The kobold's glare quickly shifts to an expression of surprise as Kashika once again lifts him up. "Waaaaoooooohhh, It's happening again!"He flaps his arms a bit as if trying to move. When Kashika lowers him to the ground, he stumbles a bit, then pauses and looks at Kashika and grins. He hasn't seen very many other Kobolds in a long time.
When Nygil asks where he saw the Minotaur he glances at the loud elf then points towards the wall right about where Nygil had been looking at it. "He was standing right there with a big bag. He was acting funny, so I asked him if he was lost. Then HE told ME to get lost. He looked like he was going to attack me so I ran away. I didn't tell anyone because all the guards are also mean and keep trying to grab me. I don't know where he went though."
Straitening his cloths out again, he turns back to Kashika and walks up to her, oblivious to the fact that she is the one who had just puppet him around midair. Stopping about a foot away from her, he offers her his hand expecting her to shake it. "Hi I'm Whicket! What's your name?" He says despite the fact that all of you seem to already know his name.
Kashika watches, bemusedly - though it doesn't show much on her face - as she realizes the Kobold thinks he is the one in control of the ability. She decides she's goign to hold onto this spell for it's entire duration.... once he finishes explaining things to Nygil about the minotaur, and with her likely having about 8 minutes left on the spell.... when Whicket approaches, thrusting out his hand like he had every right to.. she begins to put out her hand as if to shake it, before mentally commanding the spell to raise him twenty feet into the air. Anyone with a passive perception of 15 or more might notice the faintest of grins on her face, not that she'd admit it.
But as Whicket was once more suspended in the air, she withdrew her hand with a hmph I-if you won't even stay on the ground long enough f-for me to shake your hand, then I'm afraid I c-cannot introduce myself to someone so r-rude.she says, starting to walk away towards Zalten, her one true fellow of the group.
(A quick post before work, I'm also assuming this takes place after Gnomes has replied to Kashika!)
Devona did notice the slight smile and watched the kobold fly back up in the air and a bit of a giggle of her own. "Well I didn't know you could fly, Whicket! But honestly we're never going to finish a mission if you keep playing around like that! So come on, let's go." She looked back at the others, "I'm ready when you are, though are we sure there's nothing here. I find it hard to believe that such a large creature just vanished so close to the crown here." She looked at Whicket once more, "Then again..." She sighed and shrugged.
The poor Kobold looks a bit frustrated as he's once again flung into the air. His chipper personality deflates substantially when Kashika dismisses him he reaches one tiny hand towards her while holding onto his hat with the other. "Waaaa-wait! I'm sorry! I-I'm not doing this on purpose!" Rather than flailing against the spell, he just hangs there limply. "Hummmmm. I always thought flying would be fun, but now I don't think it its." He whimpers. Then her hears Devona chastising him and wails and frantically points at the castle wall, "It's not my fault! And I was telling the truth! The mean Minotaur was standing right there looking at the wall, and muttering something about a temple. Then he picked up a really big bag. That's when I asked him if he was lost and he turned around and growled at me! He was scary so I ran away and when I looked back he was gone! Why does no one ever believe me?!" He deflates again and looks down at all of you with pleading eyes, "Can someone please help me down?"
Kashika lifts him up into the air just a little farther before she slowly places him back down on however he chose to land. Regardless, Kashika knew they had things to do, and for now considerations on other things had to be put on hold. Her face goes serious again as she releases the spell from him, if only to keep the temptation away. I'll c-consider forgiving you later. she says, as she finally turns to Devona, looking up at her and says S-so you two had some m-mission? What was it? Is it different than what we were already going to do? If not... we c-can just continue what we were all planning, with two off the list, and focus on the one's we think it is. The sooner we find them, the sooner this is all over.
"Not us, I had a mission. I just happened to run into Whicket after his rather unfortunate incident. Besides, my mission was unfinished anyway and about what you're doing so please, lead on. I will do what I can to assist. The sooner we find the crown and give it to...someone, hopefully the sooner I can return home." Devona attempted to brush her rather ratty hair back a bit and smiled.
