Constable Hemlock has Ameiko's maids rouse those characters that are still sleeping.
"Good Morning. I trust you are all well."
"I just came to remind you about the meeting of the town council being held today. It should start at 10 AM, which is in about an hour. The Lord-Mayor is looking forward to meeting you."
He nods, and gives you a look that indicates that you had better be there.
"I'll see you at the meeting."
Flo tries to rub the sleep from her eyes. Maybe the night shift and a full day of doing other things wasn't the best idea. "We will see you there sir!" she says, doing her best not to mumble.
She eats a full breakfast in silence, trying to regain her focus. After a significant amount of coffee, she begins to perk up. "How is everyone feeling this morning? Going to be an exciting day today! If anyone needs me, I'll be saying some prayers for us, the inn, and the travelers within!"
________
Rig yawns and stretches while drinking a bit of coffee. "Meeting? Oh yeah... mrble der..." He clears his throat a bit realizing he was speaking into his coffee. "See you there."
He turns back to his companions at the breakfast table. "We may be spreading ourselves a bit too thin. Live and learn, right? What else did we promise to do today?"
"What, big damn heroes don't get any shuteye?" grumbling and cursing Kargas eats his breakfast a trifle sullenly, but follows Flor out to observe the prayers again.
"This Lord Mayor knows how to fight, yeah? That's why he's the boss?"
As the group returns to the city, Cade bids them good luck on the night shift.
I will see you guys in the morning. I am off to the Cathedral to see about getting some healing..unless Flo you got anything up your sleeve that will help me be more outgoing again. Those damn spiders did a number on my nose.
Laurana had slept soundly after a day packed with adventure. So soundly that she had slept in. She groggily got out of bed and was half way out the door of her room before she realized that she was still in nothing but her small clothes. Blanching red she hurried back inside hoping that no one had seen her. Minutes later she joined the rest in the common area. "How were your watches? Uneventful, I presume? Hey, who has the disc?"
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Rig replies blearily, trying to keep his voice down. "I've got it up in my room. I wrapped it up in a couple of blankets before stuffing it in a sack to try to keep its effects muted. I popped out the ioun stones first." Rig yawns as he says ioun, making it come out more as "iooooooooun".
"I figured we can just decide what to do with them as a group. It was a team effort." He asks Ameiko for another cup of coffee. "If I get killed by a flock of peacocks in the future, everyone agrees to put everything back where they found it, right?" he snickers.
He pulls out a small pouch from his vest and hands it to Laurana. "We ought to figure out what more of them do. I'm pretty sure even the worn out ones have some value. If you want to take the disc over to the old man, you're certainly welcome to."
"I have read about these before, the will circle your head and grant you powers depending on the color of the stone." For emphasis, she takes the one working stone and moves it to her forehead.
Cade visits the Cathedral before tucking in.
An acolyte brings him to see Father Zantus.
After Cade explains the problem, Zantus nods.
"For you, I'd be happy to help!"
He pauses a moment, and thinks.
"There's a spell I can cast that will take care of the problem, though after everything that's happened I don't have any spells like that ready right now. There are limits to what we clerics can do. I know... that sounds like an excuse, but our powers truly aren't unlimited. But when I do my devotions at sunrise I could prepare such a spell and could cast it on you tomorrow."
"How does that sound? I understand you are coming to the town meeting tomorrow. I could meet you there if you like."
Rig replies blearily, trying to keep his voice down. "I've got it up in my room. I wrapped it up in a couple of blankets before stuffing it in a sack to try to keep its effects muted. I popped out the ioun stones first." Rig yawns as he says ioun, making it come out more as "iooooooooun".
Cade looks up at the father and smiles as he explains things.
Father, I thank you for the aid and it would be greatly appreciated. Would you accept a generous donation for such a service. I will stop by here first thing in the morning. I have a few places to stop by before the meeting.
