"What say we have a look at the town a bit on our way to the inn? I'd like to see what damage has been done, and we may yet find somebody in need of assistance."
Katarina shakes her head at Garrok's words - "I'm sorry, I need to go to the Dragon now, I want to check on Ameiko!" - She smiles to the half-orc, just before flinching slightly from the pain - "Ugh!... And, well, maybe she'll be able to help me with this." - She states, her left hand still pressed on her wound.
"I'll see you later then! Be safe!" Katarina waves at them before sprinting out of the armory... Just to poke her head in a moment later - "Oh, and you should take care of your wounds too Garrok! You seem nice, I wouldn't want you to die! Bye!" - and just like that, she's gone.
Garrok chuckles at the girl's departure. She's a feisty one... But she cares about her friends - that's encouraging.
As he walks through the street, he feels sorrow for the people they were unable to help during the raid. He offers a friendly word to the Mayor and the person she's with. Then he sees the guards escorting the goblin into the barracks.
"Hoi, constables! I see you found our sleepy prisoner - I'm glad. He was hellbent on destruction when we came upon him and his friends. If you don't mind, I'll take that rope back for my friend - he's skilled with knots and is sure to put it to good use again soon."
Eventually he finds himself at the door of the Rusty Dragon. He feels his prize token in his belt pouch and walks inside...
After buying 40 more sling bullets from Savah, Hieronymous walks down the street with his new friends. Finding Turandarok Academy, where Gurdan ended up, Hieronymous assures his newfound friends, "I'll be along shortly, just need to check on my friend Gurdan."
Once he arrives at the top of the stairs, he rushes forward and gives Gurdan a hearty embrace, Glad to see you're well Gurdan, and well met Ilsoari, looks like Gurdan has found a good place to hang his hat."
"The fights with the goblins, well, you know, it was crazy. I mean, I spent a lot of time practicing my combat skills over the past few years, but this is the first time I really had to put them to use. I don't think any amount of preparation is enough. I missed a lot, but I did get a couple good hits in and took a good one as well. My healing powers were of use. Somehow I guess I just ended up in the right place at the right time, with a good group of people, and together we were able to put a stop to those little green vermin."
He stays with Gurdan and Ilsoari a little longer, chatting more about the fight and other things that come up, and then excuses himself, "Well, I guess I better get going, we are supposed to meet Aldern Foxglove at the Rusty Dragon, I have a feeling my newfound friends and I are going to be pretty busy trying to find out why the goblins attacked and what we can do to prevent them from targeting the town in the future. Plus, I could probably use a beer or two!"
"Good Luck both of you, no doubt I will see you around!"
He then proceeds back out of the Academy and toward the Rusty Dragon.
@Katarina - You hurry off to the Rusty Dragon to find it extremely busy and crowded with many of the people that came for the festival but aren't yet ready to leave. A quick look in the kitchen tell you that Ameiko and her staff are swamped to their necks with work.
She gives you a quick grin as she moves a skillet full of frying potatoes off a burner. Then a saucepan behind her catches flame and she rushes to grab the pan's lid before turning back and frowning slightly. "Sorry, Kat, haven't had a moment's rest since I saw you this morning. Come see me later! Oh, could you take this to table 6?"
You take a tray with the bowls of stew she indicates from the counter and make your way through the crowd to set it on a table. Ven Vinder, his wife, and his lovely daughters Katrine and Shayliss all sit discussing the days events. The gruff looking bearded man grins wide as you deliver the food and he says a warm thank you.
@Katarina, Zaf, and Garrokmal - Katarina turns around to return the tray to the kitchen to see the large half-orc and the funny gnome come in through the inn's door. At the same time a group of trappers in for the festival get up and leave their table.
Zafzalurg dodges around the trappers and slips up to claim the table.
"Ale for me and my bulky companion, Miss!"
The gnome gives Katarina a big theatrical wink and tries to put his feet up on the table, but the awkward angle is seemingly too much and he tumbles to the floor. Practically leaping to his feet, Zafzalurg scans the crowd, encouraging the small guffaws into laughter. He clasps his hands together and raises them above his head.
