After the events of Rise of the Runelords moved the focus of the adventure from Sandpoint to other sites, the small community on the Lost Coast of Varisia still remained. These are stories that took place in between the large and well-known campaign arcs.
Feel free to dot in and give an initial post of your current whereabouts in the village of Sandpoint.
Krrys'tall, the lazy courier, has been spending their recent days resting on the beach near Sandpoint. They made the trip in half the time expected. So, there was plenty of time for lounging.
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Vako ia a Leshy who was 'born' in Nettlewood and when wanderlust took, travelled to Sandpoint and has been hanging out near Sandpoint Bridge for a while. People seem to appreciate the way they whistle and Vako gets coins thrown at them, which they've used to equip themselves with some gear. Well that and Vako just routinely asks for items from the various shops and, surprisingly, nobody seems to mind and sometimes even gets them for free!
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Neppka, warrior tengu, paused on the Lost Coast Road shortly after entering the town of Sandpoint. He's been walking the road since its start in Magnimar, and even though the road continues on, Neppka needs it no longer. He's arrived in this town to seek out opportunity, but after and stopping and considering the slower pace of the town, it seems like he may need to try and create that opportunity himself.
He looks around for an inn or tavern, "Nothing too nice," he thinks. Almost by instinct, he finds himself meandering towards a tavern called Hagfish, knowing immediately upon entering that this is his kind of establishment. He looks around eagerly for a card game, having not had much opportunity to play since he lost his own deck in a bet that hindsight tells him he never should have taken.
First, he'll strike up a conversation with the bartender while he gauges the mood of the room. The best way to start talking to a bartender is to order a drink!
Krrys'tall, the lazy courier, has been spending their recent days resting on the beach near Sandpoint. They made the trip in half the time expected. So, there was plenty of time for lounging.
While the beach is nice, eventually Krrys'tall gets hungry. Even the laziest of loafers needs to eat and it doesn't appear that anyone is bringing a picnic for him so far. Dusting sand from his clothes, the courier sighs and heads up the steps towards town. There are several dining spots in Sandpoint, but Rusty Dragon is the place where he is most comfortable, with food flavored to taste, and no judgement by the serving staff. With a bit more pep in his step, Kryss'tall heads there.
Vako ia a Leshy who was 'born' in Nettlewood and when wanderlust took, travelled to Sandpoint and has been hanging out near Sandpoint Bridge for a while. People seem to appreciate the way they whistle and Vako gets coins thrown at them, which they've used to equip themselves with some gear. Well that and Vako just routinely asks for items from the various shops and, surprisingly, nobody seems to mind and sometimes even gets them for free!
Vako has had a banner day at his busker stand near the bridge. Several coins ended up in his hat, one of them an actual gold crown. Whistling to himself, he picks up his new-found loot and decides to treat himself to a fine meal. The Rusty Dragon is his favorite haunt in Sandpoint, as the serving lady, Bethana Corwin, often gives him scraps of food for free, if he is lucky. He thinks maybe today, he will actually buy a meal instead of just begging for it and sets of for the adventurer-friendly tavern.
Neppka, warrior tengu, paused on the Lost Coast Road shortly after entering the town of Sandpoint. He's been walking the road since its start in Magnimar, and even though the road continues on, Neppka needs it no longer. He's arrived in this town to seek out opportunity, but after and stopping and considering the slower pace of the town, it seems like he may need to try and create that opportunity himself.
He looks around for an inn or tavern, "Nothing too nice," he thinks. Almost by instinct, he finds himself meandering towards a tavern called Hagfish, knowing immediately upon entering that this is his kind of establishment. He looks around eagerly for a card game, having not had much opportunity to play since he lost his own deck in a bet that hindsight tells him he never should have taken.
First, he'll strike up a conversation with the bartender while he gauges the mood of the room. The best way to start talking to a bartender is to order a drink!
Neppka enters the Hagfish, which is full of people at the moment. The man behind the bar is a salty old tar with just one leg, but he navigates around the bar easily enough. Behind the bar is an aquarium filled with "water" in which a nasty looking hagfish swims lazily. The water is scum-filled and dark with foulness. But apparently a bag of coins hangs on a hook with sign reading. "Drink from Norah's tank and win the prize!"
The bartender nods at Neppka's entry, but is telling a story to a group of sailors who sit at the bar already. "Aye, that's when old Murdermaw took a liking to me leg an; here I stand today. Would be on both feet if it weren't for that undersea devil." He slaps the bar and turns to the newcomer. "What'll it be mate?"
