempt at bomb-making been going? You've said you've been practicing."
"Can you see the singed fur? I'm getting close; I could probably rely on it to bust down a door. The main problem is the bombs are too volatile to throw reliably as a self-defense weapon. Anyways, I need to go check on the liquid ice we've been preparing. We got a fairly large shipment request."
Once she actually does check on the batches upon batches of liquid ice, all-the-while thinking to herself who even orders so many? nearly ran out of glassware preparing this, she scampers outside through a fox-hole in the door to see what in the world Ano is being so cagey about, as discretely as possible.
Screaming, that's was what Juriya heard as she scampered around in fox form to try to see whatever's going on. There's the risk that Ano figured out she has three forms, and that she told her mother, but with how she's been behaving, that's a risk she'll have to take.
A cup whizzed and shattered at the wall near Ano and Cherry. The bird, being the closest, squawked and flew off to hide in a moment of panic, while Ano stood in shock. Her mother had her outbursts before but...this is different...
"Familia ez al da garrantzitsua zuretzat?!"
"Ama, calm down!"
"How can I be calm when you're out pretending to be of any worth to this town?! Do you want to end up like your father?!"
As soon as she gets a few lines of what's going on, however, she hurriedly scurries away back to the little hole she's made long ago in the family home and business for when she leaves in Fox form to either get a meal during hard times, or to eavesdrop on people whenever needed. She does not need to be seen by anyone, let alone Ano's MOTHER.
Back in her human form, Juriya keeps wondering to herself what it was Ano's father even did? She desperately wants to ask, and even if she has not enough common sense to restrain herself, she has enough wit to realize that, given the anger surrounding the situation, it would only lead to more anger. As a result, she keeps her mouth shut tight, but gives a side-eye to Ano's mother occassionally when out-of-view, as if to just wonder what in Daikitsu's name is wrong with her?
Then, she feels a tap on her shoulder. "Juriya," her father says, "Liquid ice shipment is ready; we need you to help unpack," to which she replies "who even needs that much liquid ice?!"
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After some time, Jargie tells Arrian that while he did hear mentions of people who worked with Foxglove, all think he's just a pompous aristocrat that has too much free time in his hands. Foxglove himself mentioned his townhouse in Magnimar where he lives, but there are mentions of a family estate between Sandpoint and Magnimar, but he just doesn't go there. It seems to be abandoned, some say it's haunted.
"Interesting that he's abandoned his family estate but comes to Sandpoint for what, a vacation? Like I said there's something odd about this situation. Oh and I need a few minutes to tell Zel what you told me about the old goat Kaijistu and his tie with the Scarnettis."
Remembering that Zel is working at the lumber yard Arrian rises extra early one morning to catch Zel eating breakfast at the Rusty Dragon.
"Zel I know you're a tough guy having served in the Goblinblood Wars but watch out for Mr. Kaijistu. His boasts might be empty but he 'knows' the Scarnettis and they can be trouble. So keep an eye out and try not to be alone if you can help it."
When Cherry is around:
Arrian will try to engage Cherry in conversation about what's going on with Ano. Already believing Ano is in trouble he tries to find out how much trouble. When Cherry avoids talking about it, Arrian assumes it's bad and does his best to cheer Ano up when she's at The Hagfish.
When Mrs. Clovermark shows up to 'talk' to Jargie:
It didn't take a genius to recognize the boiling thundercloud that was Mrs. Clovermark's face or why she was at The Hagfish. Deciding he needed to do something to help Jargie, Arrian musters his courage to step in front of Mrs. Clovermark.
"Those goblins must've hit me in the head harder than I thought..."
"Hi Mrs. Clovermark. I can guess why you're here and please don't be too tough on Jargie. He hasn't encouraged me to 'be a hero'; he's as worried about me as you are about Ano. One thing he's taught me is that there are people and places worth fighting for and it's not going to be easy."
Arrian will not-so-subtly look down at Jargie's missing leg.
"And those people are your family which includes friends who are extended family. And one of those places is Sandpoint since it's our home. Ano is one of my best friends and I'd rather be hurt many times over than see her hurt once. But sometimes we have to choose to be brave and stand up. Something either scared or ordered those goblins to be suicidal in their failed attack on Sandpoint. And that someone, or something, is still out there. None of us asked for this burden but it comes with growing up and realizing the world isn't as safe as our parents want it to be. So please don't yell at Jargie too much or be too tough on Ano. They're both doing the best they can for everyone."
Unsure if what he said moved Mrs. Clovermark, Arrian awaits the storm that was initially aiming for Jargie.
Persephone and Isabel continue to watch the group interact, protect, defend each other during and after the vicious verbal assault perpetrated by the Asshat.
They both smile.
The two Desnans spend most of their time at the Cathedral.
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Donimah nods.
"Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I have the rented room upstairs. It's the...least I can do."
Then she turns to Juriya with a small smile.
"It's always refreshing to finally let loose after having been forced to bite your tongue and keep your thoughts about a pas-koji-jede-svoja-govna to yourself."
"I'll...make sure to patronize your family's business when I have need of alchemicals. I imagine every little bit will help whatever financial...uncertainties may be coming."
After enjoying and praising the meal, she returns upstairs and prepares herself for bed.
