Search Posts
Not far from where you stand, you hear the clear bellweather voice of Ameiko Kaijitsu break the air, shouting orders and directing traffic. The lovely bard, sporting a fresh wound on one cheek, motions to you with her rapier. "Go see if you can aid the priests. Finish off any of the little pikers you see. We'll get those fires out soon enough."
Sarvo It is not long before Ameiko returns from the back, dressed more causally this time in leather breeches and a cloth work shirt. She still flits around from table to table making comments, sharing a joke, and making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. Occasionally your eyes meet across the smoke-filled room, and she tips you a wink or a smile - a silent promise to come back to see you. Finally, she strolls over carrying an earthen mug of ale for herslef, and a potent refill of whatever you are drinking. "So big handsome, tell me that story now. Hopefully, it'll be worth your while..."
To ALL Soon after visiting with some of the tables in the inn, Ameiko takes the small stage, the lights accentuating her exotic beauty. Her gown of silk is form-fitting on her lithe body and has a motif of three cranes flying. Her sleeveless arm has a scrawling tattoo of an oriental dragon along its length, and her dark hair seems to ripple in the stagelights as her eyes sparkle. "Welcome friends to the Rusty Dragon. I trust the accommodations are to your liking. We hope to see all of you at our booth in the churchyard tomorrow, where we will be serving curry crusted salmon and offering free ale to the masses." A small cheer interrupts her, and she quiets the crowd, her smile disarming. "I will start with some songs from my homeland, Tian Xia, and then perhaps play some things more to your liking." She takes the strange stringed instrument and tunes it a bit, the chords sounding like a more resonant version of a lute or mandola. She begins singing sofly at first in an exotic language, and while the words are strange and the music a bit discordant to your ears, the story it tells is self-evident. The longing and ache for home, a home far away impossible to return to is what she sings of. The crowd sits in mute astonishment, captivated by the simple melody and the stirring words. A single tear runs from Ameiko's luminous eyes, as she sings the final notes, which she wipes away quickly. After re-tuning the stringed instrument, she plays a few more songs, a few slow love songs at first but ending up, as all good performers do, with the upbeat and popular stuff that has the crowd clapping and singing along. Finally, with a flourish, she finishes. Stands exultant in the applause that follows, and takes a deep bow. While still saluted by the audience, she exits the stage and disappears quickly into a backroom.
Sarvo The woman laughs at the situation, a merry little laugh. "Now I would like to sit and hear that story, but for now, I have a show to do. A girl has to pay the bills somehow. I'll be back for it though." She winks again and carries her lithe form through the crowd, stopping at a few tables to chat, on her way to the stage. "My mistress has that effect on people, mostly men." says the hostess Bethany suddenly from your shoulder. "She really is the best, you know, our Miss Ameiko." She delivers your meal and a key to the rooms above.
Just then, Beromar, with a wounded but ambulating Ameiko come into the hallway. "It is too bad Tsuto had to die." says the Tien innkeeper through clenched teeth, "But he was too far gone for me to save. He kept rambling about the town getting it's just desserts, and that I should join them and save myself. I wasn't about to do that, he's not the boy I remember. He's gone around the bend." "Beromar tells me that my father is also on the casualty list. Killed by his own son. No surprise given the family dynamics, but sad still. I need to get back to the Dragon, and starting settling my families affairs. I guess I am Sandpoint's newest noble woman now..." "You all have my deepest gratitude, not only for saving me personally but for helping save the town from whatever plans those crazies have for it. You consider yourselves to have free room and board at the Dragon for the rest of your lives. Any other aid I can offer, just say the word. Now, I will try to get to my inn. If you stay here, then gods' blessings on you." And with that the bard turns and starts heading back up the stairs.
The Lady Ameiko appears quite distracted. She smiles at Zephir and at the halfling alchemist who appear to be starting a conversation, but her mind is clearly elsewhere. "Please excuse me, I have family business to attend to." she says finally, and dropping her apron on the bar she exits to the back. Her shapely form is not seen again in the Dragon that evening.
