Chapter Two

Sandpoint, 2nd day of Rova, 4707 AR

"Why are we doing this?" asked Aramil disembodied voice.

"We were promised a reward," said Whisper excitedly. It was almost noon, time to meet Aldern Foxglove at the Rusty Dragon.

"Ah yes, you need to feed your avarice. Have you ever noticed that Dominic actually obtains more gold than you, just by walking into town?"

"Don't start," snapped Whisper as they turn onto the street there the Rusty Dragon was to be found. "Just because he delights in his notoriety doesn't mean I have to. It's better for me if I remain . . . unnoticed."

"Yes. In fact you were so unnoticed that you managed to pick five pockets between our lodgings and here." Whisper grinned under his scarf as his finger stroked the money pouch on his belt.

"I believe we've arrived," said Aramil. In front of them was a large, old inn. Atop its roof was a impressive (albeit quite rusty) dragon. A combination of voices and intoxicating waffled out of the open door to the inn, as if to invite passersby in for a spell.

"Well now," said Whisper, "that does smell wonderful indeed. Will you be joining us, or will you stay hidden?"

"I think, for now, I shall stay hidden," replied Aramil thoughtful. "You are more than welcome to my share. I care little for such petty things as gold or wealth."

"Not even going to sample whatever is making that delightful smell?"

"I have already eaten today, perhaps another time." Shrugging Whisper stepped into the inn. He had barely had a moment to take in the room when a voice rang out.

"Sir Whisper! Sir Whisper over here!" Aldern Foxglove stood next to a small table near the center of the room, his waving hand in the air in an attempt to grab Whispers attention.

"Well he's subtle," whispered Aramil in Whispers ear. Rolling his eyes Whisper walked over to the young man.

"There's no need to be so loud," snapped Whisper as he sat down across from Aldern.

"My apologizes," said Aldern as he took his seat. "I was just excited that you came. Is Sir Aramil not with you today?"

"He's . . . about," replied Whisper with a wave of his hand.

"I was hoping to thank you both again for saving me from the 'goblining'. Oh here, this is the reward I promised you." Aldern handed over a small pouch. "50 gold piece," he said proudly. "I know it's not much but it's what I could afford and still be able to journey back to my home in Magnimar."

"Thank you," said Whisper softly. "Any amount is more than generous. I'm just glad we could help." There was a muffled choking sound in Whispers ear as Aramil tried to stifle a laugh.

"I was wondering," continued Aldern, completely obvious to Aramil's presence, "if you would like to join me in a boar hunt before I return to Magnimar? I leave in a few days but anytime between then and now is free. You can chose at you convenience."

"I'm afraid I have little interest in boar hunting," said Whisper. Though clearly disappointed Aldern quickly recovered.

"To each his own I suppose," he said with a shrug. "Well thank you again for saving me. If you are ever in Magnimar please stop by my home. You will always be welcome anytime."

"Thank you for the invitation," said Whisper standing up. "I'll be sure to remember it next time I'm in Magnimar." Aldern, also raising, extend a hand, which Whisper shook. With the meeting concluded Whisper left the inn as Aldern returned upstairs to his room. Upon exiting the inn Aramil's erupted into view, laughing uproariously as he hung in the air.

"Something funny?" asked Whisper

"Dominic and Arielanna would have been proud of that display," replied Aramil after his laugher had subsided. "It was an impressive show of wordsmanship."

"Speaking of Ari, do you see what I see?" Turn in the air Aramil followed Whisper's extended finger. 150 feet down the way was a woman, a morning star strapped to her waist and a shield on her back. Or at least what could be assumed to be a woman. In truth, the only thing that hinted towards her gender was the dress she wore underneath her armor. Her torso was covered by a beautifully sculpted silvery breastplate that shimmered and twinkled in the light. Intricate patterns seemed to be etched into the surface of the plate in gold. She wore matching arm length gauntlets and a matching helm that cover all of her face. The helm was beautifully wrought and mirror bright; a solid piece of metal molded to fit her head complete, the brow rose upwards, forming was diamond like pattern for the face. The only break was the small slit across the center face so that she could see.

