Midian smiles disarmingly. “At the moment, following you to Aloma and the woman in the night gown. Shall we?” He does not provide more details to the young man, as he is not certain how much of the information on Aeda will be made public, and he has no interest in reiterating the whole tale to the evidently low ranking fellow. 

"Sh, sh, sure," says the young man, immediately heading off down the corridor in the direction of the singing. Then he stops, turns and says, "Sorry, my, my name is Daffid. I'm the son of the Temple's chandler."

He then hurries on, leading Midian on past the room where the singing is coming from through various corridors and darkened open spaces until they reach the entrance to a building where there is a strong medicinal smell in the air.

"Here you are," he says, still speaking in Stemian, "the hospice."

"That right," says an elderly Sorian woman in the robes of a full priestess of Aieda, who is approaching the building from another direction. "And what are you doing running around the Temple in your undershirt, Daffid? That is not very seemly."

In the light coming through the door, Midian sees Daffid begin to look anxiously about. "S, sorry, Mother," he says. "The, this man is a Seeker. He says he w, wants to see Priestess Aloma."

"Thank you, Daffid," says the woman. "I'll take care of this. You can go and put some proper clothes on now."

Daffid nods his head and after taking another sly look at Midian, hurries off back the way they came.

Speaking now in Sorendenese, the elderly priestess says, "You are familiar to me, but you are not a Seeker. Who are you, young man? And why are you here?"

[OOC: Midian recognises this woman. She is the high priestess of the Temple of Aieda, the equivalent of the Loremaster of the Temple of Donai. By tradition, she is referred to as just 'Mother'.]

Midian bows deeply and gives formal religious greeting to the woman, then identifies himself. “Apprentice Seeker Midian Voda, Mother. Harlan’s apprentice. Daffid was most helpful, a very well mannered lad. I am looking for priestess Aloma. I came into the temple with her a short time ago, but we parted ways while I looked for another of our group, the Handleader, who had become separated and has since gone missing. I was unable to locate him. Two of his subordinates I encountered on the way in have taken up the torch, literally and figuratively, to continue the search. Where might I find priestess Aloma?”

The mother nods and says, "My condolences at the loss of your master, Apprentice."

She then turns and looks back into the hospice before saying, "Priestess Aloma is inside with her patient..."

After thinking for a moment, the Mother directs Midian to step into the vestibule of the hospice with her where there is better light.

"Priestess Aloma has made some strange claims about that woman and I do not understand your involvement at all. Would you care to enlighten me as to what has been going on?"

[OCC: If you don't want to bother detailing everything, just let me know if there is anything you don't Midian to mention.]

Midian tries to feel out how much Aloma has shared at this stage with the Mother of the order. “I was the one who first brought the presence of this woman to Aloma’s attention,” Midian begins, “That is my involvement. She’s a must curious case. I assume Aloma has told you of her abilities and her... condition? There was another matter I was going to consult with Aloma about, holy Mother. If you have any further questions for me I would be happy to answer, however, or if you have any of your own insights you would like to share.” Midian remains neutral in discussing the avatar as he does not know how the church elders will accept her, and he isn’t sure if he accepts her as a legitimate manifestation of divinity himself. 

"Priestess Aloma said something about the School of Occult Studies," says the Mother after a moment. "Where does that fit in and how did you, a Seeker's apprentice, find out about her?"

At this point, Midian sees Priestess Aloma exit from a room a little further up the long corridor that runs the length of the building. She is talking with another woman dressed in the robes of a priestess.

“It has indeed been a curious series of events, holy Mother,” Midian answers. “While investigating Seeker Harlan’s death I came across the rumors about the woman now within the hospice at the School of Occult Studies. We went to investigate, and, here we are. Pardon me, I look forward to speaking with you again in the future.” He bows and goes to Aloma. 

"Thank you for that information," says the holy mother. "I have other demands on my time at this moment, tell Priestess Aloma I will catch up with her shortly."

The holy mother then continues on her way allowing Midian to approach Priestess Aloma, who has just finished talking with the other priestess.

"Midian," she says, acknowledging his arrival as the other priestess withdraws back into the room and closes the door, "did you find Handleader Samswell?"

"No, I did not.  I had an odd feeling about the entirety of our return trip from the school, as I noted.   Too many odd coincidences as well as inconsistencies.  In any case, I noted the signs of the entry way door having been tampered with by the tools of a thief, and signs of a scuffle outside which lead to the water's edge."

OOC: If I am misremembering the evidence trail Midian discovered outside/near the entrance, let me know.

"There was also this strange dust found on the bench where... she sat," Midian says, gesturing to "Aeda's host."  "I collected it for study in case it has some significance.  It was dark, and, if worse has come to worse and Samswell was felled and cast into the water, in this darkness there is no benefit to an underwater search at present.  A couple of armed soldiers who identified themselves as reporting to Samswell took the torch and went outside shortly after me to continue the search."

