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Shalelu Andosana is the closest thing Sandpoint has to a living legend.  The ranger is not quite a bounty hunter, a survivalist, or a mercenary, but she is a bit of all three.  The elf has passed through Sandpoint once or twice a season to buy supplies and tell stories for as long as anyone can remember, never stopping for more than a few days, and always staying in the same room at The Rusty Dragon.

Shalelu never visited more often then every couple of months, which is why the party awoke to find the town in something of an uproar.  As you came down for breakfast, The Rusty Dragon's taproom was buzzing, both with the information above and with rumors of varying wildness.

The facts were these:  Shalelu had passed through Sandpoint less than a month ago and wasn't expected back until the end of autumn at the earliest.  So the townsfolk were stunned when she rode into town earlier this morning, looking much the worse for wear.  And what has the inn's patrons even more stirred up?  She forsook her normal routine of first visiting various shops and The Rusty Dragon, instead heading directly to the town hall and requesting an immediate meeting with Mayor Deverin and Sheriff Hemlock!

These out-of-character actions and the normally-immaculate elf's ragged look have put tongues to wagging, theorizing about possibilities running the gamut from sensible to ridiculous.

"I hear Bruthazmus the Bugbear almost got her this time!"

"She's infiltrated those goblins what attacked Sandpoint and brought the Mayor news of their plans!"

"She was attacked by goblins lyin' in wait just outside town!  They're groupin' up for another attack!!"

"Goblins have attacked from Thatcher's Mill to Lenn's Creek.  They have a new leader who's trying to destroy every settlement on the Lost Coast!"

"The slavers are back!  They almost got her, and she's here lookin' for help to go hunt 'em down once and fer all . . ."

"Somethin's happenin' to those out on the Farmlands.  You mark my words, I hear a necromancer is behind all of this, and he's turnin' folk into abominations to do his biddin' . . ."

The party gathered at a table for breakfast as the rumors washed over them . . . .

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Kellan awoke a little before dawn, rolling over in the luxurious Rusty Dragon sheets he looked out the window to gauge the time then sat upright with a grunt. Donning a wrinkled pair of clothes he took a brief trip downstairs to acquire some warm water before returning to his room to clean himself up, it was during this trip that he first overheard the rumors of Shalelu being back in town.

Shalelu was one of the few outsiders to make a mostly positive name for herself in the insular little community, a hard won respect tempered by her isolationist and some what eccentric behavior. She was also one of the few elves than Kellan had ever met. Kellan's mother, despite her humble birth and simple means was something of a romantic and had arranged for Kellan to learn Elvish in his youth. Why a hay slinging farm boy needed to learn Elvish he had never understood, but Shalelu had found it amusing at least that Kellan was able to speak it, rough as his accent was.

Kellan took the time to pray this morning, a special thanks to Erastil for the previous days successful hunt, his thumb running over a smoothed bit of carved stag horn that he kept in his kit. With that accomplished he donned his armor, the padding beneath having that slightly sour musky odor that came from the constant contact with his body while the Chain mail seemed ice cold after the nights cool weather.  When he was all cinched up he laid out his guard uniform on the bed and smiled.

He took an inordinate amount of pleasure and pride in his job, a satisfaction born of the realization of childhood fantasies and the joy of finding his place in life. As his fingers ran over the fabric it sparked countless memories of training and patrols, brothers in arms and a few enemies, long nights and lonely watches, and those that had served before him, Dacen being the foremost in the mind this morning.

Donning his uniform he straightened it then reached for his pole axe that had been leaning in the corner. This Shalelu business would no doubt warrant investigation and he looked forward to getting to work.

Cato rose and after a few minutes to clear the sleep from his mind, pulled out his spell book and carefully set to work refreshing the arcane energies that allowed him to work magic.  It was a holdover from his days fleeing from the Hellknights, but he had since learned to always prepare his spells first thing in the morning, lest his preparation be interrupted.

An hour later, Cato dressed and went to meet the others at the common room of the Rusty Dragon.  The room was already buzzing with news that Shalelu had returned to town, and Cato eagerly listened to the rumors surrounding the Elf's return.  He had only heard of the woman coming to Sandpoint a couple times since he had come to the town, and he wondered what truth actually lay behind the wild rumors circulating in the common room.

