Vako starts absent mindedly whistling a tune that fills everyone who hears them with the feeling they could take on the world!
Krrys'tall holds out a gripper to Vako. "Give a glass here here, Friend. I gotcha refill."
Krrys'tall leans in and whispers, while nodding to Ho'okepa. "Seem like big man askin' all the right questions, heard? We stick wid him and probably get more coin to rub togedda."
Kepa tilts his head... Something stolen? I wonder how we could find out what and return it to them?
Odo, the injured halfling, sniffs dramatically. "Well, I am sure that I don't care if they lost something at all. It doesn't forgive assaulting innocent peddlers on the road, does it? Why don't you go give them a bop on the head instead, and say its from me?"
Neppka
Being new to town, finding the Sandpoint Garrison is not exactly easy, but with the help of a few passers-by, you get there. It is a two story stone building built a bit like a fortress. Inside, you find the lower story is offices and the like, while the upper story appears to be a barracks for the town guard. A underground area appears to be the jail or holding area.
A single guardsman waits at a desk inside the door. "Help you?" he asks in a bored voice.
Now friend, I don't know the history of this place, but community is stronger if you resolve differences. Perhaps, they will even make it up to you once we find out what happened? Kepa remained diplomatic, What is their peoples' history in this area? Has there been tension before?
Neppka
Being new to town, finding the Sandpoint Garrison is not exactly easy, but with the help of a few passers-by, you get there. It is a two story stone building built a bit like a fortress. Inside, you find the lower story is offices and the like, while the upper story appears to be a barracks for the town guard. A underground area appears to be the jail or holding area.
A single guardsman waits at a desk inside the door. "Help you?" he asks in a bored voice.
"Hi. I just came from the Hagfish. Three guys came in and took money from the bar's owner after knocking him around. It looked like some sort of protection racket."
Vako goes Thank'oo! to Krrys'tall as they guzzle on the sweet syrupy drink and hold their tiny mug out for more.
Krrys'tall chuckles and refills Vako's drink again. They then turn to Ameiko, hoping she had better answers to Ho'okepa's questions than Odo seemed to.
"I have never heard such nonsense in my whole life!" says the wounded halfling in snit. "It's clear you aren't going to help, so just leave me be!" he shouts, and walks to the other end of the bar.
Ameiko leans in to Vako and Krrys'tall and says, "The Varisians founded his land they say. Some have settled in homes and businesses, but traditional Varisians are wandering family units that travel from place to place, usually in brightly colored clothing and wagons. They can sometimes do petty crimes like stealing produce or bread, but I have never heard of them violently waylaying travelers on the road. That sounds quite unusual."
She holds out her hand for payment from the frog-like newcomer who seems to be paying...
"Hi. I just came from the Hagfish. Three guys came in and took money from the bar's owner after knocking him around. It looked like some sort of protection racket."
The guardsman sighs. "You don't say. Trouble at the Hagfish...New in town I guess?" He has a whole what-do-you-want-me-to-do-about-it look and manner.
I like their colours, maybe we go talk to them? Vako says Bridge is a bit boring now.
The guardsman sighs. "You don't say. Trouble at the Hagfish...New in town I guess?" He has a whole what-do-you-want-me-to-do-about-it look and manner.
"Well, more like trouble to the Hagfish. But I was told that these thugs shakedown other business in town. Their names are Dmitri, Vasily, and Jubral Vhisky.
"And yes! I am new in town! Which is why I'm here to ask: these three guys... or maybe their gang... is there any sort of... reward for taking care of them? Maybe a bounty?"
Neppka places both hands on the guardsman's desk and leans forward.
"Or could there be?"
Kepa shrugs, How does your community stay strong, if you do not help each other?
To him, it is apparent that this concept is foreign, At home, we have to work together, or we would never survive...
Neppka
The guardsman sighs again. "Look friend, I am sure you misunderstood something. If Jargie owes money, then he has to pay. Isn't that the way where you are from? Even if there was a shakedown, I don't suppose you have any proof, other than your say-so, a stranger in town..."