Kargas listens eagerly to any discussion of the stones or the disk, but quickly grows bored if the conversation wanders away. "C'mon, let's get this meeting over with. Then we can get some sleep before hunting with the other fellow." He seems cheered by the thought of hunting, and otherwise tries to keep out of the way unless anyone asks for something specific.
Flo stares in wonder at the ioun stones they were able to extract. "I've never seen anything like that before! How do they work? What do they do?"
She curbs her enthusiasm when Kargas cuts to the chase. "You're right Kargas, these stones can wait. Let's get to the meeting!"
________
The group heads over to the town hall just before 10:00 AM.
At the doors they are met by a page, who escorts them to the council chamber.
The council chamber is a largish room, perhaps thirty by forty feet, and is dominated by a large long table, with six chairs to each side and one at either end. Two liveried servants stand by the door stoically. A fire burns in a large fireplace to one side, and a number of portraits and banners hang on the walls. Floredana recognizes one of the banners as that of House Valdemar, the noble family that owns the local shipyard.
The four banners represent the arms of the four noble houses of Sandpoint; Deverin, Kaijitsu, Scarnetti, and Valdemar. The portraits show the heads of the those families when Sandpoint was founded, along with a few other notables in Sandpoint history, mostly those who served as mayor.
Currently five people are sitting around the head of the table. You recognize Father Zantus and Constable Hemlock. A woman with short reddish hair who is verging on middle age sits in the large chair at the head of the table. Another elderly man with strange features sits glumly by her right hand. And an elf stands behind the mayor; Laurana recognizes her as Shalelu Andosana.
"Ah, here they are," smiles Father Zantus as the party enters. "You're right on time!"
Father Zantus stands.
"Let me make the introductions. You already know the Constable. This is Lady-Mayor Deverin and Lord Kaijitsu. Lords, may I present the ones they are calling 'The Sandpoint Six.'"
Father Zantus introduces everyone individually.
Lord Kaijitsu merely nods.
The mayor stands, and approaches the group with a warm smile.
"Welcome! I've heard a great deal about you! I have wanted to meet you but this is the first chance I've had."
She comes forward to offer her hand and shake hands with the group.
"For myself and on behalf of the Council, I have to say we appreciate everything you've done. You were there in the town's hour of need and we thank you."
At Lord-Mayor Deverin's greeting of the party, Lord Lonjiku snorts and looks away.
"Oh, Mister Goodbarrel. I almost forgot," says Father Zantus.
"If you'll just come over here for a mement..."
Father Zantus takes Cade aside, and then brings out his holy symbol as he begins murmuring in Old Varisian.
He presses his hand to Cade's chest, and Cade feels energy pour into him.
Kargas saunters in with an easy grin that quickly fades into poorly-hidden confusion at the lack of trophies, war-banners, beast heads mounted on the walls--what kind leader has no trophies to mark their great victories? He stands uneasily behind the others, waiting for a cue about what to do next.
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Rig nods to the constable and Zantus as they are shown in. The coffee has perked him up a bit, but he is looking forward to a brief nap later on. He shakes hands with the mayor as she introduces herself. "Pleased to meet you."
And he clearly assumes Kaijitsu sneezed as he pronounces a Kellid benediction following Kaijitsu's snort.
"Glad we could help."
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Laurana stood silently, at a loss for words, finally. She was unsure what to do or say so she just stood there like a statue, only breaking momentarily to quickly wave at Shelalu when she thought no one was looking.
Cade accepts Father Zantus's healing with a grateful nod.
Father, your blessings are most welcome and I thank you for the healing.
Now if I can just heal the damn bites on my ass, I can finally sit down. Now I know why father always called my that...pain in the ass.
As Cade is introduced he bows to the mayor.
Lady Mayor, thank you kindly. It was really nothing at all, we..just were in the right place at the right time...but on behalf of my companions and I, I thank you. It is an honor to serve the city and its populace.
Cade nods pleasantly to the Lord Lonjiku Kaijitsu but does not seem to pick up on any malice directed at him or anyone else. His smiles is from ear to ear as he moves around the table.
