Imedren also headed into the Temple of the Gilded Purse. He'd chosen to walk in dressed vaguely as a priest himself, but paying no special homage to any god in particular. He pays the silver as an entry fee.
"Revel would teach that merriment and pleasure are to be had much more freely, once one's own inhibitions are lowered through drink."
He then proceeded to sit at the bar and order a drink, taking in the scenery around him for a time.
Thinking quickly, Joy draws upon her strange magical connection - and shrinks!
In moments, only a tiny mouse remains, which scurries for a dark corner.
Joy finds a hiding spot just in time, as the door opens to admit Ambrose Quick! He is followed by a swarthy, tattooed man. They overlook the mouse as they sit at the desk. "Cigar, friend? Let's discuss future business prospects out of Sixton," Quick says.
The door is cracked open enough that Joy could slip out...
Joy is about to bolt, but then thinks better of it.
They might say something important! And I can escape if I need to, surely!
While listening in darkness, Joy turns her head around, seeking mouse holes or other gaps to flee through besides the door.
Joy spots a hole in the wall she could escape through if necessary.
She listens to the conversation happening above her. It soon becomes clear that Quick is discussing coordinating criminal operations with a large guild operating out of Sixton, the nominal capital of the Northern Reach. If Quick's boasts are to be believed, he may actually be one of the most powerful crime bosses in Crossings!
Having heard enough for her liking, Joy slowly, slowly withdraws through the hole in the wall.
Joy's paws skitter softly on the floor as she slips away. She makes her way out into the upstairs corridor unnoticed.
Joy sneaks into a quiet corner of the building and resumes her favoured form - that of the girl Joy Summers, though still disguised as a halfling.
It would look suspicious if the halfling wasn't seen to exit!
She finds the others, and they eventually make their excuses and leave.
************
"I have a packet here from Quick's office, and I overheard him boasting and plotting about Sixton. He sounds like a true crime lord! We have to stop him!"
She continues, slowing down and describing what she overheard.
Selgaer is pretty sure he saw Dramm hurriedly stuffing some quickly scribbled notes into his pockets, but the sorcerer doesn't protest at leaving. In fact, he seems somewhat relieved to be out of the watchful eyes of the dangerous looking bouncers. Or perhaps he had seen some things he hadn't even heard of before tonight. He meets up with Joy and the others in an alley not far away.
"Impressive work, Joy. Gives us options. Sixton is a lead we can pursue, and it may be concrete enough to have him taken into custody." Dramm grimaces at the prospect of Quick being taken alive with annoyance, but continues. "What's in the packet, Joy?"
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Inside the packet is the blackmail material Quick has on both Rena and Paulus. For Rena, this involves times, dates, and locations of when she and Ezekia were together, as well as names of witnesses who might be able to corroborate these sightings. For Paulus, this includes a complete record of all of his visits to the brothel. These paint a picture of a man who is addicted to sex. Apparently, Paulus's favorite kink involves having a woman dress up like Astrid and forgive him of his sins while they are going at it.
A large lynx lands in the middle of the group in the ally. Tabog stands, arriving just in time to hear about the contents of the packet.
"Well, that went a lot smoother than I thought it was going to. We should meet back at the manor and talk about what our next move is going be."
Y'all got a manor, huh? Sounds fun! Let's look through all this and see what we can discover.
Joy is cheerful.
I did it myself! With barely any help!
"Yes, let's go back there!"
You head back to the manor to confer and plan your next moves!
Joy is perplexed.
"But...why would he have her dress up? If he wants to ask Astrid's forgiveness, surely he just could?"
She shakes her head.
"Anyway, we need to work out what we're going to do. Quick is going to realise these papers are gone. He might think Paulus did it! Do we have enough here to convince the rest of the council to remove Quick, or at least let us remove him? He's a blight on Crossings."
Imedren crossed the room to look down at the documents again. "And apparently he's setting his sights to reach beyond Crossings into other cities. Much like Rena is trying to maintain supplies going to the North, Ambrose is simultaneously strangling those supplies while setting up the infrastructure to knock the Border cities down.
We have until Father Paulus decides he needs another confession before Ambrose likely finds out. TaBog, do you think you can continue tailing Father Paulus a little longer to make sure he doesn't make it to his meeting if it's too soon? Selgaer, do you think you could help him if things get out of hand?" he paused a moment, thinking.
"That said, you've given us all the information we need to remove him, Joy. You've become quite the sleuth. His own meticulousness will be his downfall.
