[ooc
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
Just as a note, I'm finishing up Seconday, and then we'll be moving into the Thirday meeting. Just post your retroactive actions for whatever you want to do in response to anything on Seconday as well as anything you're doing on Thirday morning.
*Sylinda, the temple of Ehlonna lies near to its sister temples of Obad-Hai and Corellion Latharian, less a temple and more an elaborate grove of greenery in the middle of the Godswalk. Entering this hall of trees the bustle of the city seems to drop away and if you didn't know any better, you would have sworn you were in the middle of the forest again. In the center you find a calm pool of water along with a standing altar stone. Beside it is an elf woman in practical green and brown leathers, brushing the coat of a young unicorn.*
*She notices you and turns to smile and spread her arms in welcome. You see she has a large unicorn rampant, one of the symbols of Ehlonna, stitched into the front of her tunic in dark green thread. But it is the white and gold star-symbol on her forehead that allows you to recognize her. That symbol is only given to the high priestesses of Ehlonna's faith.*
"Welcome sister and feathered son. I am Ellira," she says smiling.
*Norin, Galdaron is busy with the training of some of the temple warriors, but makes some time briefly to speak with you. Telling him about the Beggar King and his crimes, Galdaron's face clouds and he furrows his brows.*
"I'm aware of the rumors, Saint Norin, but we've never had actual proof of his existence before now. But," he puts up a hand before Norin can go on, "I cannot simply send out priests and paladins of Heironeous into the Hollow to hunt him down. The city has its own guards and councilors that represent the various districts, as well as the nobles and merchants that have their own interests. If we were to send in our own people it would be incredibly high-handed and would cause a great deal of resentment.
"There is nothing I would like better than to deal with this directly, but the High Righteousness and I have had many discussions about things of this nature. We cannot afford to alienate any of the nobles, not with the necromantic laws coming up for debate. And if we bypass the city guards, we would not only draw anger from the nobles and possibly the king, but the other churches as well. This city cannot afford to have every church doing as it wills, even if it is for the cause of good.
"We will do what we can Norin, we have allies, laymen of the church even in the Hollow. If we set them to watching for the Beggar King, now that we know he exists, we can begin to track him and see where he lairs. Then we can alert the city guard to his presence and
offer our help. Politics," he says with a disgusted shrug, "they can't be helped, particularly not in Andeluvay."
*Nessa, the Spell Lord nods in agreement.*
"Yes, just send word if you need to speak with me again and I will do my best to make time. I'm pleased you see the need to provide a unified front, but if it comes to that, I will not
force your vote. You are too powerful a mage and too valuable an asset for me to force into any mold. I can only use words and logic to sway you to see the necessity of my actions. Go, enjoy your rest," he says, dismissing you from his chambers.
*Staeven, at the Dancing Phoenix you see that the bard Brightfire holding forth on the stage, singing a lively song of young lovers. Couples crowd the dance floor and wine is flowing freely. The innkeeper is a fairly young man with red hair... suspiciously red... oh! After a second you realize he's a fire genasi, particularly after he sets someone's drink on fire with a gesture.*
"A room you say?" he calls over the singing and the talking of the crowd. "Six silver for a room, dinner's three silver, breakfast is one silver. Stabling's a silver too."