Ameiko says:"It was long rumored there were smugglers' caves connected to the Glassworks, and it appears they were behind these bricked up walls. The family rumor is that my Grandfather, Ryuko, the founder of the Glassworks, started out doing some...less than savory...business dealings. Perhaps these tunnels lead to the river or elsewhere. If Tsuto went down there, they must be an escape route of some kind. I suggest you go check them out, once you have recovered enough, that is." The room from which Tsuto appeared looks to be a bedroom/office of some sort. A cot is set up against one wall, and a writing desk stands in the corner. Several empty liquor bottles litter the floor.
Letting the villainous half-elf go, the group turns inwards to repair their own damage and to check on the recently rescued Ameiko. Slaynn remains unconscious, but the Tian woman is up and finishing the process of untying her hands and ankles rubbing them to restore circulation. She is bitten and bloody in several places, and bruised and battered in a few more, but it appears, she'll survive with enough rest and recovery time. She smiles at you wanly, "Couldn't catch him, eh? He's a devious one. I wonder where he's headed to? From what he boasted to me, he was obviously in league with the goblins and seemed to be behind the attack on the Festival the other day. Did you find anything to incriminate him? He also made it sound as if Sandpoint's troubles were just beginning, and more raids or attacks could be expected."
The older Tian man slips in the magical greasy goo on the floor, allowing Ameiko to wrench herself out of his grasp. She turns on him swinging the soup ladle like a battleaxe, braining her father and spattering all nearby with batter including the father who wears it all over his hair and outfit. "You're as dead to me as you're mother," the man spits as he turns on his heel and leaves the Inn. Ameiko stands nearby, holding back tears. She pulls a long black hair from her ladle and gamely calls "Guess I'll need a clean ladle now, since jackass stew ain't on the menu." Most guests laugh, a welcome relief from the uncomfortable moment that passed. The laughter seems to help Ameiko's mood immensely and she smiles, gives a littel curtsey and heads off back to the kitchen. She stops at the head table where you sit, and gives Loges a big kiss on the mouth, and says "Thanks for the aid, buster. You all stay in teh Inn as long as you like, no charge. And the ale's free too!' Then she disappears into the kitchen.
As you enter the Dragon, a thunderous ovation breaks out from the large crowed. "Hail the Heroes of Sandpoint! Huzzah!" and similar cries break out amongst the assembled masses. Ameiko Kaijitsu, the lovely bard owner of the place, kisses each of you in turn. "You boys have earned a free week in the Dragon with that performance today! Welcome conquering heroes! Eat and drink your fill, it;s on the house!" And she ascends the stage, playing a lively set of songs on her lute that have the place laughing, clapping, and drinking long into the morning hours. Wearily, you creep to your beds and await the sunrise, knowing you have an appointment early with Hemlock, the sheriff of Sandpoint. End, 21 Rova 4707
"Gladly, my friend." she says and leans to give Slaynn a kiss on the cheek. "Have as much as you will, there is more than enough." With that, she returns to the kitchen to finish preparations, whistling a happy tune as she goes.
As Tiberiu speaks softly to the bard, she straightens up and inspects the soup ladle, pulling a hair out of the mess and says, "Guess I'll need a well-cleaned ladle now, since jackass stew's not on the menu..." The comment elicits a hearty laugh and cheer from the crowd in the inn, and Ameiko's attitude improves immensely as a result. She approaches your table speaking softly, "And now you've met my father Lonjiku. Helluva a guy really. Very open-minded. I apologize for the display and his insults to you. Your heroism is not to be denigrated, but rather celebrated. Please accept my apology and stay with us for free for another week, if you would." She smiles, waiting for your response.
