(Apparently the internet ate my post. Reqriting it as close as possible, though i think some of what I had written will get lost since I can't remember everything...)

Millijov seems mildly confused by the way the Eladrin spoke. Millijov was clearly at least generally intelligent but likely not used to people waxing semi-philosophical and speaking in flowery terms. Nina and Doj lightly peek their heads from around their brothers shirt to look at the strangers gathered. Still clearly nervous of these people they did not know as Jack began speaking at them as well. Giving jack a silent answer by ever so faintly nodding their heads but otherwise making no noise.

(Sorry to have to skip over what you said to Arugal Tybard, but it would require a lot of 'time bouncing'!, and trying to keep things in the present as much as possible! that's the ONE issue with forum format with DND is it's hard to keep everything on the same time scale.. same with things like reactions in combat such as Shield)

As Nivi addresses Milli and his kin, Arugal and Bluto staying near the back but nearby. Bluto too in pain to do much, and Argual tapping his foot with impatience as he clearly wanted to just get to something rather than all this socialization. Millijov doesn't react overmuch to the request aside from saying Sure, if it will help Beren or us in some way, ask anything you wish.

Sae was apparently inside still, speakign either to those within the church or Lucien himself. However she likely wouldn't be overly long inside.

(((Remember all, there is a time limit on this however unlike before this one is unspecified in it's length!)))

Whereas Jack appeared to not seeming mind or care at the note of confusion in Millijov over his mannerism, the kids' reaction elicits a more blatantly, if albeit on the surface, look exaggerated saddness and disappointment. Jack then snaps his fingers, and with an "Ah hah!", he started to fish around in the pockets behind his poncho for a bit. "Now where did I... ahh-aww, shoot~ The treats! I knew forgot something when I was in the square." He sighs. "Ah well~ Such is fate sometimes. But rest assured, little ones, that if I, he that many may call Jack, find some worthwhile treats in my journey, I will think of you fondly and try to save them for ya. Sounds good?" He asks, and even waits to see if either of the kids might break their silence.

But knowing the whims of understandable skittish children were naught to change their tune in a single scene, he flashes them one last grin, then straightened out once more to instead lean over to Beren. "My friend you seem rather upset." Jack whispers with barely disguised effort to actually be discrete. "Anything you mind sharing, or am I to play the guessing game in my mind until we away from this-" He pauses and briefly side-eyes the church grounds. "-lovely place? You need but nod, and I'll understand." 

As Olamoira exits the church, her magical senses drawn to contemplate the mist that swirls around the edges of the property like wolves behind a fence, she sighs. A sense of foreboding seems to spike within her with every coil of the mist. There is not much time. Under the light of the sun must we stagger... and then, as she approaches the group, the radiance of the cross of holy magic over Beren knifes through her senses and she staggers. The odd priorities, the spiritual vision, the celestial sentiment that she has carried with her for so long now drew her immediately towards the shining knight when she first saw him, and continued to bombard her with reflexive reverence, but she had yet not tried with magical senses to apprehend him. It is only a confirmation of her previous feelings, however, and she blithely staggers on towards him. She keeps it to that, however, mindful of his request not to be worshipped.

Seeing Beren's gesture as Jack and Nivi seek to inquire of their companions, Olamoira nods. To the aforementioned members of the party, she says, almost contemplatively, "There is not much time..." and as they proceed with their inquiries, Ola busies herself in investigating the surrounding grounds. Magical senses told her little, so she looks to her physical senses, looking for tracks, signs of struggle, or any other clues that might trace any path the relics took from the church.

Perception: 24 (rolled in game log)

Nodding in mental approval as Olamoira focuses on searching the grounds, Nivi, instead, focuses on the people.

She notices Beren's... muted response to her quiet overture of sympathy.  Not much of a talker, yeah?  But that's all right.  Not like I said anything either.  Strong silent type, our Sunshine is.  Hope he knows we got his back.  Doubt I'd be the chatty type if I had the likes of Saelethin messing up my life either!

