I would be honored to come to dinner to best get to know the lot of you. And perhaps we can discuss the investigations that will follow in the morning. While I was not here during these attacks I am sure that I can be of some assistance while investigating the countryside. ,he speaks softly. Cornelius, come! as the raven flies from its perch onto Harlynn's arm.
He turns to Tregar, Alas, I cannot conjure up a pie but perhaps one can be purchased while at dinner. He extends his hand and offers a wry smile. The name is Harlynn Quinn.
"An early breakfast may well be possible, but a few of us have an appointment that with Master Quink and his telescope that I would hate to miss."
"Enough talk of pies and pumpkins. Let us be off to eat, discuss our plans and then let's get to work.
I am your servant, Shalelu. Lead the way."
"Shalelu stands and speaks again. "It grows late, and I am hungry. I am wondering; would any of you care to join me for a late dinner or early breakfast at the Dragon. Perhaps we can share information?"
"I would be more then happy to accompany you to either dinner, or breakfast, or both... my lady." I say with a large sweeping bow and a wink at her. "It will be a good opportunity to learn more about one another around the table as we eat."
Just about the time Kendrick has made up his mind to follow the others inside he notices a well armed woman walking down the street towards the mayors office. As he watches her stroll confidently into the building, a shiver goes up his back ' a hard one there no doubt. She's law for sure. Well I hope they make it out okay. Best be headed to make the appointment with master Brodert, he thinks. And with that he heads off towards the telescope, hoping that perhaps he'll see Ensu or Ezren there this evening.
Telgar takes the offered hand.
"I see you, Galstock. It's good to have another who knows the outdoors."
"I am sorry I missed the festival, and the skirmish that followed.
I saw the signs of goblin feet, and their vandalism, but never thought they would be stupid enough to be heading for town, else I would have got here faster."He sits and turns to watch the Mayor, but takes a sideways look at Sherriff Hemlock, then Galstock, then back to the Sherriff, as if musing to himself.
"We were thinkin they were to be some kind of diversion, just not sure for what. And with those beast, who would have thought they would?"
After Shalelu and Hemlock say their piece, "Wouldn't it be better to take the hunt to them then waiting for them to come to us?"
Just about the time Kendrick has made up his mind to follow the others inside he notices a well armed woman walking down the street towards the mayors office. As he watches her stroll confidently into the building, a shiver goes up his back ' a hard one there no doubt. She's law for sure. Well I hope they make it out okay. Best be headed to make the appointment with master Brodert, he thinks. And with that he heads off towards the telescope, hoping that perhaps he'll see Ensu or Ezren there this evening.
Kendrick
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Lets start with the basics, what do I know about everything going on besides what has already been said. by that i mean local names of note or more info about those introduced and the habits and tactics of the local goblin tribes.
Knowledge Rolls
Knowledge Dungeoneering-Goblins
Kendrick hurries up the steps and comes to a stop next to Brodert. "I must confess master Brodert, to never having looked through one of these before. How does it work? What am I supposed to see?"
Lets start with the basics, what do I know about everything going on besides what has already been said. by that i mean local names of note or more info about those introduced and the habits and tactics of the local goblin tribes.
Knowledge Rolls
** spoiler omitted **
Harlynn will know the following :-
Mayor Deverin The Deverins have traditionally held the role of “leader” in Sandpoint. Old Amos Deverin served as the town’s mayor for its first 23 years, and his son Fenchus served for the next 11. Both Deverins perished to unfortunate accidents (Amos to a runaway horse on Festival street and Fenchus to a snakebite while on a boar hunt), leaving Amos’s youngest daughter as the heir to the family fortune and a likely candidate for mayor. Kendra Deverin didn’t initially want the job, but after she was nominated for the role by her close friend Casp Avertin, she won the election by a landslide, something her primary opponent in the election, Titus Scarnetti, has never quite come to terms with. For some time there was talk of her and
Casp becoming wife and husband, but Casp’s death at Chopper’s hands cut that short. Kendra’s recovered now from the shock, but has put aside all interest in romance for politics.
The Story of Chopper When Jervis Stoot made clear his intentions to build a home on the island just north of the Old Light, locals paid him no mind. Jervis had already garnered something of a reputation for eccentricity when he began his one-man crusade to carve depictions of birds on every building in town. Stoot never made a carving without securing permission, but his incredible skill at woodcarving made it a given that, if Stoot picked your building as the site of his latest project, you seized the opportunity. “Sporting a Stoot” soon grew to be something of a bragging point, and Jervis eventually extended his gift to include ship figureheads and carriages. Those who asked or tried to pay him for his skill were rebuffed—Stoot told them, “There ain’t no birds in that wood for me t’set free,” and went on his way, often wandering the streets for days before noticing a hidden bird in a fencepost, lintel, steeple, or doorframe, which he’d then secure permission to "release” with his trusty hatchets and carving knives.
