@Heiboros and Tendilius

"And they say they don't burn bridges." He rolls his neck a little at your unwavering determination, breezing past the 'swindler' part. As if he hadn't been called that millions of times. The jingle of coins sounds like music to his ears. He eyes it with glee. "... I'll give it to you for 17."

"A man's gotta eat as well." He takes another sip of his wine. He eyes fall upon the desolate barren surrounding behind you and cocks an eyebrow. 

"16 and we've got a deal." says Tendilius with a smile, pulling out some coins to count them up in view of the merchant.

@Tendilius

He takes a deep inhale with his pipe, "I say we got a deal." With one hand outstretched he awaits your money and with the other he holds the components clutched in a fist. Once you give it to him he hands you your spell materials. "A pleasure." He blows the puff out.

Emma is standing there waiting for you in between the alleyway and the Court. She just waits for you guys there until you come back and then she skips over off back to the Bark and Buzzard where you hear the last bits of conversation of Kiran's offer.

"I'd be happy to offer you up a room. Me and my husband have about... four rooms available today. It's only about 2 gold per night- not as much as that snotty Stravos likes to put it. 25 excuse me? What you thinking I'm a running a saloon?" 

"Anyways you lot must be famished? How's about something to eat right? My husband's in the kitchen today cooking some lamb stew if you're interested."

Heiboros politely declines the offer. "Unfortunately, human food is not quite to my fancy. I prefer my food... fresher. However, a room for the night sounds wonderful." He will fish 2 gold out of his pocket and hand it over. 

@Heiboros

"Aw shucks, sugar. ... That's all we've got today." She puts her hands on her hips, "But definitely I hope the room suits you cozy. I'll bring you to it once you're done with..." She sides-eyes Emma. "the tour." 

"It's a one room cottage over on back. Six doors down from the Buzzard." With this she fishes around with something in her pockets, then hands you a key. "Here's for the room. I hope you enjoy your stay! My doors always open... you know, except when it's not."

Heiboros takes to the sky and follows Emma. 

Tendilius exchanges coins with the man with pleasure. Always good to have backup for the ritual. "By the way, sir. What's your name? I may have interest in visiting this shop in future and it'd be good to know who I'd be seeking out."

After exchanging good byes with the merchant he thinks about the woman's offer. "Would that be 2gp for the room or per person? I'd be interested in splitting the bill with someone if it's the former." He looks to the party for possible takers. Looking at the thri-keen he finds fascination in what nighttime rituals such a species might have he asks, "Perhaps you?"

"Oh? Perfect, then." Any questions for the girl's creation were put on pause as another voice joined in. One that she agreed with- the suit of animated armor was not a toy- and added in, "Besides, you don't seem the kind to follow in others' footsteps, Emma. I'm sure there's plenty of, ah... other ideas on how to entertain yourself rolling around in that head of yours. Ones that might not include kicking something while its down?" Literally, in this case.

To the woman, the druid bent into a shallow, polite bow. "Juniper, at your service. Indeed, I believe we may." Her assent was further solidified with Tendilius and Heiboros' chiming in. "And some stew sounds divine. After the tour concludes, of course."

@Tendilius

Aldor laughs heartily. His voice echoing with a great boom. "They call me 'Aldor the Immense.' And that is what they have since named me that is what I shall be called." The glimmering lanterns beside his caravan shine a great deal of green upon this man. It contours his face in a sickening way. Almost as if the man was made of greed himself.

You join back in with the group.

@Tendilius and Juniper

"I-" Emma purses her lips and looks around. Caught right in the act. "Hmm." She looks up to Juniper wistfully. Her eyes are wide as if someone asked her what her life would be like in 5 years.

"I dunno. I haven't really thought about it. I want to do something big! Something really big! I want to fight bad guys- like my brother!" She frowns, realizing she jut played into your 'trap'. She is following someone else again. "I want to save the world! But everyone around me always keeps saying 'no'?! I can't play in the mud. Can't climb trees (I might get hurt). Can't chase the dogs (because they'll bite me). Don't touch they horses (they'll bite you again!). How can I learn what I want to do when I grow up when nobody lets me do anything?!"

"The other kids don't really like to play with me anymore. They're all stuck on stupid baby games like hopscotch and playing jacks. All the older kids who I used to play Man Hunt with all are old adults already or teens."