"Father!" she yells horrified at the scene and his words. He turns to her and they unleash a torrent of words and gestures in a foreign language. It is obvious he his ordering her about and she is standing her ground, her anger obviously rising as well. "No!" she yells at him her face filled with rage. "I will NOT!" and an outrageous string of profanity follows. Enraged by her response, the older man grabs for the lovely bard trying to entwine is fingers in her hair. Ameiko dodges his grasp, and brains him with her soup ladle, spattering fish stock and potatoes all over herself and her father. Wounded in pride, and shocked to silence the father stops. He looks at Ameiko raising a trembling finger to point in her face. "That is the last straw! You're as dead to me as your mother!" and with that he turns on his heel and storms out of the Inn, slamming the door loudly as he exits. Ameiko stands defiant until he leaves, then collapses in tears
To your left, a large fireball erupts at a point just south of the Cathedral's western entrance. Near you, Ameiko shouts: "Dear Gods, no! That's the fuel for tonight's bonfire. With that they can burn the whole town! You must stop them! We'll hold them off here!"
DC 15 or better:
Turning towards the towering column of flame, you see the sinister shadowy figures of a handful of goblins lighting torches from a wagon filled with wood and fuel. They are led by a gobliness, who is chanting the singsong nonsense that has been so grating to your ears. You may act in the surprise round. Failed DC 15 Perception:
The light from the fireball gives you temporary night-blindness, and while you can hear the singing coming from that area grow louder, you cannot make out the cause. You may NOT act during the surprise round. Initiative Checks:
Goblin Pyros - Surprise Round 24 Red Goblin
After igniting a cask of oil and causing the explosion, all the base goblins grab staves of wood, lighting them in the oily flames. The singing Goblin starts up her song from the beginning again, stirring the others into a frothing-at-the-mouth frenzy (not that they needed much help).
Bruin:
Bruin finds that each of the slain goblins near him wears a set of goblin-quality leather armor and carries a small wicked knife like a dagger but not at all balanced for throwing. They also each have a small wooden shield, which would fit the halfling just about right. Additionally, he finds something else: each of the goblins wears a little token or symbol on a leather thong about his neck. Looking closely, he sees the same types of symbols repeated, a large carnivore-looking tooth, a baby bird or bird egg, a dessicated frog carcass, a small seven-pointed star, and a pine cone. The goblins seem to wear these at random, but no other tokens are seen. Loges:
In your research at the Acadamae, you learned a bit about the behavior of goblins. Generally, they are chaotic and disorderly creatures, which may attack in small bands, usually when they have superior numbers, but you have never heard of an organized attack on a settlement of any size before. Although it's dark and you can't make things out clearly, flickering firelight illuminates enough that you can see the lithe figure of Ameiko, sword in hand, leading a conglomeration of town guards and citizens in a determined defense against a group of goblins to your south. Also in the group, you spy Lars the Ulfen bartender wielding a great double bladed axe with berserker abandon. As you approach the scene, Amieko turns hearing your approach. She smiles as she sees you. "'Bout time you showed up, plenty of uglies for the killing. I think we can turn the...Oh by the Gods, no!" Her eyes widen in horror and she points to the east, back towards the Cathedral. Turning you see...
Ameiko listens to yoru theories politely. As you are discussing goblin leaders, Bethany, the halfling hostess comes and whispers something in her ear. Whatever it is, Ameiko is noticeably quite shaken. "He's here? Now?" she says, rising. To you: "My friends urgent business has come up. Please enjoy our hospitality, and thank you again for yoru service to our town." And with that the lithe bard slips from the table, ducking beneath the bar, and into the back. The Ulfen barman, Lars, creates a formidable barrier for any who care to follow the songstress. Eventually, the evening wears down, and all of you slip off to very comfortable lodgings in the Rusty Dragon, curious what the next day's boar hunt, might bring. End of 21 Rova, First Day of Fall, 4707
The lovely bard finishes her set, and comes to join you. "If you really want to take a turn on hte stage, Tiberiu, be my guest. Our Varisian customers will appreciate your dancing at least! I'd love to perform with you, but we'd better practice together first, eh?" she tips him a wink that is playful and teasing. Tiberiu isn't sure if that's an entendre or not... "Well now, not often I am surrounded by heroes, at least not anymore. There was a day...You see I used to adventure myself. I met my staff, Lars Bethany and the rest on my adventures. Five years ago, just about the time of the Recent Unpleasantness, you know the Chopper and all that, my mother died. I used coin from my adventures to buy this place and settle down. Seems like maybe adventure may be back after today. Tell me what you know about the goblin attacks." Sense Motive DC 15: When Ameiko talks about her mother's death, you would expect sadness or grief, but instead what you see is a flare of anger, smoldering barely concealed under the surface.
