Still stunned by his demeanor, Liseth could only watch wide-eyed and nervous as the nobleman Mr Foxglove continued to speak with the others while still granting her the majority of his attention.  Her cheeks were still red with embarrassment when he kissed her hand and Liseth only managed a faint nod in response to his question.  When the nobleman finally released her and departed, Liseth brought her hand up to her chest and watched him leave.

"I don't know what to think Ms Freemish," Liseth didn't respond until after Mr Foxglove was too far away to hear her, "he's, um...really very forward.  I don't think that I like it..."  The girl still had a look about her like an animal that was staring at its predator.  "Do I have a boyfriend already?  I don't know...maybe?"  Kerr's image came into her mind.  Was he her boyfriend?

Then she looked towards Cato and Kellan, then to Pisca, "I'm sorry that he called you my henchmen.  Or, um, minions.  I didn't mean for that."  Liseth was holding the hand the was kissed with her other hand, but she sounded very apologetic.

Liseth's blushing diminished, to be replaced by confusion, when Pisca began spouting off various names for their group.  "Adventuring group?"  Liseth had heard about adventurers of course, but she never considered herself to be able to do the same sort of things.  Slaying monsters, exploring ruins and dungeons...she'd never even been in a fight before today.  Would they really want her to be a part of their adventuring team?

She stared at Pisca when a number of gold coins were placed into her hands, "Ms Freemish, where did...is this from the goblins?"  Her cheeks gained a red tinge again and she looked with a mixture of bewilderment and slight horror at the coins in her hands, "It...Ms Freemish, it isn't nice to take money from the dead."

But that was forgotten immediately when Kellan spotted the body of the other guard.  Liseth gasped and ran/limped to where Kellan, and now another Sandpoint guard, were standing over the body in obvious grief.  She gently touched the horrible wound on his neck before withdrawing her hand.  "There...there's nothing that I can do."  Tears welled up in her eyes when she looked upon the dead guard's pale face, "I'm so sorry Mr Storval; the goblins must have gotten him before they started their attack on the cathedral.  He can't...he isn't any older than I am..."

Liseth's shoulders slumped where she knelt over the body.  Then with wavering hands she began to summon water from the air to wash the blood off of the young man.  While cleaning up the body, Liseth began to sing a slow, sad song in a high, gentle voice; while all the while tears streamed down her face for the death of a young man that she never knew.

"Everything dies," said the gnome in a soft voice that, perhaps didn't really want to be heard.  "Life is for the living."

She sighed.

Pisca looked from the bar to the gate, lying on the ground next to the adjoining wall to the body of the young hummie guard.

She sighed again.

"I bet they climbed the wall," she said to no one in particular.  "Then a couple of those badger butts opened the gate for the others.  That's how they got in."

She turned back once again to the humans grieving over their fallen.  She stood and watched.  Time passed.  Or so it seemed to.

"Er, Kellan?  Where did you say you saw that gobbie?  You know, arrow?  Head?  I'm going to take a look."  Once given the place, the gnome leaves the others behind as she searches for the goblin with an arrow in its head.

When Cato saw the body of Dacen Kresk, he felt immediately ashamed.  Of course people had been hurt or killed in this attack.  He mentally kicked himself.  He should have known better.  Even the best-planned Hellknight operations inevitably saw some injuries.  What were the chances goblins could rampage through the town without anyone dying?

Then Cato had a horrible thought.  What about Brodert?  Had the sage made it back safely?  What if the goblins had found him?  He'd have to go see as soon as he could.  But first, he had to do something here.

Cato put his hand on Kellan's shoulder.  "I'm sorry, Kellan.  I'm sorry we couldn't save everyone.  We should make sure something like this never happens again.  Make sure these people didn't die for nothing."

"He...ah..." His voice broke, his eyes taking in a reddish, glossy hue. In truth it was equal part's relief that the Baretts were alright, and sorrow for the loss of his young brother in arms.  "No...we just, found him jut now...like this" he explained to Alergast as he tied off the second leather strip around the boys ankles. The water from Liseths spell damped the cloth but served to clean the boy up so that he looked more presentable.

