14.5 p͏a͏t͏r͏e͏o͏n͏.c͏o͏m͏/S͏t͏r͏a͏t͏o͏t͏h͏r͏a͏x͏A͏f͏t͏e͏r͏D͏a͏r͏k͏

Fey bit her lip and followed her inside the dark interior, careful not to bash Lily against the door frame as she went. Inside she found tables knocked over and pointed toward the door along with couches and chairs. The adventurers of the AG were crouched behind them, weapons drawn. She blinked in confusion.

"Centaur lass, get behind, we'll hold em off if any come for you, quickly now."

What was this? The adventurers had their back?

"Uhm you will?" she said as she trotted forward.

"Adventurers help each other when they can Fey, like we tried to, with the warning about the thieves," said Ellaria, who was already behind the barricade.

One of the adventurers, the one who had spoken, a huge man with a thick black beard braided at the edges belted out a laugh. "Aye lass you saved us a pretty penny, whatever that highway crew was they found us, but unfortunately for them we were ready, all stocked up on mana before coming into town, we blasted those scumfucks a new asshole. Couldn't 'ave happened without your warning though and I'm pretty bloody grateful for that."

"Th-thankyou! For helping us!" said Fey as she trotted past.

"We're just apprentices, but thank you!"

"Thwank ywouu!" slurred Lily.

"This is highly irregular, I highly suggest you put the AG's furniture back where it was or you will all be responsible for replacing it," said the clerk. She was fussily moving around behind the barricades rudely poking at the adventurers with a look of sheer contempt on her face.

Vivi was resting with her paws on her knees, the additional weight in her womb causing her to struggle more than she would otherwise, but she still heaved herself up enough to give the clerk the middle finger.

"Read the room clerk," said Ellaria. "Fellow adventures I highly recommend you put in a word of complaint to the actual AG about this woman's performance, she has little to no interest in adventurers safety or success and would likely be happier for it if she was fired. She won't even extend the smallest iota of care to an adventurer, she refused to do anything about the thieves at all."

"Is that so?" said the large bearded man turning his gaze on the clerk.

"Wha- are you trying to get me fired?! This is outrageous!"

The front doors of the AG suddenly exploded off their hinges and a barrage of shredded wood peppered the barricades causing the adventurers to duck down in surprise.

Framed in the doorway stood the old bishop, except he didn't look quite so elderly and frail anymore. His white robes had been torn open leaving cloth hanging from his hips, his upper body bared revealing a body rippling with lean striated muscle covered in the scars of war. His muscular arms were wreathed in light all the way down to his fists, covering them in a misty golden transparent armour. The bishop surveyed the room with a grin and then crashed his fists together, each impact sounding like the heavy gong of a church bell and setting everyone in ear range on edge.

"I came to the conclusion that if the gnome was going to float away the simplest answer would be to take her friends. If you would all kindly put down your weapons and come with me I would be very appreciative."

Mary crawled around the doorway as he spoke, literally climbing on the walls, her clawed bare feet visible beneath her white robes. On his other side Seth appeared carrying the Bishop's censor which was now misting a multicoloured miasma. He smirked knowingly as he spotted Magic Mog.

"Sorry bishop, ain't happening," said the bearded man stepping forward.

"Oh? You are approaching me? How bold of you."

The bearded man turned to Ellaria. "Get your band out the back, we'll hold them off as best we can."

Ellaria nodded. "Thankyou."

"No problem captain, and congrats on the silver."

Ellaria grabbed Vivi's paw and pulled her back as the blackbearded adventurer pulled a pair of cutlasses from his hip and flourished them. Fey followed the elf, otterkin still balanced atop her back as they made their way to the back of the AG. Ellaria stepped into the back room behind the counter and rushed up to the heavy iron banded door at the end of the room. She tried the handle but found it was locked.

"You're not getting out! The church shouldn't be messed with, I- I'm going to turn you in!"

Ellaria turned to find that the clerk had followed them into the back room. She was staring her down superciliously, a triumphant gleam in her eye.

"Key. Give me the key."