Morning found Pisca in a far corner of the hummie bed.  Swaddled in a tangled mess of the bedding, she was precariously near to dropping over the edge to meet with a resounding thump on the hard floor below.  In a way, the glorious expansiveness of the hummie-sized bed was its downfall as well.  It encouraged all of the less correct behaviors of sleep.  Hogging the blankets.  Flopping about.  And, the inevitable, staying in far too late.  Fortunately, this morning, the gnome had not succumbed to the last of these.  She woke with a snort as the first rays of the sun lit her window with the glow of morning.  Head, arm, and shoulder already hung over the edge of the Extraordinarily Comfortable Mattress.  A quick roll backwards, saved the gnome from a fall, but also served to further and more thoroughly entangle her in the sheets and blankets.

It was several moments before Pisca was able to extricate herself.  She rose from the mound of covers with her strawberry blond hair in a complete disarray.  It was a chaotic golden skein that hid the frown on the gnome's face as she stood in her flannel sleepwear upon which ponies cavorted here and there with bunnies.

She washed and dressed quickly as the gnome had already made many plans for the morning before drifting off to sleep the night before.  The buzz around Shalelu Andosana was readily apparent to the gnome well before she knew what the buzz was about.  She slipped into the kitchen and ordered two small compact meals as a special favor from the kitchen crew and listened to the gossip surrounding the elfish ranger as the meals were made.  Long ago, she'd come up with the idea of placing meat and vegetables between two slices of bread - or, at least that's the way the gnome remembered it.  Since then, she'd refined the idea with mustards, gravies, and other spreadable condiments.  Today it was an egg white mixture known as mayonnaise with which she paired slices of cucumber and slices of tomato with boar meat from the evening before.  From the first, Pisca had called these things Sand Witches.

"You've heard the rumors," Pisca said to the others at the table during the break of fast, "about Shalelu Andosana's return?  I don't know if you're curious or not, but I am.  I want to see what color her arrows are," added the gnome, and she brought out the black half arrow she'd cut from a goblin body two days ago."

"But, I think that before we do that, we should talk to Ameiko.  Find out how she's really feeling.  Maybe offer our help."  Pisca then pushed a cloth wrapped sand witch across the table to Liseth.  "That's for Katrine.  It might help in making up with her.  I have another one," she said as she placed another cloth wrapped package on to the table, "that I intend to give to Aldern Foxglove before he leaves for Magnimar.  Thanks for all he's done for us while he's been here."

Automatically, Liseth found herself stirring from sleep while the predawn darkness still blanketed Sandpoint.  She always did; her body was tuned to meet the sunrise.  Enveloped in the warm blankets of the comfortable bed, she was almost unwilling to leave them lest this new day provide the same level of disappointment and upset as the previous.  But in the end, as much as she might want to, Liseth knew that she couldn't hide in bed all day long.

All of her things were still at the Cathedral so Liseth had slept in the nude.  Feeling the autumn chill in the air as soon as she left her bed, that condition did not last long as she hurried to dress herself in the same outfit as she had worn during the dinner last night.  With the exception of the extravagant emerald necklace, which she tucked into her pouch and out of sight.  Liseth decided that she was going to need more outfits.

Liseth opened the window to her room just as rays of sunlight began to peak over the horizon.  Feeling the warm glow upon her face, she knelt right there at the window and proceeded to meditate and pray.  She had a lot weighing on her mind and therefore a lot to pray about this morning: the safety of the people of Sandpoint; success for their investigation of the goblin attack; the safe recovery of Father Tobayn's remains; Katrine Vinder's forgiveness, and the hope that she isn't in any danger from her secret affair; and a reconciliation for Ms Kaijitsu and her father.  Liseth even spent a moment to pray that Mr Foxglove had a safe trip on his return to Magnimar.

Prayer served to relieve the burden and stress of Liseth's worries, at least somewhat.  She spent a little longer in today's meditation than she usually did, and when she was done still did not feel completely at ease.  And so she decided to treat herself by asking for a warm bath to be drawn.