Listening to Pisca's question he nodded to her and gestured towards where they had been fighting before "Yeah, over there...the wagon that I hit with my axe...he should still be in there." He ran a hand over his face and exhaled deeply "Your right Cato" he agreed with a nod " We fought well...but...Dacen's death is not on our hands...this goblin...the chief...Gorgut...Gormut...whoever he is, he's the one that needs to answer for this" his words taking on an edge as he handed both his and Daven's weapons to Alergast before stooping to pick up the body.

Dacen had only been 16, but well built and clad in chainmail. Kellan shifted his grip on the body as he straightened then nodded as if he was ready to go, making his way towards the Cathedral as a steady pace.

"Thank you all...for the kind words" he assured them "I just don't know what I'm going to tell his parents" giving Alergast a knowing look.

"Tell them that his last thoughts were of them.  That the only thing that mattered was keeping his family safe.  That he fell while bravely defending Sandpoint..."  Liseth kept her eyes downcast when Kellan hefted the body of Dacen.  She walked solemnly behind Kellan when he started carrying Dacen towards the Cathedral.

Suddenly she reached a hand up and tugged on the back of Kellan's uniform.  "Mr Storval?"  She moved to look up into his eyes, "Don't be angry Mr Storval.  Anger only makes things worse, and leads to more people getting hurt."  Then Liseth continued following him back to the Cathedral.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Wed 18 Sept 2013.

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The four of you, along with Alergast Barett, led a somber, quiet procession back to the cathedral square.  Kellan took the lead; he carried young Dacen’s lifeless body as if it were the most treasured possession he could ever hope to possess.  As you walked the road back to the cathedral, other citizens of Sandpoint, most still in shock from the attack, quietly watched, murmured subdued blessings, or removed their headgear out of respect for what amounted to the eldest Kresk boy’s funeral procession.

When you arrived at the cathedral square you saw scores of people grouped around five sheet-covered bodies laid reverently on the ground.  Two of the bodies, so much smaller than the others, had couples kneeling near them who wept with such an unfathomable sorrow that it made the prospect of joy seem distant and unimaginable.  Torches had been lit; their flickering illumination served only to underscore the solemnity of the occasion and the finality of what had occurred.

The crowd moved aside seemingly of its own volition as Kellan strode forward with a slow, steady pace to, almost ceremonially, lay Dacen Kresk’s body next to the others.  As he did so, Kellan was shocked to recognize the body of Lerric Jumberlee, a middle-aged Sandpoint guard who had been a mentor and father-figure to almost every single one of the current guards, and whose constant battle with his waistline would finally end.  He also saw the bodies of Saddra Niccoran, an older woman who had lived in Sandpoint for time out of mind, and Bax Dunner, a glassworker whose grevious wounds indicated he had not gone down without a fight.

Alergast, his face white, knelt down next to the older guardsman’s corpse, supporting his head with one hand as he placed the other reverentially on Lerric’s body.  After a moment, his shoulders began to shake; he then dissolved into the deep, wracking sobs that are the almost-physical response to unendurable grief.  Lerric was the man who had convinced Alergast to join the Sandpoint Guard, Kellan knew; he had always treated the big man like a son.

Lerric had treated all of them like sons.

Liseth’s sorrowful observation of these proceedings was interrupted by Kerr Mollin, who walked up to her, took her hands, and stared at her with hollow eyes.  She could see from the blood on his white acolyte’s uniform that he had spent the attack healing and ministering to those injured in the assault.

As Kerr’s eyes filled with tears, he enveloped Liseth in an embrace that she was sure he would have been too embarrassed or hesitant to bestow in any vaguely-normal situation.  “I was so worried about you,” he whispered in her ear.  “When I saw you weren’t among those who made it into the cathedral.  So worried.  And then I heard you were fighting . . .”  He held her tightly, trembling, as if he thought she might be a dream or vanish into the vapor of his imagination.

Cato was relieved to see Brodert Quink in the crowd, alive and uninjured.  The old sage had clearly been looking for the young man, and when their eyes met his face broke out into a smile so broad that Cato could almost see the incredible tension dissipating through it.  Quickly masking his joy out of respect for the solemnity of the occasion, Quink walked over and grabbed the young wizard’s hand with both of his, as if he had feared that he might never be able to grasp it again.

