Day 35: Toilday the 23nd, Lamashan, 4707

We woke up again to a banging on the door. I asked who it was and Rip answered that it was him. I looked over to Savah and she sighed. I told her that I was at least glad that the guard were willing to look into property damage this fervently. We got up and got dressed without much stalling. I prestidigitated us clean and composed, and did the same to the bed, before we made it. If only we had a way to have the bed be made automatically, but alas, I didn't have anything.

We left from the bedroom and I immediately told Rip that I wasn't looking to charge Ven for what he had done last night, that all it amounted to was a half an hour of tidying on our part. Savah noted that she might want to press charges, and I looked at her and she had a coy smile on. I shook my head and asked if that was all that Rip needed. Rip shook his head and said that Sheriff Hemlock needed me at the Garrison. I asked Rip if this was related to the issue from yesterday.

Rip told me that he wasn't made aware if it was, just that Sheriff Hemlock had sent out four of the guard to go get the Sandpoint Saviors, and he was sent to get me. I told Savah that it looked like it would be another busy day. She slapped my ass and told me to drop by if I could, before leaving town again. I told her that I would and Rip and I went to the Garrison. I asked Rip if we had time to drop by Alma's to pick up some doughnuts. Rip licked his lips and said that of course we could.

We stopped in and I saw that there was a box of doughnuts already on the counter, waiting for us. I asked Alma how much, and she said two silver, and I gave her three. She smiled and said that she expected me to do that, and that she will get me back for it. I smiled and told her that as long as I could get these doughnuts every day, I'd be glad to pay extra. We said goodbye and I followed Rip the rest of the way to the Garrison. I kept the box of doughnuts safe from his intentions, at least until we got to the breakroom, where I set the box onto a table and the guard members there leapt upon it with abandon.

Dame Rebekah and Faunra both were escorted in Silver and Quera respectively. Jonathan had already been there when I got there. When all four of us were in the waiting room, Sheriff Hemlock summoned us into his office. He told us good morning, and we responded with some similar pleasantries back. He introduced us to the other fellow who was in his office, a farmer by the name of Maester Grump of the southern farm lands. Maester Grump told us that some shady things had been happening around the Hambley farm. He added that there were rumors of walking scarecrows, blood curdling screams in the night, and of farms being emptied of people the next morning.

Maester Grump continued by saying that the farm folk liked to take care of things by themselves, but that this was too far for them. He told us that him and a group of other farmers took up torches to go ask the Hambley's what all this was about. He said that all of the people at the Hambley farm looked like corpses, but fed like rabid dogs. He muttered that the corpses even ate the dogs. Dame Rebekah asked Maester Grump if he had been bitten, and he said that he had not. I pulled Sheriff Hemlock to the side and told him that it was my suggestion that he have Father Zantus or another practitioner of the medical arts examine Maester Grump, as we had seen documentation that there was an increase in ghoul activity in the areas around Sandpoint, and that this might be the next location of it. I added that I just didn't want someone who might need help to not get it.

Sheriff Hemlock nodded and spoke to the whole group, asking if we could check it out. To a person, we said yes. The Sheriff noted that he didn't want to send us out without help, but that he could only spare four people. I looked to the others and asked them if they thought as I did that it would be better that the town is more protected. They all agreed and Jonathan told Sheriff Hemlock that it would be better if he stepped up the local and outlying inspections for the farms and town with those guards. Sheriff Hemlock nodded and said that he'd step up the patrols around town.

I told everyone that we should probably get all of our equipment ready and pass along our well wishes to our loved ones before heading out on this mission. Dame Rebekah said that she would be ready shortly, with her wanting to get her morning prayers in. Faunra noted that she had to study her spells to try to be ready for the fighting. I told them that I'd look into my bag of tricks to see what I might be able to do. Jonathan noted that he had to get some meals prepared for the shop and getting Shayliss set up for her day. We all separated from the Garrison and went back to our respective homes.

I went back to the Armory and saw that Savah was making a sale to someone. Savah saw that I came in and saw the look on my face. She asked me what I was going out to hunt this time. I sighed and told her that it looked like someone had started a plague of ghouls in the southern farmlands. She asked me if they had been any people lost. I nodded my head. The customer asked what was best weapon to fight ghouls.

I sighed and said that in my experience ghouls are not that weak against a specific material type of weapon. Savah looked at me like I was killing her business, and then I added that the main thing is that you really don't want them to touch you, so you want the biggest, heaviest ranged weapon you can use. The customer nodded and I suggested that unless you are very skilled with a bow, that I suggested a heavy crossbow. I added that having a strong hand to hand weapon or maybe even just a bayonet on that crossbow so that you can have a weapon for when they close the distance.

I added the positive about a crossbow is that you can get all different kinds of special material bolts so that you can use it against a lot of different creatures that you could end up facing. The customer asked what kinds of materials I recommended. I told him that both silver and cold iron were useful, as well as adamantine. I told the customer that I wasn't familiar with a lot of the other special materials, but that getting a scope would be a good addition, especially to try to get things from further away. The customer nodded and then started asking Savah what all that would run.

Savah smiled and stared going through the different costs and options. The customer hemmed and hawed before finally purchasing a heavy crossbow, a few packs of bolts, and had Savah mount a flip out cold-iron bayonet under the front of the crossbow. The customer thanked me for my advice and asked if I had any other pointers. I told him that getting some kind of armor might be a good idea, to try to keep the ghoul's talons and teeth away. The customer talked to Savah and asked what if they could get armor like what we had. Savah noted that what we were wearing was really expensive material, but she could price out a regular suit of what we were wearing, and the customer asked for her to do so.

Savah told him what it would cost, saying that she could do it for two-hundred and twenty gold, but that she could set it up so that they get it piece by piece. The customer whispered to Savah and she added a Chain Shirt to the pile of things that he had gotten. The customer gave Savah a small bag that had fifteen platinum pieces, and he said that he would get the rest later. Savah said that she would hold them to that, and helped the customer into the armor and get the bolts into a case for the person.

After the customer left, Savah came over and hugged me fiercely. She asked me if I really needed to go do this. I told her that even if I didn't, the rest of the group had already committed to it. Savah asked if I was going to be careful. I told her that of course I was, and that I was going in as well prepared as I could. I told her that since I knew it was undead, I felt no worry about using my best tricks against them. She asked me if I really did have a lot of extra tricks that I had not exploited yet. I smiled and told her that I certainly did not.

I told her that I had to make a stop at Bottled Solutions, but that I could certainly spare a few minutes if she wanted to close up the shop for a little bit. He had shut the door and turned the sign before I even managed to finish the sentence. We spent a little bit of quality time together. Savah helped me get equipped and dressed before saying that there was still a fair amount of credit with the Cathedral that I could use if I felt like I needed it. I realized that she had spent some of her reserve with the Cathedral to get me back my vision. I felt bad and privately resolved to get her back the money that she had spent on my eyes, after getting Katrine raised.

I bid Savah goodbye and that I hoped to be back as soon as possible after extinguishing this threat. She wished me luck and safety and I told her to keep an eye towards her ring. She asked what I meant, and I told her that if something truly bad happened to me, she would know from the way that the ring broke. She nodded and said that she would stay alert for it. I left and headed out towards Bottled Solutions. I must have forgotten that Ven would still be mad at me, because I walked right by his general store. I heard the door slam open as I was rounding the corner. I turned around to him coming towards me. I told Ven that I didn't have time for this, and that if he wanted to kill me, he would have to wait until after I avenged his daughter's death.

Ven was cursing at me and picked up the pace to try to close the distance. I turned and rushed towards the intersection of Main Street and Bent Street, to try to get to Bottled Solutions faster. I could hear him closing when I got to Bent Street and I turned the corner quickly. I bumped into Jubal and Olhart. Olhart looked a little bit tipsy, and since they were coming from the general direction of Cracktooth's, I could only guess that Jubal was trying to keep him out of trouble, by getting him back to the Garrison. They saw me and all of us stopped. Before we could say anything, Ven came barreling around the corner and slammed a fist into the side of my head.

