Liavyre shifts her eyes towards the albino halfling and squints an eye as if she knows something is amiss.

 Replying to the dwarf, she says "Sorry, I very rarely venture to cities or even outside of my own secluded forest realm. Social gatherings like these are quite foreign to me." she goes to take a seat as suggested.

After sitting down she slightly adjusts her sitting position and appears physically uncomfortable so after a few moments she stands back up and leans against the wall instead. After hearing her name mispronounced she says, "Lia is fine, if you wish. And um, yes, much smiting."

 (Her expression suggests her interest is peaked for a brief moment when mentioning fiends, but is probably too anxious to express anything further)

Lia, you’ve heard tales of strange clans of small humans, pale as spirits, stalking the woods and swamps of your homeland, who seem to work better and quieter then a pack of wolves with their unique brand of “mind magic’s”, but you’ve always suspected it to be tall tales and fiction to scare the younger of your race.

Now that you’ve seen this unnerving man staring at you, your not so sure about that assumption, as the strange desire to introduce yourself to him drastically diminishes when he turns his eye to the loud dwarf beside you. 

At this time the door at the entrance of the room flys open with quite a bit of force as a odd form makes its entrance. The figure is distasteful to behold short and hunched with a black shredded cloak dapped over a decrepit form, covered head to toe in matted graying fur and clad in studded leather armor. Adorned with a array of weapons who’s freshly buffed blades and well oiled shafts existed in stark contrast to the thing barring them. As his long scaly pink tail writhes haplessly behind him, He pulls back his hood revealing his long rodentine face adorned with jagged teeth, gnarled whiskers. pink fleshy ears that each bore innumerable breaks and scars, with one eye having been maimed shut beyond mending long ago, the other an impossibly wide open, unblinking yellow thing, that darts every which way as if trying to pin down some invisible looming threat.

Indeed he is being quite brash to walk amongst you with his beastly features in open air, but he is a familiar face here. If he isn't in this very room answering the most recent call to arms against the lower armies, he's sleeping in a alley way as close to the temple as the guard will tolerate, waiting for the next. The crowd parts for him as he walks his way up to the front of the room, more in a show of disgust then any form of reverence. He seats himself at the table pulling out a chair and dropping himself into it before making a repugnant snorting sound as if to clear his throat to say something but instead follows by mumbling nonsensically under his breath as his single ever unblinking eye rotates between staring directly into the face of each of those present.

"Evening." he quips, without any indication as to who he might be addressing, in a voice as worn and withered as himself, it was the sound of a throat that had been striped bare many times, shouting over the clamor of combat.             

 "Wow, it's getting pretty crowded in here all of a sudden." Pip comments, looking about at the colourful cast of people that have been led into this room. He turns to the champion. "A champion, eh? Guess our lord protector wants his best for this then." There is a slight eagerness to his tone as he looks about the group.

A moment passes and the doors at the far end of the antechamber open to reveal a human woman in a flowing white-and-gold robe. Her silvery hair contrasts with her younger looking features as she looks over the group. Those who have lived any decent amount of time in Allhaven recognise her as a Luminary, an agent who speaks and has powers directly from Solar Barrizhein. As she speaks, her tone is melodic, yet firm in your heads. "We thank you for accepting our summons. Please, this way." She gestures through to the room ahead.

Unlike most of the rooms people may have seen within Pelor's temple, which are white stone with ornate decorum, this room appears to be more of what one would summise as a drawing room in a noble's house. It has dark wood shelves of old dusty tomes and a large round table in the centre. The table has engravings of the sun god's symbol, a face within a sunburst, as well as matching chairs. The Luminary takes a seat, waiting for the others to join her before continuing.

Ragmin Stands and follows first. Admiring the the stonework turning to wooden paneling. Nothing new caches his eyes.

"Time to get this show on the road, lets go lad, ladies."

