When you return to the church, several of the townsfolk glance in your direction but say nothing.
"It's a little sad that we did all that and we really didn't make things better for these people," Rosie says.
"We will...eventually," Clyde says, supportively. "This isn't some fairy tale where the problem is solved like that."
He snaps his fingers and the sound echoes in the church. Clyde briefly turns red out of embarrassment.
"Getting a better understanding of what happened before will help us figure out how to fix this." Aiden says replies.
Emma nods, "We need to find that Priest guy and let him know what we found."
"Maybe he's by the cave entrance," Rosie suggests. "Since that's where he last saw us."
"Alright, let's try there then. Maybe we'll run into him on our way there." She says, while starting to head for the last place they saw the priest.
"If not then he's likely at his home, the cottage next to the cave, awaiting any sign that we made it out. We'll check there first." Aiden says as they head in the direction of the cave where they entered.
Emma nods again and heads to the cave opening first with the others, to try and find the Priest of the town.
Ewen looks up as you approach. He had been sitting by the cave entrance. "Where did you come from?"
Emma points to the Forrest where they came from, "From a tunnel that was dug under the old Temple to Pharasma. Look, we found out some stuff that we think you should know." Emma then shows him what they had found down in the Temple, "We have less than a month now to find that carriage and somehow stop it, or destroy it....but I think if it's possible, you should get some help and move the afflicted villagers somewhere more secure....just in case."
She pauses for a moment before adding, "Would it be alright if we stayed the night in town? We sort of wore ourselves out down there and could use some food and rest before we continue on in the morning....and maybe a bath?"
"In the process, we found an accounting of how the old temple fell, as a result of what appears to be the last time something like this happened." Aiden adds.
Ewen nods as Emma speaks. "Unfortunately, there isn't much that I can offer you since we moved all of the afflicted to the tavern. No one is willing to stay in the town itself either..."
"We have provisions with us and on our wagon. We just need a place to wash up and rest. We can even stay out with our horse if we need to, but if there is somewhere we could get cleaned up we'd really appreciate it." She says, hoping they can at least get the grime of the underground off of them.
Ewen nods, moved by compassion. "Please, use my home. It may be a little small but it should suffice. I shall see if Nida, the tavern's cook, can make us all some food."
He opens the door of his home for you and then heads toward the church.
Clyde whistles. "He changed his tune real fast."
Rosie just rolls her eyes and goes inside.
Aiden stifles a grin well accustomed to his wife's persuasive nature.
Emma just smiles and walks inside, glad for a dry and safe place to get cleaned up and rest.
Going inside, she finds a place to sit as they wait for Ewen to return.
As they're waiting for Ewen to return she says, "I hope Nida isn't too put out by cooking for all of us. I mean, we brought stuff with us and I could have cooked up something for dinner. I hope she doesn't go to too much trouble. I hate being a bother when these people have already been through so much." She kind of sighs as she looks around his place from her spot on the couch.
It is quite evident, looking around, that Ewen is a solitary person. Besides the couch, there is a small square table with a single chair. The kitchen is attached to the living space. It too has telltale signs that it sees little use.
Ewen returns a short time later. "Nida is making some stew. I had to gather some ingredients for her from the town. Come back to the church in a little bit. I need to go back and help where I can."
"We brought some provisions with us, and I'm pretty good at cooking too. Is there anything we can do to help?" She asks, not wanting to deplete the towns resources, and not wanting to cause anyone any extra trouble.
Ewen shakes his head. "If there is a way to save those poor souls and you are the ones to do it, let us show our gratitude while we can."
Emma nods and gives him a respectful bow of her head, "Well, we really appreciate your hospitality. Do we have time to get cleaned up before dinner?" She asks, not wanting to go back to the Church stinking from their adventures underground.
Ewen nods before leaving. "I'll make sure there's food left for you just in case you take a little longer."
Emma looks at her husband, "I have a change of clothes for us in the bag, let's go find the washroom and see what we're working with. We might need to heat some water." After grabbing their spare clothes, Emma goes to look for the bathing room and towels.
Ewen's bathing room has a tub that could accommodate a single person comfortably. A pump is conveniently in the same room. Some scratchy-looking towels sit on a shelf near the tub.
"Well, I suppose cold is better than nothing." Aiden says taking in the tub and pump.
She nods, "Unless we take time to heat water on the stove....but that would take a while, and I don't want to keep them waiting too long. This will be the fastest bath in history then." She says, while getting their personal hygiene items out of their bag.
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Emma hurries to fill the tub after getting everything together. Happy that she packed some of their own towels, and used to sharing a tub with her husband, Emma lets him get in first, before stealing herself for the frigid water and stepping in in front of him. Emma shivers as she sits down in the water, and proceeds to wash herself as quickly as possible. She lets Aiden help with her hair and back.
As soon as everything is rinsed off and they are both done, Emma lets Aiden get out first, and then has him lift her out of the tub as well. She wraps herself in one of their large, soft, fluffy towels and quickly dries herself off as much as possible, as Aiden does the same.
After drying off, she puts on the clean change of clothes she brought with them, and picks up everything to put back in their bags, so as not to leave a mess. She lets the water out of the tub, and cleans up any water that splashed outside of the tub.
After they're done dressing, and Emma has her hair tied back in a braid, they come out of the bathing room, "Well, the water is cold, but at least we're clean now. Does anyone else want a quick bath before dinner?" She asks, wanting to make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible, given their current circumstances.
Clyde gestures to Rosie.
Rosie chuckles. "I've forgotten that I know a helpful spell for times like these."
She waves her hand over herself. "Prestigio!"
The dust on her clothing seems to evaporate away. "I'll be okay for now."
"Guess it's my turn then," Clyde says, getting up and heading to the bathroom.
Emma nods, "That's something that will probably come in very handy on several occasions for a multitude of reasons." She says in response to Rosie's quick cleaning method.
Looking over at Clyde as he heads to the bathroom, "Just brace yourself, it's pretty chilly."
Aiden chuckles as Rosie uses magic, a handy thing when there wasn't access to hot water.
Clyde returns a few minutes later, a dour look on his face. "I hope dinner is hot."
Emma nods, "Come on, let's get going." Emma gets up and goes to the door. She waits for everyone to be ready before heading our the door, and back to the church.
Clyde rubs his arms as they walk, trying to get some warmth into him. "Hope we find a shop in the next town. I could use a warmer cloak."
"Agreed. The autumn air isn't going to get much warmer from here on out."
"Yeah, I guess I wasn't thinking about how cold it would get. I mean I packed extra blankets and things, but not much in the way of warm clothing." Emma adds as they head to the Church, rubbing her own arms as she kind of jogs to keep up with the other's longer legs.
Aiden takes a deep breath of the crisp air, making note of the need for warmer clothing or some other protection from the chill as they head toward the church.
Tired and cold from their bath, Emma stops in front of Aiden and holds her arms up, "Carry me please sweetie?" She asks in her cutest voice.
"Of course!" Aiden says with a smile, scooping his wife up into his arms, and holding her against his chest as they head toward the church.
You enter the church and see the remaining townsfolk gathered around a cooking fire. A haggard-looking woman doles out food in bowls while idle chatter echoes in the building. The atmosphere is markedly lighter than when you first arrived.
Clyde lets out a contented sigh as he comes in from the chilly air.
Once inside the building, Emma has Aiden put her down. Feeling a little better now that they were out of the cold air, Emma approaches the woman, "Ummm...excuse me, but Ewen told us to come here after we got cleaned up. Is he still here?"
"He's tidying up," the woman answers. "I'm Nida. Care for some stew and bread?"