Broccli_Head
Explorer
Rel, I've learned so much from you! 
9-10 Ches 1373, Year of Rogue Dragons: The Temple of Ilmater
Twilight Hollow was like any other village in the Western Heartlands of Faerun except for one striking feature: A large stone temple dominated the town. The edifice loomed through the driving rain as the Heroes of the Vilhon Reach entered the hamlet. They trudged down the main street, which in the torrent had become an ankle-deep, muddy stream. Benito, Ellysidell, Grim and Meliane continued on towards the temple to Ilmater, while Khirin and Souliss secured lodgings at the Double Bolt Inn, the first place they came to and apparently ,the only boarding house in town, just as Khirin had predicted. The merchants entered the place only to be greeted by stares as a hush fell over the patrons. Souliss stamped the dampness from his boots. Khirin shook and squeezed as much of the water from his travelling cloak forming a puddle of muddy water near the doorway. He looked for someone who looked like they worked at the place and spied the bartender.
"Hail and well met, good sir. We seek lodgings for six weary travellers."
"Is your whole party present?" asked the barkeep narrowing his eyes in suspicion
"No, but they will arrive shortly."
"Then I cannot give you rooms," came the gruff answer.
Khirin raised and eyebrow and he and Souliss walked over to the bar. He dropped some coin and negotiated, pleading with whom he discovered was the innkeeper Okrosh Danrat there behind the bar, emphasizing the foul weather and scarcity of patrons in thsi secluded hamlet. The owner compromised, but would not allow the pair to the rooms until the others arrived. Shrugging his shoulders and holding his hands palm up, Khirin retreated with his companion Souliss.
"Let us dry ourselves as best we can in the meantime, my friend," said Khirin pointing to a bench near the hearth.
A fire roared and invited warmth and comfort. Souliss saw that it was a stark contrast to the patrons all of whom appeared to be locals. Khirin realized that this inn was the only diversion in town for these folks. Whispers and averted eyes accompanied them as they went to their spot. Some tavern-goers even moved as the pair approached.
Souliss, mind-linked with Khirin, said These villagers do not seem very friendly.
Pay them no heed, good Souliss. They are beneath us after all
Khirin smirked and looked around with mild disdain. He concentrated on drying and warming himself and nudging Souliss invited him to ignore the patrons and take advantage of their prime location by the fireplace.
=====
Meanwhile, the four remaining heroes continued down the 'avenue' first coming across a statue of Ilmater. Water cascaded along the folds of the statues robes and flew from the stony cheeks of Ilmater's face. The statue, once exquisite, was now weathered. Benito paused in reverence to a member of the triad despite Grim's fidgetiness. He read the near-faded inscription, located at the statue's base, aloud :
"Ilmater, protect us and give us faith. Your suffering brings us strength."
Then, he led the way towards the temple. The party passed between two galleries perforated with arrow slits. It reminded Ellysidell of a gaping mouth. They continued unchallenged until they reached a raised, wooden porticullis. This looked like a set of teeth to the wild elf. An acolyte carrying what looked to Benito like a lantern, came out to greet them, seemingly unpulsed by the rain.
"Welcome to the Temple of Ilmater. What is your need?"
Benito explained and the acolyte motioned for them to follow. Two temple soldiers rushed to meet the group and in the rain and dim illumination, led the party past the gate and into the courtyard. There a robed woman leaned against a stone cistern. The acolyte bowed, spoke briefly to the woman, and stepped to one side.
"Thank you, Gwenned." Then turning to the party, "I am Andress Nagheson. Welcome to Twilight Hollow. We will be able to help your friend. I hope that perhaps, Ilmater has sent you to help us in turn." *
This was followed by a heavy sigh. In the downpour, Benito saw that the priestess of Ilmater wore robes of mourning. Now they were drenched. Her hair was worn in ragged tufts, cut short. The wrinkles around her eyes hinted at suffering.
Benito, feeling a sense of duty to these allies of his faith, asked Andress to explain how they could help. They were only passing through in search of a missing friend. The holy justice re-explained their situation and asked if Malarites were common in the area. Andress spoke to her acolyte and the younger woman rushed into the temple on some errand.
"I was hoping that some heroes would search for the soul of a lost companion of mine. She was very dear to me and to this village. However, while the matter is pressing, it can wait until tommorrow. You appear to have travelled far and look to be in need of rest."*
Benito assured her that he was not too tired to help the cause and insisted that she explain even more. More sadness fell over the face of the priestess, but she managed a smile and was encouraged.
"Perhaps you are the ones who will free her soul. A paladin of Ilmater named Shaunnara suffers as few have suffered. Something has her soul and she can neither die or be raised. Ilmater has given me a glimpse of her plight. It was horrible."*
Andress pauses and shuddered, hugging herself in the dampness and cold.
"Her pain amuses some merciless thing. The creature resides in a valley to the west. It is an undead beast."*
Benito looked to his companions who looked back at him pleadingly to not accept the quest. The cleric of Tyr was torn.
"If it is Tyr's will, we will find Shaunnara. If it is his will, we will leave tommorrow for this valley."
Grim, Ellysidell, and Meliane pursed their lips, but held their tongues. Gwenned, by that time had come back with several sprigs of herbs. Andress instructed Grim and the heroes how to consume the herbs. The remedy if taken tonight should stop the curse of lycanthropy. They thanked her and left.
Benito was contemplatative--already deciding that he would ask Tyr for guidance in the morning. First, though, take care of Grim and rest. The march had wearied all of them.....
