"I guess I'll have one of each of those, then!"
Pendrix grinned widely.
Lia blushes and looks over at her father. ...I don't think he'll really approve of me drinking...
"I'll, um, just have some tea, thank you."
"Jasmine or Earl Grey?" Ameiko asks Lia as she starts fishing out mugs and a Tian tea set.
As Foxglove and Jarrod also choose the tea, you make your way over to Mayor Deverin's table, where she is already joined by two officials. Those of you who live in Sandpoint and know Deverin are surprised to see her normally composed self rather frazzled, no doubt from the chaos of the goblin attack.
As you approach, she looks up and bows her head in respect. "Well met, friends of Sandpoint. In addition to the praise and thanks you've received already, I offer my deepest thanks to you for your intervention."
"Jasmine or Earl Grey?"
"Earl Grey. Hot."
Once she has her tea, Lia blushes again when the mayor thanks them. "It was nothing, Ma'am. Really..."
"Thank you, but I really didn't do that much," Sesi says, a little embarrassed by the praise.
Pendrix blushed, his dark cheecks darkening further still
"We were just in the right place at the right time."
"Least we could do."
"Regardless, I have arranged with Ameiko to offer you a free week's worth of bed and breakfast here at the Rusty Dragon for you who are not locals. It is but a small token, but please accept it."
As she finishes, Ameiko brings over the tankards and tea and hands out the appropriate drink to each of you. "I've got the best rooms set up for you guys," she says to Karst and Sesi, "you'll just have to move your stuff up to them." She hands Karst and Sesi their room keys.
"I do hope you'll be staying for a while longer." Deverin continued. "We plan to consecrate the new temple tomorrow morning, inside with a much calmer ceremony. You all are invited, of course, and afterwards the sights and tastes of Sandpoint will be available to you all."
"Well, how can I say no after you've gone through all that trouble," Sesi says with a grin, "thank you for your generosity."
"Whatever help you need, just ask." Karst says through whiskers full of foam. "I came here for the consecration. I'm very interested in having a look around."
Lia nearly spits out her tea at the mention of having a free week at the Rusty Dragon. "Wow, really? I don't know what to say--thank you!"
"And sure, I'll stick around for the consecration. Why not?" She gives her father a sidelong glance.
"On behalf of the city," he looks sideways at the mayor,"Not that the mayor hasn't already, but I think I can speak for the city when I say we would be honored to have you here!"
He grins widely at the mayor.
"Very good," Deverin smiles, gathering a few papers and motioning to her aides, the three rising. "I do hope you all enjoy your stay with us. We'll be seeing you all about."
As the Mayor left, cries from the other patrons for you to join them at their tables began to rise. It is rather obvious that you are indeed Sandpoint's newest heroes.
The revitalized nightlife of Sandpoint soon dies, giving way to exhaustion-induced sleep. However, the day begins once the sun rises, announced by the town's few roosters.
As the smells of the Rusty Dragon's infamous kitchens reach the noses of those visitors who stayed the night here - as well as those of neighboring buildings - Bethana Corwin, Ameiko's halfling maid, knocks on the doors of the inn's residents and calls out an offer for breakfast.
Some have already come down and found their seats, drinking from cups of coffee or tea whilst they await what Ameiko has cooked up for them today.
Bethana finds Sesi splayed out on one of the benches by the long tables, a blue wizard's hat on her head. Around her is a pile of empty mugs and bottles as well as the clothing of some young men that had invited her to a game of Towers after she'd gotten drunk. Desna must have been smiling on the young Varki ranger as she managed to win every hand, and giving the nature of her winnings, the young men had obviously been trying to get the young woman naked.
"Shush. Not so loud, m'head will 'splode," she tells the halfling woman when she tries to wake her up.
Pendrix came stumbling in from outside. He had changed his clothes, though judging from how rumpled they were, he'd probably slept in these.
Rubbing his eyes, he came over and took a seat next to Sesi. His eyes scanned the room, until they eventually settled on Sesi.
"Oh!" He gasped,"I didn't see you there on the bench!"