Working your way back into the common room, you see that the crowd has grown. When you re-appear a boisterous cheer fills the room, and men begin lining up to buy you drinks again. In the midst of all the commotion, the lovely Tian lady you saw earlier on the stage arrives at your table. "I am Amieko Kaijitsu, owner of the Rusty Dragon. I am pleased to have you under my roof and offer you our hospitality for a full week on the house. Bethany has already prepared rooms for you. Retire, if you will, or stay and enjoy the company of the Dragon as she salutes the Heroes of Sandpoint this fine evening! I will join you again, after I finish my set." Know Local DC 12:
You recognize the Kaijitsu name as belonging to one of the prominent families of the Sandpoint. The Kaijitsu Glassworks is one of the few things Sandpoint is known for across all of Varisia. Ameiko climbs the stage again, dressed this time in a extremely form-fitting jade silken gown, with a long slit up the side. She sits at the stringed instrument and begins playing and singing. The music is foreign but the melody and skill lead you to believe it is a story of a group of warriors on a great quest against impossible odds, heroically they all die failing to fulfill their quest, but making a tremendous effort in the process. The entire room is caught up in her song, and when she finishes there is not a dry eye in the room.
Ameiko bends and gives Robin a kiss on the cheek and embraces the rest of you warmly. "My understanding is that the guards will take Tsuto to Magnimar for trial and imprisonment when Hemlock sends them back to the city. I do not concern myself with him any longer, but I do fear his evil friends may try to free him. It is incumbent upon you to act quickly to quell that menace. Perhaps, there will be a epic song about it one day." She excuses herself not long after, clearly distancing herself from the former light-hearted tavern owner she was before. The crowd at the Dragon still thinks of you as hereoes but the exuberance of the past few days has dwindled somewhat. You still see the buxom red-head, Shayliss Vinder and her dark-haired sister Katrine in the corner. Katrine has a new beau apparently, Banny Harker from the lumber mill, and they are locked in embrace you notice. Hannah Velerin and old Davy Hosk sit at another table and wave and chat with you amiably. The old sage Brodert Quink and the bookstore owner Chask Haladan are speaking some unknown language while they dine, but thankfully the grumpy Ilsoari Gandethus is not with them. The evening continues without incident and you turn in early, realizing that tomorrow will be a taxing day. Sleep soon steals over you and while the night is quiet, your sleep is troubled with the thought of those aberrant monsters spawned under the ground, and a demon princess leading them. End 5 Rova
Heading from the Garrison office, you return to the Dragon, and find, for the first time in a while, Ameiko there. She is dressed more richly than before, and in a Tien style that you have not seen before. She is not playing or cooking, but rather sitting and talking with her staff and friends. As you enter, she rises and greets you with hugs and a welcoming smile to the new dwarf. "I cannot thank you enough for the rescue, my friends. How silly of me to let my guard down that way, but with family I have a blind spot." She smiles embarrassed. "It is family business that brings me here tonight. I must attend to my Father's various interests, including those in Magnimar and Korvosa. I have chartered a ship to leave in the morning but wanted to take one more chance to thank you again. Is there any thing I can do to assist you before I leave Sandpoint? I shall return when the seas and business allow."
Ameiko stares at the soldier for a count or two, then bursts out laughing."You're joking, right? Right?" When she sees you're not kidding around, she suddenly turns serious, cold and hard, a look you've not seen from her before. "I have my doubts about my mother's "suicide" okay. Even if my father didn't do it, which I can't prove he certainly drove her too it with his behavior and hatred. Either way, if it weren't for him, she'd be here still. It wasn't like her to jump but he could drive her to anything, I suppose." "As for me, I am more than capable of taking care of myself, thanks very much. And I don't think the Unpleasantness was planned at all, it was too random and old Stoot was just a lunatic not a planner. The fire and Tobyn's death seems more like a coincidence than anything else. But you think the ringleader is a half-elf? Hmmm, that's unusual. Any suspects?" Sense Motive DC 20: Her interest in this half-elf theory seems more than passing. She lets slip a concerned face at that fact.
