Darwin looks at you and Shila, anger suffusing his features. Then,
his face is the same as always, leaving you with the impression that
he was never angry at all. He looks calmly toward you as he
reports 'The followers of the Onyx caused this.'
Before you can reply, two clerics who appear to be Elders brush by
you, stopping when they come near Darwin. Looking over him
gravely, the one nearest to you speaks.
'How dare you enter this holy place!?' She demands, fury burning
in her eyes. 'An abomination such as you should not deserve to
crawl in the bowels of the earth! I command you, as a Cleric of Eleein,
to begone from this abode forever!'
Darwin doubles over as though he had been hit in the stomach and
slowly collapses to his knees. Shila rushes to his aid, much to
the surprise of the Elder clerics around him.
'What are you doing to him!?' Shila yells back at the Elder who had
brought the invocation against Darwin, who is slowly struggling to
stand up. You can tell by the shocked reaction of the Elders and
the other clerics within earshot that yelling at the Elders is something
that is simply not done. Shila takes hold of Darwin's arm, helping him up.
'He's not one of the people who did this to your town!' Shila says,
looking angrily at the group that had assembled. 'He's here to ask
a simple request, and then he'll be on his way.' Her voice quiets
as she pulls Darwin to his feet. 'He's going to stop
this threat. He's not one of the bad guys.'
The elders, speechless, turn to you. 'Is what she says true?'
You just nod. Despite your reservations about the man, you're fairly
certain he's on your side.
'You need not speak on my behalf.' Darwin says weakly. 'Though
I thank you for your kind words. He looks at the lead cleric, all
signs of weakness having vanished from his face. 'I come to seek help.
Not for myself, but for a dear one. Her name is Beth Tanner, and
she is posessed of the Onyx as well. I know
not where she is, but she needs your help. If my brother should
find her before I do, then I do not know what we could hope
to do against them.'
The Elder Priestess looks solemn. 'Indeed, your friends speak
well of you, but your own words and actions tell me that you are
not controlled by the Onyx, whatever my magic may tell me. I
apologize for my rash actions.'
'There is no need to apologize.' Darwin says. 'Your actions are
understandable.' He extends his hand tenatively. 'My name is
Darwin'
The priestess clasps his hand with hers. 'I am Marie, Elder Cleric of
Obern temple. Follow me if you will, as I have many things to tell
you, and there is someone you must meet.' Darwin and Marie
walk toward a smaller hallway on the other side of the room. Slowly
the large crowd of clerics disperses. Shila looks up at you.
'I'm going to the library...' she says quietly as though to make up
for her earlier brashness.
