"Really?" Sir Aldern gets up, looking at the group. "The goblins are coming back?"
"Well... if they come back, I'll have a surprise for them next time, won't I?" Aldern pats his sword cane with a wink and a smile.
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"Come on, now, dear fellow. This was my hunting trip we are celebrating, and-"
Sir Aldern sees Drokkus approach Laurana, and he blinks, suddenly realizing that it should have been he who proposed such a thing first. He goes up to Floredana, and bows slightly more deeply than Cyrdak Drokkus did. "Your most Aquamarine Majesty, would you do your most humble servant the honor of granting me this dance?"
"Here they are, the Sandpoint Six!" Aldern shouts, holding his wineglass high. "Fresh from yet another conquest, this magnificent boar that will soon be set before you. And most notable in this conquest, if I may say so, was the way in which the Mighty Kargas here, impatient with the boar's hesitation, decided to charge the boar before the boar could charge him. And he practically impaled it right through, before the rest gathered around to finish the poor beast off!" "So raise your glass with me to the health of the Sandpoint Six!" Aldern raises his glass and then drinks deeply.
Aldern holds up his sword cane after the tick is dead. "I got this after our last encounter. I don't care to be caught unawares again. But I wanted something unobtrusive." He sheaths the cane and then looks at Kargas. "Hey Foxglove, got any spare cloth? I wanna make a travois to drag our prize home." "I don't think I do, but normally you get a long pole and run it through, and then carry it like it's on a spit." "I didn't bring any servants, so I suppose we have to carry it. I thought our party would be big enough already without a bunch of varlets running around. If we do this again I'll be sure to bring some." Aldern shrugs and smiles in apology. "I'm sure there are some saplings around here that would do the trick."
"Beastly things!" sir Aldern shouts, as he runs his rapier into the head of the dying tick. "Well, they call this the Tickwood for a reason, I suppose. Though I had heard that they don't normally attack humans. Strange, don't you think? Do you think that was a lie?"
Aldern steps into the bushes in front of him, trying to get at the tick. He stabs at it with his sword cane, but only manages to sratch the tick's chitin.
Aldern looks down at the dead tick. "Hah! How do you like that, you scuttling pest?" Hearing the others taking shots at the remaining tick. he moves through the brush to the north, but does not get quite close enough to engage.
"Gads! They've got us surrounded!" Sir Aldern drops his spear. He runs around behind the tick facing Rig, and while doing so, pulls out his walking stick. He tugs on the end, and pulls out a long slender blade! He tries to take the tick from behind.
With most of his wounds closed, Flo starts to calm down. "Well that was quite the event! Sir Foxglove, how was that for a boar hunt?!" "Incredible! I have never seen it done like that. Apparently the trick is to be even more savage than the beast you are hunting!" Sir Aldern turns to Floredana. "Though it seems that without your help, that boar might have got the best of him. Surely Desna shines though you, my most Azure Lady!" Aldern leans over to kiss Floredana's hand. He winks as he rises, and turns back to the Kargas. "Surely you must get the credit for the kill, my friend. Do you wish the head as a trophy? As for the rest, dear Ameiko at the Rusty Dragon can work wonders with pork."
"Hang on! I'll not be left behind this time, by Ragathiel!" Aldern rushes forward with his spear, but unable to get into melee with the beast he tries to push his way through the brush to the north, hoping to get behind the beast.
"Arshea's Knickers! Did you see that?" He looks admiringly at Kargas. He turns to Floredana. "I don't know what those butterflies of yours did, but they seem to have worked!"
"Thank you, it's good to see that not all nobles here are jerks." "Hah!" Sir Aldern laughs. "Nobles are taught that they only need be polite to their social equals. But I like to think that those of us in the Gentry are a bit more grounded than the aristocracy. We have more day-to-day dealings with the commons than those higher up." "Someone of my station is expected to manage an estate and administer a village. But I long ago learned that the the village reeve is quite capable of managing the village without me. Any attempts I have made to meddle have never been... useful. So I suppose I have a different perspective."
"Ah! Here we are." Aldern indicates a game trail that breaks through the woods. "Apparently the boars and other denizens of the Tickwood use these trails. We'll have to walk our horses from here." Aldern dismounts and pulls his boar spear from his pack, and he begins leading his horse into the trail.
"Boars are tough and smart, good hunting, and not so dangerous that you lose warriors to them," "It is rare that a boar kills a man during a hunt, that is true. But I'm told it does happen once in a while. And the Tickwood Boars are said to be quite fierce! It should be good sport." ... "Sir Foxglove, how wonderful it is to see you again!" Sir Aldern bows deeply to Floredana. "The pleasure is all mine, Your Most Aquamarine Majesty." Flo's eyes widen in slight disbelief and a little shock at his words. "Mounts? Like horses? Sir, you are too kind!" ... "What's his name? Is it a boy horse or a girl horse? Look at it's maaane! Can I feed it?!" Aldern smiles. "Yes, very much like horses. A fine lady like yourself should not be without a horse! I picked this one out for you myself. It is very fine." Aldern leads Floredana to a brilliant white horse.