Once the group has settled down, the Luminary looks around to each person there. "My name is Luminary Arle. I am the chronicler for Solar Barrizhein and as you can see," She gestures to the dozens of tomes. "There is much that is chronicled here. During my research over some of my predecessor's work a particular passage came to my attention." Luminary Arle sets a large tome on the table and opens it to a page filled with scratchy handwriting that appears almost completely illegible. "This passage mentions life in what we now call The Old Citadel, just beyond the border of our lands. According to it there is something of great strength that was taken from The Old Citadel to The Chapel of the Five. We have researched this and believe that is means the old church that is on the outskirts of The Dead Forest." The Luminary looks to Pip at this point. "This halfling has previously managed to get near The Chapel of the Five, so will be your guide."

She then turns her attention to Fjorgin and Ragmin. "One thing to note is that the ground near The Dead Forest has traces of a mineral known as Meekstone. It is a strange rock from the depths of the nine hells that seems to be more effective the more powerful the individual. It would have the potential incapacitate someone with the power of the High Priest, but we believe fresher faces should be able to journey unhindered. I would like you two to lead this group and ensure their victory." She turns her attention to Fjorgin. "The demon rock does not seem to hinder The Lower. Be wary, there may be some fights you are not prepared for." Finally turning to the others. "I understand each of you are quite capable in your specialist fields. A master of weaponry, a hunter of The Lower, an archer with a zen mind, and one who has a thought of long lost art."

She pauses for a moment to let the information sink in. "The mission is to make it to The Chapel of the Five and locate this artefact. If it is easily transportable attempt to recover it or if not return and just report. You will be paid for your troubles in this, and should you find items that are not of Pelor's domain, they are yours to keep. I believe a thousand gold each should be good for the information, and any further renown will also be rewarded."

It takes Thea a brief moment to absorb all of that. Maintaining a demonstrative composure, she eyes up her new companions. It is somewhat obvious she's trying to correlate the information, reappraising everyone at the table. Her eyes rest on canary for a second. Thea then adresses the Luminary: "A great task, venerated Arle. Fogive my asking, but did your predecessor perhaps mention anything particular that might be helpfull for locating this artefact, for instance about its outer appearance or the powers that may inherent it?"

Canary approaches the Luminary and the Tome, getting right next to the emissary of the towns greater power without a hint of hestitation or social conventions, and eyes the book with the same unnerving stare he was shooting the others. His eyes scan over the supposedly illegibal handwriting, and after a few seconds he once more backs off, never once looking at the silver haired female, before he positions himself in his previous position, a spot near the middle where he could observe most of the people in the room. 

As Canary gets close to the Luminary as she is giving her mission brief, it feels as if there is a void where he would sense to send his telepathic communications. It is as if her mystical protections mean he cannot implant his messages that he would easily be able to within another as his main form of communication. She does not appear to mind the halfling approaching so close, not noticeably reacting to his mannerisms.

"The tome does indeed have some rudimentary information from what I have read." Luminary Arle says to Thea. "However I was ensuring that those present are intent on completing this mission." She then traces her hand along the centre of the page. "The book describes that the artefact was taken by five people,  one representing each of the faiths of the chapel. This tells us it is something that can be carried between five at a maximum, but continuing along the text it mentions that the journey was five days, each taking a day to be the bearer of the artefact." It is at this point that people begin to note while this Luminary appears young and beautiful, her hands look more aged and wrinkled, as if they have been used for an eon's worth of penmanship. "This artefact is something that has the blessing of the five, which appear to be Pelor, Moradin, Corellon, Yondalla, and Garl Glittergold."

Just as quickly as he sat down Filtch lifts himself out of his chair as the Luminary enters the room, a slight smile coming across his previously expressionless face before plopping himself down again in the antichamber. He listens closely to the Luminaries words his eye constantly fixated upon her.

