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You have clearly become heroes of Sandpoint, both individually and in the aggregate.  As Cato was walking down Main Street, baker Alma Avertin charged out of her shop to offer him a fresh-baked loaf of bread and worried comments that he must be wasting away.  Much to her embarrassment, Cydrak Drokkus tracked down Liseth and tried to talk her into auditioning for his new play, not-very-subtly insinuating that having such a famous personage in the cast would help ticket sales.  Pisca's visit to Savah's Armory greeted her with an instantaneous offer of 20% off anything in stock for her or any of her heroic friends.  And when Kellan stopped at the Hagfish on an errand, the entire tavern broke into cheers and plied him with free drinks.

The four of you are, for lack of a better term, celebrities.  And not in small part because, as all of you have heard from various Sandpoint locals, Aldern Foxglove has been singing your praises to anyone who will listen.

As the appointed hour of seven arrived, you headed down into the common room to find a table in the northwest corner set with an immaculate white tablecloth and very fine-looking dishes.  Three ornate silver candlesticks held lit white tapers and the silverwear gleamed from a recent polishing.

Aldern Foxglove sat at the head of the table, looking resplendent in the finest of Magnimar fashions, his dark blue coat and its gold stitching perfectly setting off his pristine white shirt.  Amazing smells issued from the kitchen; you are sure that Ameiko and her staff are putting their best efforts into the meal you will be served this evening.

Aldern broke into a huge smile when he saw you enter the room.  "My friends," he said, in a loud, stentorian voice.  "My rescuers!  Please, join me for a celebration of your heroism and," he laughed, "my continued existence!"

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Kellan came down the stairs in a newly washed off white cambric shirt, brown pants and boots. Freshly shaved and scrubbed his blond hair had taken on a golden sheen and he looked renewed by his day off. A dagger hung off the leather belt around his waist, although the weapon looked polite enough and polished to boot.

Giving a nod as he entered the reserved section of the rusty Dragon he smiled and moved to shake Aldern's hand.

"You really didn't have to do this Mr. Foxglove, but thank you, all the same"  selecting one of the chairs he gingerly took a seat, obviously unused to dining in such luxury, he even looked down to make sure that his dagger would not scratch the finish on he chair.

"You are looking well, I have to say, that is quite a coat" he gestured with his off hand, admiring the garment.

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Aldern grasped Kellan's hand warmly, then gestured him toward a seat with a smile.  "As much as it pains me to disagree, Mr. Storval, I did indeed have to do this.  I would be greatly remiss if I did not reward the heroism you and your companions showed in front of the White Deer last night."

"And thank you."  The noble smiled at Kellan's comment regarding his coat.  "It is my favorite!  Although I have come to realize that in certain situations," he gave a self-deprecating grin, "utilitarian armor is much better raiment than even the finest of Magnimarian fashions."  He slapped Kellan on the back.  "I am quite fortunate that it was your choice of dress last night!"

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The gnome appeared at the appointed time, and, surprise of surprises, she was dressed in a skirt and and blouse rather than her Shoanti leathers.  A crimson sash overlaid an underbust corset of the deepest burgundy, which separated her long night-black skirt from her creamy white blouse - a frilly thing that, revealed a generous amount of gnomish cleavage.  As they say, the clothes make the gnome, and that seemed very much the case with regard to Pisca.  She walked and carried herself much differently than she had in the leathers.  She was very much the lady, albeit a Right-Sized one, far smaller than the human's around her.

"Good evening, Mister Foxglove," said the gnome as she once again held up her hand for the human to kiss.  This time, however, her attention was less upon the man, and more upon a nearby chair.  As attractive as skirts and dresses might be, they were not designed with climbing in mind, a climbing that would be necessary if a certain gnome wished to get herself up into a human-sized chair.