Nygil raises an eyebrow as Whicket shoots upwards into the air, "And I thought I had poor social skills." Its unclear as to which kobold his comment was directed to, and he simply moves on dismissively once he hears mention of a... "Temple? Did you say he was muttering about a temple!" He shouts up at Whicket only to look down at him as the creature is set back onto the ground. "Looks like we have a lead! Does anyone know where a Temple is?"
He looks to Devona, seemingly changing the subject, "Well good Lady, you are more then welcome to join our party and in so doing join us all in returning home once we find the crown. We are all ready to be done with and gone from this... less then hospitable place."
Once more changing the conversation, his attention snaps back to his companions and Whicket, "Right now our main lead is that Minotaur! ...does anyone remember what his name was? ...oh well doesn't matter. Anyways, do either of you failures... sorry that sounds so rude... do any of you former champions know of a Temple?" He looks back and forth between Kashika and Devona before blinking as if he'd just remembered something. "Oh... right, you're a failed champion as well," he looks down at Whicket again, "You wouldn't happen to know about the temple? Is that why you asked the brute if he was lost? AAAND you said something about a large bag? Did it look like he'd just robbed the place? What luck! I think we've found our target! Now we just have to...well...actually find him!"
When the limp Kobold finally comes back to earth, he lays there face down for a few seconds before picking his head up out of the dirt to look at Nygil, "I don't know anything about a temple, but that's what the minotaur said."After a few moments of waiting to be pulled skyward again, Whicket glances at Kaskika before hopping to his feet. With a determined expression, he unsheathes his rapier, and points it upward while placing his left fist on his hip. "But I will help you on this mission...." His stance wavers, "Uh....what are you trying to do again?"
(Feel free to walk around Dawn and talk to people, as well as investigate where you think you might find anything. Devona and Kashika would know where most places are in the city, though they still would have different levels of knowledge on certain things. Just let me know when you decide to leave this area.)
Devona:
You know that there are no temples in Dawn, however you have heard an old legend about some sort of temple located elsewhere in the Lower Realm. You also know the Librarian may have more information on this topic.
"Temple? Temple...temples..." Devona walked in a small circle for a minute, tapping the string around her neck a bit. "But there are no temples in Dawn that I know of. But...we should visit the Librarian. I'm not sure...there is a legend I've heard whispered about...let's go. I am sure though that the Librarian will be able to help." She began to walk off a couple steps then stopped. "Oh! I'm sorry! We don't have to go there right away!"
"What do you mean we don't have to go there right away?" Nygil exclaims. "If you think thats a lead then lead on I say!" He points dramatically in a random direction before realizing that he doesn't know where they are going and quickly tucks his hand behind his back laughing. "Well...if everyone else agrees that is..."
"I'm game," replied Jumble, putting away his notes. "Besides, presuming the librarian is, you know, in a library, then it'll be worth the visit even if he's no help to the case!"
"Sounds good to me," Rethan agrees. "Seems like about our only lead right now, so we might as well follow up on it first. If it doesn't pan out, we can look for other ideas."
(Alright to the library then. If anyone wants last minute sweep the area before you leave, roll investigation and let me know what you were looking at.)