The scholar looked at Cato.  “I am glad to hear you are well, lad,” he said, with a slight hitch to his subdued voice.  “Very glad.  The stories people were telling . . . well, let’s just say you and your friends probably won’t need to buy drinks in this town anytime soon.  They had you fighting off 20 goblins and a small squadron of goblin cavalry near the Northern Gate!  I didn’t think . . . well, just know I am glad to see you up and about, Scholar Crispin.”

Their reunion was interrupted by Father Zantus, who raised his voice and called all in the square to the traditional Rite of Passage for the Dead.  As the priest read through the liturgy, receiving the traditional responses from those gathered, Pisca stole through the edges of the crowd, searching for the goblin that had died to the mysterious arrow.

Her sharp eyes found what she was looking for.  The dead goblins had been piled in a corner of the square.  As the call and response of the humans’ religious rite concluded, Pisca looked at the strange black-fletched, black-shafted arrow sticking out of one goblin’s skull and thought about what, if anything, it might signify.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 07:05, Wed 18 Sept 2013.

For a moment ... for the briefest of moments, Pisca's heart had skipped a beat.  Gnomes.  The gobbies had killed gnomes.  She hadn't even known that there were any other gnomes in Sandpoint.  But then the human couples gathered around the bodies made the scene clear.  They were human children.  Humans were very touchy about their children.  There would be a lot of anger here.  A lot of anger.  Pisca, the Bystanding Gnome, slipped away and into the crowd.

A black arrow.  Pisca ran a small gnomish finger along one dark feather of the black fletching.  Who would use a black arrow?  One does not accidentally fall into using arrows of pure black.  (Well, maybe.  A mistaken shipment.  A special discount price.  Maybe.)  One *usually* doesn't fall accidentally into the use of black arrows.  That takes a special purpose.  Or ... a special obsession.

The gnome pushed the big hummie hat back on her head and ran her eyes over the pile of goblin dead.  Had this been the only goblin to fall to a black arrow?  The gnome looked up, and then about, her eyes taking in the streets and alleys, the roofs and walls.  Where had the arrow been shot from?  Kellan didn't see the archer.  How far away would the archer have to have been?  Pisca shook her head.  Won't be finding that out anytime soon.  She drew a blade and cut the shaft at the point where it entered the goblin's head, coming away with a black feathered stick.

With the half-arrow gripped in one hand like a scepter, the gnome made her way back to the mourning crowd.  As she weaved through the forest of humans she wondered how Jubrayl had done during the attack.  Could it hurt to pay a social call?  Did she care?

---

Knowledge Local roll please, for information on who might use arrows with both black fletching and a black shaft.

Perception Take 20 to spot other black arrows in the pile of bodies.

Also, is the arrow Right-sized?  Or is it sized for one of the Big People?

Cato's face brightened in a smile when he met Brodert in the crowd outside the cathedral.  Just as quickly, his expression changed somber as the Rite started.  After it had ended, Cato addressed the sage.

"It's good to see you, Brodert.  I was worried when the chaos overtook the town.  I should have realized you'd be far away from any excitement."  Cato's expression brightened a little, then darkened again as he continued.

"Do you know anything about the local goblin tribes?  Have they ever staged anything like this before?  Is this the work of just one tribe, or several?  I admit I've been reading too much about Thassilon to pay attention to more current developments."

As they talked, Cato walked over to Pisca, and briefly introduced the gnome and the sage.  "Is that the mysterious arrow, Pisca?  Any leads as to who else was fighting the goblins?"

Pisca tipped her head up to meet the gaze of Cato Crispin and the older human mage.  "Hullo, Brodert Quink."  The gnome offered a grim smile, appropriate for the death and mourning that filled the air.  She held up the half-arrow of which the young human mage had enquired.  "Do you see this?  This is hummie ... er ... human-sized.  It was fired by a Big Person.  The black shaft and the black fletching are not common.  No one makes black arrows without a purpose.  And, the only reason I can think of for using a black arrow is night hunting.  That and one other reason.  To send a message.  I think someone uses these arrows to say, 'This is me and you'd better watch out.'"

"I found two more beside this one in goblins on the pile back there.  Each of them was sunk into a gobbie head.  That's good shooting."

Pisca shook her head, her mouth dimpled into a moue of thought.  She held the half-arrow up to the sunlight as though greater illumiation might bring her the bright light of inspiration.  She shook her head again.