Jubal and Olhart, indisposed as he was, jumped into action and went forward to grapple Ven. Olhart missed his attempt, but Jubal managed to get a hold on Ven. Ven tried to swing at Jubal but to no effect. Together Jubal and Olhart managed to grapple the enraged father and throw a set of manacles on him. Ven was ranting about me killing Katrine and that he was going to expose me. Jubal and Olhart had apparently already been briefed on the details of the Lumber mill murders, as they didn't seem to take anything that Ven was saying to heart. Jubal asked me if I wanted him punished for the assault. I told him that I could understand his fury, and that I hoped that it would pass for him.

I told them all, Ven included, that I was not looking for him to be punished for his assault on me, but that if he attacked me again, I was going to defend myself rather than just try to escape. I added that if he assaulted Savah, or Oren, or damaged my property again, I would not be forgiving of that either. I told Ven that I could understand his trauma, as these wound were still fresh, and that this was why I wasn't faulting him for this outburst. I continued with saying that the fact that he vandalized Savah's property last night and assaulted me today would be enough where I was from to get him an order of not being within five hundred feet of me at any time, under penalty of imprisonment.

I finished my impromptu speech with telling Ven that I did not want his business to suffer any more than it was from the loss of his daughter, or his wife to suffer estrangement from her husband in such a grievous time, so that this was why I was not having him punished or locked up. I told him to go be with his wife and deal with their grief, by talking to an appropriate priest of their faiths, if necessary, and to leave me be while I hunt down his daughter's actual murderer and slay them. I finished with saying that maybe then I would have enough to pay for the two spells to bring his daughter back to the land of the living.

Ven was still red-faced and swearing. I thanked the guards for keeping him safe, and that I would be leaving the town within the hour, if the guard could keep an eye on him until then, then most of the danger of Ven attacking people should pass. Jubal asked me if I was really going to just let him go after giving me a shiner like that. I shrugged and told the guard members that I had received enough trauma in my life that I did not begrudge anyone from losing their composure during the first week. I thanked the guard members for their fortuitous timing again and said that I had to head off to Nisk's before heading out of town.

When I got to Bottled Solutions, Nisk greeted me as I entered. I guess that I am his best repeat customer, being that I don't mind a bit of a tiny malfunction here or there, as long as most of them work. I asked him if he had any Magnesium, and he said that he did, in powdered form. I got that ten gold worth and a candle, which he threw in for free. I thanked him and he asked where I was heading. I told him that I was going out to hunt some ghouls. Nisk's eyes lit up and he told me that he just the thing. He pulled out a ceramic pot and said that this was Holy Weapon Balm. If I anointed a weapon with it, the first time I hit an undead with it, it would do additional damage to the necromantic atrocity. I asked him how much he wanted for it, and he told me he'd take twenty gold for it this time, since I was such a good customer. I asked him if there was any other information that he could tell me. He told me that I could use it to coat up to ten pieces of ammunition, and that I only had about a minute after I coated the weapon to use it before it lost potency. I thanked him and headed out.

I made my way to the Goblin Squash Stables without any further difficulty. As I went in to get my horse, I noticed that there were a couple more goblin ears nailed up on the rafters. Daviren noticed where my gaze went and told me that he had still had the bounty open, but that it was because he had made the offer to everyone at the Swallowtail festival, and that he was going to stick by his word. I told him that it was honorable, but that he would be losing money to this. He shrugged and said that he could live with it as long as other people didn't lose their families to goblin raids.

There really wasn't much to say after that, and he got my horse and its' tack. Thinking quickly, I asked him if he did custom work for saddles, and he told me that he did. I told him that I might have some custom work for him coming up in the next few weeks, and that if it pans out, and people are interested, I might have even more of the similar work. Daviren said that he might be interested once I could get him more details, and I said that I might have more a few days from now. I asked him if the others had gotten their mounts yet, and Daviren told me that I was the first, just as Jonathan came in.

Jonathan nodded to me and I thanked Daviren before heading out of the stables. I decided that I would drop by the Two Knight Brewery before we left to pick up another bottle or two of that Flaggin' Dragon. When I got there, Gaven was just finishing up bottling one of his raspberry meads, and saw that I had come in. He asked me what he could do for me, and I asked him if I could get four of the Flaggin' Dragons, as I was heading out to go fight some ghouls and could use a little liquid courage. He told me that he had just the thing for liquid courage, and he pulled up a bottle of Cracktooth's Rum. I was glad to get some good rum, and decided that this would be better than the Flaggin' Dragons.

He gladly gave me the bottle and I thanked him for it. He also wished me luck and said that if I needed help fighting ghouls, to let him know. I told him that if I didn't make it back, he would be needed as a frontline of defense. He nodded and said that it would be his duty to defend the town. I thanked him for his dedication, and told him that I sincerely hoped that it would never come to that. I shook his hand and went back to get on my horse. Jonathan was waiting outside on his horse and told me that Dame Rebekah and Faunra had just made their way into the Goblin Squash Stables.

Jonathan then asked me where I got the shiner. I remembered about Ven and told him as such. Jonathan shook his head, and told me that he had passed on everything that we had learned from Ibor to Shayliss, and Shayliss seemed to confirm a lot of suspicious details about Banny, as he always seemed to have money, much more than one would get from a regular Lumber mill job, but never spent any of it on Katrine while they were seeing each other. Shayliss had told him that she doubted that Katrine was after Banny for his money, but that it was a bit odd that someone that had that much money wasn't living a little better.

I nodded and thanked him for that bit of insight. It was then that I decided to pull out my tablet and update everything so far.

Dame Rebekah and Faunra had gotten their mounts and went to go collect some other things while I was typing. It was a few minutes after they got back that I had been caught up and put my tablet away. Dame Rebekah asked why I was still writing in that journal. I told her that as long as I can keep my observations noted, if I miss something that is important, I can try to refer back to it later. I added that also, in the odd chance that I die and the tablet makes its way back to my old world, I'd like for there to be a chance for my parents and sisters to find it and find out what had happened to me.

Dame Rebekah nodded and said that she would try to find a way to get it back to them if she could. Faunra agreed that she would try to help if it came to that. We all headed out, setting our horses to run at a decent pace. It took us almost forty minutes of a decent gallop to get there. By the end of it, the horses were clearly exercised, but not ran out. Dame Rebekah guessed that we would only be able to get another twenty minutes of this kind of pace if we needed to make a beeline back. I thanked her for her assessment and noted that I should have thought about getting the ones that we had for our significant others for spares for the return trip. Dame Rebekah noted that she should have thought about that as well.

As we approached, we saw a scarecrow ahead of us. I asked if we had any way of knowing if this was just a scarecrow or if it was one of the "walking cannibal corpses". Dame Rebekah said that she did, and invoked a blessing with a slight smile. We were at an intersection with a Scarecrow right ahead of us. I looked to Dame Rebekah and she shook her head. I shrugged and asked everyone which way they thought that we should go. Jonathan and Dame Rebekah recommended going left, and Faunra didn't have much of an opinion, so left was the way we went.

We were walking for a little distance until we came across a scarecrow in the field. Almost as quickly as Dame Rebekah note that it was undead, it broke free from its bonds and raced towards us. Maybe I've seen too many zombie movies, or too few, because I reacted in an instant with a nine millimeter round straight to the thing's forehead, dropping it. It was only after I heard the moans and grows coming from other areas in the fields that I realized how much of a mistake I had made. Everyone just looked at me and I said that at least we wouldn't have to wait for them now. Dame Rebekah swore under her breath and made ready. Faunra got some arrows out and looked around. Jonathan was scanning the perimeters.

