Eclipsed Faith

Game Master bigrig107

"I wonder if someone is siphoning off the water with a secret tunnel or pipe or ..oh I do wish I knew more about such things. Anyone have any knowledge of engineering such things?" No Knowledge Engineering here ;)

"W-was Malrath a werewolf,"

"It's possible, I didn't know them. I'm not even sure if they're still alive or around, the only mention I know of has been in passing and I didn't put any import upon the name. When we finish dinner and I return to this archive, I can spend some more time searching for who or what this 'Malrath' was."

Verik is somehow not surprised to see the spell that was used to bind him.
"Of course the means to imprison me came from inside my own library. Couldn't get more ironic if I had planned it myself, I suppose."

"Are you sure it was just you and her in this chamber when you began trying to commune with Selûne?"

"I was fairly certain of that fact right up until you opened my eyes to the possibility that I was not."

"Is it like a water well... a hole in the ground? Have you ever climbed into it?"

I wonder if someone is siphoning off the water with a secret tunnel or pipe or

Verik laughs for a few moments before stopping himself and calming down. "Ah, I suppose you wouldn't know that. No, it's not an actual well, and it doesn't have a source as you know it. I know it seems a bit wild for outsiders, but the well has always been powered by the light of the moon, the light of Selûne. Every night when the moon emerges into the sky, it would fill up with the purest water you've ever seen." he sighs, seeming disappointed in the wells' current state.

"But now it's just an empty stone pool with the carved designs of our faith. Beautiful, but empty."

"Do you mind if we talk over dinner," Kiley asks after Verik has finished answering everyone's questions. "I-- I think there's some things you should know about me, and a couple of things that Rutilux probably needs to know, too."

"Beautiful, but empty."

"Exactly how I prefer my men," Ari quips, tossing her hair. "Avoids a lot of issues. But I digress, if we're done here then I'm all for eating and talking."

”Do you mind if we talk over dinner,"

Verik smiles warmly at the question. ”Of course not, I would love to hear all of anything you have to tell me. I will have to check the storeroom here in the council’s kitchen, but I am sure I could have something warm at the very least prepared shortly. Any preferences?” he asks, mainly as a joke, as it’s clear he isn’t sure what is even currently in stock in the pantry.

”Will be good for all of us to get some rest, I think.” he says, starting to move towards the door of the chamber. ”And then we can get back to dealing with…all of this.” he finishes heavily, waving a hand around towards the archive room generally.

The gnoll waits patiently for the customs of a 'dinner party' to play out. The rules would doubtless be different than what the Bedine practiced, so that might prove interesting. But mostly, he was anxious to continue with the pursuit of facts.

Profession(Cook) Untrained: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Kiley tries to help out in the kitchen, but after the second smashed jar of pickles, all she can do is not tear up as she apologizes and scurries out of the kitchen after cleaning the mess up. She never does explain why she returns to the others red-faced and smelling of vinegar.

Was going to try and put in more, but I am too tired to write out what Kiley's going to tell Verik over dinner.

"Do you mind if we talk over dinner," Kiley asks after Verik has finished answering everyone's questions. "I-- I think there's some things you should know about me, and a couple of things that Rutilux probably needs to know, too."

"As you like," The Halfling nods

He chuckles at Ari's taste in men comment "I've a cousin who would be perfect for you if only he were taller."

At mention of resting and food, his interest rises. He hadn't wanted to SAY anything. Halflings sometimes are considered to be a bit soft by tall folk , and ravenous for their size, so he tries to avoid giving into that too quickly.

After supper is fixed and served, Kiley spends a few minutes picking at her food as she tries to work up the courage to talk.

"Um, Mister--" she begins to say before seeing the Keeper's look. "Verik! I mean, Verik, d-did you know Fionn and Annalee Sherrow," she asks.

I couldn't thin of a natural way to just tell him everything, so kicking off a with a question to see how this goes.

Sasha listens to the description of the moonwell if religious interest. "What an amazing gift - it's no wonder the enemies of the faithful have conspired to destroy it," she says as the conversation closes and the party, with their new ally, prepare to eat.

