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The group waved and said their goodbyes as Liseth and Kerr went off to find Father Zantus and see what they could do to help with the attack's aftermath.  "What an ADORABLE couple!" Ameiko swooned.  "Don't you all think so?"  She gave the retreating acolytes a melancholy little smile, as if remembering something both happy and sad.

Alergast nodded agreeably in response to Kellan's question.  "Yes, go ahead and have fun this evening, Guardsman Storval."  He smiled.  "I need to head back home and check on Amele and Aeren.  Aeren especially.  He was really shaken up by the goblin attack.  Sheriff Hemlock has Caul, Argen, and Torv on duty tonight, so we can get some well-deserved rest."  He looked at the Rusty Dragon's proprietor and grinned.  "Don't let them stay up ALL night, Ameiko."

"Alergast!"  Ameiko put her hand on her chest with a dramatically-aggrieved look.  "I'm shocked you even thought you needed to say anything!"  She gave Kellan and Cato a maternal look.  "I'll make sure they don't get into TOO much trouble."  She winked.

Brodert Quink laughed along with everyone else.  "That's my cue, lad."  He said to Cato.  "I'm going to head back and turn in.  It's been a long day for this old man.  Raise a glass for me down at the Dragon, though!"  He grasped the young scholar's hand, gave him a paternal smile, and turned to go.

"Come on, then, everyone, let's be off!"  Ameiko gestured as if leading a charge.  "You come with us too, Pisca.  The Feedbag's only a couple of streets down from the Dragon."

As the four of them walked towards the Rusty Dragon, which was located on Market Street in the south of town, some of Sandpoint’s citizens emerged from their homes (where most of them had retreated to recover from the day’s horrors) to stop and thank Kellan, or Pisca, or Cato, or all of them for their efforts in defense of the town.  Apparently stories of the group's heroism had already been making the rounds.

Ameiko, as you might expect from the proprietor of an inn, was quite the storyteller and conversationalist.  As the group continued its walk, the conversation turned to the events of five years ago from which the town had only just recovered.

"I was a bit preoccupied at the time of the fire as my mother had died right around that time, and my brother left town after a big fight with my father at the funeral. Suffice to say, this town has had more than its share of tragedy as of late, but I think we're finally getting it back together. The work everyone did, pulling together for this festival and the cathedral, just shows how far we've come in the past five years.  Don't you think, Kellan?"  She smiled at the young guardsman.  "Of course," she made a face, "this goblin attack didn't help any."

As the group walked by one of the more particularly done-up storefronts, the conversation turned to the festival preparations.  "Did you know the decorations for this festival were all handmade by members of the local crafts guild?  Rynshinn Povalli, who, I have to tell you, is just one of the nicest people in town, was a particularly big help.  You know the centerpiece in the cathedral square?  They say that if you look at the centerpiece in just the right way, you can become invisible!  I'm not sure how that particular rumor got started, and if it's true I think it's more by accident than by design, but it would certainly be the the kind of thing that's very useful if you want to be around people, but don't feel like dealing with people, you know?"

Before they knew it they had arrived at the Rusty Dragon.  "Here we are!"  Ameiko noted, somewhat unnecessarily.  "Have fun with those rapscallions at the Feedbag, Pisca.  Feel free to join us when you're done over there!"  With that, she opened the door and gestured Cato and Kellan inside with a sweeping flourish.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 20:55, Fri 20 Sept 2013.

Kellan gave Alergast a slight series of nods, rolling his eyes with s grin when he admonishes them about a bed time. He gave a final glance towards Liseth and Kerr at Ameiko's comment, having to agree that the two gentle souls seemed like a good match.

As they walked down Market Street Kellan was met with small waves of relief as he caught sight of, or was thanked by his neighbors and other towns people. In the sudden chaos of the event he had forgotten just how much they could have lost as a result of the attack. Although eloquence was not one of Kellan's strong points, his replies were earnest and down to earth. He really did care about this place and it's people.

By the time the conversation rolled around to the unpleasantness, the young guardsman was again agreeing with Ameiko's assessment of the towns ability to recover."It's a shame it takes something like the Chopper or the fire to really bring us together like that, but it does...and we did recover...and we will after this, Erastil willing"

When they parted at the door of the rusty dragon, Kellan gave a wave to Pisca before acquiescing to Ameiko's invitation. She had also seemed so intimidating growing up, so cosmopolitan and adventurous, so daring. Yet for all that here he was, the young corn fed village boy, dining with wizards, nobility and adventurers. He was obviously still a little overwhelmed, not only due to the days events, but this grandiose aftermath.