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Over the course of the next few days, Donimah capitalizes on her newfound status as a local hero, meeting with Mayor Derevin and letting her introduce her to the other educated townsfolk, such as Ilsoari Gandethus and Jabyl Sorn. She leverages the goodwill she's earned and the vote of confidence from the mayor to gain access to some of their collections normally not open to the public, and while somewhat underwhelmed, makes notes to see what she could study and cross reference with Brodert's research in the near future.
She takes the time to visit Arrian at the Hagfish, and Zeldrith when he's not working at the mill. As for Persephone she pays her a brief visit at the Cathedral to try and strike up a deeper conversation with her, especially regarding the skeletons she'd missed out on fighting, clearly a sign of something more going on in Sandpoint. When Cherry visits her, she makes a point of bluntly asking what's up with Ano and giving the bird an unimpressed, severe stare when he tries to be evasive.
"All right then. I'll ask her myself."
The next time she encounters Ano and Fosyo appears to glare at Donimah, she glares back.
"Are you just going to keep hovering around your daughter and trying to scare off anyone who might look at her funny? Or are you going to let her actually enjoy her life for a bit?"
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Shortly after Lonjiku storms out, Zeldrith excuses himself, heading to his room and finding a slightly crumpled sheet of parchment and a vial of ink among his belongings. He smooths out the parchment and dips his inkpen into the vial, but as he brings it over the page, the young man hesitates. What can I write? 'Dear Sis, sorry for running off to Sandpoint, I have a new job?' I kept my debt a secret from my family for long enough - I'll do what I have to so I know they're safe, but still... As he thinks, a drop of ink beads on the end of his pen, on the verge of dropping down onto the page - noticing it just in time, Zeldrith hurriedly replaces the inkpen in the vial, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before setting pen to parchment.
I hope you and Revek are well. I'm sorry I wasn't able to return within the week like I had promised, but I've found a way out of our problems. My debt has been bought by some noblemen in the area - they're not like Falco. They care about money, not the sound of screams. The bad news is that I'll probably have to remain in Sandpoint for some time - until I can get this debt paid, at least.
Look, I know it's not ideal, but I can probably still come and visit. The debt should eventually be repaid, and then I'll be able to come back home. Until then, we'll make it work - we always do.
Your brother,
Zel
The next couple of days are largely spent learning the ropes of the lumbermill's operation with Banny Harker and Ibor Thorn - in his free time, the young mercenary talks with his friends or sees the sights of Sandpoint, checking in every business to see if there is somewhere his sister might be able to find work. After about a day or so of searching, Zeldrith returns to the tavern late, his spirits high from a long discussion with Alma Avertin, the owner of the local bakery, about the elderly lady's need for help around the business - when Ameiko hands him a letter from Magnimar, however, his enthusiasm quickly turns to apprehension as he reads. Finishing, he makes his way over to where Donimah sits. "Donimah? Just wanted to come and let you know that I'll be out of town tomorrow - something's come up with my family, and I need to go to Magnimar. I'll talk with Banny and Ivor in a bit, but I wanted to let you know first."
Shortly thereafter, he rushes down to the lumber mill, and after a short talk with Banny Harker, he mounts Lord Foxglove's gift horse and sets off down the road to Magnimar.
In the midst of the warren, however, lies a beacon of familiarity - an old two-story building leaning hard to the right like a tipsy drunkard, still in relatively good repair thanks to its conscientious owners, the sign "Angothane and Daughters General Store" above its entrance. As he has a thousand times before, Zeldrith springs up the small steps leading up to the door and into the old shop.
Instantly, he feels a mild pain through his leg as a wooden sword raps against his foot, accompanied by a shouted challenge in Varisian. «Yaah! Stand and fight, pirate!» Zeldrith glanced down, grinning, at a young boy, no more than seven or eight, with a much-abused hat partially impaled on the porcupine-like mass of quills that topped his head. «Morning, Revek! Your mother around? I've got to speak with her.» The little boy pouted. «Uncle Zeldrith, you're s'posed to be a pirate! I'm Revek Angothane, the famous explorer, and you're a Sky Pirate of Sarusan.» He glances around the cramped room for a moment before his mismatched eyes light on another wooden sword, which he rushes to grab, then hands to his uncle. «You're s'posed to fight me, 'cause you've got the only map to the lost treasure of Kaladay!»
Zeldrith smiles, accepting the wooden sword as he pats his nephew on the head. «Oh, all right, then... but only for a bit, understand? I have to speak to your mother, you know!» Moving into a fighting stance, he spends a few minutes 'dueling' with Revek, parrying the young child's attacks and gently poking at him with his own wooden sword. From one of the store's shoddy shelves, Dragon, the stray cat Revek had taken in, watched with the sleepy disinterest of a well-fed and fundamentally lazy animal whose only goal in life is to be asleep for a full day.