With that, Devona leads the way through the upper-class area to a shopping district just a few blocks off the main road and up to an older looking building. Kashika recognizes this library, she'd passed it several times before but never lingered long. It didn't hold anything necessary for her survival. You walk up the few marble steps at it's entrance, and Devona pushes open the small double doors, a small bell rings when she does so. Whicket had stayed close on her heals for this entire walk while trying to stay unnoticed by the general population, but once the doors were open, he dashed inside. The place is rather dusty, and doesn't look like many people visit often, but there are obvious sighs that someone is here as the dust on the floor has clearly been disturbed. As you all congregate inside, you hear a crackly old voice call out, "Ah Who's there? Devona? Is that you?" The eledrin immediately recognizes the voice of the old librarian Bella. A loud clattering noise sounds to your left and a plume of dust flies out from between the tall shelves. "Oh goodness gracious! My poor, poor books, I'll have to pick them up later." After a few moments, an old Minotaur wearing a pair of small glasses hobbles out of the dust cloud. "Ah it is you Dear. And you brought friends! How lovely. It's been quite a long time since my library has been this full." She chuckles lightly, "Come, Come, I'll lead you to one of the reading rooms and get you all some tea. Would you like that? Then we can talk. I am very curious as to why all these Champions have taken an interest in my humble library." She leads you deeper into the dusty building, but once you pass through a couple rooms you come to a much cleaner area. You'd guess this is where the old woman lives. She stops in a small room with couches along each wall and one large table in the center then motions for you to sit before disappearing through a side door. After a few moments, she returns with a large tray carrying a cup of hot tea for each of you and for herself, and a plate of delicious smelling cookies, which she sets on the table in the center of the room. "There you are." She says kindly before seating herself. "Now, why did you come here?"
(Sorry, been occupied with the tail end of those previous RL issues)
Kashika had no issues with going to a library to find out about temples. Hell she was going to suggest asking some 'learned' type or another herself before it was suggested first. With two of the suspects down ... that left only a small handful, and odds were it was going to be bull. For now she chose to sit back, not having much to contribute until they got to the library... she knew the town well enough that she didnt have any particular interest with or for anything. If nothing else, she was frustrated that this whole situation was taking longer than it was supposed to. She can't even try to do what she was intending to, to see if it would even work. Obviously - if it didn't atleast she would know.... If the library held no answers...
I-if the library fails to give us the answers we seek... there are always guilds, taverns, and other places a-adventurous types might be...... she says, pausign a moment realizing what she was saying. I-I mean there are many champions all over but... you know..
------
At the Library, Kashika remembers it but has no particular feelings about it either way. Before now, it was just a place that existed. You couldn't eat books, and you probably couldn't sell most of them for anything worthwhile. And the ones you could were under lock and key. As the minotauress approached, and made her offers, kashika Nodded at the offer of tea. Anything free would always be welcome in her mind. Even if she didn't need it at the moment.
kashika quickly taking a single handful of the cookies. Eating only one for now. W-well, to be b-blunt.she said, mouth still partially full of the cookie but keeping her maw down if only so that she wouldn't be showing her mouthful.. We were wondering if you k-knew of any temples, or books on temples... here, or elsewhere.
Devona kept to herself as they made their way to the library, wondering a bit about just how many other failures were down there. It was a little worrying too that the crown was missing, things that powerful didn't just go missing. She nodded with a bright smile though at the lady minotaur, "Hello again! I brought some friends this time!" She followed them through the library and sat down to receive the tea while fiddling with her hair a bit. "Yes, I thought I remember there being a story about a lost or hidden temple somewhere down here? I figured you would know if anyone knew at all."
"Hello there Madame," Nygil bows and then accepts the tea. "Yes we were wondering if you could give us any information about temples! Oh! And you wouldn't happen to know a minotaur named....uh... Surikan? Shruken? Sh... oh what was his name again?" He looks to his companions for help whilst accepting a cookie and taking a small bite of it.
"Temples, Temples." Bella squints her eyes as she searches her memory. "There aren't many of those in the lower realm. Most were destroyed during the Merge, but I do believe there is one left." She pulls a small bell out of her pocket and rings it twice. Just before the ringing stops, a small brown pseudodragon flies through the door and lands on her lap. She whispers something to it and then it flies away again. "I have an old scroll about it somewhere. Mouse will bring it back shortly. Uh...May I ask why a bunch of Champions are looking for a Temple?"
She glances at Nygil. "You mean Shurken? I don't know him personally but that youngster used to visit here fairly often. He was always so friendly, he even helped me organize some of my tomes from time to time. Though I must say he always seemed like something was bothering him, though he never wanted to talk about it. Oh I do hope he's alright. It's quite odd that he has been missing for so long."
