"Now tell us, please," she asks, "What did you find here in these ruins? We read Tsuto's journal. And we know you consulted with the quasit under the Glassworks. So we know you came here for a reason. What was it?"
1d20+8
Nualia simply sneers at Jessa, without saying a word. Her look is filled with loathing, hate, and just a touch of insanity. It seems clear that she has nothing to say at the present time and is biding her time, waiting for... something, perhaps an opportunity to escape. Perhaps for reinforcements.
Mitnal slides down beside Nualia. "In my tribe, most men would offer your father a freshly slain auroch for a woman like you. You would be a good wife."
"If we go there could be trouble, if we stay there could be double," Kenzo reminds everyone.
Mitnal slides down beside Nualia. "In my tribe, most men would offer your father a freshly slain auroch for a woman like you. You would be a good wife."
Nualia looks at Mitnal, somewhat surprised. She opens her mouth to retort angrily and then closes it again. She still refuses to speak.
"So, Nualia, why not talk to us? We're good listeners and it can't be easy with just goblins and bugbears for company."
I sigh, wearily: "C'mon, let's here why poor little Nualia burnt down the Sandpoint Chapel."
Gyrogy is making an educated guess here.
At Nualia's defiance, Jessa grows more withdrawn, letting Gyorgy and Kenzo press her for information. In the meantime, already resigning herself to the likelihood that they'll be leaving Thistletop, she spends what little time she has left wandering the chamber, trying to get a sense for what the girl was doing in the bowels of the goblin stronghold. Blackwing also accompanies her to add his keen eyes to her own.
Kenzo stands off to the side and lets Gyorgy try and speak with Nualia. At one point, however, he elbows Eugen in the ribs and whispers, "Go ahead, ask her for a hand."
Mitnal looks shocked at her reaction. "I'm sorry. Do you think you wouldn't make a good wife? You seem healthy enough ..."
"I think we should get moving, I don't think we're getting anywhere here."
Mitnal looks shocked at her reaction. "I'm sorry. Do you think you wouldn't make a good wife? You seem healthy enough ..."
A thought seems to pass through Nualia's head at Mitnal's persistance.
She finally speaks, "You can have me if you kill your friends. I'll bear many children for you." She smiles rather wickedly at the mention of children.
Meanwhile Jessa does not come to any profound conclusions other than the fact that Nualia is really interested in some warped stuff and that there were goodies aplenty in the chambers down here to satisfy her interest.
"I'll pack my things," Jessa announces, "Let's get ready to leave. Mitnal? Kenzo? You guys make sure she doesn't run off anywhere or summon help. Eugen? You lead us out. Gyorgy and I will stand ready to blast anything that gets in our way. Right, Gyorgy? Let's go home to Sandpoint..."
Mitnal looks shocked at her reaction. "I'm sorry. Do you think you wouldn't make a good wife? You seem healthy enough ..."A thought seems to pass through Nualia's head at Mitnal's persistance.
She finally speaks, "You can have me if you kill your friends. I'll bear many children for you." She smiles rather wickedly at the mention of children.
"Ummm ... Can I have you first and kill my friends later?"
Mitnal is rapidly losing interest in Nualia.
"Ummm ... Can I have you first and kill my friends later?"
Mitnal is rapidly losing interest in Nualia.
Nualia loses her interest in Mitnal and returns to sullen, hate-filled silence.
"She's tied up, I think Mitnal can handle her." Kenzo says. "As for this one," he continues, hauling the goblin to his feet. "I say we just let him go in the woods. If nothing else, I'm sure he'll tell others of his kind about what happened here."
When everyone is ready, he gives a nod to Eugen to lead them out.
"She's tied up, I think Mitnal can handle her." Kenzo says. "As for this one," he continues, hauling the goblin to his feet. "I say we just let him go in the woods. If nothing else, I'm sure he'll tell others of his kind about what happened here."
When everyone is ready, he gives a nod to Eugen to lead them out.
"let's go."
"Alright, sounds good to me!" I attempt to look confident and lead the way.
|
There is no one to stop the group from leaving and the top level is reached without incident. The complex seems quite deserted at the moment, and the only sound is that of the ocean: waves and gulls.
If you choose, you can make it back to Sandpoint, where Nualia can be turned over to the proper authorities.
|
There is no one to stop the group from leaving and the top level is reached without incident. The complex seems quite deserted at the moment, and the only sound is that of the ocean: waves and gulls.
If you choose, you can make it back to Sandpoint, where Nualia can be turned over to the proper authorities.
What say the rest of you?
[ooc]What say the rest of you?
The party leaves Thistletop, prisoner in tow.
Nualia seems to be contemplating an escape, but she is too outnumbered and the opportunity does not present itself. The miles are traveled fairly quickly.
As the companions reach the outskirts of Sandpoint, they are spotted by a child who excitedly runs towards the gates, shouting excitedly. Soon they are met by a group of guards, led by the sherriff. He seems a little surprised to see the prisoner, but accepts it in stride and takes custody of her. He asks a few questions, ascertians the goblins at Thistletop seem to have been dispatched and tells them they can have a dinner at the Rusty Dragon on his tab.
