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Erridon thinks for a second as Tot supplied the knowledge about devils and demons. While he didn't have any knowledge about such extra-planar creatures, [ooc]A deliberate gaff specific for this character that doesn't know that he's a Sylph....) he does know the meanings of the words which includes the details that Tot provided....
He starts to reply, "Good point Tot. I don't think...." but she pulls away and quickly heads to the kitchen. He looks a bit bewildered to Izzy, "Something I said? Or did?"
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"Can't really say, Ari, sorry... Probably the topic, though - Fiendish races, wouldn't surprise me if it brought back some unpleasant memories..."
"As for your thoughts on what our thieves intend with the bodies... Doesn't feel quite right for them to be going after the transformation rigual and not know about Tobyn's and Nualia's relationship. Unless I understood something wrong, they'd have to be related to one of them - I mean, I suppose there doesn't have to be a biological bond between the caster and them, thinking about it... The focus was more on the need for a "betrayal of love by sacrificing a family member". I guess as long as they were close enough to both to consider them family, that would be enough. Would a distant relation count? I don't see who else could claim to be that close to them. Maybe someone from the church?"
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Erridon considers the words again, thinking of a reason it might upset Tot. Perhaps something bad that happened where she came from and why she wanted to hide? ”Oh. Diabolical? Diabolists? I…. Memories?”
He shuts his mouth with an almost audible click of his teeth. He focuses his thoughts on NEVER asking Tot about her past again, and hopes that he doesn’t fail again!
The gnome ponders what she HAS heard about Sandpoint from outsiders who visit, merchants, entertainers, and so on.
Most of the people close to Nualia and Ezakien Tobyn were the other priests of Desna, most of whom perished in the fire during the Late Unpleasantness five years ago.
By the way Tot has been speaking and acting, you realize that she is likely from Cheliax, a nation to the south that worships Asmodeus and his archdevils and despises demons for their chaotic nature. However, despite being diabolist in nature, Cheliax still looks down on tieflings; to them, devils are to be controlled, not mated with, and tieflings are often treated likewise.
Ameiko sees Tot blushing with her head in her hands. "What happened?" she asks calmly.
Tot peeks out from between her fingers and sighs as she lowers her hands. Her shoulders slump as she slouches against the wall.
"Ari was rubbing my shoulders, then I said something I shouldn't have and ran in here, and now with everything else going on all I can think about is how nice it was when he was just rubbing my shoulders," the tiny fighter turned cook says, the words coming out quickly without her normal stuttering.
Something that Ari may or may not pick up on is that sometimes, especially when her emotions are engaged, her accent doesn't just turn a little Chelish, it turns a little Chelish aristocrat.
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"He's got the right of it." Grod says, jerking a thumb at Garen and grabbing a seat at the bar.
"Most of the people close to Nualia and Ezakien Tobyn were the other priests of Desna if what I overheard while bounding around is right. And most of them died in the fire during the 'Late Unpleasantness', which is a very evocative term I must say, about five years ago."
"Wise words." Zorlen nods at Garen's advice, but there's a grim look in his eyes. "And yet sometimes sleep does not come easy even when there should be nothing preventing you from resting peacefully."
He lets out a sigh at Izzy's words. "Memories of that night still haunt me to this day. I guess I have my tainted blood to thank for getting away unscathed. Others weren't so lucky. And I... I could do nothing to save then."
Izzy gives Zorlen a sympaetyhic look, "Your blood isn't tainted, it's just different. Good things can come from bad sources."
Tot managed to leak out an aristocratic Chelish accent in certain moments, like when she just spoke about the difference between devils and demons and ran off.
"Ah, I see," Ameiko says. "Ari is a good man. You don't need to be worried about him. I doubt there's anything you could do to make him think less of you."
"Wh-what? No! I-I-I-I d-didn't mean I s-said anything insulting. I--I'm not very good at talking to people, am I," Tot asks as she grabs her arms as her tail wraps around her legs in a spiral.
"I-I don't want to leave here. I like it here. I like you. I like Ari. I like having a roof over my head. But, if I say the wrong things, if I don't watch my tongue and let things slip out, I'll have to leave," she tells Ameiko. "If I let too much slip, I might get people I like hurt."
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Erridon’s thoughts are jumbled to the point he has trouble listening to anyone. He was beginning to at least think he understood Tot. Zorlen’s addition to his thoughts cemented it…. She had grown up, used and abused by some ‘noble’ family in Cheliax. But she had escaped and thought that she needed to stay alone, fearing that anyone she befriended might become a target if that family ever came after her?