"Pheliks ate well this morning. I will appreciate whatever you can find, Verik. It has been an eventful day...When you emerge and the townsfolk see you again we should all watch for reactions that could give away an enemy," Sasha says, making idle conversation as she helps prepare the food. She takes directions from the others, not showing much skill in this arena.

Profession (cook), Verik: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Luckily for the entire group, Verik seems to know his way around this particular kitchen and pulls together a rather simple yet tasty meal of salted ham slices, fried potatoes, and steamed asparagus.

As everyone sits down to the table, the keeper volunteers himself to speak a small traditional prayer to Selune before the group can dig into the meal.
"It's only polite, you see." he says jokingly.

It has been an eventful day...When you emerge and the townsfolk see you again we should all watch for reactions that could give away an enemy,

"A thoughtful idea, I find myself liking you all more and more with each minute. Whoever is working against the Glade and by extension Selune herself, must know you came in here searching for me. Seeing you succeeded in freeing me might vex them to no end, we must be watchful for those who disapprove."

d-did you know Fionn and Annalee Sherrow,

"I regretfully did not, were they living at my village at one point? We don't get many visitors, but 'not many' is not 'none'."

"I don't think they did. My father was a priest of Selune, and my mother was a wizard that followed her as well. They were adventurers before they settled in Waterdeep. They adopted me after they saved me from the Zhentarim when I was twelve. That was before these appeared," she says as she takes off the keffiyeh covering her ears. "Up until then, we thought I was human. After that night, my mother started to research what I was and found out that I was tiefling descended from a line that had been corrupted by Chaan'ke Khoonalhe, The Bloodied Fangs of the Moon." Kiley shivers as she remembers the conversation she and her parents had after they'd learned about her heritage. Her parents had loved her, but the descriptions of the demoness' acts had been horrifying.

"She's a powerful succubus, and I look almost exactly like the depictions of her my mother found. They were worried her cult might come looking for me if they ever found out about me. Unfortunately, the Zhentarim also found out about this," she gestures to her ears, "and the markings when they came to get revenge against my parents." She pauses for a moment, pushing back the memories of that night and the emotions that came with them. "They thought they could sell me for a high price, so they kept me alive. It wasn't until they ran afoul of Shaggar and the Bedine that I was able to escape them. That's why I try to keep what I am hidden. A girl with auburn locks is a lot less notable than a girl with auburn locks and cat ears or one that glows under moonlight."

Ari understands Kiley's need to share her story - well, she understands that for whatever reason it is important to Kiley, even if the urge is anathema to her - but this is a topic of conversation she has no desire to engage with lest it turn to her ancestry. After letting the other tiefling finish, she returns to Sasha and Verik's point. "Yes, we've had a couple of notable successes today, albeit with a few touches that were a little close for comfort." She eyes Kiley, briefly remembering how easily the worg tossed her aside like a ragdoll. And the blood. So much blood, pooled around the young woman's body. But they are still standing and that definitely counts for something.

The halfling certainly is happy to have a seat, and prays sincerely but quietly as a blessing is given over the meal.

Rutilux is fascinated by Kiley's story, and nods sympatheticly, "We Freewinds have less worrisome elements in your own heritage, but still, power of any sort thrust upon you can shake you up a bit. Even if it is a good thing that can help you prosper, it forces choices on you that can be a bit overwhelming." He nods "And there will be those that only see how they can USE your gifts and not care a whit about you yourself."

"Yes, we've had a couple of notable successes today, albeit with a few touches that were a little close for comfort."

"Oh yes, good folk to be with , this lot, in a fight or out of it. I was luckier than most, and no complaints from me. Touch and go, but go we did and here we are."

Kiley catches Ari's look, and even she isn't oblivious enough to miss the other tiefling's meaning. Her ears droop as she remembers that moment, and the vision she got from the totem.

Rutilux's words pull her back to the present, and she wonders if she really considered the abilities that came with her heritage gifts. After a moment she decides that no, she really doesn't. If she were the type of person to do so, she might even resent that part of herself for what it cost her and her family.

