Midian first makes a general sensory survey of the area, looking for any concealed forms and listening for sounds of approaching movement. 

Perception: 21

If he detects no presences other than the men at the boat, he approaches non threateningly to within reasonable distance for a conversation with raised voices, but not outright shouting.

”Excuse me, sirs. I’m looking for a companion of mine, a Handleader of the temple.” He gives a brief description of Samswell, sticking to generalized terms known to the common folk rather than anything that might be more niche terminology for people of his order. “He should have came this way a bit before myself and two women who passed here not long ago. Did you see him, by any chance?”

The boat is too far out for a conversation to be had without shouting. It also looks like they are in the process of leaving.

Quote from phillberrie >>

The boat is too far out for a conversation to be had without shouting. It also looks like they are in the process of leaving.

 If the boat is too far away for conversation to carry, Midian simply searches the immediate area near the temple entrance for signs of watchers, as noted, first. If and only if he judges it clear of threat he then investigates for clues to Samswell’s whereabouts, if any can be found. 

Investigation: 24

After a thorough investigation of the area, Midian finds two things that he thinks are unusual: a pair of faint drag marks from near the corner of the building towards the river and a fine sprinkle of white sand near the bench that the avatar was rested on before she was taken inside.

Midian attempts to take a sample of the sand, folding over a piece of cloth if he has one or tearing one off of his own clothing if needed, unless he can find some other more suitable container nearby. He notes the drag marks, but concluded if someone did drag Samswell to the river then there is nothing that can be done for him and no hope to find his corpse under the cover of darkness in any case. 

He takes the sample of sand back inside, head to regroup with Aloma and Aeda, and to see if he can locate a priest or priestess able to use the items he acquired from the college to track Alus and Moonson’s locations, and possible discern whether the sand is of significance. He also intends to report what he discovered when searching for the Handleader, but does not expect anyone would expect him to go diving in the dark based on a hunch and sketchy evidence. 

Midian uses the letter of authority he got from Seeker Venn (the sand is too fine for cloth to be very successful) and uses it to collect as much of the fine sand as he can, which is not much.

He then heads back into the wooden building of the delivery warehouse [OOC: Where I assume he closes and bars the door to the outside] and heads towards the entrance to the Temple proper intent on finding Priestess Aloma.

[Make a Perception check.]

OOC: Your assumption is correct.

Perception: 13

As Midian walks through the large storeroom heading back towards the door into the Temple proper he can hear the sounds of hushed voices coming from the small courtyard where he took the torch from. Although he cannot see anyone in the darkened courtyard through the still-opened door, clearly there is someone out there.

Midian enters, closing the door behind him, and uses the torch to cast light about, seeing if he can locate the source of the noise. 

Perception: 6

”Is someone there? Show yourselves.” 

As Midian reaches the door, A woman in the midnight blue armour of an Aiedan guard carrying a loaded light crossbow steps into view.

Squinting slightly against the light of the torch in Midian's hand, she raises the crossbow and says, "Halt. State your name and purpose for being in a restricted area."

“Apprentice Seeker Midian Voda, on business for priestess Aloma,” Midian answers with whatever sort of formal bow or religious greeting would be appropriate for one of the soldier’s station. He does appraise her intentions to confirm that she is authentically what she appears to be, one of their own, not an intruder wearing the uniform of a guard. 

Insight: 4

”She passed this way not long ago, do you know where I can find her so I can deliver my report?”

The Sorendenese woman repeats Midian's greeting of 'Blessed Day' and then lowers her crossbow before saying, "Yes, you do look familiar, now that I can see you properly."

She then looks to one side and nods and a Stemian man with a spear wearing the same armour steps out from where he was concealed by the door.

Then the woman asks, "I don't suppose you have seen our missing handleader, have you? We were told he is outside somewhere. Samswell is his name. He's a Stemian."

[OOC: Despite what the woman says, Midian doesn't recognise her or her partner, so is none the wiser as to whether she is legitimate or not. You can still roll for experience, but the DC is high.]

Insight attempt for experience 10

”I was just searching for him outside, actually,” Midian says. “He was with Aloma, myself and another earlier and we were briefly separated. I haven’t been able to discern his whereabouts after that. There were some signs of activity near the waters edge, but searching further in the dark was futile. I am sorry, I have no other information on the Handleader.  Do you know where Aloma is currently? I need to report to her on that and other matters.”

The two guards look at each other and then the woman jerks her thumb over her shoulder and says, "She's probably inside. And, if you give me that torch, we will go and look for him—he is actually the leader of our hand."

Assuming further in it is well lit, Midian would part with the torch as he passes to go reunite with Aloma, adding "May your search by blessed" as he does, giving the guards one final once over to try to note their appearance should he have to describe them later.  Perception: 16

He then proceeds further in looking for Aloma.  If the path further in is still poorly lit up to a more distant point within the structure, he retains the torch and suggests they obtain another.  

Midian hands the torch to the male guard and then takes a good look at both their faces as the two of them head out to look for their missing handleader. He then enters the Temple proper and finds that he is in a corridor near the kitchens.

"Hello?" Midian hears someone say. "Can I help you? How did you get in here?"

Following the sound of the voice, Midian sees that the speaker is a young man about his own age dressed casually in his undershirt who is seated at a table in the kitchen eating a meal of bread and cheese. At the other end of the large kitchen there is a woman tending to a fire.

Further along the corridor, Midian can hear the sounds of people singing.

"I am with priestess Aloma," Midian recites again, his greeting as polite and formal now as the first time.  "She passed this way just a moment ago."  He nods politely to the people casually eating - young acolytes he assumes - and heads further in, unless they inquire further of him.  If he has any familiarity with this section of the temple he draws on it, but more likely he just does his best to discern direction based on the parts of the temple he does know, and makes his way further in, looking for Aloma and Aeda. He does listen to the signing, assuming it to be some sort of church choir, out of idle curiosity as to what hymn is being sung.

Perception:  16

[OOC: There is only one person eating, the young man who is talking with Midian. Also, when he spoke, it was in Stemian with a little bit of hesitancy as if he has a stutter.

Re: the singing. While it sounds quite good, it is a popular song of the day being sung, not a hymn.

Just to be clear, Midian has never been in this area of the Temple of Aieda before; it would seem to be an area mainly used by the servants and not the clergy. He would guess continuing along the corridor he is in would take him in the direction of the main hall of worship and from there he could probably find the administration building and the clerical accommodation wing where Priestess Aloma's cell is, i.e. where he went to earlier in the day.]

The young man gets to his feet and wipes his hand across his mouth to clear it of crumbs and says, "Priestess Aloma? Yes, I, I, saw her. She and, and, some of the servants passed by a little while ago with a woman in her night, nightgown... They, are probably taking her to the hospice. Sh, she, didn't look very well."

He walks towards Midian saying, "I, I, I could take you to her, if, if you want."

“That would be most appreciated,” Midian says. “My name is Midian, I am an apprentice Seeker. I haven’t had many occasions to make me way to this part of the temple, so I am a bit lost, I’ll confess.”

Taken a little aback, the young man wipes his hands nervously on his trousers and says, "An apprentice Seeker? Like in... Like in, what you find in the Temple of Duh, Donai? What are you d, d, doing here?"