His own life had been blessed compared to hers. He had a mother and father that loved him, that had begged the Goddess for him! How could he understand the life that she had lived. And those devil worshippers had despised her for…. being what she was!?!
Almost lacking the ability to speak he takes a drink and hears Izzy’s response to Zorlen. ”Izzy’s right Zorlen. Your blood is no more ‘tainted’ than mine! Anybody that believes otherwise is just stupid. You’re with friends here!”
"Heh, thanks, both of you." Zorlen replies with a smile at Izzy's and Ari's words. "I'll be more mindful of my words next time, don't worry."
"Even the town seems to have come around compared to what I remembered - I fully expected to be ran out of town by now after the attack, and instead I'm being hailed as one of the town's heros, of all things. Really, I must thank you, Isidiana - I'm pretty sure your songs and... Creative tellings of our battle are one of the main reasons for it."
"Oh you're welcome, Zorlen. If you like, and for a small charge, I'll also promote stories about how great you are in the sack. There are already songs about wizards and their staves," She gives a cheeky chuckle. "We can get the town girls wondering."
Ari chuckles loud with Izzy's offer. "Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of the local gals that wonder what sort of a 'beast' he is in the sack.... No songs needed there! Sometimes I wish I wasn't so normal!"
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"I'm very short, very little is beneath me" The bard blinks in apparent confusion.
"There's a floor beneath you just like me!"
Erridon stifles a laugh at Garen's gruff words. "I'm sure it doesn't upset Zorlen. He and I go way back. I remember when his horns were just little nubs, and I wished that I had a pair just like them. Mom told me he was blessed by Desna and that was why he got to live at the church."
He glances at Zorlen, then at the rest of the patrons and nods. "But I suppose you are right. Sometimes there are families in here with children, and our conversation would be inappropriate." He sets his drink on the table and looks straight at Garen's eyes. "So tell us about you Garen. What set you on the path of your life? And how did that influence bring you here?"
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Zorlen skin turns a deeper shade of red for a moment, but he ends up laughing heartily at Izzy's reply to Garen, and then nods to Erridon. "Doesn't upset me at all. In fact, it's nice, you know, being able to laugh at stuff like this again. Didn't realise how much I missed it these last few years."
He turns to Izzy, still smiling. "I appreciate the, erm, generous offer, but I think I'll pass at this time." he says with a chuckle, before his expression turns a bit more serious. "Right now, I think it's best if I stay focused on finding out who's behind the attack on the town. There'll be time for fun later, after we make sure the town is safe."
"Okay, Zorlen!" Izzy says good naturedly "You're a smart cookie, you'll figure the mysteries out."
"Oh, uhm..which thing were we going to do next? I mean, I may have lost track." Sheepishly
Erridon finishes his ale and nods to Garen. "While it cuts the celebration short you are right. A good night's sleep to refresh our mental faculties.... There are several mysteries here, questions that we haven't answered. First, there were several goblin tribes working together. How did that happen? They constantly squabble and fight amongst themselves normally. And some of them aren't normally violent. They even trade with humans. And if they are working together, why weren't there more goblins in the attack? If all of the local goblin tribes joined they would have done a lot more damage to the town."
"And then there's the graveyard. Why did they dig up one grave and haul the bodies away? Why that one grave and no others? And why today, when we were having the festival to honor them and the new temple? The timing ties together rather curiously with the bodies that were taken."
"And finally, human sized footprints were with the goblin ones? Who is the traitor working with them? Is he leading them? Or just working with them? Either is bad, but this could be some sinister plot that has been in the works for a long time!"
"I'm going home. I'll come back at breakfast time and we can decide what we will do next."
She nods at Garen "Sounds good, Garen. I'll remember not to get hung over."
Tot tries to think of a way to explain what she means without giving too much away, but her mind goes blank as Ameiko wraps her up in a hug. That, more than anything else, tells Tot she has found someplace that she can call home. That realization, so soon after thinking she'd have to run away, breaks through the anxiety and fear she's been feeling. It overwhelms the small tiefling as she returns Ameiko's hug and cries into the other woman's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she blubbers after calming down a little. "I-I-I just--I just--I never thought I'd find a place like this. Even if I did, I--I thought I'd screw it all up."
Tot holds Ameiko a little tighter as she sniffles. It takes some effort, but she does manage to pull herself back together a little bit.
"Th-thank you. Thank you for being my friend," she says before letting go and wiping away the last few tears. "I promise, I'm not always this big of a mess."
