Bian's page

Bian, disoriented and tired, stays by Kallik's side on the walk to the Temple, perhaps going in to check on Egret if Kallik nods her approval.

After that damn ifrit Captain waves down the thuggish guards, the cell door opens and Bian steps out. She rushes over to Kallik, stumbling on weary, cramped legs, and collapses into a sobbing embrace with her.

Bian glances at Egret, who still still holding Kallik's hand, then she looks directly into Kallik's eyes for a few uncomfortable moments. Apparently satisfied, she nods. "I'll be right back."

I'll update later tonight with the guards and Bian coming back

Bian blinks twice. "I'm curious as to where you would take her otherwise. You know nothing of the city, and you've been under the Temple's wing since you arrived." She looks away. "As have I, for that matter."

"You are still valuable to the Temple. Putting the So Khong situation aside for the moment, most of the clergy and the guards would try to protect you."

Bian shakes her head. "To be honest Inam, this goes way above me. I don't think my mentor had time to dig up any answers on who is involved with this." She shrugs. "From the little I heard when we arrived earlier, it sounds like Inquisitor Ky La knows quite a lot. It might not be pleasant, but you could try asking him."

She puts her arm protectively around Egret. "This isn't a very safe part of town. Unless there's something else you need, I think I'll take Egret back to the Temple." Her words are not unkind, but she clearly wants to be away from the palpable tension that still hangs over this area.

Bian turns to the three of you. "His name was Bị`nh. I gave up my 'blessing' to let him sleep." The young (though slightly older than Inam) undine looks at each of you. "Brinn wasn't ready for this, and he died. I'm not ready either. And I gave Bị`nh his rest."

After a brief pause, she says, "I'll still be a friend to you at the Temple, but I'll be moving back to my old chambers, and resuming my old duties - like getting these two ready for the final rites."

She walks closer to the undine's body. The runes on the skin have faded. Just like the oread, the expression is one of peace.

Bian takes in the departing group with quick, nervous eyes. She is holding Egret's hand. Egret seems unsettled by the sight of so many tense--in some cases openly hostile--adults, and shrinks behind Bian.

With a weak attempt at humor, Bian says, "So, how much trouble are we in?"

Bian looks almost accusingly toward Kallik. "Why are you back so soon? The iron bell is ringing!"

Bian nods. "I don't think I would be able to...help with what the undine wants anyway. Her eyes flicker toward the retreating form of the bloodhound. "You should catch up with them." She gives you a small, reassuring smile.

Kallik and Ibinu

Bian, sharing your quarters by order of Inquisitors So Khong and Ly Tri, stretches and blinks groggily. "Good morning, friends. I...had a strange dream about...the four elens we discussed with my master, Inquisitor Ly Tri. I know we should not draw attention to that building, but I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Should we check on it, or am I just being silly?"

Bian smiles. I'm assuming you're asking for a place that's outside the Temple. Eo knows the city far better than I do."

Gratefully turning to Inam, she says, "Well, it was just bad luck that the previous occupant forgot to lock that side door. Simple following good practices will help us out there. Aside from that, the ward will give a nasty jolt to those who aren't suppose to be here, and let fellow Temple-goers know it is in use. There are a multitude of these type of buildings - no one will come in here out of dark water (out of the blue)." She shrugs. "It's the best I can do, especially without drawing undue attention."

Reluctantly, she turns back to Kallik. "Am I welcome among you for dinner?"

Chapter 7. Moths and Flame.

Bian tries to smile at Kallik, but it looks more like a grimace. "Umm, I'm sorry?" She does not look the oread in the eye, and backs away a step at her tone.

Quietly, Bian says, "Would the answer 'I don't know' have really made you feel any better? To either of your questions?" Master Ly Van usually prefers silence when the answer does not enlighten."

Two party members are okay with him leaving, so Ly Van leaves now.

Bian grins widely with tears in her eyes. "That means a lot coming from you, Ibinu. Thank you." She gives Ibinu a brief hug, then looks embarrassed. "I can lock this building up and put a simple ward on it to tell others it is currently being used."

Her stomach grumbles. She gives a small smile and says, "And, despite all that has happened, the candles still burn. Shall we find some dinner?"

Bian takes a few steps toward the door, then stops. She takes a deep breath in, and releases it slowly. She looks at each of you, one at a time, as she speaks "So...team...I am without friends and without my mentor. I know you do not easily trust those from the Temple, but..." her voice catches for a moment, "will you trust me? Please?"

"What in the land happened, Kallik? Why is the side door open? Did...did someone come in here and attack you?" Bian seems bewildered.

Bian furrows her brow at Kallik's question. "I suppose I could. But if...discretion is our goal here, bringing a high-ranking inquisitor into a place like this might draw attention. I have duties here occasionally, but Master Lý Văn Sinh would only come here on extremely important business."

She shrugs, unsure. "If you want me to bring him here, I will, but I just wanted you to be aware of the potential danger."

"I believe we are in agreement that So Khong is not the elen to approach with this." She makes eye contact with you all, even Etrah, one at a time. "Would you be willing to go with me to my mentor, Inquisitor Lý Văn Sinh? He is one of the few in the Temple I would trust with my life."

