General Summary
25th Rova, 4707 AR
The group wakes up in their taverns. Apparently the White Deer is more for breakfasts and Rusty Dragon is more of a dinner place.
Naeric remembers the map store exists. Veznutt Parooh is there drinking tea and excitedly greets them. It's 5gp for a map of the area, discount to 3gp. Theodore arrives late and bluffs that the map is slightly inaccurate (poor cousin Blindleblar) and gets the price down to 2gp, which they split four ways. They determine that Naeric can hold it due to his park ranger experience near his hometown of Green Gold.
On their way back to the White Deer, Naeric asks Espa where she's from..... Magnimar. "Why did you leave?" There is an incredibly long pause and she says she left to learn about the Lantern King, which she saw in her dreams, and is chagrined after saying it out loud.
The group admires the colorful names for local landmarks and discuss ways to scout out Thistletop. Perhaps by boat? Look from the three cormorants? Satashi isn't that comfortable on the water, and hasn't been on the sea.
Here be monsters
While they check their pockets, a local woman named Barrett runs through the street crying through about goblins. Satashi checks it out and takes the lead, Espa follows. Naeric doesn't rise from his seat, preferring to cast a bewildered glance at Theodore instead -- they continue their discussion, expecting the others to be right back.
Not so, the woman is distraught. She frantically explains that her son kept having nightmares, but they were true after all -- he has goblin bites on his arm. Her husband is trying to fight the goblin, come quickly! They rush to the small house in the middle of town. Cautiously, they investigate.
Satashi discovers the closet, which has a dead husband with his shoulders down a hole in the floor. The kitsune tries to intimidate whatever is down there. Espa throws an acid ball which splashes down on the creature, who rushes out with an angry shriek. It is an emaciated goblin with a shiv!
Espa whiffs twice, Satashi manages to step back and shoot him. Espa lobs more acid, then uses Guidance on Satashi. The goblin rushes out and tries to hit Satashi unsuccessfully, who steps back and blasts fox fire in his face! A puff of spores appear around Espa (casts Tanglefoot) and she throws out a fungal tendril to wrap around the legs of the goblin, "Satashi, get to the door!"
The goblin slashes at the mycelium around his legs, then dives under the bed. They retreat to the bedroom. They try to taunt him, and Espa mentions jerky, which makes him peek out around the door frame. Espa promises the jerky and throws something onto the floor. The goblin rushes up and shoves it into his mouth without question. It is soap.
"Longshanks' jerky bad," it spits. Satashi shoots him! Espa steps back and burns him with acid again, and he scrabbles at his burning face and dies. Espa realizes that he must've been leftover from the raid after a couple days. Satashi steps outside and gently informs Amele that Aldergast has died. A guard is finally there and talks with Amele, goes over what happened, escorts to the Cathedral to stay. Something about a sister out of town.
Reunion
Theodore and Naeric finally wander over after the 15 minutes passed, and located the house.
"What happened? You just didn't come back"
"Ah well I guess I kinda just foxed off."
The group discusses the next course of action, and decide they want to charter a boat ride to the three cormorants, where they would be able to see Thistletop. They split up.
Naeric and Satashi speak to Belven Valdemar at the shipyard. He greets them as the "famous goblin killers", and thinks they're trying to charter a boat to look for the Murdermaw, a rumored giant red snapper lurking in the Varisian Bay. They are unable to persuade him otherwise, but he gives them a list of suitable vessels.
Meanwhile, Theodore and Espa head into the Fatman's Feedbag, trying to look casual. They blunder their way into talking to Lera Clanhorn, who Espa convinces that Teddy Remmy is leading a band of intrepid heroes to check out the Three Cormorants on important business. Lera agrees to take them on her boat, the Husky Zephyr for 2 cp apiece.
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