(Passive Insight:  15)  Nivi is more concerned with Jack's sudden clamming up about his rendez-vous with the strange bard in town.  Could be cause Shorty likes kids better than he likes me.  Fair enough.  Or could be he doesn't like me saying the darklord's name out loud...  got to remember that.

"Beren''ll be all right," Nivi declares as Jack inquires after the masked warrior, more willing it to be true than believing it fully.  "There's just an elf broad in that church.  'Sales', I'll call her.  Been manipulating him since he was a kid and still doing it, smiling all the way like a grifter.  You met her before?"

With that, she turns to Millivoj and his two younger siblings, kneeling to get down to the level of he little ones.  Her voice becomes gentle.

"Good you three talked to Beren.  But listen.  Not like we're going to march up to the darklord and defeat him any time soon.  Baby steps.  Meantime, need to stick together, yeah?  All of us.  Can't let the darklord split us apart and worm his way in with fear and doubt.  I know people like that, trust me.  Back in Waterdeep, down in my patch.  Dock Ward.  That's what the bosses were like.  It's how they got to you.  How they owned you."

Nivi's eyes go distant for a moment before she continues.  "So I'm just asking you, since I think we're all on team 'let's not lose stupidly to the darklord'.  That's us, right?  This place, Saint Andral's, has power.  A power to inspire people like Olamoira there, but also a power to protect.  Meaning this church has got a target from the darklord painted on it, no mistake.  Not one you can see, maybe, except in the way the mist can't get all the way in.  Got to help defend this place, yeah?  So think back.  Any of you seen or talked to anyone."  Nivi looks at each of the three children in turn, smiling but serious.

"Anyone at all who got to you.  Asked you to get something for them, or to let them in.  Maybe promised you something or played on your fears or made a veiled threat.  Made you think that if you just did something for them, everything would be better.  Anything like that, you tell us.  Or tell Beren if you want.  Please!  Could really help us out, that.  You're not in trouble, any of you.  You ask me, you're good kids that deserve better.  Wish I could promise you better, but I can't.  Only that I'll fight for you and for this place.  Because we're a team, right?  All I'm asking is, let us know what you know."

Jack lofted a brow at Olamoira's claim at first, but then nodded, recognizing the truth of them. The more daylight they burned, the less they would have to get the winery and -- 'Wait, why did she start looking about the grounds?' He absently thought with furrowed brows, only to have both trains of his thought thrown from their tracks at Nivi's claims. But as if hearing her say Beren's name alone, the follow-up has him looking sharply towards the church with wide eyes.

"... Met, no. But seen, yes." He half-muttered in answer to Nivi. After that point he'd only been listening halfheartedly to anything else going on while continuing to stare at the church with a conflicted look about him. But gradually as the 'darklord' kept getting dropped, his curiosity gets the better of him, and prompted to eladrin to more actively pay attention to Nivi's exchange with the children. 

Beren is caught off guard a little when Millijov says his name, but shows no outward reaction to it. However, when Jack inquires as to what is bothering him he takes a moment to respond... are his feelings really so obvious? He gives a near half-nod before Nivi explains the situation for him--another thing that catches him off guard. Part of him is glad to hear that Nivi saw through Saelethin--relieved that the manipulation isn't just in his mind. It seems he can put some measure of trust in these people--something he doesn't give lightly. However, the reminder of what happened inside the church, plus hearing the situation in words from someone else, rekindles some of his earlier ire. Not so much as to cause another outburst... he's much too tired for that now, but he turns his head away from his comrades, clenching his fist and making a muffled sound as if to affirm Nivi's words. Needless to say, it's pretty obvious he doesn't want to be here anymore. 

Fortunately, the questions Nivi poses for the children are enough to once more distract him for the time... even if he does shoot a sideways glance at the church door before giving the situation at hand his full focus. He does take notice of Argual and Bluto, mostly the former's desire to leave as well, and it occurs to him that he has no clue what Nivi is actually asking about. That leaves him feeling a little... embarrassed for lack of a better word... yet he he knew if he hadn't left when he did things probably would have escalated, for him at least. And the last thing he needed to do is repeat the mistake he'd made in confronting Strahd--letting his anger drive him to recklessness. That was the one thing that had kept him from moving up in his life--that kept him from taking up more of the burdens that the Church wanted him to carry.

