"You have everything you need?" Abomentolor asks Niamh, adding "Then let's go. This is no happy place. Even less with these bodies here." Abomentolor then leaves the grave too.
Niamh follows him outside and asks "Are we going to Sheila Heidmarch now?"
Abomentolor dons the cloak and puts the ring on his finger. "Check these cool items. It seems to pay to be with the bad guys. At least as long as one doesn't meet the wrong good guys."
As noone starts walking away already Abomentolor casts detect magic again and tries to identify the items.
But he has no idea what these items are for.
Gwenhwyfar looks depressed at Abomentolor. "What is it worth to be good, if we just kill like the bad guys would do?"
"If you want to be philosophical about it. The difference is, that those who deem themself good kill only the guys deemed bad. And the good guys get to define who the bad guys are. So good versus bad is mostly superficial."
"And by the way," pointing at Abomentolor "he talked about being good. I never claimed that for me. Make your decisions act on them and live with the consequences."
Tauriell pushes the stone plate back in place.
"Also followers of Urgathoa are propably seen as beyond redemption by the standards of Sarenrae, if that's any consolation for you."
Then she leads the way to the gate of the cemetery.
Tauriell walks towards the Rusty Dragon. On the way she stops at the General Store to buy a quiver full of arrows.
As all arrive at the Rusty Dragon she suggests "Let's go to my room and invite Mrs. Heidmarch there. I don't think it's a good idea to show all this stuff in public."
Tauriell walks up the stairs and knocks on Mrs. Heidmarch's door. But there is no reaction. "She is not here." Opening her own room, she puts most of her stuff in and locks the door again.
"Let us wait downstairs with a ale in hand."
And so the group once again occupies a table at the Rusty Dragon.
Gwenhwyfar asks "Do you need me for that? I would prefer to go home to my mum."
"Maybe she is with Brodert Quink." Niamh suggests. "He can't teach me the transverse flute yet because Mrs. Heidmarch is his guest."
Abomentolor wo is a bit 'patience challenged' asks "Could you go and get her from there?"
"I think I will join you Gwen, we did promise your mum after all." Jimmy says taking her hand and walking out with her
"I have nothing else planned this evening. So no need to hurry that. And I think we can manage that without you Gwen. Come by tomorrow to get your share." Tauriel responds.
"Um, well, you have to do it yourself. I won't go to him and say him we have to borrow your guest..." Niamh says looking at her toes in her shoes.
Walking with him in silence Gwenhwyfar and Jimmy reach the little cottage. Gwenhwyfar opens the door and seeing her mum at the hearth she starts crying again and runs towards her mum to weep on her shoulder.
Fiona surprised by this embraces Gwenhwyfar pattng her on the head. "What happened my dear?"
She looks at Jimmy, question marks in her eyes.
"Some thugs attacked us in the crypt. Let's just say that Tauriell is not one for taking prisoners." Jimmy says not wanting to explain the full issue
Holding Gwenhwyfar until she calms down a bit Fiona offers Jimmy a seat. "It will take some more time until dinner is ready. Sit down at the table. Gwenhwyfar my dear sit down and we can talk about it. Ok?"
Checking the food on the hearth shortly she also takes a seat. "So your little mission went badly and now there are some people dead. Did I get that right?"
"The thugs that attacked us, yes."
"We had won the fight already. I stabilized them to bring them to the sheriff. But Tauriell asked if I would bet peoples lives that they wouldn't kill other people later or even the sheriff and killed them in cold blood." Gwenhwyfar explains through her tears.
Fiona puts her hand on Gwenhwyfars sholder. With a stern look on her face she replies "That is a serious issue. We have a sheriff for a reason. When someone finds the bodies there will be questions. Also Sarenrae doesn't approve of such killings. This took them their chance to repent. Who were these thugs and why did you fight them?"
"We fought them because they followed us inn=to the crypt and we were warned by Mrs. Heidmarch about a gang that wanted what we went to retrieve. We sort of assumed that when three people followed us into the crypt with weapons that they were the people we had been warned about."
"Ok. But who were they. Just street thugs trying to steal something? Sorry to say that, but that's not unusual here and nothing our sheriff couldn't handle."
"I cant remember the name of the gang, but they weren't just normal thugs. One of them was a cleric of some moth god. He had some interesting magical items as well."
"You mean Urgathoa?" consternation written all over her face. "Here in Sandpoint? That is horrible. Did that claric hurt you?"
Fiona takes a careful look at her daughter to see if she is hurt
but she seems ok.
Taking a look at Jimmy she sees that he is not ok. "What is it you have? Shall I heal you?" she asks, concerned about his well being.
"I don't know how to describe what he did to me, but I can take care of it." Jimmy says to her, he focuses on the sick feeling and wishes it away
His own healing combined with that of Gwen from earlier leaves him feeling good as new
Gwenhwyfar looks up at Jimmy and remembers that she did a lousy job at healing Jimmy and then forgot about it. That doesn't help to improve her mood.
"Ok. You should really take better care of yourself. Forgetting about being half dead from an evil clerics dark doings is not very wise."
Turning to Gwen she adds "My dear, you know I'm for second chances. But a cleric of Urgatoa is really something to be afraid of. And you don't want one of them running around. I wasn't there and don't know about the others that were with him but with that cleric it was possibly for the best."
"So if it's ok with you my dear I would like to serve dinner and try to cheer you up a little. Can we change the subject? Would that be ok for you?"
Sniveling and wiping her face with her sleeve she replies "Ok, mum."
Getting up retrieving the dishes she lays the table. "So how was your picnic this morning?"
"Mum!" Gwenhwyfar replies in the typical teenage 'that is none of your business' tone.
