Priestly Secrets

14 Planting, 584 Earthday

The fourth month of the year had come in like the proverbial lamb, calm, seasonably cool with a hint of the warmth that would gradually turn the fields to the north of Chatwin into vibrant planting areas. For now, however, the springs mud were still sucking the boots from residents, smearing up the floors of establishments, and generally messing things up.

On this particular Earthday, the Seekers met at their usual table by the river window of the Inn the Shadow of the three towers for their weekly luncheon, a ritual they had neglected for the past few months since their return from the Welkwood. First here had been just the need to clean the months of travel off their bodies. Then, they needed to visit with mentors to learn new skills. Then, for whatever reasons, Andremar had become very reclusive, spending almost every waking moment locked up with Loren in his study, busy with some sort of writing.

"His memoirs, no doubt," surmised Cassandra, "soon to be Oerth's shortest book." Not that she had been all that present; she'd left the village on numerous occasion, sometimes at the behest of Trueflight, the halfling proprietor of the Silver Cloud Tavern.

Then, mid last month, Coldeven, came the real shock. Jutos announced that he would be leaving them for `some time.' Not certain how long his studies might take, he wished them well, saying, "Don't hang round the village on my account."

Finally, everyone had dealt with all her distractions, and they resumed their weekly rendevous. It was at these weekly confabs that the roots of most of their adventures had come.

Nothing seemed in the offing on this day however. The mud seemed to have a hold on everything, including peoples' state of mind. "Dull, dull, messy and dull," noted Cassandra as if she were writing a dirge of some sort.

"True," agreed Lwcynda, "it certainly puts a damper on my morning exercise." For the priestess was a fitness enthusiast and running through Chatwin these days was a physical challenge, indeed. "But," her bright and cheery persona continued, "it does cut down on those rats that seem to be so rambunctious lately." For it was a strange part of this spring that packs of rats, mangy, somewhat skeletal in appearance, had taken to the paths of Chatwin, sometimes hunting down dogs and harassing small children. At times Hawke and the militia were needed to keep them at bay.

"Yeah, wonder what's with them?" Cassandra mused.

"Dey be up ta sumpthin, dat's fer sure," assured Grummie, who had been forced to outrun them on more than one occasion.

"It's making people rather paranoid," declared Drist, "they're starting to see things at night. Some claim to have seen dark skulking figures in the shadows of the night."

"Hmmph," humphed Cassie, "if anything real was hiding in those shadows, Trueflight would know about." And after a moment's thought, "lest, of course, it was he doing the hiding," she grinned at this delicious thought. But, though Gideon Trueflight was without question the greatest thief in these parts, he was one of the Chatwin Heroes, and the thought that he might me up to something nefarious in this village was beyond belief.

"Still, Loren does suspect the possible influence of the supernatural," Andremar loquaciously added.

The conversation continued throughout lunchtime, till mid afternoon. They observed many small raft-size barges pass by the windows along the river. "Another sure sign of spring," added Lwcynda, seeing the bright side of everything.

Their lunch and conversation ended for now, the Seekers rose up, paid the check, and left the inn, and came along the north shore of the river. A soft breeze blew across their faces and they walked out into the mid-afternoon sun. It seemed somewhat out of place shining down upon the muddy roadways and the still brown river water. The town was quiet, and the only harsh sounds were the pulling oars which broke the silence. A small boat, the `Whale's Teeth,' had gone buy and was just tying up at the shipping office of Grey Holden. The small crew could be seen coming ashore.

It was at this moment that a stark scream, perhaps that of a female, emanated from a copse of trees on the other side, the south side, of the river. The men form the boat seemed not to notice. The scream was followed by a couple more, coupled with the sounds of dogs barking.

Instinctively, Andremar jumped back from the scream,.. or at least he would have if his slight frame was not held in place by the mud. Instead he just made a couple of jerking movements and would have fallen over if not for his staff. Reminiscent of a fledgling stork attempting, and failing, to take wing, Andremar sputtered "Wa, wa, what in the, um, the world was, ah, was that!"

When Lwcynda heard the scream she focused in its the direction. It seemed to coming from across the river, behind the trees near Tulinot Grimes' house [#13]. "Come on, let's go help," she urged, and sprinted towards the nearby bridge.

Having practiced running in these less than satisfactory footing conditions, the agile priestess was able to un muck herself and reach the bridge.

