Heyday 34, 35
(Rest and recover)
E: Negative for Marlowe: the Bestowing of Suffering (cursed to fear the sun)
Scene #25:
We spend a couple of days resting and recovering at the Yellow Toad Inn while Ronan recovers from his illness. I am helping Fenwick Ironthorn set up his shop in an old warehouse. Sylvia is spending a lot of time with Alfred, much to his father’s annoyance, and Rolan is resting in bed.
Edwin, on the other hand, is poring over his books, making notes, and talking to local foresters about the surrounding lands. While asking around, he learns that goblins live in the forests surrounding Firth, and they often cause trouble for the outlying villages and farmsteads. Increasingly so of late.
While out and about, he inadvertently bumps into a grey haired woman in the marketplace, knocking several clay pots of jam out of her hands, causing them to shatter on the ground, “Clumsy oaf!” she lashes out at him.
“I am sorry. Let me pay for those,” Edwin insists as the woman looks down at her ruined goods.
“Oh, you’ll pay! Pay more attention you blind fool!” she curses.
“No, seriously,” he pulls a couple of gold crowns from his purse and presses them to her hands.
Q: Does she take the coins? NO
“Don’t touch me!” she bats his hand away, “I don’t even need your money! Watch where you are going!” she insists, storming off in a huff.
As the day wears on, Edwin’s eyes begin to ache and water. Returning to the inn, he the pain in his eyes subsides and he tells us what he has learned.
Great Harvest 1st
Start “Goblins!”
Immersion: Memory from a Sidekick (Edwin)
Pleasant Weather, Clear Skies, Gentle Breeze
E: Progress on ‘Marlowe wants to find ancient lore’: the Overindulgence of Love
Scene #26:
On the first day of Great Harvest, we decide to head into the western woods to see about the goblin problem. There is a bounty on goblins, plus a bit of actual combat practice for Edwin an Sylvia seems wise, as does earning the appreciation and attention of the local lord to further redeem our names seems prudent.
As we are about to leave Firth, Alfred approaches Sylvia. “Hey! I know that you and your friends are here to explore and seek out old ruins, hunt for treasures and all. My father had this old map in his study, and…well…he’s not going to miss it. Maybe it will be useful to you!”
Sylvia smiles and gives Alfred a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Al! I’m sure Master Edwin will be able to find what he’s looking for with a good map like this!”
“Um, I better get back to work,” the boy stammers, blushing and then running away back into town. Sylvia giggles and unrolls the map, with Edwin joining her.
Q: Is Gorm on the map? EXCEPTIONAL YES
“What a fascinating discovery!” Edwin’s eyes light up as he studies the map, though he is soon blinking back tears and shielding his eyes from the sun. “I think our destination is on the map. It is…over a hundred miles from here if the map is correct. I’ll have to compare it with my notes tonight. When we get back. Let’s go and see about this goblin business. If there are goblins between us and Grom, we’ll have to deal with them somehow anyway.”
“Are you alright?” I ask Edwin.
“Yes, I’m fine. My eyes are just a little sore right now is all,” he replies, nodding to Rolan to lead the way as he tucks the map into his bag.
“Hey! That’s mine!” Sylvia interjects, prompting the mage to return it to her with an apology.
By late afternoon, we are in the oaken woods, and sure enough, we find goblin tracks leading away from the Green Fox Inn, where goblins must have been observing comings and goings. We follow the trail for several hours, but as the sun begins to wane, we hear a distant scream.
-Perception roll 22-
“That’s a woman’s voice” I reply. “Follow me!” I guide the team forward, nocking an arrow. Ronan and Sylvia follow close behind with Edwin in the rear, his eyes no longer watering beneath the thick forest canopy.
“Get back, Ronan. You’re too loud,” Sylvia whispers as she moves past the soldier who glares at her but lets her pass.
-Stealth rolls of 15 and 18 for the lead elements of our party-
On seeing our quarry, I signal for my companions to halt. In a small glade, I see an ogre holding a young woman in a very expensive looking dress, and several goblins as well.
Ronan comes up next to me, “Hard and fast!” he commands. I nod, signaling for Sylvia and Edwin to provide cover fire. I loose an arrow, then drop my bow charging into the fray.
My arrow killed one of the goblins. Sylvia takes another as she closes. Three blue darts of arcane energy slam into the ogre from Edwin’s outstretched hands.
With blades in hand, I quickly cut down another goblin as they finally start to react. Sylvia fells another, and Ronan sends one reeling. Two goblins rush at me, the ogre drops the girl and follows suit. I am fighting for my life when Ronan arrives at my side! Sylvia and Edwin dispatch the remaining goblins as I dodge one blow after another from the ogre’s mighty club, slashing and cutting at his legs and abdomen. But it is a burst of flame from Edwin that finally drops the beast.
With my arm numbed from the ogre’s great club, I slowly sheath my blades while Sylvia brings me my bow. Ronan looks down at the frightened girl. “Who are you?” he demands.
“Shush, a noble woman, address her respectfully,” Edwin chastises as he approaches, “Good lady, I pray you are unharmed.”
The girl stammers, “I was out here, looking for flowers for my father’s birthday…and…these goblins. And that ogre! They just came out of nowhere! I might have been killed…or worse!”
“Where are your bodyguards? Looks like your family can afford them,” Rolan asks dourly.