Stretching out once she was laying within the soothing confines of the warm water, Liseth finally felt herself begin to really relax.  She allowed her mind simply to wander...which brought her to the happenings of just before she went to sleep.  At the time she was too tired to completely register what had happened and she had merely wished Kerr a good night.  But now, the girl distinctly remembered having been kissed on her own cheek by him after a hug!  Kerr had kissed her!  Katrine had even asked her about that earlier in the day; Liseth wondered whether she should tell her about it.

Well, if Katrine still wanted to talk after what else they spoke about yesterday...

Clean, refreshed, and relaxed Liseth's hair was still slightly damp from the bath when she arrived late at the breakfast table where everyone else was already gathered.  "Good morning everybody."  The blonde girl took her seat.

"I don't even know very much about Shalelu Andosana.  Except for what I saw at the puppet show during the Festival.  Is it true that she is always fighting an evil bugbear?"

"Oh!  Thank you Pisca!"  Liseth smiled as she accepted the sandwich from the gnome.  Liseth peeked under the wrapping, "I hope that Katrine likes boar meat.  And that she accepts it..."  She eyed Pisca's other sandwich, "Are you sure the Mr Foxglove hasn't left already?  He did say that he would be setting out early today.  Although we didn't have a chance to really wish him farewell."

"I think that's a good idea though.  Talking to Ms Kaijitsu.  She doesn't seem to be the sort of woman who would get angry at us for asking."  The blonde frowned, "I mean, she must expect some questions after everything that happened during dinner last night."

Liseth fidgeted slightly in her seat, "So, I heard someone saying something about an evil necromancer.  You don't think that there is an evil necromancer behind everything that's happening do you?"  She paused, then spoke quietly, "Necromancers scare me."  She looked around to make sure that nobody was close enough to hear, then leaned in closer to everyone; continuing to speak quietly, "And with those skeletons that we already saw...does that mean that there might be...more?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:04, Tue 12 Nov 2013.

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The Rusty Dragon's well-used door banged open to admit Sheriff Belor Hemlock.  The conversation in the inn's taproom quieted noticeably as the visibly-tense Shoanti surveyed its inhabitants.  The tightness in his face relaxed slightly when he spied Kellan, Pisca, Cato, and Liseth sitting around a table, mid-conversation.

Sheriff Hemlock strode purposefully towards that table.  "I am VERY glad to find you all here together!"  He exhaled in relief.  "I've been looking all over Sandpoint for you!  I've already been to Sage Quink's place, the Garrison, and the Cathedral, and come up empty at all three.  I was starting to worry that you'd all left town."

He nodded at Liseth.  "Kerr told me I might be able to find you here."  The Sheriff gave her an amused grin.  "He was actually extremely worried about why I might have been looking for you."

Sheriff Hemlock waved a hand to ward off any incipient objections.  "Not to fret, I told him just what I'm about to tell you, so he calmed down."  He laughed; it had a deep, pleasing, reassuring tone to it.  "I was afraid he might excommunicate me or something if I was planning to arrest you!"

He looked at Liseth with a bit more seriousness.  "Don't you go breaking that lad's heart, now.  There's not a mean bone in his body, and he's one of the most kind, giving men I know."  The Sheriff smiled at the young acolyte.  "We're very lucky to have him at the cathedral.  And I'm glad to see he's found someone like you.  You made quite an impression on Hannah and Willow Sanderson, by the way."

He looked around the table.  "But I'm not here about that."  The Sheriff glanced around the taproom, as if worried about being overheard.  He lowered his voice.  "You've probably heard that Shalelu Andosana rode into town this morning and asked to meet directly with Mayor Deverin and myself.  Well, it's true.  And I believe she has some news that might interest you."  He gave each person at the table a measuring look.  "I'd be much obliged if you would accompany me back to the Town Hall and hear what she has to say."

