Likely leading her companion, eyes scanning the ground carefully and immediately fixing on you, is a half-orc with dark green eyes and dozens of braids tied back in a ponytail. She wears slightly worn leather armor that's clearly seen a fair amount of time in the outdoors, and has a rapier at her hip, as well as a dagger, and probably a few other knives concealed on her person. A bow hangs across her back, and a pair of strangely carved goggles are perched on top of her head.

 Risha eyes the trio exiting the temple carefully, glancing at her companion and their guide. "They look promising. But let's be careful, yeah?" She lets her mouth stretch into a brief grin. "And the temple's not even on fire, despite our doubts. If these aren't them, we might need a bit of subtlety after all. I don't even see any smoke."

Aether

Following behind the half-orc the other figure is watching what she is doing looking to what trail she points out that she is following. As she stops to look at you his gaze swings up as well. For a moment you think you see a green glow in his face where his left eye should be, but then it is gone as he waves a hand in front of himself and mutters quietly "Disŝiri sin". He then turns back "Wait here. Stay hidden."  A third figure that was a bit behind them steps back and down into shadow.  As the pair draw closer you see a man, human, with pale skin, wearing a fine black coat of an odd fashion, a top hat, and walking stick. "Quite, perhaps they have learned some restraint. Or perhaps it is not them."  Once they finally reach you "Hello. I am Aether." He extends his left hand in greeting and you can see that the index finger is black.

Drax would take a step forward as his illusionary shaggy blonde hair blows in the breeze. If the yuan-tai was afraid he did not show it as the new figure approached. Noticing the black talon, he would extend his hand and shaking it. "Hello Aether" He would say with a smile as the disguise faded away, revealing the smooth headed pale man. Drax was wearing a set of fine clothing in black and gray and green with a dagger on his belt and nothing else in the way of obvious weapons. "My name is Drax.. " The man would say as he holds up his hand and allows the illusion to fade once more.. showing the black talon for a moment before quickly returning to a normal looking finger. "What can we do for you?"

Aether

As soon as Drax takes the offered hand he can tell that something is not right and given his use of the same magics he knows he is not looking at the mans true face. The illusion fades for him and soon after for the others. And before you stands an amalgamation of metal and bone. "We have been sent to replace those who fell. The hand must be whole after all."  He then turns and calls back down the hill. "Approach."  The third figure you saw now stands revealing it to be a skeleton. As it gets closer you can see that it has a black snake slithering through its frame. When the skeleton reaches the group the mechanical man reaches a hand out and the snake coils up his arm and looks at the rest of you from Aether's shoulder. "This is my familiar Funiculus. And this" He points his cane toward the skeleton "was part of the mess you left for us to clean up."

(Just in case anyone does not like snakes I'll let you know the spoiler contains a picture of the snake that is with the skeleton. The other character art is Aether)

Risha continues to eye the others carefully, lifting her left hand long enough for the others to see the black talon that has replaced her pinky before she lets it drop. "It was a very large scorchmark," she says bluntly. "Although I suppose the absence of flames in the temple behind you is enough of a feat." She gives you all a nod. "Risha Othonik."

Petmorn eyes the newcomers carefully, hand ghosting over the hilt of his throwing axe, before he spots the black talons on each of their fingers. "Finally, backup" he says with a small smile.

Othonik?  asks Matteo.  My father knew an Othonik, a long time ago.  He grins.  A story for another time, perhaps.  I am Matteo Carverson.  He gives a courteous bow to both of the newcomers.  I'm... not entirely sure what happened to our lost comrades back there.  Perhaps He had another purpose in mind for them.  In any case, it is good that the Hand is whole.  But we should go.  The faithless priests did not attempt to stop us leaving - perhaps they did not fully understand what we had done.