He seemed to have genuinely not seen Sesi, if the startled look on his face was any indication.
"Shh, no yellin's," Sesi replies, obviously hungover, and maybe still a little drunk.
"Oh...um...sorry."
He whispers apologetically.
"Can I get you some bread?"
"Nooooo~," Sesi groans, "no food."
In stark contrast to the hungover ranger lying on the bench, Lia bounces downstairs fully dressed and chipper. Her eyes are wide, and dark circles can be seen under them. She's twitching a bit.
"Gooooooooood morning!" She giggles before noticing the pile of clothes around Sesi. "Busy night, eh?"
The glare that Sesi gives Lia from under the hat is enough to give just about anything pause, but the fuzzy memories of the looks of dismay as she won hand after hand brings a smile to her face.
"Some poor fellows decided to teach me how to play Towers. After a few hands, they said we'd be playing Strip Towers. Didn't lose a hand," she tells Lia with a laugh, that's soon replaced with a groan of agony as her her headache decides to kick it up a notch or two.
"Ne'er drinkin' like that again!"
"Oh, so THAT'S what that card game was all about." Lia shifts from foot to foot and blinks a few times. "I wasn't really paying attention--I was thinking about a lot of things. Like why the jellyfish haven't risen up and reclaimed their former glory as kings of the ocean."
She stops, realizing what she just said. "Maybe I shouldn't drink so much tea before bed. Dad says it makes me kinda loopy."
Pendrix just stared at the exchange between the two.
He blinked.
Lia purses her lips and looks at her feet. "Yeah, I really shouldn't drink tea before bed anymore."
Karst blinks awake, the sun beaming into his room between the slats of closed shutters. He grunts and arches his back, cracking his vertebrae in a tumble that sounds like a wagon wheel running over a bag of walnuts. He throws the wool blanket back and stands, clad only in his small clothes, and gives his rump a leisurely scratch.
He smiles. Some night last night... This was not, however, Karst's first rodeo, and his hardy dwarven metabolism was more than a match for a gallon or two of the respectable but hardly impressive stout the Rusty Dragon offered.
He walks over to the chair and table where his equipment is arrayed and opens his pack to pull out a fresh set of clothes, not wanting to smell like two weeks of hard road. He fills the basin and washes his face and more aromatic crevices before pulling his clothes on. He considers his armor for a moment, and then decides that ceremony and the potential goblin threat calls for it, donning and securing the scales across his broad chest and shoulders.
After stowing his extra gear in the footlocker near the bed, he runs his fingers through his beard to tug out any tangles, grabs his helmet and hammer, and heads down to the common room.
He smiles as he sees his new friends already seated and in various states of disarray. He catches a barmaid's attention on his way to the table. "Can I get a big mug of tomato juice, love..." he continues, inclining his head toward the prostrate Sesi "and a bowl of broth and a soft loaf for my friend over there. Bring the rest of us some fruit and cheese but..." he emphasizes his point with a raised finger and warm smile "...no eggs. In fact, no fried anything. Much obliged."
He walks over to the table, nodding a greeting to Pendrix and Lia, places his helm and weapon on the board, and straddles the bench next to Sesi, placing a callused hand gently on her head. "Sit up a minute, darlin'."
"As soon as the room stops spinnin'," Sesi replies.
He chuckles. "Trust me. I've been in my share of spinning rooms."
Slowly, and quite unsteadily, Sesi sits up, her face turning pale as her head and stomach argue with her ears.
"Why'd you lemme drink so much," she asks her cheeks turn a little green.
"Actually, I did ask if you wanted me to hold your cup for you, Sesi. You gave me a look that will take weeks to shake off."
He shivered at the memory.
Lia twitches. "Must have missed that. I thought she was on a roll and didn't want to get interrupted."
Pendrix shuddered.
"I'm not sure what it was. It scared me though, pretty terribly."
Ameiko wandered over to the group, bearing a tray of coffee cups. "Always seemed to help me." she claimed, offering the four of you each a cup of black coffee with small dishes of sugar and milk.
Lia eyes the coffee cups with some wariness. "...well, I guess some coffee couldn't hurt..."
