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Catalena, Sandpoint Cathedral

After completing another warding gesture upon seeing the cloth-wrapped bundle, Catalena led Zak and Aendell across the cobbled square to the stone building that was easily the largest in Sandpoint. The stone construction and stained glass windows surrounding the entrance stair were clearly newly built.

"It's impressive, no?" she asked with a smile as they took the short stairs to the heavy wooden door to the entrance foyer. Inside she described the torus-shaped interior with transepts to the west, south, and east.

"Here," she gestured to two shrines on the north and south walls, "in the western portion where the windows look out on the Old Light and the sea, are the shrines to Shelyn of the arts and Gozreh of the sea." Gesturing to their right, before leading them to the left, she said, "There is another wing to the south where the windows look over the rest of the town, with shrines to Abadar of the cities and Erastil of the homes."

She led them, clockwise through the northern area which held no shrines but general functional facilities for sermons and ceremonies. She pointed out that the center of the Cathedral, accessible through a door, was an open air courtyard with seven standing stones and an ancient altar from even before the previous Cathedral was built. This one, replacing the previous that had tragically burned down, killing the high priest.

When they arrived in the eastern transept, she said, "And here, overlooking the Boneyard and greeting the rising sun through these windows, are the shrines to Saranrae of the sun and Desna, The Great Dreamer." She bowed, a bit overly theatrically, to the simple shrine of stone covered in carved and painted messages in various languages, and adorned with offerings of flowers and wine among the candles. The stained glass window above it was elegantly comprised of butterflies and stars.

A middle-aged man with a brown neatly-trimmed beard, in a blue collared robe was here.

"Father Abstalar," Catelena offered, "These gentlemen come bearing a tragic burden."

Wandering the stalls

Though everything is in set-up mode, it is apparent that the sellers are happy to offer a free sample here or there or even sell items. They are generating interest for when the festival is in full swing. From the discussions with the travelers, they know the bulk of the festivities are aimed for the day of the Swallow Tail festival and the consecration of the new church, which was built to replace one that burnt down a few years earlier. Many merchants plan on staying around for at least a couple of more days, selling and purchasing supplies for their return trip to Maginmar.

First, the pair come to a wagon that is selling sweet breads. A local baker has put up a selection of wares straight from the oven. Still, warm bread smells waft and tantalize their noses.

Near, they see a sweet meat stand, both savory and sweet concoctions are on display.

Sandpoint Cathedral
Father Abstalar
Father Zantus Abstalar

The older gentleman's kind blue eyes rove across the assembled people. They land upon Catalena and his ever-present smile broadens ever so slightly. He offers with a soft lilting tone, "Good Morrow, My dear Catalena! What brings you and your friends to our humble little church?"

Catalena, Sandpoint Cathedral

Catalena stepped back with a nod to let Zachergillan and Aendall take the floor.

"My friend from Magnimar, Zachergillan of the church of Cayden Cailean, has just arrived with his comrade Aendall," she said by way of introduction. "They can explain firsthand."

zak

“… we met a ghost along the way, a distress3d spirit, replaying being attacked, killed.”

And again he goes into describing in detail the actions and words of the spirit.

“I attempted some small ritual to Desna invoking her constellation to try to guide her attention to his soul, but I am alas unsure exactly how successful it may have been. Yet he invoked the name of Desna, so we deemed it appropriate to deliver his remains to her clergy.”

Selaim

"OW!!" she exclaims letting Corals hand go and looking at the welling blood on her hand. Forgotten were the items she was thinking about grabbing and running with. "Just a subtle reminder that I made Aendell a promise to be good. Nothing to be too worked up over."

"Let's see if the baker has any napkins and maybe we can get some bread to munch on while we browse." she said as she approached the baker's wagon.

Looking over the wares she spies a bag of rolls and asks for a price then turns to Coral, "See anything special?

Coral

Coral, looked contrite. "Sorry," she re-emphasised.

"What have you got that spicy?" she asked the baker- "really spicy?"

Aendell

He holds the wrapped body as Zak speaks, nodding in respect to the Priest of Desna.