"You think that's her?" asked Aramil.

"Can you think of anyone else who would wear something that ostentation in this neck of the woods?" The armored woman seemed to be headed directly towards them. As she got closer they saw that the gold etched designs were of patterned spirals. In the center of the armor was a gleaming golden hourglass with golden red sand. The helm, gauntlets, mace were also bedecked in golden spirals, as well as smaller versions of the hourglass.

"It is a good to see you both again after so long," said the woman in a clear, cultivate voice. Despite her mouth being covered by her helm, her voice did not seem to be obstructed in anyway. "I hope life has treated you well in the year we have been apart."

"Good to see you too Arielanna," said Whisper. "How has your seclusion been treating you?"

"Well. I have recovered much in the last year. I have put my bad habits behind me and I hope that I will not have to become to person I use to be."

"Last I heard, you were in Lepidstadt," said Aramil lazily. "That is over 700 miles away. However did you manage the trip in such a short amount of time?"

"I convinced one of the professors at the university that for a woman to travel, alone, over such a distance was unsafe, no matter how well armed she was. So he consented to teleport me here."

"Still have some of your old self in you I see," said Whisper with a grin.

"Perhaps, but only a little."

"So how did you know where to find us?" asked Whisper.

"I asked. It seems as though you were instrumental in help to combat a goblin attack yesterday. I do believe you are both on the track to being a local hero."

"Well that sound dreadful," groaned Aramil as he vanished from sight. "Best to remain this way till further notice."

"All we did was kill a few goblins. They were mostly killing themselves. No need to make such a fuss about it."

"Well what's done is done," mused Arielanna. "You know what they say about roads and good intentions. Now, to business: what accomidations have you procured and do we have any idea as to the arrive times of the others?"

"We have a few rooms at the White Deer; same rates as the Rusty Dragon, but much grander. As for the others, we have yet to recessive word from Sardonyx and Reeves but Stark and Dominic should arrive later today. We have told them of our arrangements.

"Excellent. Hopefully Sardonyx and Reeves will not be long. Now I think we should sojourn to our rooms, as I'm sure you would prefer to escape the notoriety of your new fame."

It wasn't until around night fall that Dominic and Stark arrived. Their arrive cause quite a stir as Dominic's unnatural beauty and universal fame garnered a large commotion. Upon learning that Whisper and Aramil had been involved in helping the town deal with the goblin situation, Dominic took immediate advantage of the situation. For hours he extemporize on the many adventures that he had enjoyed with them to the eagerly listening audience. The stories always seem to involve Dominic saving the day through some ingenious plan. With no one to contradict him, Stark having slipped upstairs when they first arrived, Dominic finished the night with a new group of starry eyed admirer.

"Glad you could finally join us," muttered Whisper when Dominic finally finished his narrations and ventured upstairs to his room.

"Well, I knew you would be uninterested in the fame that you actions caused so I decided to capitalize on it. It would be foolishness in the extreme to not exploit such obvious idolatry." Whisper snarled in annoyance.

"He's right you know," said Stark calmly. "Not everything can be handled with stealth or force. Dominic and Arielanna's methods are just as important as you stealthy, my gun, Reeves and Saronyx's strength, and Aramil magic."

"I understand that," snapped Whisper. "But did he have to take five hours about it?"

"Perhaps a bit less vanity next time Dominic," added Arielanna.

"Who am I if not excessive," said Dominic with a smile. "But yes, perhaps I went a touch more overboard this time than I should have. There is work to be done after all. Any word from the other two?"

"Nothing yet," said Aramil as he lounged on the bed. "I'm sure we'll here from the soon enough."

"Do you have any idea as to what we are looking for?" asked Stark.

"No in so many words. The winds indicate that there is something here, something akin to that which we seek, but we must be patient and let things unfold."

"Very well," said Stark. "We will start our search in earnest once the last of us arrive. For now I shall obverse the night while Ariel and Dominic cultivate assets during the day. Hopefully it will not take long for them to join us."

