Duncan and Hrathen look around but do not find anything suspicious

The Clergy nods in understanding "Ah of course. Stay as long as you like. The Bishop will give a sermon in about and hour." He then moves away to continue with his duties.

Kasbis nods to Hrathen, whispers back in elvish to him - “Good hunting.  Come and join us inside when you have finished.”  He moves forward to the entrance and goes inside, motioning for Duncan to join him.  He picks a seat in the back to observe those who are coming and going, looking at the inside of this temple.  He awaits the Bishop’s sermon and hopes to be able to speak with him afterward.  He looks around to familiarize himself with his surroundings.

Duncan follows, as always, alert for threats, though he doesn't expect much in a temple. At least who would think of attacking a nearly homeless heir to their house in such a far away random place? Taking his seat he sets his glaive down on the ground for people to easily step over, and patently watches.

As he sits in the pew, Kas looks around, spotting the worshippers who are coming in, looking at the habits and customs in the temple.  He tries to recall what he can about Elestine and anything that he’s heard about Brathir.  

History / Religion : 15 

After finishing his search, Hrathen hides from the owl, turns back to normal, and comes to sit with the group.

The pews become filled with families.  Everyone quiets down when Bishop Brathir stands at the lectern.

He ends his sermon with a poem

Under the trees light
has dropped from the top of the sky,
light
like a green
latticework of branches,
shining
on every leaf,
drifting down like clean
white sand.

A cicada sends
its sawing song
high into the empty air.

The world is
a glass overflowing
with water.

"There are ups and downs in one's life, but change may also bring pleasant surprises. In times of strife it is our duty that each of us be the light for the less fortunate" says Bishop Brathir. He then moves to the entrance as he bids farewell to the worshipers.

(What do you do next?)

Kasbis hangs around toward the end until the last seem to be filing out after talking to the Bishop.  Then he walks forward, nodding and taking his hand if offered. “That was a moving service, Bishop Brathir.  My life certainly has had its ups and downs, but I feel like I am like a leaf, falling down, spinning out of control.  (In quieter tones he says)  You knew my father Kurta, I recall him mentioning your name before.  I am his son, Kasbis.  Can we perhaps speak for a moment?  I felt like I needed to find you, that you might have … some answers for me, some insight, and perhaps you can help me through my time of strife.”  

"Indeed, the service was very well done. I am Hrathen, a friend of Kasbis and his assistent in certain matters." Hrathen checks if the owl is still there. Perception if you need it. 7   Also, was the sermon long enough to grab a short rest?

(Yes it was long enough for a short rest)

"Kurta...Of course, come to my office and we may speak more privately" says Bishop Brathir as he points towards the back of the temple.

Hrathen you see the owl seeming to focus all his attention on your party.

Bishop Brathir leads you to his office. "Please take a seat. My condolences for your loss. What brings you all the way to Widoze?"

(Imagine there are 3 chairs in front of the desk)

Duncan stands up to follow the others, making sure to stand tall so that his presence is well known to anyone around, simply showing that this group is not a simple tourist group that can be messed with.

Once they enter the office, he stands near the door, and before the others begin says, “I believe I heard the old duke ((or.. what title does this family use?)) mention you once or twice in passing. He was taken from us to early…”

Kasbis lets out a low whistle to himself at the beauty of the room as he walks in.  His eyes dart from place to place, looking at the maps on the wall, his desk, the portrait as he’s walking forward to see if there is anything he can recognize or connections that he can make.  He notes the owl as they walk through the door and Gaz crawls up to look behind him as they move into the room, looking to see if the owl flies away or remains perched.

