10/9 Meanwhile…
Solaera walked under the arches of the Temple of Gond. The acolyte guides her through shelves of manuscripts. He holds a lantern up to the earthen rainbow of spines, slowly scanning titles. After a few minutes wandering the passages he looks satisfied.
“Here they are,” he motions to a row of books. “These contain the historical records of Forge Valley. Granted, they are limited. We’re still expanding the tomes. The temple in Palosen may have more. We can send for them…”
“This is fine for now. If you could,” she motioned to the shelf above her head. He handed her the lamp. She lit the way to the reading table. “It will take weeks for them to send anything, if they have anything else.” She pulls out the chair behind the ragged stack of books. “Is there anything else on the Erythnul temple near here?”
“I’ll check, miss.”
Solaera pulled the first book off the stack. Prinn’s Pass, A History. She thumbs through looking for the date. The temple was sealed 50 years ago. Local tales attest to the long battle between the priests of St. Cuthbert and the evil god. Solaera’s peers taught how dangerous Erythnul followers were, but it didn’t explain the crusade by St. Cuthbert. A full clergy rarely sets out on a hunt, even against the vile-hearted. Dust plumed from the table as she closed the book. She examined the stack with a sigh. “This could be a while.”
***
“She’s over here,” a voice whispered. Solaera flicked the paper in front of her. The intruding lamp revealed the acolyte leading Baron and a woman bearing the symbol of St. Cuthbert. Baron’s expression was somewhat relieved to see her. His expression changed slightly as he saw the haphazard stack of papyrus and parchment on the table.
“Err… hmm. You look busy.”
Solaera stepped off of the chair. “The viscount recorded the battle and sacking of the temple in 2045,” the halfling started. “Of course, there is nothing about what or why. He found it more important to document his brilliant tactics.” Solaera sighed with frustration. She flicked a few more of the papers as if the answer would levitate to the top of the stack. “Why even build a temple there? Erythnulites are nomadic. Did your high priest provide any enlightenment?”
She pinched her nose. The acolyte excused himself and disappeared down the hall. The two priests of St. Cuthbert stood silent for a moment. Solaera raised her head. Her eyes squinted at the stillness of her company. Baron looked nervous. The woman with him stared intently from inside a battered suit of breastplate. A Large steel shield was slung across her left shoulder. A heavy thud hit the floor.
“She’s clean,” the woman said relaxing a bit. She lifted a mace from behind her to a ring on her waist.
“What…were you?” Aghast, Solaera pointed at the woman. Then she turned to Baron. “Did she just…? Who in the Nine…”
Baron raised his hands in innocence. “This is Bellan. She’s a trusted follower of our Lord. She just had to be sure.”
Solaera dropped her arm to her chest, tapping the holy symbol of Yondalla. “I would have thought it this was apparent enough,” she said cynically, “especially after saving your life.”
Baron searched for the words before Bellan interjected, “Where is the illithid, this Squishy?”
“We haven’t seen him since we left town,” the halfling shook her head. “He’s stays in the river we pass. We didn’t see him on our return. He accompanies us sometimes, but truly he walks his own path.”
Bellan’s sigh expressed her frustration. “Forget it. There are more pressing matters.”
“Bellan and her party went through the gnoll camp,” Baron said. “They completely destroyed it.”
Solaera climbed back onto the chair to sit down. She looked at both of them, “And? What happened? What were they looking for?”
“We didn’t find it.” Bellan pulled a chair from the table. “After the attack we searched through the camp. Baron says your party ran into the stragglers from the fight. That accounts for most of them. We didn’t find any ancient artifact of evil there. The leader must have taken it with him. We only have one lead.”
“Before the attack, they caught a spy coming out of the camp,” Baron added. “He escaped, but they tracked him back here. There’s an Erythnul contact in town. He brought supplies to the camp. He’s somewhere in town.”
Bellan stretched her back. “My companions have tracked him down along with some of his associates. Someone like that can’t hide from us. We’re going to apprehend them tonight in a tavern. Care to give the reading a rest?”
