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Rondar hauls what treasure he can,he keeps quiet and someone on his own on the way back to orlane

... Then finally the Temple of Orlane can be seen in the distance... a plume of smoke rises from somewhere within Orlane.

The party makes their way to the west part of Orlane where Ramne's home lies in a copse of ancient elm trees. As you enter the copse from the north you hear the wail of women and the familiar stench of troglodyte. First you see the still form of a smoking troglodyte in the middle of the clearing, and another with several arrows in its back at the edge of the clearing. pilgrims seem to have set a camp and are huddled to the south side of the clearing where you are entering. Timien stands at the front of the pilgrims with his bow ready to shoot. Ramne is leaning out his window watching you intently as you enter the clearing. It is friends, it is friends he says loudly to the pilgrims and Timien.

The pilgrims seem to calm and look relieved when they realize the party has returned!

"By the Light! Are you okay Timien? Is everyone alright, what happened??" Nuonne asks nervously.

OOC: I'm assuming, except for Rondar and our ranger, everyone is healed back up and healthy? If not this is something Nuonne will take care of on the way home.

Etruna maintains a mask of dispassion, all the while feeling inner turmoil at what she is seeing.

We stirred up the hornets' nest and here are the repercussions. There is always a price to pay -- sometimes good and sometimes evil.

Everyone is here and healed as much as they can be.

Timien rushes forward to embrace Nuonne but stops as he gets close. He looks at all of you with concern and then puts his hand over his nose Peeee yeeew... what in tarnation have yall been doing? You smell as bad as these troglodytes here!

Ramne calls down from his second story window where the bucket slightly sways back and forth It seems you have accomplished something my good friends, if the happenings this morning are any indication.

Voices in the distance can faintly be heard, perhaps by those fighting the fire in Orlane.

A couple of the pilgrims begin to drag the troglodyte bodies from the clearing on Ramne's order. Get that trash away from my home, will you please Ramne says to the pilgrims.

You learn Timien shot one of the troglodytes twice as it ran, after the first one was killed by Ramne's magic.

Most of the pilgrims stand around afraid with some coming to tears.

Erasaunt steps forward and says happily It is good to see you all well... she trails off as she looks at Kraden and Rondars condition, which shows dispite the concealing dried mud and smell.

The commoners found in the jail help Kraden to the camp of the pilgrims.

That is when Rondar notices the merchant is missing. He was just there a minute ago.

Laros whimpers and waddles to Etruna and begins to greet her happily with licks and a waging tail.

Several of the pilgrim women crowd around Ankhar to pleading for details of his heroic deeds.

Rondar says in a curt angry voice

The damned merchant is gone, he was here a second ago. I knew he was no good. Kraden can you find his tracks, which way did he go.

Ankhar smiles at the ladies "I will relate you all the details, damosels, as soon as we make sure these honest folk, weary from unfair imprisonment, are safe and rested back at their homes."

wolfpack wrote:Rondar says in a curt angry voice

The damned merchant is gone, he was here a second ago. I knew he was no good. Kraden can you find his tracks, which way did he go.

"Kraden must rest now friend Rondar, just like you should. We can search for the merchant after we check on the rest of the townsfolk, there might be more lizardmen lurking around..."

The merchant arrived in town with us, correct? If none of the pilgrims need assistence Ankhar will suggest that we head back to the temple at once, to verify the state of the affairs around there.

Whoever goes to the temple sees:

As you make your way along the dirt road to the temple, the houses closest to Ramne's are still in good condition and the doors seem to be locked. You can tell people are looking through the cracks of the shutters at your passing.

As you go up the hill to the temple, the gate and double doors that lead into the temple are open. An untended saddled horse eats grass at the base of the wall surrounding the temple.

Just beyond the gate you see the form of a temple guard face down, a goblin spear implated through his back, the butt of the spear skyward.

Through the doors of the temple in the main worship area you see the kneeling form of a naked woman, her back to you. She seems to be sobbing.

She turns at your approach and looks at you with grief filled eyes. It is the priestess of Idusus. Her discarded armor lies close by.

on the way to the temple rondar takes the opportunity to slip away from the group and into shadows and waits to see if they are being followed, by the merchant or any other.

Nuonne takes off his cloak and wraps it around the priestess. "Everything is coming to the Light. Everything will be alright, you'll see Priestess, you'll see." He tries to be comforting, but also is a bit perturbed about the merchant...

