Vesh starts as Malcolm confronts him. "You're here! Where have you all been?!" He is about to rush past Malcolm when he stops. "Ameiko's wha..."
He looks at the dagger, "Oh! No! I wasn't." Vesh stops and collects himself, "I think we're going to need it. Slidell...But,I think I know where Ameiko might be!" He pulls out the dagger and hands it to Mal, pommel first. "If you'd rather, I don't care! But it'll do us more good if one of us carries it than it would in a desk drawer! Now come, before the guards overhear."
Returning to the common room, Vesh looks to Slidell. "Thank Desna you've returned! I was about to go out the window!" He pulls out the letter that Bethana has minimally translated. "Look! I think I know where Ameiko might be. Her family owns the--."
But Slidell finishes the sentence for Vesh...
,... the Glassworks in town. Specifically the 'Kaijtitu Glassworks'. 'K.G.W.' I presume the ladder used in the graveyard came from there. What IS this?!?" Slidell finishes Vesh's statement for him, and then snatches the letter that Vesh is waving about in front of him.
Slidell looks at the letter, gives a 'Hm.' Then flattens the letter on a table and pulls out a slim stick of charcoal from one of his pockets. He begins making his own notations on the page as he continues speaking.
"Anyway, the 'inside man' that the goblins had helping them undoubtedly works there. And as Ameiko's family owns the glassworks, her abduction must be related. And this proves it!" He exclaims as he presents the letter back to Vesh with a flourish.
"That letter is signed by Tsuto, Ameiko's half-Elf half-brother. I heard that he left town five years ago? About the time of their mother's death, and the fire?" He looks to Bethana for confirmation, then continues. "If I translated it correctly, the letter is from Tsuto asking Ameiko to see him. Something about their father. An estranged sibling returns after being gone five years? AND returning just before the sister is kidnapped? AND Just in time for a brilliantly-coordinated goblin attack? AND the families' company ladder was used in the grave robbing? I think we just ID'd the town's traitor! By NETHYS I'm good!" Slidell crows, preening so badly even the familiar takes a break from eating table scraps to shake his head at him.
"Well? What are you all waiting for? An engraved invitation? Let's go visit the Glassworks! I have a couple of questions I'd like to ask Mr. Kaijtistu."
He turns to Ehlissa, and in a much calmer voice says, "If your feeling up to going, might I suggest you wear your armor this time?" He says with a grin. "We don't want you having a relapse!"
"How about you?" He asks suddenly, turning on Salome. "From the blood in her room, Ameiko may be injured. We could probably use your assistance. You were ready to use that thing earlier,..." He indicates her scimitar. "If Tsuto IS involved with the goblins, I'll bet I can promise you a more tempting target for your blade than me!"
"I just need to grab my crossbow and staff from the room,..." He begins muttering as he walks toward the door. He stops halfway there and turns back to the others. Then makes a grand sweeping 'after you' gesture towards the door. "Shall we?!"
"Well? What are you all waiting for? An engraved invitation? Let's go visit the Glassworks! I have a couple of questions I'd like to ask Mr. Kaijtistu."
"Indeed." Says Corran simply. "This inactivity is...irritating."
He then busies himself helping Ehlissa don her armor. Under his breath he asks her, "Are you up for this?"
Vesh hefts his pack. "Ready," he says.
A calm feeling soothes his nerves as he feels the butterfly medalion against the skin of his chest. At least I think I'm ready. Vesh swallows, adjusts his pack once more, and thumbs his short sword in its sheath.
Desna be with us.
"Let's go then." I say, following Slidell out the door. On my way out I toss Vesh the dagger "I'm guessing we'll need it."
Vesh catches the dagger and spins it blade first to feels its weight for throwing. "Right." He says to Malcolm's back and tucks the dagger back into his belt.
Turning to Bethana, he takes her hands in his and gives her a peck on the forehead. "I'm sure we'll find Ameiko." He says, more to reassure himself than her. Taking his leave he adds, "Keep the lamps lit for us..."
