Alfonso's page

{Barring any of the others returning (good to hear from you Lou!) I would not be opposed to calling this a false start and hitting the big red reset button and returning this campaign to factory settings. No reason for the new folks to miss anything. We could also ret-con the new folks in. Just assume there were here the whole time and continue from gobboville. I can swing with any call you make boss.

Your vioews Lou?}

{I don't think solo would work for me. Would you like me to start a thread for 2-3 new players? I'll set the deadline for 2 weeks and we are back on the road in a fortnight and change.}

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"Leaving? I do not think we are talking about a few Greens drunk on corned powder anymore."

{also, roll call please. Who is still here?}

In the tower.

Yech. A goblin was here but thankfully no longer. If only we had a way to track these greenskins.

"We may have company soon. Let's head to the right."
"The wall's not much but it is better than being open.

Logic and the distance modifiers on perception say that the sound most likely came from the building closest to the gate. Getting the party in the triangle made by the gate, the pit, and the ladder to that building gives us a decent defensive position for the goblins usual rush-and-mob tactics.

"I suspect someone beat us to the ears. We should see what there is to see before we loose the daylight."

Alfonso bravely indicated the gnome should go first. Assuming Sir Trig agrees the small party makes for the front door. Kirpate flitting from branch keeping over watch between snapping up bugs and small tree frogs.

{No problem Lou. Have fun at the dinner-thing}

Kirpate returns and reports as instructed.

{Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.~
Voltaire.
Question one. Could Kirpate see the bottom of the pit just inside the broken gate? Was there water in the pit?
Question two. What is the difference between the solid lines and the dotted lines on the map? Same question with the heavy vs the light lines in the S and SW areas.
Question three. It appears that there is only one fully enclosed building in the village, correct?
Question four. What is that smushed area in the eastern section south of the lake? }
The all important question five. Did Kirpate as an omnivorous insectivore notice a surplus of birds/bugs? I mean if there were bodies anywhere about the black flies, the ants, and the birds that feed on same would be enjoying the buffet. }

"Well if we do not want to get wet, well wetter, it looks like the former front door is the best option. What do you think Lou? Sir Trig?"

{note: Not snubbing the former Shalewen. It just that there is nobody home to talk to. Any luck re: more players?}

{What direction are we coming in from?}

"Time to suit up."

Alfonso taps his leather clove and with a word that makes your ears feel full of sludge all the strange man's tattoos expand until he is showing no un-inked skin.

The new ink fades and his skin appears shiny and slick.

{Casting Mage Armor +4 armor for the next two hours.}

Trig looks up at Alfonso, "Good Sir, I do like your bird. What type is he and from where did you get him? And how does he become a tattoo? "

"Kirpate is not a bird, more a side effect. A magical disease runs in my family. Kirpate was part of the cure. Don't worry as far as anyone knows he is not contagious."

After a few minutes she returns. "It is the goblin village ahead." she says, slowly streaming out the words.
"It looks damaged... I did not see any goblins."

Alfonso chuckles lightly.

{to Kirpate}
"Go make yourself useful inkblot. We'll be on this trail until we reach the village. Find a perch where you can see both the trail-head and the village, watch the place until we get close and then report."

With a raucous caw the raven takes wing.

{Kirpate's stealth +10 and perception +11. The inkblot will take a 20 on perception if possible.}

...

Furthermore, every PBP game of Jade Regent seems to have a very awkward time handling the tavern and initial start from Sandpoint. I am flabbergasted as to why.

I mean, it's a trope. Isn't it a trope because it's simple in execution?

I think the issue is that the starting motivation, killing goblins for pocket money, is outdated. Look at the other AP's. None of the others, at least none that I know of, put this kind of old school murder-hoboing so front and center. It is jarring.

Rise of the Runelords is close but in that AP the goblins actually attack the town, do real damage and kill folks. The threat is direct, existential, and immediate. Here the threat is indirect, attacks on the road not the town, annoying rather than existential, damage to trade rather than burning buildings and corpses, and offering minimal time pressure. It is simply not a good start, esp for a pbp where the players do not know each other and there is less social pressure to work together.
Compare with the start of Skull and Shackles or Wrath of the Righteous to see what I am talking about. Both of these start in media res and force the pc's to work together against an immediate threat. I am a HUGE fan of in media res starts. They focus the players attention in a very satisfactory manner.