"I don't know how much power being what I am gives me," she says quietly. "In some ways, it's probably easier to see myself being cursed instead of blessed by my ancestry."

"Well, flip it around as suits better, but there will always be people who try to see other people as products, objects to be used. Those are the sorts we should be ready to fight against. That's when merchants become slavers, and kings become tyrants."

Sasha looks over at Ari and Kiley, considering what to say. "Heritage isn't who you are - it's where you're from. Who you are is what you do, whether it's with a gift or a curse. Oracles, like me, usually suffer some sort of oracular curse. They can be pretty awful. For me, I struggle to see in bright light, which makes me something of an outcast amongst day-dwelling folks. They assume I'm bad or sneaking when I really just can't see in the sunlight as well as I can in the moonlight.

It's tough, but I find it's better if you own it and share what you can openly with good-willed folks. I'd be terrified to share that I was a werewolf, for example," she says, glancing at their host meaningfully, "out of fear that it would frighten good folks. So many were-creatures live with prejudice, but some...breeds(?) have it worse than others as their nature can be violent. I was very relieved that Verik here was more interested in hosting a nice meal like this than he was in attacking a bunch of strangers who found him in a moment of vulnerability."

Looking around the group Sasha raises her glass meaningfully. "To a company of outcasts who may have found their tribe. May we all be blessed by the moon-goddess with community and welcome, regardless of our blood and curses."

"Yeah. I know," Kiley tells Rutilux glumly. "That's all the Zhentarim see others as. I learned that much over the fourteen years I was in their hands."

Kiley perks up at Sasha's encouragement.

"Hear, hear! And to friends and the road less traveled," Kiley adds as she joins the oracle's toast.

"Hear Hear" The halfling joins in at Sasha's toast

I sure hope not, Ari thinks at Sasha’s comment about heritage being where you’re from. If you’d grown up where I did then I suspect you too would want to raze the place to the ground. Not that the tiefling has any intention of coming within a hundred miles of the Twin Towers if she can help it.

”That’s a…” naive, she thinks, but elects for a softer choice of words, ”generous take. I’ve rarely found that people are hanging out the bunting at my arrival, and frankly a default wariness is infinitely preferable to being physically run out of town. So I’m with Kiley, disguises make my life much easier.” She shrugs, then continues with a grin. ”Which is their loss really because I’m fun! And I’m rarely going to turn down a toast.” She clinks glasses with Sasha, hoping to show that differences in outlook aren’t necessarily a barrier to getting on, before tossing the remaining half-glass of wine down her throat.

The gnoll’s feelings are largely inscrutable to those not familiar with the small changes in his minimal facial movements. He listens, watches, and says nothing. He idly swirls the glass of wine with a single claw that almost pins the base of the stemware to the table. Finally, he offers, ”To call what you are a ‘blessing’ or a ‘curse’ is to let others define you… to willingly lock yourself in a cage others built.”

Verik listens to the group speak on a topic that is obviously important to both them and himself before speaking.

"I don't think there is much left to be said, Kiley. The group you surround yourself with seems to understand what you're going through, and supports you quite well from what I can see." the werewolf says, a hint of wistful jealousy entering his voice. "Would that all of us had the opportunity to have such great friends."

He shakes his head, dispelling whatever thoughts were plaguing his mind for that single moment. "Speaking of werewolves, however, I would like to let you know that I am not the only natural werewolf in the glade. They are all welcome here as refugees from the outside world, and it is a loosely-kept secret. I do not intend to let those who do not know into the loop."

"I consider you welcomed guests in my village, but I expect you to follow certain etiquette. I appreciate your understanding." he says, not exactly threatening but not entirely politely either.

Shaggar's words give her pause as she mulls them over. It was something she'd have to talk to him about later, she decides as Verik speaks.

"Um, what do you mean by etiquette, exactly," Kiley asks. "Have we done something to cause offense?"

