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"what is it that you want Mr Edgral," Adjunta asks, "I have a duty to the church and to my people, but even a man living alone in the woods needs something. Money could provide some material comforts, fine weapons or tools, but we're quite willing to make another offer if you wish. Perhaps there's a favor we could preform for you."
"No decision that I know of," Adjunta says, "we seem to start talking about it, but then the talks die off for some reason. I would like to see the matter decided once and for all myself. I assumed that the agreement was that we keep the money in the one pot but seeing as this matter has been brought up multiple times now I think I really must insist on a vote. Who is in favor of splitting the money?" Adjunta watches the results.
"Your life sounds unimaginably hard Mel," Adjunta says, "I can't even imagine. No child should have endured what you have endured. Thank you for trusting us enough to share that with us. I know you probably feel the last thing you need right now is a priest, I'm willing to be here just as a friend if you'd like, but I can offer you some absolution for your sins if you'd like. I know what you've done you've done to survive. Not even the god of Laws could hold that against you. But he does ask more of us . . . no, forgive me, I'll keep my sermons to myself, but you need to understand that not all priests are . . . I'll say self serving. I don't believe you've done me any wrong by concealing your true identity and I say we forget the whole affair. As far as I'm concerned it's as though you've always been a young lady. You owe me no apology."
"Mel," Adjunta says when it's clear that she is waiting for him to speak, "I want to first stress that neither I nor anyone else here is disappointed with your performance thus far, yes you did have a moment in the trees there, but fear is a mind killer and thankfully we were able to overcome that obstacle as a group. I believe that we've grown stronger because of it. I believe that finding our strengths and weaknesses now will help us later when we need it. "No what I wanted to talk to you about is your identity," Adjunta says holding his hands up in a reassuring manor, "it's recently come to our attention that you aren't entirely who you say you are. Now I don't know why you've been masquerading as something you're not, there could be a whole host of reasons, and I won't pry. Your secrets are your own. I can only assume that the reason must be quite great to deceive people whom you entrust your life too. But the reason we need to talk is this: I am a priest of Abadar and I cannot lie. I will not Voluntarily reveal your true identity to anyone but if I am asked you must know that I cannot tell a falsehood. Also, I'm afraid, now that I know your gender I will need to keep proper protocol around you. You and Ianthé, for example, should share a room should we stay in inns. "I should stress that I have the highest regard for women," Adjunta says in his best reassuring voice, "I believe that they're capable of most things a man can do, and are even better equipped to do some things. A priestess for example, I've known many talented and accomplished priestess in my time, and I believe that they are better suited for their role then most men. I have no problems with your gender, I believe that people of all races and genders should be free to use the gifts the gods have given them, but things will be slightly different between us and I wanted you to know why."
"This is a misconception of fate, putting eggs in one basket is fine as long as that basket is kept safe. Putting you eggs in two baskets increases the chances of dropping the eggs by 100% but decreases the number of eggs that could be damaged by dropping one of the baskets. Putting your eggs in two baskets increases the chance of an accident but only helps your net loss. "Ianthé is not a front line fighter and she is someone we shall strive to protect. Had Malgasir had those funds on his person he would have surely lost those coins as well. Who can say which is safer? I know that in finances I would advise someone to invest in more then one enterprise, having all your money in farm does you very little in times of a drought, but on the other hand should you have a monopoly diversifying would be very foolish as you can set your prices to whatever the market will allow."
"I suppose it's less likely that she'll return now that she's faced stiff opposition twice now," Adjunta says, "but the roads still need to be kept safe and clear. We have other obligations we must deal with obviously but I must remember this threat." Adjunta rubs his holy symbol before turning to Keleshite sorcerer. "Some would say there is no fate," Adjunta says with a shrug, "some would say that it's all divine providence, but I tend to believe that we make our own fate, and I for one am not interested in fighting a loosing battle. We've chased off the harpy twice now so we know we can beat it but the question for me is 'will it return?' If we think it will then I'm afraid that I'll insist that we also return, but if we think it's been chased off for good then I'm satisfied that we've done my god's work." The priest quickly replaces his holy symbol, adjusts his veil, and then rests his scepter-like club into the crook in his arm. Standing to his full height Adjunta looks more like a oriental king then a priest. "Also Hasim," Adjunta quickly adds, "splitting up the money would still have netted the same result as before. I don't necessarily disagree with you but I am curious why you bring this up?"
Before the PCs launch their ambush Adjunta will try to buff his companions as much as possible. Likely using bless. Adjunta will have swapped magic weapon for spiritual weapon and will likely try to cast that on the first round of combat. Then he will continue to attack the harpy or buff his companions for the remainder of combat.
"Druids are a different breed altogether," Adjunta says, "they don't always have the best interests of society in mind. We are all living things and are all equal in their minds which means civilization, trade, language, and free will are pretty much lost on them." "I would indeed pay 37 gp in any town," Adjunta says turning back to the merchant, "I believe that's the fair market price, but I'm willing to accept that you have transportation costs, so I will factor that into the price . . . but 10 gold? Seeing as you're not paying taxes I think three is more reasonable. 40 gp and not a penny more."
"Do you think they'd really run the risk and travel into danger without a priest?" Adjunta asks, eyebrows raised, gently fingering his holy symbol, "I mean even if they did go to the trouble of investing 3 coppers in bees wax. Now I understand the trouble of being out in the wilds like this, the cost of transportation of goods, but you've just now admitted that you don't deal with the government so you're clearly not paying taxes. 39 gp."
"Indeed I could," Adjunta says, happy for the chance to haggle, "I could also persuade my companions not to deal with that harpy on the roadway as well. I certainly won't be returning without a weapon . . ." The priest pretends to mull the decision over. "I can't imagine that business has been very brisk with the road under siege, and you've already admitted that you don't sell many of these weapons, I would think that this crossbow would be more valuable to you in my hands then on a shelf. I suppose you could turn me away and wait for the next person to wander by to buy one, or perhaps you could wait for government soldiers to commandeer them. I'm sure they'd offer fair market price for them. How does 37 sound?"
Adjunta was much of the same mind as Ianthé. The fight had bothered him, his spell selection had proven in inadequate, ranged weaponry was not something he had thought of, and worst of all his mind had proven strangely weak. Then there was the matter of Mel. Things did add up, there was more then a strong possibility that the lad was actually a lady. There were other possibilities of course, shape shifters, strange human like races, even elven blood, but the most likely possibility was probably the correct answer.
Adjunta takes this new information and files it away for the time being. There were more pressing matters at the moment. "That crossbow of yours should be able to hit her from here, if we get a clear shot," Adjunt a muses, "but it won't be easy, things get harder after the first hundred feet or so."
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