Chapter One - The Adventure Begins

Toe lets out a whistle. "2,500 gold pieces, that's quite the enticing bounty. Of course, no honorable person would be solely motivated by financial gain but, it doesn't hurt your cause. You have my swords sister."

Toe peruses the piece of paper.

"'Below the cauldron' seems obvious. We may be going underground - down the crater perhaps. "Where precious life is bought with gold." Sir Dracone, it seems you're correct about it being slavers. Rest of it, your guess is as good as mine." He hands the paper to the next in line.

The ranger looks quickly at the piece of parchment, before passing it to whoever wants to read it next. He seems nonplussed, as expected, but throws a quick look at the halfling swordsman, dryly saying: "Traps. Must be traps... doors with teeth."

Then his gaze falls on the woman standing in front of them: "Sister...", he says softly, and a little awkwardly, "I would have a word, please... My brother, Sdion, has been missing for some days. Your... people, they tend to the wounded yes ? I need to know: did he come this way? He has been missing. For almost a week. So I went through this crater-town and turned the taverns and all kinds of scum-dens upside down, trying to find signs of him, but no-one has seen him. He seems to have just... gone. If he came here, I need to know it !"...then he seems to pause a moment and adds, visibly with effort: "If it... would please you to help me, Sister. I will owe you."

Trying hard to control his obvious distress, he proceeds to describe his younger sibling as well as he can. His face is suffused with worry as he awaits Sister Jenya's answer.

"Malachite yields copper. Are there any copper mines in the area...? I know of the Taskerhill obsidian interests...do they have any works in the city itself?" Kija ponders handing the note to the next party member, again speaking to no one and everyone.

Taking the note Rand reads it over quickly

" Not sure how much help I could be, but I think an investigation may help with both of our interests. It's not publicly known but our church has been missing our three highest ranking priests, one of which is my mentor. "

Rand uncomfortable shifts slightly.

"I will offer my cleric services as aid but not for any coin. To conquer this great evil will be its own reward. But what would kidnappers want with 3 master Sun priests?"

"Hard to say, Rand. The first thing that comes to my mind is they want them for the same services you are offering us...healing magic. Where these three known for having a great amount of skill?"

She pauses for a moment biting her bottom lip, "And, apologies if this next question is to indelicate, but...are you positive they were taken against their will? I only ask so that we can clear any doubts. I mean, IF there is the possibility they went willingly, to perhaps take leadership positions in the slaver group...well...we need to rule that out if we can. No one is truly above suspicion until we know they are. Where they seen being taken? Or where there signs of a struggle?"

"If I may interject with a minor suggestion - perhaps it is too early in our investigation to offer a conclusion. Can we even say they were specifically targeted? Could they be targets of convenience? Were the orphans taken from the orphanage or in public space? Same question regarding the missing priests. Why don't we begin by visiting the scene of the crime - assuming this is known? See if there's anything amiss?

Sister, what information can you provide us about the kidnappings? Same to you brother Rand."

" Well, they were taken with no signs of a struggle and all were missing around the same time. I suppose there isn't anything credible to say they aren't involved. But I've known these people, were even raised by them I can't believe they would have a hand in this but logically I can't rule it out either "

Rand raises his right hand to his temple with a soft sigh.

"Kija to answer your question, yes all were masters of either healing miracles or medicine. However, they also mastered miracles of sunlight as well, divine power good against undead or anything weak to daylight"

Rand seems to come to a realization.

" I remember that one of the face painted bandits mentioned me as a 'green-gilled sunshine priest'. I was promoted to Alcolyte only a couple days ago, since the disappearances. It could have been a trivial taunt but maybe not .... "

Looking at Jenya

"Lady Urikas, has anyone from your church turned up missing as well?"

Jaqir happily accepts a tea and revels in the smooth scent of the beverage, sipping it softly as he watches the others talk about the possibilities for the culprits.