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Kellan was just buttering a biscuit when the Sheriff stepped into the establishment. Without really realizing that he was doing it, he set the food down and straightened his posture, it was obvious that he respected the man. When the a Sheriff approached the table Kellan stood and nodded in greeting "Morning sir"

Listening to the news, he nodded and reached over to collect his weapon from where it leaned near his chair. "Of course, we can head that way right now" looking to the others for confirmation. "Is she alright?" He asked as he scooted in his chair and began meandering towards the door. He could feel the eyes if the other patrons staring at them, it was not a completely unfamiliar feeling, but it was there nine the less.

Cato was enjoying breakfast at the Rusty Dragon.  He eagerly joined with his companions in their discussions.  "I'm not sure about the necromancers.  We can't believe every little thing we hear, though someone did raise those skeletons.  Still, it was just a one-time incident.  If a major necromancer was active in the region, you'd think we'd have seen some of their minions at the attack on Sandpoint, rather than just goblins and dogs.  Most likely, it was left as a trap.  Remember, we found that cloak in the tomb with fading magical energy.  That points to it being someone who is in fact, *not* a necromancer and needed the item to help them."

Cato took another bite of the boar-cheese-leek omelet that the kitchen had prepared before continuing, nodding at Pisca.

"I had completely forgotten about our mysterious benefactor in the battle.  You think Shalelu was sneaking around town during the attack?  I guess it's strange that no one ever claimed responsibility for those arrows, but why would the ranger do that..."

Cato's thoughts drifted off when the Sheriff entered the inn and the place grew still.

Cato nodded to Kellan.  "Of course, I'm more than willing to help out the town.  He looked down at the few remaining bites of his breakfast and carefully wiped his mouth, taking a final swig from his mug and stood up.  "I'm eager to hear what she has to say."

The arrival of the Sheriff was, for Pisca Neep Freemish, something of a series of shocks.  First, was his statement that he'd looked all over town for them.  How could that be?  How could he not have know that she was staying here?  Confusion mixed with incredulity painted the gnome's face as she looked to the others as though they might know the answer why.  Then second, swiftly on the heels of the first, how could his timing have been so bad?  There was no missing the eyes that were now on them now from all across the common room.  She had wanted their discussion with Ameiko to be a quiet and very private thing.  Guess who had just ruined that?

"As it happens, we were just talking about Shalelu Andosana just now, Sheriff Hemlock."  Though the gnome's tone was congenial, she stood on the seat of her chair with arms crossed, a sign of her displeasure.  "I suppose we should go right away.  They'll be waiting.  For some time now, I'd imagine.  If you've been searching the whole town for us, that is."

Despite the spanner in her plans, it did not escape Pisca's notice that this was an opportunity to meet the mayor.  And in the capacity of a consulting hero, no less.  What better chance would there be to bring up the library?

"I'll be right with you.  I have one quick errand to run first."  The gnome hopped down off her chair and sought out the proprietress of the Rusty Dragon.  Turning back to the others, she waved and called, "I won't be more than a moment."

"Which room is Aldern in?" Pisca asked of Ameiko Kaijitsu.  "I'd like to say wish him well before he leaves for Magnimar, and to give him this Sand Witch for the journey.  Oh ... and ... if you don't mind, we'd like to speak to you later on, if you have the time."

"But an evil necromancer would have had to make that magic skeleton cloak.  Maybe he's just being sneaky until he has more undead..."  Liseth stopped; she realized that she was just making herself agitated with no real evidence to confirm any suspicions about evil necromancers.  "I'm not helping, am I?  I suppose that's why we're supposed to be investigating; to find all of this out for ourselves."

"Oh, I'm sorry Sheriff Hemlock!  I slept here at the Rusty Dragon last night."  She was a bit startled at the Sheriff's sudden arrival; but Liseth stifled a giggle when he began speaking about Kerr.  Or at least attempted to; she wound up snickering instead, "Kerr was worried that you were going to arrest me?  He's so sweet!"  The girl finally gave up trying to suppress it and giggled enthusiastically, "But he already knows that I'm helping to investigate things for you.  Kerr is being silly."  She smiled, "But that's one of the things I like so much about him."

Liseth looked curiously at the Sheriff when he continued talking about Kerr.  Maybe he hadn't heard; unlike everyone else in town, "I couldn't ever break Kerr's heart Sheriff Hemlock.  Didn't you hear that he's my boyfriend now?  In addition to being the sweetest and nicest boy in the world!"  Then she blushed, "Oh, thank you.  I'm glad too."