Ho'okepa
The ale in this tavern was actually quite good, but Ho'okepa knew that his purse was very light and he had to slow it down a little. He had taken a side job chopping firewood for the tavern owner, but since he washed ashore, he had not been able to find a way to make coins that lasted more than a day or two. At this rate, he'd never get to Korvosa and follow up on his lost sister. But the food was good, the lodging free as long as he worked for the Rusty Dragon, and the ale, as he thought before, was quite good. Maybe he'd just sit a spell and she what luck would bring him.
The bartender nods at Neppka's entry, but is telling a story to a group of sailors who sit at the bar already. "Aye, that's when old Murdermaw took a liking to me leg an; here I stand today. Would be on both feet if it weren't for that undersea devil." He slaps the bar and turns to the newcomer. "What'll it be mate?"
Neppka slaps the bar right back. "Whatever everyone else is drinking! Or most of your crowd, at any rate!
"I've got to get used to the way things are in Sandpoint! The culture, the customs, the..." Neppka makes a rolling motion with one claw as the searches for the right word, "... the lifestyle! I may be in town for a while!
"I'll be looking for work," here he gives an impish shrug, "and maybe some fun."
"Oh, aye!" says the barman, reaching for an unlabeled brown glass bottle and pouring a few fingers into an earthen cup. "What line a' work you in, my feathered friend?" he asks with an appraising eye. "I mean to say, there's work like my sea-faring friends is into, and then there's work, the kind where you don't ask many questions, you ken?"
He pushes back from the bar, steady on his one leg, looking over the room. You can see as he looks, his face seems to fall rather quickly. "Oh, damnable heavens!" he mutters under his breath, hopping towards the till.
Vako hops up and scrambles onto the bar and waves at the bartender with their coin. Sugariest drink, please, one with tree sap. Maybe free?
The others see a small green Leshy with an orange rind on their head on the bar, trying to get the attention of the distracted bartender.
"Oh, aye!" says the barman, reaching for an unlabeled brown glass bottle and pouring a few fingers into an earthen cup. "What line a' work you in, my feathered friend?" he asks with an appraising eye. "I mean to say, there's work like my sea-faring friends is into, and then there's work, the kind where you don't ask many questions, you ken?"
"Heh, questions are fine, just don't always expect the best answers, you know? But to answer your question, while I'm no stranger to the sea, I tend to stay on land. I'm usually hired to solve problems where a sword is the solution, but sometimes just being seen with a sword is all that the job requires."
The tengu reaches above his shoulder to pat the heavy sword strapped to his back.
"In between those sorts of jobs, I like to find a place where there's usually a lively game of chance going--"
He pushes back from the bar, steady on his one leg, looking over the room. You can see as he looks, his face seems to fall rather quickly. "Oh, damnable heavens!" he mutters under his breath, hopping towards the till.
Undrunk cup in hand, Neppka turns to see what's attracted the barman's attention.
Ho'okepa stands at the beach near sunrise, watching the waves. He has been standing there for close to an hour before snatching up the wooden board at his side and charging into the surf! Cue Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride from Lilo and Stitch...
--
Over an hour later, Kepa emerges from the waters after a catching a handful of waves, the exhilaration of the chill waters and the warmth of the sun, washing any lethargy away.
Breakfast sounds good, he thought to himself as he headed to the Rusty Dragon for a nice meal...
Kepa, working for the Rusty Dragon, helped chopping wood, but where shone was cultivating herbs and fresh vegetables in the back of the inn and tavern, in little troughs. It took him a week or two to find the types of vegetables grew in this environment, but his green thumb shone through!
Sitting at the bar, Kepa turned in his seat to take in the patrons...
The barkeep is a vibrant Tian woman with dark long hair and a streak of white in it. This is also the owner of the Rusty Dragon, a former adventurer named Ameiko Kaijitsu. You know she's been through a few family things recently, and even has a fairly fresh scar on her otherwise pretty face, but you wouldn't know it by her actions. She is gregarious, charming, active and has cultivated a business that caters to those who seek adventure and risk for the chance at a little reward.
"No free drinks, Vako!" she calls gamely at the leshy's attempt at working the room. "If you want a drink you'll have to sing for it! Give us a show!" she calls, and encourages the small but lively crowd to clap and shout at the leshy for a performance.
