I was wondering the same thing myself. Although the rules specifically state "you" I think it would make things more interesting strategically. Right now, there really arn't many reasons, beyond character specific powers, to stay together.
I know there is nothing stopping me from doing so but I definitely play it the "official" way.
Given that it isn't a secret what you need in order to close a location - why didn't you receive a Blessing from a friend in time?
AFAIK only the player that defeated the Henchman gets the chance to close the location.
This is different from temp-closing a location when a villain is found - in that circumstance each character gets a go at temp-closing the location they are standing at.
To me, this is important strategically. If you don't have a blessing in your hand should you explore a location you know you cannot close? If you find the henchman you then have a new and interesting choice - try to lose (so he gets shuffled back into the location) or beat him but then know that you're going to have to go through the entire location deck before you can actually close the location.
Tough choices like this (that you might not realise even exist at first) are some of the many reasons why this game rocks!
The rules on closing a location refer to you or yours so the character whose turn it is has to meet the conditions for closing.
Whatever the condition is, be it a check or as in this case banish a card unless it says you must, there is no reason why other characters cannot assist as per the normal rules.
Page 13
Closing a Location
You may earn the opportunity to close a location in a number of ways....... When you have the opportunity and want to close a location, do whatever the location’s “When Closing” section says
The closing conditions imply you but omit the word e.g. They just say succeed at a x check.
Normal Rules would apply e.g. Other character can aid in the check. Some state Banish a card from your hand and as Sandpoint Cathederal does not state your hand I would say no such restriction applies.
Page 10
Playing Cards
Playing a card means activating a card’s power by revealing, displaying, discarding, recharging, burying, or banishing the card. .......
If a card in your hand does not specify when it can be played, you can generally play it at any time, with the exception that during each step of attempting a check, you may only perform specific actions.....
and The Side box on Page 13
STRATEGY: SHOULD YOU BE SELFISH?
In short yes another character can banish the required cards to close Sandpoint Cathederal. They could not at the Town Square or the General Store as their When Closing states banish a card from your hand.
If no one has the require card then unless you can continue to explore and then meet the closing conditions it will fall to another character to do the same.
@St@rm@n: I've opened a separate thread to clarify Sandpoint Cathedral. Lets discuss that there.
Thanks for checking off another thread. I hope you keep a tally / score of the number of forums you've settled each day on a big chart on the wall (next to your tally of victories/losses arm-wrestling Mike over rule disputes).