Stoot’s excuse for wanting to move onto the isle seemed innocent
enough—the place was a haven for local birdlife, and his claim of “Wantin’ ta be with th’ birds” seemed to make sense. So much
so, in fact, that the guild of carpenters (with whom Stoot had maintained a friendly competition for several years) volunteered to
build a staircase, free of charge, along the southern cliff face so
that Stoot could come and go from his new home with ease. For 15
years, Stoot lived on the island. His trips into town grew less and
less frequent, making it something of an event when he chose a building to host a new Stoot.
Sandpoint was no stranger to crime, or even to murder. Once or twice a year, passions flared, robberies went bad, jealousy grew too much to bear, or one too many drinks were drunk, and someone would end up dead. But when the bodies began to mount five years ago, the town initially had no idea how to react. Sandpoint’s sheriff at the time was a no-nonsense man named Casp Avertin, a retired city watch officer from Magnimar. Yet even he was ill-prepared for the murderer who came to be known as Chopper. Over the course of one long winter month, it seemed that every day brought a new victim to light. Each was found in the same terrible state: bodies bearing deep cuts to the neck and torso, hands and feet severed and stacked nearby, and the eyes and tongue plucked crudely from the head and missing entirely.
Over the course of that terrible month, Chopper claimed 25 victims. His uncanny knack at eluding traps and pursuit quickly wore on the town guard, taking particular toll on Sherrif Avertin, who increasingly took to drinking.
In any event, Sherrif Avertin himself became Chopper’s last victim, slain upon catching the murderer in a narrow lane—known now as Chopper’s Alley—as he was mutilating his latest victim. Yet in the battle that followed, Avertin managed a telling blow against the killer. When the town guard found both bodies several minutes later, they were able to follow the killer’s bloody trail.
A trail that led straight to the stairs of Stoot’s Rock. At fi rst, the town guard refused to believe the implications, and feared that Chopper had come to claim poor Jervis Stoot as his 26th victim. Yet what the guards found in the modest home atop the isle, and in the larger complex of rooms that had been carved into the bedrock below, left no room for doubt. Jervis Stoot and Chopper were the same, and the eyes and tongues of all 25 victims were found upon a horrific altar to a birdlike demon whose name none dared speak aloud. Stoot himself was found dead at the base of the altar, having plucked his own eyes and tongue loose in a final offering. The guards collapsed the entrance to the chambers, burned Stoot’s house, tore down the stairs, and did their best to forget. Stoot himself was burned on the beach in a pyre, his ashes blessed and then scattered in an attempt to stave off an unholy return of his evil spirit.
As fate would have it, the people of Sandpoint would soon have a new tragedy to bear, one that almost eclipsed Chopper’s rampage.
A month after the murderer was slain, a terrible fire struck Sandpoint.
The fire started in the Sandpoint Chapel and spread quickly. As the town rallied to save the church, the fire spread, consuming the North Coast Stables, the White Deer Inn, and three homes. In the end, the church burnt to the ground, leaving the town’s beloved priest Ezakien Tobyn and his daughter dead.
All that remains today of the once-loved Stoot carvings are ragged scars on buildings and figureheads where owners used hatchets to remove what had become a haunting reminder of a wolf in their fold. The homes and businesses ravaged by the fire have been reconstructed, and the Sandpoint Chapel has finally been rebuilt as well. With the consecration of this new cathedral, Sandpoint can finally put the dark times of the Late Unpleasantness in the past.
As to Goblins, well you know the following -
1: Horse Hate: Goblins excel at riding animals, but they don’t quite get horses. In fact, their hatred of all things horse is matched only by their fear of horses, who tend to step on goblins who get too close.
2: Dog Hate: Although goblins raise horrible rat-faced creatures
called (creatively enough) goblin dogs to use as mounts (and ride wolves or worgs if they can get them—goblins are quick to explain that wolves are NOT dogs), their hatred of plain old dogs nearly matches their hatred of horses. The feeling is mutual. If your dog’s barking at the woodpile for no reason, chances are he smells a frightened goblin hiding in there somewhere.
3: Goblins Raid Junkyards: Garbage pits, gutters, sewers… anywhere
there’s garbage, you can bet goblins are nearby. Goblins are weirdly adept at crafting weapons and armor from refuse, and are fond of killing people with what they throw away.