"And whatever smells so delightful coming out of the kitchen."
Garrokmal shoulders his way through the crowded inn, following the gnome to the empty table. Catching Katarina's eye, he glances down at Zaf and shrugs. "I suppose it would be rude to eat him after he helped us, wouldn't it?"
He settles into the table, only to stand again and wave Hieronymous over when he sees the man enter the inn.
Excellent, together again - hopefully Foxglove will find us here... But not before I get some food and drink! All the effort certainly burned up that pie I ate this morning. This morning! It seems like days ago... He brings forth his tankard, with which to properly pay tribute to Cayden Cailean, and listens in on nearby conversations while he waits for sustenance.
Katarina watches Zaf a bit perplexed, but when the x gnome tumbles to the floor and right after gets back up, she finally realizes his intent and lets out a long, crystalline laugh.
After hearing Garrok's comment, she has to stifle another set of giggles - "Oh no please don't eat him sir mighty orc, otherwise the innkeeper would surely charge you for the meal! You'd spend a fortune!" - She laughs a little once again, then after a moment stops and thanks both of her companions - "Thanks for that, both of you. I really needed to laugh a bit after what happened."
Now much more relaxed and still smiling brightly, Katarina takes a seat too and engages her newfound friends in small talk.
While you sit, a cute young gnomish waitress approaches. She notices Zaf's antics and laughs with delight. "I'm Bethana," she says,"Now, what can I get for the fine folks who helped defend our town today? I'll bet you have quite a thirst after all the ruckus."
Hieronymous, his hair and beard looking especially wild after the long day, walks into the crowded establishment and immediatley makes out the half-orc sitting with Zaf, with Katarina joining them at the table. He walks up and sits at the table as the waitress asks what she can get for them and digs the free pitcher chit out of his pouch.
Offering the chit to the waitress, he says, "We'd like a pitcher to start, and to eat I'll have whatever your specialty is here at the Rusty Dragon."
He smiles at everyone and moves around a bit in the chair, trying to find the most comfortable position for his bulky mass.
"Make that two pitchers. And a joint of meat - to be enjoyed all the more after a brush with death!" He offers his toothiest, hairiest grin as he hands over his prize token, and doesn't much like the involuntary reaction on the lady gnome's face.
I may be a hero, but I'm still ugly...
"I'll have what he's having." gesturing at the half orc.
"And before you ask young Bethana, my hat blew off in the storm that brought my ship to port in Sandpoint. I haven't yet found its equal and until I do, the world will have to get used to seeing my unadorned head.
Waiting for the food and drink to arrive, Zafzalurg turns to Katarina, something clearly on his mind. "Lass, I've been at sea for sometime now, and in all my travels, I've never seen - or even heard of a beast such as that what follows you so loyally. What is it?"
Katarina livens up immediately when Zaf inquires about her familiar - "Oh! You mean Caine? He is unique isn't he?" - she smiles brightly and promptly picks up the unsuspecting animal from the ground and puts him in her lap.
"He is actually a compsognathus, a type of dinosaur. There really aren't many of his kind here up north, if any! Mostly they are found way to the south, past the Inner Sea, in the jungles of the Mwangi Expanse." - Katarina explains eagerly, while gently petting her familiar, whom for his part is just happy to lay curled up in her mistress's lap, enjoying the attention - "I found him in Korvosa, when I was just a little girl. A raiding expedition had captured him when he was barely a newborn and brought him all the way to Varisia, with many other strange animals from far away lands... They were parading them in the streets, to celebrate their success, in tiny, rusty cages... Most of them couldn't even stand up! Disgusting!" - She frowns and grimaces at the thought - "Well, anyway, that's where I found him. Mom bought him, we brought him home, and we've been inseparable ever since! Am I right, little one?"
Caine yelps happily, as if wanting to corroborate his mistress's words, and Katarina hugs him tightly for a moment before putting him back down on the floor and leaving him free to move around a bit.
Hieronymous said of Katarina and Caine, "Well, I daresay the two of you were meant to find one another, he gave a look to Katarina and then a smile to Caine, "much like the four of us may have been destined to attend the festivities today, for it seemed that there was no one else equipped to handle those pesky vermin."