After a long night of guard duty, Colvyn had hoped to sleep longer the following morning. Sadly, that wasn't the case has he was reminded of the meeting with the town council. Already not the best social person, a fact that was only made worst with the last encounter, Colvyn dragged himself to the meeting. He nods at Father Zantus's greeting, then when the mayor compliment him, a little smile appears on his face... that disappear in an instant when the older council member snorted at the mayor's comment.
"Something's wrong old man? Should have we stayed on the sideline while goblins ran amok in the village? Or was it when we cleared the recently raise undead in the crypt that displeased you? We also killed an etticaq... ettarcop... a spider creature in the wood near here. Were we to get your permission first?" Aww crap... Me and my big mouth... Here come the torches and pitchfork... This as got to be a new record though.
Laurana stood silently, at a loss for words, finally. She was unsure what to do or say so she just stood there like a statue, only breaking momentarily to quickly wave at Shelalu when she thought no one was looking.
Shalelu nods at Laurana.
"Look at you! You went from an oddball looking at old potsherds to the toast of the town! I should pay more attention to those ruins."
Shalelu smiles and winks.
"Something's wrong old man?..."
The old man frowns, and stands up, smoothing his robe. He looks at Colvyn and speaks slowly.
"If you wish to address me, you... rodent... you will address me as 'Your Lordship,' or simply 'Lord.'"
He turns to Rig.
"And you... will address this lady as 'Your Worship,' or 'Lady Mayor.'"
"I understand that you rendered assistance to the town guard during the goblin attack. The Constable here commends you highly. But that act alone does not elevate you to a status that entitles you to this familiarity."
The mayor turns to Lord Kaijitsu with a soothing tone in her voice.
"Come now, Lord Kaijitsu. Some exuberance is to be expected. We have a weighty matter before us! Surely we need not waste time on ceremony when so much is at stake?"
"It hardly takes a moment to address someone properly, so I don't think we need concern ourselves with wasting time, especially when the other Lords are late! As usual."
"Addressing someone properly shows respect and character. I will not be insulted by a bunch of vagabonds!"
He turns back to Colvyn.
"So the next time you address me, I will hear my title from you, or I will have you thrown in the stocks! Understood?"
He sits back down in a huff, smoothing his robe again.
"...We also killed an etticaq... ettarcop... a spider creature in the wood near here. ..."
Shalelu looks up with curiosity.
"What's this about a 'spider creature?'"
Coming out of her daze, Flo stares in shock at the rapidly growing tensions in the room.
She places a hand on Colvyn's shoulder. "My Lord Kaijitsu, please forgive our transgressions. We have yet to be properly informed of the matters of title and will do our best to be respectful," she says as she gives her furry friend's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Thank you for the lesson." What an insufferable prick! Stockades for not being addressed how you like?! No wonder a horde of goblins broke into town, the Lords' primary concern is about titles!
She takes a seat and looks to the Mayor. "Lady Mayor," she begins, putting a little emphasis on the title, "How may we further serve Sandpoint, our home?"
"Look at you! You went from an oddball looking at old potsherds to the toast of the town! I should pay more attention to those ruins."
Laurana flushed deeply. "Thank you." She stammered at her hero's flattery.
"What's this about a 'spider creature?'"
"Oh, they killed an ettercap protecting its liar that turned out to be an old Thassilionian ruin! Isnt that exciting? The liar, not the dirty old ettercap. We also found a disc with ioun stones in it. It is all very exciting."
Rig holds his tongue at the old man's insults. It's not the first time he's been called a vagabond and it won't be the last. Little does he know it's an insult I don't really mind anymore. As a traveling performer, he's been called far worse.
As the mayor tries to calm Kaijitsu, Ray gets a gleam in his eye and covers his mouth to conceal his laugh. AH YES! My mother told me of him! He owns the glass works and was part of the reason she left. I see now what she means.
"So the next time you address me, I will hear my title from you, or I will have you thrown in the stocks! Understood?"