Risha glances at Matteo. "Yeah, I think I might remember my dad mentioning a Carverson too." She grins back. "We can trade stories later." One of her braids slips from its ponytail, and she tucks it behind an ear. "Whatever He had in mind for them, I am sure they are serving Him the best way they can. And I agree, we should go before the clerics figure out what you did and decide to do something." She frowns. "A ticked off priest is worse than the Heavens. Oh, and try to avoid hurling any more fireballs, yeah?" She gives a grin, the tips of her fangs peeking out. "They're kind of the opposite of subtle."

"A dead priest is better than a ticked off one" Drax would say with a grin looking Risha "At least when they are trying to prevent our work.... I was pretty sure that we had disposed of those bodies well enough." He would say as his piercing green eyes move to the others. "So now what? Where do we go from here.." He would say as his hand feels his black middle finger through his disguise.

(So Drax is wearing the hat of disguise and is always wearing a disguise.... although you guys don't know it... the appearance he wears when only you all are around is still not quite his real appearance. He keeps the hat disguised as well so it doesn't look like he is wearing a hat.. .always bald or a head of hair. )

Right now?  Matteo considers for a moment.   We go down from the mountain and find a pleasant tavern to relax and rest.  After that?  You may have more recent instructions than us, he nods to Risha and Aether.  If not, we should seek guidance, perhaps at the temple.

Aether

"Yes somewhere more discrete to discuss would be good."  Then looking over at the skeleton "Now what to do with you."  The construct thinks for a moment then pulls a bag from his side  opening it wide. "Climb in."  The skeleton moves and attempts to climb into the bag.

You recall that it was several days walk back north without taverns or civilization if you choose to make your way back to the temple.  After a couple hours of travel.  You reach the foot of the mountain, back on flat land.  The green plains blow in the gentle breeze, the smell and taste of pollen resting in the back of your tongue.  The crickets chirp as the bats squeak over head, darting around as they catch the nights meal.  You 4-5 more hours of travel.  Day will break in about 2 hours.  If you plan on traveling through you’ll end up taking a point of exhaustion.  

(If you recall the Temple didn’t have all the answers.  You have been given the free reign to roam and do as you see fit, in hopes of being able to pick up the threads of where these shards are.  But then e are some resources at the temple to study if you wish.)

Risha shrugs. "We were pretty much told to join up with you and look for shards. Did you all track down any leads yourselves?"

We did not, admits Matteo.  Perhaps we should return to the Faithless temple, but I don't think they would be so welcoming this time.  Perhaps one of the sister temples those priestlings mentioned?  Alas, I don't know where we would fine one.  

The tall paladin shrugs, unsure but also untroubled.  Our Lord will guide us, as he always has.  We only need to watch for His signs.

Aether

”It need not be any they would recognize who returns. They have never seen Risha here. Also Drax and I can change our appearance. We may have better luck if we appear as members of their faith.” Aether pulls the necklaces with the emblems of Ohgma that he had removed from the earlier corpses out of his pack.  

Risha grimaces slightly. "I can go in with the you two if it's necessary, I guess. And the emblems would definitely be good to help us blend in."

"if I were to return, I could easily disguise myself again as someone new" Drax would say as he rubbed his chin.

I, alas, cannot, says Matteo.  But I will happily wait out here, while you scuttle around looking in books.  Are you going now?  I have a little strength to heal left in me, if you need it.  Or perhaps it would be better for us to rest first.

As you discuss a plan of action. In the dark hours of the morning, you see what appears to be a distant lantern light floating in the air.  Looks to be hanging by some sort of carriage.  Must be 200-300 feet away, but the flickering orange light shines like a beacon in the night.  It’s moving at a casual pace.

Risha narrows her eyes. "Moving light," she tells the others softly. "Don't try and drop to the ground. Stay still and slowly lower yourself to the ground if you want to hide, and ditto for moving slowly if you want to go closer. They'll be light-blinded, so stay out of the light and you'll be harder to see. Don't look right at the light unless you want to lose your night vision too." She begins picking her way over towards the light.

Stealth: 15