11. Return to O'Hare

[Alethan]

Gwillt raps loudly on the gate with the pommel of his knife and says,"Hallow? Anyone about?"

[dmw71]

There is no immediate reply when Gwillt raps loudly on the gate with the pommel of his knife and says, "Hallow? Anyone about?"

[Alethan]

Immediately put on guard, Gwillt loosens his scimitar in its scabbard and returns his knife to its sheath.

"Let's have a look around. Have yer wits about you, now."
He enters the courtyard and quickly scans the area for any sign of movement or life. He takes notes of all building entrances and any other exits from the building.

[tooleychris]

"Nuff a dis flower sniffen elf manners! " growls Grimnail loosing his own scimitar and pulling it free from his back scabbard. He starts for the front door and shouts "Yous in da temple! If 'n youz still a hidin from scalies, deys gone and weez comin wit food. Youz bein smart not ta be swingin no steel at da door, hearz? "

[Rukellian]

Startled by the barbarian's sudden outburst, Fimmion jumps a bit and starts to freak out! "Whoa whoa! Easy there, we don't want to look like a hostile party, now do we?" He darts his eyes back and forth between the yelling barbarian and the others, trying to motion them to help calm the situation. "Look, if there are people in there," Fimmion stammers quickly, "they will be too scared to come out if you keep shouting like that..."

His voice dies down a bit as he starts to fear for his own safety.

[tooleychris]

Grim stops short, looks back at the chef, and sighs then seeMs to get an idea.
"Let da cook go in first, eh?"

[Rukellian]

I'm up for anything that involves not scaring the living day lights out of the people we are potentially saving/helping out
Just want to give everyone else a chance to chime in before any definite actions are made.

Grim stops short, looks back at the chef, and sighs then seeMs to get an idea.
"Let da cook go in first, eh?"

"Might be a good idea," Fimmion ends with a relieved sigh. "Some of the townsfolk are already acting funny enough as it is, so we've been told. I sure don't want to get on their bad side, and I think no one else wants to either."

[Stonjuz]

As the group prepares to investigate north, the halfling cant help but keep checking to the south for sign of trog movement, but he does manage his way north, to be even with the party. Convinced the trogs are not coming back (for now) he says, "I'll go, if you all are too frightened. Just keep an eye out on the south there. Thats the direction of their last attack. " As he starts to advance into the temple, he gets scared himself, turns and says, ....(gulp)"Who's coming with me?"

[Alethan]

"No worries, little one," Gwillt says, stepping forward with the halfling. "Let's see who's home..."

Gwillt walks into the courtyard and towards the doors to the largest structure (presumably the temple).

[dmw71]

Immediately put on guard by the lack of immediate response, Gwillt loosens his scimitar in its scabbard and returns his knife to its sheath. "Let's have a look around. Have yer wits about you, now." He enters the courtyard and quickly scans the area for any sign of movement or life. He takes notes of all building entrances and any other exits from the building.

From behind the ranger, Grimnail growls "Nuff a dis flower sniffen elf manners!" and the barbarian pulls his scimitar free from his back scabbard. He starts for the front door, passing the ranger, and shouts "Yous in da temple! If 'n youz still a hidin from scalies, deys gone and weez comin wit food. Youz bein smart not ta be swingin no steel at da door, hearz? " Startled by the barbarian's sudden outburst, Fimmion jumps a bit. "Whoa, whoa! Easy there, we don't want to look like a hostile party, now do we?" His eyes dart back and forth between the irritated barbarian and the others, trying to motion them to help calm the situation. "Look, if there are people in there," he stammers quickly, "they will be too scared to come out if you keep shouting like that..." before falling quiet. The barbarian stops short of the door, looks back at the chef, and sighs. "Let da cook go in first, eh?" he grunts. "Might be a good idea," Fimmion quickly agrees. "Some of the townsfolk are already acting funny enough as it is, so we've been told. I sure don't want to get on their bad side, and I think no one else wants to either."