Ankhar tries to assess the area for any perils while he approaches the priestess "The snake-devil is dead, but evil still leaves its mark... Are there any other enemies nearby milady?"

wolfpack wrote:on the way to the temple rondar takes the opportunity to slip away from the group and into shadows and waits to see if they are being followed, by the merchant or any other.

No one is following you.

From the temple you can see that it might be the blacksmiths shop that is burning.

With Nuonne's cloak about priestess she falls to all fours and wails to the statue of the grain goddess "I have failed you Idusus! I have failed the people I was supposed to serve! So much wrong that cannot be undone!" She then looks to Nuonne and says more calmly "Do you understand? There is no fixing what I have done."
She starts at Ankhar's words and looks to him taking a few moments to think about what he asked. "There were goblins below the temple... they are gone now. But I think... Abramo is still below..." The wheels of her mind can be seen turning in her eyes.

Solinor wrote:She starts at Ankhar's words and looks to him taking a few moments to think about what he asked. "There were goblins below the temple... they are gone now. But I think... Abramo is still below..." The wheels of her mind can be seen turning in her eyes.

Ankhar nods while looking firmly into the priestess eyes "We will go after him, milady. Can you point us the way down? Meanwhile, I believe the villagers may need your assistance."

Solinor wrote:

wolfpack wrote:With Nuonne's cloak about priestess she falls to all fours and wails to the statue of the grain goddess "I have failed you Idusus! I have failed the people I was supposed to serve! So much wrong that cannot be undone!" She then looks to Nuonne and says more calmly "Do you understand? There is no fixing what I have done."
She starts at Ankhar's words and looks to him taking a few moments to think about what he asked. "There were goblins below the temple... they are gone now. But I think... Abramo is still below..." The wheels of her mind can be seen turning in her eyes.

"There is no fixing, but as another person in faith, as I, there is always making amends. Ankhar is right, make amends by rededicating yourself in service to this town and to Idusus." He'll stop a moment, then before following Ankhar, "If Abramo is 'below' is there anything we need to worry about... what state is he in and what support if not goblins, or resistance should we worry about... or is he just in need of our help." a sense of caution is mixing with Nuonne's sense of urgency.

Kraden wishes his companions luck and urges caution with their investigations back in town. As much as he wants to accompany them, the walk back from the swamp lair, even with assistance, almost did him in.

The wounded ranger will stay with Timien, Ramne, Erasaunt and the pilgrims. After cleaning up a bit and trying to eat something, he will debrief with them about everything that happened at the swampy lair. He'll also ask if anyone saw an armored fighter make his way into town sometime earlier (Kraden will describe him in as much detail as he can).

The priestess faintly nods her head at Ankhar and points to the east door of the sanctuary.

She then listens to Nuonne's words and lowers her head in what seems unredeemable shame. After some moments she raises her head in what looks like determination, undiminished by her tear streeked face. "Last I saw Abramo he was truly mad and had taken the daughter of the local storekeeper below. This may have been three days ago."

She stands and gathers Nuonne's cloak about her. "You will need my help, he is powerful and perhaps I can end this without bloodshed."

She begins to walk to the east door of the main worship area.

Argennian wrote:Kraden wishes his companions luck and urges caution with their investigations back in town. As much as he wants to accompany them, the walk back from the swamp lair, even with assistance, almost did him in.

The wounded ranger will stay with Timien, Ramne, Erasaunt and the pilgrims. After cleaning up a bit and trying to eat something, he will debrief with them about everything that happened at the swampy lair. He'll also ask if anyone saw an armored fighter make his way into town sometime earlier (Kraden will describe him in as much detail as he can).

The pilgrims listen intently to Kraden's story, except for those who are standing watch.

During the telling the door to Ramne's house opens and the hunched venerable man shuffles out with whiskers by his side. He joins Kraden and the pilgrims and insists Kraden continue his tale.

No one can recall seeing an armored fighter come into town during the night.

Rondar notices amongst the surcoat, mace, and chain armor of the priestess a glint of gold.

Solinor wrote: She stands and gathers Nuonne's cloak about her. "You will need my help, he is powerful and perhaps I can end this without bloodshed."

She begins to walk to the east door of the main worship area.

Nuonne nods at her and Ankhar and, readying his mace and holy symbol, hurries after her.

Rondar moves with the group being sure to be slightly behind the priestess, not trusting her and keeping a very close eye on her rady to pounce.