Pathfinder: Era of the Lost Omens

Book 1 – Rise of the Runelords

Third chapter is here!

This will be a relatively more relaxed chapter. Relatively being the operative term here...

oooooooooo

Chapter 3 - At the Rusty Dragon Inn

It had only been a few hours since the goblin attack on Sandpoint had been repulsed, and despite the shock of that unexpected event, most of the citizens had returned to their previous festive mood. Many of them had seen this victory as a sign of Desna's favor, as if the goddess was protecting them and had turned the tide of the battle; and despite a few losses, the people of Sandpoint consoled themselves with the thought that it could have been much worse.

But for Mayor Kendra Deverin, the new religious leader Zantus, and for Sheriff Hemlock, one disturbing detail made this victory more bittersweet. The theft of Father Ezakien's remains from the cemetery had been a shocking and disturbing event... especially for Father Zantus, who already had some inkling as of what it might mean.

"Indeed, this is quite troubling," the sheriff admitted as he sat at his desk in his simply furnished office. Kendra and Zantus were sitting across from him, talking in dim candlelight. "Of course, I don't think the goblins came up with a plan like this on their own. They don't really have the brainpower to think of something so elaborate."

"Yeah... if it was merely a goblin attack, they would have just inflicted damage on Sandpoint and killed a few dogs and horses," Kendra stated. She nervously scratched the surface of the desk, then looked into the grizzled sheriff's eyes . "The fact that some goblins acted as a distraction while others stole the body implies that this plan was hatched by someone in control of them. But the question is. Who could it be, and for what reason?"

"Usually it's necromancers who need corpses... to reanimate them as skeletons or zombies." Father Zantus stated, suppressing a shiver of horror at the thought of such an outrage on a person's body. "But in this case... that wouldn't explain why they have stolen a single body. A single skeleton or zombie can't make much of a difference. Any decent adventurer can easily take it out."

"So... what else can they use a single body for? Perhaps to perform some evil ritual?" Hemlock asked, trying to imagine what might lie behind that mysterious and macabre theft.

"And why Father Ezakien of all people?" Kendra wondered. "Did they choose a random body, or did they actually want to take that body? And if they wanted to take him, what's the connection?"

Zantus paused to think about this. "In fact, there are several unholy rituals for which a corpse is needed. And at the moment, I can even think of several. But I'm afraid we simply don't have enough to go on at the moment. And more to the point, we don't know who is behind this attack."

"We need someone who can investigate and find out what the connection is between the goblin attack and this theft," Kendra continued with a nod. "And possibly, without our fellow citizens knowing about what happened, at least for now."

Hemlock said. "Yes, I see your point... everyone's already on edge with this sudden assault, and we don't need to cause collective panic right now. Rather... I think it would be best to contact someone competent to carry out the legwork. Those adventurers who stood out during the attack, for example."

"That sounds like a good idea." the mayor said, feeling a little more optimistic now. "They may not be as skilled or experienced as Shalelu, but they can undoubtedly help out. I think they're staying at the Rusty Dragon... it's our most popular inn, after all."

Hemlock and Father Zantus nodded, and the sheriff found himself thinking it was a pity that Ameiko had retired as an adventurer. Surely, her experience would come in handy too... however, after what had happened, he really didn't blame the young innkeeper for her choice. After all, it could be said that even now Ameiko, in her own way, was fighting to make sure that the citizens of Sandpoint did not lose hope. Of all the people of Sandpoint, she was one of those who most fervently defended their town's spirit...

ooooooooooo

That night, at the Rusty Dragon Inn...

"Hahahahaaa! Come on, seriously? You two are from Magnimar?" one of the patrons, clearly with a little more beer than usual in his system, asked. "The City of Monuments! Man, I'd love to see that someday! And why did you decide to visit our lovely little town?"

Misia giggled and took a sip of her beer as well. "Well, it was a no brainer, really! Rumors about the Swallowtail Festival traveled all the way to the banks of the Irespan!" she exclaimed, referring to one of Magnimar's greatest attractions, the eastern end of an immense, and now collapsed, bridge dating back to ancient Thassilon. "I really couldn't miss that! Besides... my friend Eli here was looking for interesting stuff, perhaps even some Thassilonian relics! She loves that sort of things!"