Just then, Mouse flies back into the room carrying a scroll, which he promptly drops in Bella's lap. "Ah thank you dear." She says to it, giving it a little scratch behind it's horns before it flies off again. Then she gently opens the scroll. "Ah yes. It is the only Temple left standing after the Merge. Unfortunately, much of the information detailing exactly why it was created is missing. However, it does say that it is located at the mouth of the River of Darkness. It's believed that this temple appeared around the same time that the river itself did. Many even believe that it is the source of the river, though I myself am skeptical of that." She rolls the scroll back up and hands it to Devona. "I don't know how much help it will give you. Perhaps one of you can read those odd scribbles on it."
"Yes! Shurken!" Nygil exclaims. "So you did know him! Did he ever seem interested in this temple?" He moves to stand beside Devona to look over her shoulder at the scroll. "I think we might know what was bothering him... but we'll see."
Devona took the scroll and looked it over. "Scribbles hm?"She peered it over before showing it to the others in case anyone else could make sense of it as well. "I suppose we're going to the River of Darkness then doesn't it? That doesn't sound ominous at all!"
Zalten has remained mostly silent as the group goes to this library, though remains focused on what the woman is saying. The more she speaks, the more he thinks on the most recent vision from his god. Might this Merge have something to do with his most recent message? If this world is broken needs to be made whole, perhaps this Merge is what broke it in the first place. Whatever it is, shortly after she mentions it, he chimes in and says "My apologies, but that Merge you mentioned? What exactly was that?"
He then turns to his companions and says "If the River of Darkness contains the only temple, than I suppose that narrows our options down quite a bit. Besides, if its truly the source of the River of Darkness, that would certainly be something. And if we wish to track down the minotaur, I'd guess we are best off looking outside of this city regardless."The concept of returning to the River of Darkness is incredibly intriguing to him: perhaps here he will be able to get some of the answers as to what exactly his god was refering to. If searching for this temple is truly a way to find the crown, perfect, and if not, perhaps the place can still hold some vital information as to what exactly his god wanted him to do
When he gets a chance, he takes a look at the scroll, seeing if he can read whatever the language on it is
The kobold's glare quickly shifts to an expression of surprise as Kashika once again lifts him up. "Waaaaoooooohhh, It's happening again!" He flaps his arms a bit as if trying to move. When Kashika lowers him to the ground, he stumbles a bit, then pauses and looks at Kashika and grins. He hasn't seen very many other Kobolds in a long time.
When Nygil asks where he saw the Minotaur he glances at the loud elf then points towards the wall right about where Nygil had been looking at it. "He was standing right there with a big bag. He was acting funny, so I asked him if he was lost. Then HE told ME to get lost. He looked like he was going to attack me so I ran away. I didn't tell anyone because all the guards are also mean and keep trying to grab me. I don't know where he went though."
Straitening his cloths out again, he turns back to Kashika and walks up to her, oblivious to the fact that she is the one who had just puppet him around midair. Stopping about a foot away from her, he offers her his hand expecting her to shake it. "Hi I'm Whicket! What's your name?" He says despite the fact that all of you seem to already know his name.
Kashika watches, bemusedly - though it doesn't show much on her face - as she realizes the Kobold thinks he is the one in control of the ability. She decides she's goign to hold onto this spell for it's entire duration.... once he finishes explaining things to Nygil about the minotaur, and with her likely having about 8 minutes left on the spell.... when Whicket approaches, thrusting out his hand like he had every right to.. she begins to put out her hand as if to shake it, before mentally commanding the spell to raise him twenty feet into the air. Anyone with a passive perception of 15 or more might notice the faintest of grins on her face, not that she'd admit it.
But as Whicket was once more suspended in the air, she withdrew her hand with a hmph I-if you won't even stay on the ground long enough f-for me to shake your hand, then I'm afraid I c-cannot introduce myself to someone so r-rude. she says, starting to walk away towards Zalten, her one true fellow of the group.
(A quick post before work, I'm also assuming this takes place after Gnomes has replied to Kashika!)
