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Aendell

He looks upwards and offer a soft prayer that she is right. He has not felt the blessings of Iomedae leave him, so perhaps she is not being as hard on him as he is being to himself.

OOC: Assuming that Aendell, Coral, and Selaim are away from Cat and Zak so they did not hear the chopper story.Please correct me if I am wrong.

Selaim

She leans back and takes another drink glancing at Aendell. After a longer pull she looks around for a place to put the mug. Selaim glances over to her benefactor and the man that she spent so much time on the road. She knows how much faith he has in his deity and that he believes his strength comes from he/she/it. Not knowing what else to do she pats him on the back saying, "I'm sure they have as much faith in you as we do. Probably more."

[OOC: I would agree that hearing the chopper story would be difficult from the outside, specifically when they were trying to get away from the cacophony of the party.]

Inside, the celebration continued to roll on. Libations are flowing, and the townspeople clearly want to thank their heroes, even if some of the heroes have retreated from the inn.

Outside, the trio are clearly trying to stick to themselves, and the people that do depart, The Rusty Dragon, allows them their privacy and wander in different directions as they make their way homeward. The night air has a slight chill, likely from the close proximity of the sea and moisture. Yet it is pleasant out, all things considered. The wind has died down since the sun has departed the sky. A full moon is rising.

Coral

"We are probably going to have to stay here until everyone inside falls asleep. If we return to the inn sooner, I cant see us reaching our beds without us being mobbed by well-wishers once more."


She shrugged.

"Or we could sleep in the stable ...?"

Catalena

Catalena grinned at Zachergillan and gave him a comradely clap on the shoulder. "Well, hopefully it's all in the past, friend. The goblins were taken care of and so were the skeletons. I think we can relax a little. And in any case, you've only just got here. We'll have to catch a show at the Sandpoint Theater tomorrow."

She yawned. "Speaking of tomorrow, I've got duty in the morning. I think one more nightcap and then it's off to oblivion."

She got Ameiko's attention and ordered a couple glasses of shōchū, neat. She handed one to Zak.

"Try it. She ferments it from the same barley they use for the ale at Two Knight Brewery a couple doors down. I'm sure Cayden would approve."

She saluted him and then sipped the sweet, strong liquor, taking in the scents of nuts and barley, forest and field.

Zak:

“I suspect we haven’t seen the last of this but …”

He takes the drink.

“That is a little thing I like to call a tomorrow problem.”

He downs it.

“Cayden always approves, so long as when it’s time for action I’ve got my wits about me.”

He grins.

“And I try not to leave home without those.”

Aendell

He shrugs. "I can ignore the hubbub. I just needed some fresh air to clear my head and consider my actions. Thank you for your support." He pauses, then looks at Coral. "Not to pry, but with all that's happened the past day or two I am not sure if we ever talked much about ourselves. What brought you here? You don't seem like you'd be very interested in the opening of a Shrine."

Coral

Coral smiled sheepishly. "To be honest, I didn't even know there was a shrine to be opened."

"I was just drifting along, as I do. Stay in a place a while, until a caravan comes along, then go with the caravan to wherever it is going, and then stay there a while."

"And repeat."

"It becomes a blur of places in the end. It is the first time I have been attacked by goblins though ... or by skeletons."

Selaim

"I think Zak is attracting them.The goblins and skeletons and all." She said sarcastically.

"So that is what you've been doing since your master died? Drifting?" Selaim asked the young girl as she glances over.

Trying to remain aware of her surroundings she notices that more and more townspeople were leaving the tavern.

"Looks like the party is dying down some. Not sure it is much quieter in there though." She said as she watched the townspeople heading to their homes.

A particularly raucous song breaks out to illustrate that the celebration in the tavern is far from over. But it dies down after just one rendition. If they listen carefully, they can hear snippets of conversation floating along on the night breezes. To be fair, though they are tired, there is much excitement to be released from the events of the day.

In the inn, a good round of a song that is not well executed is sung in a drunken choir. People enjoy the song, and a man in a blue long coat raises a glass, which the proprietress takes as an indication that the latest round is paid for by the nobleman. They might recognize him as being saved from under a burning wagon during the goblin raid.