Cato was surprised just how many people already knew his name in this town as he, Kellan and Pisca were stopped en route to The Rusty Dragon.  He also started to feel...well, at home, something that he hadn't felt since leaving his parents' estate so long ago.

He found himself nodding along to Ameiko's stories, wishing he had been here five years ago to help the town through the troubles then, just as he had helped today.  But he knew he certainly couldn't run from this town now.  Not before he found out what the goblins had been up to, and more importantly, who had put them up to it in the first place.  He just hoped word of a young wizard named Crispin wouldn't spread too far before he had a chance to complete that task.

But there were ways to forget about that, at least for a night.  And the Rusty Dragon was the perfect place for that.  Ameiko showed them inside and Cato eagerly ordered a mug of ale for himself and Kellan.  Raising his glass to the patrons of the inn, he shouted, "For Sandpoint!"

Liseth knew that there were people that needed to be cared for.  People injured during the attack.  She fully intended to tend to them with whatever she could manage now that she had completely depleted her divine resources.  But she never had a chance; as soon as she and Kerr entered the Cathedral there was Father Zantus shooing them away just as he had at the start of the festival.  Before she knew it Liseth was agreeing with the elderly priest, "Yes Father Zantus.  We'll be back tomorrow then..."  Then the girl found herself back outside the Cathedral alongside Kerr.

"I suppose Father Zantus has everything under control if Ms Hannah and Ms Sanderson are already helping him."  Still holding Kerr's arm Liseth looked about the square pensively; taking in the silent aftermath of the attack.  "Ms Kaijitsu said that she wanted us to visit her inn, the Rusty Dragon.  I don't know where else we can go right now."  With a slight turn she looked towards Kerr, "Kerr, do you know the way to the inn?"

When the two began walking towards the inn, Liseth took the opportunity to bring up a question that she wanted to ask the other acolyte, "Um...Kerr.  When we were at the North Gate, Mr Crispin and Ms Freemish and Mr Storval and me, there was a nobleman that we saved from goblins there.  Mr Aldern Foxglove."  She paused and fidgeted uncomfortably, unsure just how much of how the nobleman acted she should reveal.  "He wants to thank us all over dinner at the Rusty Dragon tomorrow evening.  Can you..."  Liseth looked away from Kerr while she brought up what she wanted to ask him, "Can you come with me tomorrow?  To the dinner with Mr Foxglove?  I mean...if you want to."

Soon after, the pair arrived at the Rusty Dragon.  Liseth entered to quickly see where Cato and Kellan were already seated at a table.  She waved to them before leading Kerr over to their table, "Hello Mr Crispin, Mr Storval!  Father Zantus said that he wanted us to relax, that he has people to help with the injured already."  Once she stood next to their table, she introduced Kerr to them; perhaps not realizing that they might already know the other acolyte, "This is Kerr Mollin.  Kerr, these are some of the people who I helped when they fought the goblins in the square and at the gate."

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The Rusty Dragon is an impressive-looking inn, clearly a labor of love for Ameiko Kaijitsu, who was warmly welcomed with a round of greetings as soon as she entered the establishment.  The consummate performer, Ameiko’s dramatic introduction of Kellan and Cato as two of the “Heroes of Sandpoint” brought a raucous round of applause and several offers of free drinks.

As one enters the Rusty Dragon, there are two distinct portions of the main common room.  To the right (or east) there are three large tables of rough-hewn wood, each surrounded by benches, and several smaller-but-taller tables of polished wood with two or three barstools each.  The bar itself is located in the extreme right (or eastern) part of the room, and seems well stocked with all sorts of liquors of various colors and vintages.

To the left (or western) part of the inn there is a hardwood-floored area raised about 18 inches off the barroom level.  This area seems more suited for dining, with larger round tables of polished wood with actual chairs.  The patrons in this area seem to be doing less drinking and more dining on the fine, spiced far for which the Rusty Dragon is justly famous.

At the northeast corner of the room are stairs leading up to the next level.  Next to the stairs are double-doors through which service personnel will occasionally pass back and forth; to all appearances it leads to a kitchen.  A warm fire is roaring in the hearth right next to the kitchen doors; on the other side of the hearth is a smaller, sturdier door; a window just to the west of it seems to indicate that it leads outside.

The walls are made of cut stone and there are windows placed every 15 feet or so.   Five chandeliers with bright-lit candles illuminate the entire room, giving it a cheery, homey glow that is extremely welcome after the harrowing events of the day.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Mon 23 Sept 2013.

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Things could not possibly be going any better, thought a happy Kerr Mollin.  Well, aside from Sandpoint being attacked.  And all the injuries and property damage.  Things with Liseth could not be going any better, he quickly amended.

