If you need someone tough on the front lines, I might be your guy. I hate to leave the town, but sometimes you have to go outside the town to protect it from dangers before they grow too big.
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Not at all, Ameiko! We adore you! How could we not? You make the best boar this side of Brinewall Castle! The whole bar cheers as another round of drinks are passed around.
Indeed. Well done, Hardegon. According to Brenton and the others, you certainly have done your part. I fully intend to put in a glowing report to my good friend in Magnimar. He lowers his voice and sits down next to him. Look, you've done your part...and by all rights, you could leave right now. But, do me a favor? Take a few days...a week, even. Get to know the people here, and these other adventurers a bit better. You might find a place to belong with them, or with us. You'll find that people are a bit more understanding and acceptable outside the safety of the livin' of high society there in Magnimar.
Honestly, it's been quiet. A little too quiet. You all must have done a great job. I haven't heard so much as a peep from any goblins since you left. I guess you put them in their place. With a good show of force, goblins fall apart. They're cowardly creatures at their core. If you want to have fun sometime, find a single goblin and yell at him. He'll piss in his pants before he can even run off. Unfortunately, there's nothing entertaining about what they do when they're in numbers. The little monsters are evil.
I appreciate the offer, Zeriak. For now, you men rest. I expect Shalelu back tomorrow with a full report. In the mean time...
I see. It is most fortunate, then, that we have heroes like you and Shelelu to help us out. In fact, I... At that moment, the door flies open. A heavily bossomed young woman barges in.
As Belor enters, the bar has not yet fully opened, leaving you alone with him and Ameiko. So, men, tell me what happened.
I see. I'll have someone stable your horse there. In the mean time, go get cleaned up and rest for a bit. I'll meet you at the Rusty Dragon in a couple of hours.
With the bridge repaired, you take the horse back over to the other side, eventually returning to Sandpoint. The party earns 2 hero points each. The party levels. Each party member earns 2,475 gp from their share of the loot. Each party member gets one relationship point to add to an NPC of their choice. As you enter town, several people come to greet you, including Ameiko. Seeing the dead body across the horse (Orik), she runs to get Father Zantus. He has several acolytes take the body after he casts gentle reprose to preserve it. Sheriff Hemlock approaches the party and asks "I'm glad to see you all made it back OK. Shalelu didn't give us much information about what you might face. What did you see there?
I trust Shalelu in this. No one knows the goblins better than she does. Take every precaution. If what you find there is overwhelming, then return the town and we'll discuss other options. My Iomedae guide your swords!
Shalelu heads up to Ameiko's room as the Sheriff continues. Very well. I'll leave you men to it while I get the watch here prepared and update the mayor. He walks out for a moment, and walks back in. Bloody hell. Almost forgot. While Magnimar couldn't give me men to assist with the goblins, they didn't leave me empty handed. However, these would probably be more useful in your hands, seeing that you're going to face them head on. He snaps his fingers and one of his men brings in a bag. It has the following. +1 Arrows of Bane Vs. Goblinoid x 18
Good luck, men.
It may be just as well if the source of the problems is in Thistletop. That place would be hard to assail with a large force. Shalelu, while our new friends move in on them, and the boys and I secure the town for a possible attack from other clans, can I get you to do another scouting run? We can't afford to get blindsided while some of our best men are several hours away.
The Sheriff Answers Hardegon first. Savah’s Armory is about a quarter mile on the right. She probably has what you need. And then Shalelu.
He has. The constable has signed of on an early release based on his good behavior. Technically, he could go anywhere he wants, but when I mentioned the goblin problem and the...payment involved, he volunteered to come back to Sandpoint with me. Issacot also feels that if the boy was given some direction...a sense of purpose, he might become a credit to society. Without it, he might slip back into using illegal means to get what he seeks out of life.
