Tock says, "I do not have fines, warrants or the third thing anywhere. No illegal items. Weapons I have a bow, a crossbow and three daggers. Haven't used the bow for a while now though."

Tock is really curious on how and why are they providing a "son of Ruth", but he's too scared to ask.

Keyrie:

 Neventi reports that she is carrying no illegal items and has no outstanding warrants. She is carrying only a quarterstaff. She answers for Gentoa as well, who has no weapons, warrants, or illegal items.

(Dog and Lucien need to answer still.)

"I guess I'll speak for the group on the other questions. I'm never sure if I'm supposed to talk or not, but when I start to talk, lately I've been talking a great deal. That spell is sort of liberating. But we come with sincere peaceful intent. We wish no one harm. I trust these good people with my life. We'd do anything to protect each other, especially the littlest ones." 

Dog looks at the rest of his friends, then at Nev, then at Genny, and brushes a stray hair out of her eyes. He blinks, getting self-conscious at the social permission he feels to be perhaps a bit too honest.

"As for the questions:

• Our business in Karkarus is to find shelter after a long journey and to see someone at the temple. We seek answers.
• We don't plan on staying more than a few days.
• I'm not sure if Ranil Cinderwood is in Karkarus now, but she's an old friend and coworker of mine from my past life as a mercenary, and she should vouch for me. She's from here.
• I have no outstanding fines, warrants, or subpoenas anywhere that I know about.
• All of the items I'm carrying are my own possessions, gifts, or salvage.
• For weapons, what I'm holding on my person is this sword, bow, and shield, as well as this dagger and a net in my pack that I've never used."

"I have an outstanding fine in Cardus for vagrancy," Lucien says.

"Cardus?" says the clerk. "That is a long way from here. Why did you not pay the fine?"

"It was shortly after I arrived in Alcion," Lucien says. "I had no coin with which to pay."

The clerk nods but doesn't write anything down.

"I carry no contraband and I am armed with a dagger and a quarterstaff."

The clerk finishes noting everyone's answers then looks to the cleric, who nods sagely. The clerk, in turn, nods to a guard stationed behind the portcullis, who pulls a lever and the iron barrier begins to noisily rise.

"Welcome to Karkarus," the clerk says. The road ahead of you is Northgate Road. It leads directly to the plaza where you will find the Temple of Tymora. The other three major streets in the city are Southgate Road, which will direct you to the southern gate, Main Street, which leads to the keep there to the east, and Fort Street, which leads to the western gate, locked to all but the soldiers stationed at Fort Karkar and suppliers of the fort.

Entering the city, the party find the evening has not quieted the city much. The Northgate Road is well lit and still busy in spite of the hour. Shops are closed, but people mill about gossiping, heading to or from taverns, and one industrious fellow even bangs away on his door frame with hammer in the lantern light. The city slopes upward to the east slightly where a large walled-in mansion sits. This is the keep the clerk spoke of. Many of its windows are still lit, although the gates into the keep appear to be closed.

The plaza is large and still occupied by citizens chatting at tables by the taverns and shopkeepers closing up their carts and shops. On the east side of the plaza is a massive temple with a fountain in front of it. A statue of Tymora stands atop the roof, looking down over the city with outstretched arms.

A cleric comes bustling out of the temple and runs right up to the party. Huffing, the acolyte says, "I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. The guards did not alert us right away that you had arrived, despite our request to keep a watch out for you. Please, right this way. We have prepared beds and a meal."

Puzzled, the party follows the acolyte into the temple, through the expansive, worship space, adorned with magical flames, golden filigree, and elaborate statues of Tymora and other gods. The acolyte leads them to a back room that is indeed arranged with a table prepared with fruits, dried meats, bread, and stew. Cots line the back wall and a fireplace warms the room.

"Please," says the acolyte, "lighten your burdens and fill your bellies. Mother Mentiri will be with you in the morning. I'm sure you have questions. But make yourselves comfortable first."

The acolyte then leaves in a haste, perhaps to inform Mother Mentiri of the party's arrival.

