IC: Dichotomy's Age of Worms Redux, Part I

[michael_noah]

"Oh, him? Well, for starters, you've been misinformed. The bird belonged to a guy named Nav. He was from around here, from what I could tell, but didn't do much," explains Boldak as they near the temple. "He was, unfortunately, killed by a giant mess of spiders."

"You still haven't explained much, though."

 

[worthley]

"I have come to help. I heard of your loss, and do believe that we can assist your group. I have been granted permission from my church to accompany you. I am unsure what your purpose is in the cairn, but I know that what you are doing is also helping make this a safer place. If you have more specific questions, I have no problems answering them." Viktor tenses up, hoping to have relieved the dwarfs worries, and not caused more speculation into his wanting to join the party.

[SBLOCK=ooc]What temple are we ariving at?[/sblock]

 

[TiCaudata]

[sblock=The rest of you]The raven squawks and removes itself from the dwarf's head. For the rest of the conversation it flies slightly ahead of them, but lands on lamps, windowsills, and eaves to stay within earshot. At the mention of its former owner it lands as close to Alendar as it can. "Tacho?" it asks helpfully, "Still dead."[/sblock]

As the two groups both approach the temple to St. Cuthbert, Shavora stops shadowing Boldak's group and flies ahead to meet with Breth and Alexis. "They come from that way." Shavora points her beak towards a cross street.

"Well let's get in with the Cuthbertians here, it'll be better to be in a more neutral territory, just in case things heat up a little. The Feral Dog is always looking for a fight to break out."

Shavora stays outside on the roof as Breth leads Alexis into the Church of St. Cuthbert and sits at a pew in the back.

 

[Dichotomy]

Just as the other establishments located on the central square in Diamond Lake prey upon the vices and hopes of the town, so does the Church of St. Cuthbert. Flanked by small towers on each side, the austere stucco building can only be described as utilitarian.

Inside the place is remarkably clean... except for the white floor in front of the large holy symbol at the front of the sanctuary. There it is stained with dried blood. From the stories that most of you know, the flagellant Jierian Wierus gives his bombastic sermons there, and then proceeds to whip himself. Most often the congregation joins in.

As you come in and sit down, there is little going on at the moment. A few devout faithful pray silently in the pews. An acolyte looks up from a table at which he sits with a display of relics and such for sale. But he quickly returns to his business as you don't seem to need anything.

"Gods, I hate this place," Alendar whispers as he enters and stands somewhat close to the pew where Breth sits.

 

[TiCaudata]

As the second group comes in Breth looks straight ahead and focuses on one of the faithful praying. It's obvious that he's paying much more attention to the new group out of the corner of his eye however.

As the silence starts to fill minutes, Breth turns around and focuses on the "wild man"

"Just what do you think you are doing here? Was it your intention to scare us half out of our wits? Maybe staring at half dead people is polite where you're from, but it tends to put my neighbors on edge!

"What about you soldier boy?" He says while addressing the scale-mailed man, "Are you just along for the fun of it? Or perhaps you thought we'd just politely walk up and ask you the time after your eyes were bugging out at us for half the day! We have more important things on our minds than worrying about the people leering from the next table.

"Well? Talk! We haven't got all night!"

 

[michael_noah]

"I tried to tell you that you'd be better off explaining yourselves to me. Oh well. You'd better let him have the whole story or he's liable to sic that bird on you, too," Boldak says, addressing Viktor.

To Breth he adds, "They did point out that they're from Heironeous' folk. And that they want to help us."

 

[worthley]

"I am Viktor, from the church of Heironeous, and this is Alendar. We have heard of a group investigating the cairns that suffered the tragedy of a lost friend. We did not intend to be rude or frightening, but we were trying to make sure you are the group we were looking for. You can surely understand that going up to the wrong person and asking them if they need help because of their deceased friend may cause more problem. Yet, I digress. I have been granted permission by my superiors to accompany you in your journies. What you are doing is making Diamond Lake a safer place to all by removing the dangers that lie in and arround the whispering cairn. That is the reason I wish to join you."

 

[michael_noah]

"Their permission, eh? Well, I hope they gave their leave to tell us what dangers there are as well," responds Boldak with a hopeful look toward Breth.

 

[TiCaudata]

"Well, that's a start I guess. My name is Breth." He says to the soldier rather gruffly.

"How about it Alendar? Are you a Heironeous faithful as well, along for the good times and keeping the cairn an active tomb?"

 

[o3caudata]

Alexis turns to face the newcomers. Her eyes are the tell tale red of one who's recently been crying. Stone faced, she forces a less-than-polite smile and says "Where have you come from? I doubt a man like you would go unnoticed in a place like this. How did you come to hear of our happenings?"

She turns, as if to face forward again, but hesitates, turns back to them and continues "I think you fail to see the dangers in this rat hole if you think killing a few wild animals and some possesed spiders is going to make this town safer. I suppose we're making the cairn where no one has been in 20 years a safer place. That's quite noble it someone's eyes i'm sure. Maybe you know something we don't?"