The Caer Falken Inn

Ah, some time to rest before facing the next challenge. With the destruction of Amun Kafele, the subsequent loss of the Sword of Kantomer, and the retrieval of the Cloud Giant's hammer, Allie spends some time recording the events for the benefit of the Harlequin Order during the trip back to the capital.

Following the reception at Talagon City, some of her long time friends bid farewell to tend to their own affairs. Allie can't blame them really, they are all honored, wealthier than most, and titled nobility. The Halfling too considers the pros and cons of retirement but decides to continue on; the road still beckons with the promise of more lore to be had though there are some matters of her own that she wishes to pursue first.

Bidding Thurvold, Shanti, Celene and Oakshade adieu, she leaves Talagon City on her own with the promise to meet again in New Tinsdale when ready to resume travels. The Halfling travels with a caravan, paying her way by entertaining the other travelers with song and story. Arriving at her home town of Wellmet, Allie is given a hero's welcome which is followed by a reunion with her clan at the house she'd commissioned to be built several months earlier.

During her visit, Allie studies the book she'd claimed from Iceflame's treasure stash; the results are that her already impressive dexterity and reflexes improve significantly. Several weeks pass while the Longleaf clan tend to their family's local legend, but then the time draws near for Allie to leave the city to continue on her travels.

She arrives at New Tinsdale. She spends some time at her own seldom used estate where items are studied and her personal library updated. Affairs are tended to at the local Order of the Harlequin guildhouse. Business seems to be picking up at the tavern/casino/brothel with the trade routes once again known to be safe thanks to the Barbos and Silver Riders. As promised, taxes are taken from the coffers to be paid to Thaylias' treasury, Some new games of chance are added to the casino's offerings as well.

Vacation over, Allie packs her bag with what'll be needed before making the short trek to Thaylias' and Shanti's castle to meet up with them to resume travels.

In the process of doing what Allie has mentioned, she has been offered a promotion within the Iniatiates of the Order of the Harlequin. She has been actually granted a choice. She is welcome to join the innermost circle of The Order, making her, in essence, one of the Council of Elders, those who run the Order. Only The Harlequin herself has higher standing.

However, to take on such a role requires residence in Talagon City and the essential retirement from adventuring, something Allie is clearly not yet ready for. Therefore, she is now one of the Golden Circle, that circle closest to the Elders. Some regard this as a better position, because it entails the highest level of Initiates still active in the field. Allie was perhaps surprised to find that The Nightstalker, the King's top spy, is also one of the Golden Circle (as well as being a high ranking member of the Thieves' Guild).

As for the others, they will find life progressing as well. new Tindale has grown in population with the advancement of the castle construction and reputation of its rulers. An additional dozen Knight Protectors and Silver Riders have joined the ranks of the town's...practically a small city... forces. Thurvold's school has attracted a half dozen new pupils, and each of the Temples has taken on a few more acolytes.

Thaylias and Shanti, as well as Celene, are smacked with a plethora of adminstrative tasks and questions upon arriving home, and within a month after that, the castle construction will have been completed. Buildings throughout New Tindale have taken on second, or even third stories, as space becomes an issue, and those in a position to advice the Counts and Countesses recoomend either destroying part of the wall and building another, allowing more space, or simply adding gates to the walls and making another perimeter, allowing for a second sector of the city. The outer segment of the city can be used for residences or, as some suggest, moving all military buildings and staff to the outer section and rebuild part of Inner Tindale for purely residential, market and religious and academic purposes.

Kel, meanwhile, returns home to find his wife early with child, the seers predicting a healthy heir to the Chieftain and the clan. Kel finds that a long lost relative has recently arrived at the Windcaller Village.