The two are interrupted by a clatter, and Dorek turns just in time to receive a hug from his sister Vayath, a slightly taller tiefling whose sharp claws clatter against Zeldrith's chain shirt as he returns the gesture of affection. After a moment, Vayath pulls back, a worried look on her face. «Zel? Why are you here? You saw the letter I wrote you, right? The Sczarni want to buy our shop back, and for less than half of what we paid!» Zeldrith grins. «Vayath, I have amazing news - I've found you a position in a bakery in Sandpoint. I talked it out with the owner the other day - the pay's good enough that we could bring Mother and Father, too! If the Sczarni want to buy this drafty old place, I say let them! We'll use the money to move to Sandpoint, buy a house - the sea air would be better for Revek than the dust-choked air of this store, anyway.» For the next half an hour, the siblings argued, and eventually, Vayath agreed. «You should get back to Sandpoint first thing - your job won't wait. I'll finish things here and follow you to Sandpoint in a few days.»
As Zeldrith prepared to leave, he knelt down in front of Revek, producing a paper-wrapped package from his backpack and handing it to his nephew. «Revek, I've got a surprise for you - a book I found called the Record of Truan Iolavai. It's the tale of a great explorer who charted a path through Casmaron, and it's all true - someday, you'll write books of your own, I wager!» Overcome with joy, Revek hugged his uncle, then dashed upstairs to read his new book.
After a day or so, Zeldrith returns from Magnimar, his horse exhausted from the long, non-stop journey. The young man seems elated, and he rushes to find Arrian at the Hagfish. "Great news, my friend - my family will be coming here soon from Magnimar! We're out of the money troubles we were once in, and I've found a job for my sister at the bakery."
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Fosyo's conversation started with telling Jargie that Ano's help at the Hagfish will no longer be needed, and that she doesn't want her daughter to be so far from the house "near the perilous docks filled with who knows what kind of folk". However, before she could leave (before even letting Jargie get a word in), Arrian steps in to speak with her.
"Hi Mrs. Clovermark. I can guess why you're here and please don't be too tough on Jargie. He hasn't encouraged me to 'be a hero'; he's as worried about me as you are about Ano. One thing he's taught me is that there are people and places worth fighting for and it's not going to be easy."
Arrian will not-so-subtly look down at Jargie's missing leg.
"And those people are your family which includes friends who are extended family. And one of those places is Sandpoint since it's our home. Ano is one of my best friends and I'd rather be hurt many times over than see her hurt once. But sometimes we have to choose to be brave and stand up. Something either scared or ordered those goblins to be suicidal in their failed attack on Sandpoint. And that someone, or something, is still out there. None of us asked for this burden but it comes with growing up and realizing the world isn't as safe as our parents want it to be. So please don't yell at Jargie too much or be too tough on Ano. They're both doing the best they can for everyone."
For the most part, Fosyo seems to be rather neutral on what the half orc says, until he asks her to not be too tough on Ano. Her fur bristled badly at that.
"Be very grateful that you spoke to me with manners and respect, but I'm going to make this very clear to you." She leaned in closer to Arrian and said in a small growl, "Do not ever say I'm being too hard on Ano. I am simply making sure she doesn't let the unnecessary glory of being a hero get into her head and getting herself killed. Because I actually care about what matters the most-keeping her alive and safe and out of trouble. And if you were as good of a friend to her as you claim, you would do the very same by keeping her away from the heroics that seems to be drawn towards you and your new little ragtag group. And if you think that is me being tough, I'll tell you what is being tough on her-throwing her out of the house, no, this damned town, and leaving her to fend for herself. So unless you want that to happen, never say I'm being hard on her again."
And with that, she turns and storms out the Hagfish, almost shoving Zeldrith out of the way without even recognizing him, her next destination being the Church-she'll make sure Father Zantus puts her to good work there, and maybe even stop whatever that bloodrage curse is.
""Are you just going to keep hovering around your daughter and trying to scare off anyone who might look at her funny? Or are you going to let her actually enjoy her life for a bit?"
Fosyo whirled her head to see who spoke to her like that. And her fur bristled further at realizing who addressed her in such a manner.
"Oh. It's you. The one who tried to convince my daughter that her bouts of wrath are a positive instead of a negative. Listen, spellslinger, I don't have time to speak to your ilk, but the further you stay away from my daughter, the better. It will do you good to learn that those that keep their noses out of the businesses of others in this town are well appreciated. Also, if I were you, I would get some lessons in manners from Arrian." And with a flick of her tail that lightly smacked the Shoanti wizardess in the face, she continued her walk to the Cathedral.
Ano sat there within the main chamber, waiting as she was instructed. That morning, her aunt Saryo tried to have a talk with Fosyo about how controlling the mother amurrun was being, and that backfired heavily. Now Ano can't even speak to her own aunt without permission. She walked towards the chapel for Erastil, and did a small prayer.
"I'm not sure if you can hear me, or even if you want to, being a follower of Desna. But...I'm having trouble with my mother and...I don't know, they say you're good when it comes to trouble in the family. What am I doing wrong, Erastil? I want to protect this town, I want to get better at this...power in blood thing. But my mother is against it entirely. How can I convince her to let me choose my own path? How can she learn that this isn't what my father would want?"
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Fosyo whirled her head to see who spoke to her like that. And her fur bristled further at realizing who addressed her in such a manner.
"Oh. It's you. The one who tried to convince my daughter that her bouts of wrath are a positive instead of a negative. Listen, spellslinger, I don't have time to speak to your ilk, but the further you stay away from my daughter, the better. It will do you good to learn that those that keep their noses out of the businesses of others in this town are well appreciated. Also, if I were you, I would get some lessons in manners from Arrian." And with a flick of her tail that lightly smacked the Shoanti wizardess in the face, she continued her walk to the Cathedral.
