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-----Within a few moments, the wagon pulls into town without having to pay and leaving a few lusty guards standing with huge smiles and open mouths.
-----As the wagon slowly moves along, Kazel, with the steady roll of the wagon and the falling rain, manages to induce herself intro a trance and thereby reducing the breathing required in a box stuffed with a large man and a dwarf... Although, she couldn't help but roll her eyes in the darkness as she was forced to listen to the bantering between Dora May and the town guards.
-----"Well, that’s Dora May fer ya," Picks chuckles as he exits his box, "Not just a pruty face, but it helps!"
-----Seth sits quietly in the wagon and contemplates different things, such as, how much money would he need to set up a bookshop, comparing and contrasting Gorian Impressionism with Gorian Checks, and were they somehow interrelated, as well as some snatches of tunes he was thinking of performing one day in a Gala performance.
-----As Jim slowly drives up the street along the market area, some of the thieves depart the wagon at different spots and they disappear into the shadows and the rain. First goes the Fly, then Picks, and then Grin.
-----At the end of the street, Jim stops the wagon close to the town well. The Dread Pirate, Kazel and Seth disembark and the wagon turns left and heads down the street in front of the temples. As the trio walks up the steps of the magnificent temple, a guard calls down from the tower, "Who goes there, o’ faithful and law-abiding citizens?"
-----In his daydream, Seth approaches the steps of the temple when he hears the voice of the guard. He takes a step forward and bends his head as he kneels on the steps. "We are supplicants that need to talk to one of the Chosen of Joren. Preferably one by the name of Lotley." He keeps his head bent while he waits for the guard to act.
-----The guard hesitates a moment as if the rain kept him from hearing properly. He then stares down at the trio as if blinking. "Lotley?" he asks with an unbelieving tone. Then he appears to snap out of it. "Markus!" he calls loudly to someone out of sight, "announce to the Paladin Lotley three of the Faithful wish to speak with him!"
-----Then there appears to commence a great commotion of voices calling to one another through the front tower of the temple. Within a few moments, one of the two front doors is opened and the thieves are ushered inside. The trio enters into an antechamber measuring twenty by twenty feet. The massive doors to the main sanctuary on the opposite wall remain closed. A staircase on the left leads to the upper part of the tower while steps on the right descend to a lower level. White light illuminates the chamber from a suspended sphere overhead. Shields, banners and Coats-of-Arms line the upper part of the walls. The two armed guards that stand before them offer to take their cloaks and eye the Dread Pirate standing in his muddy boots and wet tabard. "The Paladin Nylan Lotley will be with you shortly," they curtly say as they take up positions by each set of stairs.
-----Soon footsteps are heard ascending the stairs on the right and the handsome face of Nylan Lotley appears. His blue eyes squint as if he has just arisen from a sound slumber, although he is fully attired in a white ruffled shirt, blue hose, a dark blue vest and soft boots.
-----At the top of the stairs, he begins to bow, but then stops. His eyes go wide and then a bright smile beams on his face. He finishes his bow and then eagerly approaches the thieves with his arms flung wide. "By the Most Righteous Justice of the Holy Guardian!" he begins in an ecstasy of joy. "Tis the Faithful Friends of Noble Slappy!"
-----The two guards stare at each other with disbelieving stares and slack jaws. "Success, my friends," the paladin exclaims, "as I have arrived back in Hearthorn this very day with thy poor and afflicted friend. Yes, Fearless and Brave Slappy doth live! We did have to place him in his cursed condition momentarily in the town jail, however hope will prevail! For it is, that mere hours ago, I did petition the Lord Wizard Zepharon to see to Sir Slappy’s welfare and undo his wretched form!"
-----One guard rolls his eyes as the other one rubs his forehead while squeezing his eyes tightly shut and clenching his teeth.
-----Seth steps forward with a grave and dire expression upon his face. For a moment a brief smile appears on his face as the Paladin mentions that Sir Slappy's restoration is close at hand. Seth holds up his hand and motions for silence. "My dear Lotley, may I begin by offering you our most sincere thanks for what you have done for our friend Sir Slappy. His family will be most pleased at the efforts that yourself and the Great Lord Zepharon have gone to for his restoration."
-----Seth sighs and continues. "As grave as Slappy's condition is we have come upon business that is even more dire and strikes at the very heart of the Town we love and of the Very Bones of JOREN!!!" Seth is trying hard to be theatrical and, throwing his hands in the air, he now gives a big wave indicating his fellow thieves.. "My friends and I have been about a special service, one in which our friend Slappy was transformed. Indeed the people that did such to him are also responsible for a blight unto the land. Indeed as we speak a dark and evil religion is struggling for domination of our land and damnation for its people. Already they have begun this process by pollution of our most trustworthy coin."
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