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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1450723" data-attributes="member: 6294">"The Hallowed Hills" by Miguel Duran (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 4A man comes running down the road toward the Company.  He is tall and gangly, with sandalled feet and a somewhat grubby robe streaming out behind him.  Clutched in one hand is an enormous butterfly net, which keeps threatening to trip him as he runs."Don't hurt it!" he repeats, "It's not dangerous."This claim provokes some rather sceptical remarks from the adventures, but they allow the man to herd them away from the oversized bee, then watch as he creeps up toward it through the long grass, his bony posterior waving above the tips."Who is this fool?" the Padre asks.This 'fool', it turns out, is Sionaas: a wizard with a passion for bees."Fascinating creatures." He opines, as he leads the group back toward his caravan; a brightly painted affair with a strange white wagon hitched to the back."They're not usually so large." Sirdros has size issues."Oh, these are a giant breed.""You don't say.""Yes, indeed.  They were quite expensive to acquire, I can assure you.  But vital to my research: absolutely vital.""Research?" Twinkle perks up, "Are you trying to make a bee-based explosive?""Not quite, no." Sionaas is oblivious to the hopes he has just crushed - which is probably just as well. "It's actually the wax from their hives that I'm interested in.""The wax?" Twinkle frowns as she watches Sionaas gently push the bee into the unusual, enclosed wagon behind his caravan. "Not the honey?""Oh no.  I've got far more of that than I need."Within moments, the gnome is happily ensconced in Sionaas' caravan, a massive earthenware jar of honey in her lap.  For once, she takes little part in the conversation, her attention - and her mouth - fully occupied by the jar and its sweet contents.As the travellers enjoy a companionable meal of honeyed bread and freshly steeped tea, Sionaas explains that he is on his way north-east to the village of Poisson, in an area known as the 'Hidden Coast', where he plans to build a giant hive for his bees."I keep the bees, for the wax that they use for their honeycomb." He continues, "I'm convinced that it can be used in magical compounds and candles.  But I need somewhere to keep the hive, before I can produce enough to supply my research.  It will be quite something to see once it is built.""We have business to the south, for now" the Padre swirls the dregs of his tea, giving the leaves in the cup a disapproving stare, "But we may come see it, once that is done."  His opinion of Sionaas has risen sharply ever since he heard the phrase 'magical compounds'."Well, I'm sure it won't be ready for several weeks at the least." Sionaas explains, "But you would be welcome to visit me any time you wish.""C'n we get more?" Twinkle speaks for the first time in several minutes, gesturing with now-sticky hands at the pot in her lap.  Sionaas laughs,"Of course.  Take another now, if you like." He gestures at the dozens of similar pots that line the shelves of the caravan, "As I said before, I have far more than I could never use."Once Twinkle has helped herself to the biggest jar she can find, the adventurers take their leave of the wizard, and continue their journey to the Monastery of the Risen Star.  They arrive there in the later part of the afternoon, having been slowed by the twisting road, which snakes back and forth between many patches of rough and rocky ground."I'd say this area has a fair number of earth tremors. " Briar points at one of the many ribbon-like ridges that flank the road. "Lots of subsidence would cause that.""Where'd you learn something like that?" Anastria glowers suspiciously at a human displaying such knowledge of the wilderness."Macwood.  He was showing me some maps he'd drawn, and explaining how the land became shaped the way it was." Briar shrugs, "It was pretty interesting.""Well if you're right, it's a damn stupid place to build anything." The Padre snorts, "Though I wouldn't expect much better from the Pelorites."Distracted with driving the wagon, Sirdros does not hear the remark.  Or at least, refuses to acknowledge it.At last, as the shadows grow long in the twilight, the cart clatters into the monastery courtyard.  Leaving the horse and wagon in the care of one of the junior brothers, the adventurers are led through the stone building by another of the lesser brethren, who finally ushers them into the presence of Abbot Gerrard.The Abbot is a silver-haired human male, though the colour of his hair and a few lines on his face are the only signs of his age.  He welcomes the Company in a deep baritone, and sends the younger monk to fetch mulled wine -"- to chase some of the evening chill from your bones." He smiles, then turns grave, "It is late in the day, and I can see you are tired, but I hope that by first light tomorrow you will be sufficiently rested to begin your search.  Three of my brethren are missing - including Brother Durham, my chief assistant - and I am greatly concerned for their safety.""Has any attempt been made to find them?" the Padre asks, with a slight air of belligerence.Abbott Gerrard shakes his head,"There is little we have been able to do.  Lanterns were lowered into the caves, in the hope that their light would lead our brothers to safety, but to no avail.  The bravest and most capable of my brethren went with Brother Durham.  I would have entered the caves myself, but the high priest insisted that the task be left to you.""Lucky us." The priest of St Cuthbert grunts sourly, then downs his wine with one gulp, "We'll be ready at first light."</blockquote>

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