(Everyone may level up, adding the maximum HP. Additionally, take a long rest if needed. You may make an RP post as you see fit.)

Dog is wary, but happy to be received so well at the temple. As they enter the temple, he asks the acolyte a few questions. "How... how did you know to expect us? I'm a little worried that anyone else who was watching in the city also knows we're here. I probably don't have to tell you that there are a lot of, well, forces interested in finding us right now, and I'm sorry to say that this attention might fall upon you as a result. Are you sure you'll be safe if we stay with you? Don't get me wrong, we're endlessly grateful for welcoming, open arms like this! "

Were any of the people we could see on the walk in particularly interested in our passage? He's concerned, and he does indeed have questions, but Dog nevertheless inhales a meal and a half of the first real food he's tasted in perhaps weeks.

He asks, before or after a long rest, how Nev is doing, and what she thinks of the temple. Quietly he asks, "Have you met Tymora too? I'm not good with religion. Would she be Genny's auntie?" He again plays some simple guessing games with the child while working on his "dog" impression. Even in the temple, he volunteers to take a shift for a night watch, and wanders around a bit, looking through any books he can find.

One moment with Lucien: "Lucien, I would love to hear the story of how you came to be here, vagrancy or not. I'm not sure I ever heard it before."

Another with Gash, casting his new force wall spell: "What's your favorite color? Watch this!"

He tries to assure Keyrie that they won't be in the city long, and that she should feel free to shift into an animal if she feels more comfortable that way.

He talks with FeyTok about how he may want to switch his weapon to warhammer. "Maybe you can give me some pointers on how to throw it. I can bring it back to my hands pretty easily now."

"Tock, have you ever been to this city? We'd be smart to find some good places to sell our extra junk. You seem to know the right fence to talk to wherever the circus traveled. Maybe someone who sells to the army would like to buy these extra scimitars and crossbows we have?"

When he sleeps, he has a smile on his face, without worry lines, for the first time in a while.

Tock has a plan of his own - to learn more about religion. And now he also has a task to find how to sell the excess gear they have. And maybe buy some new gear - the crossbow has been most awesome. His sleep is restful and he is excited for what the next day brings.

Keyrie stays in the church skulking around and keeping an eye on everything, she spends a lot of time with Genny turning into different animals and playing with her, she spends some time preening her shrub and making sure that it is growing fine.

Mother Mentiri finds the party milling about in their quarters come morning. Well, most of them that is. Lucien has disappeared in the night with only a note that reads, "I am needed elsewhere. Until we meet again. - L"

Mentiri is much younger than anyone expected, perhaps as young as Neventi even. She speaks with a soft power, exuding a confidence in her faith that is almost contagious. Her hair is pulled back from her face, giving her otherwise soft features a harder edge. But a twinkle in her eye reminds anyone to whom she speaks that she is a friend. Her hands remain folded at all times, either n her lap when she sits or in each sleeve as she stands.

"I am so happy to see you have arrived unharmed," she says. "I have many questions but perhaps you do too. I can answer some of them with my own story first, perhaps. Two weeks ago I was visiting by the deva Gabrienne, an angel of Tymora's. Gabrienne told me only to search the archives from an anonymous letter that we had received at the temple more than 100 years ago."

A look of exultation forms on Mentiri's face as she recalls the visit from the deva. A single tear falls down her cheek, which she wipes away as she finds her composure. "We looked through our archives for three days looking for the letter. Being anonymous made it difficult to know what we were actually seeking. But eventually we found it, a curious letter that had accompanied a sizable donation to the temple almost 120 years ago. The letter foretold your arrival, listing each of you by name and describing the arrival of a blessed child."

Mentiri looks at Gentoa fondly with a smile before continuing. "It also said that we should welcome your arrival with food and beds and to file the letter in our archives safely so it could be found when the time was right." Mentiri smiles broadly, nearly laughing as she says, "I can only imagine my century-departed predecessor's reaction to this letter when it first arrived. I am just glad that he deposited it in the archive as instructed. It was a truly worthy donation for such a simple request. So that is how we knew to expect you. What else can the Temple of Tymora do to help little Gentoa and her protectors?"

