The druid, a little intimidated by the show of the knights, walked a little closer to Byron. She simply nodded at his comment. She looked on in awe and a little fear at the display.

….in some ways she was still so young and sheltered.

Roenthelm and Myarra continue to wait for the long line to dwindle, so they look around the area until then. It appears that the poor either take their food home, or go sit near the river to enjoy their meal. The building is near the wall to the city and a tower is right next to the river. Guards can be seen keeping a look out. The line dwindles away and you can finally approach a priest. He apologizes to you that the food is gone....
__________

The girls look on as Twiggy talks to the guards while eating breakfast,

"Aye..that be the Dragon Cult, little man. Best to stay away from them."

"Yeah, I remember a few years back they tried causing some trouble here. Lord Dhelt kicked them out."

Guard 3 nods in agreement while eating his breakfast...
__________

Byron, Kalliyan and Vernon make it to the top of the hill and see a beautiful temple next to the High Hall where Lord Dhelt dwells. There's at least 30 Hellrider knights up here either taking care of their horses or practicing fighting skills with each other. Byron smiles as he walks by them. Several take notice of him as well and the beautiful armor he's wearing. The 3 of you head on inside the beautiful temple and there are more knights inside, along with other worshipers. Standing at the door, a priest welcomes the '2' of you, since he can't see Vernon and asks how he can help. When Byron mentions how one can talk to Lord Dhelt on a possible emergency with the Dragon Cult, the priest calls over 6 others and tells you to stay put. He then walks over to a group of men near the alter and then points at you. Then THAT group of men walk towards Byron, one handsome knight leading the way.

"I am Lord Dhelt of Elturel. May I have your names, strangers?"

Lord Dhelt is looking straight at Vernon...

Byron says as graciously as he can:

I'm Byron, the young lady is Kali and the other you appear to be seeing is Vernon, my lord.

Byron continues in his usual calm matter of fact tone.

We have an unusual request for some unobtrusive help from you.  A family that helped us has just relocated here from Triel.  However, their efforts for helping us has brought them to the attention of Nelson Centauri and a group he is involved with.

"There seem to be several around Triel. And we heard them talking about a mine as well." Amara added to Twiggy's statement, to see what the reaction of the guards might be.

Kali stood by quietly but a little nervous. She let Byron do the talking....she didn't know the proper way of talking to people within a army and their hierarchy.

Twiggy looked taken aback by the gaurds statement and was glad Amara spoke up so he added even more "The Dragon Cult??? They were talking about a mine, a silver mine,and the Lord Centari's gaurds was bringing supplies to the miners. But why would a lord of a city be supplying a cult?

Roen smiles and pushes up his sleeves to show the priest that he too is a follower of Ilmater. Myarra can see that there seems to be burn scars on Roen's forearms in the shape of some kind of holy symbol.

"I thank you anyway, my friend. I just have some questions that need answering on how to gain audience with Lord Dhelt. Think you can help me?"

12:13, Today: Roenthelm rolled 18 using 1d20+16.  Diplomacy.

Lord Dhelt gives a bow to the 3 of you.

"Well met. You have a ghost following you around. Interesting. Triel has rumored to be troublesome these days. The Cult of the Dragon fills the Forest of Wyrms and I have no doubt they use Triel to get supplies. Unfortunately, Triel is out of my jurisdiction. I don't know a Nelson Centauri, but I know a Pervis Centauri. Retired Naval Captain from Scornubel. What is all this about?"

One of the guards looks at Amara with a slight smile on his face,

"Your skin is much darker than the other elves I've seen around. What are they called? Are you one of them Dark Elves?"

"Drow. Just like that Merchant that comes around every so often."

"Are you related to Aki?"

It appears the guards have been side tracked by Amara. Sister Aliana is cute, but Amara is stunning.
_______________

The Ilmatite seems confused at first, as if he wasn't expecting to be asked that question. He nods in surprise at Roen's scars.

"Sure, I can help you. He has meetings every ten-day, but if something important or an emergency comes along, I'm sure he can be reached at his Temple on the Hill. Is there something we can help you with?"

Yes my lord.  We know that Triel is out of your jurisdiction.  However the family that helped us fulfill our promise to Vernon here may be in danger from Nelson Centauri and the Cult of the Dragon and they have relocated here.  They do have family in town.

Byron replies respectfully, and then in his same calm matter of fact tone explains that Nelson is Pervis' youngest son.  Byron also explains in the same tone how the Jamesons' helped us and how Vernon is here at the moment because of our promise to see that his wife gets Vernon's wedding band back so he can rest in peace.  Byron makes sure that everything he tells Lord Dehlt is 100% true, but leaves out some unimportant details where possible.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:09, Thu 09 Apr 2020.

Myarra stands quietly next to Roen, trying not to attract attention.   Or at least trying to appear to be some kind of bodyguard that doesn't warrant attention.

Amara flashed a smile at the guards. She tended to keep her holy symbol visible in cities, and with the side showing the symbol of Mystra, versus the lesser known Eilistrae. "Yes, I am drow by birth, but have rejected their normal ways.

I know Aki, he is a friendly acquaintance. But he and I are no closer related that if you were to take two random humans."

She paused for a moment. There was no reason to press too quickly and draw suspicions. They had time to wait for a bit.

"I will send some priests to bring him and his family here for interviews. The information you provided is very helpful and these "Jameson's" have years of knowledge that I could document. We've had problems with the Cult for quite some time now. They slither in like snakes and I will not tolerate their kind in my city.