Neppka
Neppka takes the mug of spirits, but before he can dip his beak, he turns to see what has gotten into the one-legged barkeep. Pushing in the front door, Neppka sees three men headed towards the bar. One is at least twice the size of any other man in the place, with a series of colored tattoos on his beefy forearms and chest. He is bald as a newborn babe, and leads the rest inside, pushing his way through any bystanders.
Next to him is a thin, reedy fellow with long dark hair falling in curls past his shoulder and a narrow pencil moustache and dark darting eyes that take in the room. He wears a dueling rapier and a dagger at his belt and another hilt tucked inside his boot.
Finally the third man is taller than the second and more solidly built (though not as big as the first fellow). He seems to be the leader, nodding at the barkeep and setting the others in motion. He wears fine dark leather armor and carries a longsword at this belt.
"Dmitri, Vasily, get what's owed and let's get out of here before we catch something unfortunate." says the leader with obvious distaste for the surroundings. Dmitri, the bull of a man, gets to the bar and shoves one of the sailor aside. And Vasily, the thinner fellow, speaks. "You have your dues, Jargie? Be a good man, and make this quick won't you? The boss is not a patient man."
Jargie, the barkeep, pulls a stack of coins out of his till, counting them quickly, mouth moving, and then he hands the money to Vasily. "I'm two sails short, mate. Jus two sails. Be a good friend an' hold me over for it, eh? Things 'ave jus' been a bit slow, s'all. I'll have the rest next week, heart to the Storm Lord."
The leader nods to Dmitri who grabs the barkeep by the front of his tunic and lifts him of his (one) foot. "Pay me..." The leader man says softly but the tone and situation makes if filled with menace.
Neppka notices the rest of the room has gone silent, but no one has moved to the aid of poor Jargie so far. In fact more than a few of those reveling a few moments before are now headed to the exits.
Kepa is given a room at the Dragon for his manual labor chopping and hauling wood etc, but his passion shines in his small herb and vegetable garden he has started in the back lot. It's not much, but he is able to provide a few simple spices and herbs for the kitchen, and soon will have radishes and green onions as well.
He enters the common room for dinner and a beverage just as Ameiko calls to the orange-topped leafy fellow to play for the room.
Vako does a sort of shrug combined with a nod as they stay on the bar and start to whistle...
They wander around the bar unaware of the chaos they're causing with knocking drinks over!
Kia ora! Kepa waves to the little leshy. How are you this morning, little one? Getting enough water? Or is it evening? I lose track of time...
Krrys'tall, having been quietly sipping tea up to this point, laughs and claps for the dancing leshy. "Right on, Little Dude."
The leader nods to Dmitri who grabs the barkeep by the front of his tunic and lifts him of his (one) foot. "Pay me..." The leader man says softly but the tone and situation makes if filled with menace.
Neppka notices the rest of the room has gone silent, but no one has moved to the aid of poor Jargie so far. In fact...
"Whoa!" Neppka interrupts, trying to defuse the situation. He puts his drink on the bar and cautiously approaches the trio of thugs and the barkeep.
"Whoa whoah... whoa. Uh, Jargie is it? Hos much is in the bag in Norah's tank?"
Behind the bar is an aquarium filled with "water" in which a nasty looking hagfish swims lazily. The water is scum-filled and dark with foulness. But apparently a bag of coins hangs on a hook with sign reading. "Drink from Norah's tank and win the prize!"
"Ach, and who are you? Stay out ov tings zat do not concern, you eh?" says Vasily, smoothing his pencil moustache, while looking at Neppka with eyes that say the exact opposite."[/b]
The larger man is still holding Jargie off the floor, but the barkeep has his wits about him. "I ken there's enough in there t'pay me debts, lad. S'good thikin' tha' is. I'm good fer yer money, chief. Jus' 'ave the big man put me back abeam, and I'll get it right t'ye."
Dmitri looks at the boss who nods, and then sets the barkeep back on his feet. Jargie starts fishing in the bag taking out a handful of coins when the leader says again, in a low, calm voice. "We'll just take the whole bag Jargie. Be a good chap and fetch it here now."
Jargie swallows hard and starts to protest, but Dmitri slams a meaty fist on the bar, making everyone jump. "You heard the boss! Get it!"
At the Rusty Dragon, Vako's attempt at a performance ends up with several spilled drinks, a few angry customers, and Ameiko laughing so hard tears roll down her face. "Can honestly say I've never seen a show quite like that. Worth a free drink, even if unintended!" She pours a mix of soda water and sugar and fruit into a cup and slides it over to the leshy.
