“I am sure it will be discussed among all higher ups in the church, but in short, while undertaking my own investigation of Harlan’s death there were some circumstantial leads that suggested Simud Moonson as a suspect, or at least one worth looking into, given his history and sightings of him quarreling with Harlan prior to the man’s death,” Midian says. “While trying to infiltrate one of Simud’s recruitment cells, I came across word of a recent even at the school of Arcane Studies. I went with priestess Aloma and Handleader Samswell to investigate and we learned that Moonson had returned to the school recently along with a woman who is, as far as all appearances go, an avatar of divinity, a priestess named Vanessa who also carried an entity calling itself Aeda, if she is to be believed at face value.

”Simud clashed with her as well it seems then fled the school along with a student, Alus Treesinger. I brought items by which you might track them both as well as this dust the purported avatar left behind, for study.”

[OOC: Sorry for the delay. Out overnight and won't be able to do anything further until tonight.]

After finishing his speech, Midian sees that Basilly's mouth is hanging open in surprise. Seeker Lomani, however, keeps her cool.

"It seems you have had an interesting day, Apprentice Voda," she says, "And apologies for my earlier comment about being inappropriately dressed."

She then looks towards where the crowd at the entrance to the Ward is and then says, "Basilly and I are on our way to try to find the whereabouts of Cyrus Black so that we might gather information on what the Arion cult is doing between now and the Holy Day, at which time we will be able to act against them. To find him, I will be using magic akin to what will be used to find the whereabouts of the people you are interested in. You are welcome to join us, if you want. You might learn something of the arcane skills we Seekers use... I suspect the teachings of your former master were a bit lacking in such things, he preferred other means of gaining information."

"Are you going to come with us?" asks Basilly looking hesitantly at the crowd of people. "It could be an interesting night."

“No apologies expected, Seeker Lomani. There could be some intersection between Harlan’s death, Moonson, the archmage’s twin, and the avatar,” Midian says. “What that might be I have no idea, presently, but I feel we will learn more in time and see the threads of the web. Yes, I will accompany you. I do feel there is some urgency to pursuit of Moonson, as it is possible that Alus Treesinger is a hostage rather than a convert to Moonson’s system of belief, but given that I had intended to rely on Seeker Lomani’s divination to track Moonson, and you all are en route to pursue this angle, it seems prudent for me to come along. Perhaps I’ll be able to discern some connections between these events. I would only ask that when time allows we undergo the rituals to track Moonson as soon as possible.”

Seeker Lomani just nods and looks at the crowd outside the entrance to the Ward then she turns back to Midian and Basilly.

"We need to get through there, boys," she says, indicating the crowd. "If we show no fear, we should get through without a problem."

She then turns and begins walking toward the entrance again.

“There is the back entrance, near the water,” Midian mentions as a half hearted suggestion, assuming the senior Seeker is determined to push through the crowd at the front entrance. “It’s a bit of a detour, but if you wish to avoid this rabble, it’s an option.”

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“There is the back entrance, near the water,” Midian mentions as a half hearted suggestion, assuming the senior Seeker is determined to push through the crowd at the front entrance. “It’s a bit of a detour, but if you wish to avoid this rabble, it’s an option.”

[OOC: Make a Persuasion check versus a DC of 8.]

"What back entrance?" asks Basilly, curious.

Persuasion: 18

Midian describes the path as best he can, “I came from there recently with Aloma and Handleader Samswell. Samswell was separated from the rest of us before we made entry, but it seems to be a way in and out of the temple that avoids this crowd, if you’re interested in such a thing. Time is likely of the essence, but dealing with this rabble could end up costing more time than it saves.”

"Aloma?" queries Seeker Lomani thoughtfully. "Are you talking about the Temple of Aieda?"

"From what you say, that sounds like it would give us access to River Road," says Basilly. "From there we can cut through any number of ways to get across to the northern island... But would they let us pass through their temple?"

"There is no harm in asking," says Seeker Lomani, who turns and begins walking towards the entrance to the Aiedan Temple that Midian has only just recently left.

[OOC: To cut a long story—which Midian is going to have little control over—short, Seeker Lomani is able to use her position to get the three of you into and through the Temple of Aieda (under escort) and the three of you are now on River Road outside the Temple Store where the two members of Handleader Samswell's hand of Aiedan guards are still looking for him. I am also going to award Midian 20 experience points for avoiding a potentially dangerous encounter with the crowd.]

"So, is this is where your Aiedan handleader went missing?" asks Basilly, who has used his magic to make the top end of his weighted stick glow.

The two Aiedan guards are heading Midian's way from where they were searching the river bank.

Midian nods to the two Aeidan guards, noting briefly to his current party, “These were the guards searching for the missing handleader, Samswell.” As they draw closer, he asks, “Did you find anything? No one inside seems to have heard from the Handleader, so we can presume he never made it in.”

The two guards approach and nod in deference to Seeker Lomani before answering Midian's question.

"No, we have found no sign of him," replies the female guard Midian spoke with before. Then the woman asks, "Are you sure he is out here? Maybe he went into the Temple."

Before Midian can reply, Seeker Lomani says, "Your handleader, Samswell? I think I know him. He is new, is he not?"

"Yes, Seeker," replies the male guard, nodding his head. "He has only been with us for a couple of months, but he came to us from the army where he had years of experience."

"Ah, yes," she replies. "I remember him now. Is he good at his job?"

"Yes," says the woman. "He has taught me a lot while he has been our handleader."

