"I'm glad that you did."   As regards spell casting - "That could be. I think some of it comes from me, and some of it doesn't."   She shrugged. "There are surely things you and some of the others know that I've got no clue about. I envy those who learned their art from a caring instructor or mentor." 

Having finished laying out her bedroll, she laid down upon it.

"What made you decide to leave the monastery?"

Outside

For a second, the kind smile and words softened the woman’s harsh demeanor. When he asked to take her child, though, her face tightened again. Her posture stiffened as she stepped between Sundos and the doorway. “I am a widow raising two children after my husband was found butchered in the swamp. I toil daily with sewing and cleaning other people's dirty clothes  to earn enough coin to care for my family.

Perhaps I am not as soft a touch with the little ones as you. But I feed them, keep them clothed, and keep a roof over their heads! And I’ll NOT be sending my oldest daughter on a crusade or whatever high-minded church business you have in mind for her!” The woman shuffled back inside and slammed the door.

Pockets shook his head sadly. “And that is Miriam Greaves.” As they walked off, he added, “She’s as dedicated to being a miserable busybody and all-around shrew as she is to raising those little ones. People here offah help, but she’s too full of false pride. Wouldn’t leave any room for her to judge others harshly.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:16, Thu 29 Apr 2021.

Sundos stared at the closed door for a second or two. He sadly turned from the door to follow Pockets. He quietly said, "I just wanted to give her a drink of the well. I thought it would make the kid feel better and give her some peace... I know we can't force anybody to accept Pelor's blessings. But it's sad when people turn them down." He reflected a little on what happened with Simon at the temple earlier today.

He took a deep breath and put his hand on Pocket's shoulder. "Tell me, how long have you known Mercion?"

EDit:  make a Who into a How.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:52, Thu 29 Apr 2021.

"Training was never easy, but it was good to be nudged on the way for a while.

The master passed away.  Old age, her race has a short span."

Cela's ears briefly drop at this phrase.

"It seemed like a good time to explore the world and learn on my own.  So I joined an army for a while, until I met the captain."

“I met her after a few adventures of my own. Me and a lady ranger as tall as the Half-Orc, and just as tough. A Yuan-Ti assassinated a very important man in the East. That’s when we met Mercion’s party. She was still little more than a child, fresh outta her own temple.

After we killed the Yuan-Ti, we traveled to some interesting places. About two years later, Mercion got a vision. A great dragon wreakin’ terror in the Vast Swamp. A Wizuhd in our party got a distress call from a lady he knew. We came here, and after we slew the dragon, me and Mercion stuck around. Hey, look, we’re almost there!”

"I'm sorry you lost her.  I've lived mostly among human kind, and tend to think of myself that way, in spite of being half elf.  But I know one day I may have to watch any humans I'm close to age, and pass away."   Of course, the path she was beginning to walk might well cut her life short much sooner.

"Have you known the captain longer than the voyage we were on?  Considering the things she handed out to us, she would seem to be more than only a captain."   
This message was last edited by the player at 00:27, Fri 30 Apr 2021.

"You've known her a long time, Pockets. I've known Simon for a while. We were both hired to help some people with their gibberlings problem. We just kind of stuck together since then. Both of us looking for similar work. Kind of surprise myself that we have kept working together." He shrugged. "There must be a reason for it. Maybe we keep each other balanced out." He chuckled.

Sundos felt a sense of peace fall upon him as he saw the temple again. He wanted to drink from the well again, but felt that out be greedy to take it so soon after the first time.

"Will it be alright to come this late. Will the temple still be opened?"

Sundos tried to open the door.

Sundos demonstrated excellent timing with his arrival. Just as he approached the temple, the door opened. Mercion looked surprised, but pleased to see him. “Brother Sundos.” A wry smile appeared when she noticed Pockets tagging along. “I see you’ve made a friend. I wondered how long it would take Pockets to discover you.”

Sundos' eyes brighten when he saw Mercion. He looked down at Pockets. "To be honest, he did not find me so much. He found a couple of my female crewmates. They were the ones to draw Pockets out of his shy shell." He smiled.

"I'm sorry to come back so late. I had a boon to ask of you. My crewmates have agreed to help find the source of the ghouls and do what we can to stop them. We were wondering of the Holy Water from the well would damage the undead. We wanted to take some vails and try to use them tonight. If they work tonight, we will take more with us in the morning. If you allow us."

"Also, I'm a little embarrassed to ask." He held up Grog's jug and water skin. "My friend, Grog, asked if I could fill these from the well." He blushed slightly in asking.

"Isn't Simon supposed to live forever?  You might have a friend in your old age after all.

I've been aboard for a month or so, but this voyage is much more eventful than the last."

Mention of Pockets needing help to come out of his shell got a good-natured laugh from Mercion. Her laugh was a light, airy sound, almost musical. “Yes. Because Pockets is so shy.”

“Hey! Hey, Hey, HEY! I’m standin’ right here, y’know!”

“My apologies, friend.” Still, she swallowed a laugh as she smiled at Sundos. Her fellow priest returned with serious business at hand, She put aside her joking banter. Her blue eyes held the thoughtfulness that Sundos had seen earlier. “Yes. To douse the undead with water from Eldath’s Well is like dousing them with acid.

That is why those unfortunate few longtime members of my congregation who fell to them did not turn. They died of their injuries, but did not rise as ghouls. Of course you may fill your vials.” Mercion gestured at the jug and waterskin. “And the containers for your friend.”

