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-----One of the guards ringing the temple shouts out, "Hold your ground! Remember we must wait for the appropriate time!"
-----The Dread Pirate winces at the burst of energy emitting from the temple, "I'm really starting to hate magic." He then roots about in his backpack, eventually emerging with his healing potion that had been handed out to the party back at Hearthorn. He quaffs the potion down, doffs his pack, draws his cutlass and says, "I'm just gonna go take a quick look, be right back. Watch my pack fer me, templar." Then, utilizing the speed of his new boots the Dread Pirate rushes the temple, intending to sneak a peak inside and see what’s going on.
-----The templar guard still stares mouth agape at the now silent tower. As the Dread Pirate speaks to him, the guard suddenly jerks his attention back to the halfling. Before the templar can protest, Gimplefwick sprints off at an incredible rate of speed. "No, you fool!" the guard yells after the Dread Pirate as he vanishes inside the temple doors. The other guards steady themselves, just catching a last glimpse of the fleeting halfling. The guards hold their positions and stare back up at the tower.
-----Marast begins to move forward after the quick halfling. Three of the guards quickly wheel about holding their spears out at the elf stopping him from going any further. The elf glares at the templar guards but offers no resistance.
-----After a few tense minutes while a nervous murmur has run amongst the guards, the Dread Pirate suddenly whisks back across the open area to where the templars are, signaling to Kazel and Marast that he is all right. He then asks to be taken to the templar leader, or whoever is in charge.
-----At that point, three of the templars descend on the Dread Pirate surrounding him with angry scowls on their faces. Marast lays a hand on his short sword and looks to draw it forth when the proceedings are interrupted by a stern voice loudly saying, "Hold!"
-----Up rides a medium-sized man wearing the holy surcoat of the god of justice. The bright chain mail he wears mostly covers his head. He is escorted by two lesser priests riding on white stallions. The entire assembly of templar guards bows reverently as he approaches.
-----He dismounts carrying a small shield on one arm. The man approaches the guards surrounding the Dread Pirate and demands to know what has happened. One of the templars then explains the loud explosive sound followed by the swift action of Gimplefwick.
-----The man then looks at the Dread Pirate and introduces himself saying, "I am Zharta, Curate of the Holy Temple of Joren here in the Town of Oakwood. You have been within? Speak now and tell me what you have witnessed!"
-----The Dread Pirate then states, "I don't know how many priests ye had in there, but it’s like a morgue in there. Quiet as can be. Up on the second floor, just below the ladder, there be the corpses of two of yer priests, lookin like they been battered and burnt. Whatever it is up there, is on the third floor, just waitin fer somebody else to try and get up there. Now I'm not sayin that me friends and I can't take care of this problem fer ye, but it’s gonna be tough. Anythin you can tell us about whatever is up there would be helpful. And, oh yes, we'll be needin somethin in the way of healin up when it’s over. And a charitable donation wouldn't be amiss either. Ye know I'd do it just fer the sake of Joren, but we needs to eat and do well." The Dread Pirate looks expectantly around, waiting for a reply.
-----With an evil grin, the Dread Pirate further adds to the gathered templars and associates, "I think I might be havin a plan as to how to pry that witch outta there and keelhaul her. But it'll take some legwork on your people's part and can't be managed by anyone but me and me friends. But I'll need to know what that creature is in there and how big the room is that she's in. If'n yer game fer it, then I'll need yer people to fetch me some items. Just so's ye know, me friends and I are somewhat acquainted with fightin evil magic usin beings. And I think we can help ye here."
-----Turning to Kazel, the Dread pirate whispers, "We needs to figure out how ye can turn invisible. Maybe somebody here in town can figure it out. It's a key part o' me plan to sneak up there without gettin our heads chopped off."
-----Zharta’s expression is sorrowful as Gimplefwick relays all that he has seen. As the Dread Pirate makes his offer to help, all emotion washes from the Curate’s face. Lifting his face toward the temple tower, he says, "We do not know what evil hast taken refuge within the walls of our most Holy of Temples. However, we cannot send any more of the citizenry forth to do what is rightfully our responsibility. Those who have tried and failed have been much more our shame. We do not know what fate hast befallen Fair Ariella."
-----Looking down at the Dread Pirate, Zharta softly says, "Nay, my friend, thank you for your assistance as foolhardy as it was. This travesty is ours to correct."
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