Without a word, Drist followed directly behind Lwcynda, thoughts of what could be happening running through his mind, and suspicion of the sailors on the barge, and why they didn't seem to notice anything. His light frame allowed him to reach the bridge, and keep Lwcynda in sight.

Never the first to run towards danger, Andremar nonetheless attempted to follow these two as they rushed in the direction of the sound. That was, as soon as Cassandra managed to disengage him from the muck. The two of them, with the help of his staff, found their way to the bridge, and eventually across. In the back the mage's mind was the lack of concern on the part of the men unloading the boat, who seemed not to have heard the scream. However, the thought remained in the back of his mind for the time being while he attempted to cope with the urgent cries.

In the back of Cassandra's mind was the cobblestone streets of larger cites, where footing was not a problem. One could come and go without leaving a trace, but she digressed .......

Lwcynda was off the bridge almost as quickly as she was on it. Drist managed to keep pace and was quickly across the span, heading left around Grimes' cottage.

Cassie and Andremar had a slipping good time on the bridge, and the mud on their boots made their way across difficult indeed. But, they persevered, and soon came upon the scene of the noise. A young girl, dressed in ragged brown clothing stood with her back to one of the trees. Her frantic screams accompanied her frantic stick waving at a pack of dog sized rats which swarmed about her. Two equally mangy hounds snarled and bit at the pack, keeping most of them away from the girl, for now at least.

Drist immediately grabbed his bow and drew an arrow, aiming carefully for a rat nearest him, making sure not to aim too close to the girl or the dogs. He got off two flights, one of which killed one of the vermin.

Hearing the panic in the girl's voice, Andremar tried to get off a quick spell before any of his companions enter the fray. Seeking to avoid injury to the girl while neutralizing as much or the rat-pack as possible, Andremar pulled some sand from a pocket, thinking to himself I really should get this old robe cleaned,... and tossed it while gesturing with his free hand. He pronounced a short yet indiscernible phrase.

Soon enough, about half the pack was in dreamland.

Lwcynda chose to jump-kick at some of the remaining rats as she ran into them, sending a couple of them flying into the river.

Cassandra drew a dagger a nailed one right between its beady red eyes.

Only three remained, but now that the common vermin had been dealt with, the Seekers realized that what remained were somehow different. They had six, or eight, legs, with large protruding teeth, which they prepared to use on their assailants. One tried to tear a strip from the priestess' leg, but she nimbly dodged. Cassandra just over leaped the teeth of another. Drist was not so lucky. The third one bit him solidly in the lower left calf. The elf yelped in pain. "Definitely not rats," he sounded.

Lwcynda drew her sword and flailed away feebly. Drist could only wave with his bow, as the creature at his feet was in much too close for any kind of a shot.

The creatures got in two more bites, one on Lwcynda, another on Cassandra.

Cassandra moaned, "I think we've under estimated out opponent." She began stabbing, and missing, with her remaining dagger, wishing that she had not left her sword back in the cottage.

Gork had finally made it across the bridge, but his swing missed the mark as well. "Sorry, mee no practice much lately."

Instinctively, Andremar pulled more sand from a pocket of his robe. In the midst of his fear inspired action, the obvious difference between these creatures and normal rats finally entered his consciousness. Drist's shout inspired him to hurry. He flung the sand and made more complex gestures. His words, although still unintelligible, were different than his previous spell.

Andremar pointed successively at each of these three creatures. First a the one menacing Cassandra, then at the one near Dristarian, then at Lwcynda's foe. At each flew a colored missile like beam of light which struck each between its eyes. Each was then engulfed in a prismatic color of light, and soon lay stunned.

They were then quickly dispatched by the blades of the others. The sleeping rats were dealt with as well. Lwcynda said to Cassandra, "Guess you are right."

"Yeah, for rats these things were tough," Cassandra replied, as she moved omong the now dead vermin recovering her thrown daggers. "Guess this village has changed. Never thought I'd need my sword in broad daylight in Chatwin."

Lwcynda then added to Gork, "Well Gork, I think we will have to have a few less cooking lessons and a few more fighting lessons."

"Maybee," he said, "Mee already know how to cook rat. Theey taste just like frog's legs."

Slightly shaken from this un naturally tough encounter, it took a few moments for them to recover their wits. As they did so, they became aware of a few things. First of all, the young girl to whose rescue they had come, was nowhere to be seen; nor were those dogs around anymore. Secondly, two men had arrived on the scene; both wore the mild blue colors of the Chatwin militia.