Uruuna, the names of the people on this list, we'll need you to organize a raid to try and take as many of them into custody as we need from the Temple of the Guilded Purse."
He began tapping his arms now, his mind whirring.
"Dramm, it was mentioned before that Ezekia could be a potential target for backlash. I want you and her removed from your normal haunts. Stay with her, keep her safe.
Joy, you're a hero of the city after capturing that witch. You shouldn't be anywhere near this when it all happens. Stay with Dramm and Ezekia, just in case."
He sighed after a moment, his face twisted as if he'd tasted something bad.
"As for why Father Paulus has his desires set out this way, it's self delusion. He's convinced himself that as long as he can confess to "Astrid" directly and be forgiven, he can continue being the mouthpiece of the One God claiming it was a divine experience. Why would you pray to a silent God when you can have something much more pleasurable you can sink your teeth into?" There is just a faint hint of bitterness to his words.
"My studies with the Cult of the New God have led me to know the Four Truths well enough. Paulus being addicted to sex isn't actually one of the forbidden tenets of the Faith, though some extremists would disagree, but what he says while he's being forgiven certainly are... and he knows it. The meetings with Astrid give him a measure of dissolution while leading the faithful, I suspect he himself gives such words during his sermons. I agree that we need to remove this man from his position as well."
"There may be riots if this goes wrong, depending on how much reach Father Paulus has on his flock. I'll try to keep this in check with minimal fighting between the town guard as I can, with big flashy spells if I have to.
We'll need someone else with far more clout in the religious circles of the Cult than I have to calm the citizens. I just don't know who."
Joy nods, a little reluctantly, seeing wisdom in the plan.
"Okay Imedren. Dramm, Ezekia, where will you be?"
Sel listens silently as everyone plans.
Eyeing Selgaer a supercilious glare, Tabog clears his throat.
"Of course I do! We've nominated it as our base of operations when dealing with matters of the council. You're presence is seen as necessary so your permitted entrance for tonight."
Extra posh to match the half-elf's clothes, Tabog was being amusingly camp. Still, the words seemed like they could easily be sincere.
He suddenly turned, knelt next to Joy and gave her a hug.
"I don't think there is anyone else in this city, or the next, that could have pulled that off like you did. Hah! And Nutmeg will be absolutely floored when you tell him!"
Tabog sits lightly playing the upright piano that was now present in the main hall as Imedren discussed his plan. The relaxing melody was interrupted by sour dissonance when the prospect of the minstrel and the faun working together is voiced.
"Really Imedren, that doesn't seem very fair..."
He stands and turns to address the group.
"You're just making me work harder having the dashing Hooves Clippity-gold prancing around while I'm doing my thing. I'm sure he's a fine hunter of forest critters but the city is a different game. I'll be fine alone, and Uruuna and I can confab, and operate around each other. You haven't clued us in on your roll in this yet either, do tell."
If the cat man wants to go off on his own, I'm fine with that. He'd just slow me down, anyways.
Joy blushes at Tabog's praise. Then she replies:
"I'd be happier to tell him the story when it finishes with '...and Quick never got to hurt anyone ever again.;"
Imedren nods. "Right, bad decision. Like I was saying, I was going to be there in case riots broke out to try and quell them but if it's going to be such an issue, then I'll be waiting near the entrance you described, TaBog.
Selgaer, you just go wherever you feel like you'll be helpful. Protect Rena then."
Dramm flips through the notes while Imedren doles out assignments. He almost protests when Imedren suggests making himself scarce. The fellow sorcerer catches Dramm's eyes dart sharply to Joy.
"Yeah. Okay. I'm not sure if she'll be willing to back down, but I can talk to Ezekia." He must have thought better of the objection. "You'll be without us in a fight. Don't do anything..."
He pauses thoughtfully. "Just don't do anything I wouldn't."
With that he looks back down at the papers in his hands.
"Strangling supplies... a lot of chaos there. I don't think we can jump to that level of conclusion yet, Imedren. So far we only know he operates from Sixton, and that he plans to expand." Dramm reads the ledger with searching eyes. "What motivated this? It would be a bloody affair, and it risks his position. Gang war, most likely. Greed? Can't just be greed. He'd have done this years ago. We should look into Quick's history. Where has his money been going recently? We need a more complete ledger."
Dramm snaps the book closed.
"Perhaps you can find another function, Selgaer. You seem like you know how to mingle with... higher status." Dramm's choice of words seem like an awkward attempt at a compliment. It might even have worked if he wasn't so clearly distasteful of nobility. Instead, Selgaer gets the distinct impression he had been about to say something else.
