It was a strange thing to Regan for a man to pray inside a building.  The druid had, of course, performed all his training, meditation and prayer out of doors although that being said, Regan found himself intrigued at the inside of the temple, it's trappings and people.

Regan himself had very little in the way of equipment and even less in the form of weaponry.  He was happy to leave his meagre belongings at the door and follow his uncle inside the building.  As he waited to enter the temple proper and Marcus spoke with the priests, the druids' thoughts turned to his friend Bisa.  The wolf had left the confines of the town the previous evening and into the wild for safety.  He was waiting of course for Regan to collect him but for now, Regan assumed that Bisa would be happy away from civilisation and was mostly likely chasing a rabbit or somesuch.  He would collect him later as for now, Regan waited for Marcus to enter the temple where Regan would follow.

Marcus looked at the two priests.

[Private to Marcus Valarian: Marcus detects no evil from them.]

"I serve Lord Paladine," Marcus says quietly enough that only the priest who asked can hear him. He watches carefully in case the man reacts badly to this, and also waits for further questions or instructions from the young priest. "This will be a long day of prayer, cousin," he says to Regan. "I will be deep in communion with my god. I know you dislike the indoors, and you may find more of interest with Dove and my companions. They could do with a wiser head to calm their more foolish tendencies."

"I understand Marcus," replied Regan with a short smile.  "Do you know where I might find them?"

“The Skyfather,” the priest said in a slight whisper, but loud enough for both the other priest and Regan to hear. “It is the corridor to your left and the second door to your left.” But he waited to open the door until Marcus was ready to enter as well as looking at Regan to determine if he had changed his mind or if he still wanted to enter the temple.

Marcus is curious about the unusual protocol, and wonders if there is some significance to it, perhaps a magical ward to allow entrance only to the proper area for a particular worshipper. He looks at Regan and says, "After getting my orders I didn't bother to ask where the others were going. I simply assumed that if they need me then they will come for me. But I suspect from our progress so far that they won't be difficult to find. They tend to get involved in a lot of fights, especially bar brawls. I would recommend trying the markets first though. At least a few of them were headed there to buy clothes." Marcus waits for a response before heading into the shrine.

"I will try there first then.  I will see you later Marcus.  Enjoy your time in prayer."

With a nod and a smile, Regan left his kin to his worship and headed for the marketplace hoping to find Marcus' colleagues and friends.

"I will. You be careful out there, Regan. And try to keep the others from doing anything foolish. Send for me if there is an emergency," Marcus says as he enters the main part of the temple.

In the center of the room was a spiral staircase. And coming around the staircase Marcus heard the familiar “one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four.” One number for each step. And as Peter MarKenin saw Marcus, he stopped and smiled. He wore his tan leather armor, but was unarmed.

“It’s good to see you again old friend,” he said. “But I hadn’t expected to see you here.”

Marcus listens to the counting, and memories sweep over him. He looks at Peter in astonishment as he appears. "Peter! What in the names of the Gods are you doing in this part of the world? I am here with Lord Brightblade on a mission for the Order. Have they Squired you yet, or are you still trying?" he adds in an amused tone, as he always does when thinking of an arcane caster trying to join the Order. Although perhaps not impossible in these enlightened times, it still strikes Marcus as being a slightly absurd idea.

“I have just become a squire,” the golden eyed Peter said. “My father was so proud. And I’m here on my first mission. And to their continued chagrin I still pursue the arcane arts too. But being the grandson of both a High Clerist and the Master of Past and Present, what else can I do?”

“What about yourself, have they made you a squire yet?”

"Congratulations, my friend. I just became a squire as well. I haven't had time to send word to my parents yet though. We left the morning after my promotion. What brings you to this godsforsaken part of Krynn?" Marcus asks.

"Congratulations to you too," Peter said. "Horses bring us here. My master has been sent here on a mission by the High Warrior to purchase horses. What about yourself?"

Marcus looks slightly curious. "The High Clerist sent us for the same purpose. I am one of his personal squires now, but he sent me with Lord Brightblade to gain experience. We are leaving tomorrow, though. Catching up on your devotions, are you?"

"Interesting," Peter said. "And yes I am. As a squire I can't really pass on this opportunity. And you are doing the same I gather?"

Marcus blushes slightly, not bothering to keep up his mask in front of his cousin. "I am here out as punishment. I have been commanded to spend the day in prayer by Lord Brightblade. There was a misunderstanding over a young lady. I am here rather than at the inn so I can be found easily if my other companions need my help. I am sworn to protect the High Clerist's grand daughter, who is among their number. But I have not told Lord Brightblade of my secondary mission, so I am restricted by his edicts." He smiles slightly and adds, "But it is good to spend a day in contemplation and prayer. I have been so busy in my training that I never have this much time to pray."

"I wouldn't mind spending the day in here," Peter said. "Better than being out there. But as a squire I don't really have much of a choice."

"So who did you get squired to? And what are your plans for the day, if you aren't staying in here?"

"I am a squire to His Majesty Vinas DiCaela of Heartlund," Peter said. "A good friend of the High Warrior. Though Lord Errol Horn has been assigned as my mentor. And the whispers at court say that I am his punishment. Much like how your master was punished when he was younger, though that was on a much larger scale. And I'm not sure what exactly I am to do today. But I suppose it has something to do with horses."

Marcus draws his blade to focus on as he prays. Before he kneels he says, "I have to stay here. But if you are travelling around the town please keep your eyes open. You may see others you recognise, members of my mission. Many of them are descendants of the Godsbringers, so you may recognise even those you haven't met before. If you see them then please keep a watchful eye on them for me. They have a marked tendency to get themselves into trouble. We even seem to have Knights of Takhisis interfering in some side business we were investigating, though they shouldn't have anything to do with it."

"I'll keep my eyes open," Peter said. "And perhaps I'll see you again soon."

Peter started walking towards the door again, "One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four." one number said with each step and he making sure that he reached the door on four. He opened it and left the room, counting his steps as he went.

Marcus watches with a raised eyebrow as his friend leaves. he then sweeps the room with cautious eyes, ensuring there are no surprises or spies in the room. Seeing nothing of interest, he kneels down and starts to pray, using his blade as a focus of his devotions.


[Private to GM: Uses Detect Evil to scan the room carefully, just in case.]

As Marcus was about to kneel, a priest that he hadn't been aware of earlier approached.

"Who do you worship," she asked.

Marcus hesitates briefly before replying. He examines the woman carefully for signs of who she serves, and asks, "Is this temple not open to the worship of all of the gods? Of what concern is it which god I pray to?'

[Private to GM: Lucius uses Detect Evil on the woman and also looks to find a holy medallion showing her deity.]

"Of course it is," she said. "But this is not the place for worship. This is a nexus. And I need to know which room to direct you to."

[Private to Marcus Valarian: He senses no evil.]