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Devona did notice the slight smile and watched the kobold fly back up in the air and a bit of a giggle of her own. "Well I didn't know you could fly, Whicket! But honestly we're never going to finish a mission if you keep playing around like that! So come on, let's go." She looked back at the others, "I'm ready when you are, though are we sure there's nothing here. I find it hard to believe that such a large creature just vanished so close to the crown here." She looked at Whicket once more, "Then again..." She sighed and shrugged.
The poor Kobold looks a bit frustrated as he's once again flung into the air. His chipper personality deflates substantially when Kashika dismisses him he reaches one tiny hand towards her while holding onto his hat with the other. "Waaaa-wait! I'm sorry! I-I'm not doing this on purpose!" Rather than flailing against the spell, he just hangs there limply. "Hummmmm. I always thought flying would be fun, but now I don't think it its." He whimpers. Then her hears Devona chastising him and wails and frantically points at the castle wall, "It's not my fault! And I was telling the truth! The mean Minotaur was standing right there looking at the wall, and muttering something about a temple. Then he picked up a really big bag. That's when I asked him if he was lost and he turned around and growled at me! He was scary so I ran away and when I looked back he was gone! Why does no one ever believe me?!" He deflates again and looks down at all of you with pleading eyes, "Can someone please help me down?"
Kashika lifts him up into the air just a little farther before she slowly places him back down on however he chose to land. Regardless, Kashika knew they had things to do, and for now considerations on other things had to be put on hold. Her face goes serious again as she releases the spell from him, if only to keep the temptation away. I'll c-consider forgiving you later. she says, as she finally turns to Devona, looking up at her and says S-so you two had some m-mission? What was it? Is it different than what we were already going to do? If not... we c-can just continue what we were all planning, with two off the list, and focus on the one's we think it is. The sooner we find them, the sooner this is all over.
Occassional Dungeon Master.
"Not us, I had a mission. I just happened to run into Whicket after his rather unfortunate incident. Besides, my mission was unfinished anyway and about what you're doing so please, lead on. I will do what I can to assist. The sooner we find the crown and give it to...someone, hopefully the sooner I can return home." Devona attempted to brush her rather ratty hair back a bit and smiled.
Nygil raises an eyebrow as Whicket shoots upwards into the air, "And I thought I had poor social skills." Its unclear as to which kobold his comment was directed to, and he simply moves on dismissively once he hears mention of a... "Temple? Did you say he was muttering about a temple!" He shouts up at Whicket only to look down at him as the creature is set back onto the ground. "Looks like we have a lead! Does anyone know where a Temple is?"
He looks to Devona, seemingly changing the subject, "Well good Lady, you are more then welcome to join our party and in so doing join us all in returning home once we find the crown. We are all ready to be done with and gone from this... less then hospitable place."
Once more changing the conversation, his attention snaps back to his companions and Whicket, "Right now our main lead is that Minotaur! ...does anyone remember what his name was? ...oh well doesn't matter. Anyways, do either of you failures... sorry that sounds so rude... do any of you former champions know of a Temple?" He looks back and forth between Kashika and Devona before blinking as if he'd just remembered something. "Oh... right, you're a failed champion as well," he looks down at Whicket again, "You wouldn't happen to know about the temple? Is that why you asked the brute if he was lost? AAAND you said something about a large bag? Did it look like he'd just robbed the place? What luck! I think we've found our target! Now we just have to...well...actually find him!"
When the limp Kobold finally comes back to earth, he lays there face down for a few seconds before picking his head up out of the dirt to look at Nygil, "I don't know anything about a temple, but that's what the minotaur said." After a few moments of waiting to be pulled skyward again, Whicket glances at Kaskika before hopping to his feet. With a determined expression, he unsheathes his rapier, and points it upward while placing his left fist on his hip. "But I will help you on this mission...." His stance wavers, "Uh....what are you trying to do again?"
(Feel free to walk around Dawn and talk to people, as well as investigate where you think you might find anything. Devona and Kashika would know where most places are in the city, though they still would have different levels of knowledge on certain things. Just let me know when you decide to leave this area.)
Devona:
You know that there are no temples in Dawn, however you have heard an old legend about some sort of temple located elsewhere in the Lower Realm. You also know the Librarian may have more information on this topic.