"Sorry we got here too late to help," said one, a teen aged human lad in leather armor with a long sword in hand.

"But it looks like you handled the situation all right by yourselves," admitted the other, an elf dressed in leathers with a long sword.

Drist, using his bow to help him stand, first looked to Lwcynda to see what healing she might offer. She did her best to see to some of his wounds.

Then he turned to the two soldiers. "Thank you for your concern. If I may ask, are these..." He gestured to the rat like creatures, "things... common occurrences, now? Or are they new to Chatwin? Any ideas of where they came from?"

The human lad responded, "Your guess is good as mine. This has become a real problem over the past few months. Rats just popping up any old place and harassing anyone who happens to be around at the time. Isn't that right, Willie?"

The elf nodded in agreement, "Only to true Tom. No sooner do we disperse a pack then another one seems to appear elsewhere. They must be coming from somewhere, but where and why has escaped us. We of the militia are at our wits end.

Cassandra, who also received some medical attention from Lwcynda, pointed to those `rats' with the multi legs and large teeth. "What the heck are those things, anyway?"

Willie said, "Osquips, rather rare, but not totally uncommon. But they seldom show their faces in daylight. Like to stay underground, do they."

Andremar was confused, a condition unfortunate not all that uncommon in his life. He knew he had heard the scream and the barks of dogs and saw a girl and dogs. He did not see her leave.

"Do you think she is all right?"

"Did anyone see where the girl and her dogs went off to?" asked Lwcynda.

The two militia men had no idea what they were speaking of.

"The girl I mean," he said to the others, looking for confirmation.

Cassandra remarked, "Yeah, we come to her rescue and she disappears,,,,".

"Where did she go? I think we should look for her because she could be hurt and lost," Andremar persisted. From his current location he scanned the area, searching for some sign of the girl. He avoided moving around to prevent scuffing up any tracks.

Tom and Willie looked around, but their concentration waned, as they had not seen any gilr, and the rat plague was at the forefront of their thoughts.

The ever curious Lwcynda then joined in asking about these creatures. "Oh yes, and how could these rats fight so hard? And, since you have you seen them before, what is being done about them? And who could we speak to about them? Who else has been attacked by these creatures?". As often occurred when she got all wound up, she had to take a breath, allowing time for some answers.

Willie gave up his futile search for the alleged girl. "Yes, they are a ferocious lot, now aren't they? We're doing what we can, but we can only do so much. Someone has to get to the source of the trouble. If you want to speak to someone, Hawke would be yer best bet. Can find him over to the militia building [#1 on the Chatwin map] Sure he'd like to hear of your altercation, and maybe even thank you for your help."

Tom had been watching Andremar who had moved carefully away from the fray, towards the river. "I do see prints here, could be hers, but they seem to head towards the river."

Cassandra followed his lead. "Yes, boots prints, and paw prints, head right straight to the river. Well, either she jumped in, or what? I don't know. "

Willie said, "OK, Tom, we best get to cleaning up this mess. You bag `em, and I'll burn `em. No sense leaving `em lying round here, now is there?" The two set about the necessary task.

Gork appeared to be shaking his head in askance, as his planned dinner menu was being swept up.

Willie asked the Seekers, "So, what do you folks plan to do?"

"I suppose we ought to check the prints by the river just to see if the girl and, um, the dogs got in a boat or something," said the young mage. He scratched his head and pondered the situation.

"And if we find nothing there then I suppose we ought to, ah, visit Hawke." Andremar could think of nothing else so he grasped his staff tighter and attempted to follow the others example by not falling over in the mud.

Andremar, accompanied by Cassandra, made his way to the river bank. What they figured were the girl's and the dog's prints did appear to enter the water. There was no boat or raft to be seen. No could she be seen on the other side, though she would have had to swim to get there. Cassandra's experienced sneaky mind guessed at what this suggested. "She probably entered the water's edge, then headed one way or the other, using the water to cover her tracks. Either went east of west," her hand indicating these directions, and the river's bridges to which they led. "Could have climbed out most anywhere, used the trees and buildings as cover." The wily thief smiled at her next thought, "For all we know, she's watching us right now. We'd best file her away for now."

The two mucked their way back to the others. Willie and Tom had gathered up the vermin and were starting a fire to dispose of them.

