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Message: <blockquote data-quote="cthuluftaghn" data-source="post: 229782" data-attributes="member: 4799">Chapter 4: Interlude28 Coldeven, Mid-afternoon:Willow was the first of the companions to stir in the upper room at the Inn of the Welcome Wench.  She stretched her muscles as she came out of her druid trance and looked around.  All of her friends were still sleeping.  Judging by the angle of the light coming through the cracks in the shutters, Willow guessed it to be the middle of the afternoon. She crept silently over to the window and pushed the shutters open, just enough to catch a peek outside.  Even her delicate motion was enough to rouse the ever-alert Gann Tolar from his slumber.  He grabbed his mace and sat upright, immediately ready to do battle.  Seeing nothing to smite, he frowned and relaxed a bit.Willow looked down at the street below.  With all the events of the past couple of weeks, she had forgotten that tomorrow marked the beginning of Growfest.  Hommlet was a veritable beehive of activity.  Local merchants and traveling vendors were setting up booths along the roadside.  Women with flowers in their hair were hanging colorful banners across the storefronts.  Children were running and laughing in the streets.  The atmosphere was one of joy and excitement, and Willow managed to smile in the afternoon sun.  Her smile faded as she looked down and saw the blood stain on the windowsill.  Reality came crashing down upon her, and it stung like a slap in the face.Willow muttered a brief request to Ehlonna to give her strength to face the day, and she turned away from the window.  Gann was on his knees, lost in his prayers to St. Cuthbert of the Cudgel.  As the young druid sat in silence, out of respect for the cleric and his deity, Tas and Endora groaned and slowly rose from their cots.  The paladin noticed that Gann was praying, and she motioned for Tas and Willow to step outside so they could speak freely without disturbing him.  "Why can't we talk in here?" Tas asked loudly.  "Wouldn't it be safer?"Gann stopped muttering for a moment, and his features scrunched into an angry grimace.  Without opening his eyes, he took a deep breath and went back to his devotions.  Davok and Tyris were also disturbed by the halfling's shrill voice, and they began to stir in their beds.  "OUCH!" Tas bellowed as Endora grabbed him by the ear and dragged him into the hallway.  Willow followed closely, and gently shut the door behind them."We slept longer than we should have," Endora lamented.  "The danger here is much greater than we had anticipated.  A dragon!  A cult of crazies!  What has our mentor gotten himself into?  What has he gotten US into, for that matter?""I don't know," Tas grumbled, rubbing his ear.  "But I do know that I never signed on to get eaten by frogs, cooked by lightning, and pulled around like a child by pompous paladins!"The women ignored him.  "Maybe you two should head out and try to scrounge up some information, and see if you can swing a deal for some healing potions.  I think we'll need them!  Here..."  Willow reached into her bag of holding and pulled out a large handful of gold.  "Here is sixty gold pieces.  It's not much, but it's all we've got for now.  Maybe that Spugnoir fellow will offer us a line of credit instead of the discount he offered.  See what you can do!"Tas stared at the gold as it moved out of Willow's pouch and into Endora's, never passing through his possession.  He scowled and marched downstairs.  Endora rolled her eyes, nodded farewell to Willow and followed the rogue.  "We'll see you downstairs for dinner!" she called out as she disappeared into the noisy common room.Willow went back inside to find that Gann, Davok and Tyris were all on their feet and preparing to head out into the streets.  Gann stepped forward and said, "Lady, I saw a church this morning that is dedicated to my most righteous patron, St. Cuthbert.  I'm sure you noticed it as well.  It is the largest temple in town... as it should be.  It is my intent to converse with the clerics there and attempt to learn more about this rancid evil that infests the moathouse and forest surrounding this town.  Perhaps they could also be of assistance in identifying some of the items that we removed from the stinking corpses of our slain enemies of righteousness."Willow looked to Tyris and Davok, who shrugged.  From her bag of holding she retrieved the amulets, the magical mace, and the strange jade mask that they had found in the moathouse.  She handed them to Gann and said, "Take these.  Just don't sell anything before you let us know what they are.  We all have a stake in this!"  Gann promised that he would return before dinner with nothing less than what he departed with, and he took his leave."Well," stated Tyris, "I guess that leaves just us.  