With her mind still buzzing trying to process the news, Luxaene gives a low before taking her leave. When leaving with the others, she lets them know that she will be visiting her family home. 

Seeing Ralnor waiting, Luxaene offers him to come with her if he is not to go with Lazarus, "You are more than welcome to have a look around by yourself, I just do not believe it may be best to seem as if you are at a loose end around the temple."

She also keeps an eye out to see what Holden concerns are, if any, "Holden, how are you managing. You... did not like it here in the Morka tribe?"

Insight to Holden: 10 (Passive 14)

Ralnor gives a slight bow to Luxaene.

"I am an outsider here," Ralnor says. "In the night I am comfortable but now . . ."

He pauses and then bows again.

"Yes, I would like to come with you."

“Making due, making due,” Holden murmurs, his voice gravelly. “I-I didn’t think I would ever find myself back here, but here I am… the place does have an irresistible pull to it— even for someone who was as shunned as me. All these unwanted memories flooding back, but I’m making due…“ he pauses, “let’s just get this job done and get out of here as quickly as possible.”

Hush chuckles, "Quick exits are my preferred method too." He straightens up and looks to the others, "But Holden is right. We should get to work and do what we can rather than dawdle. We have those that wish to gather some information from the books, yes? I'm more inclined to gather what I can from talk of the townsfolk. What else does everyone wish to do before we make our way into the Imperial camps?"

Lazarus looks alarmed. 

"Quick exit? Why, after our mission we should return and stay longer! There's so much to learn..." 

Luxaene: It’s pretty much just as he says. Holden has a lot of bad memories flooding back, and in regards to the whole respectful and quiet thing, some of his old habits are also coming back. It would be pretty easy to deduce that Holden is non-magical, and based on his attitude, was shunned/told how to act around those of magical prowess; he is now just repeating them now. 

Luxaene's brow creases a moment before her face softens and she takes a deep breath, "Holden, this place is as much a home as any. If you work hard, you can earn respect in this place as anyone." She stands straight and shakes her head, "well, I imagine recent news lessens the truth in that right now. Let us hurry to ensure we do not stay here longer than needed. Lazarus, how long do you need to research? I only need a moment to at least... see my family home."

Holden just gives a silent nod in return

Ralnor looks out over the Morka community and back to the others.

"Lazarus," Ralnor starts. "The Imperium. Spies they have, yes? Spies from the tribes?"

He then looks back out over the village.

"If so, we should not linger then or make obvious what we plan," he says then looks to Luxaene. "Please. To your home lead us."

Luxaene gestures to Lazarus with an open hand, "the man is welcome to dip in the knowledge Morka has to offer. In addition, the visit to the family home is quite a personal trip and want to keep the chances of commotion and attention to a minimum; the fewer outsiders the better, if I am honest. We can meet in one of the nicer inns in second circle in the evening if not sooner to confirm our next steps?" The elf looks around to see if the group are in agreement. 

Hush nods then rubs his hands together in excitement.

With that, Luxaene gestures to Ralnor and Holden to come with as she walks to her family home, inwardly preparing for the chilling reaction while tempering the hope that all was said is a lie.

She looks to Ralnor, hopefully steer everyone's mind from the situation, "what of your home Ralnor? Are you far from it? Family waiting for you there?"

Ralnor walks in silence for several moments after Luxaene's question.

"I no longer have home," Ralnor begins. "It was one thing but in truth was another. It no longer mine."

He walks on for a few more moments in silence.

"But some day, I will return. Restore its honor."

Ralnor then turns to Luxaene as they walk.

"I will give you space at your home."

Holden silently follows Luxaene as well. 

Once outside the temple, Hush looks around for any in earshot, then quietly says to the others, "You lot go on ahead to read your books and talk to folk. I'll head out to see if I can find us some vantage points for scouting the camp and get the drop on a few of the Imperials about town. Anyone want to join me? Swear on someone's grave I'm just goin' to be lookin' about, keeping to the shadows and keeping my nose clean."

(I'm splitting this post into a few parts as to have several conversations happening at once. This game doesn't run quickly enough to support individual conversations - I hope that's alright with everyone.)

As the party descends the temple, the only distinct thing Ralnor can perceive is Femor laying one palm over the swirling crystal orb. Through his mask, you can witness Femor's eyes close - though, knowing the archmage, you know that means exceedingly little. 

The Morka Library, as directed by Femor, is located entirely within the inner circle - in fact, it lies adjacent to the temple. A simple trail imprinted on the ground shows many Morka worshipers traveling the distance between the temple and the library - for, as any Morka would know, magic and worship are one and the same in this society. Lazarus, followed by Ralnor, enters the thatch-roofed, red-clay walled building which, at first glance, appears significantly smaller than one would expect such a trove of information to be. The library seems identical in size to the uniform structures dotting the village. 