RE:Current issues. Are we reopening recruitment? It is not unusual to suffer 50% or more player loss in the beginning of an AP. Or perhaps contacting the best of the non-picked folks would work?

Shalewen, for her part, seemed terribly distraught over the whole occurrence. You think she was probably paralyzed by second-guessing herself. She visibly recomposes herself, and comes up to put a hand on Alfonso's shoulder gently.

"Thank you... perhaps I am-- I apologize for being so brash earlier."

[b]No need, I have been informed by qualified experts that I can be quite an ass."[/b}

Kirpate takes to the air and describes a high arc bask to Alfonso.

Alfonso considers the one vial of Alchemist's fire he carries before removing his pack and beginning to light a torch.

Once lit a gesture connects a fine black thread between Alfonso and the torch. Alfonso stands and the torch hovers at his shoulder. A word sends the flaming torch towards the bridge, skimming the ground ahead of the sorcerer.

{light torch, cast Mage hand on said torch, direct torch to burn moss free of party members. Range on Mage hand is 25 feet. Alfonso will take care not to come within 15' of moss. Fort save if needed: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22}

I am good either way

So, barring the angry half elf reconsidering are we reopening recruiting? It's soon enough to just ret-con whoever into Shalewen's shoes.

Pity I quite liked sniping at you ;^).

I do hope you reconsider. It is sometimes nice to have a slow paced game along with the quicker jobs.

But either way it's been fun and I'll see you round the boards.
~PWO

I think that 1was her save.

re: freebird yup though the Rorschach has a self preservation instinct and is unlikely to land.

Assuming both dog and bridge survive Alfonso will happily cross. Kirpate happily flies ahead, perching on the far side and grooming its ink-black wings.

The adventurers friend lasts an hour per casting and Alfonso could only cleaned the boots just before he spoke. The distraction of the conversation covering any stains etc since the last time rest of his clothing got a dose of the magic cleaning. And thanks about the [/b].AS Alfonso and 'pushing it' are constant boon companions I am thinking.

Reaching Shalewen, Laurentii spoke soflty to her:
"What happened? Why the sudden change in direction?"

Werent the mercenaries following this same track? If so, did they follow even in the thick brush?

"Our skilled guide is listening to the voice of caution dear Laurentii. Or at least I think it is caution, starts with a 'c' anyway. Can not seem to remember precisely, dammed headache. She has no doubt realized that a group unfamiliar in the subtle arts of woodcraft will make better time on marked and maintained path rather than trying our luck with leeches and midges and quicksand."

You notice Alfonso is spotless. Even his boots shine as he stands in the mud.

{Prestidigitation, the adventurers friend. Try some today!}

If no one has any other business here, we will move along here shortly.

Nope all good here.

...

"Not to be careless, but I agree with Shalewen. If we follow the goblin track, we are likely to find both the goblins and the group of mercenaries who went after them. Plus, with such a companion, maybe you could send him as a scout. That would be secure, no?"

"I would hate to err too much on the side of caution. It would be almost distressing to be named a coward again. So please lead on Shalewen and dog. Kirpate and my unworthy self will follow."

{Assumption here Boss, you referred to the "Witch's Trail" and the "northern trail" as if there were things commonly known by residents of our happy goblin-hating city. If this is not correct please disregard this post.}

"Kirpate tends to mumble sometimes. The jetty house is on the Northern trail through the march. I think the trail head is that way."

Alfonso gestures towards the trail-head as Kirpate walks sedately up his arm and finds a perch on his shoulder.

Follow the goblins. Four carrying something heavy. Easy to follow."

"Perhaps walking directly down the path the goblins took we could take a different route? Goblins though far from bright are skilled at ambush and traps. Considering the likely and horrible fate of the previous adventurers sent to look for them would it not be wise to avoid the traps on their back-trail and perhaps learn something about them before confrontation?

The house Kirpate saw, the one with the jetty, seems a good source for information on the swamp. A jetty implies travel, possibly even trade and Goblins are not know for their skill at construction. Worst case we would be facing the goblins on ground of our choosing rather than theirs."

Watching The blackbird fade into the sky Alfonso comments.

"I wonder how much the Mayor would pay for their ears?"

