The inside of the Seaside Inn is welcoming and gives you the feeling of relaxation. The common room walls are decorated with calm paintings of ocean waves, ships, and lighthouses. Tables are spaciously placed to permit privacy. This time of night the tavern area is mostly empty apart from a few drunks attempting to finish a few more rounds before the nights end. You also see an exhausted looking Vale, sitting with her his Captain Flame. Her eyes widen as you enter and join them at the table. "The Briarwoods? I have never heard of them. You suppose they are connected to Lord Agustin somehow?"

As you begin to chat, your table is approached by a halfling man, wide eyed for this time of night, responds to Bellamy's question about food and rooms to rent. "Aye we got a few rooms left. A few meals left too, though a bit cold at this point. It'll run ya a gold piece for a room and a meal. Or if ya just want the room it's eight silver"

Rel is exhausted, all the more so upon hearing about the Briarwoods and the daunting task of trying to help Vale and her brother Vlad.

The prices at the inn seem on the high side to her, but she does not care.  Finding Zane's yawning contagious, she yawns herself, then hands over the gold piece for room and meal, eating only part of the latter.  "You or your owl want the rest of mine?"  She grins at Bellamy as she rises to retire to her room.

To Thren or anyone else still planning to head out this late at night, she only remonstrates that they be careful, not having the energy to argue against it more strongly.  She staggers up the steps, the siren song of a proper bed calling to her.  All the dark elves in Rel's mother's family had never needed to sleep of course, requiring only a few hours in a trance-like state, but she is her father's daughter and her eyes close as soon as her head hits the pillow.

Bellamy tiredly fishes within his pack and places 1 gp in the hands of the halfling man. "I'll have the meal and room." His belly lets out a grumble and he pats his belly "Don't worry we will have food soon. "

He looks to Rell with a a smile which is mostly hidden by his bushy mustache "Thank you Rel. I will accept the leftovers" He sets Melby on the table. and she happily gobbled the offered food.

Bellamy eats the late supper within 3 massive gulps and happily pushes his plate away from him. Afterwards he heads to his room and falls asleep with Melby resting on his plump belly.

Tex happily joins Thren to explore the city a bit more. Before they had rushed through and it was impossible to get any impression. Anyway, he likes nights much better than days. Perhaps he’s got some vampire blood, too? He asks for some food for the way though. You never know when‘s your last meal before a stretch where you go without… never pass on an opportunity, that’s what he says. And less on such a splendid one.

Zane gives two gold to the halfling, "One for me, one for her," as he nods at Vale.

Once they are alone again he replies to Vale, "I don't know about the connection to Lord Agustin. I don't even know that the people in the manor are connected to Briarwoods - they might just have moved into an abandoned building. But as there is a link to vampires then it's more then likely that there are at least some ties."

He quiets down as the food arrives, takes a few bites and a good long drink.

"To be honest, my first instinct is to go to the authorities. We don't have direct proof, but there is enough to go on. Or if not the city authorities then there are probably other organizations that would be very interested to learn about such activities. We could even look up the people who fought the Briarwoods the first time around if nobody else is inclined to help."

He returns his attention to Vale, "And at the same time we can research if it's possible to cure or reverse whatever was done to your brother. But I'm afraid none of it is going to be immediate."

Zane takes another bite and is about to say something and then just blinks. "It feels like I had more to say, but I really am extremely tired and whatever it was just left my brain. Let us continue in the morning and lets keep all of this very quiet for now."

After Thren locates the temple he will also go and get a room sliding the hafling a gold coin has his meal and some ale then going back up to his room and sleeps 

"We could start at some of the bars that are still open and just ask for the way?", Tex suggests to Thren.

The next time he passes by, Tex stops the Halfling and asks, "Do you, by any chance, happen to know where here in Port Damali the temple of Korg is?"

Occ I thought time wise we were somewhere between later afternoon sorry I’ll roll a perception check 20 in game log 

The halfling responds to you Tex, saying "Aye the Temple of Korg is up in The Crescents, all the temples are up there. The one for Korg is on the southeastern most part of The Crescents. Big lightning rod stickin' out the top of it. Can't miss it once you get over there. If your plannin on goin tonight, well, hang on to your coin purse..." 

Tex, judging by how long it took you to get to The Crescents earlier it will be a several hour walk to get to the temple.