The caravan that brought most of you to Sandpoint, home of Ari and former home of Zorlen, arrived on the day of the Swallowtail Festival, and also a celebration of the town's new cathedral. Goblins attacked the festival surprising many, but they were soon beaten back by your group. You rescued, among others, a wealthy dandy named Aldern Foxglove.
The next day was filled with more Foxglove. He rewarded you with coin and some fine mounts, and joined you for a pleasant ride in the Lost Coast countryside. You have not seen Master Foxglove since the evening you returned from the ride.
Today there was meeting Shalelu Androsana, an elven ranger, and Sheriff Belor Hemlock, the Shoanti lawman who took over that office after the Late Unpleasantness took the life of the former sheriff. They informed you about goblin trouble and an unknown force that might have unified and drove the goblins to attack the town. Additionally, they explained that outsiders entered the cathedral boneyard and made off with the remains of the old priest, Father Tobyn, and his aasimar foster daughter, Nualia -- both of whom were close to Zorlen. Just who took them, and why remains a mystery.
Somewhere along the way, the father of your friend, innkeeper, and boss, Ameiko Kaijitsu, showed up berating his daughter in front of the common room of the Rusty Dragon. Longjiku Kaijitsu is a town nobleman and the founder of the Sandpoint Glassworks. What they were arguing about is not clear.
Now the group rests, winding down for the evening in the Rusty Dragon with no idea what comes next...
The dinner rush is over, and the night crowd is slowing down in the common room of the Rusty Dragon. Conversations buzz and the noise of people relaxing from a stressful week is in full swing. Zorlen, Garen, Izzy, Ari and Grod sit together sharing the news of tracking goblins, and some larger humanoid, as far as they could.
Surprisingly, the side door of the Dragon opens, and Ameiko enters and heads for the stage. She is dressed in a blue silk kimono with cranes on it, and carries an unusual stringed instrument. Her face is painted with exaggerated expressive makeup, pale white skin, large dark eyes, a full mouth. Her hair is swept up and pinned with a beautifully sparkling silver and mother-of-pearl hairpin. As she takes the stage the buzz of the room drops immediately, and no sound his heard save the soft clomp of her sandaled feet. She sits with the strange instrument, using a bow to play and soon music fills the common room.
Not the high energy music of most barrooms, but a strange, exotic, and extraordinarily evocative sound, filled with sorrow and loss. The costumed innkeeper then begins to sing along with the resonant music, her voice low at first, bur rising and falling along dramatically. The lyrics are in a language none of you understand, but the meaning of the ballad is quite clear -- loss and sorrow. Eyes of old tars on shore leave and woodcutters with loads for the Sandpoint Mill fill with tears, and the whole room, including the Heroes of Sandpoint, are fully captivated. It is a rare but masterful performance by a highly trained and experienced bardic performer, and it is exquisite.
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Ari sits, silent, rapt, frozen in place by the performance. He knew that Ameiko was more than just an innkeeper, but he'd never experienced anything like that performance. He wished that he understood the words, but the emotion carried by the performance made the story clear. It was the perfect song for the end of this day. The tragedy and loss of the town....
He wanted to stand up and applaud the performance but found himself speechless and frozen by the emotion. It was a very strange feeling.
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Isidiana has many reactions to other performers, often she joins in if allowed, but this feels personal to Ameiko and the Saindpointers, and intrusion, even talented intrusion such as hers, would be unwelcome and risk damaging the moment. The gnomes bright eyes notice every moment of fingering, every slide of the bow. She is learning what she can though her instrument be different. She appreciates the technique and the passion alike, and though it is the grief of Sandpoint being evoked, she cannot help but moved to a tear herself.
WHEN it ends, she applauds "Brava, Maestra! And other fancy words for skill and appreciation!"
Ari joins in the applause but cannot yet move himself to speak any words. He really wants to know what language was being spoken and if he might find a book to study it. But that is just in the back of his mind.
Tot nods and finishes up in the kitchen as the hour grows late. As she does, she wonders if Ameiko would think the same if she knew what her family name is, much less what had lead her to run away from them. Perhaps it's a testament to how out of sorts Tot is that it isn't until she's putting the last of the dishes away that she realizes Ameiko called her "kiddo."
How old does everyone think I am?!
Tot slides out of the kitchen just as Ameiko begins to play. Emotional and physically exhausted, she plans on just slipping off to the small room she is using. She makes it three more steps before she's enraptured and listens to the sorrow and melancholy in Ameiko's song. She doesn't understand a word, but that doesn't stop her from feeling the emotions. It's not until Izzy's applause breaks the silence after the performance, that Tot realizes she's crying again.