4: Goblins Love to Sing: Unfortunately, as catchy as their lyrics can be, goblin songs tend to be a bit too creepy and disturbing to catch on in polite society.
5: They’re Sneaky: An excited or angry goblin is a noisy, chattering,
toothy menace, but even then, he can drop into an unsettling silence in a heartbeat. This, matched with their diminutive size, makes them unnervingly adept at hiding in places you’d never expect: stacks of firewood, rain barrels, under logs, under chicken coops, in ovens…
6: They’re A Little Crazy: The fact that goblins think of things like ovens as good hiding places reveals much about their inability to think plans through to the most likely outcome. That, and they tend to be easily distracted, particularly by shiny things and animals smaller than them that might make good eating.
7: They’re Voracious: Given enough supplies, a goblin generally takes nearly a dozen meals a day. Most goblin tribes don’t have enough supplies to accommodate such ravenous appetites, which is why the little menaces are so prone to going on raids.
8: They Like Fire: Burning things is one of the great goblin pastimes,
although they’re generally pretty careful about lighting fires in their own lairs, especially since goblins tend to live in large tangled thistle patches and sleep in beds of dried leaves and grass. But give a goblin a torch and someone else’s home and you’ve got trouble.
9: They Get Stuck Easily: Goblins have wiry frames but wide heads. They live in cramped warrens. Sometimes too cramped.
10: Goblins Believe Writing Steals Your Soul: The walls of goblin lairs and the ruins of towns goblins have raided are littered with pictures of their exploits. They never use writing, though. That’s not lucky. Writing steals words out of your head. You can’t get them back.
Kendrick hurries up the steps and comes to a stop next to Brodert. "I must confess master Brodert, to never having looked through one of these before. How does it work? What am I supposed to see?"
"To look through the eyepiece is to open a whole new world my boy. Out there, amongst the stars are worlds like our own and vastly different at the same time.
To quote Greogorik Taraspi, the Chief Astrological Advisor to the court of Xerbystes II, "Since the beginning, the conscious races have looked to the sky for guidance. In the movements of the heavens, they seek meaning; in their positions, portents. The opulent halls of royal houses across Golarion play host to learned astrologers and scholars paid to interpret the songs of the spheres, and many are the battlefields where chieftains on both sides offer bloody sacrifice to the red planet Akiton.Varisians follow the motions of their Cosmic Caravan, and all
followers of Desna pay special attention to her children, who light the night sky and guide sailors to their moorage. Though some may scoff at those who deify Golarion’s sister worlds, few gazing upon the great crater of the Inner Sea can deny the sky’s power when riled.
All men watch the stars. Yet how many know that the stars gaze back at them?"
"What I am looking at tonight is baffling though, I must admit. What you will see, Kendrick, is a far distant world, that scholars call Aucturn. It is the subject of countless legends. A world of monsters, say some, or the home of an ancient god woken at last from a million years of dark slumber. Certainly there are hints in old tomes that I have collected that the planet may be the mysterious Dominion of the Black whispered about in Osiriani legend. Perhaps it exists in a slightly different dimension, a link between this and another universe. No one can say for sure. But take a look and tell me what you see"
I also superimpose that face on Roy, from Order of the Stick, especially if he's having to agree with Belkar. "Your approval fills me with shame."
Kendrick steps up to the telescope and puts his eye to the eyepiece. For several moments he says nothing and then he steps back and wipes a tear from his eye. "It's so, so, well there are no words to describe it's beauty. It's amazing to see another world, a whole nother world. It doesn't even matter what world it is. Kind of bogs the mind. And the stars! I've never realized there were so many. I can see why a person might come to worship Desna. It seems that I could spend my whole life staring at the sky through this and never see the same thing twice. Simply incredible! Thank you for sharing this with me master Brodert."
Kendrick steps up to the telescope and puts his eye to the eyepiece. For several moments he says nothing and then he steps back and wipes a tear from his eye. "It's so, so, well there are no words to describe it's beauty. It's amazing to see another world, a whole nother world. It doesn't even matter what world it is. Kind of bogs the mind. And the stars! I've never realized there were so many. I can see why a person might come to worship Desna. It seems that I could spend my whole life staring at the sky through this and never see the same thing twice. Simply incredible! Thank you for sharing this with me master Brodert."