"Let's just say that was the excuse you used to convince me, Misia..." the half-elf replied with a sigh. "Still, I'm glad I came. At least I was able to help out with those goblins. Although... I have to admit, I'm also interested in looking around town. I know there are a few places of archaeological interest near Sandpoint."

"Yeah, but I wouldn't recommend going there alone, ladies," replied Jolan, sitting not far away as he caught his breath between mouthfuls of food. "Aside from the goblin tribes you've seen, there are quite a few beasties who would love to snack on you... and I think having an experienced guide coming along would be very useful! What do you say, ladies? I could be your guide around here!"

"A bit of self-promotion... right, Jolan?" another halfling joked.

The dark-haired halfling shrugged. "It's called knowing your worth, pal. You gotta know how to sell yourself." he replied jauntily. "In fact, I think it would be best to find more companions... for example, the two kind people who helped us stop those green freaks!"

Eli and Misia turned to Yan and Reji, who were sitting in front of them and were getting quite a bit of attention. Especially since Aldern Foxglove, the nobleman that they had saved from the goblins, sat next to the young swordsman.

"Did I hear right? You're asking if we want to join an adventuring party?" Yan asked. Interested in this proposal herself, Reji turned her full attention to the halfling.

"Why not?" Eli replied after some thought. "Much as I don't like to admit it, even though I'm proud of my magic, I'm still a novice as a mage. Until recently, I've been focusing on studying Varisia's past and I don't exactly have experience with actual exploring and fighting. Having two people around who are able to do the hard work when magic isn't enough might be a good idea."

All the patrons laughed raucously, and Reji chuckled nervously. "The way you say it, it sounds like we're gonna be laborers or something..." the brunette said.

"Please excuse my friend. She didn't mean to be disrespectful, it's just that... sometimes her wording gives the wrong impression." Misia apologized on behalf of the half-elven girl. "What she meant was... that a party made up of mages, healers, and warriors has a better chance of succeeding. We could all stand to gain from an expedition, don't you think so?"

"Well... yeah, that's what I meant," Eli replied, adjusting her glasses to hide a bit of embarrassment. "So...perhaps, before we return to Magnimar, we could attempt an expedition around Sandpoint. And if you would care to accompany us, ladies and gentlemen... you would get a fair share of any monetary gains."

"As a matter of fact, I wanted to look around for job opportunities." Yan replied. "This sounds like an interesting idea. Reji, what do you think?"

"That is, if four-eyes here tones it down a little bit. She's sort of haughty for my tastes. " he added to himself.

The Tian girl broke off a piece of bread and chewed it absentmindedly. "Hmm... Well, I might be interested, if the pay is good and the job is ethical enough."

"My humble opinion is that you might want to take advantage of this opportunity," Aldern replied. "After all, an adventurer has to start building a positive reputation of his own somewhere, and I believe that for Mr. Yan, starting in a place so close to his hometown can only be beneficial. Sure, an adventurer's life is always risky, but you'll have the advantage of always having a community willing to back you up."

"Hahahaaa! Of course! You have no idea of how many became local heroes long before they became famous adventurers!" a musical voice, belonging to innkeeper Ameiko Kajitsu, interjected. The Tian-Min young woman had arrived at that moment, carrying a steaming plate of roasted crayfish covered in hot sauce. "Besides, adventuring can pay pretty well... and that'd mean you'll be able to stay a little longer at the Rusty Dragon! Everyone stands to gain from this, myself included!"

"You've always had a certain eye for business, haven't you, Ameiko?" Aldern asked rhetorically, as he took a sip from a mug of wine.

The young woman shrugged her shoulders. "I run the most popular inn in Sandpoint for a pretty damn good reason!" she answered with a short laugh. "Anyway, don't be shy about it! Today is a festive occasion, so... please, help yourselves! In fact, maybe I'd better get some dishes out of the way..."

