The priest, a young man with messy black hair wearing an abactor's robe, looks up at you. "I'm sorry, High Abactor Malevanor doesn't exactly take walk-ins." He frowns, looking concerned. "But you said an assault?" He leads you to the side a bit, to a small alcove off the main thoroughfares where you can all properly hear each other. "I'm Derin, one of the senior abactors, could you tell me what happened?"

"Senior Abductor?  That's almost what happened to us back at the Gold Dragon Inn." Citron said suspiciously eying Derin. 

"Abactor," Derin corrects Citron with a slight smile. "It is a term for priests of the Blood of Vol."

Serandis comes forwards and removes her mask to show her tattooed face. "Plain and simple, we believe the Emerald Claw attacked us last night and this morning. The difference between last night and this morning was they were wearing the armor of your temple here. We are working on behalf of the Blood of Vol and one high in your order named Vorik, who has requested more help at his temple as well. We need to see whoever is in charge because something bigger than you or I or all of us is happening. And we may be the only ones capable of stopping it." Her eyes are pleading with the abactor, this situation was serious and she just hoped he say it that way. But to prove her point she pulled out the small cadre of rings she took off the fallen warrior's bodies.

Persuasion: 4

Persuasion: 14

Derin frowns faintly, looking troubled. "I see. Please put those away before you cause a panic," he requests gently. "We received Vorik's message a short time ago. No matter your need, the High Abactor still can't see you on a whim--he's in the midst of a delicate ritual at the moment, and won't be done for some time. I can reach out to my direct superiors and try to contact the local Covenant members, but allow me to be frank--that will take time, and if there is truly something greater at work, that is time you may not have. What I can do here and now though, is perhaps give you a lead on at least the the local source of your troubles. I've noticed some strange activity near one of the vaults recently--people slipping in and out, and not in robes. It wasn't completely bizarre enough for me to immediately report it--there are Seekers within the Monastery who do not wear robes constantly, particularly those who live here--but when placed beside the information you've just told me, it suggests a connection."

Insight 18

(OOC Wizards, fix this dice roller 😩 lol ))

Serandis: Yep, seems aboveboard to you

(Hey all, I'm back to regular posting now, sorry for missing the last couple of weeks.)

Rex clears his throat: "That certainly sounds troubling. Any idea why the Emerald Claw might be trying to sabotage you and your reputation, here of all places?"

"As the Blood of Vol is an enemy of the Order and some of the most familiar with necromancy on the continent, we are relatively effective against the Order when we can find it. Anything that disadvantages us is a benefit to them." Derin shrugs. "Impersonating Seekers also may have simply been an expedient way to get to you, since we are the most numerous and powerful group within Atur."

"Why would they want us?  We're just a bunch of Quori farts..."

Derin shrugs. "You would know better than me. Have you done anything that might have upset them or messed up a plan or goal?"

Rex sighs. This was unlikely to get them closer to the truth. At least, they had alerted the authorities to the possibility of impersonators amongst their ranks. As far as this group was concerned... he had to correct himself mentally, since as of this morning, it seemed he belonged to the group as well. As far as their group was concerned, they would have to keep watching their backs in Atur.

"Perhaps we should visit these vaults then and see what is going on there."

Rex looks to Citron: "If the Blood of Vol wishes it, we might be able to, but otherwise I think that they might prefer to take care of this matter themselves, so as not to appear weak to the public. After all, they are the closest thing to the law in this city. And besides, what was your intended destination after finishing yesterday's business?"

Derin clears his throat lightly. "As I said, we can take care of it ourselves, but it will take time to get through the appropriate channels. If you are as under threat as you seem to be, it may be faster and safer for you to go look yourselves. And I see no reason why we would appear weak to the public, unless you plan to declare events here widely and try and make us seem that way in the process."

Rex hastens to add, that that was not his intention. "I apologise to presume on your part, and of course, you have my discretion."

Derin inclines his head. "Of course. Now, would you like me to show you to the vault, or shall I arrange to have this handled internally? If the latter, where would you like to wait?"

"Take us to the vault. We can go now, unless anyone needs to take a moment to heal."

Derin nods and immediately begins leading you through the hallways of the Monastery. You head down several stairs and corridors before he stops outside of a set of slightly menacing-looking double doors. "I'm going to go let my superiors know everything that's going on so that we can collect and investigate those bodies at the inn, and secure this area to keep anyone who's in there from getting away," he says seriously. "I wish you good luck."