"Tell you what," said Willie, "Tom here will finish with this clean up, I'll take you over to see Hawke if you'd like."

This seemed like a good idea, so the Seekers followed over to the Militia building where they soon had an audience with the leader of the village militia.

Hawke, the only name he was known by, was a well built man in his late twenties. Some might have thought him a bit too young to be the head of a militia, but circumstances had faired well for the young man. The son of a local farmer, he had shown a natural aptitude for things military, and his natural strength had impressed the former leader, and man whose memory was now so negative, that his name had been lost. For, the former head had, it turned out, conspired to rob the village some twenty years before. It was only when the Chatwin Heroes had recovered the missing treasure, and exposed this treachery back in 579. Hawke had by this time moved up to second in command of the militia, so he naturally took over when this former local leader was driven out of town.

He had a firm speaking voice and got right to the point. "I hear you've had an encounter with our rat population." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes," admitted Cassandra, "can't say we've ever encountered a problem like this before."

"Well, neither have we," said Hawke. "Now, we know that there are always rats around, and as much as we'd like to exterminate them from the face of Oerth, they do serve a purpose. But I've never seen rats behave like this anywhere before. Roaming round in packs, in broad daylight."

"Where do you suppose they are coming from?" asked Cassandra.

"We have yet to narrow it down to one spot. We know that below the village there are a variety of cracks and crevices, some only waterways, maybe even some piping, and that the vermin have lived and roamed them for years, probably for centuries. The problem, as near as we can figure, is that something, someone, whatever, is causing them to come up from their safe areas to menace the populous."

Andremar paled but said nothing whiles Hawk was speaking.

"So, what have you done about locating their source?" asked Cassandra.

"Not much, I'm afraid. My men have been much too busy trying to keep them at bay, that they have had no real time to do any searching." He paused and looked at each of the Seekers. "Now that you've encountered them problem, I was kinda hoping that you might put your minds to figuring out what was going on?"

As usual, Lwcynda's curiosity took over. "Can you tell us where else these rats have attacked? Who else they have attacked, so that we might speak with them? When did these attacks start? Are there any particular areas of town where the attacks have been concentrated? Is there a particular time of day when these attacks occur? Or anything else you can tell us?"

It took Hawke a few moments to digest all these questions. "Uh, well, let me think. So far, we have been unable to determine any pattern to these attacks. Various citizens have been harassed, at various places in the village, at various times of day. The attacks began a couple of months ago, but have become more frequent over the past two weeks or so." He wondered if he had covered all Lwcynda's bases.

Drist had been content to await for the answers to Lwcynda's questions. He had none of his own at the present time.

Andremar first listened to Hawke's responses to Lwcynda's questions. Then he asked, "Have you heard of a small girl, perhaps with some dogs, wandering around or missing?"

"A small girl?"

"Yes," Andremar added, "one dressed in brown, seemed almost like rags, the brief glimpse we got of her. Disappeared down by the river while we were fending off the most recent rat pack attack."

Hawke contemplated this information. "No, she doesn't ring a bell. No one has complained about her."

Cassandra wondered, "Did anything change around here over the past few months, anything at all, while we were still off in the Welkwood?"

Again, Hawke took the time to think. "Hmm, let me see. Well, a couple of months back we did get a new mayor. But I doubt he brought these rats with him." He laughed at this prospect. "The former mayor retired, and he has since left the village. Not much else ......, `cept the caretaker of the cemetery got replaced. We did get rid of that Eden fellow, and some new clerics from the Abby of Montelgro have taken over." He thought some more. "Guess that would be about it as far as changes go."

The Seekers pondered this response, and seemed ready to pose more questions when-

The door to the room flew open and one Grummie Featherfoot, make that Muddyfoot, slid in. "Spy Grummie reportin' fer duty, aye be." He whipped a sharp salute, and some mud, at one and all. As all looked at him somewhat incredulously, he went on to explain how, when everyone ran off to the aid of the girl, he fell face first in the mire. By the time he was able to escape from the clutches of the murk, and clean the goop from his eyes and monumental nostrils, they were gone. He reminded everyone of the "suspicious" boat of sailors that didn't notice the girls screams, so he watched them, only to conclude that they probably did not hear her from where they were up the river. He had then spent the remainder of his time trying to clean himself up a bit, and locate the others. And in doing so, he found out a little bit about their encounter, and just now overheard most of the conversation, while outside the door, trying to make sure he didn't track mud in...

