Aldern looks rather befuddled by Evelyn's sudden shift to Aklo, and even more so when Eostre & Ekan start conversing with her in that language.
"Is, er... is everything alright?"
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Aldern's cheeks turn a bit pink and he awkwardly clears his throat. "Anyways... I'm quite impressed by your telling, Evelyn. I'll admit, you don't look much like any conventionally ordained priestess of Desna I've seen before..."
Aldern seems quite fascinated by Evelyn's recounting of the story. "Truly? You're more impressive than I thought, milady!"
Aldern gives Conner an irritated look. "Thank you for your contribution, sir, but I do believe I asked Ms. Grimley, not you."
"Oh, I don't doubt that. If anything, I'm grateful you could find the time to come and speak with me." Aldern nods. "There's quite a few stories going around about the lot of you and your adventures under Thistletop--some more embellished than the rest. I was, perhaps, hoping you could regale me with the truth of the matter?"
In the meantime, Aldern pulls up another stool for Evelyn and waves over Bethana. "A glass of fine red wine for the lady here, if you would." As the old halfling leaves, he turns to the oracle and briefly straightens his collar. "I understand if you do not remember me, milady--I imagine one starry-eyed noble's face is not particularly memorable, not compared to the adulation you're receiving now."
Aldern finally looks up as the rest of the party enters, his despondent look evaporating in an instant when he sees Evelyn's face. "Ah--Evelyn! I was hoping we'd have a chance to speak again before long--would you allow me to buy you a drink?"
Aldern, on the other hand, looks even more lost and confused than before. "Er, excuse me--Evelyn, was it?" He taps Evelyn on the shoulder. "Are you following any of this? I'm not sure what to make of it all."
"Sylvia Jahlyn. You know, blond lady, Shelynite, kinda squeamish, you invited her to that show and spent a small fortune on fancy dresses for us and whatnot?" Aldern's look of confusion deepens a bit before it finally dawns on him. "...OH! Yes, her. We... well, we had a talk, and, well, it didn't... quite work out." He blushes and looks at his feet.
"Shouldn't you be serenading our former comrade, loverboy?" Aldern blinks in confusion. "Wait--who, now?"
Aldern wanders over to the party's table as well. "Er--excuse me, but did someone say something about killing a mutant goblin?" He gives Evelyn another look.
The sandy-haired noble from the White Deer is seated at the bar in his fancy blue clothes, currently nursing a glass of red wine. When the party enters, he turns and looks at them, his eyes widening as he sees Evelyn. "Oh my heavens..." His cheeks turn a bit red.
Aldern blinks. "Oh, you volunteered to help as well, Nicat?" He tears his gaze away from Sylvia. "I--oh, there's no excusing it--I was... rather distracted and... *ahem*" His face turns a shade of pink. "I would welcome your assistance with this, but please understand that it'll take some time for me to find good help."
"At any rate, since nobody around here, save for Ser Conner, seems to be interested in helping me with rebuilding my family home, I'll need to return to Magnimar to find more help there." Aldern stands up and nods at the armoured man before turning to Sylvia. "Why not ask Ser Conner to go with you to the Isle, darling?" He says before turning back to him. "Perhaps this can be your audition to see if you're as good as you claim."
