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Message: <blockquote data-quote="William Ronald" data-source="post: 1505346" data-attributes="member: 426">This is a continuation of the earlier adventure.A continuation of the Reluctant Heroes of Dartham -- The Quest for Knowledge It was mid-afternoon when Rath looked up from the table to see Arronn and Gris.  Putting his plate aside, Rath rose to his feet and casually strolled to an adjoining hallway where Arronn, Gris, and Mookesh stood.The four men walked to Arronn's room, where he explained that the Temple of Toeffer was in possession of a book detailing the early history of the Church of Darien in one of the other counties in the Kingdom of Toeffrus.  Apparently, a member of the temple's clergy had come into an inheritance from a distant relative.Arronn asked for help in recovering the book, with Mookesh saying that he would ask about looking at the book and others in the new collection.  The priest handed Mookesh a small bag with coins in case there was a chance to purchase the book.  Rath volunteered to accompany Mookesh -- to either help carry some of the books or to be ready in case something went wrong.  The Temple of Self Reproach was known as a place where the priests would encourage worshippers to cleanse themselves of sin -- with whips.Rath walked with Mookesh to the Temple of Toeffer, an imposing structure whose roof was supported by thick columns.  Entering inside, the fighter saw several stone beds in a wide hall. A thin man, whom Mookesh hailed as Slane, explained that the books were being examined and it would not be possible to look at them today.  However, tomorrow might be a better time.   With some effort, Rath stopped himself from commenting on the red flecks on the gray stone beds and Slane's inquiries about whether either man needed to be purged of sin.Mookesh and Rath returned to the Temple of Darien.  The discussion turned serious with the thought that someone from the Temple of Toeffer might visit Mookesh to ask why he wanted to see the new books.   Gris said that he would keep an eye on Mookesh's room at Banthward's leather work shop.  Arronn pointed out that there was a guard tower near the shop which would be a good spot to watch the shop.  He suggested that left over food and drink from the feast be brought to the guard tower, and that someone could keep an eye on the shop.  Rath volunteered, wishing to keep an eye on the wizard's shop and thinking that Arronn would have a hard time carrying a large plate of food to the guards.The guards  welcomed the food and wine, and Rath walked with a guardsmen on the roof for some time.  The night was quiet, and no sign of danger could be seen from Banthward's shop.The next day, Rath woke, nudged by Liath his mule.  Rath hurried about the task at the stables, and soon had everything ready for an extended lunch break.  He arrived at Banthward's shop to see a dejected Mookesh.  The wizard explained that he could not leave, as Banthward said she was going to ask about any leatherwork to be done at the Temple of Toeffer. She asked him to stay to sell some belts and to wait for a customer.  Rath decided he would buy a belt, to hopefully give Banthward a reason to let Mookesh be free for a little while of work.  Mookesh mentioned two gold pieces as the price, and Rath unthinkingly handed it over.  The wizard then asked Rath to return Arronn's money.  Rath left, and within a block realized he paid too much for the belt.  He reached Arronn at the temple, but his explanation about how much coin Mookesh had returned was a bit mangled.Rath walked with Mookesh and Gris to Banthward's shop, then left.  Later that evening, Mookesh arrived at the Temple of Darien.  He said that Slane said he could not look at the books, and that he had quit his employer -- who turned out to be a worshipper of Toeffer.  When they were alone, Rath asked Mookesh for a refund of the belt but the wizard said that there were no refunds.  Later, a senior priest meet with Arronn, Rath, Mookesh, and Gris.  The priest mentioned that a small mission of Toeffer was in the village of Dartham.  A swift raid, with the capture of the acolyte in charge of the mission, would give the Temple of Darien something to trade for the book.  Arronn, Rath, Gris and Mookesh accepted the task, taking along Rath's mule Liath to help carry back an acolyte from the village of Dartham.</blockquote>

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