And it was true.  Not only had Father Zantus given them the night off (a night off that Kerr sorely needed, given his exhaustion from the events of the day), but Liseth had invited him to go down to the Rusty Dragon with her!  Of course he had quickly accepted, and now they were walking (slowly) south to join the others at Ameiko’s famous inn.  Kerr kind of wished that this moment would last forever.

But it was to get even better than that.  As they walked down to the Dragon, Liseth invited him to a dinner the following night put on by none other than Aldern Foxglove!  The man’s wealth was legendary; Kerr could only imagine the kind of feast that would occur at his bidding.  The most important thing, though, is that he would be spending another evening in the company of the gorgeous, charming, fun, and amazing Liseth Thoradin.  He would have accepted her invitation even if they would be spending the evening digging ditches.

“Of course I’ll accompany you!”  Kerr assured Liseth with a smile as she finished her hesitant invitation.  “It would truly be my pleasure.”  Kerr took her hand and kissed it as he put on his faux-snooty-gentleman airs.  “If we can be sure that the refreshments are up to our standards of quality.”  They both dissolved into laughter.

They talked and laughed as they walked through the town, arriving at the Rusty Dragon far too soon, in Kerr’s opinion.  He held the door for Liseth and bowed as she entered the Inn, following her and taking her arm to help her steer around the more-inebriated patrons and to the table where she indicated her friends were sitting.  He smiled and held out his hand.  “It’s good to see you again, Kellan,” he said.  “And you too, Cato, although I don’t think we’ve ever been formally introduced.  How is it working for Sage Quink?  I can’t remember the last time he actually had an assistant.”

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Cato grinned as Kerr and Liseth walked through the door of the inn.  He waved when they sat at the table.  "So, Father Zantus gave the two of your the evening off, eh?  That's great!  After the day we've had, everyone deserves a little relaxation."

Cato nodded at the young acolyte.  "Yes, it's good to meet you too, Kerr.  I'm sorry we haven't been formally introduced.  Sometimes Brodert keeps me very busy.  In all seriousness, though, it's very interesting working for the sage.  Well, interesting for me, in any case.  He's a fount of knowledge, as the experience he has, and the things he's studied and seen..."

Cato blushed.  "Well, obviously I find it very interesting, and I'm amazed at how much the man knows about the Thassilon and the history of Varisia.  But I've found that most people grow quickly bored when I talk about that.  How long you have been working for the church?"

"Hey! Glad you could join us" he called to the pair as they entered. Kellan had ordered some kind of dark fortifying beer and was busy inspecting the damage done to his chain mail in the good light. He stood and shook Kerr's hand as he approached and gestured to a few empty chairs.

"Good of Father Zantus to let you be for the night, You have certainly earned it" a serving woman walked by with a plate of food that Kellan eyed hungrily but politely, he was obviously anticipating a famous Rusty Dragon meal.

"Hullo," said the gnome after climbing up onto the chair and standing on the seat at the Hero's table where Alergast Barett and Kellan Storval and Cato Crispin and Liseth Thoradin sat along with Lysa's boyfriend who the gnome hadn't really met yet.  "Hi.  I'm Pisca.  Pisca Neep Freemish," she said to the young human.  She curtsied right there on the seat of the chair, then held out her hand to be kissed.

"Sorry, I can't stay long.  I brought Lunk with me down from Junker's Way.  He's a hero too today.  He saved the orphanage!  Yeah!  He's worried he'll offend people with the smell.  Working with junk all day, you know.  So he didn't come in.  We're eating outside instead."

"Well ... "  Pisca swung her arms.  "Just wanted to stop and say hello."  The gnome hopped down and marched off, stopping by Ameiko Kaijitsu to get a couple of cups of water, one for herself and one for Lunk.

It was funny how things could just go on as though nothing had happened.  Here.  At the Fatman.  You'd hardly know there's been a goblin attack today.  People killed.  The town nearly burnt to the ground.  Maybe humans were more resilient than she thought they were.  Maybe she didn't give them enough credit.

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As Pisca received a hearty round of hellos and Cato discussed church work with Kerr, the Rusty Dragon continued on with its course of business, with people talking, laughing, and occasionally approaching the heroes' table and thanking them for their efforts in saving both the cathedral and Sandpoint from goblin-burning.  Pisca quickly went back outside to join Lunk; the others soon retired to their rooms, exhausted from the day's events and in need of rest to prepare them for whatever fate held for them on the morrow.

FADE TO BLACK - Continued in Chapter #2.5:  First Intermission