That said, the others returned to the matter at hand, though smiles crossed all their faces.

When Grummie finished, Andremar waited to see if the others spoke first. Since no one did, [gnome got their tongues?], he inquired, "And who is our new mayor now?"

"One Murdoch Bannister, the hand picked successor to old Koldar. Funny, some people made a fuss about it, got all suspicious at the time, but didn't amount to much. Some went so far as to trail him up into the hills. Got so that Shandin Brightblade to watch the watchers, lest Murdoch get hurt. Guess people round here don't take well to change."

The young mage continued by saying, "Is Eden still around or do you know where he went? He might have some useful information something about this."

"I have no idea where Eden is. Since no one has complained about him, nor even mentioned him for that matter, I have to figure he's far from here by now. Course, wouldn't put it past him to have left us with this problem as a going away present."

Lastly, Andremar asked Hawk, Lwcynda and the others, "It would help if you would refresh me on the Abbey of Montelegro along with their duties and worship. I am afraid that my studies have , ah, not allowed me to keep up with, um, current events."

The Seekers looked at each other, but none of them had any response. All eyes fell on Hawke again. The militia head offered, "The Abbey of Montelgro is about one days journey north of here, as the edge of both the Welkwood and the Gnarley forests. The clerics have a reasonable reputation, and rumor has it that they have some special healing way. I have never visited them, but I know that some from this village, Shantyra, Grimbold, Merton and their friends have. Not sure, but Artemus the scribe might know about the Abbey as well."

Andremar listened attentively to the responses, as did the others, save Grummie, who continued to try to deal with Mud Bowl '84.

Drist glanced a last time at Grummie. "Perhaps we should visit the mayor. Or maybe the Abbey. They may know something of this. Although I think Hawke is right in saying that Artemus will know something, so perhaps he should be our next stop?" Drist awaited the suggestions of the others, eager to be off again.

Andremar mumbled a quick apology to the gnome then says, "Drist, you have the right of it although I feel we ought to leave the mayor until the last. Artemus and the others seem like a good place to start. After them perhaps the Abbey would be worth visiting."

The young mage turned to Cassandra, Lwcynda and Grummie the learn their thoughts.

Cassandra asked Hawke, "Didn't you say that the Abbey is a day's journey north of here?"

"Yes, I did. Course, if you wish to talk to those from the Abbey, you can probably find Father Sedwick and his helpers at the mortuary in the cemetery."

Grummie frowned, and muttered silently under his breath. "Back in da mud, I bet. No use me even tryin' ta clean off. Me wish ole big Jutos be here." With a scoff and mumbled, Grummie reluctantly agreed that the plan was sound, while scratching at a small clump of dried dirt behind his ear.

Lwcynda said, "Well, we could divide into two groups and one group could go talk to Father Sedwick and the other group could go see Artemus. We could meet at the inn in a couple hours. Or we could all go together -- just a thought."

So, it was with this thought that the Seekers would have to ponder.

Andremar turned to Cassandra and, with one eyebrow raised, asked " Artemus the scribe?"

"Sounds good to me. I'd like to avoid the cemetery as much as possible. Met that Eden guy once and he really gave me the creeps. I know he's gone, but ..." She let this thought die.

"Now, Artemus would either be in his cottage, or over at the Inn of the Shadow of the Three Towers. Either way he should not be too hard to find."

Before she and Andremar headed out, she turned to Drist, Lwcynda and Grummie. "Hope you guys can handle the graveyard without us."

Lwcynda looked to her friends, "I think we can manage. So shall we be off? If everyone is agreeable we can head for the cemetery."

Drist nodded to Lwcynda. "The cemetery is as good a place to start as anywhere else." That said, he appeared ready to be off again.

Grummie nodded and waved to Andremar and Cassandra. "Let us meet back here soon, and share what we have heard. "

With that suggestion, he turned to Dristarian and Lwcynda saying, "Wait yea for me though. I dunna wanna be left in da soft muck at no field o' tombs, yea know. Slow I am in dis mire, so bear wid me, minda ya."

And so they headed off to their respective destinations, with the only refinement, that they would meet back at the Inn of the Shadows, by super time, and Hawke agreed to join them there then.