"Nobody really believes in my ideas. I want to dig a hole- not like to the center of the earth- but somewhere near it and then tunnel under the big city, and then sink it! That way everything would be destroyed like 'ohhhh no quicksand ahghghh'." She imitates drowning noises. "And then everybody will be saved. Just melted! Just like Daring Do did in her last adventure! I read all about it on Friday. I'm a fast reader!" She looks up at the druid proudly, but then takes a second to register Juniper's first comment before and frowns. "No one ever takes me seriously."

Kiran pats her on the back lightly but Emma just digs her foot into the dirt.

"Um sure, honey. You can be roommates. Typically it is 2 gold per room but sure if you want to split- be my guest!" She winks. "Literally." Emma rolls her eyes.

"It will be pretty packed though. It is just a one-roomer. Do with that as you may." Then to Juniper.

"Of course, no rush! The stew will be piping hot for you once you get back around 'ere." 

Emma sags her shoulders and starts leading you all away from town to the south right. Only a distance away from where you guys drove in, but because of all the dilapidated houses and dead trees that lingered along the path to the village, you all had missed it. 

"And here is the one, the only, beloved... HENDRIX'S FARMMMM." 

The fallow fields are devoid of crops. Literally just dead grass and loose dried soil. What fills it up is small campfires and tents for the passing pilgrims. The large wooden barn and nearby farmhouse are kept in good repair, and Emma informs you that all the farm equipment and plows were long ago dismantled for parts (how did she know this? She said it's because she knows ALL with a big wide grin across her face).

"After the meteor fell his wife passed away. Got sick and died." She cracks her knuckles. "That's what happened to my cousin too." 

"The farmer's name was Elijah. Well, is. He is still alive. I forgot his wife's name. Maybe... Mary... or something? Anyways he's always got these followers coming in and out of his farm- as you can seeeeee." She enunciates that 'e' very high-pitchedly and waves her hand towards all the campsites. There's about 50 people or some congregating and mingling amongst each other. Most, you can tell, are human. But you got some few elves and dwarves, and then two orcs. And then a few others in between. Except- for one kobold. "They say Lucretia Mathias was here once. That this was her first stop before her pilgrimage!"

"If you'd wanted you'd probably had been able to stay here for free... but you'd probably had to convert first! They're all Followers of the Falling Fire." Emma shakes her head rapidly. Wormy, who is on her hand, stays upright motionless while she shakes. "Anyways Mr. Flint is probably here too. He always likes to give out free crackers! Maybe he might give me an extra one for Wormy."

Before she can go off anywhere she is halted by the young kobold who hands her and each of you guys a little paper. It is clearly meant out to be a brochure, but it is quite dingy. In fact it is only one piece of paper with a shining ball of orange engulfed by a yellow flame. He looks so excited to meet all of you. He is practically going up and down on his tippytoes.

"Would you like to hear the good news?!"

Heoboros looks down on the kobold. He knows of these fools. Believes the delerium is sacred. It's magical, by the Plane of Air. Not sacred. "Sure." He says aloud,  followed by a chirping noise.

The kobold looks up at the aarakcora with awe and splendor. His mouth starts clicking like flint on steel (a very happy noise).

"We are nearing for the end of our world!" For a statement so bold, the kobold's face is widened with a grin and eyes open with a wild gleam. "Will nigh be a great age where great heroes will be needed!"

"From the sky, we have been heaven-sent a message. One of that will uplift our bodies from out of earthly bondage. To transcend into a great knowledge unknown. To feel our spirits mingle with one and another and flow through our veins as the Sacred Flame will set alight our blazing hearts as one!” His scream becomes shrill. "Oh great and glorious pilgrims, have you heard Mother Mathias's call? For spoke her prophecy? Would you too would like to be blessed with unloading the burden of despair and escape the worries and fears of your mortal lives and become one with the Flame itself?"

"Don't you want to feel hope in an endlessly unforgiving world?"

"Daring Do?" asks Tendilius, wondering if Emma is talking about a fictional character or another adventurer in Drakkenheim.

At the farm his interest is piqued by the kobold's words. Unlike Heiboros, he hadn't heard of these people and was curious to learn what beliefs they held. "How long has this Mother Mathias been prophesizing?" he asks, filing away whatever the kobold says into his head, "Is there a special ritual you perform or is your path to enlightenment more a philosophical ideal? And of the fallen shard, do you believe that it itself is the messenger or that it was sent by another being?" he leans down to get at eye level with the kobold, desperately fighting the urge to get out his book and start writing another entry right then and there.

