My dice beg to differ haha, but the sarcasm is well appreciated ;)

"I may know what that thing is..."

History: 9

Zolin reads the faces of the other members of the party and surmises that they, like him, don't know much about this creature mentioned by Mavren.

There was one itch that the barbarian hadn't scratched yet. "Mavren, your words indicate that you were already aware that we were headed to the temple. Did your prophet tell you that as well?"

(Heya I am currently finishing up work and preparing for holiday travel, will post soon)

(Alright here I am)

==DM==

You try to gather what knowledge you can about this thing Mavren talks about, but it sounds more like a fairytale to scare away pirates or kids in sun empire rather than real knowledge or actual legend.

Mavren answers to Zolin.

"Truth to be told, my prophet does not extend another guidance to look for ally. I simply wander the temple ouskirts until I stumble into someone. Seemed the prophet does guide my foot after all, now that I met you"

He scrapes his long dirty beard.

"Before meeting you, I met a group of Empire armored horsemen treading around to the direction of the temple. Those foolish knights! They son't believe that I am one of their own and dismisses me as some crazy old man....I know their insignias...these fools are more loyal to the power-crazed Vona than the empire..."

"Armored horseman? From the Sun Empire?" asks Zolin. 

===DM===

"They...call themselves Vona's Seekers"

"I hope they get lost" he spits to the ground.

"An artifact of such holy importance should not be a mere.....tool"

Cora's eyes squint as Mavren talks. This one, she could sense, was off a bit. She stared at him intently. Yes. Definitely off.

"Vona...," mutters Zolin quietly to himself, hoping by doing so he'll be able to recall anything significant about the name. (History: 3)

"I don't think that name has any connection to Sun Empire..."

(Vona is the commander of Conqueror Foothold, those of you who in the prison remember that he is the one who put you in the jail to be executed. Alante also mentions he also look for the relic)

==DM==

The old vampire takes a deep breath

"So..."

"I guess....we better rest....unless you want to chase them?"

When Zolin agreed to travel with the others to the temple, he was not told why the group was headed there. Mavren's comments about this powerful artifact, however, cause the barbarian to wonder if he's just inadvertently discovered the reason behind this little quest. For now, I'll avoid asking any specific questions about why they seek the chalice. 

Zolin looks at the other party members' faces, trying to read their concern, or lack thereof, about Vona's Seekers. 

"Vona!" Sheshka grits her teeth, bearing her orcish tusks. "I remember him alright. They want the chalice too, huh? " That look of frustration melts into a sinister smile as she hefts her ax onto her shoulder "Looks like I might get a chance to show my gratitude for that little vacation he and his men sent me on"

Looking at Cora, Lilyth, and Aendar, Zolin asks, "I assume you're familiar with Vona as well?"

Lilyth gives Zolin and crooked smile. “Kiiiinda...”

((I wanna roll a history check buuut would Lilyth know more about Vona since she’s from the legion? Would that give her advantage on the roll as well?))

Cora noisily ate a granola bar, crunching and smacking loudly, as the team spoke. 

(Heya folks! Hope you get great holidays. I played so many video games that I might forgot how to work in the office now)

===DM===

That's right, Lilynth does know about him. Vona is also a vampire, and a high-ranking commander of Empire of Dusk. He is a cruel fighter and ruthless commander, that the many people give him nickname "The Butcher". He is given right to oversee the fort where you are captured, and is the one who order your capture and execution.

You already heard from Alante that he is obsessed with power, and intend to conquer Ixalan with the power of Hierophant's Chalice.

(Hoping 2019 will be a great one for all of you! By the way, I'm doing what I can to avoid metagaming with Zolin. He has no knowledge of (1) the party's imprisonment and subsequent escape, other than the mild hint just given by Sheshka in post # 393, (2) the fact that Vona is responsible for the party's arrest, and (3) the fact that Alante freed the party so they could pursue the chalice)

((Happy new year to you all! And @Jack you’re doing a great job of it so keep up with the good work! I need to also apologize for not posting and I probably won’t til tomorrow. I’ve come down with a stomach flu :c great way to start the new year, yeah?))

“Vona isn’t that nicest vampire out there,” Lilyth admits sadly as she walks over to Cora and snatches the granola bar from her hand. “We definitely can’t let him get ahold of the chalice. We should probably rest up and proceed to the temple as early as possible, unless you all want to push forward now...?”

(Happy New Year everyone!)

Cora was about to take another bite out of her granola bar when Lilly snatched out of her hand. "H- " She gave her an amused and confused look for a moment before letting her arm down, looking a bit defeated, impatient, and peckish. She folded her lean, cut arms across her chest and gave Lilly a look as if to say, "If you wanted a bite you could of asked."