Shaggar eyes the werewolf, predator to predator, as it were. He nods at both Verik's statement and Kiley's question, ”My allies have not granted me permission to speak for them but I believe most of us – if not all – are here to save your village, not change it, not unmask those who value their privacy. For myself, I expected your people would be diverse. Followers of Elah – your Selune – that don’t fear diverse races, are the reason I breathe today.”

"Um, what do you mean by etiquette, exactly," Kiley asks. "Have we done something to cause offense?"

"Oh, absolutely not. Quite the opposite, actually, I am extremely grateful for your help. But I won't have my companions' secrets spread throughout the glade, that is all I meant." he says, amending his voice to be much more gentle.

He nods towards Shaggar gratefully, a wide smile upon his face.
"I thought as much, just had to make sure everyone understood that we are not...'out in the open', as it were."

"Oh, I'll try to do a better job of keeping that a secret than I have my own," Kiley promises, somewhat embarrassed by the fact that she'd been so clumsy around Verik. With Rutilux, he had to know, but Verik finding out was more from her carelessness than anything else.

Shaggar tries to lighten the mood with a joking (and not quite joking) comment. "After the Glade is safe, I hope you will speak well of me - discreetly - to any lady wolves in the village who may be interested. It is difficult to find women with intriguing muzzles and compelling fangs in Baldur's Gate."

Whether it was done with malice aforethought or just by happenstance is rather immaterial, but Shaggar makes his request just as Kiley is taking a drink. She splutters and nearly chokes on it, but she manages to avoid spraying anyone across the table from her.

"He likes them tall and leggy," she says with a weak grin when the others look at her as she's trying to wipe away the mess she made.

Rulilux might be choking a bit on a drink as he fights a response.

Finally he coughs "Smooth drink. Good vintage." Doesn't matter what they're drinking either.

"He likes them tall and leggy,"

One ear goes up. "Very much so, yes. I like women whose legs go all the way to the floor."

"So wizards and and short people like myself are out," Kiley teases.

"Oh, absolutely not. Quite the opposite, actually, I am extremely grateful for your help. But I won't have my companions' secrets spread throughout the glade, that is all I meant." he says, amending his voice to be much more gentle.

While the others engage in some light-hearted banter, Ari takes the opportunity to whisper, barely audibly, "By the Mistshadow's wiles, it shall be so." Respect to her goddess paid, she sets about proving that she is indeed as much fun as she believes herself to be. "Perhaps Rutilux could set you up with that cousin he mentioned, Kiley. If he's particularly tall for a halfling, or we find him some oversized boots, you might be well-matched."

"Maybe he'd yield to Sandals with heels. That's the fashion in some southlands anyway."

Sasha snorts at the jokes, a smirk on her face as she listens to their humor. Given that she still hasn't shared that she is part orc, the oracle considers everyone's perspectives on heritage and curses lightly but continues to hold that card close to her chest. Her unusual appearance continues to hint at unusual parental relationships, but it isn't as significant as the two tieflings in the group. "I continue to be blessed by our company. The two most 'normal' of us remain Shagger and Rutilux, and neither of them could be described as boring. It is quite a treat!" she offers with a smile.

"Um, th-that might be nice," Kiley says, blushing at the idea that they were, even jokingly, trying to set her up with someone.

Though I always thought if I did end up with someone, I'd like for them to be big enough I could curl up in their arms. maybe if we had some big dog or cat, like Pheliks?

Her blush deepens as her imagination begins to run with the idea, and she's more that grateful for Sasha's intervention.

"I think we've been just as blessed, if not more so, by yours," Kiley tells the oracle, her blush fading some as her tone turns serious. "If not for you, I might be dead right now."

Verik chuckles overly loud at the jokes about Shaggar's preferences, his boisterous laughs shaking both his frame and the table.

I hope you will speak well of me - discreetly - to any lady wolves in the village who may be interested.

"I suppose that is something that I could do for you, friend."

"If not for you, I might be dead right now."

"Presumably you mean the fight with the worg? I can't imagine how harrowing that must have been for you." he says, shaking his head in both disgust and disappointment.

"I also don't know how we let a monster like that live in our glade for so long either. We shall learn soon enough, however, as I intend to do a ton of research in my archives tonight. With the new information you've brought me, it should be easier to pinpoint what's useful and what isn't."