We expected all hell was going to break loose. I got myself as ready as we could and waited. Six seconds went by with nothing. Twelve seconds went by. We heard rustling through the field, but couldn't pin it down. Then we saw a Ghoul pop out of the field right in front of us. Dame Rebekah felled it with one swing. We were on alert and saw two pairs coming in from different directions. Faunra and Jonathan took out the pair that were coming from the east, while I took down the one that I observed coming in from the south.

Before the last ghoul could make it to be eviscerated by Dame Rebekah, Jonathan dropped it with another ball bearing shot. These ghouls seemed to be pretty weak, Maybe I wouldn't need this "holy weapon balm" after all. We waited for a few more seconds to hear anything before we continued walking. We walked around the bend for about two minutes before we came across another scarecrow. As soon as we Dame Rebekah got within thirty feet the ghoul started screeching and hollering. It broke free and the combined efforts of Faunra and Jonathan managed to drop it before I could even react.

A second one came running out of the field behind us, and Dame Rebekah twisted and struck it before it could land a filthy claw on us. I was very glad that she had the kind of well-trained reactions that kept us alive and untouched. We heard a screeching from off in the field off in front of us and on the opposite side of the trail. We all made ready and the ghoul took a few seconds to break into our sight line. Jonathan and Faunra together took it out. They were a vicious combo. We continued walking until we came to another scarecrow. Dame Rebekah got within thirty feet of it, and turned to us, shaking her head. We asked her what it was, and she said it was just a normal scarecrow. We all breathed a sigh of relief, and kept walking.

The next scarecrow that we encountered had Dame Rebekah rushing forward after getting within thirty feet of it. We asked her what was wrong, and she told us to get over here and help her. We all got over there and she started cutting the scarecrow down. It was a person. She was obviously in the late stages of ghoul fever, but had not succumbed yet. Dame Rebekah told us that we needed to help her somehow. Jonathan rolled up his sleeves and focused his powers on healing this woman. She groaned, but looked to be in a little bit better condition. I saw energy pour from Jonathan into her, and she looked a little better.

She recovered enough to tell us her name, Lettie Guffmin. She told us that there were a bunch of the farmers who had been lashed up to some of the other scarecrow posts, including her husband, somewhere in the field. Dame Rebekah shook her head and said that some of the farmers didn't last as long as she did, and that we don't know who the ones that didn't make it were. Lettie looked morose, but I told her that we had not been through all of the fields, so her husband might still be alive. She looked a little less destroyed. I asked her if she was well enough to walk. Lettie responded that she was, and I asked everyone if we should head back the way we came, or if we should try to cut straight across the center.

Dame Rebekah noted that we had a wounded person in tow with us, but that we were deep in possible hostile territory. Faunra said that there was the possibility that we would be being followed by a group of ghouls that had broken free and not come across us yet. Jonathan noted that going through the center would get us the possibility of attack from all sides, whereas if we push forward, we could keep possible attacks to the front and left of us. That sounded strangely strategic to me for some reason, but I couldn't place it so I said that I could get behind that. Dame Rebekah noted that we could do the perimeter sweep and at least make our way back to where we hitched the horses.

With our direction of travel, sallying forth to finish the loop, we got Lettie in the center of our group. Faunra and myself were in the back, with Jonathan and Dame Rebekah were in the front. Before we headed out I warned Lettie that she might hear some very loud noises from my weapons and that she should not run off if we get into conflict, but stay in the center of the group. Lettie nodded and said that she would try to do that. Faunra nodded to me and we continued on. I quietly thought to myself that we may have already killed the poor woman's husband.

We walked for a few minutes before we encountered a nightmare. We saw a group of four scarecrows up ahead. I knew that all four of them would be ghouls. It was the only rational result after picking up a civilian like this. I voiced as much and Dame Rebekah said that any one of them could still be alive. That brought it back into focus. She was right, any one of them from here on could be Lettie's husband. Or another farmer that had not passed yet. We couldn't just put a bullet into their brains preemptively.

Dame Rebekah cautioned that we should still be careful. We got within thirty feet and the first one started twitching and groaning. This led to the other three repeating the performance. I told Lettie that she should probably get down. Faunra confirmed my statement and started lining up a shot. Jonathan focused his Super Saiyan powers and various rocks and stones started floating up around him. I made sure that my pistol was ready and pulled out my Kershaw from its sheath. Dame Rebekah asked if everyone was ready. We all answered to the affirmative, even Lettie.

We all moved forward as a group and they started to break free. They all growled and rushed us as they broke free. I must have seen one too many zombie movies, because I was Johnny-on-the-spot with a head shot on the first one I saw get free and start rushing us. Like it was an ingrained reflex for me. I think that I should probably talk to someone about that. Maybe Father Zantus. Jonathan hit the next one that lurched at us before the rest got free and we got attacked. Well, attacked is kind of an overstatement, one went after Jonathan, and another went towards me. Jonathan easily dodged against his, while the one who attacked me tried to slash through my breastplate, which obviously held strong.

Faunra, being the medieval mini-gun that she is got three arrows heading towards the ones attacking both Jonathan and myself, hitting each one once. Dame Rebekah, I guess overcoming the shock that she had from seeing my cruelly efficient reaction, went over and cut down the one in front of Jonathan. I took a second to look at the ghoul that was in front of me, and hacked it down with my Kershaw. I probably would not have been able to do it if Faunra had not helped. We looked around and saw that there were no other ghouls charging us at the moment, so we took a breather. I asked if we should check the former farmers to see if any of them were Lettie's Husband, I paused looking at her. After a minute, she caught on and told me that his name was Horran.

Dame Rebekah tried to be tactful when she asked if any of the ghouls were Horran. Lettie looked them over and said that they weren't. She did identify who they were, but out of respect for their lives, I won't tarnish them with the wrongness of their brief state of undeath. I sighed a sigh of relief and we got collected up to start again. We walked for another minute and a half until we came to another "y" intersection. We took the left, as we felt that this could get us back to the horses, and give us a place to safely have Lettie wait until we get done with everything. We turned that corner and saw a scarecrow off in the distance.

I worried that it would either be another ghoul or even worse, a Horran ghoul. As we approached within thirty feet, again it started to groan and writhe about. I looked to Dame Rebekah and she nodded. Jonathan took the shot as it dropped down and didn't get up again. Faunra asked Lettie if that was Horan, and she told us that Horran wasn't wearing those clothes when she last saw him. I shrugged and we walked up to another "y" intersection. It was here that Jonathan noticed another group of scarecrows off to our left, into the field. I asked if we should head back to the horses, or check those out quick?

Faunra voted that we check them out as one of them could be Horran. Dame Rebekah said that we should go to the horses and get Lettie on one. Jonathan noted that if we did that, we couldn't make sure that she was safe in case some of the ghouls were wandering around. I asked which way he was voting, and he shrugged and said that neither side was good. Lettie noted that there was a farmhouse in the center of the field, and that if we could get to that, it might be safe enough to be defended until we could get back. I blurted out that I had seen that movie and it didn't end well. Jonathan understood what I was saying, but everyone else was kind of confused, and just let it fade. I finally said that it might be best to check out that other group of scarecrows and at least look at the farmhouse.

Dame Rebekah relented, saying that if there was a defensible structure, then that would be best for us to have Lettie hold up in. We took the left branch again and walked for about a minute, stopping thirty feet from the first scarecrow. Dame Rebekah looked back at us and shook her head. She came back as quietly as she could and whispered that there was one to the right of it, about eighty feet away, and one to the left about eighty feet off, down the other side of this "y" intersection. I told her that I'd go for the left one, and Lettie told us that taking the left path would get us to the farmhouse easier.