The Rusty Dragon is enjoying a brisk business. There are a couple of new faces in town...
Gerhardt Eilif notices the group enter. Well, I'll be hit over the head. Those must be the 'heroes' I heard about. Don't look like much. Still, they look decent enough. And if they get such fame for being decent...
A gray-skinned man with a bushy yellow beard gets up and approaches the newcomers. A closer look reveals that he is a half-orc. A heavy-looking backpack is slung over his shoulder, and he wears a well-kept coat of what seems to be wolf-hide. A large falchion is at his belt.
"Good day," he says, addressing Gyorgy. "My name is Gerhardt Eilif. I'm told you are well-known here."
"Hi," says Mitnal checking out the wolf-hide coat. "Try the rabbit stew. It's quite good."
Mitnal returns to his stew.
"Hi," says Mitnal checking out the wolf-hide coat. "Try the rabbit stew. It's quite good."
Mitnal returns to his stew.
The half-orc frowns. "I gave you my name. Is it not common courtesy to give yours? Just asking."
The half-orc frowns. "I gave you my name. Is it not common courtesy to give yours? Just asking.""Hi," says Mitnal checking out the wolf-hide coat. "Try the rabbit stew. It's quite good."
Mitnal returns to his stew.
Mitnal looks surprised, "If you have given me your name then I am Gerhardt Eilif. And, then, you would be Mitnal Basketweaver. I am honored to take your name, Mitnal. I wish you success with your new name and I hope I do good things with yours."
He returns to his rabbit stew.
Mitnal looks surprised, "If you have given me your name then I am Gerhardt Eilif. And, then, you would be Mitnal Basketweaver. I am honored to take your name, Mitnal. I wish you success."The half-orc frowns. "I gave you my name. Is it not common courtesy to give yours? Just asking.""Hi," says Mitnal checking out the wolf-hide coat. "Try the rabbit stew. It's quite good."
Mitnal returns to his stew.
Mitnal stares. "My name--" He pauses. "Oh! Ha! Haha! Very well, Gerhardt. But know this. That name has been with me for a while, so try not to damage it. Make sure you pronounce the 'hardt' right.
"Actually, I was wondering if you lot would be interested in my help. You seem to have saved the town. If you go on any other ventures...well, I've nothing else to do. And Varg and I could use the companionship."
Hi, Gerhardt, I'm Gyorgy." I grin merrily, Don't mind Mitnal, he's a... an inspiration, a savant maybe."
I look around the room. "I don't really know what we're going to do next: Jessa was talking about some invite she'd had from her old professor and Eugen's just heading off to visit his family, after that letter he had."
I stand up: "Sorry, I'm blabbering. Let's get a drink and you can introduce me to your friend, Varg, wasn't it? You look more like an adventurer than the rest of us anyway. We're more like a bunch of people who were in the right place at the right time, or maybe the wrong time."
I laugh at my own weak joke as we reach the bar: "Hey, two rums, please, is Ameiko in?"
After that I introduce Gerhardt to Ameiko (if she is about) and find him a seat with the rest of us: then I tell him a rough version of our story so far.
Gerhardt bows to Ameiko nervously. "Hello." He turns back to Gyorgy and listens intently. "That is interesting. A demon, you say? I know a great deal about such creatures,* and that you were able to defeat one is impressive. And you bested an entire goblin tribe? Such creatures are nasty, and if you attack them by yourselves as you did they can be tricky little things."
He shifts a little as he speaks, and avoids eye contact. At best, he knows very little about demons, and most likely knows nothing.
Mitnal stares at his stew trying not to glance at Ameiko. He flexes every muscle that he can flex without being too obvious.
I shrug: "It was more luck than judgement, that and Mitnal's tremendous instincts."
I nod my head toward our quiet friend: "And Kenzo's cool head."
Spying my aunt, Luba, leaving the kitchens; I raise my voice: "To be honest, we did those goblins a favour. They've never had a wallop from Luba's rolling pin."
I give her a cheeky grin and a wave.
"So, Gerhardt, how did you end up in Sandpoint?"
I shrug: "It was more luck than judgement, that and Mitnal's tremendous instincts."
I nod my head toward our quiet friend: "And Kenzo's cool head."Spying my aunt, Luba, leaving the kitchens; I raise my voice: "To be honest, we did those goblins a favour. They've never had a wallop from Luba's rolling pin."
I give her a cheeky grin and a wave.
"So, Gerhardt, how did you end up in Sandpoint?"
Gerhardt shrugs. "The Lands of the Linnorm Kings had nothing for me. I thought I might as well see what the south had."
"So, Gerhardt, how did you end up in Sandpoint?"Gerhardt shrugs. "The Lands of the Linnorm Kings had nothing for me. I thought I might as well see what the south had."
Mitnal recognizes Gerhardt's story as similar to his own. "The south has more rabbits," he suggests, indicating his stew. "You know, rabbits? They have long ears and brown fur and jump."