Perception : 8  (looking around the room for anything notable as they enter)

Kasbis walks forward and takes a seat along with Duncan and Hrathen.  “Thank you, your Grace.  I hope that you can help.  Or at least shed light upon matters that are unclear to us.  My father Kurta, he passed … unexpectedly.”  The face of Kasbis remains cold and unmoving as he describes this, there are no tears, perhaps due to his Yuan-ti pure blood heritage.  He states this matter of factly.  “My mother Caobis became very distant and moved to Riganto, I think she is involved with a wealthy landowner there, but she has cut off all contact with me, turned me out from our estate and sold everything that we had.  Except for one piece of scrub land in the Kavic desert, all that I had has been taken from me …. but I don’t know why, or by whom.  I feel that this is not all my mother’s doing.  Something else is going on.  I felt like you might have some knowledge that would help me, and maybe you would be willing, in light of your prior friendship with my father.”  He stops and looks at him, appraising the effect of his words.

"We're also here to see this plot of land. Do you know anything about it?"

Bishop Brathir folds his hands and takes a long look at Kasbis "Your instinct is correct. I believe your father was murdered and I know Viscount Marish had a hand it. She is the ruler in the Citadel of Kastel right here in WIdoze. From time to time I would be called on for my services at the citadel. I overheard her speaking to another about dealing with your father. I thought they plan to oust him from nobility, but not murder. I wrote to you father, but to no avail. Your father may be outspoken and a thorn in some people's side, but he did not deserve to be killed. Now I ask you to be calm. rushing in for vengeance will only get you killed. I implore you to think hard before taking action against Viscount Marish."

"First you need to build your wealth. Being a noble will only get you so far with no coin to show. The land you inherited could be a boon. Of course it depends on what you find on your land and whether you can sell it for a profit. After you have surveyed your land I suggest you find an investor among the wealthy and influential. You will need them to hire workers and purchase supplies." says Brathir. He rummages through his desk and hands Kasbis a coin pouch with 50 gold "Here use this and you can pay me back when you earned enough coin"

Kasbis notices a small ornate metallic box on the cabinet behind the Bishop wiggle slightly. He also notices that some of items seem to be old relics from some ancient civilization.

"Can you show me the deed to the land and maybe I may know something of it" says Bishop Brathir

Kasbis opens his cloak and brings out the rolled up deed and spreads it out on the table.  As he does so, Gaz falls out of his cloak on the floor, silently, startled and looking around.  Kasbis looks up and says to the Bishop, “I suspected as much.  Ever since we came off the boat on the dock, an owl has been following and watching us.  I have a feeling that our movements are being followed.  Perhaps the Viscount means to eliminate me as well.  I would like to know why my father was a thorn in people’s side, what is this about?  I will not move against the Viscount, certainly, I am in no position to.”  His hand grips tightly in his glove, squeezing..  “But her time will come.  I am sure of it.  I appreciate your offer (as he puts the coin pouch away in his cloak) of aid, and I hope to repay you threefold.  I would like to know if you know anything about this stretch of land.  I notice that you are a collector (indicating the relics), are you a historian as well?  A collector of … rare … items?”  He pauses and looks pointedly at the ornate metal box that keeps moving, indicating it with his eyes.  

"The old man certainly had enemies," Duncan joins in, "But was good when it came down to it. He certainly did not deserve what happened... Sometimes these noble fights are much more brutal than anything that happens between soldiers..."

"An owl, most likely a familiar, be vigilant. Your father wanted to uplift the peasantry with schools and even academies for magic among those that had 1 noble parent. That kicked a hornets among the nobility. I cautioned your father to take it slow, but you know how passionate he can be." says Bishop Brathir as her perused the deed and then confers with the map behind him. "Well this is mainly sand dunes and mountainous terrain. At least I know there is water. Its an oasis with water fed from some underground spring.  Now not too far away from your land a prospector found a vein of emeralds. Perhaps there may be some under your land" says Bishop Brathir as he hands the deed back to Kasbis. He looks to his collection of relics "I am an amateur collector as I am interested in the Zalanthi. An ancient people who used to live in the Kavic desert."

The metallic box keeps on slowly wiggling as it heads for the edge of the cabinet.

(History to recall anything about the Zalanthi) : 17