Ameiko made a quick hand gesture, and a faint magical aura appeared around her. A split second later, the dirty dishes floated off the table and beside Ameiko, as if moved about by an invisible force. The innkeeper waved to the cheering patrons and headed back to the kitchen, the dishes still floating weightlessly beside her.

"I must say, Miss Ameiko seems be pretty familiar with adventurers like us..." Yan commented, before sampling a spicy shrimp. The strong flavor almost made him want to sneeze, and he felt his face turning a slight shade of red from the burning sensation.

"That's to be expected. After all, she was once an adventurer herself." Jolan replied. "She retired... a little more than one year ago, I think. And I have no idea why she decided to quit, but... I do know that she used all her earnings as an adventurer to open and furnish this tavern. And since then, she hasn't wanted to go back to the adventuring life."

"She looks so young..." Eli commented thoughtfully. "Who knows why she decided to quit the adventuring life. Some kind of tragedy, perhaps?"

Reji shook her head. It was definitely none of her business, but she had to admit that she felt morbidly curious about it. She chided herself for the lack of discretion, and decided to put those thoughts aside and focus on the delicious food still on her plate, in which she eagerly dug.

The discussion went on for a while before turning to other topics. Eli and Misia found themselves bombarded with questions about their hometown, Magnimar, and what had happened there in recent times, while Yan and Reji were asked what they had seen in their travels, and what adventures they had had before returning to Sandpoint.

"Well, then... my partner and I were there trying to cross that river, you know?" Reji was saying at that moment, surrounded by the patrons who were listening raptly to their stories. "So we'd tied ourselves up with ropes, because the current was really strong... and when we're about halfway through... bam! Here comes a freaking dragon! It was right there, flying over our heads, and we thought it had us dead to rights!"

"Mind you, it's not like it was a huge dragon," Yan continued, not wanting to give the audience false impressions. "But... it was still a monster! It must have been as big as a horse, with these huge wings, and this skeletal snout and night-black scales all over... and the stink of acid was overwhelming! If it had wanted to, it would have eaten us in a heartbeat!"

"Well, that's crazy... and how did you get away?" a young woman asked.

"We were just getting to it." was Reji's prompt reply. "So, we should say..."

Reji was suddenly interrupted when the front door of the tavern was thrown open, accompanied by an angry male voice shouting something in a language that Yan and most of his companions did not immediately recognize. After jumping up in surprise, some of the patrons murmured something unflattering as the newcomer forcefully entered the inn, slamming the door shut behind him and repeating what he had said before. His appearance stood out among the people of Sandpoint - especially for his clothes, which were certainly not of Varisian design: a long yellow and purple silk robe, with a pair of light black shoes and a peculiarly shaped headdress on a balding head, a wrinkled face with almond-shaped eyes - a typical feature of the Tian ethnic group - and a mouth tightened into an angry expression. He walked briskly, although having to lean on a stick.

As he received no answer, the man entered the room and tapped the floor with his cane. "Where the hell is my daughter?" he exclaimed, finally deigning to speak in Taldan. A few patrons muttered a few expletives and returned to their meal, while Aldern furrowed his brow in disapproval.

"Oh, great... that's juuuust what we needed." Jolan snarked in annoyance, glaring at the newcomer.

"That guy?" Misia asked as she stared at the man who was looking around with barely restrained anger. "Jolan, you mean that man is..."

"Yep. That's Lonjiku Kaijitsu. As in, Miss Ameiko's father," the halfling stated. "One of the most well-known people in Sandpoint. Though... not exactly for the right reasons, as you can see."

"Mr. Kaijitsu and his daughter never quite agreed on anything. 'Tis hardly a surprise that relations between the two of them are so woefully strained," Aldern commented with a sigh. "I would not be surprised if he came here to try and force Miss Ameiko to stop working at this inn."

"Yeah, like that is going to happen..." Yan replied, before standing up from the table. "Hold on, I'll try and talk to him now. Perhaps I can calm him down..."

Reji sighed and stood up in turn. "Right behind you, Yan. I speak his language, after all."

"If you need a Charm Person spell to force him to leave, just tell me." Eli said, standing up in turn. Misia sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Where is my daughter?" Lonjiku growled, irritated about the lack of response. "I've had enough of her dishonorable behavior! I will have her answer for that!"