... "Wow, you're too kind, Sir Foxglove. I am honored by your gifts." "Please, not at all. How else should I treat those who rescued me from a certain 'goblining,' eh? It's my pleasure." ... "Hello there friend, I am Laurana, it is nice to meet you. You do your best, and I will do my best not to fall off." Aldern chuckles as Laurana talks to the horse. The horse snorts. ... Sir Foxglove, I thank you kindly for your generosity. I know that it will be put to good use. "No, no. It's the least I could do, really. A dog can be a most loyal and true friend! Be good to your lad here, and I hope this helps keep him well." "Now, if you have no other business to attend to, let us be off! To the Tickwood!"
"Good afternoon all! Good to see my brave rescuers once again!" "We'll need to ride out to the Tickwood. Well, I suppose you could walk... but what sort of fun would that be? No, not, that wouldn't do at all." "So I spoke to Master Hosk next door, and I took the liberty of acquiring mounts for you all." He turns to Cade and Colvyn. "Master Hosk said that the two of you already had mounts. I didn't want you to feel left out. Master Hosk allowed me to have measurements taken of your animals, and Master Rovanky has tailored some small suits of barding to fit them." "There are also boar spears for all of you. I don't know if it's necessary for everyone to carry one, but they may come in handy. Boars like to attack by charging. Which is what makes them good sport for a hunt! A deer is all fine and good, but they don't fight back, now, do they?" "After everything you've done, it is my honor to give you these gifts." "We can be off as soon as you are ready."
"Excursion? That's a trip, right? Where would we be going?" Kargas asks the retreating back of the noble, growling in frustration when he doesn't seem to hear. "Perhaps we can go hunting! I'll have to see if I can obtain permission but I doubt that will be a problem. When they hear I am going with the Sandpoint Six I'm sure that will open doors." He smiles. "Don't worry. I'll arrange everything!"
Sir Aldern rises as people begin to leave. "... I would like to invite everyone to join me in morning prayers to Lady Luck." "Perhaps Lady Luck has already smiled on us, sending you in our time of need." Aldern smiles. "In any case," Aldern looks around at the group. "As a token of my gratitude, I'd like to take you on an excursion of sorts. All of you. I'll need to make the arrangements... let's say, the day after tomorrow?" "Smashing! I'll see you in two days then!"
"Whatever it is, it would make a fantastic trophy," says Sir Aldern. "Imagine having the head of the Sandpoint Devil on the wall above your fireplace? What a hunt that would be! If you could find the bloody thing." He raises a glass once again. "To the death of the Sandpoint Devil, at the hands of these brave souls! The quest has begun!" Aldern drinks again.
"Ah, Cyrdak Drokkus, my good man! Wonderful!" smiles Aldern as the thespian walks up. He turns to the group. "Cyrdak runs the theatre troupe that plays the Sandpoint Theatre. He's quite famous. They know his name in Magnimar." Adern turns back to Cyrdak. "We met at a party at the Valdemar estate. Perhaps a year ago, as I recall. You did The Murder of Gonzago. Smashing, really. Quite smashing."
"The Sandpoint Six! Hear hear," Sir Aldern laughs and raises his glass again. "Yes indeed, to the Sandpoint Six! Called upon by Desna herself, through her beautiful messenger Floredana, to avenge the broken peace of her holy day! They drove back the goblins and rescued Sandpoint's most notable visitors!" He drinks deeply from his glass, as do most of those in the tavern.
"News travels fast! Well I can tell you that whatever you have heard, it is all true. These men and women saved me from a certain and thorough 'goblining!' I know how goblins fear dogs, and I thought my dear Aroden would protect me, but sadly he was struck down, and had these comrades not arrived my goose certainly would have been cooked!" "Speaking of which, you wouldn't have goose tonight, would you? That would do wonderfully." Sir Aldern stands and raises a glass. "Come now, everyone raise a glass with me to the heroes of the hour!
There are cheers throughout the tavern, and suddenly the barmaids are quite busy.
"The Rusty Dragon! Indeed, that is a fine place... I happen to have taken rooms there while I am in town. The Rusty Dragon it is!"
"No, no, tonight is on me, I insist! And if you are indeed already famous, perhaps you can regale us with tales of your bravery and derring do!" He claps his hands. "Yes, yes, my new friends. You shall want for nothing tonight!"
"I have quite a good tailor, actually. He's in Magnimar, but I shall send for him and have him take the trip here to measure you. You won't be disappointed." "And if you are retiring for a drink, let me at least insist that drinks are on me."
...and moves to assist the dandy struggling with to stand. "Hold still," the half-orc grunts, gripping him under the arm and hauling him to his feet.
"My good man, thank you! Thank you indeed!" The dandy beams. He turns to the others. "In fact, thank you all! Those nasty creatures had me for sure, were it not for your arrival!" "But let me introduce myself. I am Sir Aldern Foxglove, Lord of Foxglove manor." He bows deeply. "I currently reside in Magnimar... I was just in town for the festival. Which was sadly ruined by these rotten vermin!" "I am not without means, I assure you, and I never forget my friends!" As the healing washes over him he grins again. He looks over at Floredana. "Thank you again! I say... I don't think I've ever seen anyone quite like you before. I saw you running about the battlefield, and it seemed that whatever you touched was covered in butterflies. What was that? If you don't mind my asking."
The well dressed man is still struggling with the black goo that covers his lower legs, and now his hands as well. "Abadar's Scales, what is this stuff?" He looks up at the group. "Well done, brave souls! Perhaps you could, um... help me up? I seem to be stuck." |