William looked to Garik, wondering what this was all about. But when Lyssander spoke, William merely listened, knowing that the he had a better chance of getting information from the suddenly talkative Garik if William maintained silence.

   "Indeed!" Garik sat up a bit straighter at Lyssander's mention of the Shadowmasters getting their due. "They've gotten the upper hand only once on this mission, and even then it was but a minor setback. No - don't ask; I haven't been told what it was." He waves off the obvious next question as to what the whole of the cult's mission was. Obviously, though, it had something to do with catching Jade for some nefarious purpose.
   "I *do* know, though, that one of the Shadow guild's own members has been charmed, magically, by my friend. Heehee! Imagine it: someone on the inside of one of the most powerful guilds of assassins in eastern Faerun is working for us! Ha!" The irony of Garik's statement was not lost on any of them.

   "And who, exactly, is 'us', friend Garik?" Kraansh moved obliquely to the man's position, trying to appear as nonthreatening as possible, given his stature and armaments at the moment.
   Garik turned his head slightly to more fully view the huge orc soldier-captain, making a slight frown as his mind tried to reconcile whether or not this man really was a friend or not. A gentle urging from Tal, who mentioned Lia's desire to know this information as well, snapped his head back around.
   "Lia? Where is she? Where is my love?" He seemed suddenly frantic, noticing for what must have been the first time that she wasn't present among them. A steadying hand upon his shoulder from Kraansh kept him in his seat.
   "She was wounded in a fight with the Shadow guild." Garik's features turn hard. "Tell us, that we may help avenge her injury and right this wrong." Garik swallowed hard and nodded, clenching a fist silently, then lifted his head and smiled at them all, speaking words that chilled them to the bone.

   "We are the Cult of the Dragon, and none can stand against our inexorable will.".

The Sealer nods at Garik's words, as though confirming a hunch.  Which, in fact, was the case - for, ever since the vision of Syrano had appeared to Lyssander, he had half-suspected that the fell Cult was involved.  Why else would their legendary opponent, a hero of the Sealers' Order, give such a sign?

But there was one other cult potentially involved as well.  "And the Demon Lord of Undead?" he inquires, almost nonchalantly.  With one arm leaning on the table, the priest stares into Garik's eyes, his own gaze black and unreadable.  "Are his followers here subservient to your friends, or do they presume to set themselves as rivals?"

   Garik has no idea what Lyssander is talking about, or alluding to, and so is unable to respond to what the priest is asking.



ooc:  :(

Patiently, the priest spells out "ORCUS" on a piece of paper, and, warning the others not to speak the name aloud, shows it to Garik.  "We have reasons to believe that followers of this demon lord have been active in town."

William's eyebrows went up into his hairline. His attention was held, and he waited to see what would happen next.

   Garik's own eyebrows raise up at the sight of the name on paper. "That fat old prick?" He snorts in derision, an uncharacteristic move for the warrior-mage and yet somehow fitting in his current state. "No, I've no knowledge of that demon's involvement...although, come to think of it...maybe that's what my friend was talking about when he mentioned the 'other' trouble the Shadowmasters would be dealing with, ever since their assault on the old musician's shop. Hmm."
   Kraansh nods at the confirmation that *someone* had been in a fight in that abandoned store, and now, at least, they had a better idea of who else was lurking in the shadows of his town.
   Not that it made him feel any more at ease about the whole situation.

"Where shall we find your friend, then?" the Sealer inquires, in an even, controlled tone.  "We should make amends for this evening's confusion, and see how we can best render our assistance to the appropriate parties."

Years of catechisms and exegesis have taught the priest how to nimbly string his words, so as to stay scrupulously within the bounds of truth while letting others draw their own conclusions.  His Order had been persecuted for so long, it had had to develop its own doctrine on deception, and its tenets provided for a certain... flexibility of outlook.

   "I'm sure there's some place they are staying, but I only know that our rendezvous was up on the north side of town, just east of Shou town. Surely they have been there and gone...the survivors of our little skirmish, that is." Garik shrugs, apparently satisfied that he has not broken the covenant of friendship that the cultist leader has built with him these past two days, nor the bonds of trust that he had built with Talrylil and his former partners over many weeks of adventuring.
   "Shou town. Very dangerous at night." Standing straighter, Kraansh's comment follows closely on the heels of Garik's declaration. "The Shou are good allies for Phent - a superstitious lot that ensures we are not plagued by the spirits of the dead - which is a good thing, considering the number of great battles these lands have seen through the centuries. However, they have many other little 'quirks' that lend themselves to the shadows, and people are best warned away from there between dusk and dawn." The great orc warrior clenches his jaw but says no more on the subject.

