Cherias will go to bed as well.
Melianthe reluctantly turns in as well, soaking in the night as best as she is able. "Diurnals..." she grumbles, patting her scorpion.
You return to the Three Rings and retire for the night, exhausted from the day's extensive foot travel. In the morning, you find the common room largely empty of the tavern's usual morning business. Only a handful of residing patrons like yourself are there.
A young acolyte, barely more than a teenager, wearing the colors and sigil of Abadar, is waiting at the bar with a mug of water. As soon as Segang emerges from his room, his eyebrows raise. He stands and walks directly over.
"Excuse me and good morning. I was sent here on behalf of Brother Dhatri. He asks for your help. He is anchored at the Grand Vault, but will see that you are granted entrance if you come."
Of course we will come.
(+2 if the effect is [evil] in any way)
Cherias rises, still tired from a restless sleep, and stumbles down to the common room wearing only a wrap around his hips. When he sees the acolyte, he asks, "What's the... *yawn* rush? What's going on?"
Absinthe's eyebrows draw down when she hears the acolyte's request. "Not in here," she tells Cherias and the boy in a low tone. "Outside, where we are less likely to be overheard."
"Clandestine business with a priest ... what has this city come to?" Seren quips at Absinthe as he grabs something hot and herbal to wake himself up with.
"Shoanti mixing with Abadarians...that's the real conundrum, Seren."
Cherias tightens the knot of his wrap as they step outside to speak privately.
Melianthe slips out as well, bracing her eyes.
Even outside, the acolyte has a little to add. "Brother Dhatri only mentioned that you met yesterday, and requests your aid. He did not mention a need for hurry, but... well, you will see when you reach the Grand Vault." He gives a wan look.
"Give me... just a few minutes."
Cherias returns to his room and throws on his armor.
[dice=Fort Save]1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1
"Shoanti mixing with Abadarians...that's the real conundrum, Seren."
Segang smiles at this jibe but adds in a serious tone The man seemed genuinely interested in helping that girl.
Segang smiles at this jibe but adds in a serious tone The man seemed genuinely interested in helping that girl.[dice=Fort Save]1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1
"Shoanti mixing with Abadarians...that's the real conundrum, Seren."
"Perhaps this is the part where he asks to see our coin purses," Seren gazes at his drink mournfully. "Let's get going ... burning daylight as they say."
"You have no idea how much I hate that phrase, Seren," says Melianthe with a chuckle and a slight sneeze at the sunlight. She fiddles with the doctor's mask at her belt, but leaves it off for now.
From the Three Rings Tavern, it is a short walk of a couple blocks north to reach the Grand Vault of Abadar . Towering over the surrounding buildings, the Abadarian temple offers a vision of divine luxuriance amid a sea of mortal troubles. Radiant, as its gray-veined white marble reflects the morning sun, there's little question that this place is the house of a god.
Yet, for a deity of law, the steep stairs and ramps leading up to the temple's great bronze doors offer a strangely discordant scene. Dozens of citizens -- mostly of the working class, although a the silks of a few merchants show through the crowd -- throng the entry, scarcely being held back by a group of gold-armored Abadarian clerics. All seem intent on gaining entry to the temple, but the clerics turn away nearly all comers.
The clerics' reasoning becomes clear as one desperate believer is turned away, his pitiful countenance mottled with violent red sores. This draws noises of dismay and resentment from the crowd. A quick look around shows that many share similar symptoms.
"I feared this might happen," Cherias says, his voice muffled from under the silk cloth covering his face except for his eyes.
"I don't want to rush to conclusions. Do you recall sores on the girl we visited? On the beggar, yes, but these illnesses may not be related."
"In any case..." Melianthe moves through the crowd and approaches the clerics. "Brother Dhatri sent for us. Could you show us to him?"
Seren looks about aghast, "Looks like there really is a problem here, and I thought you all were blowing this out of proportion. Damn it, I always get sick!."
Seren fumbles around for something he can wrap his nose and mouth in.
