Monday Rova 23, 4707 - Sandpoint

The night after the raid passes without further incident.  The citizens of Sandpoint quietly organize groups to work on cleanup after the goblin raid - fortunately the damage was minimal, and there will be no major rebuilding required.  Casualties were also blessedly limited.  Several citizens suffered broken bones in the flight from the cathedral, and a few individuals who found themselves on the wrong end of a goblin's blade bear long cuts on their faces and limbs that leave nasty scars, but only Naffer Vonsk, the town undertaker, was critically injured.  He rests even now in the town's new cathedral under the administration of Father Zantus, unconscious with his head swollen to an alarming degree from a sharp blow.

As the light breaks over the town once more, the brilliant crystal sphere on the cathedral's spire once again splits the rays of dawn, briefly throwing rainbows of Desna's light all across the town.  As the sun continues to rise its light casts itself on the squat stone garrison that houses the Sandpoint Militia, and the headquarters of its captain, Belor Hemlock.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:09, Fri 10 Jan 2020.

Vano gets out of bed mid-morning, still a bit groggy from the late night of fighting and investigating. He cleans up as best he can with whatever accommodations the inn provides, checks on Bait, has a late breakfast, and then heads out to the garrison for his meeting with the sheriff.

Rory also wakes up mid morning after all the excitement the day before. Her first reaction is concern that the local law enforcement wants to see her since she and her cousins were doing a little pickpocketing the day before. So she tells her cousins over breakfast, half jokingly, that she will be going and to come after her if she gets thrown in jail.

She leaves a note with the inn for Brodert Quink apologizing and saying she has been asked to a meeting with Hemlock that morning and she will be back as soon as possible. If he cannot wait, the note asks that he leave a note about where she can find him so they can still meet up and look at the sites.

After checking on Aria she heads to the Garrison.

Jensox and Nova again rise early, roll carefully out of the tree, and leave town for another morning jog. Twigs, bark, and a few leaves fall loose from his tattered cloak as his legs stretch and warm up to the day. As before, Nova lopes along with an enthusiasm for the day his master appears constitutionally unable to match.

Approaching Sand Point's walls once again, Jensox slows and checks his cloak for the torn parchment he shared with the Sheriff the day before. With a slight grimace on one grizzled face, and a tongue hanging from the pointed, furry mouth of the other, the pair walk into town. They make their way through the square, catching the brilliant light display without comment, and will wait outside the guard house until they are able to be seen.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:12, Mon 16 Dec 2019.

Asur is, as usual up before first light so he can watch the dawn.  After saying his private morning prayers, he heads to the garrison.

While waiting outside the garrison, on the other side of the street, Jensox sets himself and then shoves his walking stick into the ground. Looking to his companion, he barks, " 'ova, Guard!" Nova dutifully trots to the stick, squares his shoulders, and becomes a statue of intense purpose.

Jensox walks a ways down the street, watching his companion hold his post. Now the new part.

" 'ova, Come!"

Nova glances his way, and then back to his literal post. His paws don't move.

" 'ova, Come!"

Nova looks again at his master, confusion evident. Master, post, master... Post. Guard means don't move. Stay. Protect. But master... beckons? Master is calling and beckoning me.

Nova's shoulders shift, then a paw lifts, and he begins moving down the street towards Jensox.

Like the slow melting of snow in the spring, the biggest - only - smile of the last 24 hours breaks on Jensox's face. Nova lopes down the street and Jensox embraces him with more enthusiasm than a long-lost relative.

After effusive praise, Jensox leads Nova back to his walking stick and repeats the entire process. The pair continue this exercise all morning (OOC: training a new trick, come, if it wasn't obvious), or until there is movement in the guardhouse.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:30, Sun 22 Dec 2019.

As the four outsiders gather outside the stone barracks, one of the Sandpoint militia escorts you each into the stone garrison.  It's not a fairly large structure, serving as both the town's jail and the barracks for its militia.  Sandpoint is not an overlarge town, but standing on the frontier as it does the city sees fit to maintain a dozen full-time watchmen as well as almost two dozen support staff.  Sheriff Belor Hemlock maintains a small office in the back corner of the building, and the small space is full to capacity once Asur, Vano, Jensox, and Rory have arrived.  The sheriff takes a long draw on a mug of steaming coffee, his eyes red-rimmed with fatigue, before standing to address the four of you.  His deep voice still carries the same tone of command he expressed yesterday, although there's an undercurrent of strain as well now.  "The four of you did our village a great service yesterday.  My sentries were all posted on the walls in case of trouble - we're still trying to figure out how in Cayden Cailean's name those little bastards were able to sneak past the walls and into the heart of the town.  If the four of you hadn't been at the cathedral, I shudder to think what might have happened."  He shakes his head.  "Fortunately, they were not prepared for any sort of resistance, and turned and fled when they realized there were some who were able to fight back.  All told, we suffered only one serious injury, the loss of a single fuel cart, and a score of smaller damages to various buildings."