Donimah, not one to let an insult slide, follows after Fosyo.
"I'm from Riddleport. Our manners involve knives. Be grateful I'm choosing NOT to be that well-mannered with you. I may not know much about what's going on with you or your daughter, but I know magic, and if you don't give Ano an outlet for that power, it'll burn her up from the inside. She's lucky. I had to claw and scrape for every bit of arcana I have, and Ano just has a core of it within her. But my father worked his ass off on whaling ships and fishing boats to gather the money to apprentice me to the Cypher Order, and you want her to bury it like some kind of shame, after she used it to PROTECT this town, protect YOU! That's some gratitude!"
She grabs a scrap of parchment bearing the rune of the Vengeful Glare out of her scrip bag and shows it to Fosyo.
"Do you know what this is? It's the Thassilonian rune of the Vengeful Glare, the symbol of Wrath. The totem of Ano's power. But that's not the only thing it stands for. It is also the mark of Kindness, a quality Ano has proven is one of her greatest. You're claiming her bouts of wrath are a "negative," but you're showing a hell of a lot of it yourself to almost everyone you meet! And if you keep it up, Ano's own wrath is only gonna get worse as she comes to resent you for it, until it explodes in a conflagration that'll make what the goblins did here look like a campfire."
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For the most part, Fosyo seems to be rather neutral on what the half orc says, until he asks her to not be too tough on Ano. Her fur bristled badly at that.
"Be very grateful that you spoke to me with manners and respect, but I'm going to make this very clear to you." She leaned in closer to Arrian and said in a small growl, "Do not ever say I'm being too hard on Ano. I am simply making sure she doesn't let the unnecessary glory of being a hero get into her head and getting herself killed. Because I actually care about what matters the most-keeping her alive and safe and out of trouble. And if you were as good of a friend to her as you claim, you would do the very same by keeping her away from the heroics that seems to be drawn towards you and your new little ragtag group. And if you think that is me being tough, I'll tell you what is being tough on her-throwing her out of the house, no, this damned town, and leaving her to fend for herself. So unless you want that to happen, never say I'm being hard on her again."
And with that, she turns and storms out the Hagfish, almost shoving Zeldrith out of the way without even recognizing him, her next destination being the Church-she'll make sure Father Zantus puts her to good work there, and maybe even stop whatever that bloodrage curse is.
Looking at Jargie, Arrian says (after Mrs. Clovermark is out of earshot), "That went better than I thought. I was sure she was going to hit me with something."
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"I'm from Riddleport. Our manners involve knives. Be grateful I'm choosing NOT to be that well-mannered with you. I may not know much about what's going on with you or your daughter, but I know magic, and if you don't give Ano an outlet for that power, it'll burn her up from the inside. She's lucky. I had to claw and scrape for every bit of arcana I have, and Ano just has a core of it within her. But my father worked his ass off on whaling ships and fishing boats to gather the money to apprentice me to the Cypher Order, and you want her to bury it like some kind of shame, after she used it to PROTECT this town, protect YOU! That's some gratitude!"
At the mention of Riddleport, Fosyo lets out a crass short laugh, "Riddleport?! HAH! I thought you reeked of vermin, and I was right-you come from the biggest vermin nest in Varisia!" She then continued, "You wizards think you know about the arcane because you pursue it. I say you're all stupider than you look-I have seen, with my own eyes, how the arcane warps and destroys. I'd rather it burn away and turn my daughter into a husk than lead her down a path of death and madness. Perhaps she'll listen more as a husk."
The amurrun tries to leave, only for Donimah to stop her with a parchment of the rune. She snatches the rune out of the wizard's hand and shreds it up. "You know nothing about Ano! She won't resent me, besides her equally head-in-the-clouds aunt, I'm the only family she has in her life! And besides, something she needs to learn the hard way is kindness is a privilege, not a right-only those who show upmost respect should deserve kindness. And quite frankly, you're the last person in town who deserves either. Now, I'll say this again-keep away from my daughter, or else." With that she returns to her trip to the cathedral.
Within Juriya's room window, a tap can be heard. It's Cherry, with a little note.
"I uh...got a message for you. From Fosyo." There's a concerned tone in his chirps.
To Juriya Arima,
I would have delivered this message myself, either within this parchment or with my own words, but I am sadly too busy to visit your abode, so I will simply say this: I request that you visit with Ano as little as possible from now on. If you wish to hang around her, or speak with her, from now on it must be done with my approval. On top of that, I request that you find some kind of potion to remove Ano's blood wrath thing or whatever it is. I will gladly pay out of pocket to do so. In addition, if Ano requests to help your family with the business, I inquire you and your parents to deny her-we both know she's too clumsy and impulsive for alchemical items anyways. If you have any questions, you may speak to me personally.
Signed,
Fosyo Clovermark
Cherry says to Juriya as she reads the letter, "I have no idea what's going on with Ms. Clovermark, but that goblin raid has changed her for the worst. I saw her scolding Donimah as I flew by. I think she's gonna chew out Persephone and Zeldrith next. And then there's that Oath of the Clovermark-" At muttering that out loud, the bird slaps a wing over his beak. He clearly didn't mean to say that.