Faunra said that this was enough of a reason for her, and she voted left. Jonathan nodded in agreement and the decision was made. We started walking down the left path with Dame Rebekah in the front as our human Ghoul detector. As we got within forty feet, Lettie gasped out of "Horran, oh no." and rushed between us to get to the scarecrow. Dame Rebekah started rushing after her and once she was within thirty feet of the scarecrow, motioned for us to rush forward as well. Lettie was talking to the scarecrow and it was answering her back in a kind of delirious way. Dame Rebekah and I worked together to get the body down gently, and Jonathan went to work, focusing his healing energy into the man. Without warning, he did the same again to Lettie before doing it one more time for the man.

They both looked to be in much better condition. Jonathan looked to be in worse condition. Jonathan noted to the both of them that he could only help them again if they took the burden themselves. Lettie and Horran both nodded, as they had seen his energy leach from him and into them. Jonathan used his ability on them each one more time, and they could move around a lot better. He cautioned them that they would be weakened until they got a good night's rest. I told them that we could help them get back to Sandpoint, and Horran tried to refuse the offer, saying that they just wanted to head back to their families. Jonathan told them that they were still infected with ghoul fever, and that he had just gotten them to the point that they would not die in the next day, and that if they did not receive treatment, they would die, and then they would kill their families. Horran was taken aback by the frankness of the person who had healed them and relented.

We asked him if he was good enough to walk, and Horan acknowledged that he was. We asked him if he knew anything that he could tell us. Horran told us that there were six ghouls in the farmhouse or the barn, and that they were all lead by a very dangerous ghoul that smelled of foul rot. I asked Dame Rebekah if she thought that we had gotten the ones from the house yet. She shook her head and said that we could not guarantee it. I asked what would happen if those ghouls got away, and Faunra noted that they would continue on infecting the surrounding farms.

I sighed and said that we were in between a rock and a hard place. I noted that we really could not leave the ghouls here to infect others, but that we also couldn't bring Lettie and Horran into this kind of danger. Jonathan noted that if we scoped out the farmhouse, we could still make an entry and find a bolt hole in it to defend and keep the ghoul attention on us while we whittle them away. Faunra noted that that made sense too. I noted that I had seen this movie, and it only turned out well for the town in the distance, but that if that was what we needed to do, I was behind it. We continued down the branch that we had taken to get to Horran, until we saw another scarecrow at the end of a four-way intersection. Of course it was a ghoul.

That wasn't the problem. As we were lining up to deal with that one, from off to our right, a ghoul leapt from the corn. I wasn't on the spot this time, but Faunra was, but not well enough. She got two arrows into it, but the thing didn't stop. It ran right towards Dame Rebekah. Not the wisest move to be honest. Even with her not being especially dexterous, the thing's claw just glanced off her shield. Jonathan reacted to this with a ball bearing shot that went wide, probably trying to miss Dame Rebekah more than hit the thing. I took aim at the one attacking Dame Rebekah and my machete struck true knocking off the ghoul's head. Dame Rebekah composed herself and made way to get in the way of the ghoul that was still on the scarecrow post.

Once it dropped, it ran right into Dame Rebekah and received a vicious slash for its efforts. It tried to latch down on her neck, one of the few somewhat exposed areas, and ended up biting down on her shield. When it did that, Dame Rebekah reflexively lifted her shield and the ghoul slipped on some of its blood that had been spilled on the ground, and ended up breaking its own neck. I looked to Dame Rebekah, and had to stifle a laugh. That was certainly a comedy of errors, at least, I had never seen someone fail at something so bad that they broke their own neck in person. At least it wasn't still living when it did it.

We walked the rest of the way to the next intersection and saw the farmhouse and the barn up ahead. We warned Lettie and Horran to stay between the four of us and we walked towards the pair of buildings. We got within visual distance of the barn, and I saw that it was supported by a giant stone head. I hope that it was a statue, because it was twelve feet high. That doesn't just violate the square cube law. That takes it into an alley, assaults it, drugs it, brings it home, and does extremely degenerate things to it, while making the law call it Grand-Pa Smurf. In short, if it was a human, it would be over ninety feet tall and weigh over twenty tons!

I shook my head and stopped my reverie. We were in a dangerous situation and I couldn't just be zoning out. Faunra noted that it was a Thassilonian statue dedicated to a relatively popular Gladiator of the time. I silently accepted that and we went to go carefully check out the barn. I looked in with Dame Rebekah and concluded that we really shouldn't go in there. It was a charnel house of bones, blood, and biological matter. It would have made a slasher movie proud. All of the animal and human remains were in a mound in the center of the barn and everything showed signs of being chewed upon.

I looked to Dame Rebekah and we both shook our heads. We looked back at Lettie and Horran and said that there was nothing in there worth checking. Horran said that they must be in the Hambley's Farmhouse. I figured that this was true. I asked Jonathan if he was up to a full frontal assault. He said that he'd charge up right before we busted down the door and dealt with the group of ghouls in the farmhouse. We got up to the farmhouse front door and got into position. Our two main front liners took up position in front of the door and I got in place to get the door open. Faunra posted up behind the Guffmins, watching out for any stragglers or attempts to flank us, bow and arrow at the ready.

I pulled my filter mask up and signaled to the others that they should as well. If dealing with smells taught me anything, I needed to be ready for them. Dame Rebekah and Faunra both did the same, and Jonathan wrapped a silk scarf over his face. I flashed everyone my index finger with a nod. I put five fingers up, then put them down one by one. I mouthed five, four, three, two, one, and opened the door. They were ready for us. I don't know if it was Jonathan's focusing, my dithering, or an unhappy lucky glance out of a window. I opened the door and the Ghast was right on us. Its stench was almost overpowering, thank Odin for the mask.

Unfortunately, Jonathan's silk scarf just didn't do enough, or maybe it was his powering up that got the smell directed right to his nose. He started to retch, and I could tell that he wasn't feeling it today. Once we cleared this place out, I had decided that we would be making sure that we got him home. I would not be responsible for another of Shayliss' loved ones being killed. Suffice to say, he wasn't at his peak. Somehow that ghast managed to get past Dame Rebekah's shield and armor to claw at her legs. I didn't see her lock up, so I hoped that she would be okay. Two broke through windows to come at Jonathan and me. Both of those ghouls thankfully missed, even with Jonathan not feeling his best. Another one went through the window that Jonathan's ghoul broke through and took a swipe at Lettie, taking her down and knocking her out.

This fight was off to a terrible start, and I really could only blame myself. If I was a better fighter, I could have seen what would have happened. Faunra took some shots at the ones that hit Lettie and Jonathan, as he looked to be the weakest link currently. Faunra felled the ghoul that had attacked Lettie with two arrows and struck the one that had went after Jonathan. Jonathan, seeming to recover his composure, charged up his siangham, and obliterated the first ghoul that he struck. He took a swipe at the Ghast that was in front of Dame Rebekah, and hit it for some damage and forcing it back five feet into the farmhouse. I would have followed his lead, but I had the one in front of me to deal with.

I took a step back while looking for any weaknesses and my pistol invariably drew itself to the foul thing's head. I pulled the trigger while saying a prayer for my sanity, as it lurched back against the wall, and fell, stone dead. Again. I don't know why I am this way. Why am I so efficient at killing these "things"? I don't know. I will really need to look into this. While I was musing my own inner turmoil, I saw Dame Rebekah step right up to the ghast and snicker-snack and beheaded the ghast before it could even react to her onslaught.

She looked around and told us that everything in here was dead, either still, or again. I asked her if there was much point to searching the house for other victims or survivors. She kind of shrugged before noticing Lettie was on the ground unconscious. She rushed over and went to heal her. The first attempt didn't seem to take, but her second go worked. Lettie rose back up from unconsciousness, screaming. Horran worked to calm her down, and Jonathan took the chance to go empty his gut out along the side of the house. I went in and saw something pinned to a body that had been sacrificed before anyone else could come in. It was another note that was addressed to Dame Rebekah. I snapped a picture of it for my notes.

