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Message: <blockquote data-quote="xnosipjpqmhd" data-source="post: 3488001">The Houses of the Holy[smallcaps]Moonday, Harvester 3.[/smallcaps] The heroes were met the next morning with more dark clouds looming above. Despite the threat of rain, Jack, Oberyn, and Tateland wandered up Obsidian Avenue, taking in the sights and sounds of the small walled city.They stopped in front of the two-storey Temple of the Order of St. Cuthbert, its white marble walls suffused with veins of vivid blue, standing in stark contrast to the surrounding buildings of black stone and bare wood. A pair of white marble statues depicting armoured warriors stood on either side of the temple's heavy oaken doors, above which were inscribed the bold words, WITHIN LAW LIVES HOPE. Each of the statues was poised with a great mace held up to the darkening sky, and as if on cue, a steady drizzle began to fall, marking the beginning of the rainy season. Tateland led everyone through the doors into the temple.A priest named Ruphus Laro met them inside. "Y-y-yes?""I am Brother Tateland of Griffondale. These are my companions Oberyn and Jack."Ruphus stuck his head outside and looked both ways, then closed the oaken doors. "Very w-well. I shall tell Sister J-Jenya of your arrival." Ruphus hurried off.Within moments, two figures approach the trio: a young woman wearing a brown robe with golden trim and the symbol of St. Cuthbert around her neck, and a man in his late thirties dressed in full armour and knight's tabard bearing the symbol of St. Cuthbert."Good morning," said the woman. "I am Jenya Urikas, keeper of the temple while High Priest Delasharn is away." She nodded slightly. Her rich brown hair, piled high in an elaborate headress, was streaked with premature gray.Next spoke the knight. "Sir Alek Tercival of Redgorge." Oberyn's mood changed visibly at Alek's approach; his smirk broadened into a scowl.After a round of introductions from the heroes, Alek asked Tateland to step into a side room for a moment…***"Brother Tateland, you have travelled with Oberyn for some time now. What is your opinion of him?""He is moody and militant," said Tateland, "As if some past grievance still weighs on him."Alek nodded. "He has always been prone to fits. You see, there is something of his father in him. Our family history is too convoluted to explain at the moment, but I would ask of you a favor.""What is it?""Go with him, and keep him out of trouble. He is too proud to have me watching his back at all times, yet I would have it be done.""Very well," agreed Tateland."Brother Tateland," said Alek earnestly, "if he acts… disturbed… in any way, I would like to know about it."Tateland nodded, then he switched to a topic that had been on his mind lately. "What is the Order's position on the Scarlet Brotherhood? Are they evil?""High Priest Delasharn determines the Order's official position. The townsfolk seem pleased with revoked taxes, and though like you I have my doubts about the Brotherhood's sincerity, I must admit the abolishment of slavery should have been done long ago. The slavers now have been run out of the city, and many lives have been spared from the yoke."I do believe there is still evil at work in Cauldron Keep, but I cannot say it is the Scarlet Brotherhood's doing. I leave today in pursuit of a clue to that evil. I hope to know more about it the next time we meet." ***By the time Tateland returned to the others, Oberyn had convinced Ruphus to show him to an outfitters to buy new clothes and then on to Orek's Bathhouse to clean up. Along the way, Ruphus pointed out numerous landmarks and establishments of interest.After their baths, the three men changed into their new clothes and sent Ruphus back to the Laughing Horse inn with instructions to Drand Thetric to have them laundered. Meanwhile, the heroes spent the remainder of the day meandering through the streets, down to the lake, and along Ash Avenue. They passed among the red lantern district, commenting upon the ladies, until a murmur ran through the inhabitants that a patrol of guards was passing through.The leader of the patrol, Skylar Krewis, recognized the heroes and stopped to question them. "Have you seen a young woman with bright red hair and a tattoo running down her face?""Is she wanted for a crime?" replied Tateland."Murder. Her named is Triel Eldurast, and she's mighty dangerous.""We saw her a night or two ago at the Lucky Monkey," said Jack."Eh?" said Skylar. "Well, she's out of our hair then." The soldiers with him seemed pleased."Is there a bounty on her head?" asked Oberyn."Terseon would like to see her pay for her crime, and I'm sure he'd reward anyone who brought her to him, but I can't say there is a bounty as such.""Whom did she kill?""Some of us guards. You see, she was in the garrison herself, but I guess she just snapped and slew the rest of her patrol.""She was with another woman and three men," said Jack, providing a brief description of each of Triel's cohorts. "Well, we'll send a rider to the Lucky Monkey," said Skylar, "but it sounds like she's Yem's problem now." The patrol turned and left, heading in the direction of the main garrison.In the late afternoon, the three heroes came to the Tipped Tankard tavern, and they decided to stop in for a meal. While there, they overheard someone say she was knocked over by a cloaked woman with a ashen face who spat vile curses at her. The townsperson says she believes the disappearances are the work of an evil cult who worships a great two-headed beast with tentacles for arms. Tateland leaned over to the other two and said quietly, "Demogorgon." Oberyn just stared at him like he was a circus freak. "The recent disappearances spoken of by the youths at the Laughing Horse may be the work of a cult," explained the priest.</blockquote>

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