She recovered when the Sheriff changed his subject, "And Ms Hannah and Ms Sanderson were talking about me?  I haven't seen them since the Herb Challenge during the Festival.  It's good to know that Ms Sanderson doesn't have any hard feelings about me winning."

The Sheriff finally revealed his real reason for seeking them out.  Liseth watched Kellan and Cato readily agree to go and meet with Shalelu Andosana, and then Pisca agreed but went off on an errand first.  The blonde girl nodded, "Of course I'll go and meet Ms Andosana.  She must have important news."

Liseth stood and straightened her skirt before taking the cloth-wrapped sandwich that Pisca had given her for Katrine and placing it into her pouch.  While Pisca was away on her errand, Liseth spent a few moments rearranging everything within her pouch to fit without the sandwich getting squished.  Or getting mayonnaise on her Little Heily.  Or even her necklace.

---

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Ameiko was tired from the previous evening; cleaning up after Aldern Foxglove's party had taken a long time and now she had been woken early by her kitchen staff to deal with the unusual influx of breakfast patrons.  Ameiko was concerned when she heard about Shalelu; normally The Rusty Dragon was one of the ranger's first stops when she visited Sandpoint.  For her to go straight to the Town Hall indicated that something big was up, and the presence of the Sheriff, who had just blown in and gone directly to talk with the very people who had stymied the northern prong of the goblins' attack into Sandpoint, just confirmed it.

Ameiko looked down as Pisca Neep Freemish came up to her, asking about Aldern Foxglove's whereabouts.  "I'm sorry, sweetie," she gave the gnome a sympathetic look.  "He was up at the crack of dawn with his men.  He wanted to get an early start back to Magnimar, from what I hear.  You might be able to catch him down at Hosk's Stables, but chances are he's already on the road to the city."

Ameiko nodded at Pisca's invitation to talk.  "I'm pretty busy today.  And tired.  But we can definitely talk later."  She gave Pisca a worn smile.  "Maybe not today, but definitely soon."

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This message was last edited by the player at 05:52, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

"Oh.  Well ... "  The gnome took out the package wrapped in cloth.  She looked down at it as though commiserating - sharing a mutually felt disappointment with the Sand Witch.  "It's always possible that we could become stranded.  Trapped in a deep pit.  Somewhere.  No food.  This could save our lives."

The thought brightened the look on the gnome's face to the point that when she looked back up with a, "Thank you, Ameiko," she did, indeed appear thankful.  Pisca took the hand of the proprietress of the Rusty Dragon even as she tucked the Sand Witch back into a place where it might serve as emergency rations.

"We're here for you," Pisca said.  And the gnome's eyes were filled with the deepest most heartfelt sincerity.  All of the impossible things in the world could be faced down with a look like that.  It was a look that could take on all of the dragons of the mind and the heart and never feel fear.  Because it was a look that had never experienced defeat.  It had never been crushed under the staggering burden of loss.  It was a look naked and innocent of reality.

Then, "Soon," the gnome said, nodding in the grim way she imagined all adventurers shared affirmation.  She released Ameiko's hand and rushed off to join the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:57, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

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Belor Hemlock waited patiently for Pisca to complete her private talk with Ameiko Kaijitsu and return to the group.  "All ready?"  The Sheriff looked at each of them to receive nods of assent.  "Outstanding."  He held the door as they filed out and followed them out on to Market Street.  As they walked on up Market Street to the southern town square, they could see the residents of Sandpoint beginning their day.  Stores were opening; the whole town had a feeling of guarded optimism, as if it had weathered a storm and come out the other side stronger.

As they walked past the town square towards Main Street, the Sheriff began to talk.  "I don't know how much time any of you have spent with the mayor, but she really is good people."  He nodded in support of his own statement.  "Sure, she's a descendant of one of the four founding families but she really has the well-being of Sandpoint at heart and she's not one to hide behind tradition when something needs to be done.  That's more than I can say for," the Shoanti coughed, "certain other prominent residents."