She rolls her eyes dramatically, but agrees to meet with you privately. "I think," she says with a grin, "you'll find my father is nothing more than a horse's ass. A big one no doubt and grandiose, but when you boil it all down, that's what's left." As you step into the office of the Dragon, she sits behind the desk waiting.
Shalelu strides out of the Dragon and into the street where Lars and the ranger Hosk have her horse waiting. Without as much as glance backwards, she rides away like an arrow from a bowstring. Asking Bethany to fetch the innkeeper, the fair Ameiko soon appears in the common room, a smile on her face. "I trust all is well with your stay? Whatever can I do for you? You know we'll do what we can to please the heroes of Sandpoint!" She motions and Lars fills up several earthenware mugs with ale and brings them to the table.
Ameiko chuckles a little at that. "So can he, sister, so can he..." "I don't think you'll find the Varisian boy, but maybe someone at the cathedral knows more of what went on there. There must be a few priests left up there from 5 years ago, right?"
Ameiko listens to your questions. "I knew the girl, Nualia. She was a pretty thing and nice enough, but skittish. She was part angel or blessed or something and the people around town acted like she was Iomedae herself. Old women said her touch could cure warts and a lock of her hair could make you fertile, but all that was nonsense and all that misplaced attention just made the shy girl more of recluse." She pauses, making sure you understand, her eyes cloudy with the remembering. " Then she fell in with a Varisian boy, I don't remember his name, but they were quite an item --in secret. Her father eventually found out and locked her up in her room in the church. From then on, we didn't see her, no one did except maybe the priest's. That Varisian boy, he left town, and I haven't seen him since." She sighs and drinks deeply, strumming a few chords on her lute. "Any other questions? I'm not going anywhere..."
Viviana follows the icy elven ranger over to the Dragon. She watches from a distance as Shalelu and Ameiko greet each other as old friends. They converse a while in Elvish, then the ranger goes off to a well-deserved sleep. Ameiko remains in the Common room, strumming her Tian style lute, and occaisonally scribbling notes as a thought strikes her. She sees Viviana lurking and motions for her to come and sit. "I knew the priestess would come eventually. You want to talk about my family troubles, and tell me it's all going to be okay. Well it's not, but I'll pretend to listen." She leaves an opening for you to start with questions.
Ameiko looks off put, but only for a moment. She quickly smirks looking at the ladle and says: "Guess I need a clean ladle now since jackass stew isn't on the menu...". The crowd laughs more from embarrassment than the joke. The lovely bard smiles, leans over and kisses Aleksander on the cheek and bustles for the kitchen door.
"I have important family business in town, but will bring the guard here to take him to the jail for you. Be about whatever you need to explore to end this mess." "You have my thanks, and a permanent place to stay as long as you need it. The Dragon will always be open to you." She comes and hugs each of you in turn, eyes lingering with sadness as she looks at Smoke. "If only it had been another time." she whispers into his ear as they embrace. She then leaves out the loading door, headed for the Garrison.
She turns to you and smiles grimly. "I would not have him executed without proper trial. Take him to the Garrison and let him await his fate. Hopefully, it will be something long and painful rather than the quick death you would provide him, good dwarf. There is no doubt of his complicity, but the full story should be heard publicly before we end his miserable life."
Turning to Robin, Ameiko says "Don't you know? Nualia was Father Tobyn, the old priest's daughter. It was thought that she was killed in the fire, but apparently she wasn't. Tsuto said she hates Sandpoint and wants to see it obliterated. I don't know why. She always seemed nice enough when I met her." You lead her up the stairs, Smoke carrying the renegade half-elf and bring her to the glassed up remains of her father. When she sees the glassed in man, her hand flies to her mouth, but she doesn't say anything more. If you listen close you hear her whisper:"A fitting end for you, Father. You loved your glass more than your family. You shouldn't have killed my mother." After a few moments of silence, she nods and gravely moves to the exit.
