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Message: <blockquote data-quote="howandwhy99" data-source="post: 2742600" data-attributes="member: 3192">Ormand paced around behind the Sleeping Dragon Inn’s barn.  Darius had given him special orders to keep a lookout for a skinny man who had left the message on the rear wall.  He could not read it, but he was not interested anyways.  Ormond was trying to think of a way to speak with Rose.  He pictured in his mind her flaming red hair.  “Sort of like mine”, he whispered.  A shadow appeared in the moonlight.  Ormand hid.  An incredibly thin figure skulked up to the rear wall.  It swayed back and forth like it might be drunk.  He spotted a glove on one of its hands as it began to write.  Ormand drew his sword.“Wake up! Get up!  He’s here!”, he shouted and pounded on the room’s door.  The noise of stomping feet came from inside…and from within the barn too.  Ormand charged, but the skeletal man was too quick.  Instead of running it quickly climbed up the back the barn wall like a spider.  Pax and Dalin ran out of the cabin followed by Dram.  Ormand circled around the barn trying to keep an eye on the man as it ran, but it was too dark.  Three dirty men were looking around in front shouting. “Urkwin its beatin’ time!”, one yelled.  The other two shouted cursed threats of what was in store.  A dog started howling from somewhere nearby.  Splat!  Something fell on top of Ormand before he knew what happened.  From inside the cabin Rose started howling too.  “OOOWWOOOOOHHHH!”  Pax helped Ormand up.  The three men were very angry and mocked Ormond for letting their favorite “beat it” man get away.   When they saw the rest of the team arrive the three decided to go back inside.  Ormand apologized for letting the man get away, but the rest said it was unnecessary.  He felt bad, however, as he was pulled of guard duty for the rest of the night.  Father Ben walked over and saw two more letters had been written on the barn.  “H. E. Help perhaps?”  He decided to leave his own symbol; a variation on a circle.  (the peace sign)  Darius noticed a small rusty dagger stuck in the wall missing its crosspiece.  He borrowed Ben’s quill to write: “I will be here!” under the H and E.  Kayla examined the dagger and wondered if it had anything to do with the massive sword she had seen before.  Both were missing hilts.  With the excitement over Pax took up watch while the others withdrew back to bed.  It looked like they had missed their chance to talk.  [DAY 92 – Feastday, Azer 24th, CY 81]The rest of the evening passed uneventfully and Ben awoke at sun up.  After surreptitiously removing the rocks from his blankets he prayed.   It was not Holyday, but Ben felt Kusner was due for a good church service.  The general lawlessness of the town astonished him.  He wondered if Darius had reported the troubles of Gonnaway to the authorities here.  Calling on Pax and Ormand he asked them to go around town and announce a holy mass to be held behind the Sleeping Dragon Inn today around midmorning.  Before the two could leave Dram ordered them to find out what they could about his brother Tankurd as well.  As Ben prepared his vestments he decided it was time to give Rose his gift.  “Here, Rose, this is for you”, he said as he handed her the necklace.  “I think it is time for you to consider worshipping Gods who actually protect men and women and not those who wish to destroy others.”  Rose stared at him in disbelief.  “I would like you to attend the ceremonies today, so you might understand the power true belief can hold.  The warriors you seek to help at the Front are fighting evil.  They seek to push back whatever demons and beings of chaos I imagine are there”, he continued.  Rose shrieked piercingly and ran over to hug Ben.   He was not expecting such a positive response.  Rose asked Ben to put the pendant around her neck.  Afterwards, she declared to the others that she and Ben were now a married couple.  Ben stood dumbfounded.  He could barely take in what Rose was saying.  “WAIT!  No. No, that isn’t what this means at all!  The wooden circle is a sign of unity and immortality like the Gods.  It is a means of meditation.  You focus your eyes upon it and become one with the grace and justice of…” Rose cut him off.“You want an annulment?” she asked.  Ben tried to explain as a priest he must remain open to all people.  He pointed out how the Gods were his first devotion.  Rose smiled.  “Oh, is that all?  Well you can have as many wives as husbands as you wish.  I don’t mind.”“But…but… it never happened.  We aren’t married,” said Ben.  Rose began crying.  She pointed out the wooden ring he had given her and when he tried to take it back she jumped away.  The rest of the party looked bemused and chuckling.  The scene ended with Ben stuttering and Rose declaring she had an awful lot to teach her new husband.  Ben went into a closet to dress in his vestments and then outside to wait for mass.</blockquote>

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