"P-please, Mr. Kaijitsu... there is... no need to get angry." An elderly halfling womsn dressed in simple but clean clothes was trying to get Lonjiku to calm down. "If... if you'd like to have a seat, I'll see to it that Miss Ameiko arrives soon, and..."

"I will not associate with this vulgar rabble! I have to uphold my family's honor!" Lonjiku replied, glaring at the old halfling woman harshly enough to make her recoil in fear. Before he could say anything else, however, Yan had already arrived and had stopped a few feet away from the newcomer.

"You would be... Mr. Lonjiku Kaijitsu, am I correct?" the young fighter rhetorically asked, trying to be as diplomatic as possible. "I see that... there are some issues that need to be addressed. We might be able to help, if you wish?"

The man looked at Yan, Reji, and Eli snootily and narrowed his eyes at them. "Right, you are that bunch of reckless brawlers who tried to be heroes when we were attacked by the goblins, are you not?" he exclaimed. "With your exploits, you have put Sandpoint and its people in even greater danger! You should have left the defense of our town to the city guards or to real professionals!"

Eli's expression didn't change, but she felt herself burning with anger. "Come again? Who does this doddering old fool think he is?"she thought to herself. "Is this how we are thanked, after all we've done to help Sandpoint?"

Yan also felt an angry outburst coming, but he was thankfully able to suppress the urge. "With... all due respect, Mr. Kaijitsu..." he stated. "While we can't claim to be experts, we're adventurers ourselves, not cheap rookies. My companion Reji is a martial arts expert, Eli is a magician, and I am a swordsman myself. Not to mention the crucial aid from Misia and Jolan."

Lonjiku grunted dismissively and rolled his eyes. "Yes, of course. Just what Sandpoint needed. A band of random vagrants coming to attract even more misfortune!" he exclaimed. Having reached the limit of his patience, Yan was about to stand up and insult him in turn when Ameiko emerged from the kitchen, still holding a ladle dripping with soup.

"What's going on? What's all the commotion...?" the young innkeeper asked, a moment before her gaze settled on her father. Ameiko's mood, which until that moment had been cheerful and jovial, took a sudden plunge, and the young woman glared at her father with an icy expression, holding his disapproving gaze for a few moments before facing him head on. "What are you here for, father? If you haven't noticed, we're holding a celebration for these people who saved us from those damn goblins. We don't need you to come here and put a damper on our mood!"

Lonjiku advanced towards his daughter and pointed an index at her, shouting something in the same language he had used before. Ameiko stepped back, but unfazedly stood up to her father's aggression as Yan and his companions stepped back and witnessed the dramatic confrontation between father and daughter. Reji was the only one who understood what they were saying to each other... and judging by her expression and those of the two squabblers, the words were not comforting at all. For a while, the back-and-forth between father and daughter continued, and it was getting more and more heated...

Until Lonjiku took another step towards his daughter, whose expression became incredulous and outraged... and a moment later, Ameiko answered even more firmly, showing the tavern she had been running for more than a year now.

"Reji... do you understand what they're saying?" Eli whispered to the young monk. "I am fluent in several languages, but Minkai is not one of them."

Reji nodded. "Lonjiku... wants to leave Sandpoint and move to Magnimar." she replied with a frown. "He came here to give an ultimatum to Ameiko. Either go with him, or be disowned and disinherited."

"Damn..." Yan whispered angrily. "Ameiko's not going to take this well. Girls, we need to be ready to step in, if it to comes to that..."

The altercation between father and daughter had gotten more and more heated, and Ameiko had had enough of her father's meddling. With a series of insults in Minkai language - colorful enough to make Reji blush - the innkeeper began pushing her father out of the Rusty Dragon, but Lonjiku had no intention of leaving without getting what he wanted.

The man reached out and brutally pulled his daughter's hair, amidst indignated exclamations from the patrons! Ameiko yelped in pain and surprise, and tried to struggle... and at that point, Yan decided he couldn't stand by and watch any longer, and stepped forward to force Lonjiku to let go. But Yan didn't have time to act - Ameiko reacted decisively and hit her father in the face with the ladle still smeared with soup, forcing him to let go!