Ameiko nods quietly as you ask for her story. "I recieved a message from Tsuto, he is my half brother, but you must know that by now. He wanted me to join him and Nualia and several mercenaries at someplace called Thistletop. He said they were planning something big for the town, and I didn't want to be here when it happened." "I refused to join them and threatened to turn him in finally and he turned his goblins loose on me. I fought them as best I could, but there were many, and I am one. Next thing I know, you are waking me from the floor in that storeroom." "What else can I tell you? Tsuto and my father always hated each other. My father saw him as an embarrassing reminder of his cuckoldry. They have fought before and I'm not surprised one of them killed the other. I have little love for my father myself, but that is for my mother's sake more than anything else." Her voice trails off towards the end till she is barely whispering. "Now can I go see Lord Kaijitsu one final time? Funny, I guess I am lord of the manor now..."
As Cadas explains about Ameiko's father, she moves her hand to her mouth suddenly in shock, but that look passes quickly, replaced by a calm, quiet stoicism that is perhaps more troubling than an outward display of grief. "Where is my father? Take me to him? I want to see for myself. As for that one..." she gestures dismissively to towards her half-brother. "Let the Guard have him. A quick death from my blade is too good for one I helped all I could, and then watched turn traitor to his people. Maybe the justices in Magnimar can devise some slow torture for him." She begins to leave the room, waiting for you to show where her father lies.
The man stabilizes under the spell of the Shoanti priestess, his wounds no longer hemorrhaging and he begins to regain consciousness but remains groggy and slowed by the trauma.
Ameiko also appears better off with the additional healing and she stands and comes over the scene with the hooded stranger. "It is my half-brother, Tsuto. He is in league with goblins and with that girl Nualia, whom we thought dead. She is very much alive and behind all the disturbance. Wait until my father finds out; he hates Tsuto enough already..."
At first, the lithe bard's body is limp and cold. Bitemarks and dagger wounds show where the goblins attacked her. As Cadas unbinds her and calls for divine healing, Ameiko starts to stir, then start then awake. "Where am I...How did...On no, Tsuto is with the goblins. You must stop him!" She is clearly distraught and in shock and begins trembling all over, unable to stand so far.
Ameiko looks at Seldon meaningfully. "Tsuto and Father were always fighting. He was an embarrassment to Lord Kaijitsu after all, something to be hidden away and forgotten about. Never treated like a son, or even a person. It made Tsuto angry; why wouldn't it. Apparently, he found another angry person in Nualia, and they are planning to destroy the town. Oh, gods, you must stop them. This hate must end now!" She gives Barek a rueful smile. "It was only a matter of time before one of them killed the other. The wound is so old and deep it would never heal. Either Tsuto did it, or one of his foul minions did. The result is the same." "Wait!" she says, stopping with surprise. "My father is dead, my mother is dead, my older half-brother is a criminal. That makes ME, Lord of Kaijitsu Manor and owner of this place...Who would've ever guessed." She quickens her step leaving the basement and back into the workshop. When she sees the glassed in man, her hand flies to her mouth, but she doesn't say anything more. If you listen close you hear her whisper:"A fitting end for you, Father. You loved your glass more than your family. You shouldn't have killed my mother." After a few moments of silence, she nods and gravely moves to the exit.
"Are you saying...Did Tsuto murder my father too? Where is he?" She receives the news rather stoically, straining to hold her emotions inside. When approached with her half-brother's gear, she smiles. "It is kind of you to offer this hard one booty, but I only wish to claim this." She reaches for the silver flute and looks it over intently. "It was my gift to him brought back from distant Absalom. He did play it so sweetly. I would like to take it to remember better times. As for the rest, you may have it with my thanks." She stands, this time without stumbling or aid. She nods to little Aziza "I understand it may be gruesome, but I have seen worse, trust me. I must see with my own eyes what Tsuto has wrought. Take me to my father, and then I will return to the Dragon and begin seeing to my families affairs."