"Do you think you can find a way to get us more information about Quick's criminal businesses? Ledgers, documents, anything at all. His enterprise is too big to function without a paper trail. He's got records somewhere detailing his market. Docks seem like a good start. Maybe you can talk to Gears. He had dealings with the Rude Boys, and if Quick is as big as he says then they were operating with his permission."
Oh, I'm fine going with Mr. Bog here; I was just poking fun at him. However, if you need me to be the liaison to the council, I certainly can be.
I'm also a skilled hunter and tracker, and can follow just about anyone through any environment. While I admit my skills at keeping hidden are not as grand as our friend here, I can move quickly and pursue prey.
Tabog and Selgaer trail Father Paulus for the next few days, and to his credit, the priest refrains from visiting the Temple of the Gilded Purse. But from the way he scratches at his arms and he sweats during his sermons, it's clear that the addict in him can't go much longer without his next fix.
Ezekia rankles at being kept on the sidelines, but she understands the need for caution. She accompanies Dramm and Joy to the witch's island in the Dark Water to camp out until things blow over.
Uruuna surreptitiously works with Jon Crawley to draw up a warrant and organize a raid on Ambrose Quick's brothel. Soon enough, all the pieces are in place. They just await word from Imedren to execute the last part of the plan.
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Imedren sat in his study, shuffling a deck of tarot cards in his hand, as he did, he rolled his dice to choose his cards to choose which ones to lay out in front of him. He'd spent the last few days studying his notes, practicing general readings. Now he was ready.
Major Arcana: 7, 31, 9, 43. Minor Arcana: 28, 20, 60, 45.
His numbers ready, he began casting the Augury. His eyes began to glow with a dark blue.
"Major Arcana: representing outside forces of circumstance and things beyond my control.
Devil; addiction, materialism, playfulness.
3 of Wands; inverted; obstacles, delays, frustration.
Death; end of cycle, beginnings, change, metamorphosis.
8 of cups inverted; avoidance, fear of change, fear of loss.
So, this represents the Temple of the Guilded Purse. There may be unseen obstacles. If this works, a new era will begin. Of course there will be those who show resistance to this change, but honestly when isn't there?" he waved a hand dismissively. They would deal with that when they needed to.
Perhaps that will be me.
"Minor Arcana: also referring to the things I can control.
8 of Wands; rapid action, movement, quick decisions.
High Priestess; intuitive, unconscious, inner voice.
5 of Swords; unbridled ambition, win at all costs, sneakiness.
6 of cups; familiarity, happy memories, healing.
Planning certainly has its benefits, everyone should be able to react and end this quickly. Despite the surprises, they're skilled enough to improvise or may avoid the unforeseen dangers. Taking down Quick who is one of the most dangerous people in Crossing certainly is ambitious and we'll use every advantage we have." Imedren gave a grin to himself as he foresaw the events. Then he cocked his head to the side at the last card. "Someone familiar? A friend... being healed." his eyes flashed as the spell came to fruition.
"Is now the time to act?"
The answer is clear in the cards. Yes.
He stood up from from the table, crossing the room to go find Uruuna.
"Uruuna, today's the day. I can't predict everything that will happen, the signs are strong that the plan will work. Not everyone is going to be happy, even among the common folk, after we do this. But things are going to change. We're going to make this city better."
Uruuna nods, then checks the straps on her armor. "I hope we're doing the right thing. I know we are removing a bad man from power, but the council is going to be destabilized for a while regardless of the outcome. The city will have to rely on us more than ever to deal with threats."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there and when the smoke clears we'll be here. and we'll do what we can for the city... I suppose I could perform another augury when this is over. I should have you in the room next time I do that so you can help me ask the really important questions." he chuckles softly. Then after a moment he kneels down to hug her.
"I love you Uruuna." he was silent for a time, just taking in the comfort of being with her. Finally he let out a small sigh. "We should probably get the others."
Uruuna puts her hands on Imedren's cheeks and kisses him. "I love you, too. Always."
***
Soon thereafter, everybody involved in this phase of the plan is gathered in an alley near the Temple of the Gilded Purse. A squad of Brown Cloaks lead by Lieutenant Alyse stand ready to move on Uruuna's command.
Joy tries to find something to study or do or tend to on the island.
She speaks her mind to Ezekia and Dramm:
"But it's busy work. And others are putting themselves in danger! I trust Imedren, but the waiting is tough."