Sandpoint, 6th day of Rova, 4707 AR

It took 4 days before Sardonyx and Reeves finally arrived in Sandpoint. Their arrival was interrupted, almost at once, by a sobbing local woman name Amele Barett, who arrived mere minutes after them, clutching her baby to her chest and pulling another child along by his shirt. Desperately he pleaded for Dominic's help, sobbing almost incoherently about a goblin in her son's room. Leaving the woman and her children with Sardonyx and Arielanna, Dominic race out of the inn, Aramil following invisibly behind as backup. Upon reaching the Barett's house they found it eerily silent.

"Didn't she say that her husband was here?" whispered Aramil in Dominic's ear.

"I believe I caught something akin to that between her sobs," replied Dominic. "Perhaps he already disposed of the creature. Let us see." They stealthily crept through the house, searching until they found the young child's room. Inside they found a man they assumed to be the father on his belly, his upper body inside the closet as if he was trying to crawl in, except he wasn't moving.

"This can be good," muttered Aramil. Reaching out with his magic he telekinetically moved the body out of the way of the closet.

"Oh no," gasped Dominic. The man was clearly dead, flesh of his face and upper torso eaten away. A long, blood-stained line along his neck indicated that his throat had been cut.

"Incoming," hissed Aramil. As he spoke a goblin sprang up from a hole in the floor of the closet.

"Degaan!" it schrieked. "Dhuul degaan! Hegaan rhan dhuul!"

"Okuuc or dar," responded Dominic as he drew his scimitar and slashed at the goblin. The Goblin managed to duck under the blade but before he could counter attack Aramil erupted into view.

"Praetorridus radius!" Two bolts of fire issued from his out stretched finger, striking the goblin dead in the chest. The goblin keeled over, its body scorched and blackened by the intense heat of the flames.

"Glad that's taken care of," said Dominic calmly. "If you would be so kind as to dispose of that." With of wave of his hand Aramil sent the goblin flying out of the open window. At a scowl from Dominic he floated lazily after it, turning invisible as he went. There was a clatter elsewhere in the house. Sword in hand Dominic went to investigate only to find Amele Barett, her two children, Sardonyx, Reeves, and Arielanna

"The situation has been taken care of," said Dominic.

"Thank you," said Amele with a smile. Turn she grasped Arielanna's hand. "And thank you for healing my son. If not for you he might have lost his arm."

"It was my pleasure dear," said Arielanna kindly.

"Where is my husband?" asked Amele as she turned back to Dominic, who's face had darkened.

"I'm not sure how to tell you this but . . . your husband did not survive."

"What? How can . . . what do . . . n-nooo!" Amele screamed. She rushed passed Dominic and into her son's room. Upon seeing her husband she let out a small squeak.

"Alergest," she sobbed, before collapsing in to tears.

Sandpoint, 7th day of Rova, 4707 AR

It had taken an hour to settle the Barett situation. The commotion ended up summoning sheriff, a man named Belor Hemlock, who handle the situation in the grim but efficient manage. Though he thanked the group for their help, and sent them on their way, Arielanna and Sardonyx refused to leave until they knew what was to become of the Barett family. Only when Sheriff Hemlock had made arrangements for the family to stay at the cathedral, which Arielanna and Sardonyx helped escort them too, did the females finally consent to return to the White Deer.

It was now morning and the group had just finished eating their breakfast. In the time spent in Sandpoint, they had found that the food at the Rusty Dragon was far superior to the White Deer but out of respect for their host they ate at least one meal, normally breakfast, here. As they finished Sheriff Hemlock entered into the inn.

"Good morning," he said as he approached the table. Dark skinned and bald, he had a deep, strong voice and intimidating presence, which was only exacerbated by his seemingly permanent grim expression.

"Hello sheriff," said Arielanna. "How may we help you today?"

