Gerund delivers a minor healing to Yola (recovers 2 HP).
The party starts making its way to the cathedral. The man you saved from the goblins tags watches Seoni help Sahsa to her feet. "The church, yes! An excellent idea!" He jogs forward and attempts to take Sasha's weight from Seoni. "Please allow me to help your wounded friend," he says to her. "My name is Aldern Foxglove. You all fought so bravely in defence of this little town, and you," he says, speaking directly to Seoni, "were brilliant! I have never seen such arcane skill coupled with such beauty. Why, if I hadn't been so scared for my very life it would have taken my breath away," he laughs bashfully.
At this point you come within sight of the cathedral, and as you approach you see Father Zanthus tending to a small group of scared and wounded townsfolk around the main doors. Some of them recognize you as you approach and scattered cheers greet you. Father Zanthus also recognizes you and rushes forward. "Ah, you are the ones that fought so bravely in defence of our church. But I see you have paid quite a price for your bravery," he says as he notices the severity of your wounds. With practiced efficiency he has the wounded members of your party tend to by an acolyte while he begins to cast a series of healing incantations over you. Soon you wounds have stitched themselves back together and you are filled with vigour. "This town is in your debt, " says Father Zanthus." I hope these prayers I have cast over you help to repay that - If there are any other services this church may provide for you, please ask."
At this point Aldern, who has been hovering nearby, pipes up. " Well, ah, it seems I'm not really needed here. I will be staying at the Red Dragon Inn for the next day or so. Please stop by so I can reward you all properly for your bravery." Poot huffs at hearing this, and when Aldern is out of earshot says to his new found friends, "don't know what's so good 'bout the Rusty Dragon. Come on down to the Hagfish. The brew is better, and the first round's on me."
The town is yours to explore. Please post what you would like to do next: shopping, people to see, arranging accommodations, conversation with the other party members etc. I will respond and interject to your ongoing dialog as needed so check back often and post as often as you'd like. Also, experience has been awarded, so check you character sheets for updates on Mon night.
Playing the 3.5ed D&D adventure, "Rise of the Runelords," published by Paizo
Chp2: The Skinsaw Murders
Chp2: The Skinsaw Murders
18 comments:
Sasha waits until Foxglove is out of ear shot before she leans into Seoni.
"I don't know but I think he likes you," Sasha mimics Aldern "You were brilliant! C'mon why don't you invite him over to the Hag fish with us?"
Sasha give Seoni a playful wink. "Besides even as 'one with arcane skill coupled with such beauty' even you got to admit he's not too hard on the eyes."
Sasha calls over too Gerund seeing him chatting with Yola. "Hey blacksmith - what's it going to be? The Rusty Flagon or the Mad Fish?"
"Sir Poot has saved my assets more than once, he's offering to buy ... (Sasha flashes Poot one of her card-shark smiles)and I think he's deeply smitten with me."
Poot lights his pipe and sticks his thumbs under his suspenders in a purely Sandpoint manner. He returns Sasha's smile, "Sorry Lass, but I'm married t'me art."
"Yola ya great tree of an amazon, check in wit'yer uncle and then head over to the Hagfish -- never turn down the hospitality of a Lightfoot, or they'll show up on yer doorstep with an 'alf dozen cakes the next day."
Poot tries to rally together as many townies as he can to head over to the Hagfish as he makes his way there. He'll need a suitable audience.
Once at the Hagfish, and he's seated his friends infront of a pint of bitter, he hops up onto a table top and begins re-enacting the nights heroics, playing all the parts himself.
He twirls a mop around when he's Yola, adopts a deep and sonorous voice when Gerund, swivels his hips around dramatically as Seoni, and cracks his belt as a whip wielding Sasha. He makes sure to linger on the climax of the performance as Poot the Prodigeous fires his arrow, straight and true, into the throat of the last goblin.
(at this point I'd like to make a performance check for panhandling. Although Poot is in good spirits he is already thinking about why the goblins attacked and if it's all truly over. If not he plans on hiring the heros to aid his town. Heros need gold -- hence his fundraising performance.)
Smiling and clapping with the rest of the audience to Poot's worthy performance Sasha's mood changes when she see's a few copper pieces tossed at the halfling's feet.
Reaching deep into her pocket she fingers the wooden and feathered token for her entrance into the card-game. Making polite excuses she takes her whip and rapier.
She whispers to Senoi "If I'm not back in an hour or two send someone to look for me. I've got see a farmer about a feeback ... oh ... and good luck with Fox-ey."
