The Next Day

The next day or so in Sandpoint is a blur. There is a lot of cleaning up to be done, and, unfortunately, some burials. The goblin captive is sent south to Magnimar under guard, with a request for some additional soldiers to be sent north to protect the town over the coming months.

While the night after the raid is a bit of a blur (alcohol induced for some, a frenzy of healing and caring for others).

For Jarek, the evening started by a return to the White Deer Inn to help clear up the bodies of the goblins and the goblin dog from the last encounter. It turns out that Garridan has a very pretty daughter (Amryl) of about eighteen who you are sure kept giving you eyes. The fiasco at the cemetery took up the rest of his evening and he got back to his house pretty late. The next day, was spent helping the repair of Ven’s store. Most of the other workers were not happy with your presence with most of the snippets of conversation saying you were part of the reason the goblins were able to invade the town. As he returns to your house that night there is a note waiting for you. Daviren Hosk, the stable master from the Goblin Squash Stables has left it. His writing is course, but he thanks you for saving his daughter, who was at the ceremony and was badly injured. Daviren makes it perfectly clear his hatred of the goblins, and his fear that his beautiful girl would die to them. His emotions are all too raw, but you have clearly made an ally in a town which has nothing but antipathy for you. With his letter is a small parcel. "I am too old to go hunting these bastards like I used to" he states in the letter "but these should help. I hope you go after them and cut their filthy heads off!". Inside the parcel are two leather armbands. Other than that, the best part of the next day was when a silent, nervous little girl (Garridan's youngest daughter) brought you a fresh baked pastry from Amryl.

Gryffin had an erratic time. He popped home briefly after the meeting with the Sherriff, just to let his folks know he was safe (and check up on them), and found that everyone was fine. Half expecting a hero's welcome, he instead received a clip round the ear from his father Volioker ("Getting yourself nearly killed, you idiot!" He scolded him. "Trying to impress somebody?" was his follow up), followed by a big hug, then another clip. He could be strange like that sometimes. Your other father seemed detached, withdrawn, a little cold. Perhaps he was upset you weren't going to do a proper job like fishing, or perhaps he was sad that you have grown up, but either way, you got little out of him. By the time you returned from the graveyard task he found that both of your parents were still awake. While you and your dwarven dad were catching up on how he attacked the goblin (for the 7th time today), old Quink knocked on your door. At that, Volioker went out to prepare some tea and to give you two some time alone. He sat in front of you, smiled sadly, and handed a long wrapped parcel across the table for you. "Grandpa, my father, wanted me to have this, but I never had any use for it. I think he would have liked you to have it. I .... I don't know what to say. I think you might be going out to get yourself killed. I know you can't be a sage or a locksmith like the rest of us, but I don't want you to kill yourself. Volioker is a mess, but he doesn’t want to show you that.... well .... I don't want you to kill yourself!" He seems frustrated with his inability to find words. "Don't do anything stupid, we love you." And with that he turns and leaves your room. You are silent for a while, and then set about unwrapping the cloth around the gift. Inside was a long staff, light, well balanced, topped with a red crystal and engraved with ancient runes. You went down to thank them and after a big group hug, everything went back to normal with Volioker once more telling his tale.

Arao: You have what feels like the best time in months. You get a loaf of still warm cinnamon bread stuffed into your hand as you walk past Alma Avertin's bakery. Children seem to follow you around all night (until they get called home for dinner), asking you if you are the most powerful paladin in the north, asking you if you would someday be a true dragon, asking you if you can burn down castles, asking you if goblins eat babies, asking you .... .... eventually you escape into the inn you have been staying it and are greeted with a raucous cheer. It is hard to turn down the free drinks. Very hard. And oh boy did you regret it the next morning. Lets just say that most of the next day was a write-off, and a quiet meal in the inn the following night is only broken by a few people who come over to thank you personally, and tell you their own stories (most involving running away screaming). The people have evidently taken to the paladin in their midst!

Guillaume: You spend most of the first night with Father Zanthus, helping him heal the injured. Other than the encounter with the Kyonin enforcer, the day would have been subdued. You are requested to attend the small private ceremony the next day at the temple, and are greeted to a solemn event that feels like a tremendous injustice. That same day, after a lunch of leftovers from the day before Father Zantus in blessing all of the poor souls who have to be buried. It is a long day of ceremony and funerals, with many weeping relatives. Some of the grieving people seek you out to thank you, others are too lost in their sadness to even notice. One old lady spits at you in anger and the confusion of grief, cursing you for not saving her son. It leaves you drained. As the night draws to a close you decide to take a short stroll around town on your own, pulling in the sea air, feeling the tiny mist of rain on your face. You are looking forward to the hunt, simply to get away from the death that has stunted your mood.

All through all of this, Kythan was never a far from where you are. He always seems to be in the periphery of your vision. Guarding you. Watching your every move.