"A flesh eater or eaters must have taken refuge there." She points a sword at the cleft. "Is it worth exploring?"
At Menan's nod she treads lightly toward the cleft with a blade in each hand.
Depending on the result of that she will peek into the cleft with her darkvision.
Menan follows her at 25 feet, light crossbow loaded and in hand. He is trying to identify the particular craft of the stonework. He will inspect closer if Arawyn indicates all clear.
"It is nothing but more grave robbing. Perhaps the cleric in The House of Flames knows something more about this site."
They head back to town after placing the "Variel" stone in a respectful manner.
When they arrive at the temple, they dismount and command the apollos to stay beside the hitched horses. If the door is open they enter inquiring for the local cleric, if it is locked they knock and indicate they seek Merileth Híril -o Naur.
Aeawyn and Menan approach the House of Flame. The building is ancient. A temple built of massive blocks of almost white limestone, resting on top of a 10 foot pedestal of stairs. This way no one can approach the temple without being seen. It has one large portal for those who want to officially enter it.
The temple has no windows. Besides the portal, which ten feet into the temple is covered with a crimson curtain, and the chimneys on the roof, it has no openings. The interior is sparsely lit with castings of continual flame. Most of them held by scantily clad statues. On the white lime the reflection of this flickering lights looks like licking flames.
The main corridor has an impressive height of 15 feet which leads halfway into the temple to an altar. The sides of the main corridor are a concatenation of niches, recesses, alcoves some of which lead further into the temple.
As soon as they stride through the curtain, a woman in a plain white dress held together by a golden rope at the waist, that reveals more than it hides approaches them from the side.
"Welcome. How can the servants of the Unquenchable Fire be of service to you?"
"I am Menan Variel and this Arawyn Variel. We are travelers originally from Kyonin. We are in Abadon to visit the resting place of some of our ancestors from about 400 years ago. We located some ruins on the peak just outside of town. We were able to locate what looks like a headstone or perhaps an epitaph for a mausoleum of some sort that is of our family. We are here to inquire if you know anything of these ruins?"
"I'll see if I find someone to help you." the elven woman tells, nods as a courtesy and leaves, disappearing into one of the alcoves.
Looking around while waiting, you see two more elves standing guard at the sides of the entrance.
After a while the woman reappears from a different alcove on that side further into the temple and invites you "Please come over here. Someone will shortly be with you."
The alcove has benches upholstered with red velvet on each side, that are hidden from sight if looked from the main corridor. She offers Menan and Variel a to sit down. Then she leaves to take her place at the main portal again.
While you wonder where the woman came from, as the alcove has no visible entrance than the passage from the main corridor, the wall swings open between the benches. Another elf with a similar dress, but with the golden necklace earrings and tiara more lavish in the overall impression.
"Welcome. I was informed that you inquired about the ancient burial site?" She sits down on the opposite bench. It's a myth, how she manages to stay decent, sitting with that dress. But if it weren't for the purple eyes that that catch the eye of the beholder it would be hard to keep one's eyes from wandering.
"The dead are not who we usually occupy ourselves with and my knowledge about that place is limited. No church has claimed the place as theirs and there are no signs that it was consecrated to a deity of any kind. What community put the cemetery there is unknown and no one cared to investigate further."
"It was no elven burial site for sure. But it's nice to add to that knowledge that it was there already 400 years ago. What brings you here to visit your ancestors?"
"Menan and I are travelers originally from Kyonin. Our travels brought us in this direction. We know from tales and documentation that some of our ancestor's final place of rest is here. Yesterday we located a small headstone or possibly an epitaph for a mausoleum. It bears our family name but the brass plaque that holds a red gem within our coat of arms is missing. The entire site has been looted. We were hoping to find it in good condition. If the site was not in good condition we were going to retrieve the heirloom and find a good place for it to remain.
We seek any knowledge you have regarding the ruins or where the looted valuables may have ended up."
"Ah, so you're in need of the service of the She Savored Sting!" Merileth voices with some excitement. "If you are willing to make a donation to the temple, I will see if that information can be gathered. And let me assure you it is a scarce occurrence that revenge is twarted by secrets well kept."
As Menan reaches for a small pouch he says "Please forgive my ignorance on this particular topic, My Lady. What would be an appropriate donation for this particular service?"
"Twenty gold would suffice."
Menan smiles at the cleric as he counts out twenty five gold pieces. "Thank you."
Merileth is pleased with the amount, which she acknowledges with a smile. "Where do you lodge? I'll send a messenger once I have news."
"We have a campsite about an hour outside of town. Perhaps we should check back with you. What would be the best timing for that in your opinion?"
"That's not an option. No one who is coming here for the Sting can be seen coming here twice. There are several nice establishments in town. You should treat yourself to a room in one."
"Very well. What is your recommendation?"
"You could stay here. It makes you forget time and you'd get the most intimate service you can get in town."
"The Golden Knight right at the market place is where those that deem themselves high society. Very luxurious, courteous staff, wonderful food."
"The Pig's Whistle is for those who are on a budget, so not you, but the entertainment is endearing, as lots of the towns artists are regulars there."