Why don't we stick together and try to find out what the rest of this stuff is worth.  We can meet the others back in the common room and discuss our findings over a hot meal this evening."  Willow nodded her assent, and the three remaining heroes headed downstairs.Willow and Tyris headed straight for the door, but Davok detoured towards the bar.  "What are you doing?" asked Willow.  "I thought we were going to meet back here for supper after exploring the town a bit?""Travel snack," replied Davok.****Gann Tolar exited the Inn of the Welcome Wench and headed up the road to the north, amongst all of the festivities.  As he walked, he noticed that people were stopping to look at him as he passed by.  Children would point and cheer, and then launch into imagined swordplay against each other.  Women would whisper with each other and smile coyly in his direction.  They seemed to be sizing him up.  Working men would simply glance his way with an approving nod.  Unused to this kind of attention, and uncomfortable with it, Gann quickened his pace and headed straight for the bridge that led to Temple StreetThe cleric's mood improved as he rounded the corner, and he saw the towering steeple of the Church of St. Cuthbert looming ahead of him.  He smiled and marched right up to the hand-carved mahogany double doors.  Gann admired the exquisite craftsmanship of his fellow devotees to the divine god of retribution as he touched the wood.  The door on the left was slightly ajar, and he gently pushed it open.A variety of sensations assailed Gann's senses.  The aroma of rare, spiced incense filled his nostrils, and he breathed it in deeply.  The light dancing back and forth across the cathedral's ceiling as it shined through the stained glass windows and was reflected by the chandeliers dazzled him.  The cavernous, cool marble structure chilled and warmed him all at the same time.  Gann Tolar stood speechless, and he basked in the glory of his god for several moments before a woman's voice awoke him from his reverie.  She was singing.Gann couldn't make out the words, but inspired by the melody he crept forward.  A regal looking woman in the long white robes of a high cleric moved gracefully back and forth across the altar.  She was carefully arranging large bowls of flower blossoms in preparation for the special Growfest services.  She seemed lost in some pleasant daydream, and she didn't notice Gann approaching until he was almost upon her.  All at once, the singing stopped and the woman stood up straight and tall.  She smoothed out her wrinkled robes with swift, hard strokes and a slight blush appeared on her suddenly stern-looking face."What do you want," she asked in an angry tone.  "This is highly unusual... for someone to just walk in off the street and sneak up behind me.  I have clerics beneath me that can handle your affairs for you in the morning.  I'm a very busy woman with much to do, and I usually don't see visitors.  You may feel free to leave a tithe on your way out, and please shut the door behind yourself."Gann, not used to being berated, cleared his throat and carefully considered his words.  "Madam, I did not mean to intrude.  I pay most of my tribute to St. Cuthbert in the form of delivering righteous retribution down upon the heads of unrepentant evildoers. But perhaps if someone might help me identify these items I have recovered in my undying quest for justice, it might help me find one who poses a serious threat to this town, a sorcerous villain by the name of Dunrat. My companions and I would then sell the items, so that I might fill the coffers of this good and noble church. Is there one here who might assist me in these matters?"The woman glared at Gann severely for a few moments as if trying to decide whether or not to have him thrown out into the street.  She looked him up and down, and her expression softened a bit when she noticed the highly polished symbol of St. Cuthbert sewn into his tunic.  With an exasperated sigh, she waved her hands as if in resignation and reached out to see what he had.  "Yes, yes. Well, stop wasting my time by just standing there and let me see what you've got, for crying out loud."Gann practically jumped to attention, and he struggled to pull the magical mace from his pack.  He handed it to the high cleric, and he tried not to appear too anxious as she carefully studied it.  "Hmmmm.... a fine weapon," she announced. "Magic. The Church could put this weapon to good use in our fight against injustice, you know. However, if you do not choose to offer it into our service, I imagine you could fill your own pockets by finding a wealthy merchant to take it off your hands. No doubt he can turn a profit selling it to evildoers. I've neither the time nor the means to determine its exact qualities right here and now. Take it back and do as you will with it."Gann felt ashamed, in spite of himself.  