{The Second group. Were these the caravan members? Or are we looking at 4 groups total, Caravan members, goblins, then six humans, then three heavy humanoids?}

"Kirpate, make yourself useful."
Alfonso raises his wrist and a black bird appears perched there. The bird swiftly takes flight and spiraling upwards sees what it can see.

{Perception for da boid: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29, Stealth for da boid: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17}

For ease and keeping the game moving I am assuming Alfonso had time somewhen to translate the missive?

If not then back to the lizard and the books.

Baiting Shalewen is fun and all but Koya gave our boy a job to do.

"You talk too much," Shalewen says ignoring the wizard.

"Yes, it is a character flaw. A stain on my otherwise flawless facade. I really should get around to apologizing for it some day."

"So, you are coming with us. I am surprised... I guess that recounting how you found a ring of Tian firework smugglers who sold their wares to goblins could make for an interesting story while you drink cognac by the fireplace..."

"You have an active imagination.

But it is a nice day for a walk and I have nothing pressing."

Alfonso slides a folded sheet of paper into an inner pocket.

"Hmmm...If I were a suspicious type I might suspect our Mayor of wanting to escalate the Licktoad issue. A 'hideous goblin threat' might mean more resources from Magimar and more trade on the coast road. Were I a suspicious type I might wonder if the 'Tien' fireworks have Magimar tax stamps. Easy enough to abandon a cart on the road. Goblins get flashy new toys, couple of folks die. Merchants scream to The Council of Ushers, Sandpoint gets a military detachment and everything settles down once the fireworks run out.
At least that is what I would think if I were of a suspicious persuasion.

Mind you for this plan to work you require some convenient fools to walk out into the swamp and be messily killed. But the Mayor might see it as a way to get rid of some undesirable hotheads. "

Alfonso leans on his stick as he watches Shalewen badger the gate guards.

"We should start by checking the site of the last attack. There may be a trail to follow. Perhaps one of the dogs, or one of you more rural types can track them."

Alfonso gathers his books and papers, returns to Koya to report ciphering success and get any remembered intel, before returning to the Lizard Lounge to pick up the party.

Ready here. Still have a question in to the boss but the answer can be ret-conned in.

Likely working in the Rusty Dragon. He is not much good at decoding but they have lots of coffee and big tables he can scatter papers all over. That way he can at least look productive.

As far as motivation, barring further info from Koya Alfonso will happily use the group as unknowing bodyguards for a scouting trip into the Brinestump. Lot's of strange things in the coded message maybe being on the spot will help. [

Admittedly unlikely but is at least gets him in the game.

Likely Off screen. Alfonso returns the decoded message to Koya and asks her where she got it and if she remembers either the original group or the szcarni killer. Is there anything in the message that gives a location other than "brinestump"? The marsh is a big place.

--------------------------

==Earlier, when Alfonso was called a coward by Shalewen==

Laurentii smiled upon hearing Shalewen's comment.
"Maybe, maybe not. From my experience, many nobles tend to hide their true intent behind a mask of neutrality. I am sure that mask would stay on even if someone were to be killed by the goblins, yet, inside, they would be troubled. I hope." he says, more playful than serious as he gives a side glance to Alfonso.

Trying to goad Alfonso, let's see how that plays out!

"Everything dies eventually, you, me, the goblins, this dog. But yes I agree, masks are useful. Good morning."

Not sure on the timing here. But I will assume that Our Hero is using the Lizard Oxide's ready supply of stimulants and large tables to work on the cipher.

Seeing as the fireworks that were used by the goblins are of Tian design..."[/b]

Alfonso looks up from the thick book he is reading. "Yes that is strange...Where are the fireworks coming from? If someone is trading these things to the goblins then then we need to convince them to find a better market."

Alfonso continues to simply ignore Shalewen.

Oh sorry, thought you were crowdsourcing for ideas.

Spirit jars.

They found a necromancers last stand and insurance policy. The first team followed old stories about a necromancer lairing in what would become the swamp a dogs age ago. They found the burial chamber, one was possessed and killed the others. Pathfinders sent in the cleaners.

All that is left is a relatively easy to find looted burial chamber, and as the cleaner was a cleric of Pharasma, some very thoroughly smashed jars. Of course something will have likely moved in after the cleaners left.

However, if I was forced to vote, I would pick the original version to avoid increasing your workload.