"Temple? Temple...temples..." Devona walked in a small circle for a minute, tapping the string around her neck a bit. "But there are no temples in Dawn that I know of. But...we should visit the Librarian. I'm not sure...there is a legend I've heard whispered about...let's go. I am sure though that the Librarian will be able to help." She began to walk off a couple steps then stopped. "Oh! I'm sorry! We don't have to go there right away!"
"What do you mean we don't have to go there right away?" Nygil exclaims. "If you think thats a lead then lead on I say!" He points dramatically in a random direction before realizing that he doesn't know where they are going and quickly tucks his hand behind his back laughing. "Well...if everyone else agrees that is..."
"I'm game," replied Jumble, putting away his notes. "Besides, presuming the librarian is, you know, in a library, then it'll be worth the visit even if he's no help to the case!"
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
"Sounds good to me," Rethan agrees. "Seems like about our only lead right now, so we might as well follow up on it first. If it doesn't pan out, we can look for other ideas."
(Alright to the library then. If anyone wants last minute sweep the area before you leave, roll investigation and let me know what you were looking at.)
With that, Devona leads the way through the upper-class area to a shopping district just a few blocks off the main road and up to an older looking building. Kashika recognizes this library, she'd passed it several times before but never lingered long. It didn't hold anything necessary for her survival. You walk up the few marble steps at it's entrance, and Devona pushes open the small double doors, a small bell rings when she does so. Whicket had stayed close on her heals for this entire walk while trying to stay unnoticed by the general population, but once the doors were open, he dashed inside. The place is rather dusty, and doesn't look like many people visit often, but there are obvious sighs that someone is here as the dust on the floor has clearly been disturbed. As you all congregate inside, you hear a crackly old voice call out, "Ah Who's there? Devona? Is that you?" The eledrin immediately recognizes the voice of the old librarian Bella. A loud clattering noise sounds to your left and a plume of dust flies out from between the tall shelves. "Oh goodness gracious! My poor, poor books, I'll have to pick them up later." After a few moments, an old Minotaur wearing a pair of small glasses hobbles out of the dust cloud. "Ah it is you Dear. And you brought friends! How lovely. It's been quite a long time since my library has been this full." She chuckles lightly, "Come, Come, I'll lead you to one of the reading rooms and get you all some tea. Would you like that? Then we can talk. I am very curious as to why all these Champions have taken an interest in my humble library." She leads you deeper into the dusty building, but once you pass through a couple rooms you come to a much cleaner area. You'd guess this is where the old woman lives. She stops in a small room with couches along each wall and one large table in the center then motions for you to sit before disappearing through a side door. After a few moments, she returns with a large tray carrying a cup of hot tea for each of you and for herself, and a plate of delicious smelling cookies, which she sets on the table in the center of the room. "There you are." She says kindly before seating herself. "Now, why did you come here?"
(Sorry, been occupied with the tail end of those previous RL issues)
Kashika had no issues with going to a library to find out about temples. Hell she was going to suggest asking some 'learned' type or another herself before it was suggested first. With two of the suspects down ... that left only a small handful, and odds were it was going to be bull. For now she chose to sit back, not having much to contribute until they got to the library... she knew the town well enough that she didnt have any particular interest with or for anything. If nothing else, she was frustrated that this whole situation was taking longer than it was supposed to. She can't even try to do what she was intending to, to see if it would even work. Obviously - if it didn't atleast she would know.... If the library held no answers...
I-if the library fails to give us the answers we seek... there are always guilds, taverns, and other places a-adventurous types might be...... she says, pausign a moment realizing what she was saying. I-I mean there are many champions all over but... you know..
------
At the Library, Kashika remembers it but has no particular feelings about it either way. Before now, it was just a place that existed. You couldn't eat books, and you probably couldn't sell most of them for anything worthwhile. And the ones you could were under lock and key. As the minotauress approached, and made her offers, kashika Nodded at the offer of tea. Anything free would always be welcome in her mind. Even if she didn't need it at the moment.
kashika quickly taking a single handful of the cookies. Eating only one for now. W-well, to be b-blunt. she said, mouth still partially full of the cookie but keeping her maw down if only so that she wouldn't be showing her mouthful.. We were wondering if you k-knew of any temples, or books on temples... here, or elsewhere.