Dog looks genuinely captivated and moved by her introduction.

"Thank you, again, for your hospitality, Mother. I think more thank anything we need information. We have been chased around for weeks by the forces of heaven and hell all trying to force a choice upon Neventi. We've nearly lost our lives many times. None of us understand what's going on. Now we hear there are fiends attacking people outside this city. Can you tell us what's happening? As for what you can do for us, that really depends on what Nev says she wants to do. We think we've been able to be hidden from these forces for the last week or so, but that might not be the case here. In which case, we don't want to endanger you and yours. Wouldn't be neighborly. Is there any way to stay hidden from celestial and infernal eyes while staying here to give us a time to breathe and for Nev to decide if she wants to make a choice, or choose not to make the choice she's been presented?"

Dog doesn't want to speak out of turn and looks to Nev with a gentle expression.

.

“Do you know of Merxina?”

Mother Mentiri nods, pursing her lips as she thinks of how to answer Dog. "Doggear Brakespine, am I correct?" she says. "Fiends do abound, especially to the north. Many citizens of Karkarus have fled to family and friends to the south and Lord Camman has ordered the gates to all but trustworthy entrants, as you have seen. The army stationed at Fort Karkar patrols the countryside during the day but all retreat to the city and the fort at night, when the fiends walk openly. I..." she hesitates as she thinks about how to proceed. "When I read the old letter from the archives, I did not know what to make of it. But once the reports of fiends intensified, I began to wonder if Tymora was aiding you in a larger fight that we do not fully understand." She looks and smiles upon Gentoa again. "This beautiful child seems to be the center of a holy war that we are but players in."

Mentiri sits, smoothing out her clerical robes. "As for staying in Karkarus, I am glad you understand, Mr. Brakespine. Lord Camman, on my advice, will permit you to stay for one day, but after that time we request that you leave Karkarus. We wish to help you but, as you said, your presence here puts many people in peril. Lord Camman has, in fact, requested to meet you this evening over supper at the keep."

Upon hearing Gash's question, Mentiri shakes her head. "Gash...or Gregory, correct?. Which do you prefer? No, I  have never heard the name. A deva who visited you?"

“Yes. Well. I introduce myself as Gregory. It usually softens people’s first impression of me when they see I’m a goblin. My friends call me Gash, it’s my birth name. You may call me whichever makes you feel most comfortable. We uh, came in contact with her and an army of zombies. She left us a letter and supplies and had a statue of herself. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. I came onto the crew late. Was this my destiny?”

Mentiri blinks. "I have so many questions," she says with a laugh. "She is a necromancer that you encountered? Did her ancestor write us the letter in our archives?"

"I think that is totally possible... now I-I- I'm still a little confused by everything that's going on here. But I think she plays a big part. Perhaps there is some record of her? Do you have some sort of library maybe? I've also been interested in learning more about Tymora." Gash was noticeably nervous and very unsure about anything he was saying.

Neventi rummages around in her bag. "Hang on," she says as she looks frantically. "Do you still have it?" she says to Keyrie. After a few minutes of confusion, Neventi hands Mentiri Merxina's letter of apology.

The temple Mother reads through the new letter in silence. "I don't understand. Was this Merxina undead when you met her?"

She calls for an acolyte to run to her chambers and fetch the archived letter while she listens to the story of the empty city in the mountain and the woman who attacked them as a means of helping them.

"She sounds to be utterly mad," Mentiri says. Then the acolyte returns with the old letter. She places them side by side. Aside from some differences in weathering, the ink and parchment appear to be the same, as does the wax seal. Merxina's letter was rolled up as a scroll, whereas the Temple's letter was folded. The handwriting, however, is a dead giveaway.

"These were written by the same hand," Mentiri says. "And this letter was written by the woman who attacked you, a necromancer kept alive by her own magics." She holds up the scroll from the underground city.

