Inside the Temple
Tolandra introduced herself as Tolandra Dravin, Head Priestess of the Ladydove temple of Lathander. Technically Devanar was her equal, since the church of Lathander had no formal hierarchy, any temple head had equal status. Of course Devanar was the only cleric within the temple in Lundeth, and Lundeth had only a small group of worshippers of Lathander, in spite of a temple building that was not much smaller than in Ladydove. This was largely Devanar's fault, generally Lathander was not unpopular. Tolandra expected a great deal of integrity from clerics of her own belief, hence her dislike of the - in her view - self-indulgence that Devanar displayed. He was fat, a drunkard, and now he had neglected to keep his own graveyard hallowed. She was, in fact, surprised that Lathander had not long ago revoked Devanar's powers as a cleric.
Tolandra accepted the introductions and offers of assistance gracefully.
'Please follow me', she said when everybody had introduced himself. She moved out of the main hall into a stone-paved hallway, and from there up a flight of winding stairs. Finally the group arrived at large room on the first uppper floor with a large oval table of dark wood and heavy chairs. She seated herself at one head of the oval and indicated for the others to also take seats. Aside from Agnak, Tynien, Maglu'glath and Devanar there was Sergeant Holden, and another priest who introduced himself as Mortens Gallow, Priest of Lathander. He carried a ledger, quill and ink bottle, and immediately prepared to note down whatever information was presented.
'Let us first pool our knowledge', Tolandra said. 'Brother Devanar, I believe you have had the earliest experience with these occurences. Please begin.'
Devanar got up, his girth necessitating a generous shift of his chair. His pose was humble, almost wretched, yet equally determined.
'Sister, Brother, honoured guests', Devanar began, 'please hear my tale. It was a week ago that the young Merredith Cantilop gave birth to her baby boy. This same baby boy here.' He indicated the bundle he had still been carrying. The baby had fallen asleep sometime earlier after he had fed it milk and honey by letting it drip from a twig into its mouth.
'The lass took to breast-feed it, usually, and was so left by herself in her room. Not much milk she had, or so it was said, but she still tried. Three days ago the father, Moffet Cantilop was his name, found her in said room, lying dead with the baby in her arms. There was then a great commotion, during which young Moffet took his baby boy into an adjacent room to calm him. He was a good lad, young Moffet. Alas, he, too, was found dead by his parents when they were preparing to have the late Merredith moved. These events I was told by the parents, later. The bodies were brought to my temple and I put them below the ground. The family was not poor, but hadn't the money to pay for a raising of the two of them. I was.... too drunk to pay much attention, and did not examine the bodies. I was also too drunk to notice.... that I had not renewedly hallowed my graveyard. I cannot but do penance for this offence. I request no easy forgiveness.'
He looked at Tolandra with a genuinely crestfallen look. She smiled a little uneasily.
'It is not for me to judge you, Brother Devanar. Lathander has chosen to forgoe your punishment for now. Perhaps he also has other penance in mind for you.'
Devanar heaved a sigh.
'I will continue, then', he said a little unnecessarily, and braced himself for the hardest part of his tale. 'That night the deceased rose from their graves as undead wights to haunt the living. They went into hiding somewhere in Lundeth, the guards and the Jasites are looking for them. This was my gravest hour, and the one that brought me to my senses. It also drove fear into my very bones. The child was still in the care of his grand-parents. Mad with anxiety I rushed to find them and determine the cause for his parents' demise. Perhaps I was... rash. My words were hasty. They misunderstood my intention. They delayed me while the boy's uncle, Garret Cantilop, yonder man who now also lies dead in his very temple, took the baby and fled from Lundeth. Again mad with anxiety I communed with our Lord Lathander, and from him received the answer that it was the child that was to blame. And that there were more like him. But my questions... my questions... were rash. And my interpretation was... wrong, at the time.'
He paused and let a very humbled gaze sweep the onlookers.
[ooc]
[spoiler]
Morten's Aura: 12
More later. You can interupt if you like.[/spoiler]