"I can't help thinking that I'm missing something.  That I should know this.  Someone with arrows like this should be known.  But no," she sighed, "I don't know who's arrows these are."

"Oh badgers.  This will bother me all day.  I'll keep thinking about it.  It's as though it's on the tip of my tongue.  Aaaghrrr.  I hate this.  Don't you?  Don't you hate this too?"

---

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"Hmmmmmmm."  Brodert Quink took the arrow from Pisca and inspected it closely, running the tips of his fingers along the wood and lightly brushing them over the feathers.  "This is very interesting."  He handed it back to Pisca and looked at her seriously.  "I do not know for a certainty of any local persons who might use this sort of arrow," he said thoughtfully, "but now that I think on it I recall an incident that occurred many years ago, if you'll indulge my recollection."  He gave Pisca an apologetic sort of smile.

"At that time, a group of slavers was apparently operating in the area between Sandpoint and Magnimar.  People were disappearing from homesteads and travelers were abducted from the roads.  It was a terrifying period, to tell you the truth, even for those living in Magnimar, as I was at the time.  None of the authorities were really equipped to deal with these ruffians; I remember that a couple of members of the Sandpoint Guard were assigned to patrol the road, and both were horribly killed and staked out next to it."  The scholar's expression indicated how distasteful he found this.

The older sage sighed.  "Magnimar had bigger issues to deal with than road security, apparently.  Then one day a caravan found the bodies of 27 men carefully staked next to the road in the exact same manner that the Sandpoint Guard had been.  From the descriptions I heard most of them had an arrow that looked much like this one buried in their skull."  He gestured at the arrow Pisca held.

"One of these arrows was plunged into the chest of the man who was apparently the slavers' leader.  Attached to it was a card of some sort.  This card carried the emblem of the Eagle Knights and a warning to slavers that this was the end to which they would come if they ever operated in the area again."

"There were no attacks after that; everything went back to normal.  There was a lot of speculation about who might have been responsible, let me tell you.  A group of itinerant Eagle Knights?  Members of the Twilight Talons?  Some other group that wished to divert suspicion or attention by foisting it off on one of the most famous anti-slavery organizations in the world?  It was much discussed in the taverns for months after, believe me."  He shrugged.  "The mystery remained unsolved, and eventually faded from memory.  But who knows?  Perhaps the mysterious attacker or attackers are still around.  Or perhaps there is someone who is emulating them?  Or maybe it's all just happenstance.  There are many possibilities, but we really don't know enough to say for certain."

He smiled at Pisca.  "But is certainly is very interesting, don't you think?"  He turned to Cato.  "I'm afraid that goblin organization and habits are not one of my specialties, my friend.  You know who you should try and track down is Shalelu Andosana.  She knows EVERYTHING about the goblin activity around here.  She comes into town once every three months or so."  He nodded.  "But if I recall correctly she was just here recently so she might not be back for a while."

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This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Wed 18 Sept 2013.

The gnome gave a profound nod once the story was done.  "Those are some people who like to send a message, alright."

"Shalelu Andosana ...  Shalelu Andosana ...  Where have I heard that name before?  I've heard that name.  Aaaahh!"  Pisca the Knowledge Deprived frowned and folded her arms across her chest.  "Never mind," she said in a cross voice.  "I'll know it when I'm ready to know it and not before."

"I'll tell you one thing I do know about, though.  I know about gobbies," said the gnome as she threw and exclamatory finger into the air.  "The local tribe on the Lost Coast is the Mosswood tribe lead by Big Gugmut.  But there are at least two other tribes here.  See that one there," and the gnome pointed at one of the bodies on the pile of goblins.  "That's a Licktoad.  And that one there.  That's a Seven Tooth.  Somebody's gotten three tribes to work together!  Maybe all five!!!"

"And I know it wasn't Big Gugmut," Pisca added.  "He's strong and has a reputation as a terror.  But, from what I hear, he couldn't organize his way out of a soap bubble.  No.  There's someone else behind this.  Someone who's probably still out there now."

"Any interest in going down to the Fatman's Feedbag?" she asked the others without a proper consideration of her question, "I have to find someone down there."