The sheriff pauses for a moment, tilting his head to one side and cracking his neck.  "I need to travel to Magnimar and request additional men to serve in the garrison.  Nobody will admit it, but the town is still very much on edge.  Such an attack, coming exactly five years to the day after the previous incidents... folks are nervous.  The four of you, helping defend the town as you did, will settle rattled nerves.   And so I need to ask one more favor from you all.  While I am gone, I want the four of you to be present in the town.  Let the citizens see you, and know you're still here."  The sheriff raises a large, scarred hand and points it at Jensox.  "Master druid, you were present at the fight in front of the cathedral, but not in the fight in front of the Rusty Dragon.  Fortunately, Father Zantus was there, and that noble Foxglove has already been persuaded to spread the tale that it was you, not the father, who helped out.  The rest of the witnesses could only make out the father's gray hair and beard in the chaos.  And we need your presence in the group most of all - Shalelu Andosana has been telling tales of the Old Man Of The Woods for years now, and the town has built you into quite a mythical figure.  One of the main reasons you've been left alone as much as you have." 

Returning his hand to his side, he eyes the entire group one by one.  "What say you all?  A few more days in the town, and then you can be on your way."

"I wasn't in a huge hurry to be back on the road again anyway. I can stick around for a few days, and I'll be happy to help deal with any more goblins problems should they turn up. Just don't forget to mention that 'great service' bit in your letter to my commander." 

Vano turns to grin at the others.  "I don't know about you lot, but I bet being a local hero is worth a few free drinks if nothing else."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Mon 23 Dec 2019.

Jensox is of course uncomfortable inside the garrison, and after entering the crowded office stands toward the back and mostly avoids eye contact.  When Belor singles him out, a sour expression comes over his face. "I don' know wha' Sha-lelu may be tellin' folk 'n I don't much care. You city-folk shouldn' bother me 'cause I don't much bother you. 'hat's how it should work. And, I, uh, well, when we spoke jus' yester'day yous'aid thar' was, ah, some kinda regis'er you was gonna check 'bout tha Scare-netti, 'n I was jus' hopin' ta sort out 'bout my woods, you know? I don' wann'a be down 'ere mor'n I hafta. I's goin' on back to my animals 'n trees a'soon as I can."

You hardly need ask, Sheriff.  Of course I'm going to stick around.  Anything you need.  Maybe we can look around a bit and see where the Goblins snuck in?  I'm also perplexed why they were targeting the dogs in town.  Maybe they could help us sniff out where they came from.

Asur turns to Jensox.

I know you're not particularly comfortable here.  I get that; I was so used to the silence of the monastery I was raised in, even little towns like this seem loud and overcrowded. With groups of goblins running around, I wonder if it wouldn't be safer for you to stick with us until we can figure out what's going on. I'd hate for you to get into a fight with a tribe of goblins by yourself.

"Usually, I don't stay anywhere that long. Lodging and food gets a bit expensive in a town. Could you spare some money for room and board at least? Maybe a something extra for the time? My cousins may wish to continue on and then I won't have a crew to perform with anymore. I like your town and want to help. But as a business woman, I can't afford to stay idle, you understand. Lost money now means lost food and supplies later when I travel to the next place."

Rory rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Diplomacy for getting paid.

Having let everyone say their piece, the sheriff looks to you each in turn, starting with a nod for Vano.  "Vano your assistance in this matter speaks to the character of both yourself and the Black Arrows.  I will make sure to mention this in my letter to Commander Bayden" .

Asur's confirmation draws a small smile from the sheriff.  "Your work in Sarenrae's name is an example to your faith, Asur.  Any investigation you able to complete to learn more about what happened here will be appreciated."

Rory's question about payment actually prompts the normally grim sheriff to laugh.  "Quite the mercenary, aren't you?  I heard from the innkeeper that you were very well received last night; if you agree to stick around I'll match any shortcomings in tips during my journey."

At Jensox, the mirth from Rory's haggling drops, and his face sets itself into a mask of grim determination.  "If the world worked as we wished, I would see you and your flock left to your own devices.  Unfortunately we live in the world as it is, not as it ought to be.  I checked the documents we have in Sandpoint and the legal status of your land is... murkey.  The boundaries are not well laid defined.  I will try and return with the official maps from Magnimar, but a provincial dispute like this may well be decided by simple consensus between the local nobles.  If that's the case you will need all the allies you can find; spending a few days building goodwill now may go a long way to saving you quite a bit of heartache in the future."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:56, Thu 09 Jan 2020.