Solaera grasped a handful of unread parchments from the table and dropped them in dismay. “So where are we going?”
“The Toasted Pig Inn,” she grinned. “I just hope nothing starts before we get there.” Solaera glanced to Baron at the comment. “Oh. Well, they can be a bit…impetuous at times. We’ve already had our share of altercations.”
***
The three priests strode down dimly lit streets. Night had already fallen outside the library of Temple of Knowledge. The cast iron lamps illuminated the signs of shops. The murmurs of commoners mixed with cricket songs.
“So what brought you to this quiet little town? Are the gnolls brooding elsewhere too?” Solaera asked.
“We’re investigating a number of disappearances along the Pearl Coast,” Bellan replied. “Our investigation led us high into the mountains. We didn’t expect it anything might be this far. When we came across tracks of a troll pack and a bugbear, we decided to go further. Very unusual for trolls to have a guide somewhere.
“When we saw the camp, our curiosity grew. We spotted a gnome going into the camp with supplies. We grabbed him and bound him for questioning. Then we got a closer look at the camp. There were two humans among the gnolls and bugbears. These two commanded great respect. The camp was in an uproar as they disappeared.
“When it was over, we found our prisoner had escaped. We tracked him here. We heard rumors an illithid has been spotted in the area once we reached town. If an illithid colony is nearby, that is a severe threat. Nobody would be safe. That’s the connection we’re looking for. After we take care of this loose end, we’re going after it.”
Solaera and Baron exchanged a subtle glance. Could they have been under its control the whole time? Nobody knew how illithids dominated people’s minds. It remained a possibility.
Glass shattered a few streets away. The normal murmur of night broke into commotion ahead. A figure stumbled to his feet. Two guards hurried amid the flickering light.
“Oh no,” Bellan muttered under her breath. “Please, no. Not again.” The three rushed up to the building. The noise grew under the hanging sign displaying a pig roasting over a spit. “The Toasted…Pi…”
Another man dove out the broken window. He staggered to his feet trying to discern the dark surroundings. Baron shouted, “You there! What’s going on?”
The man backpedalled into the street. “They just started fighting. They’re going to kill everyone! I’ve got to… got to…” The man dashed out of sight. The view through the open window was evidence enough of that. Bellan drew her mace and strode into the inn. The others followed her lead.
The clatter of steel was deafening. People shouted over rolling wooden tables and breaking flasks. Two guards stood at the door. They looked confused. Bellan shoved a guard’s shoulder. He turned around and looked at the three of them.
She gestured to the brawl, “What are you waiting for?” The guard pointed across the room. A large man with a massive blade swung wildly. A half-elf voraciously defended against him with a longsword. In front of the fray glowing orbs spun around a woman. With a flick, light sprang forth at various people. Another man moved around the room firing a crossbow. The guard had a point. Where to start?
Bellan stepped forward snarling. She thrust her mace at the center of the room. Her lips moved, but not enough to break above the mayhem. The air rippled like a pebble disturbing a pond. Everything grew dead silent. Not even the thrumming of a heartbeat could be heard. Even the fire seemed to dance slower. The crowd continued for a moment, then paused.
Eyes eventually all turned towards the doorway. The new arrivals to the inn lacked spatters of ale and blood. Bellan lowered her weapon. The flames crackled again. Leather squeaked. The fighters panted for breath. The innkeeper poked his head above the bar.
Bellan crossed her arms as everyone shouted explanations. Weapons pointed this way and that. Two more guards stepped through the door. The innkeeper’s voice joined in. The overall volume escalated again. Bellan’s face turned sour. She looked at the guards behind her.
“Just take them all in,” she said exasperated. “We’ll sort it out in the morning. It’s too late in the evening for all of this. I’ll take those two. You two, take them. You two… them.”
The room cleared out amid lavish protests and disgruntled sighs. All were led down to the jail house. The noise dissipated as the door closed behind the priests.
Bellan looked at the guard. “Don’t bring them anything. Don’t check on them. Don’t feed them… and no visitors. We’ll be back in the morning.” She pushed her hair back. Turning to the other priests she asked, “So, how about a drink now?”