The young tiefling wipes away her tears and sneaks the rest of the way to her room. Questions whirl in her head as she gets ready for bed and crawls under the covers. Thankfully, they are only questions and not the fears that had plagued her the two nights before. Before a minute has passed, her thoughts slow and cease dancing in her mind as she drifts off into a peaceful sleep blessed by pleasant dreams of what life in Sandpoint will be like.
Once the applause quiets Ari says his 'good-bye' to the group and heads home for the night. He will return in the morning.
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Garen listens to the song with rapt attention and applauds the performance. The song represents what the town has experience. With time he hopes to see the town go from grief to acceptance, from acceptance to resolve. The monsters that did this will need to pay and he intends to ensure they do. Garen excuses himself sometime after the song and heads up to his room. He wants to get an early start on trying to run down the two sets of goblin tracks.
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Grod pauses his meal during Ameiko's performance, but seems to have little other reaction, beyond remaining very still. "Dusty in here." he comments after she finishes, and rubs at his eyes for a moment. Without waiting for a response, he gets up and heads for his room, leaving the last remnants of the meal unfinished.
4 Rova, The Rusty Dragon, Sandpoint, The Lost Coast, Varisia
The sun comes early to those at rest in the Rusty Dragon. The smell of bacon frying and other breakfast repast being prepared is evident as you rise and go about your morning routines. Ari makes his way back to the inn to see what the day has in store, and he sits in the common room as the rest of the group straggles in. The food, cooked by Bethana this time, is good wholesome fare: eggs, bacon, flapjacks, and the like. Nothing too fancy, but filling just the same.
As you are just finishing the meal, the outer door opens and, to your surprise, Sheriff Belor Hemlock enters. He looks around the room for a bit his eyes alighting on your group, then saunters over.
The sheriff pulls up a chair to your table and sits down heavily in it, a long sigh escaping as he does. "Morning," he grunts, without much enthusiasm. The sheriff is large Shoanti man with braids in his long hair. He is not as large as Grod, but his musculature is readily apparent despite his uniform. What skin is exposed seems to be covered in dark-inked tattoos.
"Somethings I think you should know," he continues. The Sherriff is a man of few words, so getting things out of him can be a bit of challenge. "Had a few words with Naffer Vosk. He told me a pertinent fact that I waned to share. Seems that after the fire at the old church, Nualia, the daughter of Father Tobyn, well, her body was never found. Everyone assumed she burnt up. There was a lot going on at the time, as you can imagine. The coffin they buried her in was empty, according to the sextant. First I'd heard, wanted to tell you."
As you start to replay, he holds up one rather large hand to stop you. "Not done. Also spoke with Shalelu. I convinced her to go look into the goblin tribes, the ones that participated in the raid. Find out who is leading them. See what they plan next. Figured that made more sense for a ranger than investigating in my town. Now that means you lot need to help me figure out who the inside man is...if there is one." He sips a coffee from a large mug and motions for you to reply
Ari greets the Sheriff as he approaches, raising his mug of coffee then taking another swallow. He had added plenty of milk and sugar but the mug was at least half coffee....
He starts to interrupt but stops when he holds up the hand. An empty coffin? Then it was only one body stolen. Nualia's must have been burnt and lost in the rubble of the previous church. But is that better, or worse?
"There is an inside man. The tracks. I'm not a tracker, but there were human size tracks with the goblins in the cemetery. And the tribes working together? And not all of those tribes are usually aggressive. The attack doesn't make any sense."
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Isidiana had gone to bed late, for she had hung around and performed for the 'late night' crowd with a variety of music, and some comedic stories. They went well and she soaked up her own minor share of the applause.
When she did go to bed, she slept hard. Some part of her still trying to sort that wonderful music Ameiko had done.
4 Rova, The Rusty Dragon, Sandpoint, The Lost Coast, Varisia
The sun comes early to those at rest in the Rusty Dragon. The smell of bacon frying and other breakfast repast being prepared is evident as you rise and go about your morning routines. Ari makes his way back to the inn to see what the day has in store, and he sits in the common room as the rest of the group straggles in. The food, cooked by Bethana this time, is good wholesome fare: eggs, bacon, flapjacks, and the like. Nothing too fancy, but filling just the same.
Well, she wasn't going to miss flapjacks was she? The smells woke the gnome where other things might not. She'd rinsed off, dressed, and headed down stairs to get a few. THEN the Sheriff came in...
