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-----"The inn was the West Gate Inn, and though I don't know the name of the blacksmith, I know where his shop is." Kazel then half turns towards the doors, implicitly asking if they all are ready to go.
-----Seth raises his head and throws Kazel and Gimplefwick another wink. "My Lord Lotley, we shall follow on to the gates of hell!"
-----"My Most Dear, Fair Lady," Lotley replies softly to Kazel, admiration growing in his eyes, "lead me where thou wilt and I shall protect thee and thy friends with every bit of Strength and Faith I have."
-----With that, the trio leads the Paladin Nylan Lotley and Pelator, the Guardian Acolyte out into the heavy rain. Large puddles of water stand in the nighttime street and small streams flow along the buildings. Close at hand, the thieves are relieved to see Jim and the wagon waiting on them. The thieves quickly usher the two guardians into the vehicle. The five people find places to sit between the boxes and crates. The thieves wonder if the containers in the wagon are truly empty as they start off.
-----Kazel directs Jim to drive northwest down the street. Lotley stares silently out the opening of the canopy in the direction they are heading in.
-----On their left, the wagon passes the dark shapes of sleeping houses and shops. Every now and then the dim glow of candlelight is seen shining through closed shutters. As the wagon passes the alleys and spaces between the houses, the thieves see shadowy shapes moving. The shapes resemble some of their comrades in the guild.
-----As they pass by a second block, the thieves see, coming up on their right, the ominous tower of the Lord Wizard. Its bluish stones appear not to be somehow touched by the falling rain. All appears dark in that tower but there prevails a feeling of being watched that causes some of the thieves to shiver momentarily.
-----On the third block, there are more houses than shops and on the right is the House of the Healing Light. This place, the temple devoted to the Sun God, Solarius, seems a bit warmer. The big building has a circular shape and out front two globes glow warmly. The reflection shines off the brass mountings on the front doors.
-----As they approach the last block on the street, they leave the temple light and Kazel points out the last building on the left as the blacksmith’s shop. The two guardians seem to tense more as they stare where the half-elven girl points. The workshop of the dark building features two large doors and it looks big enough to pull a wagon into. Jim pulls the wagon over to the right, a house down from the shop.
-----Lotley raises his hand in a gesture of silence as he stares intently at the blacksmith’s dwelling. After a few silent moments, the paladin closes his eyes with a slight pained look. Sighing heavily and staring at the building once again with a firm expression, he simply says, "Evil doth reside therein."
-----The paladin then instructs Jim, "Lad, pull thy wagon on up the street and out of harm’s way. When the Guardians of the Temple approach, direct them forthwith!"
-----"A moment more," Pelator quietly announces and asks all in the wagon, "Please bow thy heads." The Guardian Acolyte then begins a simple prayer, "O’ Joren, Greatest of Guardians, God of Justice, hear now the needs and send thy blessings upon us, thy flock, so that we may vanquish that which threatens to undo thy Faithful!" Pelator then places his hand on the head of each person in the wagon, each time intoning, "By the Great Guardian, receive ye this Blessing!" As the acolyte approaches Jim, the boy exhibits a slight expression of fear. After receiving the blessing, a look of calm comes over him and he suddenly looks uplifted somehow.
-----"All is ready," Pelator says and Lotley climbs down from the wagon. Pelator follows him and they help the thieves out of the wagon. Lotley waves at Jim and the boy begins to move the wagon down the rainy street.
-----The paladin hoists his shield and with his chest heaving strides adamantly toward the large doors of the shop. Pelator and the trio follow quietly behind him. A low light as if from a forge shines from under the large portals. Lotley stands before the doors and straightens his stance. With his right-gloved hand, he bangs on the door. With his clear resolute voice, he calls, "Blacksmith, open this thy door in the name of the Faithful of Joren, the Holy Guardian!"
-----As Lotley approaches the forge's doors, Gimplefwick draws his new sword and edges behind Pelator. He then glances about and says, "Avast there maties, I'll head around the side of the building and see if there be any windows. We don't want any of 'em escapin the revealin' light of Joren's justice, now do we. I'll just be over there then. Good luck." With that said, the Dread Pirate scampers off into the shadows, headed towards the left side of the forge, trying to stay in the shadows.
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