"I have a request for the seven of you," replied Hemlock. "I feel you might be interested in the news I have. If you would be will to join myself, Mayor Deverin, and another party in a private conference we would be very grateful." As he spoke the owner of the inn, Garridan Viskalai, enter into the dinner area to see how his guest were doing. Upon spotting each other Garridan and Hemlock both stiffed. Sheriff Hemlock gave a curt nod to Garridan, who gave a equally curt nod in reply before returning to the kitchens.

"Issue with our fine proprietor?" asked Dominic, his eyes twinkling.

"Garridan is my brother," replied the sheriff calmly. "We do not see eye to eye on certain matters. But that is not something to be discussed here. Will you join us?"

"It would be out pleasure sheriff," said Arielanna rising from the table. The sheriff lead them to the town hall, up to an office on the second floor where two women waited: a young, fiery haired human and a beautiful, wild haired elf.

"May I introduce," said Sheriff Hemlock indicating the red head, "Mayor Kendra Deverin and Shalelu Andosana." The mayor inclined her head respectfully, while Shalelu simply gave the group a friendly smile.

"Before we begin," said the mayor rising from her seat, "I would like to offer my thanks for your assistance in defending my town from the goblins. While I know that only two of you were present for the attack during the Shallowtail Festival, I understand that the rest of you were most helpful during the incident at the Barett home. Again, thank you for your service. Sandpoint is very lucky to have you here." She had a gentle, almost familial note to her voice.

"You are most welcome madam mayor," said Dominic graciously with a deep bow. "We are more than happy to help in any way we can. The hospitality that you town has shown us is nothing more than spectacular. No doubt this is due to you excellent leadership. You are a fine and beautiful mayor. The people of Sandpoint are lucky to have you." The mayor's cheeks seemed to redden at Dominic's words.

"Now sheriff," continued Dominic, "what is the reason you have brought us here?"

"Shalelu is an 'unofficial' member of the town guard," began Hemlock. Shalelu smirked at this. "She passes through town once or twice a season for supplies and what not, and at the end of her visits gives us a report about the goings on in the hinterlands. You see, she has been a thorn in the side of the local goblins tribes for year. Her work takes her in close proximity to them and, because of this, she is able to give us an unbiased report of the goings on. As of her latest report, Sandpoint isn't the only area that has been having trouble with the goblins recently. It seems tribal activity has increased as of late along the Lost Coast Road. Shalelu, it seems, rescued a family from a goblin raid just yesterday. Shalelu if you would." The sheriff step to the side to allow the elven woman to step forward.

"Belor's told me of your work against the goblins, well done. I've dedicated the last several years of my life to keeping them from causing too much trouble around these part, 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 intertribal 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 tribe goblins I dealt with yesterday were already pretty beat up, and there was a lot of chatter about the 'longshanks' who killed 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 get alone 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 by these recent raids, what they're organizing seems like bad news for all of us."

"I'm going to take a few of my man down to Magnimar," said Sheriff Hemlock after Shalelu had finished her speech. "I'm going to see if I can secure some extra soldiers to station around Sandpoint for the next few weeks. While I'm gone I've asked Shalelu to sniff around and see if she can find out anything on the goblins plans. If possible I would like you all to maintain a presence in the town. The locals seem to have taken a liking to you and you presence might help to lessen their apprehension."

"We would be most appreciative if you would consent," added the mayor.

"We are more than will to take up the mantle of town heroes for the time being," said Stark coolly, "but it cannot be a permanent solution. We have other matters to attend to besides dealing with goblins."

"We understand," said the sheriff. "I only ask that you wait to leave town till I have more soldiers." Stark nodded his assent. "Then if you will excuse me, I'll leave right away."

"Thank you again for you assistance," said the mayor with a gracious bow.

"May I join your for dinner?" asked Shalelue as the group left the room. "I do know where you are staying but the Rusty Dragon has wonderful food. Unless you want to eat where you're lodging."

"The Rusty Dragon is fine," said Arielanna. "We eat there almost every night. There cook Ameiko is extraordinary."

"Yes, she is," agreed with Shalelu with a smile. "She and I were once traveling companions. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some errands to do, I'll meet you at the Rusty Dragon at dusk?"

"Sounds wonderful," said Arielanna.