"Oh, and if Shayliss should call. Tell her I'm off to do something ... dangerous." He says with a crooked smile and a tone of carefree bravado that he does not, in fact, feel.
"Indeed." Says Corran simply. "This inactivity is...irritating."
He then busies himself helping Ehlissa don her armor. Under his breath he asks her, "Are you up for this?"
Smiling at the ranger, Ehlissa stretches a little as she settles the armor, grateful for the help. "I certainly hope so. I won't let Sandpoint down." She says, strapping her new blade securely to her hip. Tying her hair back to stop it bothering her, she faces Corran squarely, a smile on her face.
"Shall we?"
"How about you?" He asks suddenly, turning on Salome. "We could probably use your assistance. You were ready to use that thing earlier,..."
Salome's eyes narrow and her amber eyes flash dangerously. "You presume much, majji." She turns away, but continues to observe their hasty preparations.
What have I to do with these people? I am a stranger, and I owe them nothing...
Mentally, she circles them. Lady Ehlissa, the indomitable warrior-woman. Another warrior -- Kuhrran, was it? -- quiet, dependable. Impulsive, but sincere Vesh. The mysterious sailor and Sulidella the majji. There's plenty of bravado and valor there, a willingness to fight for the town. She can certainly help put them back together after the fighting is done...
"Tat tvam asi," explained Garjjan De when Salome looked questioningly into his eyes. "We are all connected. We cry in the face of sadness. We share laughter, anger, and song. I could not be a good man and stand idly while you are harmed. Tat tvam asi."
Salome awakens from her reverie to see Slidell's expectant face looking down at her, as if waiting for a response. "Tat tvam asi," she states matter-of-factly. "Thou art that. You need a healer and I'll go." As he walks off, satisfied, she adds under her breath, "But I still don't know if you can turn cream into butter."
Vesh's NON-perception check (1d20-4=5)
"Veren!" Vesh rushes to the wolf, and his heart momentarily soars--until he sees Veren's condition. "What has happened to you?"
"You and the wolf are the same." He hears her voice in his ears. By Desna! Can Naelah be in there as well? His heart sinks as he thinks this.
"Crazy Templeday drivers!" Slidell shouts at the driver as he rounds the corner. "Somebody outta figure out a way to regulate people who drive those things,..." He mutters as he collects himself and makes sure he still has all of his gear.
you hear the plaintive whining of an animal in distress. A flicker of movement - grey and white fur - catches your eye. Then, from the darkenss of a shadowy overhang, a pair of yellow eyes catch yours as they glimmer in a mote of stray sunlight.
The creature lets out a familiar yip and hobbles gingerly towards you. It is Veren - Naelah's wolf. And it is injured.
Slidell taps Vesh on the shoulder. "Hey Vesh. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that looked like Veren." He says distractedly.
"But that can't be Veren, because Neahlah,...left,... VEREN?!" HE exclaims, his brain finally catching up to what he is seeing. He runs to the wolf with the others. When he tries to touch him, Veren growls half-heartedly at Slidell, but when Vesh whispers something in Shoanti, he wearily accepts the attention from the others.
"The canine prints in the alley, we were both wrong Corran, it must have been Veren here. And that means that the soft shoe prints you found are probably,... Neahlah! What in Nethys' name was she doing in the alley?!? And more importantly,... where is she now?!?" He looks wide eyed at the others.
"Oh, Desna." Slidell says when Veren whimpers under his touch, and his hand comes away bloody. "He's hurt pretty bad." He turns to Salome, "Salome, this is Veren, he is the companion of Neahlah, the woman I was telling you about. We thought she had left, but if HE's still here, then SHE's still here too! I'm not asking you to use up all of your deities' blessings when we may have to enter 'agressive negotiations' soon, but is there anything you can do for him?" He asks, Almost plaintively.