"I mean, what are the odds, none of us having known each other, that we could all happen to be in the right place at the right time?" he looked around the table with a look of significance at his three new friends, I, for one, am pretty new to town having only arrived here a few days ago to bring my friend Durdan to family he has in town. Very fortuitous that we all ended up here together."
I admit my faith in greater powers had been shaken over the past three years, but it is hard for me to ignore this unlikely grouping. It would seem that fate still has plans for me. I guess I better not lay the whole faith thing on too think, don't want to scare away my new friends.
He raises his drink , "To my new found friends, Garrockmal, Zaf, Katarina, and even Caine, may we make a difference in the world!"
As Hieronymous makes his statement Bethana delivers the pitchers of beer which are summarily emptied into mugs and grabbed up as he makes his toast.
You've just set your mug back down on the table when the inn's door slams open to admit a surly looking older man. He bellows a loud command in a language none of you understand.
The inn goes silent as people ignore the outburst and look to their meals intently.
The man stalks into the inn, a look of distaste evident upon his face. His eyes scan the room, seeking someone.
Katarina raises her mug with the others, smiling from ear to ear.
She casually takes a big swig at the beer, then her eyes go wide in surprise and she slams the mug back on the table, coughing and sputtering all the while.
"How can you drink this?" - She asks in a strangled voice, a few tears in her eyes - "It's way too strong! And it tastes horrible! Ugh!" - she complains, while trying to clear her throat.
When the door slams open, Katarina almost jumps from the chair, then swiftly turns toward the entrance to see who was so rude or careless.
'Ameiko's father? What's he doing here?... And why enter like that?...'
Garrokmal hoists his tankard high in the air. "For Cayden Cailean - thanks for victory granted today, for newfound allies, and for the strength to overcome what lies before us!" He downs his entire tankard in one go, belches loudly and wipes foam from his beard with the back of a well-stained bracer. Seeing Katarina's reaction to the beer, he says "I'll not see that drink go wasted! If you've not the stomach for it, I'll finish your draught." Just then, there's a commotion at the door. Garrok's hand reaches instinctively for his sword, but before it touches the hilt, he sees who it is, and hears him bellow in a foreign tongue.
What's Ameiko done now to anger her father so? Not wanting to interfere in a family quarrel, he relaxes and leans over to speak quietly to his friends from other lands. "That's the father of the wench that owns this establishment. Probably wise to stay out of his way, whatever he's on about."
Hieronymous drinks to his own toast, but stops when Katarina encounters difficulty with her drink. Just as he is about to comment, a hostile man at the door grabs his attention. He looks at the man calmly through his clouded eyes, thinking Wow, as if there wasn't enough violence on this day already.
Noticing the reactions of everyone else in the bar, Hieronymous switches his gaze from the angry man to his compatriots, I suppose this isn't my business, but I'll still keep half an eye on him.
The obviously unhappy Lonjiku's eyes widen as he sees your group gathered at the table. He rushes over and pounds his fist on the planks of your table.
"What do you think you're doing? Endangering the town and its people with your antics today? You should let the guards and trained professionals handle those vermin. You could have gotten Ameiko killed! You and your type have made this town unsafe for civilized people!"
He scowls at you with his 'better than thou' attitude. He glances at Katarina and states, "I always knew you were trouble. Filling Ameiko's head with bad ideas."
Lonjiku's words hurt Katarina more than a goblin blade ever could, and the young girl remains frozen in place, transfixed, for several moments, looking up at the spiteful man with an horrified expression on her face.
"How could you say that!" - She finally yells, regaining her senses - "We were fighting for our lives! And we tried to save others too! A-And I would never, EVER, put Ameiko in danger!" - her voice cracks up as she concludes, teary eyed - "She is my best friend in the whole world..."
"Tears, always tears, and shouting. Women's weapons." He gives Katarina a deliberately dismissive wave of his hand."Yes, you're her friend, but have you helped her to come to her senses? Convinced her to sell this flea-ridden inn and become a respectable member of the Kaijitsu family? To do what is best for her? No. What kind of friend does that make you?"