They all crossed the central bridge, then split in two groups. Cassandra and Andremar made their way east to the cottage of Artemus Buttwyler, Scribe of Chatwin. The other three continued on north, towards the Old North Road. Soon, to their right came the unmistakable sight of the cemetery . While it was a place of death, it had a certain air about it, not as depressing as one might expect, or as it had been months before.

*****

A stout rap by Cassandra upon the modest wooden door of the cottage was answered in short order by a shaggy brown haired man, mid-twenties, dressed in basic brown garments. There was a look of studiousness about him. He looked the two over, then declared, "As I live and breath. If it isn't two of the Chatwin Seekers. My stars, this is an unexpected pleasure. Won't you both come in?" in a soft and friendly voice. He stepped back and ushered them into what seemed a living room, where they were offered comfortably seats in cushioned chairs. The room was wood decorated and warm, with a couple of side tables, and larger main table, all done in shades of brown. Many books lay scattered about; many more filled shelves. There were some large parchments, spread across the main table. Some plume pens, and ink were there as well.

"You must excuse the mess. Working on the latest edition of the Chatwin Chronicle." He moved the parchments away form the center table and rolled them up. "Now how about some tea?" And without waiting for any response he hustled into another room where some metallic sounds could be heard. He reappeared soon enough. "Water'l be ready soon. Now to what do I owe the honor?"

*************

Lwcynda, Grummie, and Drist made their way along the dirt and stone path that served as an entrance to the cemetery grounds. The went through the open gates of the old black metal fence, along the path, and up to the lone building. Seeing no one about, they rapped on the large, iron reinforced north facing door.

In due time a young man, more of a teen age boy really, dressed in a dark brown robe, tied at the waist by a stout cord, with a cowl concealing much of his head. He identified himself as Brother Richard, his high voice reinforced his youth. When told that they had come to speak with Father Sedwick, the youth said, "I understand," in a somber and sad voice. "This way then," he offered as he led them in.

The were gently ushered through a vestibule, then to the right into what appeared to be a chapel. It was a large room, some 20' wide, and 40' long, The walls were lined with floor to ceiling tapestries of deep blue, except for the east wall which was dominated by a by a pair of 3' x 5' stained glass windows. The room was crowded with wooden pews which were lined up below a large stone altar. The altar was draped with green cloth, and small brass burners sat on each corner. Behind the altar, in the southeast corner, was a pulpit of dark oak. "Sit yourselves," the youth suggested, "I will be right back."

He continued towards the altar, where he moved to the left, reached out with his left hand to the tapestry, then disappeared behind it. A murmur of voices could be heard, and then he returned with another man, this one short, also dressed in a brown robe, with the cowl thrown back, revealing a bald head.

He took the lead as they approached the three Seekers. "Brother Richard says you asked for me? I am Father Sedwick. Are you in need of our services?" His voice was soft and soothing.

Grummie stood rather still, fidgeting a bit, but unmoved altogether, and apparently uncomfortable in the sanctuary, not to mention the cemetery. Having not been privy to the entire discussion between Hawke and the others, he chose rather to wait quietly, and listen to the questions and answers, at least for now.

Sedwick waited for any questions.

With no one else stepping forward to ask, Drist cleared his throat and looked up. "We have recently returned to Chatwin and came upon some of the rather large rats infesting the area. We wanted to know if you could help us in anyway to deal with this problem. Information of any kind, even."

The elf's initiative helped the priestess to find her voice. "Yes Father Sedwick. I am Lwcynda and this is Drist and Grummie. We have come seeking any aid you might give with respect to the rat attacks which have been happening in town. Have you or the other fathers seen any rats or rat attacks, or, heard from anyone who has been attacked? We have witnessed one attack and can say for sure that these are not ordinary rats. Perhaps you have heard of something like this happening elsewhere?"

Father Sedwick was clearly taken aback by the topic with which he was presented. His voice registered surprise as he replied, "Rats" in a semi-questioning tone.

Brother Richard said, "Yes, rats," but was quickly silenced by a glance from Sedwick. The old priest helped himself down into one of the benches. "Rats," he repeated, this time softly. "There are rats about all right, but I figure they are more of the two legged variety."

Lwcynda asked, "Whatever do you mean?"

Sedwick wiped his brow, thought there did not seem to be any need for this action. He looked deeply at the woman, elf and gnome who sat before him. He seemed to be making a decision. The he pulled himself to his feet and began a slow pacing of the room. "Perhaps this is a sign, your coming here, I mean. Maybe it was meant to come out." Again he let silence fill the air.