"I know, sister," Ezekia says, sitting cross-legged across from Joy. She passes the girl a folio. "Maybe you'd like to help me. With Peggy Frogwart's betrayal and subsequent defeat, we will need to find a new third member for our coven. Our magic will diminish in power if we do not find a replacement. I've compiled a list of likely candidates among the citizens of Crossings and the surrounding towns. Let's try to find the best choice."
"Working" with TaBog wasn't the most enjoyable experience Selgaer ever had, but the n the whole it wasn't that bad either. The guy always seemed to find some way to criticize him, and could never pay a compliment. It likely didn't help that Sel refused to return the favor, aiming to be as polite as he could he in the face of opposition.
When TaBog wasn't talking (which didn't seem to be often) he was running off and disappearing. Sel tried to follow him a few times, but the tells and signs of a human passing quickly faded each time, and Sel didn't care enough to solve that particular mystery. Especially when they were supposed to be tracking the priest.
When it came time to assault Quick's place of business, Sel was ready. He came well dressed with matching leather armor and leather boots. A pendant worn around his neck complimented the obsidian tipped spear he held in his hand. He held the spear at rest, with the butt end on the ground and the spear up in the air.
Agitated despite agreeing to the plan, Dramm peers noisily over Ezekia's shoulder. She had been consistently attempting to break the rude habit, but Dramm was nothing if not stubborn. He starts back a little when Ezekia swats at his nose.
"Urdra? She has potential for the Arts? That's surprising."
He settles to the ground next to Ezekia and watches Joy peruse the notes. "I still don't understand how you both find candidates. Birth moons and signs. No clear patterns."
Dramm looked exhausted. The nightmares had been keeping him awake. Planning the assault had been a good distraction, but waiting grated on his nerves. Ezekia could feel his restlessness mirroring her own. She saw a glimmer of something else as well. There was a driving force pushing Dramm into motion, a feeling eerily close to the obsessive fury that drove Dramm in his research. Unlike that fury, this force was a calm and methodical anger toward Quick. His threat to Ezekia had to be eliminated. Dramm was hungry to unleash the fruits of his research on such a justifiable target.
Though Ezekia knew he would not admit it, Dramm's protectiveness of Joy was the only reason he accepted a role where he was not personally present to see Quick handled. No matter how many feats Joy proved herself capable of, Dramm could not entirely shake the notion that she was a child.
With a nod from Imedren, the raid begins. The Brown Cloaks kick in the door to the Temple of the Gilded Purse, moving swiftly into the brothel. Ignoring the screams of surprise and confusion, they seek out their targets and take them into custody efficiently. Uruuna leads a squad upstairs to Ambrose Quick's office, but by the time she gets there, the record room is ablaze and a bizarre monster has been conjured to attack the intruders! Fortunately, the beast proves no match for the doughty halfling, who valiantly battles it for several moments before dispatching it with a swift stroke to the neck.
Outside the brothel, Selgaer and Tabog watch from hiding as Quick emerges from the secret door, clutching a bundle of documents. The councilman looks around the alley, eyes widening as he spots Selgaer. But Tabog escapes his notice, and before Quick is able to either attack or flee, the assassin slips in behind him and clocks him over the head. Quick drops like a ton of bricks.
The documents he was holding contain clear evidence of his criminal activities--more than enough to put him away for good!
Meanwhile, a crowd has gathered outside the Temple, shouting in protest at the Brown Cloaks heavy-handed tactics. Imedren addresses the people, explaining just what is going on and encouraging them to trust the law enforcement officials. His words seem to quell their suspicions, preventing a riot from breaking out.
Joy nods.
"That we do. Urdra seems like she'd do well..."
Things went smoother after Sel and TaBog found common ground. At the very least, they weren't actively at each other's throats anymore. But they still managed to compete fairly heavily.
Despite the two finally working together, their tailing of Paulus was a disappointment; the man managed to not imbibe in his vices. The jerk.
Still, it proved useful when the night came. Selgaer was ready to beat up a politician, and he knew just where to find one - out the back escape route of the brothel. When Imedren gave the command, sure enough Quick came running out.
Boo! Sel mocked when Quick spotted him. Knowing TaBog was coming up behind the man, Sel's eyes didn't flicker at all. He was a professional - and he cackled on at Quick's fright like they were the only two in the alley. The cat man sneaking up was like child's play, and Quick was out cold before he knew what was going on.