@ Shalewen and Alfonso: Although I haven't read Alfonso's background or personality (I like surprises), I think that his dislike for a goblin genocide is an interesting reason for him to join.

Also, I agree that going on the adventure simply to get money from goblin slaying is pretty awfull (so does Laurentii). Moreover, Alfonso would not be the only one in the group looking for a peaceful solution, as I have tried to hint in my posts, Laurentii is not really interested in slaying goblins, but rather on making sure that no one comes to harm (Shalewen first). He will definitely not collect ears, and only kill in self defense.

90% with you here. There is a tiny voice talking about not supporting the REALLY BAD IDEA even passively but I think I can think around it. I guess it depends of the overall group goal. But that might need to be hashed out in the play thread.

Note: all what follows should be read as having a neutral tone and not as a critic on any arguments that have been made so far. I am simply trying to provide some type of reasoning that might justify the characters actions: As for the issue about whether Gutwad/the licktoads are the source of the trouble... I have to agree with Alfonso that it is not clear (our characters do not own all the necessary clues). But do they need to? Is it so awful to be the pawns of Sandpoint's mayor and Sheriff... they are supposed to be pretty decent people! One could also see that the previous mercenaries might not be dead and instead are in need of help. Finally, even though no one has died from the goblin attacks, does not mean that no one was injured.

This is what really threw me about the bounty note. These are supposed to be good guys and they did this? Learning more about the long Goblin-Sandpoint conflict helped but this felt seriously wrong.

@ Alfonso: Interestingly, in the previous game I was in, there was a goblin paladin who played extremely well his character. He put his life in danger many times to save other goblins (our group had adopted the Licktoads by the time the game died!).

Nice and well played.

So I may be overreacting. You are not treating this as a hunt-kill mission and Alfonso is not...

Is anyone? It might annoy the mayor et al but if we are working to stop the attacks rather than being murderhobos this might work....

...These goblins are being very bandity.

How do you know?

1.What evidence confirms that the attack took place and that goblins were responsible?

2.If the attack is/was confirmed and it is/was proven that goblins were the aggressors what evidence links the attack to the Licktoads?

3.If such evidence exists how does it confirm that all the Licktoad goblins were involved in the attack or that the attack was ordered by Gutwad?

Finally there is the appropriate response issue. The goblin attacks have yet to kill anyone.

..."Sheriff Belor thinks there may be deaths on the road soon if we stand idly by."

(bolding mine)

Hunting and killing thinking beings, even if evilly aligned, is a bit over the top as a first response.

I'll grant 1 as background info but 2 & 3 need to be nailed down if they want me to volunteer. Even then I wopuld need to be convinced that killing is the proper response.

but the bounty is not on goblin bandits. It is on ALL goblins.

"By the Order of the Sheriff the town of Sandpoint shall remit 10 gold pieces from the city treasury for each freshly taken goblin ear upon delivery to the town hall.
-An additional reward of 300 gold will be issued to anyone presenting the head of tribe Licktoad's chieftain, one 'Chief Gutwad'"

A bandit is something one does, you pays your money you takes your chances. Fair is fair. This is killing someone for what they are.

Bit of a difference, at least to me.

Your personal feelings would be incredibly forward thinking in such a community.

Not so much for someone considered by his family, and by himself, as at least half monster. Add coming from a culture that makes extensive use of slaves and has a caste of nearly un-persons (tieflings) and it is very easy for Alfonso to see his name on the bounty board. Compassion as self-interest really.

The whole racist and scalping thing really turns my stomach though. I mean there are in cannon good goblins. I wonder how a goblin paladin would deal with this.

She has tasked Alfonso with examining an encoded vellum scroll. Not for free, of course. You will be paid. Nonmagical, it recently came into her possession via a friend in Magnimar. Mostly written in varisian, from what you know, it takes an intelligence or engineering check to really crack into the thing.

From what you can tell so far, it relates to a very difficult mission undertaken by a pair of elite Pathfinder agents.

...

"No need to talk of payment Koya. Glad to help."

{Bwhahahahah right a Sorcerer making Int checks...Int to decode: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4. And Knowledge Engineering untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 good roll but untrained limits the result to 10 I think. Looks like lots of lamp oil and taking a 20 on the Int check if I can for a result of 21.}

First I apologize. I was criminally unclear in my "not interested" post.

What I actually meant to say was that Alfonso is not motivated by a bounty on goblins.