This woman had the unnerving ability to make you feel guilty for merely existing.  With a bit less vigor, he pulled the jade mask from his pack and handed it over for inspection."What is this, a child's plaything?" The woman felt its weight. "Goodness, an expensive plaything by my wager." She studied the mask for a brief moment and frowned. The woman looked up to peer into Gann's eyes with an inquisitive glare. "Take it away from me. I don't like the look of it."  She practically tossed the mask back at Gann, and he fumbled with it for a moment before gaining control.  He stuffed it back into his pack, next to he mace.  "Is that all," she asked?"Just one more thing madam.  These were retrieved from the bodies of several of our slain enemies at the moathouse.  The design of them is peculiar.  I thought you might be able to offer an explanation."  Gann reached into his pouch and removed the amulets that he had taken from Willow at the inn.  He handed them to the woman.  Her react was swift an unexpected."Where did you get these!?!? Is this some kind of cruel joke?"  The cleric's face turned red and her lips quivered in rage.  "Did Elmo put you up to this!? You can tell him that his little game has gone too far this time. When will he EVER let the past die?! Canoness Y'dey is NOT one to be trifled with in such a sacrilegious manner. Get out of my sight, infidel... and take your evil trinkets with you."The Canoness threw the amulets into Gann's face before turning away and storming through an open door to the rear of the altar area.  Poor Gann was left in stunned silence.  He reached down and gingerly picked up the fallen amulets, and returned them to his pouch.  He turned to depart, sulking and feeling wrongfully chastised.  "All I did was smite a little evil and loot the corpses. St. Cuthbert is the Lord of Retribution," he muttered to himself. "Once again I find that retribution is a two-headed beast. One head is nice.  It smites down evil with heavy, blunt objects ... but the other head has a bitter, sharp tongue. Oh, beware the other head of retribution.  It bites!"Gann gave the enchanted mace a couple of practice swings, trying to get a feel for the weight of the weapon.  “Magic, eh,” he mused silently.  “Perhaps magical enough to supplant even my own tried and true Truncheon of Truth, I wonder?”  Rather than leave defeated, Gann decided to find a lower-tiered priest that might be able to help him discern the exact nature and potency of the enchantment.  He thought it best, however, to keep the amulets and the mask out of site, for now.  “Perhaps Elmo would be better suited to help solve that mystery!”As he shuffled towards the door, head hanging low, the scorned cleric heard a chuckle emanating from a passage near the vestibule.  "I see you've met the Canoness,” a voice proclaimed.  “Seems you made quite an impression! My name is Calmer, and I am her assistant. I rather wish I had seen you come in the door. We could have avoided.... well, whatever it is that just happened! Is there something I can do for you?"Gann tried to explain the situation briefly to Calmer.  However, he soon discovered that the elder priest was a very friendly and talkative fellow.  The concept of brevity seemed to elude the man.  Throughout Gann’s narration, Calmer asked for no less than every detail.  In return, the priest offered his own expository opinion of each and every point.  Nearly an hour later, a very frustrated Gann Tolar finally managed to steer the conversation back towards the subject of the magical mace.Calmer’s eyes lit up with renewed interest.  "Hmmm... a magic weapon you say? Well, I just might have something that could help solve this mystery. You seem like a decent enough fellow, and an honest devotee to He of the Cudgel. Just this once, I think I can do you this favor. After your experience with Canoness Y'dey, I don't want you to have an unfavorable impression of our church."Calmer led Gann around the outside of the church and to his private outer office. After several minutes of rummaging about, he finally produced a thin box from one of the lower drawers of his desk. He opened it to reveal a small stack of scrolls. "Not this one.... no... no.... hmmmmmm.... aha!" The priest triumphantly held up a small piece of vellum parchment, rolled tightly and bound in blue ribbon.Calmer unraveled the scroll and asked to see the mace. He held the weapon in his hands, and he began to read the words from the scroll, which was lying on the desk. As he pronounced each syllable, the lettering vanished from the paper with a small flash. When the priest was done, the mace lit up with a dim reddish glow as if it had become extremely hot. Calmer, however, showed no sign of being in any kind of pain."It's magical, to be sure," he stated plainly. "This weapon will balance itself perfectly for whomever wields it. It will also cut through the air as if in a vacuum, adding potency to every swing for lack of resistance. If it weren't a sin to do so, I'd envy you. Use it well."  