As Persephone recounts another prayer to Desna, she is visited by Saryo.
"I'm surprised one of the heroes of this town would spend much of her days in the Cathedral. I don't think we've been properly introduced-Saryo Clovermark, Ano's aunt and acolyte of Desna."
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At the mention of Riddleport, Fosyo lets out a crass short laugh, "Riddleport?! HAH! I thought you reeked of vermin, and I was right-you come from the biggest vermin nest in Varisia!" She then continued, "You wizards think you know about the arcane because you pursue it. I say you're all stupider than you look-I have seen, with my own eyes, how the arcane warps and destroys. I'd rather it burn away and my daughter a husk than lead her down a path of death and madness. Perhaps she'll listen more as a husk."
The amurrun tries to leave, only for Donimah to stop her with a parchment of the rune. She snatches the rune out of the wizard's hand and shreds it up. "You know nothing about Ano! She won't resent me, besides her equally head-in-the-clouds aunt, I'm the only family she has in her life! And besides, something she needs to learn the hard way is kindness is a privilege, not a right-only those who show upmost respect should deserve kindness. And quite frankly, you're the last person in town who deserves either. Now, I'll say this again-keep away from my daughter, or else." With that she returns to her trip to the cathedral.
Donimah snorts at Fosyo's retort about vermin. Nothing she hadn't already heard, or said herself, about Riddleport before.
"Yes, it is a vermin nest. You'll have to do better than that to insult me."
The shredded parchment, however, makes Donimah glower and her nostrils flare. But she tries to take it in stride. After the threat is made, she continues to follow.
"Or else what? Let me spell it out for you, Madame Clovermark: you don't scare me. And for all your talk of stupidity, and knowing nothing, you have to be the most willfully ignorant woman I've ever met. The few times I've seen Ano in the past day or so, the light in her eyes dies like a snuffed candle the moment you make your presence known, and you're either too dense to notice that or you don't f*cking care! Maybe I do know more about your daughter than you!"
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Persephone looks up from her daily readings to smile at the woman's approach.
Good day, Miss Saryo Clovermark, Ano's aunt and acolyte of Desna. I am Persephone. That lazing over on that upper rafter is Isabel. Your niece is quite a special young lady.
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"I'll bring this up with my parents; secondly, what in Daikitsu's name is the c" Juriya dejectedly says as she continues looking over alchemical texts she had been looking over.
Her parents, however, are visibly disturbed, and Juriya has lost all control over her emotions at the point "What?! Does she not know how utterly difficult it is to strip someone of magical abilities? What's next, they MOVE TO ALKENSTAR or something just to placate that delusional old bat's fantasies of a perfect daughter?"
The mother, the one focused more on diseases, herbs. and anatomy then bomb-production and alchemist fires, however, decides to chime in. "If Fosyo really has gone so far, we could use potential blackmail to expose how she treats her daughter. I remember reports of an organism that could calm those it effects and drain them of emotion. If Ano's altered state is what I believe it is, a bloodrage, then...", she says as she trails off, grabbing scattered notes and tomes around the household. "I'm... actually in agreement," the father says, "Fosyo has gotten more and more protective of Ano lately, to a concerning extent. Maybe we need to see how far this protection goes," he finishes. The three of them sit down to research and write a letter concerning bloodrages and the... questionable means to stop them.
Dear Ms. Clovermark. There is more to being an alchemical merchant than merely Alchemy. We do not believe we would employ Ano to do any of the alchemy, but we will not refuse her the opportunity to gather ingredients and help with shipment if the opportunity becomes available. Clumsiness means practically nothing while gathering ingredients, unless you're handling poison.
As for a "solution", to your daughter's bloodrage, there are two differing routes one could take. One simply cannot be done in Sandpoint: cut off magic entirely. A bloodrage is a state of rage caused by stress that is fueled by magic, rather than pure adrenalin. As a result, something along the lines of an Antimagic Field would work, but would need constant renewal.
The other solution is a variety of ways to calm emotions, but most are prohibitively expensive. One would be to constantly let your daughter drink a potion that calms emotions, though this does not preclude casting. That would require a constant stream of money to us, however. We could also procure a certain wondrous item known for calming emotions and ceasing Kellid rage and bloodrages alike. We are researching ways to make such a thing permanent as we write this.
Finally, there's a much cheaper, though inherently more dangerous alternative in the form of a certain infection that would both drain your daughter's ability to cast arcane magic, as well as calming her ability to get angry all together. We would need to have this conversation in private though, given the nature of this "cure".
- Juriya, Kimie, and Shiro Arima
Before delivering the letter to Fosyo, Juriya sees and witnesses a screaming-match between Donimah and the aforementioned catfolk. She stands behind whatever cover she can, nearly boiling over with anger. If she could rage, she presumably would right now, but she's an Alchemist, not a bloodrager, barbarian, or skald. Once the conversation between Dominah and Fosyo is over, Juriya goes up to deliver the letter.
"Mrs. Clovermark. My parents have checked with the mages in Sandpoint for confirmation, and your daughter can enter what's known as a bloodrage. It's similar in manner to a sorcerer's abilities, though instead of arcane might, it becomes primarily rage with a modicum of arcane casting. This ability is brought on by stress, anxiety, and, obvoiusly, rage," she takes a breath, and then hands her the letter, before continuing with a twinge of malice in her voice. "As a result, angering your daughter is just as likely," she says with emphasis, "to trigger the bloodrage as needing to defend the village is. The letter should have three solutions we've come up with, but by no means, are they easy solutions. You're essentially asking someone to strip Ano of magical abilities. Don't expect any kind of easy solution to this."