He is however motivated by personal relationships. If he is asked then he will very reluctantly take part.

He does not see the goblins as a threat to Sandpoint. And apparently neither does Sandpoint as all they have apparently done is to offer a small bounty. No mobilization for war, no desperate messages to Magimar, Sandpoint is not under siege. They are using fireworks, they live in a swamp. Damp and gunpowder means this is a problem only until the next good rainstorm. Yes you can keep powder dry if you are careful and organized. Goblins are neither, from Alfonso's viewpoint, this is a self-correcting problem. Alfonso will however reluctantly take part if asked. At that point he is not taking part in an ill-conceived punitive expedition but doing a favor for the person who asked.

From what Alfonso can see there have been a couple (few? only one?) attacks on caravans in the area by goblins using what appear to be fireworks. Not cannons or magic super weapons, fireworks. In response Sandpoint sent in a punitive expedition to kill them all. (Minor assumption here, the first group may have not been so clearly motivated to kill goblins as we are expected to be, they may not have been offered cash for body-parts.) The first expedition having failed Sandpoint chooses to do the same thing again hoping for different results.... Alfonso is skeptical, perhaps it might be healthier to wait and join the next expedition, or the one after that.

----------------------------
My personal feelings follow.

I am really uncomfortable with this start to the AP. This is a clear and simple appeal to greed and love of violence. Spiked with a shot good ole' fashioned racism. This exact form of bounty is something governments did in real life to wipe out undesirable populations.

The players are asked, not to solve a problem, not to find out why attacks are happening, we are not even asked to stop the attacks on the caravans. The players are specifically asked to hunt and murder thinking members of a player available race.

Without any investigation or proof being offered we are expected to assume the local goblin tribe is behind the attacks. Again Sandpoint does not care why the goblins are attacking or how they came to get presumably rare and expensive weapons, all the town wants is dead mutilated goblins.

Without any investigation or proof being offered we are expected to assume the entire goblin race is deserving of execution without trial or legal recourse. The bounty letter does not restrict payment by tribe, or age, or anything else. All that matters is species.

We are expected not to care that the goblins we are hunting, killing, and mutilating may have had nothing to do with any attacks. All that matters to the Mayor and Sheriff judging from the limited information provided is that they are goblins.
This is foul.
This is collective punishment.

This is not fun.

Take a look at how Burnt Offerings dealt with the same set up, Sandpoint threatened by goblins. Instead of hearing about a problem and being told to go kill goblins because reasons. The players help repel the attack on the town. They quickly they realize that something bigger is going on and there is a chain of clues leading the players to take the fight to the goblins. At no point are the players expected to kill goblins simply because they are goblins.

The story moves from active street by street defense of the town to a desperate foray into goblin territory to stop a larger problem.
I do not doubt that this adventure will move on to larger problems but right now the motivation being offered is "kill the greenies because they are annoying ."

Am I missing something? This AP looks like it could be a great deal of fun and you are all excellent folks to game with. I hope we can find a way through this.

Ha. A disease. Interesting viewpoint.

From what I know, small cases will likely be handled within the town by the mayor or guard captain while large ones will require the perpetrator to be sent to Magnimar. That's a lot to consider so well done.

oh dear. That is rule by one person. Massive opportunities for pressure and corruption. Pity I don't know Charm Person. ;7)

AH but they are not adventures any more. They got better!

Adventuring is like a social disease or something. :7)

Oh and not a lawsuit but rather criminal charges. Assaulting a citizen in public and all. Though it does depend on how legally organized Sandpoint is. Are offences still mainly seen as a matter between individuals and families or has the state/crown/urbis begun to supplant/support the injured party. Are we in a time or wergeld or a time of crown courts. Or I suppose it could be a case of mother & father officials in which case Alfonso, and all sensible folks, run from the law at all speed!

I am interested in how the law sees your wolf's actions. Where responsibility devolves ect.

Alfonso bears the twin assaults with a smile and continues on his way.

Common assault before witnesses, and failure to have a wild animal under proper restraint.

It is a departure from character but Alfoso will not pursue the matter as the Pathfinder rules are woefully inadequate on the subject of criminal law.

Speaking of departures, Alfonso has no interest in crawling through a swamp to kill people who have not hurt him. If this proposes a plot difficulty simply having Koya or another person he respects ask him to go as a favor will solve the issue.