Calmer handed the mace back to Gann, who nodded in silent thanks.  He didn’t want to fire up another lengthy conversation with the jovial fellow.Gann studied the weapon as he held it in both hands.  “Hmmmm. A worthy weapon indeed, but ‘tis no mightier than my own.  If it is not broken,” he said to Calmer, “then why fix it?” As much as Gann would have liked to turn the mace over to the church, so that it might be used to do the good work of St. Cuthbert, it was not his decision to make alone.  The weapon was the property of his collective group of traveling companions.  As such, it would not be just to give it away.  It was therefore unthinkable for the cleric to do so.After thanking Calmer for his time and assistance, Gann left the church. It was approaching the dinner hour, at which time he had promised to meet his companions back at the Inn of the Welcome Wench. In fact, although the streets are still packed with people, he noticed that many of them had stopped working on festival preparation in favor of munching on some mutton, a piece of cheese, or a hunk of bread. Figuring he still had a little bit of time, Gann started asking around for Elmo.It doesn't take long to find the captain of the militia at all. With the tremendous influx of tourists, street vendors and entertainers pouring into town for the festival, Elmo had stationed himself on the road near the fort to keep an eye on things.  Gann marched through the streets, trying to ignore the nods, smiles and waves of the townsfolk as he passed.Finally, Gann caught site of Elmo, standing by the roadside at the southern edge of town.  Seeing the cleric approaching, the captain’s eyes lit up. "Aaaah, my friend! It is good to see you alive and well. I wanted to thank you immediately as soon as I heard about what you and your companions had done, but I chose not to wake you. The rescue of Spugnoir is the talk of the town. No doubt, Redithidoor will compose a horrid ballad to celebrate your heroism."Gann was actually starting to become annoyed with all of the attention that he was receiving, so he got right to the point.  He gave Elmo a quick update and described his encounter at the church, including the stinging comments of Canoness Y’dey.  The captain listened intently, and his expression turned sour at the mention of the high cleric’s name.  Hearing about the friendly conversation and happy outcome of Gann’s meeting with Calmer seemed to bring the smile back to Elmo’s face.Upon completing his explanation of the afternoon’s events, Gann pulled the controversial amulets from his pouch and handed them to Elmo. The captain’s smile faded away once again, and he adopted a sad and somber countenance. After several moments of silence, and deep uneven breaths, Elmo spoke..."By the gods..." he mumbled. "Let me start by apologizing for the unpleasant situation you found yourself in with the Canoness. You didn't deserve her wrath. Though, to be fair, neither do I. She and I don't get along, you see. We adventured together in days gone by. While our quest to vanquish the evil at the temple ended in victory..." Elmo struggled to go on, "On a personal level, things went... poorly. The Canoness and I have not spoken since, and that was more than a decade ago. I choose not to elaborate right now."Elmo handed the amulets back to Gann, keeping his face averted as if the site of them repulsed him. "As for those," he said in low tones, "it seems our victory was not complete." He paused, and stared blankly at the crowds pouring into Hommlet.  An uncomfortable minute passed in silence, and Gann was starting to wonder if he should say something.Suddenly, with the strength returning to his voice, Elmo began to speak rapidly and with authority. "With the population of our small town nearly doubling over the course of this festival, we must remain vigilant. I will quietly alert the militia that we will be on a status of high alert. We don't want mass panic. You have returned from the moathouse bearing the symbol of the Elder Elemental Eye. It seems that Spugnoir wasn't a fool after all.”  Upon the completion of his proclamation, Elmo seemed to weaken visibly.  He turned pale, and his stature appeared deflated.  He turned away from Gann and headed up the road.  More to himself than anyone in particular, Elmo mumbled… “The evil has returned."Off in the distance, someone lit off a burst of fireworks. Mothers and children laughed. Young lovers danced to the music of a wandering minstrel. Elmo walked off into the lengthening shadows, sobbing.***"Sensitive fellow, isn't he?" Gann pondered the situation carefully. "So there is evil in the moathouse. We knew that much. I think it's time I pay another visit to my old friend, evil.  