Segang helps the group move through the crowd and stands ready to repel any overly aggressive potential patients.
As you make your way through the crowd, a man shouts and cuts through the crowd to intercept you. He is of your age, wearing rough laborer's clothes and has his right arm in a sling. His five-day growth of beard does not hide the pocks that cover his face.
Nearing, he calls to Cherias. In between coughs, he pleads, "You there! It's Jan, from Old Korvosa. I remember you... you, you helped me heal when I busted my foot last year. Can you... can you help me now? Please?"
Segang steps aside to clear a path, but is ready to help Cherias if there is a problem. He is unsure is Cherias know this man or not, and is also unsure if he can help him.
"Jan... yes I recall. This is worrisome, when did these marks start appearing? How quickly?" Cherias's voice is muffled but clear from under his silk scarf. "I'd suggest everyone get a scarf like this and put it over their faces, just to keep any foul influences from spreading... Let me see what I can do. I only have so much power to draw on. Segang, Seren, Melianthe, Absinthe -- try to block the view of the crowd as much as possible, eh?"
"I hope that helps you, Jan. Get a good night's sleep and a good meal, rest and food will help you fight off whatever this is. I can't spare another, I suspect I'll be called on by many others."
"Cheri...they may mob us..." Melianthe whispers, her eyes darting fearfully. She is not comfortable being noticed by so many humans.
Segang, already head and shoulders above many of the crowd flairs his cloak and demands people give them room, going so far as to heft his earth breaker over his head and look menacing.
"Fret not," Absinthe says to Melianthe. Casually, she draws the big sword she has been carrying on her back, and takes up a guard position between Cherias, Jan and the rest of the crowd. She has a disturbing little smile on her lips as she casts a dark-eyed gaze on anyone who threatens to come too close.
"Not what I wanted," growls Melianthe, but joins her in making a wall of fearsome female flesh against the curative scene behind her. Her eyes glow a furious red.
"Mob .. what? Huh, what's going on?" Seren stands around looking befuddled as he tries to figure out what his strange group of companions is doing.
The menacing displays from Segang, Absinthe and Melianthe certainly have an effect, causing those near to back away cautiously. They have the side effect of drawing attention from most everyone else to your spot. Despite the best efforts, a few still catch sight of Cherias's healing Jan.
"What was that? Are you a healer? Please, I need your help! No, he's fine... but my son!" Within moments, dozens of pleading voices rise up in a growing din. Several of the desperate riff-raff shove forward to get to Cherias, causing the crowd to press in and eliciting more shoving. The tone of the crowd steadily takes a turn for the worse.
The temple guards watch with concerned faces but are in no position to help out.
"Let's leave the deception to the illusionist next time," Seren whispers with a nervous laugh as he glances around.
Segang will not let any pass through his square or threatened area...
Segang will not let any pass through his square or threatened area...
Of course not. He will bull rush people back if need be, or trip or even open hand slap; nothing lethal. All the while he will call out Hey, do not push me! and the like.
"Then do something, Seren! And remind me to talk to my patron about this supposed deception focus he or she or it has..." the dusk elf mutters.
Seren casts a minor image of a priest somewhere nearby, but away from the temple. Preferrably on a balcony of sorts. The priest waves to the crowd, beckoning them.
"Mel, if you have ventriloquism ready, this may be a good time for that priest up there to shout free healing, otherwise I'll just point and yell."
Cherias says a brief prayer of Guidance, but then sees that Seren has cast an illusion spell, and waits to see what will happen with it.
Melianthe hides behind Segang as best as she can and casts Ventriloquism. She calls to the crowd with cries of 'gather here, my children, for the succor you seek.'
"Everyone join hands and keep them locked fast," Absinthe orders. As soon as everyone has done as she ordered -- darkness falls over the group. "Out of our way!" the tiefling's voice thunders from the sphere of darkness as it starts to move towards the temple.
Seren groans, whispering sharply to Absinthe as he tried to continue to concentrate on his illusion, "Deception, not attention!"
Seren will not join hands as he needs to concentrate on his spell.