I would give her this later, if only for her to know that this was related. The body also had a wrought iron key on it. The key was fairly small, and looked like it would be to a foot locker or something smaller. I went over to the ghast that Dame Rebekah slew. I don't think that the ghast that we tangled with was the one that had attacked Katrine. I couldn't say that it was without evidence. I went over the ghast to double check the body, and saw that there was a key on it that had a crest on it. I recognized the crest almost immediately, and It belonged to the Foxglove family. I finally recognized this man as one of the footmen who were with us on the hunt. I guess that Victor was the lucky one after all. This means that we need to investigate Aldern.

I asked Dame Rebekah to come over so I could talk to her privately, and she did so. I handed her the slip and told her that I had found a key on the ghast that leads me to believe that Aldern might be at the very least a little responsible, if not the ringleader, especially with these papers being signed as "your lordship". She looked it over and said that she felt that I might just be right. I nodded and said that we should update the town and head out tomorrow. Dame Rebekah asked me why and I looked over to where I could hear Jonathan vomiting through the walls. She nodded when she seemed to catch my drift.

Dame Rebekah asked what I thought that we should do, and I told her that we should still do a search of the farmhouse, but that we were looking for any clues left over, so once Jonathan is in better condition, he should do the search. I told her that right now, we need to get a treatment in on Lettie and Horran, to make sure that we can minimize the chance that the disease gets any worse. She said that she would help me, and we talked it over with Lettie and Horran. They both let Dame Rebekah and me check them over. The damn disease followed every tracker of Solanum. Damn useful that I had the World War Z book on my tablet. I treated the disease as best I could, with a lot of running by Dame Rebekah to track down various things, and I utilized some of the components of Jonathan's healer's kit to augment my own kit.

I told Dame Rebekah, Lettie, and Horran that we would have to see, but that hopefully, tomorrow would bring good news. They thanked us for our help and said that they never expected someone like myself to be such an adept healer. I shrugged and said that where I was from there were people who were a lot more skilled than I but I thanked them for the compliment. They asked why I had the black eye. Dame Rebekah apparently hadn't given me a good look since this morning, and asked what had happened. I told her that I had run afoul of Ven Vinder this morning.

Dame Rebekah channeled her power through me and I could feel the bruise going away. Dame Rebekah seemed pissed but I brushed it off, saying that I had not been substantially hurt by it, and that the town guard had hauled him off to hold him until I was out of town for the day. I added that if it allowed him to vent his frustrations, I was willing to give him this one time. I told her that I had warned him not to go after Savah or the Armory again.

Dame Rebekah said that she would be taking up training me in fighting more, if only to get Ven a bit more reluctant to attack me in the open. Faunra kept up her watch and Jonathan finally came in. I told him that we needed him to take a look through the house to see if there are any clues we missed. He did his thing and I started trying to bounce ideas off of Dame Rebekah and Faunra why they thought that the killer was sacrifice these specific people while turning the others. I looked over the details of each person that had been killed. A trio of professional grifters, a Lumber Mill employee and a farmer. What do they have in common?

Faunra asked if they all looked the same, and we saw that they didn't, at least from Banny and Mr. Hambley did not look the same in the slightest. It certainly wasn't the profession. A farmer and a saw-miller might be somewhere in the neighborhood of related jobs but only through a really tangentially manner. Add in three conmen, and it really took it out of the ball park. Maybe it was something deeper. I flashed back to a movie I had seen several years ago. "What's in the box." I muttered to myself.

Jonathan spoke up when he entered the room and told us that this was what he was wondering too. He was holding what looked to be a wooden coffer with a key hole. Jonathan asked if I could get it open, and I told him that I might have to utilize dark secrets of the thieves' guild from where I was taught, so they should all avert their eyes. They looked at me with a bit of incredulity, and I added, or maybe I'll just try these keys that I found on the deceased. They nodded and I tried to use the Foxglove key.

It would not even come close to fitting. Then I tried the Hambley key. It opened the coffer. Inside were thirty-four pouches of coins, each weighing in at two pounds. Jonathan took a look in one bag and told us that it was all silver. He estimated that it was around one hundred silver pieces in each bag, from weight. That meant that Farmer Hambley was hiding a lot of money from his family. Faunra hit on it, saying that the link was likely the perversion of the Thassilonian virtue of wealth, being greed. I nodded and told her that it made sense, especially with the Thassilonian runes being used in the sacrifice.

Dame Rebekah added that we needed to bring this information to Sheriff Hemlock quickly. I told her that we could only go so quickly, as we were without extra mounts. Dame Rebekah said that we would have to make do with what we could. We gathered up all of the information that we could, including the bloody and soiled surcoat of the Foxglove servant. I figured that we would need it to ensure that there would be no problems with going to question, or detail a member of the nobility.

We escorted Lettie and Horran back to the horses, and helped them get up onto two of them. Dame Rebekah and I volunteered to walk. Dame Rebekah volunteered because it was the right thing to do, and I volunteered because I felt that I could use the exercise. I figured that as long as we didn't go faster than a normal pace, I would be able to keep up. I felt that it would be a good reminder of boot camp. We made sure that everyone was good, and I recommended that we do a final sweep of the farmlands to ensure that there were no ghouls left.

Dame Rebekah agreed and we all headed out the both of us walking along the others on horseback. We did a good quick loop through the field and found that there were no faux-scarecrows left, living or undead. We started back on our way to Sandpoint, figuring that it would take us around two hours to make it back. Dame Rebekah took the opportunity during the walk back to help give me pointers on weapons and armor use. She asked me to show her some of my moves, and I tried to show her what I could without being too embarrassing.

I'm sure that she stifled a laugh for my benefit, and asked to see the weighing of my machete and my survival axe. I handed her the machete, handle first. She took a couple of practice swings, and then she got the balance of it, to see how it should act. She gave me the machete back and helped me correct my stance a little. When I handed her the survival axe, she noted the fragility of the Ferrocerium Firestarter rod. I told her that having a way to start a fire was vital, and that back before I could just prestidigitate a spark, I took every possible chance to have a firestarter possible. She nodded and noted that aside from that, the survival axe seemed to be very useful, especially since it could be flipped around and used as a piercing weapon. I nodded and said that I figured that this would be a useful feature.

She took a few swings with the survival axe, noting the utility of it, and handed it back to me. She noted that I might want something that had a bit more reach to it, but that she could easily see the use of both of these for combat. I told her that I expected that I would eventually need better weapons if these could not be enhanced, but that I'd like to hang on to them for sentimental reasons. Dame Rebekah nodded and said that having a good tool like a machete or a hatchet are both good things to have along with me. She moved on to my experiences with armor, and asked me what I was familiar with.

I told her that I had very little experience with actual armor, other than the leather armor that I had previously worn from Windsong Abbey and the Studded Leather that I had gotten as a reward for helping the town out. She nodded and said that other types of armor were more restrictive and binding. I told her that I had tried on sporting equipment in the past, and that it was restrictive in some ways. She nodded and said that she would drop by the Armory and help me out with getting used to different types of armor. I thanked her, and said that I was sure that Savah had a few suits of armor that I could try out.

About half way back, Jonathan noted that we were being stalked by two firepelt cougars. I saw what he was talking about and asked if we needed to do anything about it. Jonathan said that it was likely that they were going to attack the two civilians, as they looked like they were on the prowl for food, especially since the easier meals were probably taken out by the ghouls. I sighed and pulled out my rifle. I sighted one of them and asked for him to tell me when. He gave me a quiet countdown, and when he said three, I pulled the trigger. My pellet struck true, and hit the side of its head.

The Firepelt must not have been prepared for this, as it fell out of the tree and landed on a rock below it, breaking its neck. I knew that I needed to get over there and put it out of its misery and as I rushed over, the other firepelt dropped from what I expected was Jonathan's ball bearing. As I ran over I pulled my knife out and made quick work of the Firepelt that I dropped. I went over to the second one and did the same. Jonathan and Dame Rebekah both helped me with dressing the animals and the preparing the hides. I used my prestidigitation powers to help clean and salt the hides again.

