After Joshua trots off, Brother William asks you to wait outside for a few moments. He returns shortly with two young adepts in simple robes. After introductions—their names are Brother Jon and Brother Jael—the two young men take the warhorse, mule, and dog to the stables, and tend to them.
Brother William takes you into the entrance of the abbey. The inside of the building is decorated with rosewood inlaid with beryl in patterns of leaves and vines. The afternoon light filters in through ornate stained glass windows depicting various woodland scenes.
Passing through a narthex, you are led into a larger room, apparently a dining room. After several minutes, an older man enters with two more adepts. Brother William introduces this man as Father Colin. He greets you warmly, extending especially gracious words of welcome to Hardin.
He asks you about your journey, and especially your experiences in the Timberway Forest. As you tell your story, you feel that Father Colin is probing your thoughts, attempting to judge your trustworthiness, and perhaps even using his priestly magic to do so. However, you don’t feel violated. You understand that this is simply a man concerned about the safety of his flock.
He tells you that besides himself and Brother William, there are seven other clerics of the order living in the monastery. You met the two who stabled your animals, two are here with you now attending to Father Colin, and three are preparing supper. Father Colin tells you that the two who stabled your animals were tasked with returning Kyle Tanner’s body to his widow, and that they will return when they are finished with that delicate work.
As you talk, heady smells of cooking pork and apples waft through the air and your stomachs grumble. Just when you think you can barely stand it anymore, the two return, and dinner is served. The mood is more jubilant than you would frankly expect, and it seems a bit odd to you how much joy is taken in the meal. Large pork chops with potatoes and applesauce are placed before you. There are also nuts and grapes on the table. Everyone eats their fill.
You begin the meal with crystal clear water from the creek which flows through the village. However, after you have stuffed yourselves, a young cleric comes around with more drinks. You are each offered a choice between another glass of water and a draft of sparkling green liquid. The cleric explains that the green drink is a gift of Obad-Hai. You sense that turning it down on religious grounds would be forgiven as simple ignorance, but asking further about it as if you were suspicious would be considered insulting.