---

As the "discussion" between the chef and barbarian is taking place, an elderly, human male slowly begins to emerge from around the far east (right) side of the temple. The man, gardening hoe in hand, is working his way backwards tending the area which has been neglected for far too long. While he notices the party, he ignores you and continues working. A moment later, as if the old man predicted an unavoidable interaction, he briefly stops his progress and motions for the group to make their way to the temple itself before continuing with his work.

---

Gwilt, already intent on working his way to the front door, reaches it first. The double doors swing inward to reveal a large room with a tiled floor. On the far wall, opposite the front door, is a low dais upon which is a statue of a youthful, unknown robed male; though, you figure this may the deity Levitt mentioned by Ferrell. You also notice several decorative tapestries affixed the side walls.

Before you're able to take in more of the room, however, a slender and attractive priestess enters this sanctuary from a door on the east wall.

"Welcome." she says.

[saalaria]

Kaltar steps forward, surprised by what has been discovered: he was expecting something more gruesome.
Struggling to hide his surprise he tries:
"Thanks for your welcome, we suspected you may have suffered as a result of the recent attack on the town but this appears not so. Did you suffer any casualties or damage from the invaders?"?

[dmw71]

Kaltar barely manages to suppress his surprise at the situation. "Thanks for your welcome, he says. "We suspected you may have suffered as a result of the recent attack on the town but this appears not so. Did you suffer any casualties or damage from the invaders?"? The woman simply scoffs at the notion. "I have not knowledge of what takes place beyond these walls," she states callously. "My welfare was never in jeopardy," she assures the cleric.

"So, what can I do for you?" she asks.

[Alethan]

Gwillt wrinkles his brow at her statement and asks, "If you don't mind my asking, er, ma'am, what is the purpose of your temple?"

[dmw71]

Gwillt wrinkles his brow at her statement and asks, "If you don't mind my asking, er, ma'am, what is the purpose of your temple?" The priestess shifts her gaze in the direction of the ranger. "To serve Levitt, of course." she says matter-of-factly, casting her arm in the general direction of the statue. "Speaking of purpose, what, may I ask, is the purpose of your visit?"

[tooleychris]

Grim starts breathing heavier, flexing muscle, and appears to be straining to keep his jaw clenched shut.

[Stonjuz]

SHannigans stands in shocked silence, until finally reacting to the earlier sentence.
"Not in Jeopardy? Half the town is wiped out! How does the power of Levitt keep the trogs away?"

[ravenn4544]

"Hah! wishful thinking - THAT's whats keep 'em safe! Pelor be praised I don't get some of these folks that wander around with their head up their deities 'holy land' - if you get what I'm sayin'..... No offense, intended o' course, ma'am, but I tend to trust in the strength of my hand and stoutness of me mace - and a swig of good wine!" O'rek mentions to no one in particular but everyone in general. He does seemingly pay respectful homage to the statue by touching the symbol on his necklace and murmuring what could only be a positive and respectful word.

[Computer +1]

Strom listens to the exchange with a scowl on his face. Blindly looking to the heavens as innocents die is no way to serve. He bites his lip to avoid saying something he would regret later.

[dmw71]

"Many believers did seek -- and were granted -- sanctuary here during the most recent attacks. Forgive me if my indifference towards the non-believers is unpleasant to your ears. What took place was tragic, no doubt. Unfortunately, my reach and influence only extends so far," she says calmly. "As non-members, you are welcome to take in the beauty of this room, but are allowed no further."

After a brief pause, the priestess continues, now in a much more polite tone. "Keeping this house in order requires my near full attention. I'm sure you understand. So, if there are no further questions, I really must be on my way."

The priestess will pause briefly, but will exit the room in the same direction from which she entered if no one has anything additional to ask or offer.

[Alethan]

"What is our purpose? I suppose you could consider us the benefactors of the non-believers..." Gwillt half mumbles, mostly to himself than to anyone else.

He stares incredulously as the woman walks away from the conversation.

"Just one more question, before you leave, if you don't mind... where have all of the believers gone to now?"

OOC: dmw71, what part of the town did you say received the most damage? Also, what kind of general knowledge does Gwillt (or anyone else, for that matter) have about Levitt?