The group turned up Main Street, walking past the Sandpoint General Store.  Shay Vinder was out front setting up a display; she was wearing a modest but tight-fitting dress that showed off her generous endowments.  She blushed crimson when she saw Kellan as part of the group and waved shyly at him before Vin came out to check on her work.  He nodded curtly but respectfully at Kellan as he shared some instruction with Shayliss; they both went back inside the store.

Chask Haladan was reading to several children in front of his shop.  He smiled and waved at the group as they passed, giving Pisca in particular a warm grin.  The children looked enthralled with whatever tale he had been sharing with them, and he quickly went back to telling his chosen tale.

"You'll like Shalelu," Sheriff Hemlock says as they approach the Town Hall, opposite the Garrison.  "She's been a thorn in the side of the local goblin tribes for years, if not decades, and there may not be anyone in the region who knows more about them than she does."  He stopped at the Town Hall entrance, his hand on the door.  "Any questions before we head in, or are you all ready for the meeting?"

---

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The gnome's questions actually began well before the small but intrepid group even made it to the general store.  Immediately out the door chatty Pisca asked the Shoanti law enforcer, "By the by, Sheriff, I've been meaning to ask what Quah you're from.  If you don't mind.  And ... "  She grinned and touched the brim of the hat.  "How do you like the hat.  Taken from the dead body of the Cinderlander himself,"  She said with a proud smile.  "Or, so I was told."

Later, Sheriff Hemlock's description of the mayor prompted other questions from the gnome.  "Which of the four founding families are you talking about," Pisca asked with an apparently casual curiosity, "when you cough about certain other prominent residents, Sheriff Hemlock?"

"You wouldn't happen to be talking about a certain family who run a very loud business with dangerous machinery?  Or, would you happen to be thinking of a certain elder gentleman with ancestral roots in a far off land?  A man who just happened to burst into the Rusty Dragon last night and accosted four innocent patrons?  By the by, Sheriff Hemlock, you've been here in Sandpoint for some time now, haven't you?  Can you tell us what happened to Ameiko's mother?  And where is her lost half brother?" asked the gnome.

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---

"Hmmmmmm."  The Sheriff responded in his deep voice as he looked down his nose at the gnome.  "I see you have some familiarity with Shoanti customs.  But at this point I am Sandpoint-quah.  I gave up my tribal affiliation when I accepted this job."  A haunted look flickered behind his eyes, then disappeared.  "Prior to that, though, I was Shiikirri-Quah."

He glanced at Pisca's hat.  "I would indeed be pleased if the Cinderlander were dead, as he has brought little but pain and fear to the Shoanti."  He shook his head briefly.  "But if he is dead, I have not heard of it, and I believe that I would have.  As far as I know he still roams the wildlands seeking his unachievable vengeance."  The Sheriff sighed.  "So I'm afraid that your hat," he touched Pisca's brim lightly, "may not be quite the historical artifact you believe it to be."

Belor studiously and obviously ignored Pisca's attempt to inquire further into which families he might have been referring earlier.  "I can tell you what happened to Ameiko's mother.  She fell to her death.  Some thought that Lonjiku might have been responsible," he shrugged, "but there was no evidence of that."

"Lonjiku is a . . . difficult man, but I do not believe he is a cold-blooded killer.  Remember, this was a dark time for Sandpoint; the Kaijitsu death, the cathedral fire, and the beginning of Chopper's reign of terror all occurred around the same time.  Some were actively looking for evil and ill intent in places it did not exist."

"Tsuto, Ameiko's half brother," he nodded at Pisca, "was one of those who felt strongly that Lonjiku was responsible for his mother's death.  They had a huge fight at the funeral about it.  Tsuto stormed out, and I'm not sure anyone in Sandpoint has seen him since."

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This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

The gnome held the Sheriff's hand the rest of the way to the Town Hall.  It seemed to her to be just as much for him as it was for her.  But, then again, it usually did.

Three times during the short walk, she reached up with her free hand and touched the brim of her hat.  She knew he was right.  In a way.  And yet, she knew that she was right as well.  It was the Cinderlander's hat.  She had seen him dead after the battle of Flameford.  Through curtains of fire she had watched as the bombs fell.  They had dropped a building on he and his cat.