"Oh! I didn't realize you had a family manor here in town. I thought you were from Magnimar. How long has your family lived in the area?" "My family manor isn't in town, exactly--it's several days to the south, past Brinestump Marsh." Aldern says while scratching the back of his head. "And my family hails from Magnimar, but I wasn't born there--apparently, the manor stood empty for forty years before Father moved there to fix it up with Mother." "Right... Like I said, you'll need a couple more. How about these folks? They look competent, and you already know them." "Oh, my, no. It's bad enough I got drawn into this whole deputy business. No, no." "It's just as well--you're too precious and delicate to be wasted on something like guard duty, Sister Jahlyn. If you don't mind me saying." He says with a nervous chuckle. ...did he mean that as a compliment? "Still, it looks like its starting to get to the point where I'll have to return to Magnimar for the men I need. Ser Conner here--" He waves to the warrior. "--was the only one who was willing to hear me out..." "Anyways, we're off to look into this island of Nicat's. Him, Eostre, and Brodert seem to think there is something there that needs looked into, and Ekan and I both agree that if it's what they think it is, it should be looked into. Tell me, Aldern. You live here. What do you know of this Chopper's Isle?" GM Rolls: "Well... from what I've heard, the Chopper made that place his home for a long time before he started hunting people. When the guards tracked him down, I heard they found some sort of evil shrine under his home." He pales a little. "Covered in bird carcasses and eyeballs..." He shudders. "Eugh..."
"Superstitious? Why superstitious? Is there some problem you should be telling me about?" "Oh, something or other about the place being haunted--mostly rubbish. I mean, I grew up there, and I've never once seen anything ghostly or ghoulish roaming the halls." Aldern shrugs as nonchalantly as he can. GM Rolls:
DC 18 Sense Motive:
Something about Aldern's words seems... off. It's obvious to you that he's lying--there's a profound fear behind his eyes, and it affects his words more than he thinks it does. He clears his throat. "But anyway, this is all well and lovely, but I haven't heard an answer from you, Conner. Feel like taking the job?" The bartender looks over at the noble, giving him a glare that would melt steel.
"Lord Foxglove, a pleasure it is to see you... so soon, again. Do you have room enough for more? I hate to impose, and understand if you don't." "Oh, certainly! Always room for one more at my table--come, have a seat!" Aldern stands and pulls out an empty chair for the priestess. "Ten a day is fine, but I can't watch an entire work site alone, you'll need a few more people." The noble turns to the warrior with a brief look of surprise on his face... it's almost as if he genuinely forgot the man was still sitting there. "Right. Right, of course. *ahem* Sylvia, this is Conner. Conner, Sylvia." He waves between the two people. "I was planning on hiring some locals to help rebuild my family manor to the south. I'd have much more success if these people weren't so bloody superstitious..." He mutters in an aside. "Anyway, we're currently negotiating the fee for guarding my workers. I think it's been going quite well!"
"...and so, sir, I am prepared to offer a rate of 10 gold pieces per day of work and/or travel in this regard. Most of my expenses are going toward acquiring the materials necessary to rebuild the Foxglove Manor--" Aldern is interrupted in his constant chattering by the dwarf mage's remark. He looks up in confusion before seeing the priestess, his eyes lighting up and his expression becoming joyful. "Sylvia? I hoped we'd see each other again before long--it does my heart good to see you in such good spirits on such a miserable day." He gets up from his seat and waves her over.
Once the play is finished, the crowds in the theatre start to disperse. Aldern stands up from his seat again, rubbing his lower back. "Well, that play was quite impressive!" He stretches, trying to get feeling back into his backside. "A shame it went on for so long though..." He mutters as he starts back up the aisle, pausing for Sylvia & Fulko.
Aldern's face lights up when Sylvia mentions wanting a front row seat. Without another word, he finds a good spot for the performance in the front row and sits down, with Fulko & Sylvia in tow. Soon enough, the curtain rises, and the play begins. While the play is going on, Ekan takes note of the theatregoers. They're mostly well-to-do, ranging from local farmers to some of Sandpoint's nobility--in fact, he recognizes Titus Scarnetti sitting in the back of the theatre, dressed appropriately for an evening of drama. He gives harsh glares to any chatty patrons he hears. Aldern's attention is more on Sylvia than the play, as much as he tries to hide it. Even when the final curtain falls and everyone gives their ovations, he's still eying her.
