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[PBP] Tholestia Chapter 2: Quest for the Lore of Saljara the Many Faceted

You approach on of the acolytes, who seems somewhat overwhelmed at your questions. He gets a priest higher in the hierarchy to come to you. A fully armoured man with long blonde hair and blond mustache comes from a hidden door in the back of the church.

You tell him the story, and he says in a calm and determined voice that ne needs to prepare and discuss this with the other priests. He ask you to return at nine for the service (there is a sundial near city hall).
 

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What time indicates the sundial near the city hall? If there is time, I would like to gather the remains of Ilan's bow from the city guards as they probably took the bow at the city gates) and in the meantime try to take care of the things Ilan requested in the restricted garrison part of the town. So I try to gather information how long repairs will take, and if these will take to long I am interested in purchasing a normal masterwork composite longbow.

My walk is slow, my body resting now and then, my mind thinking that I should try to have my spirits up, since this fatigueness will probably soon be over. I also look for a "spell component shop" to replenish my supply of those, exactly having in mind which spells I will study tomorrow morning.
 
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Meanwhile, back in basecamp

"Master Amant, can you show me how to fight two-handed?? I am not used to fighting two-handed with swords, but I want to use this sword, so if you can help me, that would be great."
I strip myself of the buckler, saying to myself I don't need it anymore, and put it in my backpack with the intent to stash it with the rest of the loot when we get back.
"So, that's better. While we practise, maybe I can tell you about the sacrifice of the bladesinger. It would make for a great song."
While we spar, I tell him about the drow city and our quest for the artifact. How many of our friends have already died trying to find it and that is our ultimate goal to retrieve it.
 
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Already getting tired of waiting in vain for the wizard to return, Deepwinter 7 tries to create some some practise dummies for the fighters to train on.

[busy?]
 

The guards at the gate see no harm in giving you the bow. They do explain that you should not have it strung, even if you managed to get it fixed.

At the garrison wall, at the gate to the military area, you are not listened to at all, and the soldiers guarding the gate seem to not speak at all. One of them manages to point at a sign that says "Amstradan army personnel only. Tresspassers will be tried and judged as traitors to the crown."

After this walking around town and meeting with this setback it is half past two.
 

In the meantime before the services, I drop by a tavern and ask the bartender for advice in purchasing such a bow as Ilan requested.

I return at 9 for the church services and after these have finished I try to locate the person I have spoken with:

So, dear man, what can you do for me?
 
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"Buying a bow... hmmm... That's a hard one. Perhaps you could go to the governor and ask for a pass into the garrison. Or you could try a carpenter, he might be able to put somehing together... but he would be breaking the law by doing that, so I doubt whether any of the carpenters will do that. Oh, and take my advice and get some sleep will ya? You look like a ghost. Not many people will want to help you loooking like that." The bartender says to you.

You go to bed, knowing that you have to be at the morning service tomorrow. You awake on time and arrive at the church of Heironeous a quarter to nine. You are brought to the front bench and requested to sit down. The church quickly fills up, a rather large amount of people armed and armoured; most likely military personnel.

The service starts at nine sharp. First the general service begins. The priest starts to preach about the valour required in everyday life, and how the honour of men is the most important thing. Eventually he comes to what happens if you do not follow the tenets of Heironeous. Rather bleak stuff about the Nine Hells and the tyranny of Hextor, mostly.

After an hour of preaching about Heironeous, the priest comes to what you came here for:
"Faithful! The church of heironeous has always had an ally in the Church of St. Cuthbert! One of these brave men has fallen while fighting evil. Were it not for Diactum Abracadacium the Amstradan sage and adventurer, this servant would be lost forever. But now, we shall try and give this noble man who fell a second chance." He uncovers the altar, which was covered by a red cloth and a sword. He places the remains on the altar, then asks for silence, and inward prayer by all those in the room.

"Heironeous! Please give me the power to restore this fallen champion of justice! An enemy of your enemies, friend of your own, and ally for your cause! Darakan Hudalin Kantahon! Seldamir Duxi Mabaron, 'Giles Welterblade' Nepan! " He then continues for what seems like an eternity saying these ancient words of faith. For a long time, nothing happens, but then the remains move around on the altar. A femur moves to a relative position to a knee bone. The ribs move away from these leg bones. Then, the bones whiten, and suddenly amidst lots of blue light, new bones develop. As soon as the entire skeleton is there, flesh and organs start to appear and grow. The entire church is lit up with bright blue light. As soon as the entire body is there, the light becomes so bright that no one can look directly into it. And then... everything returns to normal.

Giles Welterblade lies on the altar, naked, shivering, but alive. An acolyte quickly gives him some robes. He is a square boned and square jawed man. He looks at the audience of many hundreds of people. He then looks at you. "I have the faith of those who follow Heironeous to thank for my return. But also you Diactum... but where are your friends?"

The church is still silent.
 

Ah Giles! good to have you back under the living! Thank you very much, followers of Heironeus!

After I have thanked all appropriate persons and asked if I could do anything in return for them and left the church, I again return to Giles:

I have travelled here alone, because we figured this was the fastest way to have you resurrected. Let's get you a decent outfit, because we might have some adventures ahaid. Maybe you can arrange something with your church. Let's spend this afternoon gathering equipment, for I need some spell components as well. We will return to my friends later this afternoon where you will have all your questions answered.

Diactum casts the teleport spell just outside the city gates this afternoon with Giles, after we have gathered all our belongings.
 
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Giles to himself:"This is the church in Delarom isn't it? Yes, I've been here before."

Then, Giles gives a short speech to the congregated faithful, thanking your adventuring party, explaining he has some unfinished business, and expresses that he is in debt.

He says to you after the service that he will cash in some favours for some equipment and some components. Before the both of you teleport he brings you to a shrine of St. Cuthbert, where he cast Restoration on you [You no longer have any CON damage]. Your skin returns to a healthy colour.

Later that afternoon he accompanies you on your teleportation* back to the group. He casts Restoration on all who need it (and allow him to... Kheldev?). He gives the group a smooth stone accompanied by a note. "For 1 hour after speaking the command word, which is on this note, undead will have great difficulty detecting anyone within 10' radius of the stone. After that, the stone will have lost all its magic. This will most likely aid you greatly in the forest."

He gives you directions on where you need to be within the forest, and then says that he has to return to his superiors in the church of St. Cuthbert and perform a formal quests of attonement. "I'll most likely be in the capitol of Amstrad for a while. If you need help again, you are welcome to come and visit me. I'll be staying in the temple of my patron, St. Cuthbert. May you never fall victim to injustice. Farewell."

* For speed's sake I'll assume you studied the area you left from in great detail before you left yesterday.
 
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The second they arrive I stop with the swordpractice and can just barely escape the swing that Tycho made, because he saw to late that I putting away my sword. I give him a mean but amused smile and say: "Will you start paying more attention, you crazed madman." And I start laughing.

When hearing the Cleric, I reply: "Thank you, my friend. May your path shine with honour. We will send word when this forest is rid of all it's evil. Untill then."
 

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