It is certainly too early to make a judgment regardless. Do any of you that spend more time in study of religious groups or local groups recognize the face paint they wore? That could help to guide us in where our next questions should be. he says in between sips. And Toe, I only ask because being in an orphanage is a - struggle - to put it lightly. You've likely noticed I'm a little stranger than the norm. It didn't help make my parents love me and it didn't help the matron there at the time treat me nicely. I singed countless drapes and papers before I learned better how to control my inborn power, but the emotional damage was done. I know many of the orphans I grew up with could have been lured away from that life with the promise of no more than an extra bowl of soup and a place to call home. Without finding them to ask, we won't know how they are being taken in order to watch for other issues.

Toe turns to Jaqir.

"You may have misunderstood me. If I seemed a bit... flustered by your inquiry, it wasn't anything to do with experience of an orphan. I do not doubt your circumstances were less than ideal. It's that your question brought to mind... someone..., whom I haven't seen in year and it conjured up wistful feelings in me. I wish to leave it at that. My apologies." With that Toe bow slightly toward Jaqir.

"I'm sorry to bring it up, it's just my nature to try and see a situation from every possible angle. It is what draws me to Divination magic, as I learn more I will be able to truths faster."

Toe cocks his eyeybrow and says, "Locks you say? Perhaps we should check out the orphanage and these locks in particular."

"Also, all mines being located outside the city... 'Look beyond the curtain'... Curtain could mean the malachite city walls. Sister, are there any mines you know of that leads directly underneath Cauldron?"

Fhenryl had listened intently at the Sister's account of her brief meeting with the stranger he had no doubt was his brother. His face tightened with a mix of elation and cool, concentrated focus as he strained to memorize everything she was telling him, in a desperate effort to make sense of these precious few bribes of information.

He did give a small start as she touched his forearm, and for a split second he'd made as if to shy away from this wholly unexpected contact, but soon his eyes lit up with warmth and gratitude, and he'd grabbed the indeed quite startled holy woman of St Cuthbert in a sudden bear hug, stopping short of choking the breath out of her.

After a second, he'd released his grip on the dazzed priestess, taken a half step away from her, and dropped to one knee, while staring at her in a new, intense look, then dramatically pawed at his chest as he pronounced the ritual of the an-a'ndreth*, his voice thick with emotion:

"From all the denizens of this gurgling meatbasket, you and you only offered help and spoke with truth and honor, your provided me with hope like a draught of clear, cool water after I'd toiled in darkness for many a moon. For this I shall give you my help, at this time and at one other time of your choosing."**

As he slowly stood, he kept his eyes on the priestess and as if to answer her intrigued expression, he said, switching back to Common: "The Forest Law commands it: In Kindness Or In Blood, So I Shall Repay... !"


*an-a'ndreth: a very ancient pledge that was of common use in the first elven settlements, either as a gift of service to retribute a good deed or as a blood oath to extract revenge against a perceived crime, the ritual phrase is used nowadays only in exceptional circumstances, but is still practiced and revered by most.
** translated from elvish

Rand takes one of the potions placing it in his jacket pocket.

"Thank you very much Lady Urikas. I hope we can end this vile plot before it goes any further."

Looking towards Kija.

" Sorry if I sounded cross Kija, don't feel that you need to apologize for your inquisitiveness at least to me. Your questions have merit. In fact, your directness is a nice change of pace from church conversation."

Looking to address Jaqir.

"It true Jaqir we can waste time speculating all night but what we really need are facts and proof. I shouldn't make judgments until we find out more."

Grabbing his cloak from the hook he left it on earlier, he looks to Dracone direction

" An investigation should take place as soon as possible Dracone and I do agree with staying together. However, I do have rounds to make back at the hospital in the temple and I cannot stay but will be back in an hour. You're more than welcome to come with if you feel that a strength in number will stop them. Also these clothes I'm wearing will do very little to stop a dagger in the shadows. I have equipment I may need."