Lettie and Horran noted that these Firepelts had been killing the livestock at the nearby farms in the past, as they had some recognizable scars from previous encounters with the farmers. I noted that at least in the future these leopards wouldn't be harassing the farmers anymore. Horran nodded and asked me if the weapon that I had was something that he could acquire, and I told him that it wasn't yet, but that I would be working on making them more available. Horran nodded and said that he might be interested in getting one if I could get them cheap enough. I told him that Savah had quite a bevy of crossbows that would work just as well. He said that he would think about that.

We got the rest of the way back to Sandpoint and stopped at the bridge. Oren and Arika were there and welcomed us in to the town. I asked them if we needed to worry about anything. They shook their head and Oren told me that Sheriff Hemlock had sat down with Ven and had a long talk with him. I said that this is a very terrible thing for everyone to go through. Oren asked me if he could have a few minutes to talk to me later. I told him of course, and that after he got off shift, he should drop by the Armory. He said that he would.

Dame Rebekah noted that we should probably head directly to the Cathedral, dropping off Lettie and Horran there, and then head on to the Garrison. We all agreed and we went right to talk to Father Zantus. As we made our way there, up River Street, without as much as a person stopping us or even bothering to talk to us, I asked if we could stop quick at Rovanky's Tannery. Dame Rebekah said that they could continue on while I stopped in, and Jonathan said that he would stop with me. Dame Rebekah shrugged and took Faunra with the Guffmins to the Cathedral for their monitoring.

Jonathan and I walked into the tannery and Lars looked to see us and rushed over before any of his other workers could see us. He pushed us into a corner and grabbed the pelts from us. He took twenty gold from us and shushed us. He told us that Ven had been by earlier in the day and had bad mouthed the Sheriff, the Mayor, the Council, Savah, Jonathan, and me. He said that Ven claimed that I had convinced the guard that he had assaulted me and gotten them to falsely imprison him for an hour until I fled town. I looked at Lars and he shook his head. He told us that he knew that Ven was lying, but that he couldn't guarantee that his men would. He said that he would tell them that these were for the theater, and were dropped off by some hunters. I thanked him for his discretion, and we quietly, and secretly, left.

We made our way to the Cathedral via the Cliffside, where Jonathan lifted us up using his power to lift up a cart, have us get on it, lift it up the rest of the way, has us disembark, and then lower the cart back down. We walked the rest of the way to main rectory, where the rest of our group was debriefing Father Zantus about the ghoul and ghast plague in the farmlands. He said that he would talk to the Mayor and the Sheriff about including a cleric among the patrols. I chimed in and said that the ghouls that we encountered were fairly new, so something had made them recently, and they that they were former farmers and travelers most likely. Father Zantus nodded and asked if we had any clues as to what was making the new ghouls. Dame Rebekah told him that we did, but that we were not certain yet, and that this was why we were leaving here to go directly to Sheriff Hemlock. Father Zantus said that he would come along, and left the Guffmins in Chelger and Walda's care.

We left from the front door of the Cathedral and headed down Church Street to pass The Bolting Barghest. Jonathan asked if he could stop in for a second, and we all agreed that it would be wisest for him to do so. He went in and we waited outside. Father Zantus must have seen some inner turmoil about me, because he asked me what was plaguing me. I told him that I was a little worried with the… efficiency… with which I dispatched undead. Father Zantus looked to Dame Rebekah, and she noted that destroying the once living was something that I seemed generally very skilled at. Father Zantus asked me if there were not such things were I was from. I told him that there was no evidence of bodies reanimating after death where I was from. Only horror movies of such. He asked what I meant by movies, and I tried my best to explain something that had taken decades to refine in a few minutes. Ultimately, I chose to portrait it like a mass shared hallucination where all of the people witness the same thing, and the person who creates the hallucination decided in advance what the storyline was.

Father Zantus took all of this in, and asked if there were legends of those coming back from the dead where I was from. I told him that there were those in every culture where I came from, but with a lack of evidence of it happening, most people just tossed it aside as legends and myth. Father Zantus was kind of disappointed by that answer, but accepted it. Father Zantus said that it is possible that things were not quite as they seemed back there, and that I was more used to dealing with the undead than I was aware of. Something pinged in my head and I noted that one of the duties of the All-Father was to be a psychopomp to the newly deceased. Father Zantus said that this was as good a reason as any for me to be bringing the unquiet dead to their final rest.

When our conversation finished, Jonathan was back outside with Shayliss. She apologized again for her father, and I apologized to her that if he attacked Savah or me again, I would not be holding back. She said that she could understand that, and I told her that I would do my best to not kill him, even though I was sure that he wouldn't do the same for me. Jonathan asked if we would be heading back out of town today, and Dame Rebekah noted that we would not, but that we would be leaving early tomorrow morning again. Jonathan nodded and said that he'd be making lunches and dinners now, and just went back inside. I looked to the others and said that we might as well continue on to the Garrison.

When we got there, we asked Silver where Sheriff Hemlock was. She told us that he was at the Town Hall with Mayor Deverin. I shrugged and said that this was an okay turn of events, as we could discuss the matter with the both of them, at the same time. We took our leave and went over to the Town Hall. We were directed to a meeting room where Mayor Deverin, Sheriff Hemlock, Kaye Tesarani, and Ilsoari Gandethus were all having a meeting. Father Zantus walked in and took a seat next to the rest of them. I wondered if this was an impromptu council to exile me, and wondered if they would force the same on Savah or if she would be allowed to stay. I noticed that Ameiko, Titus, and Ethram were all not here, so this wasn't something they felt required them, I guess so either they knew how they would vote, or were already certain of the outcome.

Father Zantus asked us to present the evidence that we had regarding who was creating the ghouls. Dame Rebekah came forward and presented the three notes. Sheriff Hemlock put forth that I had identified the penmanship as identical for all three notes. Kaye asked if she could see the notes, and Dame Rebekah shamefully handed them to her. She said that she had seen this penmanship before but could not place it, but that it had been a long time before we had entered this town. She asked Dame Rebekah why it had been addressed to her. Dame Rebekah said that she initially had no clue, but was beginning to suspect that the culprit was infatuated with her. Kaye looked at her like one would look at a calf that just talked and asked simply, "Do you think?"

Mayor Deverin asked us if we had any further leads after we tracked down the victim of the first attack. I stepped forward and told them that when we went to go talk to Grayst, he showed signs of ghoul fever, and was in the advanced stages. We determined that the alienist in charge of the Sanatorium was, in fact, very much aware of the disease that Grayst was suffering from, and was making no steps to remedy it. I added that he had some of his lackeys attack us after Grayst broke free from his restraints and attacked us, before going to summon a necromancer who had taken up residence under the Sanatorium. I showed them all the video of us arriving at the Sanatorium and what happened throughout our visit.

The proto-council watched the video, and asked some follow up questions. Ilsoari was fascinated by the phone and the video it produced. Sheriff Hemlock noted that he had already questioned Faunra, Dame Rebekah, and Jonathan with regards to their opinions of the video, and they all admitted that it happened as the video showed. I wondered for a second why he didn't ask me and then I realized that I had basically poisoned the well for any truth-telling spells, and that my answers could be so outlandish while still true that it might not even help him.

Ilsoari asked if we had tracked down any better information on a culprit. I presented the bloody and soiled surcoat of Rogors, the former footman of Aldern Foxglove. I also showed them all the key with the Foxglove device on it. I noted to Ilsoari that with the letters being signed as "Your Lordship", and Aldern's previous infatuation with Dame Rebekah, he was an obvious choice for being at the center of this vile plan. Ilsoari asked why I thought that it was someone other than Rogors, as the surcoat still had the stench of the ghast upon it. I told him that the former manservant showed no signs of being attacked by the hand-axe that Katrine had used upon her assailant.