A few days after the raid on the Temple of the Gilded Purse, a curious visitor arrives at your manor house. A petite woman with a clean-shaven head, her olive skin and brown eyes mark her as a native of the Holy Kingdom of Tarra. The distinctive red cloak she wears, along with a red tattoo of an open hand on her cheek, identify her as a member of the Houses of Healing, one of the most renowned organizations in the Empire to the south.
She bows before you. "Blessings of the New God be upon you. I am Lucretia. I understand you have summoned me here at no small cost to perform a miracle. I will endeavor to put my skills to good use. Where is the man in need of healing?"
While you send to the asylum for Father Gregory, Lucretia goes to work creating a makeshift field hospital in your entry hall. She lights a fire in the fireplace, boils water, and meticulously lays out the pieces of her healer's kit along a table after disinfecting each one.
Soon enough, the mutilated priest arrives, carefully escorted by a pair of orderlies. Lucretia shakes her head sadly when she sees his sorry state. "I see. I understand why you called me here. Come, lay him down over there, gently. Whoever stitched him up did a poor job. Let's start by repairing those."
Gregory whimpers and thrashes as the orderlies hold him down on the bed. Lucretia injects a syringe into his neck, and after a few moments, he settles down, drifting into a half-conscious state. The healer goes to work, using her tools to cut, snip, and sew. Soon, the stumps of Gregory's amputated arm and leg are much cleaner and smooth. Lucretia opens a case full of wooden prostheses, selecting some of the proper size and affixing them to Gregory's stumps. She places a patch over his empty eye socket. "I cannot regenerate his missing limbs, but I can restore his mobility somewhat. Now for the tricky part."
The Red Cloak kneels at Gregory's side and bows her head in prayer to the New God. Sweat begins to bead on her bare head as a golden glow slowly suffuses her body. She anoints Gregory's body with aromatic oils and tinctures while inscribing the ouroboros symbol of her deity on his chest. "O holy Astrid, your servant's sacred duties in this world remain incomplete. I beseech you, restore his mind, that he may continue to do great works in your name. I am your vessel. Work your will through my hands."
She places her hands on Gregory's forehead, then gasps as the golden light suddenly surges through her body, pouring through her hands and into the stricken priest. Gregory shines for a few moments before the light fades. As Lucretia falls back to her knees, thoroughly drained, Gregory's eye flutters open. He groans and sits up, looking around in confusion.
He seems relieved to see familiar faces nearby. "Imedren... Tabog... What happened? Where am I?"
Dramm follows the motions and preparations of the Red Cloak with keen interest and study. He takes notes silently, remaining just far enough away to avoid impeding her work at any given moment. He inspects her disinfectants (without touching them) and records them.
"My knowledge of medical materials is lacking. I've neglected this in my study in favor of immediate magical effect. An ignorance of the basics. Mastery requires I seek mundane understanding first." He jots down the thoughts in shorthand as he mumbles.
Lucretia brings her hands together in prayer and Dramm's eyes glow gently with magical sight. He writes and scribbles in a blur during the benediction. Gregory's first words is the only point at which Dramm finally stops writing.
"It worked. Truly incredible." He reaches out a hand to help Lucretia to her feet. "There is bread and fruit in the other room if you are hungry from the procedure. I have questions if you have time. For example, is the restoration process delivered to you completed or must you create the formula yourself with the power that is delivered to you?"
There is a giddiness to his excitement.
When Joy realises that healer is near, she will only concede to being moved so far away from her - and Father Gregory - if anyone tries to keep her away. She will hover as close as she can without interfering with the healer or her work.
Regardless, when she hears his voice, she will rush to the bedside.
"Father Gregory! You are returned to us!"
She lives up to her namesake at the sight of a good man brought back.
Gregory reaches down to give Joy a hug, made awkward by his new prosthetic limbs. "Glad to be back."
He quirks an eyebrow at Dramm. "I'm.... not certain I understand your question, son."
Lucretia nods wearily as Dramm helps her up. "Thank you. I believe you are approaching things with a far too analytical mind. There is no formula for working a miracle. It is driven by faith and the grace of the New God. Only those of purest heart and deepest conviction can channel such a holy gift, far beyond the mundane healer's arts we learn in the Houses of Healing. I am truly blessed that the New God smiles upon me so."
Dramm frowns at the "faith" talk but presses on.
"If the mind is broken, something must have fixed it. If it was lost, then it must have been returned. The Father was broken and is now whole. There must be a way..." He catches himself at Lucretia's tired stare. "Nevermind. We have a room for you if you wanted to stay and rest. I don't know when your order will call you home. If there is time, I'd like to speak more. I will show you the library later. If you need anything please ask." Dramm offers to see her to her room and leave the others a chance to have their reunion.
