| GM: | Qik, my records show Quioan has used 6 arrows so far this adventure (7, but one was recoverable). You shouldn't have any trouble finding someplace to restock while you guys are wandering if you so desire. |
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The quartet makes their way into the city, and has little trouble finding the temple. In fact, it's hard to miss, as the imposing stone structure occupies an entire city block. It is surrounded by a number of local businesses and wealthy residences. As such, the city guard presence here is a bit higher than in the outlying areas of town. Busy streets surround it on all sides. The businesses in this area vary widely, from coopers to cobblers. Under the auspices of browsing the various merchants, the adventurers blend into the crowds to get a look.
The building stands two stories tall, with towers positioned every thirty feet along its circumference. These towers rise above the temple itself, each crowned with statues depicting the Living God, a broad-shouldered figure, his face literally a tragedy mask. The temple has almost no windows, aside from a tall, stained-glass window on the east end depicting the mask of Owbej. The west end of the structure contains a courtyard, only accessible through a sealed barbican. Masked priests patrol the wall tops surrounding the courtyard, watching those below with a baleful attention.
During the shopping trip-cum-scouting, you notice a small group of conspicuous robed figures. Four are dressed in white robes, two in gray, and one wears black. All wear identical iron masks just like those adorning the statues of the temple. If you had any doubt as to the association of the group, the white-robes move a barrel forward and help the figure in black onto it, where he raises his arms and calls out
"All Hail Owbej!" a call parroted by the disciples in white, as well as perhaps a quarter of the members of the busy throng within earshot. A crowd almost instantly gathers to hear the speaker.
"Gold is the tool of those who would oppose the Living God. Denying them their coin leads to the glory of Owbej!" he begins, effusing about the love of The Living God and the wrath he has for the evil in the world, and the priests disperse through the crowd as he does so. The white robes are especially aggressive in asking for donations, the clear suggestion being that their Living God is a wrathful one who does not deal kindly with those stingy in their tithing. The gray robes are of a gentler sort, moving smoothly and speaking softly where their white-robed fellows barrel through the crowd.
[sblock=Yoshiki]Yoshiki can see through the veiled threats and promises of the black-robed priest's speech, and recognizes that the effort seems focused on gathering attention rather than imparting any real knowledge as to the goals of the temple. It's likely the speech is meant as a purposeful distraction for the activity of those moving through the crowd.[/sblock]
[sblock=Elenka & Yoshiki]Both of you notice one of the smooth-talking gray-robes sliding a ring off the hand of a lanky merchant as he shakes it in thanks for a small donation. He pockets the jewelry smoothly as he moves further into the crowd, and the merchant doesn't appear to have noticed.[/sblock]