Thren, after listening to Tex ask for directions to the temple, you walk outside and look up towards The Crescents. You can see just the faintest sight of the lightning rod that the halfling spoke of.

"Thanks! I don't know if it is wise to go at night. You think they offer more than the minimal service at night? I mean does it even make sense to go there?" Tex replies to the Halfling. "I think I'll take you up on your offer for a room and we might check out that temple in the morning."

Tex measures up Thren, does he really want to go now? "Let's wait till tomorrow with visiting the temple, ok, Thren?" he ventures, "Maybe, we can sit all together and make a plan how to proceed over some nice breakfast."

Quote from cyreon >>

"Thanks! I don't know if it is wise to go at night. You think they offer more than the minimal service at night? I mean does it even make sense to go there?" Tex replies to the Halfling. "I think I'll take you up on your offer for a room and we might check out that temple in the morning."

Tex measures up Thren, does he really want to go now? "Let's wait till tomorrow with visiting the temple, ok, Thren?" he ventures, "Maybe, we can sit all together and make a plan how to proceed over some nice breakfast."

 “Tex I’ve decided we will go in the morning best to get a good night sleep in” after that he will go to his room 

Rel

 The rest of you find a peaceful nights rest after an eventful couple of days. The experience of the events help you find a new strength within yourselves. You all gain a level to LEVEL 4! The morning sun peers in through your window as you are awoken by the sound of seagulls from the docks outside. The scent of warm pastries fill your nose as the Seaside Inn's breakfast downstairs calls to you.

Sitting at a table alone is Vale, looking like she hasn't slept. Dark baggy circles under her eyes and ruffled frizzy hair, she sips at what looks like a hot tea.

Bellamy slowly gets up and picks up his pack and carries Melby in his arm. He trundles down to the common room half asleep while hugging Melby. He sits down next to vale and zones out for a minute before realizing Vale was sitting next to him. Bellamy then furiously rubs the sleep out of his eye "Sorry I did not see you there. Did you get no sleep? I know you must be worried, but you can't go on like this. Look once the others are here we will formulate a plan" says Bellamy in a reassuring tone.

Thren wakes up gets his things ready and takes of his holy symbol finds somewhere to hang it and says a pray to Korg blessing his group and asking for guidance hoping to find meaning, then walks down stairs “ahh Vale you erm look erm” realising she probably hasn’t had any sleep since here brother new condition looks to Bellamy “right so me and Tex know where the temple of korg is roughly can you think of anything that we as a group might need?” 

Rel descends the stairs to the common room, looking refreshed, yet preoccupied.  As if something is bothering her.

I feel new magic within me, but it is not from... her.  Yet who was the strange man who seemed to know of the pact?

She becomes concerned seeing Vale and the state she is in, though she says nothing further, awaiting Vale's response to Bellamy's words.

She is open to trying the Temple of Korg first as she has no better ideas.  Her dark earrings seem to drink the morning light.

Zane joins the group and looks very fresh. "So, what's the plan with the temple? Why are we going there?"

"How do you expect me to sleep right now?" Vale barks, "I have been following him for days now and then I find out he is an undead...or vampire.. or whatever he is. He doesn't move or speak or laugh or joke the way he did.... I miss that so much. We were inseparable the two of us. But now.... Shutting my eyes now brings terror. Silence brings unease. If I am not doing something for him then I am doing nothing... and right now waiting for you all is all I have to go on.... so I wait.... awake, sipping my tea. What can we do? Where do we go?"

"I understand that worry is eating at you, but denying yourself sleep won't bring your brother back any faster. We are trying our best to get him back. Now we know that the Briarwoods are dangerous, so we have to be careful." Bellamy then looks to his companions. "If we can get some kind of building plan that might help, I doubt the Briarwoods built that manor by hand. Maybe we can visit builders that are often used by the rich and powerful. On the other hand if anyone feels like we need to hurry then we can go in blind"

Zane says, "Hold on! Isn't this the exact reason why the authorities exist? I am very much against 'going in', whatever that plan might entail. We had no ability to help Vlad on the ship and we still have no ability to help him now. But now he's in a way more difficult position."

"We have no proof. What can we show to the authorities? Would they take our word versus the Briarwoods who are obviously wealthy enough to live in that section of Port Damali. Nobles and the wealthy elite are usually given preferential treatment. The other option is to seek experts on vampires or ways to remove the geas" says Bellamy