====
*Some of the dialogue paraphrased from Tears for Twilight Hollow by Angel Leigh McCoy and Christopher Perkins (Dungeon #90)
9-10 Ches 1373, Year of Rogue Dragons: The Temple of Ilmater
Twilight Hollow was like any other village in the Western Heartlands of Faerun except for one striking feature: A large stone temple dominated the town. The edifice loomed through the driving rain as the Heroes of the Vilhon Reach entered the hamlet. They trudged down the main street, which in the torrent had become an ankle-deep, muddy stream. Benito, Ellysidell, Grim and Meliane continued on towards the temple to Ilmater, while Khirin and Souliss secured lodgings at the Double Bolt Inn, the first place they came to and apparently ,the only boarding house in town, just as Khirin had predicted. The merchants entered the place only to be greeted by stares as a hush fell over the patrons. Souliss stamped the dampness from his boots. Khirin shook and squeezed as much of the water from his travelling cloak forming a puddle of muddy water near the doorway. He looked for someone who looked like they worked at the place and spied the bartender.
"Hail and well met, good sir. We seek lodgings for six weary travellers."
"Is your whole party present?" asked the barkeep narrowing his eyes in suspicion
"No, but they will arrive shortly."
"Then I cannot give you rooms," came the gruff answer.
Khirin raised and eyebrow and he and Souliss walked over to the bar. He dropped some coin and negotiated, pleading with whom he discovered was the innkeeper Okrosh Danrat there behind the bar, emphasizing the foul weather and scarcity of patrons in thsi secluded hamlet. The owner compromised, but would not allow the pair to the rooms until the others arrived. Shrugging his shoulders and holding his hands palm up, Khirin retreated with his companion Souliss.
"Let us dry ourselves as best we can in the meantime, my friend," said Khirin pointing to a bench near the hearth.
A fire roared and invited warmth and comfort. Souliss saw that it was a stark contrast to the patrons all of whom appeared to be locals. Khirin realized that this inn was the only diversion in town for these folks. Whispers and averted eyes accompanied them as they went to their spot. Some tavern-goers even moved as the pair approached.
Souliss, mind-linked with Khirin, said These villagers do not seem very friendly.
Pay them no heed, good Souliss. They are beneath us after all
Khirin smirked and looked around with mild disdain. He concentrated on drying and warming himself and nudging Souliss invited him to ignore the patrons and take advantage of their prime location by the fireplace.
=====
Meanwhile, the four remaining heroes continued down the 'avenue' first coming across a statue of Ilmater. Water cascaded along the folds of the statues robes and flew from the stony cheeks of Ilmater's face. The statue, once exquisite, was now weathered. Benito paused in reverence to a member of the triad despite Grim's fidgetiness. He read the near-faded inscription, located at the statue's base, aloud :
"Ilmater, protect us and give us faith. Your suffering brings us strength."
Then, he led the way towards the temple. The party passed between two galleries perforated with arrow slits. It reminded Ellysidell of a gaping mouth. They continued unchallenged until they reached a raised, wooden porticullis. This looked like a set of teeth to the wild elf. An acolyte carrying what looked to Benito like a lantern, came out to greet them, seemingly unpulsed by the rain.
"Welcome to the Temple of Ilmater. What is your need?"
Benito explained and the acolyte motioned for them to follow. Two temple soldiers rushed to meet the group and in the rain and dim illumination, led the party past the gate and into the courtyard. There a robed woman leaned against a stone cistern. The acolyte bowed, spoke briefly to the woman, and stepped to one side.
"Thank you, Gwenned." Then turning to the party, "I am Andress Nagheson. Welcome to Twilight Hollow. We will be able to help your friend. I hope that perhaps, Ilmater has sent you to help us in turn." *
This was followed by a heavy sigh. In the downpour, Benito saw that the priestess of Ilmater wore robes of mourning. Now they were drenched. Her hair was worn in ragged tufts, cut short. The wrinkles around her eyes hinted at suffering.
Benito, feeling a sense of duty to these allies of his faith, asked Andress to explain how they could help. They were only passing through in search of a missing friend. The holy justice re-explained their situation and asked if Malarites were common in the area. Andress spoke to her acolyte and the younger woman rushed into the temple on some errand.
"I was hoping that some heroes would search for the soul of a lost companion of mine. She was very dear to me and to this village. However, while the matter is pressing, it can wait until tommorrow. You appear to have travelled far and look to be in need of rest."*
Benito assured her that he was not too tired to help the cause and insisted that she explain even more. More sadness fell over the face of the priestess, but she managed a smile and was encouraged.
"Perhaps you are the ones who will free her soul. A paladin of Ilmater named Shaunnara suffers as few have suffered. Something has her soul and she can neither die or be raised. Ilmater has given me a glimpse of her plight. It was horrible."*
Andress pauses and shuddered, hugging herself in the dampness and cold.
"Her pain amuses some merciless thing. The creature resides in a valley to the west. It is an undead beast."*
Benito looked to his companions who looked back at him pleadingly to not accept the quest. The cleric of Tyr was torn.
"If it is Tyr's will, we will find Shaunnara. If it is his will, we will leave tommorrow for this valley."
Grim, Ellysidell, and Meliane pursed their lips, but held their tongues. Gwenned, by that time had come back with several sprigs of herbs. Andress instructed Grim and the heroes how to consume the herbs. The remedy if taken tonight should stop the curse of lycanthropy. They thanked her and left.
Benito was contemplatative--already deciding that he would ask Tyr for guidance in the morning. First, though, take care of Grim and rest. The march had wearied all of them.....
====
*Some of the dialogue paraphrased from Tears for Twilight Hollow by Angel Leigh McCoy and Christopher Perkins (Dungeon #90)
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