I vow that this time, I will smite evil in all of the ways that it is possible to ... um ... yes, SMITE EVIL!"Gann left Elmo to his dark musings and he headed off to the Inn of the Welcome Wench.  If he was lucky, he would have a chance to speak with Maridosen before rallying the Order of the Eagle. In his mind, even a cold bar lass might warm up to a hero before he marched off into the maw of oblivion… before doing battle with some “elder elemental evil”.The common room was packed elbow to elbow for the holiday dinner rush. Gann didn't see any possibility of getting an open table, unless his friends had arrived before him and had already secured seating. He started to push his way through the crowd, when he was suddenly grabbed by the arm."C'mon. Your table's been waiting all afternoon. I'd have given it up to a group of payin' customers hours ago if the old lady would've let me. Can't tell ya how much silver you've cost me in tips keepin' an empty table for you."Maridosen, the pretty young barmaid with an apparent attitude problem, dragged Gann across the common area to a table in the corner. There was a wide ribbon strung across the benches with a sign hanging from it. It read, "Reserved for Spugnoir's Saviors." Maridosen tore the ribbon down and practically shoved the cleric onto a bench. "What do you want to eat? Hurry, now. It's busy and I'm losing even more money talkin' to you."Flustered, Gann rapidly sputtered out an order for some mutton and mead.  Angry at himself for not being a faster thinker, he started planning what he would say when Maridosen returned.  As he sat, various patrons walked by and patted him on the back, saying things like "thank you", or "nice job"... or slurring something congratulatory in the mystery language of happy drunks. The cleric frowned. “Being appreciated is nice,” he thought, “in a certain way. But smiting evil is its own reward.”  Gann’s annoyance was refreshed as something new occurred to him.  “This new high profile might make it difficult to catch evil unaware!”  He started to sulk, but the sight of Maridosen returning with a hearty meal brought a smile to his face. "Thank you, girl,” he said with over-inflated confidence.  “Justice is a harsh mistress, demanding endless vigilance and devotion. A fine meal like this is just the fuel for the ever-burning furnace of divine retribution within ...”  The frown on the bar maid’s face caused Gann to switch gears quickly.  “Umm, you're not especially interested in justice and smiting evil and what-not are you? Not that there's anything wrong with that ... if not for comely, innocent lasses like yourself, this world just wouldn't be worth saving from the evil that ever threatens to engulf it."The muscled warrior-priest attempted a charming smile and a flash of the ol' blue eyes.  Unfortunately, it came across as being very awkward and rather silly looking. Gann was unversed in the ways of romance, having dedicated himself completely to the calling of squashing demon-spawn and evildoers.  He had paid scarce little attention to the more pleasant aspects of life.Maridosen glared at him and started to walk away, as if to ignore his comments.  Then, she turned back and addressed him curtly.  "Listen here, Mr. Divine Retribution. All your fancy words don't change a few simple facts. First of all, every hunk of flesh with a sword that comes through here thinks he can get under my dress. The last guy that actually tried it had to have a finger sewn back on. Only reason I wasn't tossed outta here for that one is, old Vesta felt the brute had it comin' to him. Besides, your type always gets all full of yerselves, and you end up in situations that are far beyond your abilities. I'd recommend moving on, Vigilance Man. You'll only get yourself killed nosing around here."  Maridosen turned her head away and tossed her hair back over her shoulder in a gesture of finality, and she stormed off into the kitchen.Having been shunned for the second time in one day, Gann lamented out loud to the crowed room.  "Alas, villainous love goddess," he announced with flair.  "You toy with the hearts of men. I simply cannot move on. Destiny has her hand on my back, and she is pushing!  I will root out the evil that lurks beneath the surface of this town and smite it, or I shall be uprooted and smited myself."Several customers turned briefly to stare at Gann as he made his short speech.  After a moment of awkward silence, normal conversation resumed and the cleric slouched in his seat, disheartened.  Sensing a presence looming over his shoulder, Gann suddenly reached for his Truncheon of Truth.  He mentally berated himself for allowing the moment of weakness and turned to face this new threat.“So,” said Willow with a broad smile on her face.  Tyris was standing next to her.  “How was your day?”</blockquote>

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