   Bigby's ears perk up, alerting the group to the presence of someone other than the guards outside the door. A moment later the door opens and in runs Jade, who happily rushes to first Kraansh, then Tal, to hug each of their legs in turn. As he moves to the elf's side, Garik smiles and shouts with apparent glee.
   "The prize! What a joyous find!" He leaps to his feet and rushes past Kraansh right for the young dragonling, arms outstretched as if to hug the kid. A quick thump to the back of the head from the guard captain fells him, though, and Garik's charge is aborted in mid-stride.
   "We had best get the lot of you upstairs to the Chamber of Blessings as soon as possible, both to remove this charm and to finish healing your wounds." The orc gathers up Garik's wobbly person, then leads the group out and up the coiled staircase to the ground floor, where they walk through two more halls and one more room before coming to a secondary prayer hall, one-third the size of the main yet no less grandly decorated.
   Standing withint this room is a female in Waukeenite royal garb, flanked by two acolytes bearing incense burners [unlit]. She is speaking with a man who looks very familiar to William....

William had a hard time controlling laughter at the antics of the smaller Jade, a smile breaking out inside the thick beard. He stepped forward as Garik moved, ready to intervene even as the guard thumped the man senseless. This, of course, elicited the laughter.

So they were ready to go, heal, and prepare for what came next. But he wasn't ready.

"Perrin?" he asked, somewhat unsure that his eyes were telling true.

The elf continued to clean his weapon, he was dressed in simply cloth, only stuff to prevent the armor from causing blisters on his skin. Once the talk begins his mind swirls, Cult of the dragon ? His mind goes bonkers once again as he realizes that there are so many webs in this whole plot that his head starts to hurt. The elf once again is reminded how he was not up to the challenge. He hears everything but stays quiet, still he continues to clean his weapon.

Once Garik starts to spill the beans so to speak the elf perks up a bit. He does not answer or say anything else but he does pay close attention.

Once Jade comes in though the elf turns his attention to the boy, " How ya been, they treating you good here ?" The elf hears abotu moving and getting healed, he nods his head and states under his breath, "What else could this web contain?"

The priest has receded into the corner as Garik spoke, nodding his encouragement at the man from time to time.  He is therefore not within arm's reach when Garik springs at the wyrmling, but Kraansh ably manages to cut short the charmed mage's offensive, if that is what it was.

He watches Jade rush to greet the people in the room - though not Lyssander, as the table's bulk is between him and the boy.  The Sealer's dark eyes do not reveal whether he is pleased to see Jade, annoyed at the unscheduled end of the interrogation, neither, or both.

At Kraansh's proposal, Lyssander folds his hands in a gesture of agreement, then falls in step along with the rest of the group as they head toward the Chamber of Blessings.

Stopping mid-sentence, Perrin politely excuses himself from the woman he was talking to and turns beaming towards William. Bright light enveloped the man, his entire body seemed suffused with the glow as he started walking towards William. He wore simple white robes, so simple in fact that you could see the hem of the robe starting to fray.

"As you can see I am blessed with good fortune, the pain has left my body. It is very good to see you again my friend!"
He clasped the other man's arm before giving him a solid hug. "Lathanders light it's good to be up and walking again without my body feeling like it's on fire from the inside. How have you been?" The smile on his lips grew wider as he took in the people with William. "Something exciting happening?" He took a second look and saw the person being carried, a look of worry crossing his face. "Is healing needed?"

Tal turned his head away from Jade and noticed the new guy enter the room. He was a bit confused but noticed that he knew William, Tal did not say anything at all but kept quiet. He grabbed his armor and tied his weapon around his waist. He was done cleaning it and would work on his leather armor later.

His head was still spinning, but at least Jade was safe and things seemed to be getting better. He turns slightly towards Lyssander, "We getting closer to solving this riddle...right?"

Standing near the back Penville leans over and whipsers to Bigby "I wish we didn't keep getting people, I'm really bad with names"

The dog nods, whilst looking slightly annoyed as it seems to be trying to listen to all things going on around it. As well as checking out all these people with the power of doggy smell.

"Indeed, you look healthier than last I saw you." William was glowing, but perhaps that was a reflection from his friend's aura. "Exciting, yes. Strange kidnapping issue, and some cultists. Seems there are problems everywhere." He looked over the others, then leaned towards Perrin, saying conspiratorially "No goblins, though." He chuckled. "What has happened with you, my friend?"

Perrin smiled at his friend and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Not a lot I am afraid, I have been forced to stay in bed for most of the time it took me to recover and that leads to few adventures. He seemed to be a bit disturbed by the mention of a kidnapping though.

"A kidnapping? That is truly bad news... Have you got any leads? Let's all be glad it's not goblins though, my attempts at diplomacy were... less successful than I had hoped." He grinned slightly at his last comment, it seemed to be a joke between him and William.

He turned back towards the woman he had been talking to earlier. Waving for her to come over. "I would like you to meet William, one of my best friends and the man who brought me here." He turned to William and continued. "This is one of the kind people who kept me company while I lay in their comfortable beds, getting better. Her knowledge of medicine and history are both impressive!"

