Sidis Leads Tharhack into the temple proper, where a furnitureless room with a thick layer of rugs covers the floor.
"Are you weavers?" Tharhack asks, hoping the answer is no since the rugs are ratty and poorly sewn.
"No, we are travelers and in order for the initiates to get used to resting anywhere, we start them off on these." Sidis answers kicking into the rugs in front of him, and hitting what sounded like a rock.
Sidis leads Tharhack into a small reception room off to the left, and them into a prayer area where a lone priest is kneeled beneath a lone candle set in an alcove, that somehow manages to illuminate the entire room.
"Master, we have a weary traveler come seeking help." Sidis tells the kneeling man
The man stands and turns to face Tharhack offering his hand in greeting. "Greetings, I am Ianver Karda Owen Laranderson. I felt your weary steps along the road as your entered this fine city." Ianver says smiling and shaking Tharhack's hand.
"Not very impressive, seeing as how I walked into town. Would've been more impressive if I had flown in." Tharhack retorts
"It matters not how you arrived, only that you did. I would've known if you had teleported into the middle of the sewers, Tharhack." Ianver replies
"How do you know my name?" Tharhack asks
"You are wanderer, you seek something but know not what. It is my purpose to help those find the direction they need to travel, I can help you find yours." Ianver responds
"What I seek is healing, which I was told you have. Do you plan for me to perform some trick for you in order to get my friends healed?" Tharhack inquires impatiently
"Are you in a hurry? What destination is in pressing need of your services?" Ianver asks
"Does it matter? If you're incapable of healing my friends I shall bid you good day." Tharhack says as he turns to leave.
"Your faith wanders, it wasn't there when you lost each of your friends to death's cold hand. It wasn't there when these two lost their wits at the voice of a wraith, and it won't be there when you try to heal them yourself." Ianver tells Tharhack in a voice that seems to vibrate the very air around Tharhack
"What are you insinuating? Kord is all powerful, it is I who is not strong enough. You waste my time and you're creepy, not a good combination." Tharhack replies
"Kord tests his subjects incessantly, all the time. Why it wouldn't surprise me if he's testing you this very moment. Do you feel tested?" Ianver asks
"No, I feel cheated." Tharhack responds
"Try to call his power now, show me your faith has not faltered, let's see the great power of Kord" Ianver says waving his hands in front of him.
His button pushed, Tharhack charges at Ianver, who dimension doors just as Tharhack reaches him. Tharhack pulls up and spins around looking for Ianver, finding him standing with Sidis next to Gothmog and Charekyal.
"Tsk, Tsk. Such rage, your predictability has cost you the only possessions of any worth you had left." Ianver tells Tharhack as Sidis places a hand on Gothmog and Charekyal and the three of them disappear.
"You inbred pile of jackal *dung* I will rip your arms off and use them to beat you into hell." Tharhack advances on Ianver again, only to have Ianver put his hand up in a gesture to stop.
With the utterance of one word, Tharhack freezes in place, paralyzed.
"Don't worry half-breed, you'll get your chance to have your luggage returned. After I get what I want of course." Ianver says "I want you to bring me the body of a creature that did not exist yesterday, and before you think it's a baby, this creature's race did not exist yesterday. Dead or alive it makes no difference to me, I'll find you once you've completed this task."
Ianver walks out of the room, and all is quiet. Tharhack remains paralyzed for a few more minuets, Tharhack falls face first to the floor and quickly scrambles to the front door. Peering thru the open door frame, Tharhack only finds empty steps and no priests in sight. Tharhack hails a passing man.
"Excuse me sir, did you see which way the priests from this temple went?" Tharhack asks
"Huh? They left two days ago." The man says giving Tharhack an odd look as he continues down the street.
Unsure of what just happened, Tharhack reenters the temple hoping that he'll find Gothmog and Charekyal safe inside. Tharhack searches every room, but finds nothing. Turning to leave, Tharhack is confronted by some of the town guard.
"What business do you have here?" A guardsman asks
Thinking quickly, Tharhack goes with the first thing that pops in his head, "My brother told me these guys book great vacations."
"Well, unless you are a member of this church, we ask that you leave it be." The guardsman replies
"Sure, no problem. Do you by chance know how long they'll be gone?" Tharhack asks
"I do not know, they went to investigate what's been going on up in Oester. Hopefully they'll be back soon." Came the reply
Tharhack thanks the man and exits the temple, "Excuse me sir, but could you recommend a good bar for someone of modest wealth?" Tharhack asks the guardsman
"For you, I'd recommend the Iron Hill Tavern, it's just down that street there, second building on the left." The guardsman replies pointing to his left.
Tharhack thanks him again and heads off to the bar, to do some thinking, half-orc style.
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"Ha, ha, ha. Did you see the big oaf? What a moron, I even gave him a hint at my name and he couldn't get it." Loki says wiping the tears of laughter from his cheek
"Aren't you afraid he'll go to Oester?" A fiendish giantess asks
"Either way, who cares? I'll get what I want, and so will a lot of other people." Loki says stroking the bony chin of the giantess
"Your foreplay is so subtle." The giantess responds
"Ha! Wait until I create my own breeding mountains, That's going to be the talk of the millennium." Loki rambles, "Wenches" Loki claps, "Bring me....... oh..... whatever is in the hearth."
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"Appears Loki has played his hand my lord."
"Yes, it does, I've been waiting for him to decide how he wishes to play this game." Prometheus answers
"Don't you fear, he'll gain the new one?"
"That's why I always play one step ahead of the raving lunatics. Better to have them trying to catch you, than the other way around." Prometheus responds
"I see your level of interest has not waned from him yet. That gelatinous ooze you sprang on the lich Emthur, I'm sure cause Loki to accelerate his plan."
"As long as he is reacting to me, then I control the game." Prometheus answers, "And my next move is sure to raise his ire once again."
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Rebrey hikes out of the shadow of Emthur's tower, heading in the direction Tharhack said he would take. Turning back towards the tower, Rebrey says a small prayer to the memory of Alriand before continuing.
Unbeknownst to Rebrey, he was blessing an empty grave.