Chapter #2a: The Rusty Dragon (Cato, Kellan, and semi-Pisca)
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.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:55, Fri 20 Sept 2013.