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The older amurrun clears her throat and straightens herself up as Juirya approaches, noticing that Cherry was resting on the Minakin’s shoulder.”Well then, if any kind of anger or stress can trigger this bloodrage, then it’s best that we do whatever we can to remove it. And you say ‘strip Ano of her magical abilities’, I say the better alternative of ‘removing a blight before it kills her’. If only I knew of alchemists when I was little-had a brother who was born with arcane abilities, and my parents foolishly let him blossom his skills…until he ran off to test his skills and get killed by a monster of some kind.” She then looks directly at Donimah as she says, “So, if you, with your addictive obsession with the arcane, won’t help my daughter the right way, then I’ll take the help of the Amiras. How do you like that, Cypher Rat?” That last sentence was spoken with a smirk and victorious snark.
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More venom spitting from her throat, "We'll need to... discuss whichever solution you choose. And Donimah is far from the worst our family has seen in regards to thirst for the arcane. Alchemy can certainly be dangerous as well, given the amount of those whose specialty is poison. Both my parents neglected that area of study, so as to be much more palatable merchants. We can still defend ourselves when necessary, though."
Juriya then stares at Donimah with an innocent smile, as if to say don't worry, I have a plan to blackmail Fosyo.
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Donimah is about to protest when Juriya finishes talking and smiles at her, so she just glowers.
"I misjudged you, Clovermark. You're not ignorant, you're delusional. What you're demanding is beyond even my skill, or that of any other mage in this town or beyond. There's no way to take magic out of a mage except through killing them, and if you persist in this madness that's what you're going to do to Ano. Under the eyes of the spirits of the land and sky, your ancestors and mine, and the black-and-white gaze of Nethys himself, I curse your folly!"
With that she makes a vulgar gesture, spins on her heel and storms off.
Shortly after his return to Sandpoint, Zeldrith visits the Cathedral to try to make sense of the twinges of guilt tugging at the corners of his mind. As he arrives, he sets his weapons at the door, as befits a place of peace, and approaches Desna's altar. Did I do the right thing convincing my family to move here? The Angothanes have lived in Magnimar for hundreds of years - poor as our life in Rag's End was, that was where we had roots. Much as I hated it as a child, now I can't help but look back on those days and remember all the fond memories - waiting by the docks with my friends to watch the ships from distant lands, holding the lantern for my grandfather while he worked, singing with my parents as we blessed what little food we had to Desna. I know they'll have a better life in Sandpoint than they would in Magnimar, but... Rag's End has always been our home. He sighs. I'll ask Donimah. She'll know. He straightens, tracing the wings of Desna over his heart before heading for the door.
Preoccupied with his own thoughts, he doesn't notice Persephone and the acolyte she is talking to until he bumps into the catfolk. The young man quickly steps forward to help the somewhat elderly woman to her feet, apologizing profusely. "I'm sorry - I didn't mean to bump into you. I've seen you around the Cathedral, but I don't think we've spoken - you're one of Ano's relatives, yes?"
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Juriya menacingly glares at Donimah, as she might be giving away details of the plan to deal with Fosyo. "While it may be correct that it's impossible to take the magic out of a mage, it is possible to suppress the magic's effects, or its activation. She may be overreacting if she is, indeed, a follower of Nethys; a lack of magic to his faithful is akin to a death."
Agh, here's hoping she hasn't caught on, she thinks to herself.
Persephone deftly reaches out to both steady and comfort the slightly displaced Amurun, as her Zeldrith accidentally bumps her.
Blessing of Desna, Zel. This is Ano's aunt, Miss Saryo Clovermark. What's got your mind preoccupied this morning?
"I misjudged you, Clovermark. You're not ignorant, you're delusional. What you're demanding is beyond even my skill, or that of any other mage in this town or beyond. There's no way to take magic out of a mage except through killing them, and if you persist in this madness that's what you're going to do to Ano. Under the eyes of the spirits of the land and sky, your ancestors and mine, and the black-and-white gaze of Nethys himself, I curse your folly!""
Fosyo looks quite offended at the remark, but scoffs, "Riddleport Rat...no manners, none at all, the lot of them."
"While it may be correct that it's impossible to take the magic out of a mage, it is possible to suppress the magic's effects, or its activation. She may be overreacting if she is, indeed, a follower of Nethys; a lack of magic to his faithful is akin to a death."
"Well, if it truly is that difficult to remove the magic completely, then I will settle on suppressing her emotions. Anything to keep it from happening again. Now, I assume you have plans to attend to? If not, you can walk with me to the Cathedral, where I have to pick up Ano-I can't trust her doing anything with this curse of a bloodrage on her. If you have other things to take care of, then I will return to your home later today to discuss what can be done."
Cherry perched on Juriya's shoulder, hiding as best as he can to keep Fosyo's glare off of him.
"Good day, Miss Saryo Clovermark, Ano's aunt and acolyte of Desna. I am Persephone. That lazing over on that upper rafter is Isabel. Your niece is quite a special young lady."