He glares at each of you sternly, his face wreathed in obvious distaste.
"Ameiko! he yells.
Hieronymous calmly looks up at the man and says, "You would berate the very people that put their lives on the line, the people that bled for your town and your daughter? All I hear are empty words from an unhappy man. Wouldn't your time be better spent looking for her than persecuting people who would die to help this town?"
Standing alongside his companions, Garrok's face reddens with anger... and beer. "You know full well that Katarina thinks of your daughter nearly as kin! And that I've wanted nothing so much as the chance to defend this town since the Sherrif took me in - what would you have us do, stand around yelling 'guards! guards!' while those little mosters cut down our people? No, sir! Your daughter was wise to head to safety with the rest of the people, and would be well served to stay on in her current position where she's remains out of danger!" maneuvering around the table and the silent and stunned patrons, he takes a couple steps toward the man. "Now, before you say your next word, consider carefully the possibility of being forcibly removed from the place. I have meat and mead, and you've been unwise to interrupt a toast!"
He straightens to his full height and folds his enormous, freshly scarred arms across his chest.
Loud voices and thumping pulls Zafzalurg away from his meal and contemplating how best to share his part of the loot - mostly involving a spectacular new hat.
By Desna's miraculous knickers... Zaf leaps up on his seat and in his boomiest stage voice begins:
"Friends, friends. All this shouting and banging about is not good for anyone's digestion, let alone this insignificant gnome. I won't pretend to understand the convoluted relationships of the fine people of Sandpoint - I'm fresh off the schooner just this morning, but I do understand that we've all had a traumatic morning. Busting in here and throwing your meaty fists around will not sway anyone, least of all an already-defiant child. After the attack, everyone's nerves are a little shot. Speaking of, why don't we calm ourselves with a little shot of our own..."
Zafzalurg looks for the barkeep and shouts "Five shots," he pauses and reconsiders his order. "Better make that six shots... Six shots of Dwarven whiskey, barkeep!"
Whoever this Aimeko is, she's going to need a drink.
Lonjiku looks at your group arrayed before him, his face flushed with anger. "I dont want your Dwarven swill, gnome! I am waiting for this Orcish lout to forcibly remove me though. The Sheriff's pet allowed to beat up on an old man, how civilized. Why even bother making a point? And to you young man, I will berate whoever I feel needs it, goblin slayer or not. Besides you should know better than to associate with such...unsavory characters." He indicates Garrok and Zaf with his final gesture.
As Lonjiku keeps insulting and abusing her friends and herself, the initial shock she felt starts to fade and Katarina's distress slowly turns into anger and disgust.
"I have no idea what you hope to accomplish, coming in here and spewing your poison and nonsense." - she says slowly, through clenched teeth, her cold, harsh tone completely different from her usually warm, pleasant one - "Maybe in your old age your mind is starting to rot away, or perhaps you decided today would be a good day to embarrass yourself in front of half the town. I don't care one bit. If there is still a shred of intelligence and decency in you, then shut up, and go away. Otherwise, we'll make you. The choice is yours".
Katarina's eyes are burning with anger as she stares at the old man. Under the table, a low growl can be heard, as Caine joins her mistress in her contempt.
Well, I couldn't add anything to that... The girl's got fire in her!
Deciding at this point that a show of strength would serve better than threats of it, Garrokmal silently moves to Katarina's side and stands there, arms folded, glowering at the man.
Zafzalurg holds his breath.
This whole place is holding its breath.
Hieronymous nods his head in approval at Katarina's words and stares at the grumpy old man, though he does risk a quick glance at the girl that may have winked at him earlier while he moves closer to his friends to show what he thinks about the 'unsavory characters'.
"Alright, that's enough standing around, staring at each other. We're here to rest and meet with Aldern Foxglove, one of the people of this town who has more... appreciation for what we've done today than you seem to. I'm taking you outside - you can continue wailing for your daughter out there if you like."
With that, Garrokmal moves to escort the elder Lonjiku from the inn.