He laughs at the mention of a reward. "Afraid not bird-man. But maybe that's your angle. Look to make coin by reporting on things that never happened? Now move along before I have you locked in irons."
Neppka pauses and stares at the guardsman for a long moment.
"You know what? I guess you're right. I did misunderstand."
Neppka raps his knuckle on the guardsman's desk a couple times. He turns and leaves.
He wanders off in a random direction.
Rusty Dragon
As Odo moves away, a craggy voice speaks out from beside Kepa. "Someone really ought to go see what's what with them Varisians. If they are waylaying people on the road, it needs a stop put to it."
Kepa and the others turn to see a grizzled older man with stubbly beard and a long purple scar down one side of his face. He wears worn working clothes and nods to the newcomers.
"Reckon you all have what it takes to do something like that?"
Neppka
A bit frustrated by his interaction with the Town Guard, Neppka leaves the fortress-like headquarters. As he walks out, lost in his own thoughts, he stumbles into someone on the street accidentally.
Oy! Watch it, bub!" says a burly half-orc man pushing a small cart. He wears a green and gold tabard with the town of Sandpoint's sigil on it. But seems quite fierce and put out at the bump. "You lookin' t' start somethin'?" He says provocatively.
Vako looks up at the oaken looking human and then shrugs. I think maybe, Only three of us though. Most stories I've heard have four brave adventurers though! Maybe if we can find someone else then we can!
I would be willing to check it out, at least to see if we can come to a reasonable solution. Changes in routine often have a cause... Kepa nods.
Neppka
A bit frustrated by his interaction with the Town Guard, Neppka leaves the fortress-like headquarters. As he walks out, lost in his own thoughts, he stumbles into someone on the street accidentally.
Oy! Watch it, bub!" says a burly half-orc man pushing a small cart. He wears a green and gold tabard with the town of Sandpoint's sigil on it. But seems quite fierce and put out at the bump. "You lookin' t' start somethin'?" He says provocatively.
"What? Start something? No, it was just an accident. Sorry for bumping you."
Neppka spies the man's tabard.
"I'm just frustrated by one of your colleagues." He points back to the building he just came from.
Neppka
"Yeah, thought so." says the grumpy half-orc crossly. "Watch where yer goin' next time, or Gorvi'll straighten it out fer ya." He continues pushing his cart with what appears to be refuse along, stopping to pick up some detritus, and dumping it inside.
So far, Sandpoint has not proven a family friendly place for poor Neppka.
As he contemplates his next move, the stranger in town is interrupted by a another voice. "Say, you are a tengu, are you not? Remarkable. I have read of your kind, but the first I have seen one in person. No disrespect intended. Where are you from?"
The speaker is a wizened old man with small round spectacles balanced on the end of his nose. He has a white pointed beard, well trimmed, and white thick mustache. He is mostly bald, with a ring of thin white hair around a large pink dome. He wears a set of black robes with a red sash, and smiles at Neppka.
Rusty Dragon
The grizzled man says "I don't know 'bout needin' a fourth. Things need doin't then they need doin'. Reckon that I'd go with y'all but for this..." He motions to his left arm which is missing at the elbow, his sleeve folded back over itself where the limb is missing. "Cain't fight none to good anymore. But you all seem able bodied...mostly. Name's Davy. Davy Hosk. This town needs some folks who will do the right thing now and then. Is that you?"
Vako shrugs Sounds like fun. then starts inspecting a stone on the ground.
She holds out her hand for payment from the frog-like newcomer who seems to be paying...
Krrys'tall gives a sheepish grin, then produces another coin from behind Ameiko's ear. They twirl it in their fingers and lay it gently in Ameiko's hand.
"Tank ya, Girlfrien. We gonna need the energy, it seems."
Krrys'tall then shakes their head and sighs at the grizzled human. "Buy a kid a drink and get roped into work. Alright, Half-Hoppa, where we marchin' off to?"