The light behind the mask flares for a moment, then dies back as he forces himself to once more pay attention to the conversation at hand. If not for the fact that Millijov had mentioned 'helping Beren' in particular, he would have considered taking Argual and Bluto and heading back to the inn. As it is, he just waits for a response from the kids. He'll have time to ask about what he missed later. 

The boy of Millijovs siblings looks at jack askance, simply saying You're weird... though the tone didn't seem hostile or offensive. And that elicited a giggle from his sister. Millijov simply saying, as his hands rose to signal 'it is what it is' for children They mean no harm or offense. To which the boy got a soft noogie on his head Hey! as Jacks attention turns to Beren himself.

((In regards to what Moira saw, just in case it wasnt cleat, the cross she saw was from the hilt of the sword, not so much Beren himself! JUST in case it was misread!))

Moira's magic is still maintained until she chooses to relinquish it, but deciding also to focus more on mundane methods. And thanks to the recent rains, slight foot indents within the drying dirt/mud she finds a myriad of tracks, though at first it's hard for her to decipher who's is what and which goes where. Though two sets of footprints eventually go off the beaten path, along with a single, four inch drag mark that slinked like a snake. The others might not have noticed due to the everpresent fog, or the general 'splendor' of the church itself and the tasks at hand.

As Nivi begins her soft questioning, Millijov shakes his head in the negative. No, no one has seemed suspicious to me or made any promises aside from Lucien and the Burgomaster. But they both make promises to everyone so that's not really out of the usual. Haven't seen any behavior out of the ordinary either... What about you two? He says, asking his siblings. The boy shakes his head in the negative rather quickly. The girl however says Well, Yeska gave me and my brother the younger one some money for food after we helped her with her chores...... she says trailing off thoughtfully with a smile. We bought honeyed bread with it! she says triumphantly. Millijov returning to the conversation Aye, we did. he said rubbing her scalp with a smile. But Yeska comes here often to seek shelter in the church as well. She's probably the most skittish of those who come here. But she's a good sort, I think. he finishes.

In the background, Bluto continues to blither, and Arugal taps his foot upon the ground, and finger along the cusp of his bicep.

Olamoira stands pensively just outside of the fog, narrowing her eyes carefully at the tracks. She walks along the path of the tracks, taking care not to disturb them or walk over them, and when she finds the two sets leaving the trail, she studies them for a moment before turning and looking back to her companions. She takes a deep breath, and waits for a lull in the conversation before waving and trying to catch their eye... either Nivi's, or Jack's, as she can't see Beren's eyes. She doesn't say anything just yet, hopefully not to announce too loudly what she has found, but showing some urgency in her gesture for them to come and look.

Regardless of the moment, hearing the children's reaction to Jack is enough to elicit just the brightest smile in the eladrin, and even 'cause some greenery to return to his features. But with Millijov apologizing for the children, the greenery gradually fades back into yellows and oranges as the Eladrin shook his head faintly with a smile, dismissing the whole "incident" as little more than children being children, before his attention moved on to the group and their bomb shell deliveries...

Although it takes him a bit, Jack eventually read enough between the lines to come to some sort of understanding that another and more local mystery was underfoot! Yet without further context, he had been left waffling between gauging Nivi's reaction and anticipating her follow-up quietly until noting Olamoira's waving out the corner of his eyes. "Mn~ Be right back. You darlings carry on." He says softly to the group nearby before casually making his way over to Olamoira's side. Noteably without the others present however, he only allows himself to get just close enough to whisper comfortable, "So what has your knickers in a twist, 'Madam' Olamoira? Has it anything to do with Beren's.... former 'handler' making her presence known here?"

Nivi smiles at the children and remains kneeling for a moment, eyes steadily upon them.