Editing
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Devona kept to herself as they made their way to the library, wondering a bit about just how many other failures were down there. It was a little worrying too that the crown was missing, things that powerful didn't just go missing. She nodded with a bright smile though at the lady minotaur, "Hello again! I brought some friends this time!" She followed them through the library and sat down to receive the tea while fiddling with her hair a bit. "Yes, I thought I remember there being a story about a lost or hidden temple somewhere down here? I figured you would know if anyone knew at all."
"Hello there Madame," Nygil bows and then accepts the tea. "Yes we were wondering if you could give us any information about temples! Oh! And you wouldn't happen to know a minotaur named....uh... Surikan? Shruken? Sh... oh what was his name again?" He looks to his companions for help whilst accepting a cookie and taking a small bite of it.
(No worries Raiketsu)
"Temples, Temples." Bella squints her eyes as she searches her memory. "There aren't many of those in the lower realm. Most were destroyed during the Merge, but I do believe there is one left." She pulls a small bell out of her pocket and rings it twice. Just before the ringing stops, a small brown pseudodragon flies through the door and lands on her lap. She whispers something to it and then it flies away again. "I have an old scroll about it somewhere. Mouse will bring it back shortly. Uh...May I ask why a bunch of Champions are looking for a Temple?"
She glances at Nygil. "You mean Shurken? I don't know him personally but that youngster used to visit here fairly often. He was always so friendly, he even helped me organize some of my tomes from time to time. Though I must say he always seemed like something was bothering him, though he never wanted to talk about it. Oh I do hope he's alright. It's quite odd that he has been missing for so long."
Just then, Mouse flies back into the room carrying a scroll, which he promptly drops in Bella's lap. "Ah thank you dear." She says to it, giving it a little scratch behind it's horns before it flies off again. Then she gently opens the scroll. "Ah yes. It is the only Temple left standing after the Merge. Unfortunately, much of the information detailing exactly why it was created is missing. However, it does say that it is located at the mouth of the River of Darkness. It's believed that this temple appeared around the same time that the river itself did. Many even believe that it is the source of the river, though I myself am skeptical of that." She rolls the scroll back up and hands it to Devona. "I don't know how much help it will give you. Perhaps one of you can read those odd scribbles on it."
"Yes! Shurken!" Nygil exclaims. "So you did know him! Did he ever seem interested in this temple?" He moves to stand beside Devona to look over her shoulder at the scroll. "I think we might know what was bothering him... but we'll see."
Devona took the scroll and looked it over. "Scribbles hm?" She peered it over before showing it to the others in case anyone else could make sense of it as well. "I suppose we're going to the River of Darkness then doesn't it? That doesn't sound ominous at all!"
Zalten has remained mostly silent as the group goes to this library, though remains focused on what the woman is saying. The more she speaks, the more he thinks on the most recent vision from his god. Might this Merge have something to do with his most recent message? If this world is broken needs to be made whole, perhaps this Merge is what broke it in the first place. Whatever it is, shortly after she mentions it, he chimes in and says "My apologies, but that Merge you mentioned? What exactly was that?"
He then turns to his companions and says "If the River of Darkness contains the only temple, than I suppose that narrows our options down quite a bit. Besides, if its truly the source of the River of Darkness, that would certainly be something. And if we wish to track down the minotaur, I'd guess we are best off looking outside of this city regardless." The concept of returning to the River of Darkness is incredibly intriguing to him: perhaps here he will be able to get some of the answers as to what exactly his god was refering to. If searching for this temple is truly a way to find the crown, perfect, and if not, perhaps the place can still hold some vital information as to what exactly his god wanted him to do
When he gets a chance, he takes a look at the scroll, seeing if he can read whatever the language on it is