"So Khong told you there were others blessed by white obsidian, correct?"

After you answer 'yes'

"And he must have told you...as he told me...that they were murdered by assassins - worshipers of the Dark. And that their bodies were never found."

She points to the corpses. "Those were the Blessed. They have been desecrated using a language only a priest would know. And, if I am interpreting your earlier comment correctly Inam, they were guarded by statues only a powerful priest would know how to make."

"I suppose, given recent events," she shudders briefly, "I can understand a distrust of So Khong."

The undine shrugs. "Based on the...flavor of some of these runes, the best I can guess is that these were dangerous individuals. I see marks of containment, imprisonment, and weakness. Beyond that, I cannot possibly guess exactly who did this, or why."

She wanders over to the female oread body. "Except..." Her eyes narrow. Suddenly, she runs from one body to the next, her gaze darting wildly from one to the other.

"Núi lửa cứu tôi! No! It cannot be!" Practically tripping over herself in her haste, she huddles in a corner, arms wrapped around her knees.

Bian composes herself, then cups her hand in her chin for a moment. "Why did you come to me first? I appreciate the vote of confidence I suppose, but there are literally hundreds of inquisitors and priests more knowledgeable than I. Are you trying to hide something?" Her tone holds no accusation, just curiosity.

She gives you a flat smile that shows she is not entirely convinced, but she lets the matter drop.

Looking over the bodies, she exclaims, "Ôi trơi! These runes are in Geni, the language of genies! (essentially devils to us) I cannot read the language, but whoever carved these had foul intentions."

She turns away from the bodies, and covers her mouth, as if trying to block a rotten stench.

Bian narrows her eyes at Ibinu. "Ibinu are you...drunk? I spent the better part of a day with you and the most I got out of you was mutterings like 'damn priests' and 'you seem alright for an inquisitor'. You are acting like a completely different elen." She takes a step back from you, as if expecting a violent or angry reaction.

It is sixteenth candle.

Bian leads you to a solid-looking cube of obsidian, seemingly indistinguishable from the dozens of other such cubes littered throughout the enormous courtyard of the Temple. Volcano's mid-afternoon shades of tangerine and tomato reflect weirdly on the black surface.

Mumbling to herself, Bian sorts through the dozen or so keys on her key-ring, coming at last to a double-pronged brass device.

She pushes hard against the heavy door. Before stepping inside, she turns and says, somewhat sternly, "Where did you find these elens? You mentioned the arena, but where in the land would you find rune-covered bodies in a brutbreve arena of all places?"

Quickly stepping in front of Inam, Bian says, "I do not believe a public street is the proper place for this, Inam!"

She takes a deep breath, and sighs. In a quieter voice, she continues, "I have a key to a nearby building - one used for preparing bodies and final rites and so forth. I'll show you the way. Give me a moment to collect my thoughts as we walk."

After you have readied the cart to move again, she walks away from the Temple, to one of the many single-story obsidian blocks that surround it.

Bian leads Inam outside, her demeanor still distant from the unexpected company. When she comes upon Ibinu and Kallik, she says, "Volcano's blessing to both of you." She looks at the three of you, then the cart with its lumpy cargo covered by cloaks. "You mentioned sigils, Inam?"

Either way, after you knock...

Bian opens the door just enough to show her face. Her smile is warm, but the door remains only half-open. "Inam, a pleasure to see you. What brings you to my quarters this day?"

With a face of stone to rival Kallik's, Bian looks toward Etrah. The chicken blinks. Bian blinks twice. A moment passes. "I know that your offer is kindly meant." Looking up and taking another deep breath, she says, "If we are to be a team, there can be no falsehoods between us. My present difficulty is being stripped of my old duties, my old fellowships, to be thrust toward three strangers."

"Buck-aw!" Etrah adds.

A tight smile. "Yes. Three strangers, and a strange chicken. Perhaps I will learn to communicate with him yet." Truth spilled upon the floor, irretrievable, Bian seems unsure of whether to stay or go.

You clearly see Bian considering whether to answer your question or not. With a sigh, she says, "It is a collection of proverbs and meditations, concerning the following of Volcano's will...when it is particularly difficult."

She nods at Eo. "Nice to see you again Eo."

Eo, seemingly oblivious to any tension, enthusiastically responds, "You too!"

Inam, as you look around for a table to sit and read, you nearly bump into Bian as she comes around a corner.

After recovering the initial blinking surprise of the near-collision, Bian becomes reserved, and distant. "Oh. Hello." She attempts to smile, and fails. "What brings you to the library this day?" She clutches a small purple book in the crook of her right arm, obscuring its title.

After So Khong is gone, Bian fails to conceal the distress on her face. "It was a...pleasure meeting all of you. I suppose I'm part of your team now. I'm going to find my mentor, Inquisitor Lý Văn Sinh."

Unless called back, she leaves

Bian inches closer to the three of you, slightly out of earshot of Eo as he glumly watches Inquistor So Khong stride away. In a conspiratorial whisper, she says, "My mentor has told me in the past that theory So Khong just spouted hasn't been proven to be true. I think So Khong was holding Antioco for a different reason."