Alma Avertin

The portly woman looks down from where she is organizing the trays and smiles. "Spicy, you say? I do have a bell ringer of a tart over here," she points to a tray with only four pastries. The tray is lined in red crepe paper to warn the patrons what might be contained in the small little pies. "Careful though, even though they are smaller, they pack quite a punch."

In the Church Father Zantus

He nodded in understanding. "Come, let us set your burden down," he indicates a small table off to the side of the pews.

"You can leave the body with me, and we will hold a service after the church is consecrated tomorrow. Then we can properly bury the poor soul in our cemetery here in Sandpoint."

Coral

"I'll have one please," Coral replied, taking out some money to pay the woman the requested cost.

She picked it up, and said to Selaim, "would you like half?"

Selaim

She'd never really tried anything spicy before. In the guild, they wouldn't let her go with too much spice even salt. "I'll try a small bite and see how that goes." she told coral breaking a small bite sized piece of and nearly burning the roof of her mouth. and gasping for water.

Aendell

He nods and lays the body on the table carefully. "If you can find anything identifying who he was I am sure his family would like to know what happened to him."

Coral

"It's delicious, isn't it?" Coral quipped as she chewed the rest of the pastry, savoring it's spicy flavors.

Selaim

"Too... spicy!" She gasps out. Still looking around for something to drink.

Coral

She looked around and rushed over to purchase a mug of whatever it was that was being sold from a keg, and brought it back to Selaim.

Shopping and burning

The spiciness sneaks up on a person eating the little tart but has wonderful flavors regardless.

The cellar cool amber beer is worth its taste. Not only is it wonderful, it has a few citrus notes, which cut the spiciness immediately.

Father Zantus

He nodded in understanding.

His bearded face deepens into a scowl as he looks over the unwrapped body.

He is silent for a moment before he turns back to the Paladin.

One might think he was saying a silent prayer if it weren't for the man's visage.

"Please tell me precisely where you found this body," he says firmly but softly.

Zak:

“A couple hours out of sandpoint, a bit off the road, over at the woods”

Catalena, Sandpoint Cathedral

When the body was revealed, Catalena gave a soft gasp and her hand went to Zak's shoulder, giving it a slight, but firm squeeze.

Selaim

Gratefully takes the mug and drinks the contents not caring about the taste. In fact barely tasting it due to the heat of the pastry. Gasping out, "Tha... Thannk.. you, Coral." This side trip was not even remotely going as she had expected. But it was nice.

"I didn't know they made food that hot. Glad it was only a small bite."

Aendell

He nods agreement with Zak's description.

Coral

She looked slightly puzzled at her companion. "Didn't you like the pastry?" she asked Selaim.

Miales

Her mouth still burning Selaim bit off an angry reply to mask her embarrassment and pain. Instead she composed herself before responding.

"No, Coral, just not used to spicy things like that. I... well... I wasn't expecting that. The guild kept me sheltered. They said it was for my safety. I am beginning to think it was more that I was their slave.

Selaim stood again, "Or maybe I should have taken a bigger bite of the pastry part. Because that part was really good until the filling hit my tongue." She smiled. "I mean seriously good. Should we get some for Aendell and... well the guys?" She bit back calling the little pervert by name.

Coral

"Oh," she responded, trying in her mind to navigate the nuances of what was being said.

"So ... should I get spicy ones for them or not?"

Selaim

"Yes WE should, " Selaim said reaching for her pouch for some coins.

"Maybe a mix of spicy and non spicy. The pastry was quite good. I'm fairly certain the non spicy ones are delicious. Well to me anyway." she said. "And if they don't like the spicy ones that mean you have more for yourself."

She indicates which of the other pastries they should try making sure there was a mix and that several were the spicy ones that Coral liked and also got a a dozen fresh rolls.

Coral

She smiled, "Thanks!"

She purchased the pastries that Selain had pointed out, along with some more spicy ones, and waited for Selaim to purchase her rolls.

"Shall we continue to look around, or should we take breakfast back to the others?" she asked.