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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8557954" data-attributes="member: 7015827"><h2>Searching for Allies</h2>Dermot, ever the thoughtful ranger, changed his mind and decided to stay and talk more with the Ascetic One about the situation with Shanni and other things on his mind. Meanwhile, Njord decided he would canvas other temples in the city besides that of the Lathanderites, to see if they might be worth approaching as allies. This left Aerikoth, Darrow and Rosten comparing notes outside the Ascetic One’s house in the West Gate district.The three made their way to Morningstar Haven, Darrow and Rosten wistfully looking at the entrance to the Jolly Warrior inn as they passed. As the group entered the temple spaces, Aerikoth warned them in a low tone not to mention their current agreement with the Lord of the Crypt and to be patient with the temple staff, unlike their former companion Shanni. The dwarf and the halfling agreed, only too glad to leave most of the talking to the wizard.Aerikoth greeted the priest on duty, who remembered him from his previous audience at the temple, a half-tenday prior. The wizard indicated that they had vital information for the Lady Tylanna and the priest said he would bear word of this to her. After a short interval, he escorted them to the high priestess’ chamber and formally presented the Lady Sunrise Tylanna of the Seventh Rose. Aerikoth politely introduced Rosten and the wizard noted that she and Darrow had previously met.At Lady Tylanna’s prompting, Aerikoth related how they had journeyed to the necropolis, based on the Ascetic One’s tale from his youth. There, they discovered – exactly how, the wizard declined to specify – that there was a new Night King in Westgate, who had risen to power with the assistance of some ancient artifacts of a vampiric kingdom of milennia ago. Specifically, they learned of "The Flying Fangs" and the "The Argaal of Orlak" - items of considerable power that only a parasitic undead could make use of, as the wizard put it. Lady Tylanna appeared somewhat suspicious of the circumstances under which they had obtained the information, but nonetheless commended them on their efforts and lamented that the Dawnknight Gen Soleilon had been unable to destroy the vampires fully, after he defeated the Night King over a millenium ago.Talk then turned to the threat the vampires posed to the city, which seemed to be greatest in the Shore district. After confirming they were acquainted with Thessar the Warrior, who lived in the Shore, the high priestess mentioned that she had received a message inviting her to a "gathering" at his place, the following day at noon. It hinted at a need to speak frankly, among those who wished to protect the city. Lady Tylanna indicated that, after hearing their words, she was inclined to participate in this gathering, although she did not know who else would be present. Aerikoth offered to escort her there, but she declined, saying that she feared nothing in the city at noontime, when Lathander was most powerful.After taking their leave of the temple, the three adventurers decided to head to the Shore and stop in at Lilda’s Festhall. Inside, they spotted Thessar speaking to the barmaid, but the old warrior only spared them a brief glance before heading for the door. Darrow and Rosten were happy enough to get some ales and sit down, eyeing the assortment of mercenaries and thugs there. Rosten, whispering, informed them of a previous talk he had with Thessar about Lomilith, the elf at the Black Boot who had been attacked by a vampire after investigating matters at the Shore. Aerikoth in turn related how the company in the past had investigated the nearby sewer entrance and had discovered and defeated very powerful undead that had been left as guards.Hoping to gather more information, Rosten got the barmaid Hazel’s attention. Her memory improved significantly after Darrow passed her two gold coins and she related how “Ol Lomi’” used to hang out at the festhall, but had stopped coming around a few days prior. She warmed a bit to the adventurers after they shared they were friends – after a fashion – with Lomilith and ordered more food and drink. The stew she brought back looked suspicious, but Darrow poured some ale in it and experimentally stabbed it before digging in.</blockquote>

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