"Nice trick," Ameiko says, impressed by the sleight of hand. "Keep it." and she pushes the coin back at the frog-like customer. 'On the house, if you are offering to help out around here. Room's free too, if you stop the nonsense on the road."
As he contemplates his next move, the stranger in town is interrupted by a another voice. "Say, you are a tengu, are you not? Remarkable. I have read of your kind, but the first I have seen one in person. No disrespect intended. Where are you from?"
The speaker is a wizened old man with small round spectacles balanced on the end of his nose. He has a white pointed beard, well trimmed, and white thick mustache. He is mostly bald, with a ring of thin white hair around a large pink dome. He wears a set of black robes with a red sash, and smiles at Neppka.
Neppka rolls his eyes at the departing half-orc, and it takes him a second to realize that someone else is talking to him.
"Hello. Yes, I'm a tengu. I'm new in town. I came in from Magnimar."
He looks down at his empty claws speculatively before looking back at the old man. "Nothing really remarkable about me. Just looking for work."
Remarkable!" says the bespectacled man again, stepping closer and peering at you. "You have the oral anatomy of a bird, but can make the Common speech easily. Amazing!" He pauses for a moment looking abashed. "Pardon my rudeness! I am Brodert Quink, scholar and sage. I am heading down to the Rusty Dragon for a pint and a nibble. Could I be so forward as to ask you to join me? I would so like to ask you questions and find out more about you and your kind. It would be my treat!"
I will continue work for my space, but I will help. Where can we find them?
Remarkable!" says the bespectacled man again, stepping closer and peering at you. "You have the oral anatomy of a bird, but can make the Common speech easily. Amazing!" He pauses for a moment looking abashed. "Pardon my rudeness! I am Brodert Quink, scholar and sage. I am heading down to the Rusty Dragon for a pint and a nibble. Could I be so forward as to ask you to join me? I would so like to ask you questions and find out more about you and your kind. It would be my treat!"
Neppka looks over his shoulder at the garrison and the retreating half-orc, and then he looks back the way he came in the direction of the Hagfish. He's not off to a strong start in this town, but at least he's being offered a free drink. He sighs.
"All right. Sure. Which way?"
Neppka walks along with Brodert Quink down towards the wharves where the Rusty Dragon sits. Along the way, Quink asks Neppka more about his physiology and his upbringing, intently curious about anything the tengu has to relate.
Once at the tavern, Quink orders a round for each, and a few small nibbles sharing liberally with his guest. "Thank you for entertaining an old man's curiosity," he says with a smile. "The more I learn the more I know that I have so much more to learn, if you follow." he laughs, pushing is glasses up on his nose.
"So what brings you to Sandpoint?"
Hosk asks for another mug of whatever thing he is drinking and nods at the bald newcomer who is sitting with a bird-like humanoid. "You wanna know somethin' ask that fella. Quink. He's the town sage an' he's forgotten more than I'll ever know."
The crew at the bar sees the man and the tengu sitting and talking amiably enough.
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Hesitant at first, Neppka's frustration at the missed opportunity to take down the thugs harrassing the town loosens his tongue (maybe along with the free drinks).
He tells Brodert Quink about being raised in Magnimar to refuge parents, his combat training, and how he's come to Sandpoint because it seems an easier way of making a name for himself in the smaller town rather than the large city where's from. As he talks, his voice starts to get louder.
"...and despite there being plenty of witnesses, the guard accused me of not having evidence, therefore I was committing a crime! And I came to him to try and put an end to a crime!
"That's why I never wanted to join the watch in Magnimar, despite the offers. I'd just become part of the problem."
Neppka pours the last of his drink into his beak and then tilts his head back to move the liquid to where he can swallow it.
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Vako wanders up to Quink and tags on their coat completely oblivious that they're interrupting a conversation. Hey mister, you know why the people in the colorful coats are attacking people now? They didn't used to!
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"Very interesting," says Quink, as Neppka describes the shakedown he witnessed and the ensuing lack of engagement with the guard. "Perhaps you should speak to the sheriff himself. He is a good man."