As Garrokmal moves to physically restrain the belligerent older gentleman, Ameiko Kaijitsu bustles out of the kitchen with a ladle that still drips soup in her hand.
She sees Lonjiku and the grin on her face disappears. She says something in the same odd language, obviously a question.
He backs away from Garrokmal while speaking to his daughter in a very pointed tone.
She shouts back at him obviously angered.
He replies in a grave and final tone.
She shouts back at him and points toward the door.
The bitter old man turns and leaves. You think you can almost hear his teeth grinding.
Ameiko turns to her gathered patrons and says, "Sorry you had to see that folks, some people just don't know how to have a good time. A round for everyone on the house!"
The inn bursts into cheers and Lonjiku slinks away. Ameiko makes her way to your table with a smile, no hint of the 'discussion' with her father evident on her face. "Welcome to the Rusty Dragon heroes," she says as she gives Katarina's hair a ruffle.
To Garrokmal she says, "No need for a rough hand with the old man, he's all bluster, but thanks for being willing to show him what for." Then to everyone at the table, "I was really proud when I heard what you did today, the whole town was. We need more folks willing to stick up for themselves, so I'm going to give rooms in the inn free for the week in appreciation. Least I can do."
Lonjiku:I'm here to give you one final chance. I'm moving back to Magnimar, away from this uncivilized place and I'm taking you with me.
Ameiko: No you're not. This is MY inn in MY town and no old goat is going to tell me what to do.
Lonjiku: Come with me to Magnimar or you're out of the will.
Ameiko: Then, take your will and go to Magnimar.
Hieronymous breathes a sigh of relief and sits heavily back down in his chair, picking up his drink and taking a few swallows.
Truly if I had needed to I would have done whatever it took to silence that old fool, but I am glad he left. It feels like it's all I can do to merely stay sitting up straight after the day's events.
He looks around at his comrades in arms and then to Ameiko and says, "Your generosity is much appreciated!" He then smiles warmly at Ameiko and takes another drink.
"I'm just glad that whole unpleasant business is over!" - Katarina smiles at Ameiko, but after a moment she gives the woman an apologetic look, an lowers her eyes - "...And I'm sorry I raised my voice earlier... But... He said such horrible things! And they were not true! And... And I got mad..."
All of the sudden, Katarina raises her head again to meet Ameiko's gaze, then she begins speaking in a bizarre way, resembling the odd language Ameiko and her father spoke in a few minutes before.
"ผมดีใจที่คุณตัดสินใจที่จะอยู่! แต่ ... คุณแน่ใจว่าจะเป็นไร? พ่อของคุณก็โกรธ ... มีอะไรที่ฉันจะทำอย่างไรคุณต้องการที่จะพูดคุยเกี่ยวกับมันได้หรือไม่"
Garrokmal relaxes as the man leaves, and shifts to Katarina as she speaks to Ameiko... She doesn't have anything to apologize for... "You don't- Just- It's not-" But he can't get a word in - her focus is elsewhere.
When she begins speaking in the foreign tongue the old man used, he gives up and settles back into his seat.
He looks at Hieronymous.
He turns his gaze to Zafzalurg.
He sighs, shrugs, and in one smooth motion picks up Katarina's barely touched beer and pours the whole thing down his throat.
He smiles.
Hieronymous chuckles at Garrockmal, reaches for the pitcher and pours Garrockmal another drink, "You don't even have to say it, my orcish friend, heh, heh, heh. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!"
He shakes his head and then takes another drink, smiling at nothing in particular.
Bethana arrives with your food and Ameiko helps her place the large steaming plates on your table.
"Eat up now, I added a few portions for my starving friends." Ameiko says while showing a wide grin. She stays and engages in pleasant small talk for a while and you drink and eat the earlier cares away.
As you finish your meals and Bethana is gathering your plates to take them away, Sheriff Hemlock walks through the inn door and strides to your table nodding to the group and Ameiko.
"Sorry to interrupt folks. I was hoping I could speak to all of you outside, I need some help in a small matter."
"Sure. I'm a small matter."