"That is my pleasure young Kendrick; but answer me this. When you gazed on this distant world, what did you really see? For I can say only this - each time I have gazed upon her I have seen something else. The first time, a terrestrial world with atmosphere much as our own, then a ringed gas giant and now, this evening a dark and lifeless rock. The more I gaze at the heavens, the more I realise how little I really know."
"I saw none of those things, Master Brodert. To me it looked like a giant marble, swirling with a multitude of colors and hues. I counted it a trick of my mind, but for a moment there it looked like those colors formed into a giant eye and that it winked at me. Silly I know, but you asked what I saw."
"I saw none of those things, Master Brodert. To me it looked like a giant marble, swirling with a multitude of colors and hues. I counted it a trick of my mind, but for a moment there it looked like those colors formed into a giant eye and that it winked at me. Silly I know, but you asked what I saw."
Brodert looks thoughtful for a moment..."hmmm...indeed, it is just as I thought. We are not alone in the universe. Anyway, It grows even later. Please, feel free to call on me again. I enjoyed our chat. There are so few localy who can apreciate this."
...Meanwhile, Shalelu heads off to the Rusty Dragon for a warm meal. Sure enough you find the inn still open, although the lady Ameikio is no longer there, having retired to bed already. Several serving staff are around though, cleaning tables and glasses. As they see Shalelu, they make a table free.
I see your reputation precedes you my dear Harlynn says in a not too flirtatious manner.
As everyone enters the inn, Tok stays outside for a moment with head bowed and eyes closed, quietly muttering something that sounds not unlike a prayer. After a few seconds of this, he enters the tavern and takes a seat at the table.
Sense Motives Check:
I will saunter along in the middle of the group with a semi detached look on my face, as if I am thinking of other things, on the way to the Rusty Dragon.
Ensu splits off from the group, hopeful that he isn't too late to talk with Brodert. Disappointed at seeing Kendrick already returning, "I see I missed the fun again. Did you learn anything about the ruins while you were there? Just to warn you, we have additional "help" to aid us in dealing with the goblins, at the cost of probably not being able to go back to the ruins immediately as we had planned."
As the serving girls bring out trays of steaming stew and crusty rolls of bread, Shalelu leans back in her chair and stretches. "So...I suppose I should tell you what I can about the Goblin threat..."
As the serving girls bring out trays of steaming stew and crusty rolls of bread, Shalelu leans back in her chair and stretches. "So...I suppose I should tell you what I can about the Goblin threat..."
"I agree with what our tall companion - Galstock was it? - said: Do we need to talk, or can we not take the fight to them?"
Yes, let us hear I say as I begin shoveling food into my mouth.
"Huh? I thought we took care of the goblin 'problem'. Besides hunting goblins isn't what brought me or I daresay yourself, master Ensu to Sandpoint. It was to learn about the cultures that were here before us as Ezren would say. Speaking of Ezren where is he? And what is this help that you're speaking of?"
Ensu fills in Kendrick with the details of the meeting as they walk back to rejoin the others. "It appears the goblin problem is larger than what it originally appeared to be, and we may have to deal with it before we can pursue our preferred endeavors. Now tell me what I missed at Master Brodert's."
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"Master Brodert will have been gazing up in the air, while merry hell went on below him."
"Darn right the goblin problem is bigger than we thought, if all the tribes were working together. They normally can't stand each other; they'll bite each other's ears off for just lookin at em funny.
That, and they wouldn't normally be brave enough to attack the town. Farms, yes, but they ignored the farms, till they was on their way back. They're opportunist little bastards, so why didn't they rob the first target in their way?"
He stabs the table with his finger at each point, then stops, turns to Shalelu, and apologises, "Erm,..I'm sorry, that's probably what you were going to say, isn't it? I didn't mean to butt in."
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Shalelu shakes her head at Tregar. "No offence taken Tregar. I understand your anxiety. You raise some good points though, so I'll try and put you all in the picture. As I mentioned earlier, there are five major goblin tribes in this region. The closest to Sandpoint are the Birdcruncher goblins that live in caves along the western edge of the Devil’s Platter, although traditionally these goblins are the least aggressive of the five. To the south are the Licktoad goblins of the Brinestump Marsh, pests that are excellent swimmers. East are the Seven Tooth goblins of Shank’s Wood, goblins who’ve secured a place for themselves by raiding Sandpoint’s junkyard and rebuilding the stolen refuse into armor and weapons. Further east are the Mosswood goblins, likely the largest tribe but one traditionally held back by
feuding families within their own ranks.
And finally, there are the Thistletop goblins, who live on the Nettlewood coast atop a small island that some say holds a passing resemblance to a decapitated head.