Oh gods, he knows about the vandalized goats in the mayor's house! Wait, that was ANOTHER town. I'm good here."GOOD morning Sheriff!" She waves as he walks over.
"Somethings I think you should know," he continues. The Sherriff is a man of few words, so getting things out of him can be a bit of challenge. "Had a few words with Naffer Vosk. He told me a pertinent fact that I waned to share. Seems that after the fire at the old church, Nualia, the daughter of Father Tobyn, well, her body was never found. Everyone assumed she burnt up. There was a lot going on at the time, as you can imagine. The coffin they buried her in was empty, according to the sextant. First I'd heard, wanted to tell you."
As you start to replay, he holds up one rather large hand to stop you. "Not done. Also spoke with Shalelu. I convinced her to go look into the goblin tribes, the ones that participated in the raid. Find out who is leading them. See what they plan next. Figured that made more sense for a ranger than investigating in my town. Now that means you lot need to help me figure out who the inside man is...if there is one." He sips a coffee from a large mug and motions for you to reply
"There is an inside man. The tracks. I'm not a tracker, but there were human size tracks with the goblins in the cemetery. And the tribes working together? And not all of those tribes are usually aggressive. The attack doesn't make any sense."
"Mmph, I do not TRUST goblins and frankly think they're just being themselves at last, however Erridon is smarter than me and it just seems too organized for the typical goblin random nonsense so I believe that someone helped them yes." a sigh "Unfortunately my own discoveries haven't helped much in who that would be. Normally I'm GOOD at getting a read on folks but I have to meet them to do it and even then.. iffy."
The sheriff nods at Ari's statements. "There are facts and then suppositions. Fact: there are footprints leading into and away from the boneyard of a non-goblin. Fact: members of several usually disparate goblin tribes participated in the raid. What fact incriminates a townsperson? Not impossible, but unlikely. That's why I sent Shalelu into the wild, instead of snooping round here."
Tot wakes up early, washing up and getting dressed after some stretches to help chase away the last bits of drowsiness, only to find that Bethana has already started cooking breakfast.
"What would you like me to do, Ms. Bethana," she asks the halfling woman as she pulls on an apron and washes her hands. The young tiefling already feels guilty about being gone most of the day with Aldern Foxglove and doesn't want to be any more of a freeloader than she thinks she has been. Even if it's just scrubbing the dishes, Tot's determined to do something related to her job.
===
After helping with breakfast, as much as Bethana allows her to anyway, Tot joins the others just in time for Sheriff Hemlock to walk in. She starts getting up to take his order and fetch him a plate when he gestures for her to sit back down. She eats as she listens and any thoughts about trying to wrangle the recipe for the flapjacks from Bethana are chased away by a plethora of questions.
"Um, F-forgive m-m-me for asking, S-S-Sir H-Hemlock, b-but w-who are Nualia and Father Tobyn? Wh-what tracks is Ari talking about," she asks, he face reddening with embarrassment even as she instinctually braces for a tirade from the Sheriff.
Ari nods at the sheriff's list of facts. "Yes sir. But the first group we fought were from the Long Tooth tribe. They're normally non-violent, more of a nuisance like a racoon maybe. They dig in the pile at Junker's Beach and trade what they scrounge for food from the local farmers. And if all of the tribes had actually joined to attack there would have been a lot more goblins." He pauses when he realizes the other part of what the sheriff said. "A townsperson? That's.... I can't believe that. Not in Sandpoint!"
The sheriff shrugs at Ari as if to say, That's what I said," and just motions are Garen or another to fill Tot in on their findings yesterday. Meanwhile he stuffs his face with bacon and flapjacks with a little maple syrup poured on top.
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Erridon nods to the sheriff’s gesture. ”Sorry Tot. I forget sometimes whether you were with us when things were discussed. But I think you were working to make us a good meal.” He gives her a friendly smile trying to show that he’s glad she’s with the group this morning.
”So first, Father Tobyn was the head priest 5 years ago when the chapel burned down. All of the priests, and Nualia were killed in the fire. Nualia was Father Tobyn’s adopted daughter. She was pretty but kind of shy. I wasn’t aware that her body wasn’t found though, and an emptying casket buried….” His brow furrows for a moment, apparently thinking about something.
”As to the tracks, the Tobyn’s tomb was opened and the caskets for Father Tobyn and Nualia removed. Most of the tracks there were from goblins. But there also were some larger ones, apparently human size.”