"Proud of you little ones.  In tough times, no better eyes and ears than children, always watching and listening when no one else is.  You keep watching for anything or anyone strange, and we'll try to protect this place.  Yeska comes back, we need to talk to her, yeah.  She's not in trouble either, same as you.  Need to find out if she noticed anything.  Something got taken from this place.  Something important.  Need to found out who, why and where."

Straightening she stands and whispers to Beren, "Bones of Saint Andral.  Relics that protect this church, yeah.  Taken, Father Lucien says, and the protection here gets knocked down a peg every day without 'em.  Matter of time before those mists that keep pawing at this place get in."

She is about to continue, expounding on her theory that it's an inside job.  That some bad actor of Strahd's coerced or tricked someone in the church into bringing the bones out, but then she notices the Prophet waving.  She gestures with her chin at Beren in Olamoira's direction.  Shall we?

Her hand gesture to Arugal and Bluto is less subtle.  Got a job to do.  Come with or stay here, but either way, don't be making an ass of yourself.  With that she strolls out to join Olamoira and Jack.  Acting as if in no hurry, but when she draws near, it's clear her face is keenly interested in what was found.

Beren listens in silence, still in the dark as to what this is all about--at least until Nivi fills him in. So the relic keeping this place safe was stolen? Well he can't say he has any particular love for such a saint, but he knows better than to underestimate the power of a holy object. If bringing those bones back to their resting place would help protect these children then he will do what he can to see it done. He gives a slow nod to Nivi's explanation and to her gesture towards Jack and Olamoira. 

"Stay safe, you three," he says quietly to the kids. He wishes there was actually something he could do for them, perhaps all he can do is help with the situation at hand. 

With a brief glance towards the church entrance, he follows Nivi to join up with Olamoira and Jack--sparing a look for Argual and Bluto. When he joins up with the other three, he stays silent, waiting for an explanation of their change in location. 

Olamoira smiles slightly at Jack's question. "Their situation surely isn't for a humble servant like myself to question... I will try to help how I can. But, look." And as the others come up, she points out the tracks to the group, careful not to disturb them. "Two sets of tracks leaving the path here, dragging something. What do you think?"

Nivi looks thoughtful.

"Nice work.  Might have been overthinking it, goin' on about it being an inside job.  Though could be, still.  Was thinking the church and maybe these bones might have... maybe blocked a straight smash and grab.  Who knows with this divine stuff.  Well, maybe you do, Prophet."  She grins at Olamoira.

She turns and takes the time to explain to Jack, as she had to Beren a moment earlier, that the bones of Saint Andral, which protect this church from evil, including presumably from the encroaching mists and undead such as Strahd - these skeletal relics have been stolen and the protection they had offered while still within the church is now waning away.  After a moment, Nivi looks briefly at Shiv, who had been preening himself contentedly.

After a quick affronted glance back at the rogue, the owl grudgingly wings upwards above the mists to see if he can perceive where the two sets of tracks lead.  Staying within the grounds?  Leading back into the town?  Splitting up?  He returns to Nivi's shoulder after searching for a couple minutes.

Shiv Perception at advantage due to Keen Hearing and Sight:  16

Jack's initial response to Olamoira is little more than a shrug and a "So it seems." Yet with Nivi swooping in and filling the Eladrin in a bit more on the goal, his eyes lit up with greater interest! "Ah-hah~ And so the puzzle finally completes itself." Jack remarks and gives a bit of a smirk. "That certainly makes these markings a bit more peculiar. Especially considering even orcish bones can managed without too much fuss... provided one isn't a child of course, or some other shorter race." His brows almost knit together as tapped his chin.

"But while they can be notorious about masquerading as children to the untrained eye, I'd wager any of the shorter races that are here are likely outsiders like ourselves. And as such, all the more likely to stand out a bit too much to not be the talk of the town." He further mused aloud. "Hn. In any event, let's follow it, and Tymora willing, perchance we'll find more clues along the way." He suggests, and if none aim to stop him, immediately proceeded to try and follow the trail pointed out by Olamoira.

