Session Two
The adventurers returned to the Rusty Dragon, where Alexander soothed his anger with a mug of ale. Not one to miss a good time to drink, Brother Niar grabbed his own mug and joined in. With a quick prayer to Abadar, the dwarf dipped his thumb in to his mug of ale and then wiped it over Alexander’s eye. Alexander gave a confused look to Brother Niar before he noticed the pain on his face had been wiped away by the priest’s hand. Brother Niar flicked the rest of the ale to the ground, gave Alexander an amused smile, and continued to drink.
Derrick excused himself for the day, saying he had personal matters to attend to in the city. Alexander wiped off the cold ale from his face and watched the knight leave. While he followed Derrick across the room, his eyes stopped on what appeared to be a diminutive full grown man sitting on a high stool by the bar. He couldn’t have been taller than a child who lived past three winters, and yet his features were distinctly that of a mature adult. Alexander watched with a look of amazement as Amiko produced a small mug for the small man and proceeded to fill it with ale.
Brother Niar watched Alexander’s curious amazement and laughed. He wondered if all humans are so naïve. He asked Alexander if he’d ever seen a gnome before. Alexander shook his head and continued watching. Brother Niar pointed out to him that there were more important things to worry about than races Alexander had never met, like the goblin raid that occurred the night before. Alexander agreed, but he had to know more about the small stranger, convinced that he would never get the chance to meet another if he didn’t approach him now.
Alexander walked over to the gnome and introduced himself. The gnome greeted Alexander with a glint in his eye, which quickly looked him up and down. Judging Alexander was not a threat and didn’t have anything on him worth trying to steal, he introduced himself as Igbot. With a lack of social grace befitting a human raised on a farm, Alexander proceeded to ask Igbot about his gnomish heritage. He asked if there were any more gnomes in the area, how they were able to live in places where everything was so large to them, and an assortment of other questions that Igbot casually answered. Brother Niar watched in disbelief while Alexander asked questions that bordered on insulting. Not a stranger to human curiosity, Igbot could tell Alexander was sincere in his questioning and played along with the conversation.
Alderan Foxglove walked downstairs from his room and joined them at the bar. Amiko placed his meal on the counter for him before he finished pushing his seat in to place. He looked at his plate and asked Amiko why he hadn’t been served any meat. Amiko wiped her hands on her apron and explained that the goblins had either eaten or taken the food stores around the village, so patrons and residents alike had to make do with the food shortage. Alderan snorted in annoyance and ate while he listened in to Alexander speaking with Igbot. He quickly joined in their conversation, with the same amount of interest but with greater insight. Alderan instantly read from Igbot’s clothes and demeanor that the gnome was a capable adventurer. Aware of the adventurer’s nature of accepting requests that had quick returns, he renewed his offer to Alexander and Brother Niar on hunting for boar near the city. He invited Igbot as well, explaining the more in the group the easier the hunt would be. Amiko agreed that more meat would help fill her stores and perhaps aid in feeding some of the injured from the assault.
The three adventurers agreed to go on the hunt. Alderan, beside himself for the event, quickly left the inn and purchased two horses and a pony. He gave the horses to Alexander and Brother Niar, and handed the bridled pony to Igbot. Brother Niar grudgingly took his offer, seeing the gift more for its financial potential than practical use. Were it not for the horse's instant affection towards him, and the boar's den being a couple of hours walk from the city, the dwarf would have outright refused to ride the beast.
Alderan led the group on horseback to the location of a known boar den. On the ride, he questioned his companions about their origins and abilities. Igbok spoke about his prowess with his blade, which he named “Wisp”, about running from the imposed responsibility of the family business, the many blades that adorn his person, what little he knows about the arcane arts, and how long he would be staying in the city. Brother Niar talked about his stay in Sandpoint, his priestly duties in the service of Abadar, and of the various virtues that were inherent in the worship of such a fine deity. Brother Niar would have lectured the entire trip (talking helped him forget he was riding a horse), but Alderan interrupted him to throw a barb at Alexander.
Alexander was watching the path they traveled, trying to memorize it in case it was a good hunting spot, when Alderan asked him if it the dog killed during the onset of the goblin siege belonged to him. Alexander nodded. Alderan chortled and commented on how easily the dog was slain. He mused out loud that the dog must have been very cowardly to have died so quickly without even putting up a fight. Alexander remained silent, tightened his grip on his horse’s mane, and continued riding. He was taught long ago that killing a noble for having a scathing tongue was more trouble than it was worth.
Alderan, unable to catch Alexander’s sudden enmity, continued talking back changed the subject. He spoke about the locations near the city of Sandpoint that adventurer’s might be interested in hearing about. He spoke ancient ruins the people of Sandpoint called “the old light”. He was unable to answer what the ruins were used for prior to their decrepit state, but he mentioned Bropert Quink, the city’s archivist, who would know about the surrounding history. Alderan also spoke about an island near the city, which was occupied by a single small house. He was vague on any details on the island, but again advised that Bropert Quink would have information the group needed.
With an abrupt stop, Alderan told the group they had arrived to the boars’ den. He led them off the main path and to a small clearing in the woods where a lone boar sniffed at what appeared to be a tomb stone. The boar was full grown and massive in size. Igbok remained a distance away, pulled out a dagger, and threw it at the boar before Alexander even notched an arrow. The blade slid in to the boar’s head with a thud as the hilt stopped at the skull. Without even time to squeal, the boar died and fell. Igbok retrieved his dagger from the animal’s skull, and wiped it clean of blood. Alderan didn’t spare a moment before he began praising the gnome’s skill in throwing daggers.
Alexander and Brother Niar went to take a closer look at the tomb stone. Brother Niar commented on how the stone had been hewn to its current shape, and had been created decades, if not centuries, ago. He was unable to tell if it went down any further or if it was part of a larger structure. It was strange to him that anyone would leave such a piece of stone work out in the middle of the wilderness. Alderan cut short the dwarve’s thoughts, and pointed out the sun would set before their arrival to the city if they didn’t leave soon. Alexander quickly prepared the boar for travel, and the group returned to Sandpoint.
Back in the city, they went to the Rusty Dragon and provided Amiko with the fresh boar meat. Amiko gladly took the meat and prepared a delicious meal with it for the group. They were served by an elder female halfling, who introduced herself as a servant for the Lonjiko family. She spoke of the Lonjiko’s other business, which was the glass works factory in the city. She also mentioned several mysteries that have followed the family, one of which was the untimely death of Amiko’s mother. The group finished their meal and called it a night.
Before going to bed, Alexander went out to the stables to check on the horses. Out by the stables, he was greeted by a gangly fellow with long hair. He quickly recognized Alexander as one of the adventurer’s who took part killing the goblins during the raid. With a proud smile he displayed to Alexander ten goblin ears nailed up against a wall of the stables. They spoke about the raid, and Alexander mentioned to him about Father Zantos’ dazed ramblings after the fight had been won. The man commented on how the church has been stolen from in the past, but would not give any further information about what had been stolen. He bade Alexander a good night, and left him to take care of the horses.
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