With a look of anxious determination Sasha sets off for her card game or at the least to see if her entrance free is up for grabs. She grabs a flask of ale from a patron who is too engrossed in coversation gulps it down in mid-stride and rests it on another patrons table. As she leaves the Hagfish she can here the beginning of a dispute.
I accept your offer halfling - let me check in with my uncle and then I shall join the rest of you at the hagfish.
Yola goes to her uncle's inn, let's him know what happened and assures him that she is fine. Just a few minor scratches uncle, I'm fine.
I've found a few people that wish to buy me a round at the hagfish - i'll be there if you need me
Yola returns to the hagfish just in time to catch Poot's imitation of her and the rest of the team, she laughs heartily and sits down next to the Gerund.
Thank you again, for healing me and getting us to the church - you fought bravely today and I'm pleased to call you my ally.
Mich
Poot's Performance check: 1d20+10 (roll 11)= 20
The people of Sandpoint are in good spirits and a generous mood. Poot's antics are wel received, and his "knight's helmet" quickly fills with dozens of coppers and even a few silver pieces ( total 1gp, 7sp ).
It doesn't take long to figure out where the Hagfish get's its name. A large aquarium sitting behind the bar is the home to a repelent hagfish affectionatly named Norah. Hanging from a nail beside Norah's tank is large leather pouch bulging with coins: Prize money for anyone who can drink down a full tankard of "water" scooped from Norah's tank.
After Poot's energetic mop demonstration, its not long before the crowd is chanting "Yola! Yola!" and pushing the tall Shoanti woman towards the bar.
Yola returns to the hagfish just in time to catch Poot's imitation of her and the rest of the team, she laughs heartily and sits down next to the Gerund.
"Bravo!" cheered Gerund, thinking, Even better than the real thing.
Thank you again, for healing me and getting us to the church - you fought bravely today and I'm pleased to call you my ally.
"I am honoured, and likewise. We arrived as strangers, yet the heat of battle has forged friends," he raised his glass to her, "Cheers."
He was about to open the topic of the odd goblin behaviour they'd witnessed today, but the townsfolk seemed eager to buy her a drinks in gratitude.
When Poot comes by my table next, I will make sure to pass on his praise and thanks.
yola: laughing away heartily, fine then i've drunk worse ale in my clan's tent, bring the fishybrew over!!
Yola leaning over to Gerund, better get those healing hands of yours ready just in case!
Mich
Jargi scoops up a foetid tankard of liquid from the tank and sets it in front of Yola, while Poot disreetly places a bucket next to her stool. "Now you sure about this girl?" Jargi points to the ceiling beam above the bar which has about two dozen names caved into it. "In the ten years I've been running the Hagfish, only 28 people have earned the right to put their name up there."
Yola looks at Jargi, slams her silver coin down on the table, then grabs the tankard and chugs it down . . .
Fortitude save vs difficulty 20; 1d20+4 (roll 19)= 23
The water is thick, and horrifically slimey and foul-tasing. The crowd grows quiet as Yola turns slightly pale, the cheers uproarously as she lets out a terific belch, slams the tankard down on the bar, and askswith a grin, "Yummy, may I have another?"
Jargi smiles and throws Yola the pouch of silvers. "Well desrved girl! Norah salutes you!" With that he pulls out a knife and carves "YOLA" above the bar.
While the tavern erupts in cheers for Yola, Poot pulls Gerund down to his level and, in an overly conspiratorial manner, confides his knowledge,
"Listen 'ere mate. Them greenies these evenin'. Pulled this from off'em." Poot pulls a crude necklace of tiny bird skulls from behind the Paladin's ear with a flourish and hangs it on his tankard.
"There's 5 gobo clans in these parts. This lil' bobble says they belong to the Birdcrunchers. The punters call the caves near Devil's Platter home."
Poot leans in close to Gerund and whispers through a cloud of pipe smoke, "odd fing is...they live nearby but have always been 'no ask no tell' wif us. Somefin' must a riled 'em up like. Thas' my guess anyway...whaddya fink?"
Seoni allows herself to be dragged along to the Hagfish with the band of warriors to celebrate their victory. She laughs at Poot's antics and vigorously protests his imitation of her, "Poot! You mock me! The only time I swiveled my hips was dodging the arrows!"
Seoni was a bit surprised when Sasha left so early. Sasha didn't seem to sort to leave a party in mid-swing. Her errand must have been very important..and perhaps a it dangerous. Seoni made a note of the hour to follow Sasha if need be.
But speaking of leaving a party in full swing, Seoni thought back to the man's flattery early just after the battle. Wondering what this Foxglove was all about, Seoni waited for an opportunity to catch Poot's eye. "Poot, you seem to be the one with all the information around here. What can you tell me about this Foxglove fellow?"