Ameiko finally starts to look herself. "Is my brother still alive, then? He is in serious trouble, and has much to answer for. When my father finds out about his part in the goblin raid...well, I don't even want to think about it." "Tsuto told me of his affair with Nualia, turns out she's not dead after all. And their big plans to destroy Sandpoint. He wanted me to join him, and when I refused, he turned the goblins loose on me. There were enough of them to be a handful, and I ended up in here, I guess." "Thanks for rescuing me again! Guess I'll give you a lifetime pass at the Dragon now. Heck, chances are that may not be much longer than this week anyway, at this rate." she smirks the familiar grin returning and tries to stand, stumbling as she rises.
Without missing a beat Ameiko shouts from her merchant tent "What about the story of your last flop at the theater? I'm almost done with my newest ballad; I call it Cyrdak the Unimpressive! Who wants to hear?" The crowd responds with laughter and cheers. Amieko can still be heard shouting over the crowd "Your secret boyfriend helped me come up with the name!" Cyrdak stands awkwardly waiting for the crowd’s laughter to die down, as it does Amieko sneaks in another one liner, "Now who’s’ got a sleepy crowd Cyrdak!"
Ameiko acknowledges your nod with a smile. "It truly was a horrible time for Sandpoint, and that's why the new Cathedral is so cathartic. Stoot was an artist, but perhaps one demonically, rather than divinely inspired. My music was taught by my mother while she still lived, it's a way I can keep her memory alive..." she trails off for a moment. If there are no other questions, the lovely Tien storyteller picks up the thread again. "As I said, the murders were only part of the Troubles. Only a month or so after the Chopper was put down, the old Church burned. Father Tobyn, a benevolent man, who had been priest for years (since before i left Sandpoint, in fact), and his adopted daughter were killed in the blaze. No one is quite sure what caused the fire, but there is certainly speculation." "The best rumor is that the fire was purposefully set from inside the building. I don't know if I believe that. Only Tobyn and Nualia, the daughter, lived inside. Why would they have cause..." Bethany the halfling hostess begins tugging on Ameiko's sleeve insistently, interrupting the story. Annoyed, the lady turns to the servant. "Yes, Bethany, what is it?" The halfing looks warily at the assembled group then whispers to her mistress. Linguistics DC 15:
You catch enough of the words to know she is speaking in Minkai, if you speak it, send me a tell. Sense Motive DC 15:
Ameiko is clearly troubled by what Bethany whispers. "He's here?" Ameiko says to Bethany, then turning to you: "Excuse me my friends, there is urgent business I must attend to. Welcome to the Rusty Dragon, I do hope you will come see our booth at the Festival tomorrow, and your stay with us will be long and pleasant." "Now," Bethany says, covering for the boss, "who needs a night cap?"
Ameiko is grateful for your comfort. She tells more of her story: from her grandfather's trip over the top of the world to found Sandpoint to her own father's abusive behavior and her mother's submissiveness. She also relates her mother's extramarital affair, and her father's wounded pride which made him hate her. Eventually she found the living too difficult and ended it all, 5 years ago, about the same time as the Chopper's Rampage and the burning of the church. "I have my own questions about her death. Maybe he didn't kill her directly (maybe he did) but he sure as hell caused her to die. I'll never get over that. Nor will I ever give up my life to be his submissive daughter, married off to some noble who can keep the family business going..." She goes on to tell you about her adventuring days and seeing the city of Absalom and the deserts and jungles of far-away places. Finally, she is weary of the telling and embraces each of you before retiring to her chambers.
Ameiko smiles and gracefully accepts all the praise the quality of her establishment. "I have tried to make the Dragon a comfortable place for travelers and adventurers with stories to tell. It's like I would want if I were still traveling..." she trails off with a far-away look. She then grins at the grumbling dwarf. "The Festival will be over soon. Let Lars know if you need any supplies that we can provide and he'll help outfit you." As you mention the Recent Unpleasantness, she sighs and motions for Morris to refill all the drinks at the table. "So you have not heard of Sandpoint's recent troubles? The tale is long in the telling, so I encourage you drink up and sit back. I do have a tendency to spin a good yarn now and then..." Ameiko sighs and begins to spin the tale as only a master bard can.