As things at the Dragon start to settle down, the door to common room opens and a small rotund halfling enters. He has a nasty black eye, and a bandage over part of his head. He climbs onto a stool built for those his size, and complains loudly. "Misery me! It's getting so that an old peddlar can't make a living with ruffians and scoundrels on the road these days!"
Jargie starts fishing in the bag taking out a handful of coins when the leader says again, in a low, calm voice. "We'll just take the whole bag Jargie. Be a good chap and fetch it here now."
Jargie swallows hard and starts to protest, but Dmitri slams a meaty fist on the bar, making everyone jump. "You heard the boss! Get it!"
As much as it galls the warrior, he doesn't see a way to stand up to three opponents that's going to save Jargie his gold. Any way he can think of to intervene is likely to end with the tengu beaten down or worse, and the thugs will still leave here with the extra gold. The best thing at this point is just to get the thugs to leave.
"Just give them the bag, Jargie. Just do it." Neppka hates the words coming out of his mouth.
"But it's the prize fer..." says Jargie complaining, until a large fist lands upside his head staggering him for a moment. Lip bloody, the old barkeep grabs the bag and tosses it on the bar with a loud jangle of coins.
"There's a good man," says the man who is in charge. "Pleasure doing business with you, Jargie. See you next month. Let's go boys."
The other two turn to leave but the man with the thin mustache takes an extra beat to start at Neppka. "Fair varning, birt. Next time, I gut you vhere you stant for interfering, ja? Stay out uf our business." he whispers, then follows the others out.
No one in what's left of the crowd speaks at all. Jargie stands leaning against the bar, a bit dazed by the sucker punch. But the threat is gone...for now.
Neppka stares hard at the mustachioed man until he leaves the bar. Then he turns to see how Jargie is doing.
Neppka stays with him until he recovers.
"Who were they? How do they get away with this?"
Krrys'tall quietly slides Ameiko enough coin to pay for a few drinks and whispers, "The dancing might be rowdy, but a party's worth it. Keep the fizzy flowing as long as Little Leafy wants."
With a wink to Ameiko, Krrys'tall meanders on over to the islander with the black tattoos. "Think I've seen you on the beach. Nice place to lounge, huh?" The tripkee leans back into a nearby chair, enjoying their almost finished tea.
Kepa smiles, Kia ora! Yes, this place feels very welcoming... How long have you been in town? Did you grow up here?
"You got it," says Ameiko with a wink and a smile, sliding the coins into her apron pouch. Then as the injured halfling enters and comes to the bar, she says, "Odo! What happened to you?"
Neppka stares hard at the mustachioed man until he leaves the bar. Then he turns to see how Jargie is doing.
Neppka stays with him until he recovers.
"Who were they? How do they get away with this?"
Jargie takes a few moments to clear the cobwebs from his head but soon enough is able to stand on his one foot -- as much as he ever could. "They got us all payin' this bloody protection racket. I doan wanna pay, but you see how t'is if you doan. Owners o' t'White Deer stopped payin' an' they had a fire next day. An' their staff all quit. It's no way to be, but tha's how t'is now. An' they took all Norah's winnin's! Take anythin' not nailed down, they will."
The old man pours and downs a shot which seems to stiffen him up once again. "An' they run off most o' me customers t'boot!" he says looking around the now mostly empty common room.
"I'm new to Sandpoint, as I said, but don't you have a town guard or something?"
Ho'okepa frowns, Protection? From what... Fire? This doesn't sound great. We ought to have a word with them...
Ho'okepa frowns, Protection? From what... Fire? This doesn't sound great. We ought to have a word with them...
Krrys'tall chuckles, a chirpy trilling noise. "No, no. Climate isn't quite right for Tripkee spawning. I'm from the Mwangi Expanse. It's a sprawling jungle South of the Inner Sea, many leagues from here."
Krrys'tall takes another sip, while watching Ameiko tend to the new arrival, seemingly named "Odo." They turn to Ho'okepa. "I'd wager you aren't from around here, either."
And you'd be right! I come from the Olehala islands! A few months ago, I was blown off course by Kanaloa's wrath, and ended up here. I think I am close to where my sister went missing, but I am not sure where to go from here... I wait for Kamohoalii to give me guidance, and until then, I will help this new 'ohana of mine...