Sheriff Hemlock now asked if we had found any link between the victims. Faunra spoke up and said that the only thing that really linked the ones who were sacrificed was that they were exceptionally greedy, as Banny was embezzling money from the mill, the three con men were exactly that, and Farmer Hambley was apparently hoarding a load of silver. Dame Rebekah brought forth the coffer and showed it to the Mayor and the council. Dame Rebekah asked if there was a way that the mayor could get this to the Hambley's relatives. The mayor shook her head and said that the rest of the Hambley's had died in the Unpleasantness, but that she could start a fund for indigent farmers.

I asked if the council if we would need permission to investigate Aldern Foxglove's estate for further clues tomorrow. The Mayor looked at the rest of the council. To a member they all nodded. Mayor Deverin asked us why we thought it was that they didn't have a full council on this issue. I looked to the others and thought for a minute for blurting out that no one in the room was a Noble. Mayor Deverin nodded, and said that even though she would expect that Ameiko would have voted the same as everyone else here, her not being here gave her and the rest of the council cover. Since it wasn't a full council meeting, official decrees could not be made. Since the founders were not present, any decision was null and void anyway, so it wasn't enforceable.

I nodded, and finished by saying that you would be able to ask us to continue looking into it, without being able to order us to look into a Noble. Perfect deniability. You can tell us that we should continue to hunt down the ghouls, where ever that may take us, without specifically saying anything. Mayor Deverin smiled and said that she had been reading the book that I had given her. I congratulated her on taking the teachings to heart so rapidly. There was a lull in the conversation, and Faunra asked if there was any support that the town could provide for the jobs that we were undertaking. The Mayor kind of shrugged and said that at the moment, the council couldn't authorize anything from the town coffers, but that we were entitled to what we found in the pursuit of ending this assault on the town.

Dame Rebekah thanked them for their time and said that we had some things to do to get ready for leaving tomorrow. Sheriff Hemlock thanked us for all our work so far, and noted that Ven had been warned about attacking Savah or me again. I sighed and told him what Lars had told Jonathan and myself. Mayor Deverin sighed, and Kaye asked what this was all about. Sheriff Hemlock explained what he could, and Father Zantus picked up what he knew. Kaye facepalmed and said that everyone knew that Katrine was making those visits to Banny long before any of us arrived in Sandpoint. She added that me trying to get them to be more open about it could have saved her if this had happened later. I shrugged, and said that it didn't and she was still dead, so I could understand his grieving.

Mayor Deverin said that this went far beyond grieving. He was starting to actively plot against the council and the leadership of this town. She said that she would make a pronouncement about this and have the criers point out my innocence. I told her that I had already talked to Jaspar about it and filled them all in on the portions that neither of them knew, including the vandalism the night before and the chasing me up Main Street before the attack. I told them that I was focused on trying to get Katrine's real killer, but that I told Ven that if he assaulted Savah or myself again, I would be defending us. Sheriff Hemlock said that this was much of what Jubal had told him.

The Mayor said that while she didn't appreciate the town becoming anarchy, I had shown restraint in not having him charged for the anything so far. I told them that I wasn't looking to put the man in the ground, but if he continued to come after me, I would defend myself next time. The Mayor shook her head and said that I should try to get to the town guard before I do anything. I replied back that the town guard was busy with keeping the town safe from the ghouls, goblins, and other monsters I had not even encounter yet in this world, and that they didn't need to be my state sanctioned bodyguards. We were at a bit of an impasse, so we left the conversation there for later. Mayor Deverin wished us well in our endeavors and ended the meeting. Ilsoari came up to me and said that Vaeren had made his way back from Magnimar with a wagon load of materials, waiting for me to get here. I thanked him and said that I was heading back to the Armory, if he wanted to send him there.

Dame Rebekah, Faunra, and myself all left the Town Hall and figured what we were going to do. Faunra said that she had some more work to do today on enchanting items, and Dame Rebekah said that she was heading to the Armory to help me train, so we all headed down Main Street towards Alma's Bakery. We stopped in Alma's to pick up some bread for dinner tonight and Alma welcomed us in. Alma told us that Ven had been in earlier, trying to spread rumors about me and distrust towards the town leadership. I told her that I was sorry the Ven had done these things, and she brushed it off, saying that Ven was a hot head but that he wasn't normally vicious. I told her that he had assaulted me right when two guards were in view. She shook her head, and Ven needed to cool down. She then asked us what we were looking for.

I told her that we were just looking for some breads for dinner. She handed us a few loaves and refused any payment, saying that we were doing the town's work, so she could at least throw a few loaves of bread our way. She whispered to us that her doughnut business was booming. Aneka smiled up from the back, telling us that she was enjoying the creativity it offered. I told them that when they were ready to take on another original concept, I'd try to see what else I had. Alma said that she would keep it in mind.

We left from Alma's to head to on to the Armory. I told everyone that by being seen with me, they were likely not going to be allowed to in Ven's General Store. Faunra and Dame Rebekah shrugged and said that they could always go elsewhere, or send their significant others. I thanked them for their support as we turned onto Sand Street. Ven was no-where to be seen, so there were not any issues with us making it the rest of the way to the Armory.

We got to the Armory and went in Savah looked glad to see us. Faunra said that she would be heading to the Magic Item Creation Room, and took with her Dame Rebekah's shield, almost without her permission. We were a bit confused, but let it slide. Dame Rebekah and Savah were talking for a bit, so I sat down and started writing down the records of our exploits to my journal. I got caught up to here when Dame Rebekah cleared her throat in front of me. Savah was standing there as well. They had smiles on their faces. I decided to save my progress.

That was exhausting. I need to figure out if I can trust Pillbug or Nisk with making more Tiger Balm. Savah helped me by rubbing it into the muscles that I could not reach. I thanked her greatly for the help. She said that she was glad to help, and that I was focusing on trying to be a better warrior to defend myself better. She was giving pointers to me while Dame Rebekah was helping as well.

Dame Rebekah had left to go see Chelger before she would be coming back for dinner. Savah asked me if I was going to be going out tomorrow, and I said that I was. I continued by telling her that we were going to be looking into Aldern Foxglove. She raised her eyebrows and said that we were courting danger by going after a noble. I told her that I knew that, and that this was why we went to the Mayor and the Sheriff before we would be heading out tomorrow. Savah said that she guessed that this means that tomorrow will be an early day again. I told her that it was, but that I would be trying to get home quickly too.

She smiled before we heard a knock at the Glassworks door. We got up and got dressed before heading to the door. As we did, I told her that I would be looking into making a setup to work as an alarm or doorbell, to notify us no matter where we were in the building. She said that she liked this idea. We got to the door and it was Vaeren and his wagon. Savah asked what this was all about, and I told her that I would show her when it was all put together. Vaeren noted that he wasn't exactly as strong as I was, so Savah had to help moved her surprise.

We got everything into place, and put into the bath room. Savah was a bit upset at the start, as she still liked to take baths. I told her to just watch, and I got my torch and the solder out. I attached the piping and got everything set up. I got my secondary continual heat rock, and put it into place. We worked to fill up the tank and open the valves. The water started flowing through the system and the Jacuzzi took form. I showed Savah how she could adjust the temperature of the water by adjusting the two valves, one for cold water and one for hot. I showed her how the bubbles are turned on, and she was fascinated. I told her that we could try this out later.

Vaeren said that it took a little to get everything made, and I told him that I had something to show him that would fascinate him, and that he could study it for as long as he wanted before we got into the other aspects of physics, engineering, and other theory. We all went to the workshop and I opened the main valve on my engine. Vaeren watched as the engine turned. He asked how long this would run, and I told him that it would run for as long as the water was in the system, and that it could be regulated by another valve that controlled the rate of water going into it.