Kargas snorts aloud at the threat, but holds his tongue when Flor starts trying to make nice. Pompous fool, it wasn't his fancy titles that drove the goblins off, it was arrows and steel and spells.
"My Lord Kaijitsu, please forgive our transgressions. We have yet to be properly informed of the matters of title and will do our best to be respectful," she says as she gives her furry friend's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Thank you for the lesson."
Lord Kaijitsu nods at Floredana, clearly mollified by her apology.
"No, no, my fault." The mayor interjects. "I should have made introductions."
"We have some business to cover, but we are still waiting for-"
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The mayor is interrupted by the door opening. An elderly man walks in, assisted by a cane and by a younger man helping him walk. He is dressed in heavy woolens and is clearly in poor health, though he doesn't seem that old to you; perhaps sixty years old. But the years have not been kind to him.
As he looks up he blinks and looks around the room.
"Eh?"
"Ah! Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Lord Valdemar. Laurana, I think your father works in his shipyard. Ethram, these are the adventurers they are calling 'The Sandpoint Six.' They helped drive off the goblins that attacked yesterday."
"Lord, you look tired. Please have a seat."
"There are still a few more we are waiting for."
Lord Valdemar looks at the adventurers and blinks.
"Sandpoint Six, eh? Oh, good."
He hobbles over to the offered chair and sits down with a *thump.*
"Is there anything hot to drink? Tea. Or mulled wine. Anything hot. I get these chills..."
The younger man goes over and whispers to one of the servants, who dashes off.
"Goblins again, eh? It seems like just the other day we were fighting goblins, but I suppose that was decades ago. They've always been around. They breed too fast to get rid of permanently."
Lord Valdemar coughs for a moment, a wet, rattling cough. He holds a handkerchief over his mouth.
"Oh, excuse me."
"So it's now a bunch of young adventurers again, eh? That always seems to be the way of it. First Daviren Hosk and his lads, now you. Just be careful not to stir up the goblins too much. Goblins love fire and most of this town is made of wood."
"It is good to see you again my lord. I am Laurana Kanan, daughter of Porthos Kanan." She commented while giving the lord a curtsy, that is when she saw the blood on the handkerchief.
Rig turns to the new arrival. "Pardon me, Lord Valdemar. Do you know if the goblin tribes have ever banded together to attack in the past? Or perhaps I should be asking ... ummm, Ms. Shalelu?" He stammers a bit trying not to offend anyone, but she wasn't introduced as a lord or lady.
Thrown in the stocks? There is a smile forming on Colvyn's face as he looks at the old man. Though, this seems to show a lot more teeth than usual. He is about to answer the man when Floredana puts her hand on his shoulder and gently squeezes. He turns his head around, looking at the blue woman and settle back down. As the mayor speaks again, he takes out his holy symbol and fidget with it, all the while keeping eye contact with his "lordness". When the door opens, he is surprised by the look of the new one. That one shouldn't be walking about like that. He looks like he is about to collapse here and now. Just as he is thinking that, the new man cough into his handkerchief. Colvyn pays close attention to the piece of tissue. Yep, definitely should be in bed. Once that is done with, he goes back at staring at mister "proper title".
"Porthos, eh? Well now..."
The young man next to Lord Valdemar leans down and whispers into Lord Valdemar's ear.
"Oh! Yes, carpenter. Good hands. Figureheads, and gingerbread work, and such. Good man. How is he doing these days?"
He turns to look at Rig.
"Goblins working together? It's happened once in a while, I think..."
"If you will allow me, my Lord," Shalelu interrupts.
"Once in a while goblin tribes ally for some purpose or another. And sometimes one tribe is absorbed by another one. The relations between goblin tribes tend to be quite fluid."
"But I've looked over the goblin gear that was found after the raid. It seems that all five local tribes were involved. To my knowledge this has never happened before."
"The goblins hate us. This may have been inevitable. It's the only way they have a chance to get rid of us."