Jensox stares mostly at the floor while the others speak, and only after Belor finishes does he open up. "E'ry winter 'n I was a lad me 'n mine been comin' to tha' wood. Trimmin' 'n shapin' 'n nursin' 'n prunin', I's even got a 'spa-lier, 'n some vines, wha' makes nice so'n when we all gets down 'ere as the leaves turnin' I's got some'n t' eat."

Though downturned, Jensox's face lightens a bit at the memory of the sweet fruit. He pauses a long second, his face settles again, and he continues.

"I jus' don' see how they can up 'n claim those trees, my trees. 'n fer wood, fer cuttin' 'em down!"

He looks up some, more pointedly at the Sheriff, and continues, "'n nows you talkin' 'bout some high-tootin' nobles meetin' 'n deciden' 'bout some'n they don' know nothin' 'bout! Tha's hogwash! 'n I think you's know it. E'ry time *people* get involved 'n my life it 'urns up shit." The words "people" and "shit" are spoken with quite the same vehemence, both spit out like a sour grape.

Jensox heaves a large sigh and taps his walking stick on the ground.

"Turns up shit... But I 'ain' qui'e the hard-'ead I was... well, as I was a'fore. Heh, years past I prolly woulda 'ust kill'd tha' knave 'n not thought twice. How long you reckin' this 'rip to Mag-nam-ar 'll be? I can prob'ly wait a few more days an' ways I guess."

Finally, Jensox turns to Asur with a slight laugh. "Boy, me 'n 'ova 'n t' others have run off wolf packs 'n bears 'n worse on our own; I ain't much scared of a 'ew gerblins now. Hell, some'imes when Im'a fightin' it feels like I'm 'urning in't a doggo myself. Weird, right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:10, Sat 11 Jan 2020.

"Sheriff, I'm going to do some investigating while you're gone. This whole goblin thing has me pretty curious. Like you said, how did they get past the guarded walls to simultaneously attack multiple locations inside the town? Was it really a coincidence that they showed up on the only night the whole town is gathered for a ceremony? How did they immediately found the largest explosives in the town? I just feel like there has to be more to all of this. I don't know if I'll be able to find anything, but its going to eat at me until I have some answers."

Vano turns back to the others. "Before anything else though, Rory, did you still want to sell that equipment from the goblins we fought? I figure the druid here deserves a share of the sales since he did help out quite a bit outside the cathedral."

"After that I plan to go have a talk with Aldern Foxglove and see if he noticed anything suspicious during the attack. I can go alone, or any of you who want can come along" Vano glances over at Jensox. "We saved his life last night and he seemed extremely grateful. He's a noble of some sort, and may be able to help out with your trespasser problem."

Vano grins at Jensox. "So what do you think, Old Man of the Woods? Spend the morning with me and some other annoying *people* and you can make a little coin and hopefully convince the right folks that your woods should be left alone." He pauses a moment, but then continues while chuckling, "Just so you know, I'm mostly offering to help because I like Ova, he was quite the brave doggo outside the cathedral."

"Alright, Sheriff, seems fair," she grins at him with a professional appreciation of his haggling skills. "If it's not prying, you and the innkeeper seem to share a family resemblance, is there any truth to that?"

She turns to Vano, "Trip to market sounds good to me." She motions to everyone in the room, "And I'm all about sharing with new friends. Your questions spark my curiosity, too. And I love a mystery. I'll go with you to talk with Foxglove. He seemed like a good sort of guy. Poor man lost his dog though, so we may need to be gentle about the questions."

"Druid," she gives one of her best smiles, "I would be happy to help you talk to the nobles. Sounds like you should be allowed to keep your home to me. "

Jensox apprises Asur, Rory, and Vano. "You'ns seem... less shitty 'an most, 'n less cowar'ly too. I saw each of ya stan' up ta 'em gerblins 'n give better'n wha' ya got. 'n I can r'spec' 'hat."

"But I ain't much fer markets, so how's 'bouts you two," and Jensox indicates Rory and Vano with his stick, "go'n down t' sell tha' gerblin stuff while me 'n t' Boy 'n, 'n *Nova*," and he now a quick motion to Asur while emphasizing Nova's name, "takes a look at them walls from ou'side-in. 'n then we all can meet up back at t' inn this af'ernoon."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:58, Thu 16 Jan 2020.

"That works for me. Rory, I saw a place called Savah's Armory not too far from here. It might be a good place for us to start." Vano nods at the sheriff and steps outside, where he will wait for Rory.