Vaeren was fascinated, and I drew up the schematic for it on the chalkboard. He touched the rotating turbine with a piece of wood and the wood shattered. He asked how I was going to use this, and I told him that I would be turning it into a vehicle. He thought for a minute, and said that we could revolutionize the vehicle industry. I smiled and said that was the idea. He asked if he could be a part of the vehicle creation process. I told him that he would have to talk to Savah, as she was the owner of the business. She looked to me and I smiled. I told her that she was a much better salesperson that I was, so that she should be the one to be the face for the industry.

Vaeren asked if he would be allowed to stay here while he learned. I looked to Savah and she shrugged. I told him that there was a spare bedroom left, and we showed him where it was. He told us that he would have to split his time between learning here and teaching at the Academy. I told him that this was fine for my concerns, as I had to leave early tomorrow morning. He nodded and said that he had been told as much from Ilsoari. Savah noted that she had to keep her shop open as well, and that my cousin was living here as well. Vaeren nodded and said that he would try to not disrupt the house.

There was a knock at the Glassworks door, and I went to go get it. It was Dame Rebekah and Chelger. They told us that it was time for us all to go to dinner. I said that I would go get Faunra, and Dame Rebekah said that she would handle it. She keyed up her radio, and got the squawk from the repeating from mine and Savah's radio. Faunra responded that she had just finished and was heading up now. When she got there, she gave Dame Rebekah her shield back. Dame Rebekah grabbed her shield, and noted that it was better than before. She thanked Faunra for her skill in crafting this. Faunra nodded and said that after the ghoul tried to take a bite out of it, she felt that it could stand to be a bit stronger.

I asked Faunra if Shalelu was going to be at this dinner. She nodded and said that she would be calling her shortly. Savah smiled and Vaeren said that he would be willing to look over the Armory while we were gone. I told him that Ven had vandalized the building last night, and that he might send someone else tonight. He said that he wouldn't kill anyone to protect the place, but that he might consider using illusions to scare them off. I nodded and said that I could agree with that, Savah said that she could as well. We all got ready and left the Armory. As we walked up Sand Street, Faunra made a call over her radio and received a response from Shalelu that she was already at The Bolting Barghest, with everyone else.

We walked up Main Street without any kind of conflict. I was being flanked by a virtuous crusader of her Goddess, a bow wielding magus, and a locally skilled warrior and rogue. I had absolutely no worries. We made our way to The Bolting Barghest, and there were a few people there. Jonathan, Shayliss, Oren, and Arika. Oren came over and said that the reason why he wanted to talk to me was that he was going to ask for Arika's hand and wanted my advice. I told him that he could definitely do worse, but that this would tie him to this town forever, and that she should know about him before he asks her to bind herself to him.

Oren said that everyone in this room knew the truth about him. I said that this was good, and asked him when he had talked to Arika about his past. He told me that he had confided in her the first night, after getting really drunk at Cracktooth's with her. She didn't have a problem with it after noting that he was trying to turn over a new leaf. He told me that he had a proclamation from Mayor Deverin that he had changed his name officially to Oren Drake. I shrugged and told him welcome to the family, cousin. He smiled and said that he would still like to look into his sister. I said that I could understand that, after we make sure that the town is safe. I told him that if he wanted, we could try to find some magic item to make him able to contact his sister to tell her of his upcoming ceremony.

Oren sighed and said that he didn't know if his sister would approve of him changing his name. I told her that a name is an important thing, but that blood should be stronger. Oren said that he would think about it. I told him that he should definitely talk it over to his future betrothed. I also suggested that he get a ring, for the occasion. He said that he had not saved up that much money for a ring. I told him that the custom where we were supposed to be from is that it should cost one month of his pay. I asked him how much he made a day from the guard job. He told me that he made a gold a day. I told him that I would talk to Savah, and see if there are any suggestions that she might have.

We went back to the group and sat down. We all started eating from the meals that Jonathan was providing, instead of burgers today, he had made grilled chicken sandwiches. I congratulated him on his variety. He shrugged and said that he was just trying out new things. We went to back to eating and having small conversations. We all enjoyed a good meal, and Jonathan said that we should have a meal like every week like this. We all agreed and said that Jonathan and Shayliss shouldn't bear the brunt of the cost for this. Dame Rebekah noted that we still had the Armory, and the other restaurants in town.

I suggested that we could each pick a restaurant each week. I told everyone that I was willing to start putting into a pool for this. They all agreed and said that they would try to chip in as well. We said that we would look into if for next week, and asked who should pick the next place. I said that Jonathan and Shayliss were the ones who put us up last night and tonight, so they should decide. Jonathan looked to Shayliss and she said that she always liked Risa's Place. I said that they got the sausage, peppers, and onions right, and Savah said that they even had something called a root beer float for dessert.

We all said our goodbyes, and told each other that we would meet up at The Goblin Squash Stables after we all had some breakfast. Savah, Oren, Arika, and myself all went back towards the Armory while Chelger, Dame Rebekah, Faunra, and Shalelu all headed to The Rusty Dragon. We got back to the Armory and aside from a pile of paints, nothing seemed to be out of place. We unlocked the door to the Glassworks and Vaeren greeted us. He told us that some younger youths had attempted to vandalize the property, but he caught them and scared them off with a pair of spells, a ghost sound to make it sound like a dragon roar was coming from behind the Armory and a silent image effect lined up to look like a gargantuan brine dragon's head and neck coming up from behind the Armory toward the sea.

I told him that it was a great combination and he said that it was a fairly standard thing taught back at the schools he went to. We all went in and he said that he made himself dinner, and I told him that he was welcome to it. Vaeren said that he was heading to bed now, and we all wished him good night. Arika said that she had to head home too. Oren walked Arika out and I talked to Savah about what Oren had brought up to me. She said that she could always use help with the Armory. I thanked her for that, and she said that it was the truth. She also noted that he could easily offer up his services training others in the fighting arts.

Oren came back and Savah offered him some extra work around the Armory if he was willing. Oren said that he would be willing as long as it wasn't every day, as he did want to spend some time with Arika before. I told him that he would have to tell her or else she might get suspicious of the time he is spending away from her. Savah noted that she could talk to Arika if he wanted. Oren said that he would tell her, but that he wanted to figure out the best way to do so. I told him that he could use me as an excuse, that I was going to be busier with the solving of the ghoul crisis and we needed his help around the store.

He said that he would think about using this excuse, but that it really needed to be real for him to feel right about it. I told him that the group would be pursuing this until it makes Sandpoint safer, no matter what it takes. I looked to Savah and she looked a bit sad, I quickly added that I would be trying to make it home every night if I could and she smiled a little. Savah said that there were a lot of things that needed to be done around the shop, and that she really could use the help. Oren said that he would think on it tonight.

Savah and I wished him good night and retired to our room for a few minutes before Savah declared that she wanted to try out her Jacuzzi. I told her to strip, and that I'd clean us off first, then we could slip in to bath robes and head over. She smiled and stripped quickly. I followed suit and prestidigitated us clean. We went across the break room where Oren was still deep in his thoughts. I yelled out that the bathroom would be occupied for a bit. He muttered something about it and we went in to the bathroom.

I got the Jacuzzi started with the bubbles and the water, and got the temperatures right. I got the bubbles started and Savah slipped right into the water. I went in after her and we both enjoyed the relaxing effect. She asked me if this was something that I could access frequently back where I was from. I told her that the only times I to use a Jacuzzi back then was when I was travelling for business. She asked me what I did then, and I told her that it was mainly for training. Savah asked if I frequented Jacuzzis with other people, and I told her no. She smiled and said that this was something that we could share together. I told her that it was indeed, and that I hoped that she liked this gift to her. Savah told me that she did and we spent a while in there soaking in the relaxing heat and bubbles.

After a while we got up and I drained out the tub, shut the valve off to the air pumps, and did a prestidigitation cleaning on the tub itself. Savah smiled and I dried us both off with the some more uses of the power. We got into our robes and went back to the room. Savah offered to give me a back rub as I finished this journal entry.