"Perhaps we should wait until everyone is here for the full briefing," the Mayor interjects.
Just at that moment, three more people enter. Cyrdak Drokkus, the bard and playwright, accompanies an elderly lady with a cane. And with them a middle aged man in flowing robes and numerous pieces of jewelry also enters.
"Ah! Good. May I present Cyrdak Drokkus, who runs the Sandpoint Theater, the wise Madame Mvashti, and Ilosari Gandethus, headmaster of the Turandarok Academy."
"Yes, we've met. Hello my friends! I heard a rumor that you went and had another adventure! Slayed the 'Lord of the Spiders' out in the hills. I shall need details, naturally."
Cyrdak looks around the room.
"So we are waiting for Lord Scarnetti then?"
He looks at the party.
"He likes to make everyone wait for him, to show how important he is." Cyrdak winks.
"Greetings," the robed man says. "Good to meet Sandpoint's volunteer defenders. It only shows that magical assistance is worth it's weight in gold in a conflict."
Ilosari looks at Laurana.
"And you would be Tikakana's daughter, yes? I'm glad to see that your studies have turned out to be valuable for the community. It's good to see a wizard make a name for herself."
Kargas starts to fidget as more and more worthies sidle into the hall. "Where I come from, the more bigwigs in the room the better the chances of someone--maybe a lot of someones--getting killed," he whispers in an aside to the others. "Doesn't look like much of a council, and we already know they're gonna ask us to handle it. Whatever it is."
Cade turns to listen to Colvyn make his speech and sighs..
s*#%, here we go
"Something's wrong old man? Should have we stayed on the sideline while goblins ran amok in the village? Or was it when we cleared the recently raise undead in the crypt that displeased you? We also killed an etticaq... ettarcop... a spider creature in the wood near here. Were we to get your permission first?
wait for it...
"If you wish to address me, you... rodent... you will address me as 'Your Lordship,' or simply 'Lord.'
Jerry, his name is Jerry..how no one gets that is beyond me.
Lord Kaijitsu turns to Rig.
"And you... will address this lady as 'Your Worship,' or 'Lady Mayor.'"
"I understand that you rendered assistance to the town guard during the goblin attack. The Constable here commends you highly. But that act alone does not elevate you to a status that entitles you to this familiarity."
Gold plated balls that one, wrinkled balls but still gold plated
He watches as the Mayor attempts to calm the old man down.
"It hardly takes a moment to address someone properly, so I don't think we need concern ourselves with wasting time, especially when the other Lords are late! As usual." "Addressing someone properly shows respect and character. I will not be insulted by a bunch of vagabonds!" "So the next time you address me, I will hear my title from you, or I will have you thrown in the stocks! Understood?"
Cade watches and decides that it is time to put some fire under the old man for his insults directed towards the people that helped to save this town. His voice catches the attention of all around just as Floredana is approaching Colvyn. He walks around the room looking at each person that is assembled.
Lord Kaijitsu is correct that addressing someone properly shows respect and character. He is correct...I thank you your Lordship. We have been humbled by your lesson in etiquette. I am moved by your manners and station... so much that I can only dream of rising above my humble beginnings to be more that what I am at this moment. My companions and I can not apologize enough for our lack of etiquette. It was not part of our upbringing...for that we apologize for our failure at being proper commoners. We can only save the city from goblin hoards while others hide behind perfumed handkerchiefs. Fighting for the weak, poor, rich and the defenseless was also not in our upbringing but we still stepped up while others hid in estates behind personal guards. It is said that you can tell a lot about a person simply by which way they run when danger rears it's ugly head. Vagabonds you may think of us....we each have a home...some call this city home and fill the tax coffers with their hard earned coin. Each of us has a job. We protected this city, not because of title or coin but because it was the right thing to do. Addressing someone properly shows respect....character and....intelligence. Do you not thinks so......He stops and looks at the old man
Lord Kaijistu.
Flo jumps in to clam matters down a bit as Cade walks by Colvyn
Do not fret....I will always have your back.