She takes a sip and promptly perks right up. "Thanks, Ameiko." She grins and takes another drink, this time adding a dash of sugar.
"So, what should we do first today? It's my day off."
Sesi sniffs at the drink before taking a sip of it and jerking wide awake as the bitter taste hits her tongue. Before she can comment on that, she keenly feels the splitting headache that causes her to see white flashes when she moves.
"My head," she groans as she clutches it and slowly lowers it to rest on the table.
On the plus side, she is awake.
"I actually have the day off too. Would you non-locals like a tour?"
As you all gather and begin to discuss the day's events, the doors burst open and Sheriff Hemlock enters, armored and stoic. He looks around the dining hall and soon spots you. He nods as he comes near.
"Morning, friends. I hope you all slept well?" His words are polite, but he seems to be rushing the pleasantries.
"Well, at least half of us did." Lia looks around at the rest of the party before turning back to the Sheriff. "Um... is everything okay?"
Pendrix sits up at attention.
His obvious man-crush on the sheriff is visible in his eyes.
"Well, I don't think anything serious is about, but Father Zantus came to me early this morning with what he considers a threat."
He sits down, swinging a chair around so he's sitting in it backwards, facing you.
"Zantus, in preparations for the ceremony this morning, happened to look out and saw the door to the previous high priest's tomb, Father Tobyn, was ajar. Fearing the worst, he came straight to me, leaving an acolyte watching the tomb from a distance. Seeing you all are quite capable, I was hoping you could accompany me to investigate. It would certainly be a relief for Zantus if you at least helped clear out what I think is just goblin mischief."
"Lemme go make myself more presentable and I'll go with you. I should have plenty to chose from," she laughs as she motions to the pile of clothes and robes that she'd won the night before. After drinking the coffee and a lot of water, she is definitely feeling better.
Sesi comes back downstairs dressed in dark clothes that wouldn't be out of place in a thieve's or assassin's guild, save the symbol of Desna hanging from her neck. She carries her sword and bow along with her arrows.
"Well, I'm ready when you guys are," she says in a chipper mood.
Pendrix nods.
"I'm in. I'll be back in ten."
True to his word, Pendrix is back soon, having changed into a midnight blue robe, and with a backpack slug over one shoulder.
Karst waits patiently for his companions to assemble.
Lia jiggles her sword at her side. "Well, I'm already dressed and ready to go." Her chain shirt *clinks*.
Hemlock patiently waits for those unprepared to become so, and then he leads you back north through town towards the cathedral. As you approach, Zantus motions for you to come close, but quietly. For the normally calm priest, this was a side of him those native to Sandpoint were not used to.
"Thank Desna you all came." He whispered as you all filed in. "As the sheriff has most likely told you, I was setting up for this mornings consecration service, and then I saw the mausoleum's door open."
"And then you got me, they know Mister Zantus." Hemlock rubbed a little sleep out of his eye. "Where is acolyte Fason?"
"There, by the doors to the bone yard." Zantus looks again at you. "Thanks again for this, I'm sure I must seem paranoid, but better safe than sorry, yes?"
"Absolutely. Even more so after yesterday's...excitement. Glad to help."
Pendrix looks confident, and had a big smile upon his face.
"With goblins, it's better to be paranoid," Sesi says, "As Pendrix says, I think we are all more than happy to help."
Karst rests the head of his hammer on the ground, cracks his knuckles, and takes his weapon up again.
"Right. Let's have a look."
He proceeds forward.
Lia nods. "Time to hop to it!"
Pendrix mutters to himself, waving his hands around like a crazy person. His dark eyes glow bright gold for just a second, and then the air in front of him shimmers.
He smiles, as the shimmer fades.
"Alright, now I am aready."
Zantus nods and then leads you to the door, dismissing the acolyte and opens the door. Hemlock, cracking his neck, draws out his heavy mace and leads the way.
The sounds of the town waking up echo faintly as you traverse the tombstones towards the mausoleum. Once you are about ten feet from the structure, Hemlock turns to you. "Can any of you see anything? I'm looking for anything leading to clues as to who came up here last."