NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Krago o'the Mountain" data-source="post: 2503226" data-attributes="member: 34882">As the newly acquainted band prepares to leave the alley (keeping a close eye on the face-painted thugs all the while), a woman's voice suddenly rings out from somewhere above. "Well done! But the cleric lives because we wish it so, not because of your misplaced bravado." The source of the voice is barely distinguishable through the drizzle, some 20 feet above on the rooftop of one of the buildings enclosing the alley. A lithe figure lurks there, clad all in black; she also has her face painted white and black into a grinning harlequin's visage. She points a baleful finger at Ruphus and says, "Take these words back to your temple, priest! The children are lost and no longer St. Cuthbert's concern." She then retreats onto the rooftop and disappears from view. Taking their cue from the mysterious figure, the three assailants now dash from the alley's opposite end, disappearing with muffled footfalls into the fog and damp of the city streets.  Ruphus shrugs his shoulders. "I really don't know what their painted faces mean. Maybe Jenya will know something about it once we reach the temple."    Eliara and Galen keep a close watch behind to ensure they aren't being followed. [Eliara Spot: Roll = 7, Total = 12; Galen Spot: Roll = 11, Total = 12] Neither of them see any signs of pursuit as they walk.  As they walk, Ruphus turns to reply to Intari's comment. "Well, I don't know if it's unnatural, but I do hope it doesn't make the lake rise too much. They say some sort of tentacled beast lurks in the cold depths there, but I doubt it's true. The danger of flooding is real enough, though." Continuing, he answers the shaman's questions. "No, it's not usual at all! I realize that crime happens, but it's not even fully dark yet...and this doesn't seem like a normal crime. The church is helping with the investigation to find the four missing children from the orphanage, so I went there for a visit this afternoon. It seems that those people don't want us involved, though I can't fathom why." A light of understanding flickers in Ruphus' eyes, and he continues, "You're new in town aren't you? Well, I'll try to explain a bit of what's been going on. For a couple of months now, Cauldron has seen a string of disappearances of its citizens. Random folk, just up and gone from their homes, along with their valuables.  The thing is, there's no sign of a break-in, no sign of a struggle...they just vanish.  The authorities have been trying to solve the mystery, but they haven't gotten far. Now, just three nights ago, it turned even worse...the children disappeared.  This was the first time children were involved, all the others had been adults at least. That was the last straw for Jenya, so the church pledged to help. I was at the orphanage today, consoling the other children and the staff. Who could be opposed to that?" The young cleric shakes his head sadly as the group proceeds.  (OOC: The walk to the Temple of St. Cuthbert is a great opportunity to ask further questions of Ruphus. I'll pause to allow such conversations before posting the arrival at the temple.)</blockquote>

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