Sasha snorts at the jokes, a smirk on her face as she listens to their humor. Given that she still hasn't shared that she is part orc, the oracle considers everyone's perspectives on heritage and curses lightly but continues to hold that card close to her chest. Her unusual appearance continues to hint at unusual parental relationships, but it isn't as significant as the two tieflings in the group. "I continue to be blessed by our company. The two most 'normal' of us remain Shagger and Rutilux, and neither of them could be described as boring. It is quite a treat!" she offers with a smile.

The halfling chuckles at that too. Boring is a word he'd dread a lot more than odd or the like.

"I also don't know how we let a monster like that live in our glade for so long either."

Shaggar, having a good feeling about Verik - possibly a muzzle-bias - reveals more than perhaps is wise. "I believe the worg was 'sleeping', possibly for a very long time, and it was 'awoken' by or along with the strange happenings in the village."

He proceeds more cautiously, "On our way here, we stopped in Friendly Arm. Goblins attacked that night within the village's walls. They emerged from an unknown ancient temple of evil below the temple of Garl Glittergold. Here, we are walled in by magic and we found the worg in a cave. It has made me wonder if, perhaps, there is something built beneath the village where the source of this problem rests."

Unfortunately I am starting to believe you are correct." he says, agreeing with you and nodding along.

"If this is the case, then whatever it is is most certainly under the lunar well. It is the only spot that makes sense, although I have visited there myself since it ran dry and have not seen any way to get into it or beneath it. Perhaps Lady Silvermoon, the custodian of the well, knows the secret? If anyone would, it's her."

"She has fallen ill, however, and you would need to go pay her a visit at her manor to the north of the village once you are done resting tonight. I think that she has one of the keys to whatever is going on here."

"A lot of inconvenient - or perhaps convenient, depending on your perspective - illness going round," Ari observes. "Or other situations placing people out of our reach - disappearance, rituals, notices not to be disturbed." She arches a white eyebrow. "A more cynical person than me might say it's a rather large coincidence." She allows room for a pause before continuing. "But yes, we'll go and see her tonight."

"Ari's right, this has the look of a cultivated sabotage. Or at least a lot of hurdles in our way that SOMEONE has to be putting up"

Sasha nods. "I doubt any of this is coincidence, really. Is there anyone else we should look for that might be hidden away or inconveniently removed from their previous, public positions?" she asks thoughtfully.

Kiley nods when Verik presumes she is talking about the fight with the worg.

"Do we think we can handle another fight if we get into one," Kiely asks when Ari mentions going to see Lady Silvermoon tonight. "We're both hurt and Sasha's out of anything that can mend our wounds, as I recall. I know we have to get to the bottom of this, but we do no one any good if we run ourselves so ragged we wind up dead."

Ari puffs out her cheeks at Kiley's question. "Verik, do you have anybody who can help patch us up?" she asks.

If we can't get some help in a holy village then genuinely what is the point? In the Cavern of Mists healing and aid were always provided to the clergy and trainees, and even the purple-robed priests of Cyric would dole out healing when needed, albeit on their own terms and often throwing a level of pain or cruelty into the bargain.

"I suppose we could rest here" A look about the place.

"Of course you're more than welcome to rest here, there are plenty of unused councilor chambers that will suffice I am sure." he says, following Rutilux's gaze.

"And I am sure that Lena over at the chapel would be more than willing to offer healing for any leftover wounds. If she's not, then let me know and I'll go have a talk with her and get that fixed."

Is there anyone else we should look for that might be hidden away or inconveniently removed from their previous, public positions?

"Well seeing as how I didn't even really know I was one of those missing, I am not sure I'd be the most help here. I'll ask around this evening before I sleep some and see if there's anyone missing that shouldn't be, though."

"Maybe we should all go see Lena together," Kiley suggests. "She could help heal our wounds and help Verik catch up with what's going on."

"Free healing, can't beat the price." Rutilux admits

"To the temple, then?" suggests Sasha with a hopeful tone of voice.

"If you like."