Re: Chapter #7d: A Desperate Plan
"Thank you Kerr." Liseth sniffed after being embraced, "Thank you too Pisca." The blonde acolyte looked down into the gnome's big violet eyes that somehow held so much optimism and innocence. "It's just that...well...I never wanted to be a hero. I never thought that I would be someone who...who goes into ruins to help fight demons. Or sneaks into goblin fortresses to attack them."
"But I wouldn't want to make someone else have to do it either." Liseth leaned down to give Pisca a squeeze before hugging Kerr. "And you're right Kerr. This is what Sarenrae told me She wanted me to do." You will face evil in its purest form, Sarenrae had said. The minions of the Evil Gods will seek to destroy you. "I just didn't think that it would all happen so soon! So fast...all at once." She sighed, the weight of everything pressing down so heavily. She could really do with a few days without emergencies and threats and fighting all of the time. "At least none of us will be alone."
Liseth did her best to try and suck up her feelings and pay attention to the planning. Feeling bad for herself wouldn't help anything; it would just distract everyone. It was hard to keep it under control though, with how tired she was. The girl watched as Ms Andosana laid out her map and started to plan. The way she described it did nothing to make their strategy seem more achievable.
"There has to be some other way to pass the Nettlemaze though..." The only thing worse than crawling through thick nettles had to be crawling through thick nettles filled with goblins. Liseth thought about that, "Tsuto and Nualia, those other humans, even Brooth...Bruth...Bruthazim...that evil bugbear, have to have a way to get through. I don't think that they would want to crawl through the goblins' tunnels all of the time themselves." She looked towards the elven adventurer, "Maybe we can find the route that they use...?"
The young acolyte nodded at Mayor Deverin's thanks, but became uncomfortable as she mentioned some of the things which might happen were they unsuccessful. Her stomach still felt like there was a stone sitting in it, and that didn't help. Liseth watched her pass out the credit chits, for them to use to obtain whatever they might need to help in their mission. She didn't know what to say, or even what she might do with them. What could she even buy that she could use to help? Weapons? She can't wield them. Armor? It's too heavy for her small frame. Magic wands and trinkets? They would be too expensive, surely. Even with a promissory note from the founding families, how much of that would any merchant in Sandpoint be able to part with?
Maybe Mr Voon would be able to help, he seemed generous enough yesterday.
"Thank you Mayor Deverin," She said, even as her mind raced for what would both be useful and reasonable. Pisca didn't seem to have the same trouble, Liseth noticed. The gnome was already excitedly making a shopping list. Maybe she could ask Pisca to help her out? Liseth didn't feel up to a hurried shopping spree; to quickly gather supplies for a dangerous mission. When she would really rather take some time off; take a 'mental health day.' Unfortunately, it was the goblins making the schedule and there was no time to rest. There hadn't been any time to rest and recover for days, it felt like.
"Burst jars?" Pisca's speculation about the terrible things that the goblins might have in store for them gave Liseth an idea, at least, of something they could get to prepare. "Maybe we could get more of Mr Tanner's alchemy concoctions to help? Although I didn't do very well with the ones we did have...and I don't know whether he has many more, now that I think of it." Liseth's palms opened and then dropped to the table helplessly. "I don't know..."
"How will we get to Thistletop?" Liseth asked suddenly, "The goblins would notice if we rode horses, wouldn't they? But we would be too slow if we walked." Liseth frowned, "I don't think Heily would handle a bunch of mean, shouting goblins very well. She hasn't ever been in a battle before; and she's bound to be frightened. I know I am..." Her hands fidgeted, "And where would we leave them once we got there? Mr Hosk," she turned to Heily's caretaker during her stay in Sandpoint, "You said that goblins are afraid of horses, right? A goblin certainly wouldn't try to attack a big strong horse like Hakon if they found him standing watch for Heily, Nettie, and Frolic would he?"