Poot leans in close to Gerund and whispers through a cloud of pipe smoke, "odd fing is...they live nearby but have always been 'no ask no tell' wif us. Somefin' must a riled 'em up like. Thas' my guess anyway...whaddya fink?"
"I can only guess at the reasons behind this sudden change. Perhaps someone or something is infringing on their territory, either angering them like poking a hornet's nest, or forcing them out of their homes to ravage elsewhere. Perhaps it is one of the locals, or someone else is making it appear so. Perhaps they are being manipulated by a malevolent force, or hired on to stir up the locals for some reason. Whatever it is, I think the answers may begin at Devil's Platter," said Gerund,"On the farm, whenever we had trouble with wild animals, however savage or tame by nature, there was always a reason why, and it usually had something to do with territory, famine or threats to mates or offspring. If this behaviour for this tribe is atypical, then I agree something or someone has poked their nest with a very big stick."
Just as Poot is about to respond to Gerund's wise assesment of the goblin attack, he is pulled aside by Seoni and her inquiries into Foxglove.
"listen lass, Aldern Foxglove is not a Sandpoint townie. The Foxgloves are a family of minor nobility from Magnimar. The family has holdings along the coast midway between Sandpoint and Magnimar at the mouth of the Foxglove river, which was named after the family's founder that originally settled that area. If his eye's takin' a twinkle to ya...well, worse things than marryin' rich. Just remember, as match-maker, I expect a 10% comission."
Poot gives Seoni a wink and a pat on the back and then turns his focus back to the paladin,
"about them gobos...for reasons beyond me I kinda like this town and would hate to see it banjaxed n' burned up. Problem is, despite me obvious talents, I remain somewhat unrecognized in this town. Perhaps you could mention to the sheriff about this Devil's Platter business. He's sure to bend an ear for the likes of you."
Yola: recovering from the fishybrew,
Eh you two, what's up, I heard you just mention the sheriff, I should go with you since he's my uncle's brother.
You know Poot, my uncle who runs the White Deer Inn, I may also be able to get some info from him as well, but last time I talked to the sheriff he wasn't so keen on talking. Whether it's because of the feud my uncles have or what I'm not sure, but the sheriff's lackey was easy to talk to, seem to open up right away to me. If I can be of any service that would suit me fine, rather be chasing gobo's than dishing out food at the inn.
Mich
Your conversation is interrupted by the sound of shattering glass. Boisterous laughter is replaced by angry shouting, and you look up to see two men arguing with each other at the far end of the bar (over a stolen drink if you’re hearing right). One shoves the other and things look like they are quickly going to get violent as the crowd clears a space around the two men. But then a deeper, louder voice drowns them out.
“Boys, boys!” Das Korvut, the town’s cantankerous blacksmith strides into the space left by the crowd and comes between the two. “What are you doing raising a fist to each other tonight? We were attack by Goblins tonight. Goblins! And here you are wasting your strength blooding each other’s noses over a spilled drink.” The two would-be combatants look contrite, and the crowd murmurs in agreement. The threat of violence is clearly over, but Das continues. “No! The last ones we should be fighting are each other.” He looks around the room, searching, and then points to a young lad sitting at a nearby table. “Brym, lad. You fought with the militia today. Isn’t true that the sheriff and his boys took some of those gobs prisoner?”
The youth, unsettled at having been signalled out, stammers, “Uh yeah, that’s right Das. We took two of them alive over by Shell Street. They’re sitting in the garrison lockup right now.”
Das’ eyes gleam, and he almost snarls, “Alive, eh? We lost friends today. Sandpointers died in the street, and there’s two of the murdering little runts right under our noses. Alive.” Das scans the crowd. “Well, I think we know how to fix that, eh boys?” He claps the two almost-brawlers on the back, and ugly shouts of assent go up throughout the crowd. Who’s gonna pay a little visit to the garrison with me?”
Gerund addresses his comrades at the table, but in a low enough voice so as not to be overheard by other, grouchier parties, "This might be an opportunity, but we'd better get there ahead of the mob if we're to get any information out of them."
Poot takes a lantern down from it's peg, and ushers Gerund and the others towards the door,
"Sounds like a plan. I know a shortcut we can take to get there. 'at is if you don't mind crossin' through Anderson's hog pen."
Seoni follows Gerund and Poot and heads out the door.
Yola follows the with the rest of them.
well crossing in the pig's pen she tells Poot that her uncle might be there at the jail, or at least his lackey, and maybe talking to him might help.
Mich
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