"Downtown is a stable and they too rent out rooms, but I can't commend those."
"The Fat Goose and the Wild Boar are boring but have a good room and food quality in the middle price range."
"Thank you again, My Lady. We can be messengered at The Fat Goose. May you be Be consumed by love or vengeance and let slights go unanswered."
"You'll hear from me soon."
Merileth gets up and leaves through the secret door in the wall.
Menan and Arawyn leave the temple and seek out The Fat Goose. When they do, they enter and inquire about a room.
The Fat goose is a half timber house at the market place. A copper sign features a fat goose, and the name below. Inside you find a portly middle aged woman wearing a white hood with frills to a black dress with a white apron.
She is talking to herself without pause, and as she notices the visitors, her torrent of words addresses them instead.
You notice the menu and it has different variations of roasted goose. Two gold later you have a room for two for a night and the key.
The room has a large bed with fat pillows filled with goose downs. A very single themed tavern indeed.
"We need to break camp and stable the animals." Menan agrees and they do so.
The stable is in the old part of the town close to the southern city walls. It is nothing fancy, just a stable to put the horses in and a storage for all the hey.
Menan and Aeawyn are greeted by the man taking running this stable. "Good day mam and sir, what can I do for you?"
You notice an anvil and some tools, so there seem to be options of service to choose from.
"A nice place you have here, sir. I am Menan and this is Arawyn. We need to stable two horses and two dogs. We will be doing the feeding ourselves twice a day unless we tell you otherwise. No idea how many days it will be. What is the going rate?"
"Two horses cost a gold per day. If I don't need to feed them, it's 7 silver."
"And the dogs will be the same?." Menan counts out 40 silver. "That should be more than enough for three days." He and Arawyn stall the mounts and the dogs and hang their gear on the walls.
"Sorry, we don't do dogs. But why do you care? Dogs are everywhere in town. Or can't you take them along?"
The man changes his mind on seeing the pouch from which Menan counts the coins and offers "I could take them home. Sure wouldn't hurt. For the same price, no issue."
"You will find them well trained, well mannered and obedient. They will cause no trouble." He looks to the dogs and points to the stable master. "Boomer, Apollo, obey him. I will be back."
The couple leaves on foot.
"Menan, let's visit that Pig Whistle place this evening. I found it quite entertaining."
"As you wish. Will you be bartending?" He gets a smile in return for that.
Menan opens the door to The Pig's Whistle for Arawyn. He does his typical check of the room before nodding the okay. She steps in first and takes it all in as she moves toward the bar.
Menan reads the job board and follows Arawyn to the bar.
As Persephone wakes up, she feels weakened and stiff. She has cold sweat on her forehead. She also has no appetite. After dragging herself around the house for a while, she decides that she needs to do something about that. It is kind of embarrassing and she ponders where to go with the issue. Either Father Grimburrow, or the elven priest in the House of Flames.
Persephone is not sure why but she tends to the elf. She dresses up for going outside and drags herself to the House of Flame. Entering the usual way she stands in the room, wondering if someone will notice, even though she isn't expected.
After a long time the secret door opens. Without saying a word, Merileth stands there watching.
"Hello." Persephone greets the elf.
After an awkward pause, she continues with her issue. "I was bitten by a rat and I'm not feeling well. Can you do something about that?"
"Follow me." Metilith replies and leads Persephone inside to the room she had to wait last time for her big scene.
"I need some time to prepare. But the question is, can you afford it. You can either pay with a donation to the temple. Which would be 150 gold. Or you could owe me a favor."
Being already bound to the elf's goodwill she replies "Then I'll owe you a favor."
"Good. I'll be back soon." Merileth leaves the room.
Half an hour is a lot of time to ponder what it might be, this favor she will owe the elf. Trickery, fraud, manipulation is clearly what the elf does. Is even murder on the list of things that could count as a favor?
The spiral of thoughts is only interrupted as the elf comes back.
After about half an hour she comes back, speaks some unintelligible words, waves her hand and touches Persephone.
Then she casts another spell to check the result. "You're good. Rest yourself and you'll recover soon. Latest the day after tomorrow come here again. I might have a job for you."
Without further words, she ushers Persephone to the exit.
At The Pig's Whistle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Menan and Arawyn are early. At least in comparison to the other guests. A few sit at the tables already, but besides one table where four people play cards, it is only loners.
"Oh, hello!"
"You want to pick up your job again?" Isabella inquires.
"No thank you, Isabella. We would like to relax with a couple ales."
"Then choose a table, I'll bring you some."
Inkskin comes into the bar too. She looks around and inquires from Isabella, where Persephone or Faerveren are. As that doesn't get her any further, she decides to give the elves a shot.
"Hi. You've been with Persephone and Faerveren yesterday. Do you know where they are?"
They do as they are told and begin going over the day's activities. "No, no idea where they are. Last I heard from them, they went home for the night last night."
"This sucks. Anyway, have a nice evening." Isabella replies and leaves the tavern.
The afternoon and the night go by. There is a party at The Pig's Whistle like every day, but neither Persephone nor Faerveren show up. Isabella is overworked again, which leads to a liquid food only evening again.