Just then Vako approaches. "What now?" asks Quink, a bit taken aback by the leshy and his strange question. He seems almost as amazed by the leshy has he did by Neppka's appearance.
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Vako points at the bartender while looking up at Quink Hosk said you know everything. So why are the people in colorful coats attacking people now? They didn't used to.
Krrys'tall chuckles, a bubbly sound akin to a frog's "ribbit," and looks on as Vako gets straight to the point with the old sage.
"They had a little too much o' da bubbly, Elda, but they ask true: Why the Varisians lose they cool, nowadays?"
"Oh my stars and garters!" exclaims Brodert Quink his jaw dropping open. "Its a whole panoply of exotic strangers. My how exciting!" He takes a rather large quaff of his pint, shakes his head a bit and then says, in a much more scholarly way. "The Varisians are attacking people on the road? I had not heard this until now. Why indeed? They are typically a fun-loving, if a bit mischievous, people. Unless wronged violence is not their usual modus operandi, as it were."
He looks at Neppka. "My new acquaintance here, Nescafe, just sojourned from Magnimar, did you not? Did you have any untoward interactions with your nomadic locals? Did any one else?"
Master Odo had a run in with them, was beaten a bit by the travelers...
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"Bring him forth then. Let him speak." says Quink to the halfling traveler.
Odo turns on his barstool and says, rather crossly. "I already told these weirdos. I was making my rounds from Riddleport, like i always do, when I was accosted on the road. Got bonked in the head for my trouble, and held against my will. They rummaged through my stuff asking if I had seen "the stone". I have no idea what they were talking about. Some elf ranger came and got me free, drove off the band holding me. I'm lucky to be alive, and that's a fact." Odo guzzles another shot of whiskey and you can see its probably been at least one too many for the poor fellow.
Quink asks, "The Varisians who held you, did they rob you? Take your wares or your coins? Or hurt your person other than a bonk on the head?"
Odo shakes his bruised head, holding up a coin purse that jingles as proof. "Reckon they didn't." he says. "My mule and wagon were just fine. My wares were picked over, but I ain't seen nothing missing so far."
"Curious," says Quink, rubbing his small beard thoughtfully. "What do you think about it, Napkins?"
Krrys'tall looks to "Napkins" along with the others, hoping for some insight into the mystery.
Neppka listens in silence to Quink and the other patrons in the bar. Sandpoint was a little bit weirder than he expected.
"I guess the men running the shakedown could be Varisian? They seemed like the Varisians I'd see in Magnimar, at any rate. But it sounds like the people he's talking about," Neppka indicates Master Odo, "were looking for something specific. The men I saw at the Hagfish were just thugs and thieves."
Krrys'tall licks their lips, replacing precious moisture to their amphibian skin while piecing together this mystery with the assembly of misfits.
"So, we lookin' at two different groups of Varisians, then? Too early to tell for sure, but maybe some kind of infighin' be goin' on, huh?"
I find a lot of nice stones, maybe they'll take one of them? Let's go show them.
Ho'okepa frowns, I want to talk to the ones that grabbed Odo on the road... Perhaps, if we find out what happened, we can find a more peaceful solution to this.
'Hmmm," says Quink. "Could be related, but might not be. The Sczarni have been active in Sandpoint since it was founded. Not sure that's new. But Varisians waylaying travelers is -- they usually celebrate the freedom of the open road."
He pauses and noshes on a cracker full of brie, passing the plate to Neppka after. "So, how do you go about finding these roaming Varisians? "
Mr. Odo, where were you when you were waylaid? Ho'okepa asks of the halfling.
"Oh now you want to ask me about it," asks Odo grumpily. "I was heading back from Riddleport away north of Sandpoint along the Lost Coast Road. There's a travel shrine to Desna there, about 15 miles from here, I was just north of that I'd say, a mile or two at most. There was a clearing off the east side of the road, and the Varisians had camped there with wagons and all."
A walk sounds nice!
I apologize, Master Odo. I was trying to figure out what we needed to do first. I was not trying to dismiss you...