Heiboros says, "There is a ritual. They jam a shard of delerium into their heart, use some magic, and..."

Dabbert remains quiet for most of the tour, completely overloaded with Emma and her tour and the sheer amount of information she is able to provide.  When they stop at the Bark and Buzzard, he makes sure to go ahead and pay up for the evening, reserving a room before they go.  

"Whoever needs a place to stay is welcome."  He says once he has paid.  "In our group, anyway.  Just don't want to go back tonight and everything be uh...booked.  Ka-Cha...I gotta ask.  And I'm sorry if it's rude.  But your people...do they uh...sing at night?  Like uhm...you know.  Crickets?  Is that an inappropriate question?"  

He at least has the decency to look like he thinks he probably should have asked that question. 

But it's the farm that finally gets his attention.  

"Elijah Hendrix."  Dabbert says as some memory is triggered for him.  "My father used to trade with him, a long time ago.  I'd take the day to hike up here and trade seeds or whatever, in the years before the star fell. His wife?  I think her name was Marybel, but yeah, went by Mary.  You're sharp, young one.  Hate to hear she's no longer around.  So what uh...you're telling us that Elijah is now some cult leader?"  

It's pretty much confirmed when the Kobold shows up and shares its version of the 'good news'.  

"There is nothing good about the world ending and millions of people suffering and dying."  He says flat and to the point.  He doesn't consider long enough what consequences his words may have.  They just sort of, come out.  Regardless of what is said next, he's not listening.  For Dabbert Hahft, the buck stops when he hears ridiculousness.  

Tendilius listens to Heiboros' explanation and raises his eyebrows. Not the most shocking thing he'd ever heard, but up there. He turns to the kobold, baffled, "What logic is there to such superstitions? Are you claiming to have magic that can avoid contamination? Or do you believe the beasts created by such contamination are somehow a method of freedom?" He listens to Dabbert's words and adds on, "We've seen such a transformation firsthand. And while I have to admit it is quite fascinating and the subject appears to retain a level of intelligence, they are most certainly not who they were before and become violent even to those they considered friends."

Heiboros piercing glare penetrates the kobold. "They do avoid the contamination. All of it. Once that shard is in their heart, nothing can contaminate them. Not the haze. Not other delerium. It's a complete mystery to the Academy." It's clear from his voice that it's a sore spot.  

@Tendilius

"Daring Do! Only the best adventurer in the world!!!" Emma exclaims with her hands in the air, "I have all three of her books!"

"Mary...bel? Yeah!" Emma had said. Taking out the quill from behind her ear, she scribbled down the name onto her hand. "Mare-a-bell." She gleams, "Thank you!!! This is my day job! ... And at night... I'm a detective!" She said this with the upmost sincerity. Then solemnly. "Yeah he's been so sad ever since..."

...

"She has been prophesying since the beginning of her call!" The kobold screeches, "September 16th of the Year One-One-One-One. She knew of this day before it even came. The sky of rain! Our Mother knows when and where is the end. She has recognized the sacred duty of the Flamekeepers was not to be afraid of what is to come, but to embrace it. We do not fear the future, but know that you cannot contain what is not to be obtained. Fear what is not broken." His little fists are shaking.

"The transformation falls unto non-believers. Those who DO NOT see the LIGHT of WAY!" His eye twitches, "Those who remain. Those who do not take the words into heart."

He raises his claws to the sky, "The suffering will be stopped once those UNDERSTAND and SEE! We BELIEVE. WE KNOW! The fire will light our path and pave a new way. A way that will eliminate pain and eliminate suffering. Those who have been lost are lost. But those who are chosen, who know, who will take to the light will prosper!"

He does not even address Heiboros's assertions, just grins.

From a distance a man ducks while coming out from a tent. He stops and looks up for a second. With a smile, he starts walking towards you all. He looks to be in his early thirties, with medium length curly brown hair, mutton chops, a bushy mustache, and a flushed face. He is not wearing any armor, and instead is wearing pilgrims’ robes with a roped belt and a tabard emblazoned with the symbol you saw earlier from the kobold's paper, the one of the Falling Fire.

He is flanked by another man, a winged tiefling, who comes out of the tent with him. He smiles just as wide when he sees you too.

"Mr. Flint!!!" Emma exclaims, her hands waving about. Wormy takes to this by just hanging upside upon her finger, somehow he doesn't fall off. 