During a lull in the din that is the celebration a very attractive young woman saunters up to Zak and Cat.



She offers an engaging smile which may hint at something more than the words slipping past those sensuous lips. She meets both of their eyes and sees which one is more interested in talking to her. (OOC: You tell me who does she approach? Zak or Cat?)

Coral

"Oh, my master didn't die. He left," she added matter of factly


"We were near some mountains: I can't remember where; sitting beside our fire whilst the rest of the caravan had a wild party."
"He got me to sit close to him and he told me that I had learned well, and that he had taught me all that he could teach: that the rest I would have to work out for myself."

"He gave me an embrace and told me that he would be leaving first thing in the morning, and that, with luck, we would meet again."

"The next morning, when I woke up, he was gone. He had left his horse, and his money, and some bits and pieces. So he did not leave me destitute. And he knew I could take care of myself."

Well, Zak isn’t actually a human woman ‘dater’ but he is friendly.

“Good eve to you, may I help you?”

Shayliss offers a warm smile to Zak. "You are so brave! You saved the town today!" She gushes. "I hate to bother you, but my sister Katrine has been," her voice trailed off. After a second, she continued, "has been busy. My father, the owner of the General Store, has been so busy with the goings on that he hasn't been able to deal with a pest problem."

She smiles again a bit wider, "But you are so powerful and amazing; I am sure you could take care of our rat problem with no issues and quickly. We could get back to normal business operations, and my father would be so very happy." She looked him right in the eye. "I would be so grateful." After a moment, she finishes with, "You have no idea."

Assuming Zak doesn't discourage her, Shayliss explains, "The General store has rats. Why just yesterday, I saw one the size of a dog hiding behind a barrel at the far end. My father doesn’t believe me, but I know that he’s just focused on what Katrine might or might not be up to at the lumber mill. And since there’s this handy new hero in town, well, I just thought maybe such a great hero could come back with her to eliminate a few of the dangerous vermin.

Catalena

Cat, despite her weariness and desire for bed, was not one to pass up an opportunity afforded by a handsome nobleman buying her a drink.

She turned to the buxom redheaded young newcomer and said, "Oh hello, Shayliss. This brave hero here is an old friend, Zachergillan."

She patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure he would be only too happy to see about exploring your lower levels." She flashed him a naughty grin and added, "Just be sure you don't get eaten up. Come get me if you want company."

Then she excused herself, leaving her stool for Shayliss should she desire it, and taking her nodachi and her drink. She had wanted to select something that seemed classy before reaching the nobleman and so had ordered some Taldan fire brandy.

Catalena maneuvered through the crowd before managing a slightly unbalanced performer's bow to the man in blue. She remembered seeing him hiding beneath a wagon as she'd directed her illusory pack of dogs to harry the goblins away from him and the other bystanders.

"You have my gratitude, m'lord," she intoned, using every bit of bardic poise to counteract her drunken state. "Catalena Teodorescu at your service."

Aldern Foxglove

He offered her a smile and a nod. A wave of a hand indicates that she can take a seat at his table. It doesn't take much acumen to see that the nobleman has been dipping into his cups quite a bit as well; his eyes are glassy, and his cheeks are offering a good blush. "You are most welcome Catalena. I am Aldern Foxglove," which is a name she has heard. He is a nobleman from Maginmar who comes up occasionally to do a hunt in the forests around Sandpoint.

"I am returning to Maginmar in a day or two. Just one more boar hunt tomorrow, which I hope to snag a tusky fellow." He smiled; clearly, he had hunted before and enjoyed success at such endeavors. "If you and or your companions fancy a good hunt, you would be more than welcome. I, of course, would take care of all the necessaries, mounts, supplies, what have you."

He leans in a little bit once she is seated. "I also want to thank you and your friends for my life. The drinks are merely the obvious thank you, but as much from the town as from I. Rather, I would like to offer you each a monetary reward for your efforts." He furrows his brow for a moment, thinking. "What do you say to 50 pieces of gold each for your efforts? Would that be acceptable?" Despite his evident intoxication, the nobleman is perfectly serious.

Cat knows Tickwood is actually a relatively safe woodland, one well known to be the home of wild boars, deer, large cats, and the rare giant ticks for which the wood is named—but no goblin tribes dwell within its boundaries.