The children Nod, as Millijov watches. Trusting but just apprehensive enough that he's making sure that Nivi doesn't lunge for them or some other dastardly trick. The two siblings in near-unison say Uh-huh.. affirming their understanding of Nivi's request. She hasn't came around much though.  Not for  a week or more. the girl, then boy says. (Perception hearing: 2 )

 Millijov tenses a bit when he just barely hears what Nivi whispers to Beren. The youth swallows Hard, and breifly looks to Beren when Beren isn't looking. No accusation, but the boy hadn't expected that news, yet he kept his lips tight for the moment. Allright you two, we're going to go to that one spot in town, with the abandoned house. It's right next to the guards shack, you remember, don't you? I'll meet you there. Get the blanket scraps prepared over there. We're going to have a few nights over there, okay? Go on, and behave. he says shooing them off just as Beren tells them all to be safe. We'll do our best.

There is a brief hesitation in Millijov to respond before he bluntly says Is that why the Father has seemed out of sorts? The protection of this place is gone? he sighs heavily in frustration. I KNEW something was up I just couldn't put my finger on it.. Are you sure it's not that lady who took them? She did come here just the other day... he posits, as the others converse. The siblings far off by this point.

Arugal shuffles for a moment after Nivi makes her comment at him and the baffoon, looking around, until he finds a withered tree in his vision. Dragging Bluto by the scruff of his collar, the unlucky bastard having passed out from crying, lack of food, and general exhaustion, as well as the earlier beating all settling in at once. Arugal ties the man to a tree with a slightly shorter than usual hempen rope that was on his person. Leeavign Bluto there where he likely can't get out even if he does wake up. I'm coming with. But I'm not dragging lardass anywhere farther till we have a heading proper. He'll be too weak to escape those bindings. Whatever job this is, lets do it quickly. Seemingly on board.

Shiv circles the area and at first he doesn't' see anything until One of the party happens to point at the tracks by cance in their explaining, and from there, like a hound on a trail, just needing the 'scent' he spots it circling from where Moira had found it, circling around the back. Having spotted the entrance to a cellar or crypt with a smashed lock, that had been set back in place to 'look' undisturbed .. atleast from a distance. After which, the footprints rush off to the north before disappearing on harder packed dirt, though the trail would lead to three houses near the edge of the towns wall.

(Please don't be afraid to make predictive posts! By that I mean whenever you make a check, or search or do a thing, to put a post-qualifier! Such as "if I find something, i follow the trail. I will stop if i sense/see danger etc!)

In spite of some temptation to take a small detour into the crypts for possibly more clues, curiosity -- among a few other things -- get the better of eladrin, compelling him to press on in following the trail to its conclusion. "Hmm~ Now that is troubling~" Jack would later muse aloud as the group paused, if for however briefly, at the point where the tracks disappeared. He shoots a glance at some of the other buildings along the way, considering them a moment, and then turned his gaze a little higher as he looked about for any signs of ravens or people observing the group from the windows.

Perception: 6.(11)

In the event he observes neither, or only just crows and ravens hanging out nearby, Jack turns the party /should/ they had followed him up to this point and says, "At least it would be, were we not in the presence of a decent tracker." At any confused looks, Jack chuckles softly and points to himself. "By that I mean me! Though to best facilitate that, I would need to adopt a state, a... form better suited to the task. Provided that dogs aren't disliked in this village... they are not disliked... right, Arugal? Otherwise if we're spotted, things might get a touch awkward." He says. But regardless of whether he's left to his own devices or waiting for answers, he still wound up kneeling down to investigate the last remnants of the tracks to try and glean any insight on whether the source possible leaped away at that point, possibly by some miracle taking flight or leaped to one of the houses, or if the transition was purely a result of the harder packed dirt leaving too fine an impression to follow. As he did so, he'd somewhat quietly make familiar motions and speak a few words in sylvan to better focus himself.

Investigation: 5. Plus Guidance: 1.(22 Total)

(OOC: Forgot to mention it above, but if survival would've worked in place of that investigation, he would use that instead. Which would make the grand total 27 instead.)

(I am for now also assuming Jack was too distracted to really pay a mind to the whole tying up of Bluto at the time, so will likely not react to that until a little later).