After a smooth trip to Vernah's, the party arrives at Sandpoint's Theatre, decked out in fine clothing suitable for a courtly function or two. After a bit of persuasion, Aldern pays for four more tickets and hands them off to Ekan, Eostre, Ilya and Nicat. "Feel free to seat yourselves wherever you wish. I'm planning on a front-row seat myself." Aldern eyes the stage before turning to Sylvia. "Unless, Miss Jahlyn, you have something else in mind?" From the look on his face, he's very much hoping Sylvia agrees with him.
Aldern steps toward the door. "Well, I don't plan to stop you, sir." He says to Fulko. "And... I suppose I do owe the rest of you for saving my life. I suppose I can pay for your clothes." He shrugs. "I only have three tickets, though--you'll have to speak with Mr. Drokkus for that." He steps through the door, looking back with a smile and offering his arm to Sylvia. "Shall we?"
Aldern finally speaks up after listening to the conversation. "Well... we could use the time to get ourselves some proper clothes for the play." He gives Fulko a critical look. "No offence intended, sir, but I don't think your current attire would be appropriate for the theatre." He eyes the veritable armoury Fulko is carrying.
Ekan:
Your patrols go well--the townsfolk don't appear to be inclined to cause trouble. Aldern's face lights up. "Really? Perfect!" He gives Sylvia one ticket and after hearing Fulko's offer, hands the second one to him. "The show starts this evening. How about we come back to the Dragon after the show for dinner?"
Aldern scratches his head. "Er... I'm not certain what you're implying, I just wished to see if Miss Jahlyn was available for tonight. I have some tickets to the play here in town... what was it?" He briefly glances at the three tickets in his hand. "The Harpy's Curse. Of course, it just slipped my mind briefly." He's blushing as he glances between Fulko & Sylvia. He steps past Fulko and approaches her. "I was hoping we'd run into each other again before long--see, I won a few tickets from Mr. Drokkus regarding that play of his. It's showing at the Sandpoint Theatre tonight..." He's starting to fumble for words, nervously smiling at Sylvia.
"Nothing much. The mages ran off to get potions--" Ameiko is cut off by the sound of the Rusty Dragon's door opening again. In walks Aldern Foxglove, looking around. "Excuse me--is Miss Jahlyn here?" There appears to be something in his hand... it looks like a few tickets.
"Me? I'm from the city of Magnimar. Ever been there?"
"Er... you're welcome, Sylvia. I have a room at the White Deer; we can speak more later there. I should go and see if my servants are well." He stammers out before leaving.
Aldern has a beatific smile on his face as Sylvia offers to escort him to the chapel. "It'd be a pleasure, Sylvia. And I'm glad to say I'm not hurt. Indeed, you and your friends managed to get here in the nick of time." "And no--Ilya, was it?--I don't believe we've met." Aldern says before taking Sylvia's hand and allowing her to lead him back to the cathedral.
Interspersed among them, sadly, are a few human bodies. Not everyone in Sandpoint fared as well as the party against the goblins, but the battle has been won. By the time the party reaches the cathedral Ekan has returned to his normal size. Father Zantus and Sheriff Hemlock are waiting outside the chapel with a small crowd of people. Zantus is busy tending to the wounded and Hemlock is having a one-sided conversation with Zord. He looks up at the party as they approach, relief on his face. "There you are! From the looks of things, you had a much better time of it than we did; we managed to drive the goblins back, but this is about the first time we've defeated them so decisively."
The noble winces and almost falls over from the force of Fulko's shoulder tapping. Surveying the carnage, a look of awe crosses his face. "You did all this?" He steps out from behind the barrel, looking around. When his eyes fall on Sylvia, he immediately approaches her. "I'm sorry, I've completely forgotten my manners. I'm Aldern Foxglove. I'm not from around here; I only just arrived for the festival. And you must be the fine lady in charge here." He says, bowing to Sylvia. "And you, sir..." He turns to Ekan. "I believe I owe you a debt, especially. May I know your names?" In the distance, the sounds of battle are fading. It sounds like the battle's outcome has been decided. |