For once Liseth did not seem embarrassed by the display of affection.  When Kerr put her into an embrace Liseth shook lightly for a few moments before bursting out in tears and hugging him tightly against her.  The girl laid her head against Kerr's chest while she sobbed, "It's so awful Kerr.  So many people hurt and killed.  Even little children.  Why would the goblins want to hurt so many people?  Why did they want to destroy the Cathedral?"

Liseth continued to hold Kerr throughout Father Zantus's reading of the Rites, slowly putting a stop to her sobbing and calming herself, however slightly.  "I was so scared Kerr; when one of the goblins tried to get me, riding a horrible monster dog.  He slashed at me, with a wicked curved blade.  It must have gotten caught up in my robe, I think.  But Mr Storval saved me..."

She sighed wearily against Kerr, "I'm so tired Kerr.  I've never felt drained like this before.  It was all that I could do to help everyone when the goblins kept cutting and stabbing them.  Mr Storval and Ms Freemish, they were hurt so badly.  I thought that they would be killed if I was anywhere else."  Finally Liseth looked up into Kerr's eyes, "I'm sorry that I made you worry about me."

Kellan had managed at least the semblance of a stiff upper lip during the procession, but when Alergast lost it, Kellan quickly followed suit. Embracing Dacen's shrouded  body he wept openly, his tears joining the dampness from Liseth's cleaning. Inhaling with a congested sound he wiped at his nose with his uniform sleeve only to find it caked with rapidly coagulating blood, mostly his own, he thought.

The oldest and the youngest of their number, one comfortably on his way to his hard won twilight years, to playing with his grandchildren and napping in the sun. The other with so much potential, bright eyed and enthusiastic, just like Kellan had been. "It easily could have been me...a few years ago...this would have been me" he thought to himself as he turned to his mentor with an exhausted, knowing expression. "How many friends and neighbors has he lost over the years?" He wondered "How many nightmares kept from his family? how many graves dug for friend and foe?"

Embracing Alergast and giving him few pats in the shoulder, he looked around him now, noted the survivors, Kerr and Liseth trying to find a little comfort, Cato and Pisca looking pensive. He decided to join Brodert's impromptu history lesson, listening from the periphery as he explained the story.

---

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Kerr Mollin was exhausted.  He had never had an evening, or a week, or even a month where he had seen so many hurt, terrified, and panicked people.  When the goblins had attacked he and Father Zantus had worked almost as one to get as many people as possible into the cathedral, not a few of whom had sustained cuts or other injuries from the goblins rampaging among them.  For a while he had been unable to think of anything but calming and healing those people.

Once he had realized Liseth was not among those safely in the cathedral, though, he had been worried sick about her.  While he had been incredibly proud when Katrine Vinder walked in, singing Liseth’s praises and telling all who would listen how the young acolyte had saved her life, her news that Liseth had gone with others to fend off further attackers had made him sick with anxiety.  He had quickly walked outside to see her disappear to the north.  He had never prayed so hard to Desna for anyone’s safety as he did for Liseth's right at that moment.

Now she was in his arms, holding him close, telling him how she had saved Kellan Storval and the excitable gnomish girl from certain death.  He held her tighter as she recounted her tale of bravery and heroism, but when she apologized for worrying him, he reluctantly pulled back, took her by the shoulders, and looked deep into her eyes.

“Liseth, you never have to apologize to me for following your heart.  You are meant to heal and help people.  Anyone can see it.  You can’t stand idly by while others put themselves in harm’s way if you are able to help.  Your heart is too big and too generous and too open for that.  It’s one of the reasons I love . . .”  At this Kerr suddenly realized what he was saying, flushed a deep crimson, and looked down at his feet.  “Um, I, uh . . .”

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This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

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Kerr was saved from his mortified embarrassment when none other than Ameiko Kaijitsu herself joined the small group.  “If you don’t mind my interruption, I just had to come by and say how amazing you all were during the attack,” she said, indicating Cato, Pisca, Kellan, Liseth, and Alergast with a sweep of her arm.  “I’ve done some heroing in my day, but nothing on this scale.  Alergast, you were a BEAST at the Undercliff Bridge.  An absolute beast!  And the way you four defended the cathedral, then saved Aldern Foxglove himself?  Stuff of legends, my friends.  Stuff.  Of.  Legends.  Let me tell you now, Sir Foxglove is going out of his way to ensure that you be treated like the heroes you are.”  She gave Liseth a saucy wink.