(And in the event he does spy someone observing from nearby/from windows, he'll leave out 'for better suited' part.)

Nivi silently curses herself in colorful language for allowing the Millivoj and the children to overhear her as she explained to Beren about the Bones of Saint Andral being stolen.  She had NOT intended that.  You talk to much, Niva'ele.  Who do you think you are, your sweet sister?

She turns quietly to Millivoj, her whole demeanor indicating that this is a delicate matter not to be spoken about openly to everyone.

"Am I sure it's not that elf Sales in the church who took them?  No, not sure, kid.  And she's a piece of work, no mistake.  But making a move against anyone and everyone without knowing why is what dumb hoodlums do, and that's not us, yeah?  Just keep low, eyes and ears open, and we'll talk later."

Once Jack, Nivi and Beren are all with Olamoira and Shiv has returned from his scouting, the rogue gives the party the owl's report (latter part of post 608 above).  That done, encouraged at the tall eladrin's enthusiasm for the investigation, Nivi decides to stay mostly quiet for once and see where it leads.

She frowns at Arugal tying up the comatose Bluto, but also says nothing on that front for now.

The light behind the mask flickers, giving the impression of a frown when Saelethin is brought up. He somehow doubts it was her, but... well, he can't say he can confidently say it wasn't. 

Looking to Millijov he says, "I... have my doubts. But regardless we will do what we can to make this right." He nods when Nivi says they'll talk later. Even without whatever warning was given to them by Lucian, he can tell it would be best not to let rumors start circling... not to mention the fact that there seem to be eyes everywhere. Best not to let their enemies know anymore than they already do. 

He gives Argual a nod when the man decides to tie up Bluto. That seems the best way to handle the drunk for now. Then he turns his attention back to the matter at hand... the trail Olamoira found. 

Once they have a heading thanks to Shiv and Nivi, he wordlessly sets to following the path, keeping an eye out for any immediate dangers or clues. He won't pretend to be particularly good at tracking, he never had the opportunity to hone any such skills, but he'll keep an eye out nevertheless. 

Investigation: 7

Perception: 8

Millijov stands there resolute in the face of Nivi's reaction but there is also understanding on his face. He had just said he was going to trust these people to do what was right, didn't he? The boy closes his eyes, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. Yeah, yeah. I get it. It's why I sent my siblings away before asking. But it also means the church isn't safe anymore.. for now atleast. If someone had them removed, something is likely going to happen there. And if so, it's not somewhere I want my brother and sister to be. I'll keep mum. Just.. get the bones back and do what you gotta. he says halfheartedly. In the end, as tough, and intelligent, (if foul tempered) as he may seem, Millijov is still young himself. Forced to take care of his siblings before he knew how to take care of himself.

Millijov regarding Beren with a nod, before slowly walking away in the direction his siblings ran off to. Arugal joining the others despite one approval and one dissent in the demeanors of the two.

As the group once more begins moving - Led by the Eladrin, and the strangely quiet Moira more recently, ignoring the 'scene of the crime' as it were, to follow the prints leading 'from' it. Jack seems more than capable to following them well, seemingly through sheer luck as he follows them like Sherlock reincarnated. Though for once, there appear to be no eyes in the sky aside from Shiv himself. Nah, so long as you aint turnin Lupine. Go were and I'll have to sound the alarm. If you mean yer a druid, then by all means. Whatever you think will get this over with sooner. he says non-commitally. And with that, Jack became a canine of some sort, with 'technical' permission granted. Leaning down and sniffing he is able to find the faintest traces of several scents, but the one belonging to the tracks, though now mixed in with several days of disappearance, as well as the rain having washed most of the scent gone. But the faintest of treads was there, and Jack was able to find the 'trail' from where it visually vanished due to the hardness of the ground in the general area.

There were several dilapidated homes in the area, some better or worse than others, but within the myriad of abodes, the scent lead to the door of one and one alone. The roof was missing in places, and a window shattered on the second floor. But otherwise was structurally intact. 

What do you all do?