"I had just come back to town after the death of my mother." Sense Motive DC 12:
You see emotion well up in her face momentarily as her guard slips. But that emotion looks less like the grief you would expect than it does anger. And a whole lot of it. The look passes quickly and the professional storyteller takes up again. "In the cold winter of Abadius, 5 years ago, bodies started piling up in Sandpoint. Over the course of that brutal month, 25 folks were found murdered, mutilated. Hands and feet cut off, eyes and tongue missnig from all. Folks took to calling the killer 'The Chopper', and the local sherrif, that was Casp Avertin then, was at sea on how to find and stop this guy. He took to drinking heavily." "By Fate or Luck (aren't those often the same?), the sherriff, after having a few too many, wandered into the wrong alleyway (still called Chopper's Alley) just as the fiend was finishing a victim. There was a fight and old Casp was killed, but not before motally wounding the serial murderer. The Guard, led by Sherriff Hemlock (he was then just a Shoanti soldier with a Shoanti name), followed the blood trail out to Stoot's Rock, an island in the shadow of the Old Light. There they found Jervis Stoot, an eccentric woodcarver who had lived alone on his rock carving his exotic birds, dead. At first they thought him a victim of the Chopper also, but apparently, all the eyes and tongues of the victims were found in his basement along with, (they say) some demon altar." "Stoot's Rock is still abandoned and the house is said to be haunted by the demon spirit to this day. As such, no Gods-fearing folk go out that way much these days." Ameiko pauses looks around the assembled group who are all spellbound by her story. "As you can tell, Sandpoint has an unpleasant history. The owner of this very place was one of the Chopper's victims and that's how I ended up owning it. I was able to bring my friends to come work for me and have been here ever since. But The Chopper's Tale is only part of our troubled past."
The band starts playing again and soon the voices and hubbub of the inn are back to normal. After a long while, Ameiko appears again in the common room but is stoic and silent unless approached, her usually cool detached manner missing. Perception DC 15:
You can see she's been crying, her eyes red and puffy, streaks on her cheeks. If you talk to her: Diplomacy DC 15 or better:
She opens up to you in a warm personal way you haven't seen before. Her father, it seems, wants to move the family to their apartment in Magnimar since he thinks this town is now unsafe. He gave her an ultimatum to leave the Dragon and come along or be cut off from the family and the fortune. In colorful language she told him to go F*$# himself. It turns out her mother killed herself by jumping off a cliff near the family's estate 5 years ago when the Recent Unpleasantness was occurring. Failure on DC 15 Diplomacy:
She thanks you for your concern, but her brave face comes on and she says no more. Instead grabbing Lars and taking a spin on the dance floor. Ameiko does come to each of you in turn and apologize for the scene, thanking you for taking part in her defense. She offers you another week of lodging and comfort on the house.
"Oh, where ARE my manners. I am Ameiko Kaijitsu, proud owner of the Rusty Dragon. How that came to be, now that IS a story." She gives a little mock bow in introduction. Knowledge Local DC 15:
If you've heard anything about Sandpoint before coming here, you've heard of the Kaijitsu Glassworks. A wonder of wonders on the Lost Coast. It is Kaijitsu glass the hangs in the new Cathedral. Could this lovely bard be from that family? The captivating woman continues: "Are you all enjoying the Festival so far? It gets going in earnest tomorrow of course. Zantus is quite proud of his new church, and the party will do the town good as an ending to the "recent unpleasantness". It is a nice closure for all of us."
Ameiko catches the compliment thrown by Rogar. "If you were 2 feet taller and shaved that beard, maybe I'd take you up on it." she says good-naturedly. She comes over and plants a big smacking kiss on the dwarf's cheek, giggles and heads to the stage.
Ameiko turns to the group (i think that's Smoke, Robin and Boo, not sure if Rogar is with them or not) and says: "I believe Bethany and Morris are safe. The goblins apparently didn't attack in low town and they remaind at the Dragon to keep an eye on things there, thankfully. We shall see when we get down there. Personally, I can't wait for a bath and a good meal. A fight may generate good stories, but it's hungry, tiring work." She casts a wink at the barbarian man, who after running all over the field, finally is worn down. |