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"Good evening, Miss Neep Freemish," Aldern responded as he knelt, took her proffered hand, and gave it a gentle kiss.  "You look lovely!  I must apologize for my deplorable manners yesterday evening.  I was somewhat out-of-sorts, as you might guess, from all the commotion, but that is no excuse for rudeness and I plan to make it up to you tonight, starting now."

He walked back behind his chair, leaned down, and came back with a stepped wooden box.  "I hope you won't think me too forward or in violation of your people's customs," he said, leaning down and placing the box next to Pisca's chair, "if I have procured this for you.  I did not want such a finely-attired lady to bear the ignominy of either climbing the chair like a cliff or having someone set you upon it."  He bowed, then looked up to see her reaction.  "I hope it meets with your approval?"

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"Why Mister Foxglove, what deplorable manners might you be speaking of?  Nothing that I noticed, I assure you."

"Oh my.  How terribly considerate of you, Mister Foxglove."  Pisca's mouth formed a soft O of surprise as the man returned with a set of stairs perfectly proportioned to her dainty steps.  "You are the consummate gentleman, are you not.  You most certainly know how to treat a gnome."

With delicate and deliberate steps Pisca ascended to her seat.  Once there she slid into a side-saddle position from which she could rise to her knees upon occasion for extra height, a thing which she does now.

"You are so gallant, Mister Foxglove.  May I call you Aldern?  Thank you so very much for inviting us to dinner this evening, Aldern."  With her elbows resting on the tabletop, her chin in her hand, Pisca gazes up at the human noble with her large violet eyes.  "Mister Foxglove?  Aldern?  Have you ever considered sponsoring a library?"

Cato entered the Rusty Dragon, surprised to see the finery set up for their dinner with Aldern Foxglove.  He walked over to the table, noting Pisca and Kellan's fancy new clothes.  Cato himself was wearing his finest robes, though he had made a conscious effort to avoid dressing in the latest fashions, as Aldern had done, instead settling for clothes which, while very nice for Sandpoint, wouldn't have attracted a second look in Korvosa.  A set of relatively new breeches, clean pressed shirt, and a dark vest made Cato look presentable but ultimately forgettable next to the flashy Foxglove, which was fine with Cato.

The wizard took in the falsely obsequious manner of the noble and barely managed to suppress an involuntary shudder.  Aldern reminded Cato of some of the worst parts of his youth; of countless dinner parties and formal events with nobles feigning interest and Cato being forced to (ultimately unsuccessfully) act out the same roles.  That had ultimately ended up with him being forced to join the Hellknights, forced to desert, and forced to flee across Varisia.  Of course, it had also led to him finding Sandpoint, Brodert, Kellan, Pisca and Liseth.  So maybe it wasn't all bad.

Cato dredged up the memories of his youth, and gave Aldern an elaborate bow, flashing a wide smile and holding out his hand to Aldern.  "Thank you for the invitation, Aldern.  The Rusty Dragon looks amazing!  I'm looking forward to our feast."

Unsurprisingly, Liseth arrived last to the dinner at the Rusty Dragon.  She entered with Kerr, holding his arm and wearing a modest white dress.  Her skirt reached down past her knees and her blouse was buttoned all the way up to her neck.

The lavishly appointed section of the inn set aside for their benefit was easily spotted.  Liseth saw that she had arrived just after Cato and that Kellan and Pisca were already seated.  She tried her best to keep her anxiety from showing on her face but squeezed Kerr's arm tightly when the girl slowly, almost reluctantly, began walking towards the nobleman and his table; seeking much more than simple physical support from the other acolyte.

Upon arriving Liseth released Kerr's arm, just for a moment, to curtsy politely, "Mr Foxglove.  Thank you for inviting us to such a lavish dinner."  Before the nobleman could take her hand she had already grabbed Kerr's arm again.  Liseth's anxiety crept into her voice, "This is Kerr Mollin.  I hope you don't mind that I asked him to come to the dinner with me..."

