" I hate to trouble this child, but could you take us to her?"

"Scents be cold by now. But, worth checking the area for clues. Traces. Get a measure of what type of fiends we face that have been so swift and decisive as to flee after." Vusgaar, who had been standing in the background, speaks up. "And the prey has been only humanoids so far. No lesser spirits? Mn, animals?" He politely asked.

The priest starts slightly when the quiet shifter speaks, but shakes his head. "Not that we can tell, although it's not like we've been looking. We don't hunt, after all. But we've seen no sign of animals being attacked, our goats, sheep, and other herd animals haven't been attacked."

"Only humanoids, hm?" Demetrios' lips thin in thought. "The attacks happen at random, with no pattern, but do they occur only at night?" His eyes glance over to Meiara who had suggested we speak to the girl. "And, yes, if possible to speak with the child, we would greatly appreciate it. However, we understand if we cannot. Poor child must have been scared beyond her wits..."

Priest Olarin nods. "I can take you to her if you wish to speak with her. The attacks have only happened at night or dusk so far."

"Please do. Perhaps we might be able to provide some comfort to the child as well."

"Of course. Follow me." The priest nods and leads you out of the monolith.

Priest Olarin leads you to the local Guiding Path building, a stone building studded with light crystals. Inside, it is floored with a dark wood liberally covered with carpets so that falling children don't hurt themselves. A trio of kids playing tag run by shrieking as you move through the entrance hall. Priest Olarin takes you to a hall of rooms and stops outside a closed door. "She's in here."

Lore: The Guiding Path is how most Riedrans are raised. Once Riedran children are old enough to no longer need to nurse, they are placed with an outpost of the Guiding Path in another village and raised by officials of the Guiding Path, to avoid their forming attachments that could supercede their devotion to the community.

Meiara knocks on the door. "Hello, could you let us in? We're Edgewalkers that are here to help, but we need you to let us in so that we can ask you some questions?"

There's a long pause, then "Okay."

The priest opens the door, revealing a room in which every light crystal burns brightly. A girl with braided brown hair is sitting on the bed, staring stubbornly at a sheet of paper that she's drawing on quietly. Olarin moves back down the hall, letting you have some time to talk to the girl in private.

Meiara walks into the room, leading whoever wants to join in with her. "Hello, my name is Meiara and these are my companions." She says softly. "We have some questions for you, but could you start by telling us your name?"

"My name is Cariin," the girl says softly, still drawing.

Talaak moves over to the child, squatting down so he's at her height, "Hello Cariin. My name is Talaak. What are you drawing?"

Cariin bites her lip and turns the paper a bit so that Talaak can see she's drawn an amorphous black creature with long, grasping fingers. Surrounding the creature is a thick line, coming from a stick figure that has the symbol of the Path of Inspiration above its head. "Everyone says that the il-altas will stop the monsters. I just have to trust them."

Vusgaar chose to stay out in the hall; but, he kept an ear on the situation at the very least. Knowing how most people were about Shifters, he thought it wiser to stay as much out of sight as possible with the young'un. 

Talaak puts a hand on the girl's head protectively, "Do not worry, Cariin. It is good to have faith in the il-altas. It is strength to have faith in the il-altas. It is safe to have faith in the il-altas. We will stop the monsters with the blessings of the il-altas. If you could pray for us tonight, that would make me very happy. Sleep well, and follow the Path, Cariin."

With that he stands and gives Cariin a reassuring smile before stepping outside the room, stoic as before.

Arcana: 21

OOC: Meiara, looking at the drawing, can tell that it's clearly some sort of spirit undead, perhaps a shadow? You aren't quite sure, but whatever it is, it's certainly no simple zombie.

Jenna surveyed the room as they entered, and took special note of the drawing made by Cariin. Without saying a word, she listened and waited patiently for the team's next move.

Meiara also steps out of the room, bidding the girl goodnight as she does so. "I think that it's time for us to kill this creature."

"Good night," the girl says softly as Talaak and Meiara (and anybody else leaving now) exit the room.