"Welcome to Sandpoint, Persephone and Isabel. And...yes, Ano is an incredible young woman. Too bad her mother thinks otherwi-"
Saryo was cut off by someone bumping into her, chuckling softly as she was helped up.
"I'm sorry - I didn't mean to bump into you. I've seen you around the Cathedral, but I don't think we've spoken - you're one of Ano's relatives, yes?"
"Yes, as Persephone said, I'm Ano's aunt, and one of the clerics of the Cathedral, Saryo Clovermark. You're one of the other heroes; if the rumors I've heard about you are true, you're the one who partake in the Goblinoid Wars?"
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Juriya offers a handshake to Fosyo, "Well, you can contact my family at their alchemy business for further details, I'm mostly acting as the messenger here. I have to help with the massive liquid ice shipment still. Seriously, who orders that many," she trails off as she leaves.
Juriya then goes and hides somewhere where she can't be seen, transforms into fox form to catch up with Donimah out of view of Fosyo, and then transforms back into human form whenever it's possible to keep the transformation hidden. Then, she checks around each and every corner for signs of everyone, and once well and truly alone, she sighs.
"Donimah. Look. I admit my family may have some problems with Nethys, but we aren't the kind to deprive someone of their magic. Two of the possible solutions we offered are far too exorbitant for Fosyo to afford, and the other is a literal trap that we can use to discredit her," she says as she offers a polite smile. "Hopefully we can get this nonsense over as soon as possible for Ano's sake."
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Donimah is surprised when Juriya comes after her so soon after the conversation, and she raises an eyebrow.
"I'm no priest, Juriya, I was being melodramatic to make your proposal seem more palatable to Mama Clovermark. She already hates me so seeing me act like her ludicrous idea would offend me on a personal level would make her more likely to believe your family can actually do any of those things. At least, more likely than me just dismissing it like the joke it is."
She smirks a bit.
"I must admit, I didn't expect you could be this devious when I first met you. You'd survive on the mean streets of Riddleport just fine."
"Yes, as Persephone said, I'm Ano's aunt, and one of the clerics of the Cathedral, Saryo Clovermark. You're one of the other heroes; if the rumors I've heard about you are true, you're the one who partake in the Goblinoid Wars?"
Zeldrith nods, smiling kindly. "I fought in those wars long ago, Miss Clovermark, but hopefully, my days of fighting are behind me. I have a job at the lumber mill, now - it's a good position, with steady work."
Concern flashes over his features. "Actually, I was just about to look for my friend Donimah, ask her about a dilemma I have. If my family sells our shop in Magnimar, we could have enough money to move here - it's nicer here than in Rag's End, and I think that my young nephew and my elderly parents would live happier lives in this town. Where we live now is very dangerous - no place to raise a small child or leave old ones. Still, our family has roots in Magnimar. My grandfather is buried in the pauper's graveyard along Shore Street, as is his father before him, stretching back into antiquity. Poor as we are, our shop's often the last refuge of those who don't want to go crawling to the Sczarni. Rag's End isn't as nice as here, but for my family, it's home - I'm not sure if it's fair to leave all that behind just so we can chase a dream. I think I know what Donimah will say, but I'd like to hear why she says it - you're a wise woman, yes? If you don't mind, I'd like to hear what you think - should we leave Magnimar, or should we stay and risk our own safety to help others in whatever ways we can?"
Despite news of moving away, the Kaijitsu patriarch is yet to communicate anything about his business to the Arimas. It seems he has other things on his mind.
Donimah receives a subtle proposal to teach at the academy.
The days have passed and the local life seems to settle. Today the rain has ceded a little and it's just a light drizzle. It's a little cold and annoyingly wet. The group seems to be spending less time in the Rusty Dragon and more in the cathedral, which is where the sheriff finds the group. He is accompanied by a woman with elven traits and clearly dressed for the woods. He says "Oh, good, I've found you. This is Shalelu Andosana. But of course you four know her. Shalelu, these are Donimah and Zeldrith. They have helped the locals with the goblins, so you can say they're also experts." To the locals, it's surprising that she's here now. She has been to Sandpoint last month to resuply, which means that she should be here only in about 3 months time.
The elf reacts to the introduction with a short respectful nod. She says "A pleasure." Just then, mayor Deverin joins the sheriff. She berates him "I thought we were supposed to meet at town hall!" She quickly sorts herself and turns to the group and says "I haven't had the chance to thank each of you except for the sage Donimah. Your help with the goblins is greatly appreciated by me. Please, continue." She hides her annoyance well, especially since she would have preferred to have this discussion in her own turf. She at least directs the group to a more isolated part of the cathedral. Finding no place where they couldn't be heard, the sheriff drives the whole entourage to the boneyard, which is empty.
The sheriff continues "You can say Shalelu is the unofficial member of the town guard. She keeps the goblins in this region in check." Shalelu interrupts the sheriff, as it seems there have been to many sidetracks to her story. She seems agitated, more than usual for those who know her. She says "Look, goblins have been causing trouble everywhere. You know the dale between Nettlewood and Mosswood? Well, they've been doing all sorts of things there. Just yesterday, they burned down a farm south of Mosswood. Thankfully I was nearby and I saved the Ferdis, but I could't save their farm. They're staying with the Dekuvs for now." Sheriff Hemlock says the Dekuvs and Ferdis are neighbors. Mosswood and Nettlewood are eas..."[/b] Shalelu rolls her eyes from being suppressed in her story.