On to a different subject. How is this ghost following you around and how can you see it like I do?"

"I heard they worship spiders. We keep our sewers very clean against spiders and rats. Lord Dhelt's orders."

"Is it true that the females run Drow society? Are they all stunning as you?"

"You have a wife, Lentz."

Byron continues to speak with Lord Dhelt in his respectful and matter of fact tone.

Vernon's spirit is tied to his wedding band, my lord.  I can only see and hear him while I'm wearing the ring.  One of the others in our group can also see and hear him without the need of having possession of his ring.  Please understand that while she is a drow elf, she has renounced their evil ways and is finding her way on the surface, rather than below it.  For everyone else in the group that we travel with, only the one having possession of the ring can see and hear Vernon.  Vernon, himself, can hear what the everyone around him is saying as long they are speaking in a language he understands.  Vernon has asked that we take the ring and find his wife to return it to her.  We have agreed to do so out of respect for him and the help he has given us.

"Please forgive me. My name is Roenthelm, Healer and Monk of Ilmater. I'm currently following a band of adventurers around and we've encountered cultists from the Cult of the Dragon. My friends wished to talk to Lord Dhelt, but we learned that he only talks with the public every 10 days and we've been trying to find out if we could gain an audience with him early. So, I think you've answered our question but one. We're new to Elturel. How do we get to the Temple on the hill?"

"Most drow worship the spider-goddess, and spiders and spider-kin are her special minions. So most drow respect all spiders, as creatures related to the goddess, but don't worship them.

Yes, just as the main deity of the drow is female, so too are females the heads of households, the rulers of families, and the leaders of societies. But they are deadly as well, and hold life other than female drow to be inferior. Males are essentially servants, most useful for their service ensuring more daughters are born. Other races are either uneasy allies or yet-uncaptured animals, suitable for hard work, entertainment, and/or meat."

She shrugged. She could go into more details, but there was no point that she could see in doing so.

"Perhaps I am biased, but the drow are more attractive than other races, and my family one that is particularly beautiful."

It was time to turn this conversation back to the conversation that they wanted, thought. "I am concerned, though. If it was the Dragon Cult that we came across, and they are running a mine - presumably for profit, and the local Lord is their enemy, do you suppose they might try to fight him? Perhaps we should speak to him to let him know what we do? I heard that he holds audiences once in a while, but not for several days. And we aren't planning to spend much time here - really we're just passing through. What do you think?"

The Ilmater priest gives Roenthelm and Myarra directions on how to get up the hill to the Temple of Helm. He then bows and bids you to have a good day.
__________

All three guards give a slight chuckle at Amara's worries.

"There are over 200 Hellriders here and we have block walls and control the river. Good luck attacking us here unless you have an army."

"Plus, why would they want to attack us for? That would cost a fortune and I doubt any mine would produce that kind of gold or silver or whatever it produces."

"Yeah, those Cultists are crazy people who animate dead bones. Lord Dhelt and his sub commanders are Paladins and they have powers over the undead. The cult's plans would fail."

Vernon nodded and agreed with everything Byron was saying after he saw several priests pulling out holy symbols to ward off the undead.

"I be not a bad person, me Lord. Just a tad greedy who hung out with the wrong crowds. I know it be soundin' funny to say this, but I learned me lesson!"

Vernon showed Lord Dhelt the arrows sticking out of his back...

Byron speaks calmly but in voice of quiet command when he sees the priests pull out their holy symbols.

Relax gentlemen.  Not all ghosts are evil.  Vernon has helped us communicate with other ghosts.  One is now resting comfortably because Vernon told us what needed to be done to help that one along.

"This is very interesting. He's not evil in nature, or else he couldn't get inside this temple." Lord Dhelt said to Byron "Anyways, I'll send some of my men with you to where Jameson and his family is staying, so he can be interviewed. But, going to Triel is out of the question. Don't need a boundary war on my hands. But, believe me, something will be done, my friend."

Turning to Vernon,

"I'm sure you learned your lesson in life. Hopefully, your soul can be redeemed so you can finally rest in peace. The gods are watching you now, Vernon. Don't disappoint your wife."

A war would not be helpful to the peaceful citizens of Triel or to the peaceful citizens here who just want to live a normal happy and healthy life.  My friends and I are fighting the Cult of the Dragon in various ways.  As we did not expect to be granted an audience with you in such a short time, some of my friends are asking around about ways to get an audience with you my lord.  We all greatly appreciate your time and interest with our concerns for innocent citizens who want to make a peaceful living.

Amara was a bit surprised at the guards' response, but didn't show it. "I'm glad this place will be safe.

I wish the same could be said for the residents of Triel. We heard stories of hardships of some of the locals, likely because the town is run by Cultists. Any idea how they could be helped?"

"Have fun going up the hill, Roen," Myarra tells her friend, but not in an unkind manner.  "I'm not going within longbow range of him or his temple.  I'll wait at inn where the only thing going into my stomach will be good food."

Roen waves and heads off into town, while Myarra heads on back to the Inn to check up on Lorrik and his sisters. They have their room and are preparing to go to sleep. They are tired.

----------

Aliana Twiggy and Amara continue their conversation with the guards,

"Help the people in Triel? I don't know...never been there."

"If they don't like the place, they should move."

"Some people are stuck where they're at. It's a pity."