Ah, I feared as much. It sounds like you guys are set on tackling this issue head on, eh? I have to say, men, you never cease to amaze me. But, I don't want you to face the threat alone. As I mentioned, I couldn't get much help from Magnimar, but they didn't send me away completely empty handed. Apparently, a few months ago, they caught a thief in the house of one of the noblemen. The reports indicated that he took out several of the guardsman before he went down. He was careful, though. There were no deaths. The young man would have spent more time in jail, but the constable, Issacot, said that he was pretty cooperative. I think the constable has a soft spot, myself. But it's the boy's first offense. In talking with him, the constable says that its clear the he's a greedy little runt looking for some quick cash, but a talented one with light weapons. And, he's good at picking locks. Managed to pick the jail thrice while he was bored. With a fork, no less. Though, he never left his cell. Issacot believes that with the right influence, maybe he'll see the straight way is the best one. Or, at least see that a legal, risky life of something like an adventurer is a better way to riches than spending one's life in jail. We need help, and I owe the constable there a favor. He's never let me down in the past. If he says someone can be of help, they usually are. I could put him to work here in Sandpoint, but as you all know, there's little gold in that. I talked to the young man myself, and when I mentioned the goblin bounty and the gold rewards we have here, he immediately looked interested. Could I convince you to take him with you to address this goblin threat?
The next morning, the Sheriff returns to town, and joins the group for breakfast. Only the halfling is serving. Ameiko is no where to be seen. It's unusually quiet. Good morning, men. I spoke with the Mayor early this morning. She told me about the Glassworks and nobleman Kaijitsu. Seems like you all have been busy, and things may be even more dangerous than we originally thought. Good job holding down the fort while I was gone. His face looks a bit more sullen. Unfortunately, Magnimar can't lend much help. They seem to be a bit short handed at the moment, dealing with a bugbear problem to the south and a drake or three to the east. So, hopefully you have better news for me. We're you able to find out anything new about the goblins and their plans?
I'll take a couple of my men with me just in case...but if can keep an eye on the town along with the rest of the watch, that will put my mind at ease. Perhaps, most importantly, it will put the town people at east. They look up to you all. You're local heroes. Keeping you here while we continue to address the problem will be give them the sense of security they need right now. Everyone needs to keep doing what they normally do day in and out. We will take care of this problem. With that he stands up. By your leave madam mayor. He bows his head and then looks to you. Men. He nods his head again. I'll see you in a few days. Be safe. He walks out.
No...no one comes to mind. The bigger threat at the moment, though, are the goblins. How did so many get into our walled town. Obviously someone from the inside helped them...and finding out who would be very helpful. However, with or without someone showing them the way, the goblins may organize and attack again in numbers. My priority right now is getting some help.
The nobleman, Kaijitsu? Well, his family has been pretty important to Sandpoint for some time. Their own the glassworks factory and a couple of other businesses. His daughter runs the Rusty Dragon. He's hasn't seen eye to eye with her in some time...since she became an adventurer. She only did it a year, but instead of moving back in with the family and helping with their other businesses, she used the money to buy the inn. Obviously, that's hardly a noble type business... and only served to drive a deeper wedge into their relationship. The stress has clearly had an impact on him. He looked aged well ahead of his years.
Hmmm...perhaps the man or group of men who is working with these goblins is some sort of wizard or necromancer. Something to keep our eyes open for.
After Shalelu’s speech, Sheriff Hemlock stands up. With the mayor's permission, I'm taking a few of his guards south to Magnimar to see about securing additional soldiers to station at Sandpoint for a few weeks, at least until the extent of the goblin threat can be determined. While I'm out of town, I've asked Shalelu to sniff around Shank’s Wood, Brinestump, Mosswood, Devil’s Platter, and other places where goblins live to see if she can discover anything else about what’s going on. I would also like you to maintain a public presence in Sandpoint over the next few days, if you don’t mind. The locals seem to have taken to you,” he says, “And seeing you around town will do a lot for keeping worries down over the next few days, especially with me not around.
An elf of the female pursuasion steps out of the shadows from around a corner. Gentlemen, this is Shalelu. Think of her as an unofficial member of Sandpoint’s town guard." She smirks. Shalelu has been a thorn in the side of the local goblin tribes for years, and few in the region know more about them than she does. Her latest report indicates that Sandpoint hasn’t been the only place in the region that’s had goblin troubles. In short, there’s been an increase in goblin-related raids along the Lost Coast, particularly in the dale
Shalelu, tell the boys what you told the meyor and I earlier.
Sheriff Belor meets you at the door to the Town Hall. He walks with you to the second floor, where you see a middle aged lady. I'm not sure if you've had a chance to meet the mayor in the past, but this is Kendra Deverin. He turns to her, Madam Mayor, these are the heroes who saved more than a few lives during our ceremony. Megekki, Brenton, Emrys and Zeriak. They are our next generation of goblinslayers. |