For just a moment, the others can see a side of Slidell that they haven't seen before, but before they can identify what that might be, the moment is gone, and Slidell looks as he always has. At the moment that is concerned but distracted, obviously already contemplating another clue. Or something,...
With a colorful curse I leap out of the horseman's way a moment before he veers off. Under my breath I mutter "I never did like horses."
"Mustachioed idiot! And they let someone like that by a watchman."
"Crazy Templeday drivers!" Slidell shouts at the driver as he rounds the corner. "Somebody outta figure out a way to regulate people who drive those things,..." He mutters as he collects himself and makes sure he still has all of his gear.
"I've heard caltrops are quite effective against speeding...Veren?!" I say in surprise, interuppting my previous line of thought. I look around "Where's Naelah then? I don't think that Veren would just wander off without her."
"The canine prints in the alley, we were both wrong Corran, it must have been Veren here. And that means that the soft shoe prints you found are probably,... Neahlah! What in Nethys' name was she doing in the alley?!? And more importantly,... where is she now?!?" He looks wide eyed at the others.
"But why would She have been at the Rusty Dragon? Unless she was helping the goblins, which is completely immprobable, she should be long gone by now."
"But why would She have been at the Rusty Dragon?
"Good question," Says Vesh. As he scratches Veren behind the ears, he absently asks, "Ehlissa, didn't you see her last night at the White Deer? Did she say anything about going to the Rusty Dragon?"
But, before Ehlissa can answer, he just realizes what Malcolm has said:
"Mustachioed idiot! And they let someone like that by a watchman."
"Wait!" He exclaims startling Veren some. "Did you just say Mustachioed? Was that Horatio who just rode by?"
Almost ridden over, Ehlissa spits out an unladylike curse in surprise, before letting out another surprised sound, decidedly a happier one.
"Iomedae's Grace! Veren!" She cries, tears springing to her eyes at seeing the stalwart wolf in such a condition. Thinking quickly, she realizes, along with the others, that Naelah must be nearby.
"Salome, can you help him? I know he is a wolf, but he is a dear companion." She asks, turning pleading eyes on the desert woman.
But, before Ehlissa can answer, he just realizes what Malcolm has said:
"Wait!" He exclaims startling Veren some. "Did you just say Mustachioed? Was that Horatio who just rode by?"
"Mustachioed idiot! And they let someone like that by a watchman."
"Could've been. He was moving too fast ofr me to get a clear view of his face, He had a mustache and I think he was wearing a guard's uniform."
A wolf! They really do want me to stand in for their friend! she thinks to herself.
She looks at the injured beast and takes a breath. "I will see what I can do. Can someone hold him please?" Veren is surprisingly (to Salome, who has never been this close to such an animal) compliant. She kneels next to the animal and feels his warm breath on her arm as she places a hand on his head.
Then, remembering, she quickly rises. "What about the girl? Does anyone know where she is? My guess is that if her wolf is injured like this, she cannot be well herself." She feels an urgency she cannot put words to.
When Salome heals Veren, Slidell releases a breath he had not even realized that he was holding. "Thank you." He says simply, watching a much happier Veren accepting an ear scratch from Vesh.
"Wait!" He exclaims startling Veren some. "Did you just say Mustachioed? Was that Horatio who just rode by?"
Slidell looks puzzled, "Waitaminute,...I thought you had decided that the 'mustached man' who you saw watching you was Horatio? Did you ever figure out where you know him from? And if that WAS Horatio, where has he been all day? And where in Nethys' Name was he going in such a Haste spell hurry?!?!"
"What about the girl? Does anyone know where she is? My guess is that if her wolf is injured like this, she cannot be well herself." She feels an urgency she cannot put words to.
At this question, Slidell's mind slips back on track with an audible click.
"Vesh! You speak Shoanti!" He bobs his head from side to side, "Well, more or less. Try telling Veren to 'find Neahlah'. If that doesn't work, we can keep him with us until we find her. But I suspect that if she was at the site of Ameiko's kidnapping, we will probably find those two not so very far apart!" He finishes grimly.
