Goblin Slayer Episode 17

Beard-cutter, to the Southern River is the seventeenth episode of the anime adaptation of Goblin Slayer and the fifth episode of its second season. It aired on November 3, 2023 in Japan.

Summary
At the Guild, a mail carrier delivers the mail to the Adventurers, including one for High Elf Archer; upon reading it she announces "it's time to get married!", much to her Party's shock. As she explains the formalities of the upcoming wedding and inviting the entire Party to the wedding, Priestess wonders if she'll retire from Adventuring. However, after some deduction, the Party realizes High Elf Archer is not getting married, but her older sister, Forest Princess. Goblin Slayer tries to get out of going, but Priestess pressures him to go to his teammate's sister's wedding and encourages him to finish Goblin Slaying Quests so that he can keep the town safe while he's gone. Hearing about an Elven wedding, Guild Girl, fantasizes about the event, and is invited as High Elf Archer's plus one, and pressured to go by Inspector, as a form of "Vacation". With that, Inspector hands Goblin Slayer some emergency Goblin Slaying Quests to be completed before the event as High Elf Archer tries to explain what an Elephant is to Goblin Slayer.

At a Church in the forest, Goblin Slayer and the Party slay all the Goblins and rescue the captured brutalized nuns who can be saved. As High Elf Archer scouts around and confirms confirms all the Goblins have been killed as Dwarf Shaman scours the ruined library to find anything that can be salvaged from the sacred and lost tomes. In the main chamber, Lizard Priest comforts the women and offers words of healing and encouragement as Priestess reveals her new Miracle, Purify, which heals and cleans the women and Party. Dwarf Shaman then reveals he's found some ancient tablets the nuns were studying; and feels they should get them to proper holy scholars.

Back at the Farm, Cow Girl rounds the cows up into her barn for the night as Goblin Slayer returns home. As she greets him and makes sure he in OK, Goblin Slayer brings up the coming Wedding with the Elves, which causes Cow Girl to remember Goblin Slayer promised to marry her when they were young; something he denies ever saying. Despite this, Goblin Slayer invites her as his plus one, much to her joy.

The next day, the group arrive in Water Town, and as the women splinter off to buy gifts for the wedding and to do some shopping of their own, Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest go off to secure rooms at the inn. Alone, Goblin Slayer takes the tablets to Sword Maiden for deciphering, as she promises to look into it, she reveals Noble Fencer has began her recovery and thanks him for taking her quest during the Winter. As he leaves, Goblin Slayer inquires about Sword Maiden's mental health and encourages her to keep vigilant over the Goblins, all while she pouts that he won't stay with her longer. Hearing he is leaving for the Elven lands, she warns him about the recent attacks on ships on route to the Elves, believing Goblins are afoot.

Renting a raft, the group makes for the Elven Forests, while admiring the beautiful landscape, the Party starts to become wary of the large cliffs surrounding the narrowing canal, and the sudden quiet of the forest. Quickly, the Adventurers start to realize there will be an ambush and take up defensive positions, with Cow Guild and Guild Girl being hidden under large blankets as rocks begin falling from the cliffs.

Episode Notes

 * The reactions of Female Knight and Apprentice Cleric to High Elf Archer's "It's time to get married!" are omitted.
 * The entire fight with Goblin Slayer's party against the Goblins in the church was omitted.
 * Priestess' Purify Miracle appeared differently. Instead of a large magic circle healing everyone, large invisible arms healed everyone in the church.
 * Most of the dialogue during the church, such as preserving the remaining books and trinkets that were left behind, including conversation with other surviving nuns, were omitted.
 * Since the Fall Festival was not adapted yet, Priestess did not remind herself the dress that the girls wore then.
 * A priest stopping Goblin Slayer was omitted. Instead, it cuts to end up having Goblin Slayer to follow a random nun, not Sword Maiden's Attendant.
 * The scene where the previous Adventurers were killed by Goblins when taking the river path was omitted (but could appear in future episodes).
 * Explanations of how the the bank worked during the adventurers way to the Elven Village was omitted.
 * Goblin Slayer did not eat the bread on the way to the Elven Village unlike both the Light Novel and the Manga versions.
 * Most conversations during the way to the Elven Village was omitted.
 * Instead of Lizard Priest giving the cloth to both Guild Girl and Cow Girl, it was Goblin Slayer.