Direct group:

A smattering of applause is audible throughout the group, and slowly the crowd begins to disperse.

Approaching the front door, you find it locked, but have hardly arrived when it is unlocked and opened by none other than Levis, the Seeker you assisted before. They give you all a faint smile. "Quite the speech. Please, come in." Behind them, you see a large, but sparsely decorated entry foyer with a door on each side wall and a large set of black double doors at the back wall of the foyer. As Levis steps aside to let you in, one of the side doors opens to reveal the stealthier group!

Stealthy Group:

You head down the hall and open the wider door at the end to find yourselves in a large entry foyer sparsely decorated with red banners and a few teardrop symbols. Near the large front door in the wall to your right is the Seeker Levis, who has just stepped aside to let the other half of your group in. To your left, across from the front door, is a set of large black double doors, while across from you is another smaller door.

Everyone's back together!

Levis turns to face the trio coming in a side door, surprise sweeping briefly across their face. "Ah...hello. Please tell me you re-secured whatever method you used to enter," they say with a wry smile.

Case looks at the other half of the group to have come in through another entrance. “Your approach offered no advantages to simply revealing the truth to the crowd and explaining the fault of their own logic. Hopefully our faith in people’s ability to process truth has been incrementally improved by this situation.”  He turns to Levi, “We would like to speak to your leader.”

'Backdoor is locked and no one saw us come through - but you might want to think about beefing things up there in the future.'

Drego speaks up and tosses his head back down the hallway towards the simple lock on the backdoor.

'Maybe a crossbar?  I don't think this is the end of your troubles.'

Stitch clambers back on to Drego’s shoulders, know that hide-and-get-lost was over stating a monotone “I am stitch.” While pointing at the back door, in what he feels is a clear indication of either more locks or stronger locks. 

I know buddy, that's what I told them - it's way too easy to get in that way

Levis inclines their head in acknowledgment. "Your suggestions have been noted, though we do have other measures in place should someone with hostile intent enter the temple." They smile faintly. "But I will see about additional security the next time a Kundarak representative is in town. For now, the elder is in here." He gestures to the double doors on the back wall. "Please, follow me." The Seeker heads for the indicated doors.

Stitch doesn’t like the sound of the word “elder” it sounds like someone whose old and stiff and probably not any fun. At least not as much fun as this group of... adventure seekers have been so far. Stitch creates a light-like version of himself behind Levis and has it dutifully follow the seeker. dancing lights

Jax nods and follows Levis inside. He will find a corner out of the way and sit on his heels, watching and listening. He had been ready for violence earlier but calmed himself quickly, and the man was happy for the moment.

     Once more resting upon Jax’s shoulders, the dragon allows their kids to have close and lazy tendrils of smoke to rise from their nostrils.  They hear and pay attention to everything, but see no need to appear to be doing so.

Case strides forward purposely into the elders room.

Levis opens the door to reveal a fairly spacious chapel, as sparsely decorated as the entry hall. Rows of chairs are set in a circular shape around the room, some of them draped with red fabric. At the center of the room is a black altar with a red crystalline teardrop and an onyx bowl on top of it. Seated before the altar is a figure wrapped in cloth and swathed in a cloak. Beneath the cloak, you see strips of rune-covered cloth with a pulsing blue light at the figure's center. The mummy inclines her head to all of you. "Greetings," she says in a rasping voice. "I am Riska, the oathbound elder of this temple. I believe you are the ones who assisted Levis earlier today, for which I thank you. And I understand you wish to speak with me. Please, have a seat."

OOC: If anyone here has proficiency in Religion, you would know that "oathbound" is the term used for Blood of Vol mummies, referring to the oaths that sustain them in undeath.

Case walks into the room, but doesn't sit. His steel clad body makes it look like sitting may be less comfortable than standing. 

As the other file into the room he says, “Greetings Riska, Oathbound Elder of this temple. My name is Case. I have been sent by the kingdom to assist the Warlord with the problem of blight. Others have also come to answer the call. The goblin is called Stitch and can only say three words. The tiny dragon is named Péiste Mór. The dragon rides upon Jax’s shoulders. The warrior is named Drago. That is Robin. They have all declared that they are here to assist with the blight. We have many questions for you and seek your council on the topic of blight as well as on the topic of summoned skeletons we encountered just before we entered town.”

Drego chuckles under his breath at Case's spare but wholly accurate summary of the party and their intent.  Whatever else the metalman was, he was efficient.

The ranger doesn't take one of the proffered seats, instead preferring to tuck himself into one of the corners to give himself the best view of the room and secure his back in case things went sideways. 

He didn't have any idea what could cause the blight - but he sure understood how the villagers might want to blame the mummified creature sitting in front of him.  This place was unnatural, and it wasn't hard to imagine them losing control of the power they attempted to harness.

     Péiste Mór Whispers to Jax that “oathbound” means she’s keeps her promises, and that she’s obviously some kind of mummy…  The dragon knows little about the religions of the younger races but does like to make observations….

"Thank you for meeting with us." Robin comments as she takes a seat. "To begin, is there anything you can tell us about the blight, the summoned undead, or the general situation of this region?" She narrows her eyes at the mummy. "We were told that some of the seekers did some preliminary reviewing of the blighted fields when this all started."

"Also where are the skeletons dragging the people they attack?" Jax says, incongruously. 

     Péiste Mór quickly whispers, "much more polite to ask if she knows where they're being dragged to, yes?  that way you don't sound like you are accusing her of being involved..."

Riska gives a brief, rasping laugh. "Such suspicion. Though perhaps much of it is unintentional." She doesn't sound too offended or upset. "Yes, the Seekers examined the fields when first they began to wilt. Their findings reminded me of the blights that plagued Karrnath at the start of the Last War, when Mabaran manifest zones swelled and destroyed fields across the country. This is similar, but the manifest zone of the Shadowmount has not grown. Which means there must be another source of intense Mabaran energy nearby." The oathbound folds her hands. "The existence of the skeletons, combined with their attempted abductions of the dead bodies, suggests a necromancer is at the heart of this, perhaps raising and storing large quantities of Mabaran undead. The concentration of undead could be causing the blight." She reaches behind the altar and withdraws a black compass with a face of red glass. "This compass can guide you to large sources of Mabaran energy within twenty miles. Take it to the northeastern fields, and it will help guide you to the source. I will give it to you, on two conditions. One, that you ensure the fact that the Seekers had nothing to do with this is widely and publicly spread throughout Teryk, preferably with the warlord's assistance--his word will lend credibility to that declaration. And two, that you return the compass when you have finished using it."

     "assuming we find it to be true, which I believe we will...  we will of course spread word as far and as loud as we can," Péiste Mór says in a sleep filled voice.  "Case speaks the truth at all times, whether you wish it or not..."

Case raises a finger as if to make a point, then Péiste Mór speaks and he stays still for a moment, then drops his hand to his side with a nod.  "Only the truth as I know it to be. Truth is an interesting discussion topic. I was honored to be able to listen to a professor speak of truth vs fact. Truth is entirely different; it may include fact, but it can also include belief. Often times, people will accept things as true because they fall closer to their comfort zones, are assimilated easily into their comfort zones, or reflect their preconceived notions of reality. Fact on the other hand is indisputable. Truth is acceptable." 

He falls silent once more. Then speaks up again, "We accept your compass and will widely and publicly inform people in Teryk that the Seekers were not involved in the blight, if we find this to be true. We can not make promises on the Warlord's behalf. We will return the compass, should we still be in possession of it, once we are done. Thank you very much, this...will make our job much simpler, should it work." 

He reaches out to grab the compass.