Mercion’s cloak slipped back as she welcomed them, revealing a suit of half-mail armor. A gleaming mace hung at her hip. She looked dressed for battle.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:30, Fri 30 Apr 2021.

Lenelle laughed shortly and softly.  "I think I may have missed that bit about him living forever.  Perhaps the gods employ him as a means of testing we mere mortals? It's kind of amusing to imagine he might be doing the very same with some other group, four or five centuries hence. As for me, a half-elf's span is longer than a human's, but not that long."     
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Fri 30 Apr 2021.

"I'm not sure the gods think much about mortals at all."  Cela says.

Then she closes her eyes, ears still alert.  She's not sleeping per se, she's meditating.  Other than her ears tilting towards any sounds in the room, it's indistinguishable from sleeping to most observers.

OOC: Cela's understanding of Simon's longevity is incomplete, but she does know he keeps insisting he can't be killed by anyone except the being that lives in the ring.  Simon can't correct her right now - I'm unsure if he can hear.

At the Temple

Sundos was surprised to see Mercion dressed for battle. "I thought you were going to minister to the sick. My friends and I were planning to fighting the ghouls when they come to the walls tonight. I would be honored if you joined us."

"Before the ghouls come tonight, my I pray and meditate here at the temple? It's just a peaceful and restful place. It would help me a lot."

OOC: If she allows it, Sundos will take his short rest here at the temple, praying at the alter.

“I cannot ask you to endanger your lives fighting my battle, while I remain safely behind the town walls.” Mercion stepped aside and gestured toward the altar. “Yes. You may pray at the altar, and there are cots if you need rest.”

Standing torches lit the way toward the altar. “I will still visit a few families, before I return here a quarter hour before three o’clock. Then, we will join your friends at the gate.” She handed Grog’s jug and waterskin to Pockets. “Wait with these until I return. Rest if you need to do so. We will be busy soon enough.”

Grog will carefully work on his armor upkeep and maintenance (having finished with his weapon,) then take a short rest.

((OOC: Or to put it another way, go back to what he was doing before.  Figured I'd post to say 'preparing for conflict'))

"I said that in jest, and believe me, I know that they do not always care, or pay attention.  I told a falsehood at the altar of one, for years, and never burst into flame."   

Lenelle too closed her eyes, and was fairly soon asleep.   But not before realizing her gratitude that she no longer needed to put on an act, or had any need to be dishonest.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Sat 01 May 2021.

Hours later...

Sundos felt a small hand touch his shoulder. “Hey, Brutha Sundos. Wake up!” Then, Pockets cast a spell.

At the inn, a small mouth formed on the headboard of the bed closest to Lenelle & Cela. It cleared its throat, and yelled at the top of it voice, “Hey! Hey, Hey, Hey! It’s time ta go ta the wall!”

Cela winces, but gets up right away at the noise.

She leaves most of her belongings in the inn, taking only the potion of fire-breathing and a few darts.

She makes sure Lenelle is ready before heading to the wall.

OOC: Is Grog still around?  In the second room?

Simon pops out in his war armor, bearing his crossbow. Yes, apparently he has a crossbow.

"Gods DO care about people, they feed on worship. That's about the extent of it, usually, and what separates them from less narcistic Patrons. I'm not immortal, merely not due to die for a few decades. And, yikes, you two talk a lot when those around you are trying to sleep."

Once Grog is awake enough, he'll hold out his hand for his ring. Meanwhile, he'll recast False Life.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:52, Mon 03 May 2021.

Sundos smiled and slowly woke up. He doesn't remember the last time he has had such a restful sleep. He felt like he had slept for hours. A quick look out the windows told him it was still dark out. "Thank you, Pockets. I will be ready in a minute."

He quickly donned his armor then took a minute to offer a prayer at the alter. It was dark and cold. He hated the dark hours between midnight and sunrise. Nothing good ever happened during those hours.

He made sure he took the vials of holy water and Grog's jug and waterskin, filled from the well.

OOC: How many vials do we have?

“Mercion went on ahead.” He carried a straw basket with vials. “We only got seven vials, though.” The Halfling frowned and sighed. “I thought we had more.”

Lenelle was up; startled awake, out of a peaceful dream, as soon as the Hey-ing began.   She looked a little askance at the mouth; not a spell she was familiar with, and a little amused by it after the initial shock.  She wondered what sort of magic-worker Mercion's fellow adventurer was.   Likely, she would find out soon enough.

She glanced toward Simon, while she warded herself for the coming conflict.   Casting mage armor 

"With your aim, don't shoot that bow unless you're in front of me," she smiled and winked at him, plainly in humor.

"Some of us are not guaranteed a few minutes, let alone a few decades!"

Cela just nods at Simon.  They'd beeen quiet for hours now, but Simon had headed off to bed first.

"You should both just stay on the wall.  Anyone who can fight better at range.  Not sure if we can risk opening the gate, and I don't think most of you can climb it."

At the sound of the halfling casting his spell, traill jumps up, alert with a dagger in her hand. She blinks a few times, seeing Cena and Simon, then relaxes with a sour look. "He isn't here and I still want to kill him." She mutters as she gathers her weapons.

She grasped her bow but nodded. "If anyone has some oil, bring that too....if we have no holy water, fire is just as good." She adjusts tbe crossbow mounted on her hand, then the quiver and sword at her back.