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[howandwhy99]

Diaglo: There were two rooms on the main floor (a cooking/eating area and a main parlor/ sleeping area) the house had a loft above with more bedding and access to the roof too.

Kayla: "I've found out that the dust from the stone that Daruis smashed can be harmful if it remains on you. Apparently it taints any mortal who touches it with a residue that begins to affect them with a foul taint the longer it stays on them. I was advised that we should clean ourselves with an acid to make sure that none of it is left. I asked Igor to look into securing an acid weak enough, or that could be diluted enough, for us to be able to handle it without serious harm. "

Darius looked at Kayla quizzically. "You mean this substance is evil? Even now, smashed and destroyed, this... powder... can actually do us harm? I will do as you ask, and wash my hammer, in case any lingers."

Kayla: "Apparently so. The suggestion was also made of cutting hair to make it easier to wash, or even removing it entirely if you'd rather, but if you think you can wash it thoroughly without doing that, then I wouldn't worry too much about that."

Darius: "You are certain this place is safe?"

Kayla: "As safe as anywhere else we might go, to the best of my knowledge. I've been told that we should be fairly safe here, or at least in no more danger than anywhere else. That's the best I can say."

Dram: “Sister Kayla, if I may be so bold as to inquire, what is your source of information and how can we rest assured that the advice being provided is sound? The false Elian rat appeared to provide sound information as well.”

Kayla: “My information comes from one of the members of the council of mages. All indications, and I have confirmed this with other sources, are that he is not a member of the guild here. He has other sources that are his own. I don't know who his sources are, but I believe it to be creditable information. If you have reason to believe otherwise or to doubt then please do share.”

Darius: "Where do you propose we go from here?"

Kayla: "Well as we spoke about before, I think we need to go to the keep & resign our positions, assuming capable replacements have been found. We also need to make sure Father Ben is safe & fill him in. We also need to make sure that he cleans himself well. Since it seemed to be affecting him when it was whole, I would hate to see what might happen to him now. For all we know it might be worse or quicker in his case. I have no idea. There is also the other matter we spoke of about the..." Seeing Dram's father is in the room Kayla stopped herself & said, "Perhaps it is best that we not get him involved in all of this. The less he knows the safer he is."

Dram explained to his father that he couldn't explain right then but that he and his friends were in trouble. The need for secrecy wes paramount. He told his father to speak to no one and to watch the building from the outside, looking for suspicious activity

Kayla: When Gil was no longer among the party she continued, "There is also the matter of the goblins." She looked right at Dram and sighed heavily, "Things aren't always as simple as they appear. There is more to the story about the goblins. They were brought in by an order from above. Someone- be it Margrave or Deveraux-saw the need for cheap labor. They made an offer to your father's competitor & he took it. In turn he employed cheap labor & provided weapons to the front. Eventually one of the more "civilized" tribe of goblins was allowed to take over completely. The idea being cheap weapons now & when the war is over we'll just kill them all & be done with that. The problem with that, beyond the obvious, is that it may also put the surrounding towns in danger. Who knows if they will decide to attack their neighbors or not."

Dram: "With all due respect, I don't give a rat's ass about Hamfast or the County Margrave for that matter. I have no love of goblins or any of their kind, but my home is lost to me. My home and family business destroyed, my father unjustly imprisoned, my forced conscription into an army to fight a war I don't understand. All of these things were achieved without the help of goblins. My service to the County ended months ago. I retain no rank in their army and I do not take their orders. We've been through much together and my allegiances lie solely with my friends and family. Goblins, Hamfast, Devereaux, Margrave all be damned. If we are to return whence we came, I say, "What's in it for me?”

Kayla: “My thoughts were of those who you may not have found to free & those living nearby who may suffer at the hands of the goblins and any who might wish to return. However none may fall with in the latter catergory. I have no personal stake in it & so if all of you would rather leave it be, then so be it. I am merely relaying information so that we as a whole may make a decision about what to do next as fully informed as possible”

Dram: “I understand Sister Kayla. Perhaps I spit my words out a bit too strongly but I've got a bitter taste in my mouth. I guess I would gain some small satisfaction in bringing down the rival smiths (the Scunraker Brothers). And the goblins, well..... Also, I agree, Father Ben should be warned if the dust poses a threat. Wouldn't mind having a "conversation" with Devereaux as well. For the time being, I will heed your advice and remain a silent pilgrim.”

Kayla: “The only thing about that is that we don't know what happened to Devereaux.”

Dram: “That is a problem indeed.”

At this point a much altered Igor entered. He was carrying 4 buckets of water, 2 in each hand. He was bald, his scraggly blonde locks no-where in sight. His skin was a bright red with a raw look to it, like someone who's either been out in the sun to long or been scrubbed hard with a brush. The air around him had a mildly sour smell. Amidst the talking and while trying not to draw attention to himself, he placed the buckets on the table, and took out a strong, although not entirely unpleasant, smelling bottle of clear liquid and put a little into each bucket swirling the bucket around a bit after each. He then took out a number of stiff brushes, the kind you might use to brush down a horse, and several bars of soap. He then went to stand off in a corner and watch the debate.

Kayla turned to Igor, "Thank you Igor." She then looked around "I guess we should get started? Who wants to go first?"

Dram was anxious to be cleansed but did not want to go first. He also was not willing to cut off his hair.

As she stood waiting for a response, Kayla's eyes glazed over for a moment & then suddenly she murmered,"Greenwillow..." She seemed to shake the far way gaze and then looked around and said, "Right before we found the rat I received a message that I believed to be from Elian telling me he was in Greenwillow. We found the rat that we thought was him, so we never followed up on it thinking it was a trap. Perhaps we should find out if those things can gain someone's memories without killing them. If so Elian might still be alive. If there's anyone left alive who would know the truth about the goblins & who might have sent out Barth, Elian would most likely be the one. It's at least something to think about."

The ‘Greenwillow’ stuff creeped out Dram. He was also taken aback by Igor's new look. "Uh, Sister Kayla, why don't you show us how it's done? You're probably more in need of cleansing than anyone else since you've handled it the most. The more I think about it, the less I think I actually ever touched the stuff. Can it contaminate us over space? What if someone inhaled it? By the way, what did you do with the remaining powder?"

Kayla "I don't know what happens if you inhale it. And as for being contaminated over space, I would think the only time that might have happened was when Darius originally smashed. I used some of the powder to barter for scrolls & potions. The man I was bartering with is making another scroll for me & will give it to me for some of the powder as well." Kayla then took ones of the brushes and scrubbed off her hands to show everyone else how to do it as Dram requested. Then said, "If you will excuse me I intend to wash out my clothing as well just in case." She then went to the other room to wash herself fully, including her hair & her clothes.