"Semantics," he interjects after Thea. "Trek to the edge of the dark wood, bring whatever pointy eared night crawlers we find down about a head in hight, returned any horned bastard who cross our path to the Nine-hells, Grab a play thing for the powers that be." he clears his throat again making a horrible sound. "So, when do we leave?"           

Liavyre remains on the outskirts of the group, leaning against a wall with her arms crossed while processing what Luminary and the others have said. 

She speaks up and says, "Luminary and... Pip, was it? Other than fiends and wild beasts, do either of you know what other dangers we will possibly hunt along the way? I've heard tales from my kind of Giants to the North and other monstrosities."

Filtch turns his head as if to answer the Ranger's question unprompted, but stops short of opening his mouth as a look of bemusement comes across his Rodentine face, and for the first time that anyone can see his single eye blinks as he turns his head back staring emptily at the center of the table. The look of eagerness that presented itself as you wore all called into the antechamber now replaced with an expression of bewilderment.       

Pip perks up at being brought properly into the conversation. "Right, well there's the hill giants that live in Giant's Steppe. It's the hilly bit that's the easiest path out of Allhaven's land. Beyond that there's lots of things that could turn up. Drow tend to come out at night, and they could have demon minions. There's the wolves and wargs too, and sometimes the odd orc band."Pip stops for the moment.

Luminary Arle looks to Pip. "Continue." She says in a warm, yet stern tone.

Pip nods. "Well, we saw a proper big devil wandering around in the Dead Forest. Scary big." He gestures widely with his arms. "Squad leader belives it was some sort of general, it had big boney parts to it, kinda like a skeleton-devil."

"Haha, skeleton-devil, you say? All the easier to grind up into little bits!"

Flitch's expression unglazed at the mention of the Devil.

"Bone devil. nothing but a overgrown toothpick attached to the butt end of an ugly face." he says with a snortle.     
    

"Now we're talkin! Sounds like fun, nothing capable of stop us though."  Theas tone is just as confident as the message shes transmitting. "Count me in. However, I'd like to hear more about that recalcitrant type of stone. I'm having trouble visualizing the discomforts those rocks might bring along..."  She glimpses at Ragmin, to Fjorgin, then back to the luminary. Its obvious she's unsure who's the right person to adress in this manner.

Fitch coughs and interjects taking it upon himself to answer Thea's question.

"Meekstone, it's a defense employed by The Lower to limit the dominion of the god's greater champions. Its the reasons the the Solar Barrizhein can''t just waltz up himself and pluck this relic from the temple, but lowly swords and mortal flame tossers such as ourselves shouldn't be to bothered if I'm not mistaken, though I'm sure the bean-counters have more to say on the matter"        

" Find a relic amid the darkness? Sounds like the things we were destined for. Pelor's gaze will watch over us" said Ragmin excitement blazing in his eyes.

Liavyre stands upright then says with a sudden pep in her voice as if the anxiety in her previous statements melted away, "A giant skeleton demon? Say no more, I will come along just for an opportunity to hunt such a monster! It would be a grand tale indeed."

She glances around as if suddenly realizing where she is then leans back against the wall.

"What Fitch says is mostly true." Luminary Arle says, looking to the ratfolk. "Meekstone has become a more protective system used by The Lower to ensure we cannot overrun their territory with our paragons and high templars. It is a blood red rock that can ward an area by having a large lump in the centre as a focus, or a ground up rock can be spread around a perimeter. However, meekstone would not have an effect on an immortal such as Solar Barrizhein. However, should he leave his protectorate his wardings could destabilise as well. Think of it as meekstone prevent our higher ranked troops from entering their territory, but Solar Barrizhein also does the same for us against their units. It is why only lesser devils, perhaps imps, could potentially make it into our lands."

Luminary Arle then stands back up. "If you are prepared," she looks about to everyone with their adventuring gear, "then you are to leave within the hour. Take that time to grab any last minute equipment you believe you may need. It is a long journey to your destination. A small care package with additional trail food for two weeks is waiting for you by the North Gate."