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Aldern Foxglove turned to greet young Cato Crispin and noted that the scholar was evidently not as happy to be there as his two companions.  The noble gave Cato a considering look that lasted an almost-imperceptible moment longer than it really should have while Cato bowed and thanked him for the invitation.  But the deliberative look was gone before Cato straightened; there was no evidence of any reticence as Aldern enthusiastically shook the young wizard’s hand and pointed him to his seat at the table.

“No more than I look forward to it, Mister Caelin,” he nodded in response to Cato’s pleasantries.  “I have been greatly anticipating . . .”  But the noble was distracted before he could finish his sentence.

“Miss Thoradin!”  Aldern flashed Liseth his biggest, most genuine smile.  “I was concerned that you might not be able to make it!”  He placed a hand over his chest.  “Truly, I do not know if my heart could have fully recovered from such a blow.  And I must say that you look quite lovely this evening.”

Aldern gave Kerr a short bow as Liseth introduced him to her fellow acolyte.  If his eyes hardened for just the briefest instant, the look was gone before anyone could be sure.  “Of course, milady, how could I refuse you a guest?  Especially Kerr Mollin!”  He nodded at Kerr.  “Father Zantus has often told me he would be lost without your invaluable assistance.”

Aldern swept his hand over the table.  “Unfortunately, I did not anticipate your arrival.  I shall have the staff set an extra place for you.  Tarvis, would you mind?”  He gestured to a nondescript man sitting at a table in the corner, who until now had escaped everyone’s notice.  Tarvis stood and headed over to the kitchens.  “Thank you.”  Aldern called after him before returning his attention to the group.  “That is Tarvis, my aide d’affairs.  Like Father Zantus with Kerr, I’m afraid I would be completely lost without him.”

Almost immediately, two serving women emerged from the kitchens with an extra place setting.  They quickly rearranged the table to accommodate an additional guest, and were gone as quickly as they had arrived.  While they worked, Tarvis quietly returned to his table in the corner, seating himself and sipping a glass of something that looked suspiciously like water.

As the serving women departed, Aldern gestured to the table.  “Please, everyone, be seated.”  As Cato, Liseth, and Kerr moved to their seats, Pisca brought up the subject of library sponsorship.  Aldern looked at her seriously, but with a hint of a smile touching the corners of his mouth.

“You are most welcome, Miss Neep Freemish."  He looked around the table.  "And, all of you, please do call me Aldern."  He returned his attention to the inn's sole gnome.  "To tell you the truth, I have never really considered sponsoring a library in Sandpoint.”  He gave a regretful shrug.  “Magnimar has several wonderful libraries, and those interested in such things generally gravitate toward the city.  While I appreciate Mister Haladan’s efforts to expand such interests in Sandpoint’s citizenry, I’m not sure a library would be the people's first priority, if indeed I was to sponsor some sort of a public-works development here.”

Aldern stood.  “That said, if funding such a project is your goal I may have something for you that will assist in achieving it."  He winked at Pisca.  "Tarvis?”  The unassuming man rose again, this time carrying four packages.  Each one was delicately wrapped in paper of vibrant colors, tied by an elaborate ribbon, and identified by its recipient’s name elegantly written in an almost calligraphic style.

The noble smiled.  “These are my gifts to each of you for saving my life last night.  I was foolish to leave the White Deer with only a recently-purchased canine for protection.  That foolishness nearly cost me everything.  So the contents of these packages are a very, very small token of my esteem for each of you and I simply will not hear of you returning them to me.”

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This message was last edited by the player at 09:31, Wed 18 Mar 2015.

Kellan eyed the package with his name on it with a grin as Tarvis produced it. When it was set in front of him he nodded his thanks to the major domo before looking over to their host.

"I honestly don't know what to say...I'm kind of overwhelmed." He gently pulled apart the wrapping, saw a hint of what was within and smiled in slight disbelief, pulling the rest off to reveal a bottle of expensive Taldan Fire-Brandy, as well as five platinum coins that clink as they fall out onto the thick tablecloth.