The man's arms are inside his sleeves connected together as he walks up to you. "Oh Emma!" He opens up to give a little wave. "Good to see you. I see that you brought.. your friends! How welcome!" He comes towards you very amicable and jovially. 

"Oof." He is interrupted by a big hug from Emma. He warmly smiles at you all and pats her little head.

"Did you tell your father the good news?"

"I did not!!!" Even though her face is obscured by his robes, you can guess she is laughing.

"Ah, well that is to be expected." He raises his eyebrows. She lets go and he rummages through his pockets and hands her a butter pecan cookie. "Do let him know that his presence here would be a flamesend. We would really appreciate it. We have yoga this evening and he is welcome to come."

Emma takes the cookie. "Thank you so much!!!" She continues to stare at him with unblinking eyes, holding out her hand (with Wormy on it). He realizes this and hands her another cookie. "Uh, yes, for you new friend."

 She attempts to feed Wormy a crumb of it, but the caterpillar just seems to walk over the piece. "Thank you! He likes it!"

"I see you are giving another tour." His gaze moves from her to over at all of you. "Good to meet all of you! I am chaplain Nathaniel Flint, shepherd of the Falling Fire. Are you coming here to join our flock?" He extends his hand to each of you. The kobold next to him looks so giddy. The tiefling, however, hangs back and looks like his eyes fall anywhere but near you.

"Can I interest any of you in some tea?"

@Heiboros

You recognize this tiefling. His name is Cosmos. He is about the same age as you (in human years at least). In fact, you both went to the Amethyst Academy together. He was also your roommate (randomly picked) for about a month until he decided to bunk with his friends so despite him being listed in the same dorm as you, he wasn't ever really there. You did see him pretty often. He was a skilled hockey player and an even better swimmer. Unfortunately, he was not so good at flying. Maybe that's why he didn't want to stay on that top level floor with you. 

His grades were pretty good, but he dropped out only months before he would graduate. You recall that the main thing he talked about was planer travel. Every time. 'Hey what's for lunch.' 'Turkey sandwiches... hey did you know that the Feywild has turkeys-'

Hadrian takes both daggers, feeling their weight and balance as he twirls them deftly in his hands. Satisfied, he tucks them into his belt. “Likewise.”

“Alright. I’ll keep you in mind.” Hadrian says to the gnome, meaning the delirium dealer. If they want gold, it looks like it’d be the fastest way. He hasn’t been with the group for long, but for sure one or two of them would be interested in making some quick cash.

Also the Eveningtide Manor - well if it’s just sitting there empty, maybe they can clean it out and use it as a base. Who’s gonna kick them out? Beats staying at a tavern every night.

“Hey Hahft, wanna share a room?” Hadrian calls after seeing Dabbert put down the coins for a room at Bark and Buzzard. He walks up and claps him on the shoulder, smiling. “I’ll sleep on the floor, don’t worry. Saves us both a bit of coin.”

As they stop in front of Elijah Hendrix’s farm, Hadrian raises an eyebrow and listens to the kobold’s speech curiously. Not that he’s interested in converting, but the cult’s fervor and their rituals are fascinating in their own right. Followers of the Falling Fire. He doesn’t particularly care about the religious nuances—whether delirium is sacred or merely another tool for power. He does know one thing though: “Never underestimate the power of faith.” He says, amused by the aarakocra’s apparent sourness at the followers’ ritual that makes them immune to contamination. Hadrian knows that in a world filled with magic and mystery, faith can be as powerful a weapon as any blade. 

“Hadrian,” Hadrian says, shaking the chaplain’s hand firmly. “We’re just passing through, but Emma here has been kind enough to show us around.”

Hadrian gives Emma a wink, then turns his attention back to Nathaniel Flint. “We’ve heard a bit about the Falling Fire. Seems like you’ve got quite the community here. Can’t say we’re looking to join up at the moment, but,” He glances at his companions, especially Tendilius, “Well, maybe some of us would love to hear more about delirium.”

Heiboros smiles, a move that looks like a slight opening of the mouth and a pulling back of the cheeks. "Cosmos! You ever get to the Feywild or any other place? Did you at least learn to fly?" He chirps and caws, taking to the sky and doing a couple loop-de-loops. He lands and shakes talons with Cosmos. "You were always a good student. I suppose that's why you're here? The delerium?" He has become quite serious. "Uhhh, I dropped out too. All the reading and sitting and... being cooped up was too much for me. I always liked natural magic better."