She had seen it.  Had she seen it?

When they finally arrived at the door of the Town Hall, Pisca was quiet.  Sober.  Her reflection had seemed to ready her for revelations of consequence.  The whole town was wondering at the appearance of Shalelu Andosana and the were going to hear the story behind it.

Liseth finished the minor rearrangement of her things by the time Pisca had returned from her short errand.  She was filled with mixed emotions when she set in to follow after Sheriff Hemlock with the others.  They were going to meet both the mayor and a famous, goblin-hunting hero.  The Mayor seemed like a nice lady, even though Liseth had only seen her that one time at her speech before the Festival.  But she didn't know what to expect from a famous goblin hunting elf who even had shows put on to reenact her accomplishments.

Following after the Sheriff and the group when they left the inn, Liseth suddenly realized how grateful she was that Pisca was coming.  It had always made her feel self-conscious when she made people have to slow down for her, but the gnome never minded.  She was small, but it was almost as though she expected everyone else to slow down and match her pace.  Liseth found it very refreshing from the annoyance that she imagined other people feeling when they walked with her.

Well, except for Kerr.  Liseth smiled; he seemed to think that the slower they walked together, the better.

She was amazed by just how much of an extrovert Pisca was.  The gnome had already gone ahead and asked several questions of Sheriff Hemlock that Liseth herself was wondering how to bring up.  Pisca never seemed to worry about things like that; if she wanted to know something she went right ahead and asked.  Or went in to investigate herself.  Thinking back on yesterday, Liseth couldn't decide whether that was an entirely good quality.  At least now she could listen to the Sheriff's answers and not have to worry about bringing the subjects up herself.

There was one other thing that did concern her though.  Liseth decided it would be best to bring up before they met Ms Andosana and the Mayor, "So...um, Sheriff Hemlock, Cato told us that he killed a goblin yesterday.  That was hiding in the Barett house."  The girl fidgeted nervously, "There aren't any other goblins hiding in Sandpoint, right?  Sneaking in other people's closets?"

Kellan had out on his "game face" when stepping out with the Sheriff, he was still just a boy in many ways but it was obvious that he took his position seriously. Listening with interest as Pisca and Balor conversed, Kellan was surprised at how easily the gnome was able to get the man to open up about his Shoanti heritage, a subject he had never heard anybody broach before.

As the passed by the general store Kellan gave a small warm smile to Shayliss, he kept from laughing as inwardly he imagined approaching the girl and how the conversation might play out.

"Oh, why hello there Shayliss, Mister Vinder, why yes I am out patrolling with the Sheriff,...on our way to see the mayor, official business. No big deal. Might go fight some monsters or something later, I'll drop you a letter "


The image could only be compete with a cheesy smile as he polished his finger nails against his uniform.

Despite this vivid scenario playing out in his mind Kellan kept in step with the Sheriff, humble and content. He gave a greeting to Chask as they passed, ruffling a local boys hair with his off hand, then paused with the others in front of the Town Hall entrance. He shook his head to indicate that he did not have any questions, looking over his uniform and making sure that he was presentable before they went inside.

Cato listened to the conversation between Pisca and the Sheriff as the group made their way through town.  He remembered first setting eyes on this small outpost, and imagining that life here must be simple.  It was both a relief and a disappointment to find that just as much complexity, drama, and mystery lay under the surface here as there had been back in Korvosa.  He tried to keep track of all the names and events, constantly looking for explanations as to the current troubles facing the town, but either there wasn't a rational explanation behind the goblin attack, or he hadn't been able to find it.

Still, the news that Tsuto had a fight with one of the founding families of Sandpoint, had stormed off and not been seen since was certainly interesting.  The noble scion had to be up to something.  "No one's seen Tsuto in what, five years then?  No reports from him in Magnimar or anywhere else in Varisia?  That seems interesting.  He didn't happen to dabble in the arcane arts at all?"

Cato was surprised to find himself at the entrance to the Town Hall.  He shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts before speaking with the Mayor and Shalelu.