"So, Gerhardt, how did you end up in Sandpoint?"Gerhardt shrugs. "The Lands of the Linnorm Kings had nothing for me. I thought I might as well see what the south had."Mitnal recognizes Gerhardt's story as similar to his own. "The south has more rabbits," he suggests, indicating his stew. "You know, rabbits? They have long ears and brown fur and jump."
Gerhardt smiles. "I do. They taste alright. Varg loves them. My lands had them, too, but I suppose the south does have a few more."
There is an awkward silence.
"So, what are you up to now?"
There is an awkward silence.
"So, what are you up to now?"
"Eating," says Mitnal looking at Gyorgy to see if he too is wondering if there's something wrong with Gerhardt. "Eating rabbit stew."
Mitnal ponders the oddness of the question and then waves his hand in front of Gerhardt's face to see if he is one of those blessed with sightlessness. Finally, he remembers what he has been told about the need to make some invitations clear in some cultures, "Why don't you join us?"
Gerhardt looks taken aback when Mitnal answers him. He stares blankly as the plainsman waves his hand in front of his face. "What are you doing?"
He pauses, then laughs. "Ha! You are a funny man, Mitnal Basketweaver!" He sits down, still chuckling.
Time passes...
Lamashan 20, 4707
Sunday Night
Harker pulled the lever and the sawmill sprang to life, the powerful blade propelled into motion by the water beneath the mill. He set a log onto the rollers and propelled it towards the blade. The noise was exquisitely loud. He smiled. The noise was just what he wanted. He left the log just touching the blade, anchoring it with a hook. The sound continued unabated as the blade ate away bits of the log. The log had just enough play to move around against the blade and thus it would sound as if there was work being done. True it was not quite true to what it should have been, but it was enough to keep down suspicion. Lifting his lantern he moved back to the bed roll he had unrolled onto the wooden floor. He placed the lantern down besides it, admiring the single flower he had thought to place atop the pillow. All was ready.
He heard a movement near the stairs.
“Katrina? Is that you,” called our Harker.
It was not.
Lamashan 21, Moonday
Fall has well and truly arrived and with it the rain. Inside the Rusty Dragon, however, it is warm and comfortable.
The companions are sitting at a table, having breakfast. The sun has been up a little over half an hour.
A notice, put up just yesterday, advertises the Rusty Dragon is for sale. Civic duty and family traditions have won out over personal desires and after much internal debate Ameiko has decided to throw herself into revitalizing the town, which has been hard hit by the closing of the Glassworks. Gyorgy knows all of this, thanks to talking with his aunt, but its not really much of a secret. Gyorgy's Aunt has been doing more and more of the Innkeeping lately, as Ameiko has been spending more time putting her glass factory in order.
The door of the inn opens and the sheriff stomps into the room, water dripping from his broad brimmed leather hat.
He takes a moment to scan the room as he shakes his coat and rubs his hands together. Satisfied that its not overly crowded, he stalks over to your table and asks, “Mind if I sit? I have something we need to talk about.”
Gerhardt glances at the sheriff, then goes back to his drink. Wonder who he's talking t--oh, right.
"Not at all," he says. "You're probably wondering who I am. I am Gerhardt Eilif. I've joined up with this band. Decent bunch of fellows."
Mitnal looks askance at Gerhardt who seems to forgotten that they had traded names. He makes a note to repay Gerhardt for that insult at a later time and greets the sheriff.
"Sit. Talk. If it is about the price of the Rusty Dragon, I was wondering that myself."
The door of the inn opens and the sheriff stomps into the room, water dripping from his broad brimmed leather hat.
He takes a moment to scan the room as he shakes his coat and rubs his hands together. Satisfied that its not overly crowded, he stalks over to your table and asks, “Mind if I sit? I have something we need to talk about.”
I quickly swallow a mouthful of porridge: "Good morning, Belor; talk away."
"We had a murder last night," he says as he takes his seat, "A pretty bad one. Brings to mind the unpleasantness of a few years ago. Even then I wouldn't mention it to you but it seems some of you might be involved."
Reaching into his coat he brings out a piece of paper from an interior pocket and slides it across the table.
You notice that it is folded and there appears to be dried blood on one corner.
The paper, when unfolded reads,...
The handwriting is clear but irregular.
"The unpleasantness?" the half-orc asks curiously. He takes the message. "Hmm. Perhaps we should take a look at the scene of the murder."
"Eugene's in Riddleport by now: and anyone he was friendly with wouldn't have needed to leave creepy notes to get his attention."
I scratch my head and then catch myself doing it and stop: "This looks more like a threat. And, 'the pack' is that werewolves or something?"
I nod to Belor as I stand: "Gerhardt's right, we should take a look. I'll just get my stuff."
Then I head to my room and collect my gear.
As Gyorgy leaves, "I didn't think you all were responsible for this, but clearly someone as knows you or Eugen is trying to make it look like you have a part in it."
When Gyorgy returns, he says, "I did want you to look at the crime. Though it ain't pretty. But don't be spreading it around. We want to keep this quiet. The whole business with the chopper was a messy and fearful time. We don't need a repeat of that. Desna knows, it will get out soon enough as it is. But if we can catch the guilty party quickly, all the better."