Midian looks to the priestess with the second-self within.  "How is she faring?  I wasn't sure how many members of the clergy have been made aware of her, or what the official stance is to be regarding her legitimacy, or if it's to be made known to clergy at large, or even made public. I'd imagine there will be some counsels and debates, tests and auguries to confirm her legitimacy, before any such actions are undertaken. It's certainly a quandary."

Slightly apologetically, Midian adds, "I am still not sure if this directly intersects with Harlan's murder, though it is my personal belief it is more likely than not.  Still, I do need to continue with that, and follow up on using the items obtained at the University to see if we can track Moonson and the missing student, Alus.  Perhaps someone can also study this dust obtained from the bench, and see what it might mean."  

Midian is trained in Arcana and may also study the dust himself, but does not have the ability to track the location of Moonson and Treesinger by the items, so he will likely turn all three - including the dust - over to a proficient Arcanist in the church for analysis.  

OOC: If he has a "go to" for such divination, he would head there next, having reported on the Handleader to Aloma.  Otherwise, he adds, "Aloma, who would you recommend perform divinations using these items to track the whereabouts of Simud Moonson and Alus Treesinger?"  

Quote from Izraal1 >>

"No, I did not.  I had an odd feeling about the entirety of our return trip from the school, as I noted.   Too many odd coincidences as well as inconsistencies.  In any case, I noted the signs of the entry way door having been tampered with by the tools of a thief, and signs of a scuffle outside which lead to the water's edge."

OOC: If I am misremembering the evidence trail Midian discovered outside/near the entrance, let me know.

[OOC: Sounds good to me.]

"There was also this strange dust found on the bench where... she sat," Midian says, gesturing to "Aeda's host."  "I collected it for study in case it has some significance.  It was dark, and, if worse has come to worse and Samswell was felled and cast into the water, in this darkness there is no benefit to an underwater search at present.  A couple of armed soldiers who identified themselves as reporting to Samswell took the torch and went outside shortly after me to continue the search."

"I fear for his safety," says Priestess Aloma. "Arthur is a competent man, and loyal. He would not have just disappeared like that."

Midian looks to the priestess with the second-self within.  "How is she faring?  I wasn't sure how many members of the clergy have been made aware of her, or what the official stance is to be regarding her legitimacy, or if it's to be made known to clergy at large, or even made public. I'd imagine there will be some counsels and debates, tests and auguries to confirm her legitimacy, before any such actions are undertaken. It's certainly a quandary."

"You are correct in that. Mother has asked me to gather such evidence so that it can be presented to the Temple as a whole for deliberation. I have asked my fellow priestess to prepare a calming draft to sooth the avatar while I go and put on some proper clothes and get some of my books."

Slightly apologetically, Midian adds, "I am still not sure if this directly intersects with Harlan's murder, though it is my personal belief it is more likely than not.  Still, I do need to continue with that, and follow up on using the items obtained at the University to see if we can track Moonson and the missing student, Alus.  Perhaps someone can also study this dust obtained from the bench, and see what it might mean."  

Priestess Aloma briefly looks at the small sample of dust that Midian shows her and says, "It looks like fine sand, like the type that is used to dry ink. And I am sorry, but I can't help you further because of the appearance of the avatar must demand my entire attention at the moment."

Midian is trained in Arcana and may also study the dust himself, but does not have the ability to track the location of Moonson and Treesinger by the items, so he will likely turn all three - including the dust - over to a proficient Arcanist in the church for analysis.  

[OOC: If you still want Midian to make an Arcana check, please give me some details as to how he goes about it.]

OOC: If he has a "go to" for such divination, he would head there next, having reported on the Handleader to Aloma.  Otherwise, he adds, "Aloma, who would you recommend perform divinations using these items to track the whereabouts of Simud Moonson and Alus Treesinger?"  

[OOC: Midian would be aware that Seeker Lomani of his own order is particularly adept at using items to find people.]

Midian will opt to take the dust, the thesis from Bhail later Moonson, and the religious icon of Alus Treesinger, to Seeker Lomani to obtain his expertise on all three.  Whatever arcane examinations of the dust Midian could perform on his own would probably be better done with proper equipment, and Lomani is likely to have such things, so for expediency he will consult him on all three items.  He goes to seek out the Seeker, if he is still awake at this hour.  If he is unclear on how to reach more familiar regions of the temple, he first pauses to ask Aloma for instructions.  

Priestess Aloma walks Midian out of the building and to the publicly accessible area of the Temple of Aieda where Midian is able to find his way to the exit. She wishes him good hunting and then hurries off.

Midian exits the Temple of Aieda under the watchful gaze of a pair of Aiedan guards and enters the main plaza of the Temple Ward where he immediately becomes aware that there is still a crowd of people around the main entrance of the Ward. The gathering seems to be peaceful enough, but Midian can see that the normal city guard who man that entrance have been bolstered by at least a dozen Mithran Temple guards in their orange cloaks and brass helmets.

Apart from near the entrance, the plaza seems to be particularly deserted; something unusual for this time of night as there would usually be servants from the Temples and the rich houses of the Ward normally going about their business.