“Why don't you all come by the Rusty Dragon tonight, especially if you don't have a place to stay.  All five of you get free room and board for the next week.”  She sighed.  “Yes, I know you have a house Alergast, but maybe you and the missus can sneak off for a night.” She gave him an impudent grin.  “I look forward to seeing you all down there!”

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This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

The problem with crowds was that there were always so many interesting things going on in them.  There were just so many avenues presented to a gnome in a crowd.  So many different things to follow.  So many potential moments of note to become involved with.  So many different emotions to feel.

Pisca took a step in the direction of Liseth and young Kerr Mollin.  She was just about to take a second step, which was to be combined with a hearty congratulations on their blossoming romance, when she heard her name spoken by the voice of Ameiko Kaijitsu.

"I don't have a place to say," Pisca said unnecessarily and raised her hand.  "I would like a free room," she said next and, once again unnecessarily, raised her hand a little higher.

Then, switching subjects according to some set of unfathomable dynamics that churned away within the gnome's brain, Pisca dug an elbow into the thighs of both Kellan Storval and Cato Crispin and she said, "See.  I told you she had a boyfriend."  Which, of course, she had not.

Cato nodded at Brodert.  "Shalelu Andosana.  I'll have to keep a lookout for her.  Maybe she'll hear about what happened here today and come back early to investigate.  Or maybe we could even find her.  Does anyone know where she patrols out in the hinterlands?  In any case, you've been as helpful as ever, Brodert."

Cato gave the old sage a pat on the back, which unconsciously turned into a half-hug.  The young wizard was still happy Brodert had escaped unscathed.

His ears perked up at Ameiko's offer.  "Well that's something, anyway.  I bet if Shalelu's going to turn up anywhere, it'll be at the Rusty Dragon.  May as well take advantage of that while we look for her."  He turned to look at the gnome and smirked.  "Maybe you can fill me in on everything else you think you've already told me, particularly about the goblin tribes.  I'm very interested in WHY this happened.  Why would someone send at least three separate goblin tribes against Sandpoint today?"

Kellan glanced to his feet at Ameiko's praise despite himself. If she had her way the defense of Sanpoint would be as long and epic as a  Linnorm saga come mid night, she did love to talk and certainly had a flare for the dramatic.

"The Rusty Dragon tonight, the Fox Glove estate tomorrow, we will be fat as toads if this keeps up"

He gave the former adventurer a weary smile and a nod "That's quite the kindness Ameiko, thank you"

Then to Cato and Pisca "I imagine Shalelu would know the most about the workings of the tribes...not that you don't of course" he added to Pisca "Goblins are just her speciality...and she has spent a good amount of time in the region"

Moving to take the weapons back from Alergast, he gave the blade a once over looking for chips, burrs or fractures as he spoke to his mentor.

"I can have these cleaned up by morning, provided that the Sheriff see's fit to send us home...not sure if he is going to want extra patrols tonight or...well I suppose we will see" he was rambling a little to distract himself from the emotion of the day "I can't tell you how glad I was when I saw that you and yours were ok...It's a good thing the Cathedral is finished, I have cause for no small amount of prayer"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

"Yes, and I just got here a few weeks ago," the gnome said, adding to Kellan Storval's list of reasons why Shalelu just happened to know more than Pisca at the moment.

"I'm interested in why someone would send three or more goblin tribes at Sandpoint too, Cato.  Well, less about why than about how.  That can't be very easy."

"As to why?  Well, why is probably as related to when as much as it is to where.  I mean, today is the festival right?  That means a lot of people all gathered in one place.  People coming into town from the farms.  No one out there to see the waves of little badger butts sneaking in.  Probably less patrolling of the roads into town too and more guards actually in town.  Isn't that right, Kellan?"

"Why might have something to do with the new Cathedral too.  Today's the day your christening it, right?  Or is that just for ships?  Religious intolerance rears its ugly head.  Or maybe they just hate the fact that you're all so happy and together.  Call it a generalized we-ness envy."

"Hmm.  I should wander down to the Feedbag.  It's ... "  The gnome pointed a finger straight forward then began turning in a circle until she faced south.  "It's that way."

