Town Hall and a Mysterious Stranger

Your party meets back at the Rust Dragon, where you share information and learn from Ameiko that Seoni has taken Aldern up on his invitation of a boar hunt. The two of them left on horseback, along with Aldern’s retainer and hunting dogs not long before your return. You while away a few hours in the Rusty Dragon playing cards and swapping stories with Ameiko, when Hemlock arrives, a good four hours before you were due to met him at the town hall. He explains that some new information has come to light that can’t wait. As you and the Sheriff walk briskly to the town hall he explains the reason for the haste. “Shalelu Andosana just got into town. She's not exactly a mercenary, bounty hunter, or survivalist, but sort of a mix of all three. Shalelu visits us maybe once or twice a season as she roams through the area, and the intelligence she supplies us on what’s going on in the hinterlands is invaluable. We weren’t expecting to see her for at least another month, so when she showed up this morning, we knew it meant trouble.”

When you arrive at the town hall you are escorted to a comfortable office on the second floor. Already there are two women you have not met before. Behind a desk sits a middle aged red haired woman who Hemlock introduces as the town’s mayor, Kendra Deverin. She greets you warmly, apologizes for not having been able to thank you in person yet for the help you provided during the goblin attack, and invites you all to take seats around the room.

The second woman is an attractive but ragged looking elf. She is wearing leather armor and a well worn travel cloak is slung over the back of her chair. “And this,” Hemlock says, indicating the elven woman, ”is Shalelu Andosana: Unofficial member of Sandpoint’s town guard.” Shalelu smirks at this, and Hemlock continues. “And these,” he says, introducing each of you in turn, “are Sandpoint’s newest crop of heroes. Shalelu here has been a thorn in the side of the local goblin tribes for years, and few know more about them than she does. Apparently there has been an increase in goblin raids along the Lost Coast Road, particularily in the dale between Nettlewood and Mosswood. Only yesterday, a farm south of Mosswood was burned to the ground by goblins. Thankfully, Shalelu was nearby, and while the farm couldn’t be saved, she rescued the family and drove off the goblins.”

At this point Hemlock cedes the floor to Shalelu. She looks at each of you then begins. “Belor’s told me about your work against the goblins – well done. I’ve dedicated the last few years of my life keeping them from causing too much trouble around these parts, but they’re tenacious and fecund little runts. Like weeds that bite.

“Anyway, there’s five major goblin tribes in the region, and traditionally, they’re pretty good at keeping each other in line with internal squabbles and the like. Yet from what I’ve been able to piece together, members of all five tribes were involved in the raid on Sandpoint. A fair amount of the Mosswood goblins I dealt with yesterday were already pretty beat up, and there was a lot of chatter about the ‘longshanks’ that killed so many of them. Now that I’ve met you it seems obvious from their descriptions who they were talking about. Seems like you’ve made an impression.

“In any event, the fact that the five tribes are working together disturbs me. Goblin tribes don’t work together unless they’ve got something big planned, and big plans require big bosses. I’m afraid that someone’s moved in on the goblins and organized them. And judging from these recent raids, what they’re organizing seems like bad news for all of us.”

Mayor Deverin interjects. “I’ve asked Sheriff Hemlock to take a few men to Mangnimar to see about securing some extra soldiers to station here, at least for a few weeks until we can determine the full extent of this goblin threat. Also, Shalelu has agreed to sniff around Shank’s Wood, Devil’s Platter, and other places where goblins live to see if she can discover anything else about what’s going on.”

“In the meantime,” Hemlock pipes up, “I’d ask you all to maintain a public presence here in town over the next few days. The locals seem to have taken a liking to you, and having you around will go along way to settling people’s suspiscions.”

At this point you characters can ask any questions you like from Hemlock, Deverin or Shalelu, and tell me your plans for “maintaining a public presence” in town (assuming you agree).