Cal leaves, meets Naomi, and they head to the questboard.

Brushing down her robes, Cal gave a deep sigh and pulled the dilapidated door open, clutching the bag containing the speaking stones and a healing potion. The autumn air was cool and dry, refreshing against the sweat her skin. She was surprised to see her leader standing at the foot of the stairs, a heavy blush on her cheeks, and a strange, distant smile on her face. "Oh Calli, what good timing... I just came - oh! I mean arrived here, to see if you'd been successful. I, procured our weapons..." She pointed a gauntlet-covered finger at a pile of equipment leaning against the shop's wall, her other hand subtly adjusting her skirt.

Cal paused, confused by her friend's heavy breathing and intense eye contact. "Uh, that's good to hear, Lady Naomi. Yes, I succeeded, I have our stones here. Excuse me, but I'm puzzled - you just arrived in this alley, and yet the weapons are up -"

"Fantastic news! I knew that you would give me what I needed, Calli. You're always willing to give me what I need, aren't you?" Naomi stumbled over her words, eyes staring. After the last couple of hours, her friend having some sort of manic episode was the last thing Cal needed. She just wanted to rehydrate and have a nap. But she knew she couldn't leave her friend in this strange mood, whatever it was, and there were important things they needed to do.

Gathering the new equipment, she gently shepherded the mumbling paladin out of the alleyways. Guiding the noble towards the quest board in the centre of town, a thought struck the monk, a potential cause for this oddness. "So, my ladyship, how went the haggling? I hope that the smith was not untrustworthy, as Xinae feared?"

Naomi's strange smile returned as she turned her gaze to Cal's face. "Well Calli, I did get the weapons did I not? And it did not cost me a thing - monetarily. What about your task, was the proprietor... kind?"

Cal was concerned. Naomi's strange behaviour continued as they walked over to the questier's, as Cal was inventing a much more boring version of what happened at the curio shop. The busty fighter seemed to have trouble walking, she kept moving closer and closer to the Godtouched until their arms were almost brushing against each other. She even tripped at one point and was left leaning on Cal for support, tightly holding her hand, one breast rubbing against her friend's shoulder and her face at her neck, radiating heat.

At this point whatever ailment was affecting her seemed to get particularly bad, as she had to excuse herself and duck into a darker alley for a moment to collect herself. She must have been collecting herself very thoroughly because she was there for some time. When she emerged, however, her skin was much cooler and she seemed more in control. Cal, relieved, decided she would keep a close eye on her, and get more details about what had happened at the smithy just in case. She was perfectly willing to beat the shit out of any old pervert who dare lay a hand on her Naomi.

The two women stopped by the questboard and took careful note of what was available: eliminating a powerful, as yet unidentified undead, clearing a goblin den, and putting a permanent stop to the recent bandit raids by tracking them to their lair. They quizzed the town's questier, a no-nonsense older woman named Gertrude, on the information available, then decided to return to the tavern and discuss their options. If they were lucky, Xinae was still there, and not already in jail.