"And, if as I suspect, Veren leads us to across the street to the glassworks,... I suggest that we let him have his way with those responsible." He adds in a tone that does not bode well for those aforementioned people.
And where in Nethys' Name was he going in such a Haste spell hurry?!?!"
"Vesh! You speak Shoanti!" He bobs his head from side to side, "Well, more or less. Try telling Veren to 'find Neahlah'..."
Vesh does a double-take. "I think he speaks Common, but--" Turning to Veren he says, "Veren nath Naelah, pe nath Naelah."
nath=find; pe=go
Veren looks at you curiously, his tongue lolling and eyes bright.
Unfortunately, the windows are nearly opaque and you can only see the barest hints of movement inside the building.
I've got a bad feeling about this, thinks Vesh as he moves past the windows. He feels exposed on this side of the glass with the sun to his back.
An iron banded wood door is located at one side of the building. It is here that Veren patently awaits...
Vesh waits until the others have taken up positions and examines the door and lock closely before gingerly testing the door to see if it is locked. If it is locked, Vesh kneels and picks it. If it is not locked, he looks to double-check that everyone has weapons ready, draws his own short sword, and then opens it.
---------------------------------------Search check (1d20+7=16)
Pick lock (1d20+9=23)
Oh, if necessary here's Vesh's Disable device roll (1d20+9=26)
Vesh whispers to Malcolm, "I've got the bar up, but I'll have to catch it as you open the door. Corran, or someone, can you hold the other door steady?" He glances again to see that everyone is poised and then makes his move. "On three, Malcolm. One, two, three..."
Vesh's REF check (1d20+2=9) Bugger!
Corran nods and holds the door steady, sword drawn.
Corran's REF check to aid (1d20+4=24)
JSL:
I flash a wide smile at Salome "Many thanks to you. It seems we owe you another debt of gratitude."
I follow everyone else to the back of the building and I look around, admiring the view and looking for any danger while Vesh works on the door.
I lunge forward to catch the bar just as Corran catches it. I peer in the door and mutter "I don't like this. Let's be careful; if I were a traitor inside the Glassworks or a kidnapper of Ameiko I'd anticipate someone investigate and leave a few nasty surprise for any investigators." I catiously advance to the doors and quitely ask "Left or right?"
The corridor before you is 10 feet wide. A second pair of double doors leading to the left is located at the far end.
------------
Vesh's muscles tense as he feels the bar slipping as he whispers "two," but Corran...
...lunges forward pulling the door open and diving to catch the bar an inch above the stone floor. Clambering to his knees, he hesitates, looking from his hands to the floor.
"Nicely done," he whispers to Corran and moves into the room where the backside of the doors catch his attention...
I catiously advance to the doors and quitely ask "Left or right?"
Vesh turns from examining the backside of the door and the metal shard, once again wearing the furrowed brow and frown that have become trademark for him.
"What do you hear at the doors?" Vesh asks Malcolm through a combination of whispers and hand signals.
Slidell looked confused when Veren turns away from the front of the Glassworks. "I was so sure,..." He mutters. Then regains his grin as Veren heads to the back of the building. "Hah! Told you so!" He stage whispers to Vesh.
He is momentarily dazzled by the unexpected beauty of the windows on the back of the building. But is drawn back to the present by Vesh's whispered curse when the bar slips, only to be caught by Corran.
He takes a moment to pull out and load his crossbow, then joins the others in the careful examination of the entrance.
"If the blood is this dry, it has been here for a while." He whispers to Malcolm. "Remember when I said that the first attackers came TOO fast? Some of them must have already been INSIDE the town? Well, they came from THIS direction!" He looks around outside once more, then fully enters the building. "Now, how did they get into HERE?!?" He looks both ways down the hallway. "Wagons? Crates? Boxes?"
He resettles his wide brimmed hat, and brings his crossbow into the ready position. Salome may not know whether or not he can turn cream into butter, but it looks like he knows how to handle the weapon at least.