Zafzalurg hops out of his seat, ready to follow the man outside, then turns to see if his dinner companions are following suit.
"You lot coming? We've had a whole hour of nothing to do but stuff our faces and talk about the weather."
"Sheriff! Hello!" Garrok automatically sits a little straighter and tries to be subtle about checking his beard for beer foam and bits of meat... "Of course - for you, there's no matter too small, no challenge too great!" Lamenting the beer he's forced to leave in the pitcher, he stows his tankard and stands up to follow the Sheriff out.
Walking out of the Inn, he can't help but dig his elbow into Hieronymous's side, pointing at the buxom woman that the man was trading glances with earlier. He grins luridly at his friend.
Hieronymous laughs at Zaf's small matter joke, finishes his drink and then follows the Sheriff, Zaf and Garrockmal, turning a bit red and smiling when Garrockmal points out the woman.
He tries hard to walk straight, hoping the sheriff won't notice that he's been downing the drinks a bit faster than he probably should. He shakes his head a bit, I could swear by vision is even worse than normal, must be more tired than I thought.
Just like Hieronymous, Katarina laughs a bit at Zaf's antics. 'It's nice to be around someone that can lighten the mood with a good joke every now and then!'
Now feeling much better, she nods to Sheriff Hemlock, gives a quick glance at the table - 'Uh... Wasn't my glass full a moment ago?' - then jumps off the chair and follows the others outside.
As soon as she moves, Caine comes out from under the table, and after a long last look at the scraps of food still on the plates, he hurries to follow his mistress.
Once outside, Hemlock takes you all to one side, his face grim. "I apologize for interrupting your meal, but a matter has come up. Father Zantus came to me a short time ago saying that the tomb for Father Tobyn, his predecessor, has been disturbed. He was doing his rounds and found the door open. Normally I'd tell a few of the guards to investigate, but we're short handed after the attack and you proved yourselves capable. I need some backup in case there are any nasty surprises."
He waits patiently for your response.
Hieronymous says, "My spear is your's, Sheriff. Fair warning though, I am a healer, but the day's activities have taken their toll, I won't be able to do much more than keep an injured person alive should someone become gravely wounded."
He tilts his head from one side to the other and then shakes his head again, trying to make it look like he is working the kinks out of his neck, when he is actually masking his habit of trying to clear his vision.
Of course it doesn't help and, as always, he sees little of the world around him.
"On that topic, is there anyone in town who might tend to the wounds of Garrockmal and Katarina? They're both still a bit wounded."
"Actually, I'm quite recovered from my injuries, thanks to you, good healer... The girl could use some seeing to, however."
Turning to the Sheriff, he says "Nasty surprises are what brought the four of us together - I'm sure we can find out what's in that tomb... Though I'd hazard a guess that it's just someone trying to find a safe place to hide from those goblins, or maybe mischievous children. I think you pulled me out of some sacred places back when I first arrived here, too!" He smiles, a little embarrassed at some of the trouble he caused the Sheriff when he was young. "No matter - children, goblins or worse, we'll haul whatever's defiling Father Tobyn's memory out of there."
He turns to his companions. "We are a little worse for wear for the day's events, however. I think finding someone who can assist our recovery first is a good idea."
Katarina raises her head to meet Garrok's gaze - "It's... Not that bad, really. Yes, it aches a bit, but it's not bleeding or anything, I'll be fine! I think..." - she stops for a moment, as if in deep thought, then turns to the sheriff - "If you need help, I'll be happy to come! But first, can I go home and grab some stuff? It'll come in handy if things get, uh, frantic again... Especially the crossbow mom keeps somewhere in the basement!... Or was it the attic?... No, no, basement! Definitely the basement... And there was a dagger too, near the traveling pack, and..." - Katarina trails off mumbling to herself, completely lost in her own thoughts.
Sheriff Hemlock grins and says, "I'm glad that you'll help. Go fetch what you think you might need and meet us at the Cathedral in twenty minutes, Katarina. Father Zantus should have some small bit of restorative power remaining for those that need it. I'm not expecting trouble, but it's best to be prepared if we encounter it."