Upon entry, however, a different story is told. Lazarus and Ralnor instinctively blink - and perhaps gain a headache, for a truly dizzying display pans out before them. Whatever size the Morka Library appeared to be outside does not match the interior. A domed roof several hundred feet above indicate the relative proportions of this building is the same as the rest, yes, but the area seemingly spans several hundred feet in length. Rows and rows of thousands of books, tomes, scrolls, and anything possibly written fill as far as the eye can see. The entry foyer is rather small; a mere semicircle leads into a maze-like arrangement of towering shelves much higher than can be seen over. 

Strangely enough, the shelves seem to curve with the angles of the room, and even from here, the corridors beyond seem to curve slightly upwards; you come to realize you are standing in a magically-generated sphere. Turning your eyes upwards, you see more maze-like arrangements of shelves held upwards by some gravitational force. 

Seated in a wooden desk before you is a...hunched, furred creature, at first glance, dressed in purple-pink robes accustomed to the Morka. Humanoid, certainly; clawed hands dipped directly in ink scratch on a scroll which flows over the desk and rolls towards the entrance for around a dozen or so feet. A head akin to a jackal swivels its ears before picking up and affixing its orange gaze on the two with a look of curiosity magnified by thick spectacles adorning its snout. 

"Scribe Shuvasa speaks. How may it aid your acquisition of knowledge?" the creature yips - it snaps a claw, sending droplets of ink scattering across the room. Strangely enough, they fade away in a moment's notice. The scroll rolls itself up and arranges itself neatly in the stack of scrolls easily taller than itself precariously stooped atop the desk. 

Ralnor, Lazarus - Religion or Arcana check. The spell being used is clearly an Unseen Servant, though the amount of work being done so quickly indicates there are many servants under this creature's control. 

 Hush parts ways with the party for the present being in search of information. What in specific is Hush doing? Where is he headed? Something general as in 'a tavern' would work. Who is he talking to? Which circle is he making his attempts at conversation? 

 Luxaene - with Holden following - continues from the path leading from the temple onwards into the first district's ward. While certain members of Luxaene's family earned the privilege of a residence nearest to the Morka temple, the bulk of her family resides in a comfortable - if upper-class - location in the second. Crossing the bridge is an easy task; each of the magical guards give a solemn nod in recognition before the wall of force reenacts itself once the two have crossed. 

Strangely enough, Luxaene isn't sure how she remembers which house is hers - perhaps that is the magical nature of the Morka, but the houses have little distinction between themselves to an outsider. Luxaene and Holden, however, navigate through with surprising ease; the magically-paved streets below absorbing the heat from the sun and keeping the temperature of the city surprisingly cool where it should be scorching. 

Approaching the red-walled, roughly circular abode (though mansion-like in size), the door seems to nearly react with your presence. An incantation prattles its usual message, one Luxaene is very familiar with - a simple, magic mouth spell speaks; "Visitors of the Luxaene - state your purpose, title, and significant magical abilities." 

Ralnor gives a short bow to the scribe, and then watches the ink disappear. Removing all trace of your passage would be a useful tool, Ralnor thinks to himself, wondering what magics might be at play.

Arcana: 10  

He focuses back on the scribe.

"Extra set of eyes I am," Ralnor says, then nods to Lazarus. "Books mean much to this one."

The Morka never seeks to amaze, and Lazarus marvels at the magic that must have been used to construct this great library. He dances in the doorway, swirling in and out of the library and laughing like a child at the sudden change in proportions. 

Eventually, he continues up to what he assumes to be the head librarian.

He says, "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Scribe Shuvasa. Please, would you direct me to the sections on Wilderness history, Morka history, and...your entire section on necromantic magic?"

(Forgot arcana: 18) 

Hush first heads to where most of the Imperials they encountered walking about the city. Looking here and there to eavesdrop on any quiet conversations in the hope of some trinket of information that might become useful, even if it is not entirely obvious at that moment (Perception to eavesdrop: 9; maybe a stealth in case you want to see how well he stays out of sight: 13).

He'll then scout around for any good spots to get an elevated view of the Imperial's camp around the town in an effort to get some idea of the layout before they try anything (Perception: 10).

Finally, after his ventures about town, he'll return to the tavern to await the others. If he sees anyone playing dragon chess (have proficiency), he'll try a game with them and perhaps try to gather some more information through some idle chat during the game.

Luxaene feels an odd fear at the feeling of ease seeing the familiar red walls of her home.

She gives a glance of reassurance to Holden, though not entirely sure it was just for him, before speaking, "It is Veladiel, the current Light Bearer and I wish to see my mother."