He listens as Malcolm whispers the description of what he is hearing through the double doors.
"???,... That doesn't sound like good manufacturing techniques to me. At least not for a glass factory!" He slips the safety off his crossbow.
"Just assuming the worse." He looks at the others. "Hey, just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they AREN'T out to get me! What's the order of entry?"
Vesh spits. "Goblins," he whispers. He joins Malcolm at the other doors.
"Goblins?" Salome tenses and grasps the amulet hanging around her neck. "Goblins attacked the caravan I was in on my way to Sandpont. They were really vicious. If there are goblins behind that door, what should we do? I can offer [i]some[i/] protection ..."
"Goblins?!" Echoes Slidell, soundly vaguely like a parrot.
He then nods at Salome's offer of protection for the group. "MInd your timing, if your protections don't last long, wait to cast them until combat is close or started. This spell, on the other hand,..." He pulls out an unidentifiable bit of mystic flotsam from a vest pocket, gestures briefly, ending up with his hand up, palm facing out, and mutters "Teiros Eisys" There is a brief shimmer of light in the air surrounding him, which settles onto his lanky frame and coalesces into a faintly shimmering field.
"... lasts for a good three hours. I'm set. IF these are goblins, and by Desna's blessing they happen to be huddled up, try to keep them that way, I have a spell that may help take a group down faster." He brings his crossbow back up to ready, but keeps it pointed high so he can't shoot a teammate in the back.
He looks around, "Enter quiet until spotted, then let 'em have it?" He asks, taking up his position at the rear of the group.
Elvish Translation,...
"Vesh, will you do the honors?" Ehlissa asked, drawing her new longsword after ensuring her shield was secured to her arm. "I will take point." Despite her illness, she was still willing to enter the fray. "Corran, enter behind me, fan left. Vesh, Mal, and Salome, you're next. Slidell, bring up the rear, if you would. Lets try and stick together."
Her recent battle experience seemed to have changed her - she was stronger, more sure of herself, willing to lead.
"Ready?"
"Vesh, will you do the honors?"
Vesh quietly drops his pack and stows it by the entrance they've just come through .
Sheathing his sword, he pulls out his bow instead. He grasps the iron pin with his off-hand. He smiles at Ehlissa and tips his head. "Milady," he says, "on three?"
When it appears that the others are in position, he starts, "One."
Good luck my friends. "Two."
May Desna be with us. "Three."
He pulls the pin and swings the door open in one smooth motion.
"Corran, enter behind me, fan left...Ready?"
Corran unsheathes his sword and nods at Ehlissa. "Ready," he says. His muscles flex as Vesh counts. As the pin slides and the door opens, he springs...
The moment the door is open, Ehlissa is through, moving clear of the entrance and scanning for any of the little creatures.
Good point! Corran's Perception check, if necessary (1d20+5=20)
Corran moves in and to Ehlissa's left.
Salome falls in behind Ehlissa and Corran. She grasps her scimitar with her right hand and her ankh with her left.
Slidell follows Salome through the door, stepping only far enough to the side to try and keep a clear line of fire that doesn't include his companions. He and his familiar look like a children's puppet show as they both first look one way, and then the other.
Slidell Initiative roll (1d20=10+2=12)
Slidell & Veren perception checks (1d20-1=9, 1d20+5=19)
;P
Following Ehlissa through the door, Corran breaks left as instructed. Far left. "Sandpoint!" He cries.
Corran's longsword attack on goblin at E10 (1d20+6=10, 1d8+3=8).
Vesh opens the door and follows Corran as he breaks left.
I hope he knows where he's going!
He stops short at the table and fires across it to the goblin that Corran is engaging.
Vesh's arrow attack at goblin at E10 (1d20+4=16, 1d6+1=3).
----------------------------------
Clearing the doorway, Ehlissa points her sword at the nearest goblin, her voice becoming strong and resolute. "Die, goblin scum!"