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-----The morning of the tenth of Dawningtide begins with new hope. Two hours after dawn, the rain stops and the clouds part. The sun shines brightly in a partly cloudy sky, which warms the wet and muddy streets. The wind also stops and the temperatures climb without fear of wind chill.
-----About noontime, Dora May and Grin return to the Guild hideout to report to their Guildmaster all that had occurred during the wee hours of the morning.
-----First, the unfortunate and tragic turn of events at the West Gate Inn centered around the removal of a headless woman’s body from one of the rooms. The guards and those of the watch quickly descended on the inn. Of course, the evil was blamed on the now captured Nodeus and his underlings.
-----One footnote in the event that is still being looked into is the report of a small child or demihuman that yelled for help. This occurred as the dead woman’s head was launched from the upstairs window. Related to this, it was reported from a drunken rake that a small person had hurriedly entered the common room he was staying in and leaped from the window. This last report was discounted due to the inebriated state of the observer.
-----Second, after the thieves had fled the scene of the blacksmith’s shop, a detail of Templar Guards arrived at the shop helping the Paladin Nylan Lotley and the Guardian Acolyte Pelator round up the conspirators in the counterfeiting ring. At the scene was discovered a large amount of newly faked coins, some already painted in gold leaf. One suspect was later identified as Nodeus, a priest of the dark goddess, Noctura. The other three arrested were two unknown assassin guards and the blacksmith known to his neighbors as Trenton Gott. The four conspirators were quickly whisked away to the town jail where they were placed under special guard. It is rumored that the dark cloaked Nodeus had a scroll that would have either guaranteed his escape or brought death and destruction to the sleeping town. The suspects are still being questioned and the officials have been working hard to not let too much information out to the general public.
-----Later in the morning as news of the capture of the counterfeiting ring hit the streets, many of the citizens emptied into the thoroughfares rejoicing and frolicking in the sun and the muddy lanes. There was a festive and joyous feel to the market area.
-----In the next few days, an orcish warrior was executed. This event was then followed by a small campaigning quest organized by the Paladin Nylan Lotley. He left one brisk morning accompanied by guards and priests in search of the true "Sir Slappy". This, of course, had the full backing and sanction of the Temple of the Holy Guardian. Common talk in the taverns also mentioned something about the "Quest" and "saving face" in the same sentence.
-----Of the assassin Nodeus identified as Woder, no official word was learned. The beggars, however, have many rumors about the one the trio knew as the sandy-haired man with the ancient eyes. Some say Nodeus killed him in a fit of rage as he hinted he might do in his dark book. Some say during the morning hours after the ring had been uncovered, a man matching his description was seen in a wagon leaving through the West Gate. Finally, others say on some moonless nights, they see his form lurking in the shadows, either still alive or in an undead state.
-----Of the Thieves’ Guild of Hearthorn, little was mentioned of it in the ensuing days as the evil ones had been dealt with, the market area was thriving again and the general populace relaxed into their daily lives.
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