"I think I'll stop in and see how Lunk fared as well.  I'll see you at the Rusty Dragon this evening," she said waving a small pink hand behind her.

Liseth either missed the significance of Kerr's slip of the tongue or chose not to acknowledge it at the moment to save him any extra embarrassment.  Either way, she didn't respond or react until Ameiko Kaijitsu stepped forward to give her own praises to the group, interrupting the young man's stammering.

She frowned slightly when Ms Kaijitsu mentioned Mr Foxglove and then winked at her.  Liseth had forgotten about the nobleman for the moment, and his actions towards her.  With a glance up at Kerr, she began to think that maybe she could get him to come to this dinner with Mr Foxglove, just keep the nobleman from...maybe asking her something that she didn't want him to ask.

"That's very kind of you Ms Kaijitsu.  I've never stayed in a place like the Rusty Dragon before," Liseth responded to the older woman's offer.  "I don't think that I was all that amazing like you said though.  I mean, Mr Storval and Ms Freemish and Mr Crispin, they did all of the fighting."

Liseth thought for a moment, "I suppose that Father Zantus wouldn't mind if I stayed somewhere other than the Acolyte quarters for a few days though."  Then she follows up quickly, "I mean, if you really want to let me stay at your fancy inn."  With a look back at Kerr, then the Cathedral, the girl finished, "But I think that they'll need me here for a while before I can go there.  There must be an awful lot of cleaning up to do."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Fri 20 Sept 2013.

Cato waved goodbye to the gnome as she went on her merry way. "See you tonight, Pisca!"  He nodded to Liseth.  "And you too, I hope. Don't let Father Zantus keep you here too long."  Finally, Cato smiled at Brodert and Kellan. "I'm all for heading to the Rusty Dragon now. Anyone want to join me until Pisca and Liseth can join us?"

Kellan nodded to Cato

"I could use a bath...and a good meal, I'll join you if your alright with it?" He looked to Alergast for permission, the man was still his superior officer after all. "All I've heard about for the past few years is how good the food is at the rusty dragon, if hunger is the best spice, tonight is the night to try some" he added in a weary way

"We will all meet up later than?" He agreed as Pisca went on her merry way and Liseth remained with what certainly appeared to be her boyfriend. "Sounds good"

Looking again to Cato he hefted his pole axe and nodded "Shall we?"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:39, Fri 20 Sept 2013.

With a look back to Cato and Kellan, Liseth gave a slight nod.  "Okay.  I'll try to go to the Rusty Dragon before it becomes too late.  But I think that there will be a lot of work to do here.  I don't want to leave with the whole Cathedral a mess."

Liseth grabbed Kerr's arm to support herself, "Let's go find Father Zantus, Kerr.  He'll certainly need our help after what happened tonight."

OOC: Liseth will only show up at the Rusty Dragon if Father Zantus specifically tells her to go and leave the cleaning for later.  If not, she'll probably wind up collapsing in the Acolyte Quarters after helping the priest in any way that she can.

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Abstalar Zantus was absolutely exhausted.  He had been up before the crack of dawn preparing for both the Swallowtail Festival and the cathedral's consecration; now he had just concluded a Ceremony for the Dead he could never have anticipated.  The goblin attack on Sandpoint had been as draining as it was unexpected; he had expended almost all of his divinely-gifted energy on healing and still had some patients, currently sleeping on beds in his now-packed infirmary.

Father Zantus looked up as the cathedral doors opened, in walked young Kerr and Liseth.  The priest smiled; both of them had done incredible work today, and been a true credit to the church.  The townspeople were talking about their efforts and heroism in the same breath as they did that of Alergast Barett, Kellan Storval, that gnomish girl and Sage Quink's gifted assistant.

The older man did not even let the younger two open their mouths.  "Out!" He said, with a gentle smile.  "You two have done far more than enough for today.  Hannah and Willow have volunteered their services in the infirmary this evening.  So we will all be relaxing this evening and getting a good night's sleep!"  He looked at the two with mock sternness.  "So go out, get something to eat, and try to unwind a little bit.  There will be more than enough work for all of us in the coming days."  With that, Father Zantus gave them a blessing, then made a shooing gesture at the door.

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FADE TO BLACK - Continued in Chapter #2a:  The Rusty Dragon