The Seeker nods and then says, "We have business elsewhere tonight, but if your handleader is still missing when we return, perhaps I can help you find him. If he has not turned up by the time of the Dawn Ceremony, find me, and bring an item of his that he has a personal attachment to. I will need that to help find him."

"Thank you, Seeker," says the female guard.

[OOC: I'll stop here just in case you want Midian to be part of this interaction.]

Midian simply adds, “On our return trip from the school of the arcane there were a number of off happenings, call them suspicious or ill-omened, but it was all odd enough to put me on edge. There are signs the door to the temple of Aeida entrance back there was tampered with using the tools of a thief, signs of struggle out here ending near the water, and other strange, well, call them visual discrepancies I noticed. I would guess someone of ill intent was operating in this area and the Handleader ran afoul of them. I have no proof, only gloomy suspicions. Perhaps you’ll find better news. May your search be blessed.” 

The two guards nod solemnly and resume their searching for the missing handleader as Midian follows Seeker Lomani and Basilly as they head off along River Road in a westerly direction at a brisk pace. Shortly thereafter, they turn up the same side street that Midian came down before in the carriage and they are soon once more on the northbound road that will take them to the bridge to the northern island having completely avoided the crowd around the entrance to the Temple Ward.

However, what they can't avoid is the horse-based traffic stalled on this now-blocked main thoroughfare. Although there are only a few carriages and individual riders involved, it is dark and there is a lot of foot traffic and only a few city guards in attendance to take control of the situation. The three of them also seem to be going against the main flow.

[OOC: Just for the hell of it—and to give you the chance of gaining some experience if things goes wrong—I would like you to make a Skill check for Midian against a DC of 5 to avoid any trouble as you pass through. Please choose which skill you want Midian to use and give a brief explanation as to how it might apply. Lomani and Basilly will also be making rolls but they will do so after Midian.]

Midian will use Persuasion, gesturing to his comrades clearly bearing their official church garb, and noting they are in some “very important church business where lives could hang in the balance.” Persuasion: 8

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Midian will use Persuasion, gesturing to his comrades clearly bearing their official church garb, and noting they are in some “very important church business where lives could hang in the balance.” Persuasion: 8

[OOC:

Basilly takes your lead, but is more showy about it, striding about with his glowing stick and calling out loudly to make way for the Seeker. Performance: 7

Seeker Lomani does nothing overtly, but in her Seeker's uniform is pretty intimidating anyway. Intimidation: 16

]

It would seem that Seeker Lomani's reputation as a Seeker precedes her as any trouble seems to melt away as soon as her presence becomes known.

The three soon find themselves across the bridge on the northern island and clear of the backed up traffic.

"I hope you two enjoyed yourselves back there," says the Seeker, with a little smile. "But now we need to concentrate on the task at hand."

She leads Midian and Basilly into the Scholar's Ward to a street that is mainly lined with residences. She then steps into an ally and fetches something out of her component pouch. Muttering a few words, she points what appears to be a small stick or wand at a certain house in the street. She then starts to turn in a slow circle where she suddenly stops.

"He is not a home, but perhaps he is still at work. Quick, we must hurry while my spell is still working."

With this, she sets off at a trot, running further into the Scholar's Ward.

"She's leading us to the Black Magick Shop," says Basilly, setting off on the heals of his master.

[OOC: Make a straight Wisdom check.]

Wisdom 11

Midian remembers seeing the Black Magic Shop earlier today during his search of the neighbourhood. It is not that far from where he killed the warlock who attacked him.

“Early this morning I was near this area, I was attacked by a warlock who was evidently out for the blood of any man of the cloth, probably in retaliation for the recent proclamation,” Midian says mildly. “Part of the reason I assumed less conspicuous garb for my later investigations.” He goes along with them towards the shop, following the seeker whose spell guides them. 

Led by Seeker Lomani, they move through the streets quickly getting closer to where Midian remembers the Black Magic Shop was. However, just as they reach the appropriate street, Seeker Lomani stops, and as Midian comes up to her, he sees she is frowning.

"Not the shop," she says, extending her spell component again and beginning to turn in a circle. She turns partway through her circle before stopping again, at which point she says, "He has a processing house in that direction, that must be where he is."

The three run on through the streets attracting stares, but no interference, from those out and about and eventually they reach an area dedicated to light industry near the northern-most tributary of the river at which point Seeker Lomani stops. Midian, who is used to simply walking after his typically swaggering master, is starting to feel a little breathless from the running and is grateful.

"My spell has expired," says Lomani keeping her voice low while pointing, "but the direction was clear. I believe he must be somewhere in there."

In the direction she is pointing there is long, low building surrounded by a high wooden fence. The building is in darkness, as are most of the others in the area with the working day well and truly over.

[OOC: Make a Perception check.]

Perception:  8

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Perception:  8

[OOC: Roll again for experience.]

This area is unfamiliar to Midian, but he can see no people lurking nearby.

"Seeker Lomani?" says Basilly quietly. "I saw movement on the rooftop of the building. Small, like an animal. It might be..."

"Yes," agrees Seeker Lomani, "A familiar spirit... Let us move on so we don't give the game away."

So saying, the Seeker turns away from the street the three of you are interested in and continues along the main thoroughfare.

A little while later, she stops and motions the two of you closer. "We may have been jumping at shadows," she says, "but some sort of plan to get closer without drawing attention to ourselves would be useful. Any ideas?"