"I enjoyed your daughters company very much, but I can't speak for her."
"What I heard so far from Gwenhwyfar, this enjoying is mutual. So have you two thought about what this will lead to, or are you content with the enjoying so far?" Fiona asks.
Gwenhwyfar looks at her mum and then lets her head fall on the table. Mumbling at the table "I can't believe you are doing this."
"If I had five kids and you were the last one to marry there would be I chance for me to be a more cool mum. But as you are my only one I need to make sure everything goes well. And banging your head on the table won't change that." Fiona states.
Giving up Gwenhwyfar lifts her head. Her forehead clearly showing where she hit the table. Pointing her hand at Jimmy she replies "He didn't propose to me so far so I guess we are just enjoying ourself."
"For the moment I think we are just going to keep enjoying what this is. Whatever it actually is. I understand your concern for your daughter's well-being, and if this does ever lead to anything, I will do my best to meat your approval." Jimmy says
"Jimmy, I think you might be every mother in law's dream, if you actually deliver what you advertise.
"By the way, what was it you were doing to heal yourself earlier? It was definitely magic, but it for sure didn't look like casting a spell." Fiona asks.
At the Rusty Dragon
___________________________
The group enjoys a couple of ales and a serving of delicious stew. As the time passes more guests come in and eventually also Mrs. Heidmarch comes back from her visit with Brodert Quink. Seeing the group sitting at a table she approaches them "Good evening. Did you already retrieve the item?"
"As I told you, we took care of that immediately. And of course we were successful." Abomentolor states proudly.
With a pleased smile Sheila Heidmarch replies "Then follow me to my room please." She waits for everyone to finish their drink and to get up. Then she leads up the stairs to her room. She unlocks the door and invites all in.
Her room is like the others here in the Rusty Dragon. A bed, a table and a chair. There is also a chest with books and books are also spread over the table and the bed. Mrs. Heidmarch quickly puts the books on the table at the side stacking them to make room.
"Would you please put the Shepherds Crosier on the table?" she asks.
Tauriel goes to her own room first to collect her backpack. Following the others into Mrs. Heidmarchs room she opens her backpack and puts the two rods in their ceremonial cloths on the table.
She also puts the stack of religious texts next to them. "I think that would be all that is of interest to you."
Mrs. Heidmarch clearly recognizes that there were more things found but ignores it. She is indeed not interested in petty cash an the like. Unwrapping the two rods she compares them searching for any differences, but doesn't find any. "That is a surprise. I only expected to get one of these. Would you care to tell me where exactly you found them?"
"They were hidden under two thrones. One had a picture of a thief behind it and the other one a picture of a king signing a contract. I deducted, that the thief might a symbol for Aroden and the contract a symbol for Asmodeus" Niamh explains
Looking at the crosiers she asks "You wouldn't be able to tell me which one you found with wich picture, no?" Not receiving an affirmative response she continues "I'll have it identified anyway to see what exactly it does, so I have to do that for two. No problem here."
Rolling up the crosiers in the cloths she puts them aside and puts an compass like item on the table. "This is an offer I like to make you all. For those of you who don't know, this is a wayfinder. It is the batch of members of the pathfinder society. It also has some useful features. But what I'm offering to you is to join the Pathfinder Society."
"For those not familiar with the Pathfinder Society a simple summary."
"The Society a about collecting knowledge. For knowledge is power and to be prepared by knowing is an important advantage. There are no formal rules but all Pathfinders are expected to Explore, Report and Cooperate. The Society is not involved in politics."
"You would get assignments on a regular basis to find artifacts or gather knowledge.
"You could turn to other pathfinders for help, if you need it. Either in the field or more specifically at the pathfinder lodges."
"There is also the rather big issue, that your base of operation would be the Pathfinder Lodge that I lead. Which is in Magnimar. Veteran Pathfinders operate mostly on their own reporting now and then. But Newbies have to stay close and report on a regular basis."
"Think about it and inform your other companions. Take that wayfinder as a pledge. Once in Magnimar, every one of you will get one. If you refuse my offer, bring it back and you'll get paid in coin. I will leave sandpoint the day after tomorrow. Please inform me about your decision until then. If you like you could travel with me. Or you could follow later if you need more time to prepare."
"If you have further questions don't hesitate to ask them. Either now or later, even in private if you prefer."
Her speech done she waits if there are questions.
Tauriell grabs the wayfinder and watches it closely turning it around and checkingit from all sides. "What are the uses of that thing. To me it just looks like a sturdy compass. And what is that hole for?"
"It is a sturdy compass. But you could put an ioun stone in the 'hole' and it wold still grant you it's power, without circling your head. And it also can do this: me'a sila" With the command word spoken he wayfinder emits light, like the light spell.
"And how do you stop it?" Tauriel asks the shining thing in hand
"me'a tyela" Mrs. Heidmarch commands and the light ceases.
"Is this Society stuff a job one does as long as it fits? Or is this more serious." Tauriell asks suspiciously.
"It is serious indeed. To become a pathfinder is a decision for life. There are some who quit, but you can never come back if you leave. You devote your life to the search for knowledge."
"It is a special offer for you to get into this, as you have proven yourself in two missions already. Usually you would have to apply in Absalom and get through years of training. Our lodge her is the first in Varisia, and I'm in need of some good teams, so I use my Authority to offer you this the easy way. But as you suspected right. It's not just a job. But you can have just a job if you'd prefer that."
Putting the wayfinder back on the table Tauriell states "I'll take the money and the job. I wont pledge the next 500years or so to a Society I don't really know. But if the others come along I would join your ride to Magnimar."
"We're dine here? Then I'd go check if my stew is still on the table." Tauriell leaves the room and goes back to the table.