She says "All right, goblin slayers, I've been told you've done a fine job defending the town. That's impressive, but if you want to keep doing a fine job, you'll want to know about the goblin tribes around here. So here's the short version: 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. 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. It seemed obvious from their descriptions that they were talking about Arrian, Ano, Juriya and Persephone. Now I get confirmation of the other two. Seems like you’ve made an impression. 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."
After she finishes, mayor Deverin finally speaks "I've asked the sheriff to go to Magnimar to see about securing some additional soldiers to station at Sandpoint for a few weeks. Or at least until the extent of the goblin threat can be determin..." Shelelu cuts in again "I'll poke around Shank's Wood, Brinestump, Mosswood, Devil's Platter and other places I know goblins go to see if I can figure out what's going on." The sheriff gives up trying to keep up with all the names and just says "You have made a good job to be seen in town and make people feel safe. Especially strutting around on horses and a wealthy man. I only ask that you keep doing it, especially when I am out of town."
Arrian introduces himself to Shalelu and says, "Zel had the same suspicion about the goblins."
Looking at the Mayor and Sheriff he says, "Have you updated Shalelu about all that's happened in Sandpoint?" and looks around where they're conveniently meeting to hint at what he's referring to.
Shalelu raises one of her eyebrows at Arrian and says "Yes, I am aware. It is... most troubling."
Juriya offers a handshake to Fosyo, "Well, you can contact my family at their alchemy business for further details, I'm mostly acting as the messenger here. I have to help with the massive liquid ice shipment still. Seriously, who orders that many," she trails off as she leaves.
Fosyo doesn't return the handshake, simply nodding with a disappointed frown. "Very well, I shall meet your parents later tonight. Also, do me a favor and teach that rat some basic manners." With that she swirled and headed to the Cathedral.
Cherry, instead of going with Juriya, flew to the Cathedral. He was going to keep an eye on Ano, whether Fosyo liked it or not.
If you don't mind, I'd like to hear what you think - should we leave Magnimar, or should we stay and risk our own safety to help others in whatever ways we can?"
Saryo chuckled, "That's the same situation my late brother-in-law had. He, my sister and I used to live in Magnimar-we still have a brother and a couple of cousins there taking care of my father. Fosyo would tell you that it was the worst mistake of all-but that comes from all the lost she suffered from the Late Unpleasantness. Since you're asking me, I say, move your family as soon as you can-though smaller, Sandpoint is much more supportive of each other than Magnimar ever could be. Sure you got your jackasses like Lonjiku, but the good thing about this town is everyone knows who the jackass is. So you have my answer-"
"Arreba, non dago nire alaba?" a voice called out and echoed in the Cathedral. It was Fosyo, who froze when she saw Saryo talking to Zeldrith and Persephone. "Oh. Conversing with the troublemakers I see. Listen, you two are the only ones in the rabble rousing group that have actual common sense, so I'm giving you both something to do while you're in town-keep my daughter out of trouble whenever you can."
She noticed Ano, and spoke firmly, "Ano, I will allow you to be with your...'friends', but from now on, you stay in the Cathedral until I find the solution to your problem."
"What solution?" Saryo asked.
"To cure Ano of this bloodrage that is plaguing her. And, Saryo, I asked this affectionately-keep out of this. After all, I always was the one who knew best for my daughter." With that, she left to find Father Zantus to let him know Ano would stay at the Cathedral, and requested him to have her do chores at the church, while also pray for a cure.
Saryo's jaw hung open, and Ano, if any see her, looks horrified. "Wh-what does she mean by curing me?"
By sunset, Fosyo made her way to the home of the Arimas, and rapped the door. "Mr. and Mrs. Arima? It is Fosyo Clovermark, here to talk to you about the solution to my problem?"
Cherry pecked at Juriya's window while Fosyo was knocking on the door. When he let in, he chirped, "She's here. She looks determined. She's let up on Ano hanging out with her friends, but she's also making her stay at the Cathedral, as an addition to the Oath...which, you asked what that is. And I have no idea, but Ano is following it in fear, and when I asked her aunt, she looked mortified about it."
Ano, still stuck in the Cathedral-outside of a few trecks around the town with her friends-was miserable as she could be. Thankfully Father Zantus and her aunt were keeping her spirits up as much as possible, but her spark only came back when she hung around her friends...for the briefest of moments. She wasn't allowed to go out before sunrise or after sunset, but she made the most of every moment she had with her new friends.
When Shalelu came around and told about the positives of their heroics, Ano shrunk away a bit in shame. Now she was truly feeling guilty over that day, as if she specifically caused the goblin raid in the first place. She felt immensely guilty hearing the Fredris Farm getting burned down-she used to help that family every now and then. If only her mom hadn't kept her from leaving town...
"I'll try to help as much as I can. Even if my mother hates it. And I'll try to make sure my bloodrage causes as little problems as possible. But...Shalelu, whoever is running this is riling the goblins up badly. I stabbed a couple and they both laughed at their wounds; I've never heard of goblins be so confident even in the face of death."