Neppka
"Aye there's a sheriff, a good man name o'Hemlock, but last one who called the law in ended up dead. An' nothin' else came o' it. So, tha's not much in t'way o' help. Old Jargie'll jus' have t'muddle through best he can..."
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Vako enjoys their drink.
"Aye there's a sheriff, a good man name o'Hemlock, but last one who called the law in ended up dead. An' nothin' else came o' it. So, tha's not much in t'way o' help. Old Jargie'll jus' have t'muddle through best he can..."
Neppka looks on in commiseration while he thinks, Well, that's b*!%!@@$, to himself. He turns and looks at the patrons who remain, and he tries to identify one or a small group of the oldest customers there. The ones too old to care about how afraid they are.
"Well, let's get your business flowing then. A round of drinks for them over there."
Neppka pays and when they drink(s) are ready, he heads over to where the person or people he identified are sitting.
Rusty Dragon Crew
Odo the halfling tells Ameiko loudly. "I was traveling between here and Riddeport, minding my own business when I was waylaid by a group of traveling Varisians. Usually those folk are minding their own business, perhaps a bit entertaining with the dancing and the flashy colors, but this time they meant business. They bopped my on the head, knocked me clean out, and had me bound up like a prisoner. The nerve!"
He knocks back a stiff drink, wipes his mouth and belches rather loudly as Ameiko pours out another.
"Who knows, I might still be tied up there but an elven ranger came and broke me out. Me and a couple other travelers too. It was amazing, but the strangest thing I have ever seen."
Neepka at Hagfish
Jargie smiles at your kindness, and start making drinks for the table full of older sea salts who remained through the altercation. The wiry sailors salute Neppka and call for him to come join them as they enjoy their free refreshments.
"There's a good lad!" says one. "I knew a Tengu once. He was the finest topsail hand, I ever did see." says another. The 4 sailors welcome Neppka like a long lost companion.
I wonder what would have caused them to do that? They aren't usually violent like that? Kepa muses, Did they ask you anything? Demand anything of you?
Krrys'tall seems interested in learning more about Ho'okepa, but turns their attention to Odo, along with the rest. They pat the merchant reassuringly on the back, eager to hear him answer Ho'okepa's questions.
Neepka at Hagfish
Jargie smiles at your kindness, and start making drinks for the table full of older sea salts who remained through the altercation. The wiry sailors salute Neppka and call for him to come join them as they enjoy their free refreshments.
"There's a good lad!" says one. "I knew a Tengu once. He was the finest topsail hand, I ever did see." says another. The 4 sailors welcome Neppka like a long lost companion.
Neppka puts the drinks down and joins them at the table. He exchanges a few pleasantries and then starts questioning the men about what they know about the thugs who came in. What are the thugs' names? Who do they work for? Where can they be found? What other businesses are being harassed by them?
Neppka
The geezers spill a ton of information to Neppka, the drinks seeming to loosen their tongues. The tough guys are Dmitri and Vasily, and the leader is a man named Jubral Vhisky. They are part of a local syndicate of mostly Varisians who shakedown businesses, run petty thefts, have a numbers racket, and other similar kinds of schemes. Vhisky's gang's antics are known to the authorities, but they have never been able to put a stop to it effectively.
Rusty Dragon crew
The halfling swallows another drink, and pushes the cup back towards Ameiko motioning for a refill. "Never seen them act violent before. They kind of make camp where ever thy like, but this time it was like they were waiting for me along the road. There was a leader, named Angelo or something, and he kept asking me "Do you have it? Where is it?" but I didn't know what he was talking about. They searched through all my goods, breaking a few of my things...I don't know what they were searching for. But I clearly didn't have it."
Neppka
The geezers spill a ton of information to Neppka, the drinks seeming to loosen their tongues. The tough guys are Dmitri and Vasily, and the leader is a man named Jubral Vhisky. They are part of a local syndicate of mostly Varisians who shakedown businesses, run petty thefts, have a numbers racket, and other similar kinds of schemes. Vhisky's gang's antics are known to the authorities, but they have never been able to put a stop to it effectively.
Neppka thanks the old timers for the information. He decides that the mood isn't right to see if anyone wants to get a game going, so he takes his leave. He checks in on Jargie before he heads out.
If it's not too late in the day, he tries to find his way to Hemlock, the town's sheriff.
If it is too late in the day, he looks around for a good place to get a room for the night.
Kepa tilts his head... Something stolen? I wonder how we could find out what and return it to them?