Against the Cult: The Sleeper Must Awaken (1.3)

I approach the cleric at the door, stepping ahead of those in line and bow my head respectfully, "We are here as a matter of urgency. This young boy is very ill, and we know not what affliction he has. We have come seeking healers to aid him."

"Muh." says Klak. He's tired. He's been driving a mule-ox-horse-thing all night long wondering about bears.

"A bit of food will be fine. I'm more concerned about the boy than myself."

Thacogygax, awkward as ever, simply nods and follows Sara's lead. He stands gawking at the temple's interior, studying the architecture.

"Rest, mostly." Klak mutters. Driving stupid animals to from a cart through the wee hours of the day and night are just the sort of thing Dwarves aren't supposed to do. Marching. Marching is one thing. Sitting staring at the butt of an animal... not so much.

The initiate escorts you three (leaving Morgran in the Laomairy with Devek) down the hall to another room containg several more rope cots. There is a pile of folded blankets in a large basket by the door, and a table with a wide basin and a pitcher of water. The initiate invites Klak to refresh himself with any ablutions he needs, pick a resting spot and take a blanket to get some rest as he needs. Then he escorts Sara and Thacogygax back to the dining hall.

The dining hall is about half full of various commoners who have come to be fed. Diana, standing in the center of the room as you come in, finishes invoking Rao's blessing on the meal and then comes through the room toward the two party members. "Please," she smiles, remembering you from before, "Join us and eat." The initiate clears his throat and points out: "They've actually come with another request, for a boy who may be sick or cursed." Diana frowns slightly, makes her excuses for stepping away from the shared meal, and then demands that the initiate guide her to the correct Laomairy room. She waves you to continue getting something to eat, rather than waiting on her observation of the boy, which might take some time.

"What think you, Sara?" Thacogygax asks the half-elf in between mouthfuls of the simple meal, "What ails the boy? Unhappy I am that help more, we cannot."

I eat slowly and solemnly, "I don't know. I hope the healers can help him, his ailment is beyond my simple knowledge of herbs and physical injuries."

Sara notices that Diana has returned to the hall just as the cleric, clearly looking for them, spots the unmistakable bulk of Thacogygax at their table. As she crosses the room to them, she grabs an initiate and sends him off on an errand.

Arriving at the table, you see that Morgran has come with her. Diana smiles grimly. "Thank you all for bringing in the Jarl boy. It seems like yesterday that I helped Elista with the birth..." She shakes her head and sits down on the same bench as Sara but at an arm's length from her. "Would you tell me again, please, the circumstances that brought Devek to us like this? I've prayed to heal him, and it hasn't worked. I spoke with your dwarf friend - Morgran?" (Morgran nods) "and he says that his prayers have also not been effective. He told me that Devek had been wandering in the woods, possibly near a ruin he and his sister found in the Dim, when he returned home and passed out. The family hasn't been able to wake him since. Is that right? Are there any other details you could provide?"

She notices that Morgran is still standing, and gestures to another initiate. The girl walks up, and Diana directs: "Please, get the dwarf something to eat. He's been up all night with no food or rest." The initiate leads Morgran away to choose his meal.

Diana sighs. "Your friend Morgran is very dedicated; more so than any devotee of Kord that I've ever met before. He helped me with some divination as to the nature of the sickness. Rao told me that the illness is both magical and alchemical in nature, and Morgran says that Kord says no different. We also noticed a puncture mark on Devek's hand; that's probably where the substance was introduced. In order to heal it, we'd have to know more about the substance."

I nod, "I'm afraid those are all of the details we know. Those of our company who had actually spoken with the boy's parents had remained to deal with a new problem that had arisen during our visit. A minstrel of some kind intending the family harm. Whether or not it is related, I cannot say as we made our way here with haste to see to it that the boy was tended before long."

"It's a strange, magical sleep, indeed. I will continue tending to Devek. Do you plan to rejoin the rest of your group, or will they join you here?"

I look to the others, "We hadn't considered what we might do once we arrived here. What are you thoughts? Thack? Klak?"

It takes Thacogygax a few moments Sara meant him when she said "Thack." The thraakon has never quite grasped the concept of nicknames. He shrugs. "Rejoin friends, perhaps. What has happened at the farm, we know not. And the bandits? Forgotten them, have we? Consider carefully we must."

"It would seem there's one road. We should follow it and regroup."

"Aye. I agree." Turning to the priest, "As long as there is nothing more we can do for the boy, it makes most sense for us to return to our companions and see to it that they are themselves faring well."

"If you can find the source of the material, or even just a sample of it, that would help greatly."

Diana wishes you well.
Morgran decides to stay with Devek for the time being, but asks that you come back for him if you find out any more about Black or the giant crocodiles. He offers to pray a blessing of Kord over you. Diana, perhaps not wishing to be outdone, offers both a prayer of Rao's blessing and a gift to one one of you: a small flask of "Rao's Grace."