Goblins generally live short, violent lives so it’s unusual for a
single goblin to achieve any real measure of notoriety, but when one does, it’s well-earned. Currently, five goblins enjoy the status of “hero.”
Big Gugmut is an unusually muscular and tall goblin from Mosswood who, it is said, had a hobgoblin for a mother and a wild boar for a father. Koruvus was a champion of the Seven Tooth tribe, who was as well known for his short temper as he was for his prized possession—a magic longsword sized for a human that the goblin stubbornly kept as his own (despite the fact that it was too large for him to properly wield). Koruvus vanished several months ago after he supposedly discovered a “secret hideout” in a cave along the cliffs, but the Seven Tooth goblins remain convinced that he’s out there still, a ghost or worse, waiting to murder any goblin who tries to discover his hideout.
Vorka is a notorious goblin cannibal who lives in the Brinestump marsh, a “hero” mostly to goblins other than the Licktoad tribe. Ripnugget is the current leader of the Thistletop goblins and controls what the five tribes agree is the best lair.
And then there’s Bruthazmus, an infamous bugbear ranger who lives in northern Nettlewood and often visits the five tribes to trade things he’s stolen from caravans for alcohol, news, or magic arrows."
Shalelu smiles as she continues, "Bruthazmus has a particular hatred of elves; we have fought on several occasions but so far neither of us has managed to get the upper hand. But I vow that I won’t be the first to fall in our little private war."
Shalelu stretches and yawns.
"So now you know a little about the goblins, I hope it is of some help."
so tomorrow morning we set out to scout the birdcruncher tribe?
"Have you seen any goblins gathering in any single place of late? Or are they still holed up by individual tribes?
Regardless, if we begin removing fingers, the head is sure to notice."
"Could any of those you mentioned goad them to attack the town?"
Shalelu shrugs. "I'm not sure to be honest. I do believe that there must be some organising force behind these attacks but who or what...I can't hazard a guess."
She stands and gathers her things. "Anyway, I need some rest. I suggest you do the same. With the sheriff out of town, I think it's best if you all have your wits about you." With that, Shalelu bids you goodnight and climbs the stairs to her room.
"Hum, a magic longsword and a "secret hideout" eh? I like the sounds of that one. Are we going after them one at a time or are we splitting up? are we just going after their heros or are we looking for the puppet master behind it all?"
As you discuss the information, the halfling maid, Bethana emerges from the kitchens. "Excuse ne for interupting good sirs bit will any of you be requiring rooms for the evening?"
Kendrick & Ensu As you head back from the sages home, you almost bump into Aldred Foxglove hurrying along the road. He seems to have been coming from the direction of the cliffs, near the Old Light. As he spots you he says "Oh, hello you two. Isn't it a bit late to be out and about, especially after the day we've all had. Can't stop. Just been doing a last bit of sightseeing. Now, I need to get back and pack. I leave for Magniamr in the morning. I've arranged for myself and the Pathfinder to accompany the sheriff when he leaves as we all seem to be going in the same direction. Anyway, if I dont see you before, next time your in Magnimar, look me up."
"I'll hold you to that invitation, master Aldred" Kendrick says with smile and a wave.
Then he turns to Ensu and says, "I suppose he has a point about it being late. We should return to the inn, although I imagine it is quite crowded. Shall we?"
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As you discuss the information, the halfling maid, Bethana emerges from the kitchens. "Excuse me for interupting good sirs bit will any of you be requiring rooms for the evening?"
"That does sound inviting, to sleep in a proper bed.
I think I can justify a bit of soft living for one night, if we'll be tramping over hill and dale in the morning."
Ensu shrugs, "May as well. If we are going to serve as a visible detererent, there is no better time than the present to start. May you be safe on your travels, Master Foxglove."
Naw, Ill pass, my parents still live down the way. I'll crash there for the night.
Harlynn stretches his arm and his back and yawns, Thank you, my dear that does sound quite delightful.
"I, too, will accept a room. But first, shouldn't we decide upon a course of action?"
"If something is going to be decided, shouldn't everyone involved be here? I'm just sayin cause it sounds like Hemlock is leaving with most of his men. I'm all for going on the hunt but he did ask us that we watch the town in his stead."
As you discuss the information, the halfling maid, Bethana emerges from the kitchens. "Excuse ne for interupting good sirs bit will any of you be requiring rooms for the evening?"
Rubbing his hand across his scalp, "Um, I think I'll just sleep in the stables again if that's ok?"
"That is true, Galstock. Where did the little mage run off to?"