Midian assumes the civil unrest is the reason the normally busy district is largely quiet this evening. He makes his way to the section the Seekers occupy, skirting any large mob gatherings if possible.  Depending on the hour, he will look for Seeker Lomani himself or if it is growing late inquire if the seeker is still up. 

As Midian is entering the Temple of Donai, he sees Seeker Lomani and her apprentice, Basilly, who it seems are on their way out of the Temple.

"Strange evening to be out and about for pleasure," says the Seeker, eyeing Midian's clothing up and down.

Basilly, who is behind the Seeker, rolls his eyes for Midian's benefit, but says nothing.

"Blessed evening, Seeker Lomani.  I've been out on business that required a bit more subtlety, hence the civilian garb. In fact, that is why I was hoping to consult you on a matter of some importance.  Simud Moonson, as he's now commonly known, is a person of interest in my investigation into the murder of Seeker Harlan.  He evidently recently returned to the School of Occult studies under odd circumstances, and left the school with one of their students, a young man named Alus Treesinger," Midian explains.  "At present we are not sure if the boy was taken by Moonson, or if he went willingly.  I acquired items which should serve to aid in divination to determine their current location.  This is a thesis Moonson wrote before he took on that monikor, when he was a student at that institution, and this is a religious icon I found in Alus Treesinger's room.  Given your expertise in such matters, I was hoping you could perform the divination, Seeker Lomani."

Midian produces the first two items as he describes it, and then also lays out the dust.  "This dust is another item of interest that I thought you might be able to examine for any arcane significance.  It may be nothing, but I noted this odd dust left behind from another individual who had entered the school with Moonson.  It seemed noteworthy, so I thought you might take a look at it as well, but it's less clear if it's relevant to the investigation compared to the former items."  

Quote from Izraal1 >>

"Blessed evening, Seeker Lomani.  I've been out on business that required a bit more subtlety, hence the civilian garb. In fact, that is why I was hoping to consult you on a matter of some importance.  Simud Moonson, as he's now commonly known, is a person of interest in my investigation into the murder of Seeker Harlan.  He evidently recently returned to the School of Occult studies under odd circumstances, and left the school with one of their students, a young man named Alus Treesinger," Midian explains.  "At present we are not sure if the boy was taken by Moonson, or if he went willingly.  I acquired items which should serve to aid in divination to determine their current location.  This is a thesis Moonson wrote before he took on that monikor, when he was a student at that institution, and this is a religious icon I found in Alus Treesinger's room.  Given your expertise in such matters, I was hoping you could perform the divination, Seeker Lomani."

[OOC: This is where Seeker Lomani interrupts Midian (see below).]

Midian produces the first two items as he describes it, and then also lays out the dust.  "This dust is another item of interest that I thought you might be able to examine for any arcane significance.  It may be nothing, but I noted this odd dust left behind from another individual who had entered the school with Moonson.  It seemed noteworthy, so I thought you might take a look at it as well, but it's less clear if it's relevant to the investigation compared to the former items."  

Before Midian produces the items he has, Seeker Lomani says, "Walk with us, Apprentice Voda. Basilly and I have our own mission this night, but I would like to hear more about Moonson; he is known to us."

At this, she begins striding off in the direction of the Ward's entrance, clearly expecting Midian to follow. As she walks away Midian notices that she is wearing a sword beneath her cloak.

Basilly leans in close to Midian and says in a low voice. "We are on the trail of the archmagus's twin brother. Come with us. This will be a night to remember." 

Then he rushes to catch up with his master and Midian see that Basilly is also carrying a weapon: a short staff wrapped with bands of studded bronze.

[OOC: Make a History check. Less than 5 will be considered a failure.]

History:  16

Midian is a bit taken aback by the news, but attempts to process it before responding.  

[OOC: Midian has heard that the Archmagus has a twin brother, but knows little more than that he exists and that he is nowhere near as powerful or as competent as the archmagus.]

Midian follows along, matching the pace of the others. “Of course, I can relate everything I’ve learned thus far on Moonson, though its likely not much beyond what’s publicly known.  What is this business with the archmagus’ twin? I spoke with the arch mage just earlier this evening at the school for the occult and he made no mention of his twin being involved in any of this. What has he done?”

"I have been suspicious of Negress Black for a long time," says Seeker Lomani as she strides along. "He acts as a provisioner of magic of components to the general magic-using population, but I believe he has been funding the local chapter of the Arion cult for many years. Unfortunately, his connection with his brother has given him some protection... Until now."

As they speak, the three of them are approaching the entrance to the Temple Ward and the crowd of people being held back by the guards.

"With the king's decree, Seeker Venn has given me permission to start a proper investigation into him. That means using magic to follow his movements, which might be very revealing at this time with regard to the activities of the whole sect."

Lomani stops and turns to Midian before adding, "One of which is Simad Moonson. So, how come he was at the School of Occult Studies? He was expelled. He is not welcome there."