"Miss Ameiko!" Eli exclaimed. Ameiko caught her breath and straightened her hair, staring at her father with eyes full of angry tears... and Lonjiku stood his ground, shaking with rage. He ran his hand over his cheek, where Ameiko had hit him, then looked at the palm of his hand, with the same disgusted expression he would have had if that soup had been dung.

After standing in place for a moment, Lonjiku said one more thing in his native tongue - something that made Reji shudder in anger. The young monk stared furiously at the retreating old man, who walked away from the patrons' jeering and insults.

Yan swallowed nervously. "I... will probably regret asking, but... what did he say?"

Reji's right hand tightened into a fist. "He said..." she murmured. "He said... 'you're as dead to me as your mother'."

"He said that, didn't he?" Eli growled. "What a gigantic piece of... ugh, I'd better shut up lest I start spewing profanities myself."

"I'm... sorry about that, Miss Ameiko..." Yan stepped up, trying to comfort the young innkeeper. Ameiko wiped her eyes with her free hand, then carefully inspected her ladle, removed a hair from the still soupy surface...

...and then, after taking a short sigh and nodding in gratitude to Yan, she perked up a bit and smiled. "Guys, who's going to fetch me a clean ladle?" she asked. "There's no jackass stew on the menu tonight!"

The clientele erupted into a liberating laugh and applauded the joke. Yan and Reji also laughed briefly, and the young innkeeper turned to them and the rest of their little group to thank them with a nod of her head.

"Thank you very much. For that and your heroic, free lodging for a week for you!" she stated, ending the sentence with a wink.

oooooooooooo

Lonjiku Kaijitsu was at the height of his rage as he stormed to his room, and he vented briefly by slamming both fists on his desk and cursing in his native tongue first, and in Taldan a little later. He wasn't in a bad mood because of what had happened with his daughter. The ungrateful brat had decided to stay among these commoners of her own free will. She had made her bed, and now she could sleep in it, as far as he cared. And he had to admit that he didn't mind finally washing his hands of her - Ameiko had already dishonored him enough by becoming an adventurer first and then an innkeeper next. Ugh, the indignity of it all.

No, something else was stoking his anger...

"Damn it! Damn it! How could it end like this? Abandoned in this hostile land and surrounded by riffraff who couldn't care less about honor and decency!" he snarled, desperately trying to think of what had messed up his life and everything he had built up to that point.

And no matter how much he thought about it, he could only reach one answer.

Of course, there was no other explanation. That was when it had all started.

The fault only lied with that disgusting bastard... and with that slut who had birthed him and caused Lonjiku to lose his honor!

And maybe, he bitterly conceded, it was partly his fault as well... No, what was he thinking? That couldn't be the case! It was all because of that diabolical Chelish seductress who had bewitched him! A man of honor like him would not have succumbed so easily to the vulgar pleasures of the flesh!

Lonjiku paced up and down his room, pondering about what had happened more than twenty years before. He told himself that he should have been more drastic, more decisive... if he had not been so foolishly merciful, perhaps he would not be in this compromising situation...

The man walked over to his lacquered wooden desk, and with unsteady hand, opened a drawer from which he took a dagger with an elegantly curved blade, clearly forged with a technique that was basically unknown in Varisia. It was a thin blade, elegant but horrifically sharp, and it seemed to reflect the dim candlelight...

Yes, Lonjiku decided. There was no changing the past. But at least, he could make the cause of his dishonor disappear forever from this world...

His gaze fell on a crumpled piece of paper placed in the corner of the desk, which bore a message written in Minkai language. Lonjiku took the paper and read it once more, his eyes glittering with anger... then he crumpled the message into a ball and threw it into a basket.

That was the only way. He had to settle the matter once and for all...

oooooooooo

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's note: Is anyone interested in seeing some character sheets? If so, I will see about putting up the original characters' statistics. I'm not sure if I could do the same with the stats of the "official" characters, though... I'm afraid it might constitute copyright infringiment.

Still, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! See you soon!