Note: People he respects no longer includes Shalewen or Shalelu

"Ah, nice of the sheriff to let folks know they would be walking in dead men's shoes. I quite pity anyone trying for this bounty. Good day to you."

Alfonso leaves and joins the others (is anyone about?)

Assuming Lou, Trig, and or Laurentii are here.

"The sheriff seems to think Sandpoint is too crowded. This 'bounty' seems more a way to decrease the surplus population than sane policy. It seems the local goblin tribe found some fireworks. These rockets are frightening trade so the powers that be sent a band of rowdies to stop them."

"Now listen close children 'cause this is the important bit, the rowdies never came back. If they were smart they took whatever fee the Mayor offered and right now are living the life in Magimar.
These were however adventurers so their intelligence cannot be relied on."

"This means that whoever walks into that dismal marsh now will be expected. Facing greenskins on their turf is bad enough but this tribe is angry and alert. Unfocused, blitheringly stupid, yes but currently as focused on Sandpoint as their fungus encrusted brains can manage."

"The best plan would be to ignore the problem for a couple of seasons. By then the goblins will have used up their new toys and the survivors will not pose a threat. Either that or simply give them a couple barrels of blasting powder as a gift. The results should be visible from here."

"Well that was a fun little diversion. I expect Koya has some pointless yet vital task she wants doing. Good morning."

Summon monster 8 (hezrou demon, has 27 str and hands) Magic jar demon. Cast blood money doing 1+25 str damage have 12500 blood gp to play with.

Wish would take 50 str. So less free more half price.

eh it's cheese and more a wizard trick than a sorcerer gambit. Alfonso will have better things to do.

Blood money and Masterwork transformation on the other hand tosses WBL out the window.

but it is still cheese.

Alfonso, Trig, I'm still working on your rumors.

Alfonso, we'll give you access to UM content contingent on approval, as I do not own it and have not read it in full.

Antagonize seems perfectly in keeping with your character, and we should all look forward to seeing you put it to good use.

I assume you mean the Blood Money spell? If it's actually a feat, just slide me a link, will you? -It should be fine so long as you show me your accounting for each of your uses of it.

I thought I mentioned this, but leadership is available. I expect you all to work with me on the details if you should take it.

Yup blood money the spell. It won't matter until much later but magic jar + blood money = free wishes etc but we will burn that bridge when we come to it.

Antagonize is not a feat Alfonso will be taking, more one he needs to defend against. OOoooo looks like they toned down the feat. It used to be a caster killer as it required the victim to make a melee attack vs. the user. Give this to an come-and-get-me barbarian and it is goodnight wizard.

"I am Mariel. How can I help you?"

"No, no ears today. A few questions though."

No need to play this out and slow things down.
Alfonso is looking to establish: One, why the gobbos have become a menace now and not earlier? Better organization? Increased population? New toys/leadership?
Two, what other actions have been tried to solve the problem? Buying them off? Talking to them? Kicking the problem upstairs to the local nobility/military/government?

Sorry I haven't posted in while, real life hit recently.

Trig, padding along on Fergus with Alonzo,says to him "You know, I was planning on taking that quest to kill the goblins to pay for lodging at the dragon, I may need some help. If you join me we shall split the bounty if you wish, good sir...."

"Killing thinking creatures and mutilating their bodies for money has a long and glorious histor,y but is it something we really want to encourage?"

Alfonso opens his hand and reveals a detailed drawing of a goblin ear on the red leather covering his palm. He closes his hand into a fist.

"Once folks get the scent of blood, especially if it is not on their hands directly, they tend to get carried away?"

Alfonso opens his hand revealing a detailed drawing of a wolf ear. A finger roll and the drawing changes to a gnomes ear.

"I mean, stranger things have happened. Best to find out what the real problem is."

Alfonso dusts his hands lightly as he walks.

{Or maybe this didn't happen depending on how much one can get away with using prestidigitation. I figure this was within bounds but feel free to correct me if it is not.}

When reaching someone in authority. {Who is mayor? Sheriff? Lord high chancellor?}
"Good day {insert name and title if customary here} what is this about trouble with our friendly local greenskins?"

"Good morning Mr. Kasuri. I ('we' if Sir Trig is along) am (are) just off to the mayors to get the information on these Goblin ears from the horses mouth as it were."