*Sebastian, between Seconday evening and Thirday afternoon you're able to effect some measure of justice on the streets of Andeluvay. Once you stop a thief's flight from the authorities, and another time respond to the cries of a mugging victim, extracting her from the brutal hands of her attackers and rendering the thugs unconscious. Effusive thanks are given from the girl, and rather brusque thanks from the guards. It may just be you, but it seems that guards were rather irked that you caught the thief instead of them.*
*When walking to Heironeous' temple in the evening you pass an alley, and your ears hear the faint but unmistakable cry of someone in pain. Edging down the alley you see a rather strange sight. Huddled against the wall of the refuse-strewn alley is a girl in the garb of a serving wench with a bruised and battered face, her clothes torn and her blonde hair mussed. Being held against the opposite wall is a shifty-eyed tough; you've seen the type often enough. Muscle for hire, rootless sell-swords with few ethics and a great love of money, but little compassion.*
*But what is holding the tough is quite a contradiction. Garbed and armored as a knight, wearing full plate armor, an open helm with a blue feather plume on it, and a blue cloak, he is holding the tough by the throat by one mailed fist, his feet dangling a foot off the ground. On the cloak is a strange device, one of a throne picked out in silvery white thread, on top of which is a crown in gold thread. The knight is impeccably clean, looking more like he was on his way to parade than anything else.*
*The knight turns his head to you, still holding the gasping and struggling tough. You can see his eyes lack pupil or iris and glow faint, uniform white. Seeing you, he quickly smashes the face of the tough with his other gauntleted fist, and drops him to the ground, either unconscious or dead. The knight tosses something quickly onto the body and them simply... vanishes. There one moment and gone the next.*
*The girl turns and looks right at you, then shrieking in hysterical relief throws herself at you, crying that you saved her. If you protest, or ask about the knight she says, confused, "But it was you who saved me from Hal, there was no knight." If you take a look at the body of the tough, you'll see that "Hal" is quite dead, though whether it was from the crushed throat or the cracked skull you're not sure. He was wearing battered leather armor, carrying a good shortsword and dagger, and had a belt pouch containing about a dozen silver coins. You also find what you assume the knight tossed on Hal's body. It's a lead coin, one side showing the crown and throne device... and the other with the two-sided face of Hoar.*
*The serving girl, whose name you learn is Shanna, works at the Rusty Duck inn a few blocks away. Hal apparently had wanted more from Shanna than she was offering, and followed her to this alley near her boarding house before trying to take her. If you look Shanna over you see that Hal apparently hadn't gotten much further than a hard beating before her rescuer showed up. She's in pain, but nothing life-threatening that you can see and no broken bones.*
~~~~~~~~~~~
The Meeting with Orshallan
*As each of you come into the impressive temple of Heironeous, you're rather struck with the grandeur of the building and its interior. The gleam of gold is everywhere, and the slightly oversized architecture serves to make most feel small. It's a somewhat intimidating church. Each of you is met by a young, golden-haired man wearing gold-washed chainmail and a longsword. He bears a tattoo of the hand-and-lightning bolt of Heironeous on his neck. He'll take each of you to a room at the back of the church, a large room with a large long table. Food and drink are spread upon it, wine, bread, and fresh beef, along with fresh vegetables. You're waited on by servants until about an hour has passed, then they whisk away the remaining food, leaving more wine, water, or fruit juice for you to drink.*
*Finally Orshallan arrives, with Galdaron Exile at his side. He wears cream linen robes heavily embroidered with gold designs of lightning bolts. But those who attended the evening service know that this is ten times tamer than the robes of office he must wear during services. Galdaron as well has shed his gold-plated armor for gold-washed chain mail, and still bears his sword. Orshallan seemingly carries no weapon, but has what appear to be golden bracers, such as warriors wear, on his wrists. Despite the heavy embroidery, Orshallan's outfit is cut in such a way that he can probably move very well in it; a virtue of leading a martial church.*
*There's also one unusual detail about Orshallan that only those very familiar with Heironeous' church (Norin and Staeven) would recognize the significance of. From temple to temple, Orshallan's eyes peer out of a wide golden stripe that has been painted on his face. It means that he has seen and communicated with celestial servants recently.*
*The High Righteousness takes his place at the head of the table, Galdaron staying at his right hand. Standing, he gazes at each one of you, locking eyes with each in turn.*
"You are the ones I have chosen to charge with a most difficult task. Each of you is experienced in furthering the cause of good, and I know you all have impeccable personal integrity... to whichever cause of good you hold dear," he says, his resonate voice carrying easily to all corners of the room. At the last, his eyes flicker briefly to Darren and Sebastion. "Each of you is unique, yet devoted to the cause of good... often in ways that my own people would not consider. This makes you the best choices for this quest.
"Sebastian Andovar, holy warrior and crusader of justice for the weak,
"Saint Norin, the Dawnkeeper, servant of Heironeous and Pistis Sophia,
"Darren, servant of Lliira,
"Lyssia Darkwing, servant of Sune,
"Mediator Nessa Caoilfhionn, magician and servant of Boccob,
"Sylinda, servant of Ehlonna,
"and Sir Staeven Myleron, The Phoenix Knight, servant of Heironeous and Ayailla. I have searched long and hard to find all of you and bring you here, because I believe and have been told that you all will be needed."
*Orshallan suddenly sits, and leans forward, speaking earnestly.*
"I have learned of a great evil to the northwest, the corruption of a noblewoman, the use of rogue necromancy, and the worshipping of gods so foul it sickens me to think of them. This evil... it must be cleansed, but it must be done delicately. Carefully, and to not alert her allies. Do you think this can be done? I have more details, but I must know if you are willing to do this at all."