   The woman smiles warmly, much like a mirror of the faintly glowing Perrin who was introducing her. She moves with a grace that seems almost as if she is floating toward the party, rather than walking, and is just as smoothly followed by her two acolytes.
   "Greetings. I am Harmony, one of the primary healers among the blessed of Waukeen." She gives a slight bow with a tilt of her head. To William she continues: "Your friend has recovered nicely, though I daresay the poison within him was more magical than mundane, and more...how shall I say it...non-Faerunian than local. I hope that your further travels will not include another encounter with those who used it against you."

   Perrin's question about the health of the party does not go unnoticed, and together he and Harmony cleanse and purify the remainder of wounds and weariness. A warm feeling of calm and happiness pervades the entire group and gives them a renewed sense of hope about their situation.
   Special: the party is healed of all injuries/hp loss, and is considered under the effects of a Bless spell for the remainder of the day. This effect does not stack with other 1st level divine spells, but does stack with other arcane spells or divine spells of 2nd level or higher.

   "While you were recovering, the person you sent for has arrived." Harmony gestures with her arm at an alcove that leads back toward the front of the building, where outsiders and visitors enter the main portion of the temple complex. "He has been appraised of your improved condition and is waiting for your summons at this time."
   To the rest of the party she asks, "Is there anything else the Warden or his charges require of me this day?" She smiles at Kraansh and blinks twice. The towering orc clears his throat and looks away, but says nothing.

William nodded, seeming to understand what she was talking about. Until she mentioned another. "Perrin's not joining us?" he asked, perhaps a bit harshly, as he looked from Harmony to Perrin and back.

Looking guilty and slightly uncomfortable, Perrin faces William and shook his head. "I am sorry my friend, but I have been called back to the Temple. A plague has broken out and there is need of more healers.... my parents.... may be affected, I can not come with you this time." He looked truly sorry, and more than a little worried.

"I will do my best to join you as quickly as I can...." With a shrug he continued, "There is someone else I would like you to meet though, he is an old friend of mine and we used to study together." He motioned for the acolytes to let the guest in before continuing. "I got the letter a week ago and sent for him as quickly as was possible. I'm sure he will be a great aid."

He still looked apologetic and the light around him had dimmed somewhat. "I wish I could be two places at once...."

A man a few years younger than Perrin entered the room with the acolytes. He was wearing sensible traveling clothes, all durable and well-kept leather. Clutching a book under his robe he approached with a smale and small wave as he saw Perrin. "There you are! I haven't seen you for years and this is where you call me to?"

He gave Perrin a hug when he reached him and looked around at the others, smiling and waving at them. "Hello, nice to meet you all. My name is Taran Belin." He smiled a bit more before turning back to Perrin, his head moved past William and he stopped, extending a hand. "Wow, you must be William! I've heard so much about you! It's and honour to finally meet you!"

He seemed to have forgotten his introduction, instead looking at William and Perrin, simply grinning.

Penville scratches his head with his hat. The bells jingle lightly but not obtrusively. Looking to Bigby he sees the dog return the glance. More people

He kicks a bit of fluff with his foot. They had to wait to be introduced or  talked to or something? He didn't know, it was something the other humans all seemed to do and as no one has said anything he suddenly felt shy and his hands met behind his back to tap fingers against each other in half anticipation and half boredom.

   "Well met Taran," Kraansh says as he takes a step forward to shake the man's hand. "William comes to us at a time of rather dire events; our need for him and his friend cannot be understated. If you are offering to take Perrin's place in this important task we welcome you, but you should offer your services with the understanding that things could be...beyond dangerous."
   His tone left no doubt that he was clearly understating both the importance and the potential deadliness of this 'quest'.

[Private to Penville: roll your bardic knowledge, such as it is, in anticipation of possibly knowing something about Taran's backstory.]

The young man was still smiling and he'd eagerly shaken the mans hand. "Yes, I suspected as much when Perrin said he would like to have me come here. Lathander's light protects us, so I do not worry." The man seemed a bit oblivious to the fact that his behaviour might seem a bit too friendly considering he had not met anyone but Perrin here.

He had found some nuts and dried fruit and meat he had in a pocket, offering it to those around him. Perrin was already nibbling on a small handful. "There's no better way to learn than to step into a good challenge." Smiling to Kraansh he looks over the others again as well. "I would appreciate to learn all your names and more of what I am to do though, Perrin didn't exactly have much to share."

Shifting forward, eyes wide as he takes in the newcomers, they were all so tall, Penville lifts his hand to shake hands with the newcomer. <brown>"My name is Penville, from a tale of woe, shared by my friend Bigby here"</brown"> He says as the dog pushes its head under Penville and lifts him up, deftly managing to capture Penville in the saddle.

Penville grins and pats Bigby once the introductions are complete here and waits for others to follow suit.

[Private to DM Lobo:
13:08, Today: Penville rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Does Penville know a thing?!
....no :)]