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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Plane Sailing" data-source="post: 8713" data-attributes="member: 114">They retrace their footsteps back to the Queen of Cups, and Lysander flags down a guard, and asks him if he can find out whether Squim escaped from custody, or was released. The message comes back a little later - he was released on orders from the Baron...Barnabas sets them up in a couple of his best rooms that night, and his wife Maria tends to them with her healing skills.In the early hours of the morning, both Lysander and Azrin wake, with a sudden feeling of wrongness. They quickly rouse their companions and check the inn, but there is nothing to be found. Crail can see a strange glow from over in the east, and these three decide to pay a visit to their temple.Storm season has clearly come in with a roar, as rain lashes down and the wind howls around them as they make their way along the main boardwalks towards the temple. They encounter some city guards who have orders to clear people off the streets, but Lysander is determined to make his way to the temple of his god. The guards are torn between their loyalty to the baron and their respect for the Jazumai, and in the end agree to escort Azrin and Crail back to the inn, leaving Lysander to proceed alone.He finds the temple doors locked. Shinning up the side of the building, he has a strong sense of evil from within the dome, the sanctuary of the temple. Returning to the ground, he breaks down one of the back doors into the temple. He starts to creep down the passageway when with a howl two hell hounds leap out of the hall in front of him and an evil acolyte, wearing hastily donned armour and with a huge flail appears behind him. He is engaged in combat, and despite his skill the fiery breath of the hounds and the cleric who boxes him in behind are quickly whittling him away. In desperation he calls upon his new sorcerous talents and defensively casts “Daze” at the priest - and then uses his movement action to dart past the dazed opponent and back out into the rain.Incensed at the obvious desecration of his temple, even more angry that he had to retreat from the battle, Lysander returns to his friends. They decide that it is not safe to remain at the Queen of Cups because enemies at the temple will be on their guard and may be preparing a counterstrike. They leave quickly in the night and return to the old belltower, where Crail once more picks the lock and lets everyone in. They settle down for the night and attempt to heal their wounds and prepare once more.Come morning, Crail hears trumpets being blown up at the keep, summoning the townspeople for an announcement. While the others pray and prepare, he goes and mingles with the crowd, moving to listen to the announcement. Up on the battlements, he sees the well-known figure of the Baron, giving a proclamation. In the background, Crails keen eyes make out a tall, robed figure standing in the shadows - not the Blessed, but with a head shadowed by a large hood.The Barons announcement is shocking. Apparently, because of the breakdown of law and order, as exemplified by the assassination attempt on the brave adventurers, but seen also in the fire up on west hill, the wererats killing guards and the general disruption caused by the street festival... so he is declaring martial law. Carrying of weapons will be punishable by death. Alkanar, Lysander and all of the acolytes from the temple are to be arrested on sight, since their temple has failed the town - and the temple is now given over to new forces of law who will be maintaining order in the town. Able bodied men should report to the militia. The town gates will be sealed and nobody will enter or leave the town. As he finishes, an enormous, skeletal fiendish humanoid appears on the battlements beside him, lifting aloft a huge scythe and lashing the air with a terrible scorpion sting.</blockquote>

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