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-----Everyone follows Sol’s move and soon the small troop is moving off down the street. Just down two blocks, they intersect with the street that leads to the Keep of Oakwood. Directly across from them, the street opens out into a large Market area. Although it appears not to be as large as the Market area in Hearthorn, there seems to be a lot of activity with goods being bought and sold.
-----Raven and Rinda leads them across the Market place and then down another street heading toward the east. As they ride, the party notices that few people are out in this part of town although it is only three hours past high noon. Here Romney and Bradley murmur quietly under their breath as if the guards are shook by something. Suddenly at the end of the block they see a strange sight. There before them on one corner is a large temple. It looks very much like the temple dedicated to the god Joren back in Hearthorn. Sure enough over the door is a sign bearing a dark blue shield fielding a white lance. A troop of soldiers completely surrounds the building holding off curious onlookers.
-----Everyone’s attention is drawn up at the top of the temple tower. At first, it looks as though the tower was built with a black dome atop it. Then it is suddenly apparent the top of the temple tower is encased in a globe of Darkness!
-----"By the gods," the guard named Bradley says nervously, "the blasphemy is still there."
-----Rinda turns somewhat toward the others and explains in a quiet voice, "This is what Raven and I first saw yesterday when we were here."
-----In front of the temple, there stands an assembly of priests and other guards. By their demeanor they are reverently guarding a medium-sized man wearing the holy surcoat of the god of justice. The bright chain mail he wears mostly covers his head. He stares grimly at the dark globe above them.
-----A templar guard walks up to the party as they approach. Looking at them, he respectfully says, "Fair citizens, by Order of the Curate Zharta, please stay back as we of the Holy Temple of Joren are concerned for the safety of all!"
-----From the assembly of priests, one of the lesser priests murmurs something to the one who must be Zharta. From the Curate comes a response loud enough for everyone to hear. "Nay," he says in voice still firm but hinting at fatigue, "we can do naught at this point! We cannot take any action while Ariella is still up there! We must have faith and keep vigilant! If the blasphemy grows any more, we shall act to move the fair families from their homes on the surrounding blocks!"
-----At the mention of someone up among that darkness, the guard called Abram shakes his head and whispers, " . . . but it has been three days."
-----Every now and then, a sudden light tracing of small lightning-like bolts flicker over the surface of the globe of Darkness.
-----Shema angrily grimaces up at it.
-----Raven turns to Sarah. "Can you help these people? Do you have any of those scrolls left?"
-----"I very much doubt that the source of all this evil has holed itself up in the middle of a city of good." Sarah says. "I think our plan of striking the cave is a better one than hitting this directly."
-----Silently Sarah prays to Destine for the life of the sorceress who has gone in.
-----Sol shakes his head sadly. "Sarah's right, Raven. We should move on. If ye want we could try...No. We really should go." The Gorian sounds more like he's convincing himself than anyone else. Like the guard Shema, Sol also watches the globe angrily.
-----"I only have one scroll left." Sarah says, making it painfully obvious why the group can't afford to attack this darkness.
-----Raven frowns, but then nods his head. Raven says simply, "Okay." Raven urges his horse forward.
-----With little fanfare, the party with their four guards rides through the town gate and sees the surrounding forest before them. The mood is a bit somber and also a little disquieting with the approach of the mid-afternoon. Looking back at the town walls, there appears to be an increase of guards among the parapets. The men there position themselves staring out at the silent trees as if anticipating the worst.
-----The trail before the party first heads to the east. As they follow it, tall oak and maple trees line both sides of the path. After about a mile, the trail forks with the one of the paths continuing to the northeast while the other turns southeast. With the urging of the guards, it is the southward route everyone follows.
-----As they continue between the trees, Sol motions the guard Abram aside and talks quietly to him. The young warrior then rides beside Romney speaking with him in the same quiet manner. The heavy-browed man gives Sol a strange look but agreeably nods his head.
-----Within an hour’s time after leaving the town, the trail leads the party across a wide flat plain mostly devoid of trees. For a change, it seems pleasant as the sun is able to shine just over the treetops and the rays warm the riders. By the time that they make it across the plain and enter back among the trees, the shadows appear to be a bit longer.
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