“I snuck out, the flowers were supposed to be a surprise,” the girl explains.
“Go check the perimeter, make sure there aren’t any others around. Sylvia, check the dead for valuables. Cut off their right ears for bounty,” I command, getting the two clear of the conversation before Ronan can say something that might offend the young noble.
Edwin offers, “We will escort you back home. What kind of flowers are those anyway, I am not familiar with them.”
“King’s Poppies,” she smiles, picking up her fallen basket and replacing the flowers within.
-Dice for status of the fallen-
“Ummm! The ogre is still breathing!” Sylvia stammers.
Ronan walks over, and caves its head in with his hammer,”Not anymore.”
Sylvia’s face blanches white, as does the noblewoman’s. On checking the others, Sylvia finds a goblin still breathing as well
Q: Does she kill it? NO
“I can’t do it. He’s helpless,” Sylvia says as she realizes one of the goblins is also still alive.
Ronan walks over, but I call out, “Hold! We can take it captive. Maybe figure out where they lair and how many are in the tribe.” Ronan nods and starts binding it’s hands.
I kneel down over the wounded goblin, binding the cut across his chest and offering smelling salts, awakening it and getting it up onto its feet. “Move dreg,” I order the goblin in their own tongue.
Q: Does it cooperate NO
In spite of its injuries, the creature tries to pull free of its bonds, and Ronan grabs it by the arm and pushes it after me as I lead the company back towards town.
-Immersion-Smell-Oil-
Scene #27:
Returning to town, well after dark, we are surprised to see the gate sergeant fall to his knees at the sight of the girl.
“Your highness! Your father has sent word for us to keep watch for you. What were you doing outside the city walls?” the officer stammers.
“I snuck out. Sir Jon Small’s men should learn to keep better watch if I am to be kept in a gilded cage,” she boasts, seeming to have forgotten how she was very nearly killed had we not stumbled across her in her time of need.
We then follow her and one of the guardsmen up to the keep, where the King’s men are on watch. “Follow me,” Princess Free commands us as the guards start to halt us, so we dutifully fall in line behind her as she walks to the main hall where her father, King Gerald Free, and Sir Jon Small are waiting.
“Where have you been?” demands the king, in a firm voice, more concerned than angry.
“And why are you here?” Sir Jon Small adds, looking us over. Then seeing the goblin, “And why does the princess arrive with a captive goblin?”
“I snuck out to gather flowers,” she begins proudly enough, but then apologetically, “I know I shouldn’t have. It was foolish of me. I didn’t realize goblins would come so close to our lands, and I was taken by surprise. But these men, and that woman, saved me.” she confesses.
“I am in your debt!” the king nods towards us, “Yet I do not know who you are?”
Edwin replies, “I am Edwin Marlowe of Kardon. These are my men, Ronan and Garrick. And my friend, Sylvia, also from Kardoshav. We arrived in your lands a month ago, hoping to explore the frontier and find the ruins of an ancient city called Gorm. It lies somewhere to the west and we were scouting the way, having heard there may be goblins in that direction. We heard your daughter’s cry for help and came to her aid.”
“You should have seen them, father! They killed half a dozen goblins, and an ogre! Braver even than Sir Small!” She beams.
“Then you should join my guard! Sir Small, see to it,” the King commands.
“With all due respect, your majesty, the pursuit of knowledge is my calling. And while my men might welcome service under your banner, I must beg release from your generous gift,” Edwin replies.
The king considers this, and nods, then looks to each of my companions. Ronan shakes his head, as do I. Sylvia looks at us in surprise, knowing that we have just turned down an opportunity to live out our lives in relative comfort as king’s men, but then she too declines the offer.
“Well then, I understand. Then please indulge me by being my guests. My birthday is coming and I would welcome more friends at the coming feast. After all, the occasion would be a cause for sorrow had you not saved my daughter,” the king claps his hands and calls on his steward to make arrangements.
The goblin prisoner is taken away, and we are shown to a set of guest chambers, small but well appointed rooms where baths are drawn and food brought to us. The steward also brings a gift of two hundred crowns to Edwin as a more tangible sign of the king’s gratitude.
After I retire to my room, I hear a knock on the door. It is Sylvia, “I don’t understand,” she begins, “I don’t understand why a wealthy woman like that would leave the safety of these walls. The comforts of this castle, to wander around in the wilds, alone, vulnerable. She could have sent servants out for flowers! And why didn’t Edwin accept the King’s offer?”
“Because freedom has it’s own value. You…never had it have you? Really. Scraping by for every meal. Hungry all the time. Ronan gave up his freedom once before to serve in the Imperial Army. He has no desire to give it up again and return to such duty. Edwin could live in comfort at the academy where he studied, he loves knowledge more than luxury. As for me? I think I can do more good in their company, than in the king’s retinue. What about you? You could have accepted the offer.”
“I am not sure I could. He was looking at the three of you, and…I think I’d probably get in trouble anyway. Sir Small looks like he is pretty strict,” Sylvia replies sheepishly.
I nod, “I am sure that he is. And it’s just as well, Edwin and I would miss you.”
“But Ronan wouldn’t,” she grins. I nod in agreement. We chat for a little while longer before she excuses herself on seeing a servant leave her chambers after having brought hot water for her bath. I retire to mine then soon turn in to sleep.
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