The silence in the room is deafening as the priestess and her audience contemplate what this means.

"Her letter to us 120 years ago has some madness towards the end as well. She warns us that we must not let you stay here in Karkarus or the city will be burned to the ground. This was why I recommended to Lord Camman that we take you in, but that we request you leave as well." She looks again at the new letter. "May we keep this with our records?" she says.

Neventi is scrunching her face into ta scowl. "Keep it for all I care!" she says in a forceful whisper. "I will not suffer that woman any longer."

Mentiri looks pleased, though Nev's mood has definitely been fouled by the discussion.

"But Nev, she helped us..." Gash whispers quietly then turns to the acolytes, "Um Miss... Mentiri...? I don't want to be a bother, if our presence here is going to be the cause of some catastrophe... I'd like to go."

"'Dog' please. Mr. Brakespine is my father. We are more than happy to leave the city. But how can we stay safe out there? If the countryside's rife with fiends, we don't stand much of a chance out there. Is there a way to hide us as we go? And what can you tell us about Lord Camman? What's he likely to think about all this?"

He looks again at Nev. "I'll go wherever you want to go, Nev. Have you thought more about this choice? That will help us decide what we want to ask for, and how we want to proceed. If what you want is to not decide, or that you need a lot more time, let us know, and we can help you get that."

He's happy to help Nev tell the story of the mountain. "She was possibly mad, or whatever her original intent could have been contaminated by some other force that made her and her followers attack us. Or she started out mad. Not sure we'll ever know."

Looking back at Mother Mentiri, Dog has a few questions.

"Does Tymora communicate what will happen in the future through visions and oracles? I am still dumbfounded that Merxina knew so much about all of us so long ago. Is Tymora generally on the same side as the other celestial beings? They had very specific ideas for what should happen to Nev and Genny. Do you know if Tymora's taken a side in this 'holy war' you mentioned? What does the temple want?"

Mentiri smiles kindly at Gash, "Do not worry. We offer you sanctuary for a day. Tomorrow morning, you are to leave and go where you will. Lord Camman has some thoughts or suggestions on the matter, I'm sure. He is something of a severe man. We have been at odds of late. He wishes to replace this temple with one devoted to Helm, citing declining visitation to Tymora. As a priestess of Tymora, I have strenuously objected to his proposal, of course. But Gabrienne's visit and the subsequent occupation of fiends in the nearby countryside has allowed us to mend our fences and side together on many matters. I think Lord Camman desires to see with his own eyes the prophesied.." Neventi sighs audibly "...arrival of a blessed aasimar child. But nor does he want to see the city burn. He may have over-reacted to that warning with his stringent closure of the gates and I suspect he will be relieved to see you go. Nevertheless, he is a pious man. He finds his duty to the city and his duty to his faith at odds."

To Dog's question about Tymora, she responds, "No, Tymora usually speaks through her devas or lets chance speak for her. The goddess known for providing visions of the future is Savras, the goddess of fate. The gods often help each other, especially in times of great importance. Tymora would undoubtedly side against the fiends. She did so during the last fight between the heavens and hells. That was also over the life of an aasimar child, now that I think about it. The gods and the devils sometimes take the arrival of such children as a chance to upset the stalemate between them. It did not upset the balance the last time, though..."

Mentiri stops talking as she becomes distracted by something, a thought or a noise. "Never mind. For today and tonight, the temple is at your service. Go out into the city. Restock for the journey ahead and join Lord Camman for supper. Rest tonight and steel your hearts and minds for tomorrow."

(When the conversation ends, I will post the available shops and what wares they hold and each can go sell and buy as they see fit.)

While everyone is talking Keyrie looks for a chance to take Genny aside and talk to her. "How are you doing little one?"

Gentoa grabs Keyrie's nose and says, "Kay-kay....moo!" referencing the animal game they were playing earlier. She seems pretty oblivious to all of the serious talk going on around her, except where it distracts people from paying attention to her.