Aendell

"Sounds like a good man. You were lucky to have someone who cared for you." He replies to Coral. "Sadly I was not as fortunate."

Coral

"At the end of the day, yes, he was a good man. Maybe one day I will be in a position to do for another what he did for me."

"Do you want to talk about what happened to you? I don't mind if you don't want to."

Selaim

Listens on to their conversation. Interested in their revelations of their pasts.

Aendell

He is silent for a few minutes as they walk, then mentally shrugs. "I was sold by my parents when I was very young. Not exactly sure what they got for me, but I was told later it was a bushel of wheat. I barely remember them", he bites his lip as that is a lie. He remembers them as clear as day. He, perhaps 5 years old, crying and screaming as two soldiers grabbed him and took him away, his arms outstretched, beseeching his parents to save him. To take him back. Asking what he did wrong and promising to never be bad if they'd just get him away from the soldiers. His parents, in his memory, barely looking at him but gushing over a basket at their feet and clapping their hands in glee.

He composes himself and continues. "They took me to the Paladinate and I served there as a scullery boy and servant for years, until I met the qualifications to enroll as a Paladin Trainee."

Catalena

Catalena sat upright with an affected poise and listened to the handsome nobleman, Aldern Foxglove. She was more a fond observer of woodland creatures rather than a hunter of them but ingratiating herself with a powerful man from Magnimar was not an opportunity to be ignored. Perhaps he might even be relied upon to help her negotiate out of that unfortunate disagreement with the Feste family.

"A boar hunt! That sounds charming, Lord Foxglove! You are certainly courageous to take on such beasts. Perhaps we could convince Sheriff Hemlock that my obligations patrolling Sandpoint for tomorrow might be better served in accompanying our esteemed visitor?" She smiled. "After all, with this recent unexpected arrival of goblins nearby, we should not take any chances, should we?"

She raised her glass of brandy to him when he mentioned the drinks and took a delicate. When he added that he would be throwing in fifty gold pieces for each of them, it took all of her control to not spray it all over the table.

FIFTY GOLD?! she thought, as she smiled cordially and lightly dabbed her upper lip as she put the glass down. That would almost cover the cost of the new sword or make up for her loss on the fabric.

"Oh, that is so kind of you," she replied, again relying on her practiced stage composure. "I believe my friends would be very grateful for the gift. Thank you."

Aldern

"Good, good," he nodded and raised a glass when she accepted the offer of the gold. "Please let your friends know they are all welcome on the hunt. It is good fun, and the feast afterward can't be beaten. Oh, and of course, let them know about the reward, too. All they have to do is arrange a moment to meet me so that I may arrange for payment. I appreciate your saving my life, and I believe such good service should be rewarded."

Coral

She didn't really know how to respond to Aendell's story.
So she responded the way she normally did when at a loss for what to say, and stood on her tiptoes to embrace him and gave him a hug.

Selaim

So her suspicions about her benefactor were true. He was essentially an orphan too. Funny how it had never come up during the caravan. Maybe it had and she just didn't listen to him.

Except he wasn't an orphan. His parents had given up on him. Maybe that was part of the reason he had helped her. That and his insufferable beliefs.

"Well, Princeling, I'd say your parents got the worse end of the deal. You are worth more than a bushel of wheat. All of us be owing our lives to you. Me more than most. Definitely worth more than a bushel."

Catalena

Catalena finished her drink and smiled. Warmth radiated from her from genuine gratitude at this turn of fortune and the copious amounts of alcohol. She stood and thanked him again, mentioning that she would tell the others of the time to leave for the hunt in the morning.

"Perhaps," she ventured, "such a time would be amenable to you for them to collect their share of your gracious reward, Lord Foxglove?"

If all were agreed, she departed his company to share the news of the offer. First checking to see how available Zak was at the moment, then asking after the others when not seeing them.

Aendell

He smiles softly at Coral's hug, and chuckles at Selaim's observation, then replies in a serious tone, "Yes. I'd say a bushel of wheat and a couple of apples at least would have been more fair." He sighs, looking around at the fairly deserted streets and the hour getting later. "Perhaps we can head back now and not be swarmed?"