In the span of only four hours, the party works together and finally identifies what is going on; with Aspex leading the research, an oily compound in the soil is isolated and some simple experiments show that it is a mild herbicide. Oddly, it's toxicity is mild, which means that a constant application is being applied to cause any effect, which may also explain while it has taken a slow amount of time to notice anything. One other peculiarity is that the the substance has an odor like that of dried grass.
You remember seeing some jars of chrism oil in the temple and the scent of hay lingered around those jars.
The party arrives at the temple and find the high priestess once again alone inside. She greets the party with a bow before having her arms outstretched towards the roof. [b]"You have returned; what did you find?"{/b], she asks inquisitively.
Priestess Zuri looks at the party, her patience holding steady, but for how much longer?
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Concerned he might say the wrong thing given the subject, Wyeth decides to let someone else carry the conversation. But he looks around to spot the vessels of crism oil Gob mentioned.
He coughs into his fist uneasily. "We might have some preliminary information for you. Would it be alright if I took a closer look at those jars?" he asks, pointing.
"You mean our oils for Robori?", she asks, not stopping the Rahadoumi man from looking. As Wyeth approaches, the scent of hay catches his nostrils as he looks at the orange-colored fluid.
While brighter and more aromatic, this seems to match the oily substance extracted from the soil sampling.
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"There seems to be something tainting Robori's soil... Not sure if it's something natural, but it doesn't seem so... Is it possible someone is treating the soil with something harmful to Robori, perhaps not meaning to do so, but accidentally or in error? We're not saying it's intentional, just that it seems it has happened."
"Would you like to see the sample we collected to confirm our findings?"
Zuri raises a worried eyebrow. "We use these oils to bath and nurture Robori. It is a ritual we do once a week, on Oathday."
Ask Hakime asks, priestess Zuri nods. "What did you find?"
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"Have you noticed anything different about the oils lately. Maybe a different smell or color? I am asking because it appears these oils contain some sort of defoliant."
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"What? No... it is the same oil we've been using for months now. I started it as it made Robori look polished and sheened. Is it reversible?"
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Benson watches the exchange of information and breaths a little easier. If they view us as friends who have helped prevent harm to their precious trees, it may accord the group more freedom to investigate the disappearance of Amenira. Now he wonders if the orange wraps on the children might contain this same substance. He waits for an opportunity to mention it, once Gob and the others who figured out the nature of the substance finish their briefing of the cleric.
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Gob pinches the bridge of his nose as he tries to avoid lecturing the poor priestess. "I understand that you didn't mean any harm, but in making your sacred tree pretty and shiny you have put it's health at serious risk and are in fact poisoning it." Gob takes a deep breath to collect his thoughts.
He offers some helpful tips to speed up Robori's recovery.
Gob suggests stop using the oil outright and instead bathing the tree in water to try and dilute the dried oil running down the bark.
"Thank you... thank you. You have done this town a great service. I shall spread the word that you, although outsiders of Mercy, are truly blessed children of Robori."
With that, the priestess hands the party all three remaining vials of the oil. "Perhaps you could find some use for this."
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"Besides helping out where we can, we have also come here to search for a missing person. Anything you can tell us will be helpful, be it info on Amari or anything else strange happening around town. I know you didn't like us mentioning the children, but if there is anything we could do to help with that."
Zuri shakes her head. "I've said all I know about Amenira. If she is missing, though, that will be a loss for the town. I do know the children loved the toys she made; at least half the village youth has one."
At Marduk's words, she nods. "Yes, we do what we can to protect them from the harsh world out there, but Robori watches over us and ensures that they are safe."
While you don't think she's lying, you sense a bit of hollowness in her last statement to Marduk.
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Wyeth eyes the jars of oil. "Just... out of curiosity, you said you started the oiling, but where did you get the idea? And what was the source of this oil, did someone supply it or teach you how to make it?"
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Zuri pauses for a moment, as if she was contemplating the ramifications of allowing the party in. With a solemn, yet affirming nod, she acquiesces to Benson's request. "While it took Amenira over a month before the others were accepting of her presence, as blessed children of Robori, I believe the townsfolk would be accommodating. I will speak with Sheriff Molune as he may be required to escort you to our services."
To Wyeth, she answers, "It was of my own accords; I wanted a new way to venerate our blessed protector, Robori. It is a mixture of water, dried grass, and crushed and milled apricot seeds, and some other scented oils to provide the essence of earth."
Apricot seeds contain a poisonous compound that, if mixed with the right compounds, could produce concentrated herbicides.
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Once out of earshot of any of the villagers, Benson will say, "I'll go to the service, since I asked about it. Do we all want to go? While we seem to be in most everyone's good graces, we can delay any attempts at snooping around during curfew. But eventually, I think we'll need to be more aggressive in seeking information than politely asking people questions. But after seeing the service, perhaps we'll have a better idea of what is happening."
"If we have no other leads by tomorrow, perhaps we should get our weapons and do a walk around outside the town to see if we find anything."
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Wyeth nods as Zuri answers him. At least it seems it was accidental, rather than a plot. "Alright, well thank you for your time and consideration. May you be smiled upon today."
"I'm sure there are other things to be done besides attending service. I can cover some of that," Wyeth replies to Benson as diplomatically as he's able.
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The party quickly regroups back at the guesthouse, Gob preparing for the enter image while Benson prepares for service.
The sheriff knocks on the door, opening it after the courtesy sound of his presence. "Mr. Benson, come with me for service. Gotta escort you since it'll be curfew by the time the ceremony has ended. The rest of you stick tight."
You follow Sheriff Molune who nonchalantly strides towards the temple entrance. "Alright, just be respectful; though you saved Robori, it'd still be unpleasant to hear about any bad news from you. It's a big deal letting you in after all; Amenira is the only other that I can recall during my tenure as Sheriff. I gotta stick to rounds, but I'll be back by the time things end.", Molune lighting a lantern as he wanders away, leaving you to enter.
Inside, you see many of the men of town, sitting on the wooden benches for pews. "Everyone, a blessed child of Robori has come!", priestess Zuri announcing your presence to the congregation. "Find an empty spot and we will begin shortly."
[spoiler=Everyone else]
The sun is beginning to set, and it's only about 20 minutes until dusk, and curfew will start. You hear the sounds of footsteps outside and see a few stragglers making their way to the temple.
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