"I appreciate it. For now, I'll take that bread and fruit, if you'd please." She follows Dramm to the other room, where she sits and begins to eat to regain her strength.
Imedren came over to Gregory, he smiled and put a hand on the priests shoulder. "Gregory, welcome back! You're safe now, in Crossings. We've gotten you about as healed as we can expect by a member of the House of Healing.
You've been gone quite a long time, ever since we found you were taken by members of the Dark Brotherhood. We discovered you had become a victim of the creature from the Moore House and we've been trying to find a way and resources enough to revive you.
There's a lot to catch you up on, but for now just rest and take it slow for the next few days."
Gregory nods. "Yes, I think that is sound advice, my friend." He claps Imedren on the shoulder with his good hand.
Over the next few days, Gregory slowly begins to recover from his brush with insanity. The priest only remembers bits and pieces of the previous year or so. He remembers taking it upon himself to try to track down the people who were going missing in Grievings. He had caught a glimpse of somebody in the district with the symbol of the Brotherhood of Shadows and drew a sketch of it, but he didn't know what it meant. Unfortunately, he has little more to offer about the cult or its leader, Katandramus, than what you've already discovered.
Still, Gregory's kind nature is a welcome breath of fresh air in an increasingly dark time. Paulus resigns his position on the city council after some "gentle" encouragement behind the scenes, and Gregory agrees to fill his spot. With Ambrose Quick facing charges not limited to conspiracy, racketeering, and treason, his council spot remains vacant until a suitable replacement can be found. In the short-term, though, that means the council has become much more amenable to taking action to help the downtrodden of Crossings, something Mayor Edgerton has been championing for quite some time.
Commander Rena thanks you for your help ensuring that she can better serve both Crossings and the crusaders now that the threat of blackmail no longer looms over her head.
Lucretia lingers only a few days to ensure Gregory's recovery is going well, then she says her farewells and departs back to the Holy Kingdom. If the rumors swirling about town regarding the orc rebellion in the Empire are true, then the southern lands are going to need all of the accomplished healers they can muster...
***
A few weeks after the raid on the brothel, Ezekia summons you to her house. Another guest awaits you there as well--the priest Reinhold, whom you met previously while investigating the beastmen in the woods near Hamlet. The bearded man greets you warmly and offers the blessings of the Old Gods.
"It is good to see you all again, but I'm afraid this is more than just a social call," Reinhold says. "I've spent my life fighting corruption in the forests of this region. I haven't been alone in this fight. Many years ago, I came across a child of the forest, a changeling who goes by the name of Craven. I raised him and initiated him into the ways of the Old Faith, and he has helped me in my battles.
"We were supposed to meet up about a week ago, but Craven never showed up. That isn't like him at all. The last thing I heard was that he was spotted in a small village called Verge. It used to be a much larger settlement until a string of disasters struck some two decades past. Faerie attacks, beastmen, and plague ravaged the town, and now only a fraction of its former population still dwells there. I fear darkness has begun to gather there once more.
"I would like to request that you travel to Verge and find out what happened to Craven. And if something dreadful is happening in the Old Wood outside of town, put a stop to it before it gets any worse."
Yes. Far be it from me to speak for everyone here, but we can do this for you, Sel says
Ezekia voices her support for helping Reinhold, noting that the people of Verge might need heroes of your caliber. After purchasing what supplies you need, you set off to the north.
Rather than take the main roads all the way, Selgaer takes the lead, blazing his own trail through the hills and plains. Uruuna seems quite familiar with the ranger's wilderness skills, keeping pace with the faun and aiding in his endeavors. It's clear the two have worked together before. The rest of you follow in their wake, and you shave a couple of days off your travel time.
You pass by a cluster of huge standing stones abou mile south of the town, then finish your journey in the mid-morning hours. Once home to thousands, Verge presently holds only one hundred souls in its largely empty ruins. Nearly all those people live in the old center of town, behind ramshackle walls built from materials reclaimed from abandoned buildings. Beyond the inner community, a large stretch of burned-out and crumbling structures is home to wild animals and squatters.
Most intact buildings in Verge are built of wood on stone foundations, and have steep, peaked roofs. It seems many people here follow the Old Faith, decorating their homes with the symbols of their gods. A few buildings stand out--a general store called the Exchange, the Green Man Public House, and the Temple of Light, devoted to the New God. All are located near an ancient stone well.