"Wow...thank you...just...thank you...It is a fine, fine gift sir" he pulled out the bottle and admired it, turning it over in the candlelight and watching the colors of the liquor shift. "I'm sure this will be put to good use" hefting the bottle a little towards their benefactor

He opened the pouch and glanced in before politely pocketing the amount, his face betraying his happiness at the gift as he glanced around in curiosity to see what the others received.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Wed 25 Sept 2013.

Disappointment ...

Like a palpable gloom it settled over the gnome.  Flop on the table and heave a heavy sigh.  Aldern Foxglove would not fund the library.  Flopping and heaving.  That's just what she felt like.  That's what failure felt like.

Don't flop, Pisca.  Don't heave.  If you do, then he'll know that you've failed.  The future is a long time, Pisca.

So said the voice of reason.

The refusal that he gives today may be the acceptance that he gives tomorrow.  Or next week.  Or next month.  Or next year.  But if you show him you've failed today, how can he rely on you to ever build a library that is a success?

Oddly, the voice of reason sounded a great deal like Aunt Hattie.

"Of course, there are indeed many needs and differing layers of priority in any community, Aldern," Pisca replied without flopping or heaving.  She smiled and took a sip of a spice mulled wine before continuing as though with any other run of the mill dinner conversation about, say truffles or pigeon racing.  "Though I would ask you to look beyond a library as a monument to scholarly works.  A library is an investment in children.  And, as an intelligent community minded person such as yourself must know, an investment in children is an investment in the future.  People love children.  And they think very highly of those who care for their children and their children's future."

"But, no need to commit to anything tonight.  All I ask is that you think about the idea, Aldern.  Oh ... is this for me?"

The gnome smiled, both on the outside and on the inside.  That had been highly satisfactory.  She sounded very good to herself.  Better than she thought she could have sounded.  It was a nice feeling.  Better than flopping and heaving a sigh.  And now presents ...

Pisca tore at one corner of the wrapping, before looking up at the others, anticipation gleaming in her eyes.  Her grin widened just that little bit, just enough to say, 'Alright, here we go.'  Then she opened the package all of the way up.

Five platinum coins.  Five!  And what was this?  The gnome unrolled the fine leather case within which were pouches for shims and picks, drivers and pries.  She drew a tool from its leather slot and put one end into her mouth to taste its function.  "Philipot clamp," the gnome declared.  "Thank you, Aldern," Pisca smiled.  "It's beautiful."  Then she looked about to see what Lysa and Cato had received - almost as good as getting something yourself.

Studying Aldern's reactions, Cato mentally kicked himself.  The last thing he wanted was for Aldern to start talking, particularly if the noble started doing it in Korvosa or Magnimar.  Must act normal.  Don't arouse suspicion.  Why was this so hard for Cato?  One of the perks of living in Sandpoint was that so little here reminded him of his old life.  He just had to get through dinner tonight.  That wouldn't be so hard.

Cato took his seat, exchanging a few pleasantries without thinking, until Tarvis delivered the gift to his seat.  Cato unwrapped it, catching the heavy platinum coins in his hand and staring in marvel at the heavy book in his hands.  A first edition of On the Empire of Thassilon?  This book was hard to find even in big cities, how the devil had Aldern managed to get a new copy on a day's notice?  Unable to help himself, Cato opened to the first page of the book and started to read the words within, becoming completely lost in the book.  He couldn't wait to show this to Brodert.  He and the sage had discussed Brodert's theories about the Old Light several times, and Brodert claimed some of the research in this book backed up his claims, but the sage hadn't been able to find a copy in decades.

Cato realized he had been staring at the book for far too long, and ignoring his host and the rest of his companions.  He looked up, not surprised to see the evident craft and expense involved in their gifts.  "Thank you, Aldern.  I mean really, this is wonderful.  Where were able to find this book in Sandpoint?"