The Sheriff starts making his way toward the cathedral at a normal pace. He steps in beside Garrokmal and says, "Seems you've been doing well for yourself. Handled those goblins with courage. Savah was telling me of your prowess. I'm proud of you, son."
"Twenty minutes, you say... Sheriff, I wonder if you may point me to the town's hatter? I'd like to see the wares and if the inventory is lacking, put in an order for a new topper."
Zafzalurg runs his small hand through his dark hair, which in the right light appears to be a very deep purple.
"I'm feeling suddenly naked without one. Also, do you know where we might acquire a wand with some sort of healing? My new friend, Garrok, may have it right, and the disturbance is just some townsfolk looking for refuge against the attack. On the other hand, it may not be, and we don't want to have to run back to Father Zantus every time one of us gets a nick, or deplete Hieronymous's resources."
"Thank you, Sheriff... I'm saddened the town was attacked, but glad to have finally gotten a chance to defend it - these people have been good to me, considering how I came to be here, as have you. I'll do whatever I can to find out why this is happening. If you have a chance, you may want to speak with Aldern Foxglove - some goblins had singled him out and nearly killed him. I don't know if he knows anything more than the rest of us, but we should leave no stone unturned.
Speaking of which, I have no need for additional supplies right now, so I'll to the cathedral and tend to my gear until everyone arrives. Master gnome - I think you'll find that even minor wands cost more than our combined gold right now, but after we find out what's going on in this tomb, we'll either not need it or we'll have perhaps done enough service to the town to earn a discount on one, eh? I'll meet you all with Father Zantus!"
Absent any suggestions otherwise, Garrok walks alone to the cathedral and there rests himself a little while going through his pack and making sure everything is secure for the coming investigation.
"Hmmm, I have need of some supplies, I'll meet you all there as well."
Hieronymous asks a passerby for the location of a store where he might get some supplies and then heads to the General Store, where he buys two weeks of trail rations, a hemp rope, 2 empty sacks and a shovel. He then proceeds to the cathedral.
Sheriff Hemlock walks along with your group as you make your way back to the Cathedral, he makes small talk and seems genuinely interested in the group and its members. Asking things like if you knew each other before the attacks, how you came to be in Sandpoint, and how long you intend to stay.
As you near the cathedral, Father Zantus comes out to greet you. He dressed in the same blue robes he wore earlier in the day but you can see that they're now marred by ash and blood.
Sheriff Hemlock says, "I've brought these fine folks to help me investigate the tomb, Father. They are in some need of some divine aid however as one are two were injured in the day's events. I believe the last will be along shortly."
You sit down and talk with the Father on a few benches outside the cathedral. Zantus tells how he has bandaged wounds and helped the more injured townsfolk. He tells you that most injuries were very minor but several dogs and three townsfolk were in fact killed in the fracas.
When Katarina arrives he asks you all to gather around him and hold hands for a prayer. When the prayer ends you feel a wave of soft power wash over you and you feel refreshed and your wounds disappear.
Once he's said his prayer he asks,"If you don't mind stepping this way?" He leads you into the Cathedral's Boneyard where the remains of Sandpoint's townsfolk are laid to rest overlooking the Turandarok River. You pass a great many gravestones with names common to Varisia. In the center, the large stone vaults of the towns more affluent members stand like silent sentinels. Zantus nears one of the more austere vaults; you can tell that its door has very recently been thrust open. Carved into the side of the vault are the words, "Here Lies Our Beloved Father Ezakein Tobyn."
"I was checking the area, to make sure there were no lingering goblins and I found it like this."
Disappointed that the General Store was closed, Hieronymous makes another mental note to buy supplies tomorrow.
As they come to Father Tobyn's vault, he chooses to look on the bright side of things, I feel much better now that Katarina's wound has finally been healed. He may not have been able to buy supplies, but at least his lack of divine energy won't cause Katarina to wake up with an unhealed wound.
He walks around the vault without going inside, and uses his Crystal Sight to see if he can detect anything normally unseen.
He shakes his head sharply, These accursed eyes, I can't see anything.