He said firmly, "To answer your questions, yes, I have heard of the rats roaming the streets of the village, and on occasion one of our numbers has witnessed these bizarre occurrences. No, I have not heard of them anywhere else, at least not that I can think of." He continued to pace, watched anxiously by Richard.

"But, we do have troubles of our own right here. Now, I should have told someone about this, but .." his voice trailed off again.

Then he returned to the three, and sat facing them. "I do not know if this has anything to do with that, but we have had a theft right here in the mortuary. A sacred chalice, Phaulkon's Chalice to be exact has been taken, by person or persons, rats I say, unknown."

**********

Meanwhile, back at the cottage of Artemus Buttwyler, scribe of Chatwin .. ..

Artemus enthusiasm for two of his obvious heroes continued as he waited for the water to boil. He peppered them both with questions about their adventures, for though he had chronicled them, his information had up to now been from hearsay, surmise, and embellishment. He wanted to know about the fairy world of the elves, what the Lost Druids were really like, what exactly did they do to help Andremar speak better, how Silverlance was doing. Andremar and Cassandra answered politely, if somewhat evasively on many of these topics until the high pitched wheezing emanated from the other room distracted the Bard. "Ah, the water! Now we'll have tea."

In no time he was back with tea pot, mugs, honey, scones, "Anything I've overlooked?"

"The kitchen sink," deadpanned Cassandra.

The bard took it in stride, as he served piping hot tea all round.

He took a seat. "You must excuse my excitement. I came here to chronicle the famed Chatwin Heroes, but never even got to meet them. Now, you people, well to me, you are the real heroes of this village. Now, what did you come to see me about?"

"I thought you'd never asked," said Cassie.

Andremar took a more tactful approach. "First of all, we're making inquiries about the rats, the ones that are plaguing the village. No doubt you've heard of them?"

Artemus set down his mug, and brushed his mop of hair from his forehead. "Yes, the rats, yes. What a problem! I wonder what is causing it?"

"We were hoping you might have some ideas.." Said Cassandra. Letting her words hang like laundry which must be folded.

"No, no, haven't heard much about them, and vermin are not my strong suit. Not too much call for the "Ballad of the Rat" or "Rats `a Ruck", now is there?" He responded cheerfully. "Guess if I was going to approach the problem, I'd wonder where they were coming from, then why were they leaving there- kind of a action/reaction method."

Cassandra looked at Andremar, hoping he might have some idea what Artemus was talking about.

The mage tried another tact. "OK, so rats are not your forte, but you have heard of the changes in procedures at the cemetery?"

"Oh, yes, know all about that. Can't say I'm surprised. That Eden's time had come, you know. Really had no tact whatsoever."

"So, you knew him then?"

"Knew him? Why I ventured with him, and on more then one occasion. Very strange, very dark, individual. Can't say I'm sad to see him leave. Now the new clerics, those from Montelgro, what a delight. Visited their Abbey once. Stumbled upon a mystery, yes we did. Seems a restless spirit was haunting one of their number. But we got to the bottom of it."

"We?"

"Why yes, let's see there was Merton, Shantyra, my partner in music Tanner, Grimbold, and not sure, but I do believe Eden was with us then. Hmmm, funny the way things work out."

"Funny how?"

"Well," he said lightly, "we help them out, and they end up helping us by replacing Eden."

Andremar moved on to the topic of the new mayor.

Artemus shifted gears with ease, "Oh good old, or not so old actually, Murdoch Bannister. Yes, caused quite the tempest in the tea pot when he was appointed." He said with a laugh, "Why some were following him about like they suspected him of being anything but a mayor. Trailed him into the hills, inquired into his background ..." He hesitated here to see where Andremar was taking this. "Why do you ask?" It was apparent from his tone that he thought highly of Bannister, and did not approve of those who had perpetrated these deeds of mistrust.

Andremar, under the bard's scrutiny, had a slight lapse in erudition, "UH, um, we, er, were just, ah, curious _"

"Good old Andremar's back," rejoiced Cassandra, drawing Artemus' attention to herself. "Yes, no real reason, just wondering about him that's all. Anything other changes that have taken place in the village over the past few months? We've been in the Welkwood for a while now."

The bard pondered for a while. "Let's see. New mayor. Eden's gone. Monks from the Abbey. Rats in the streets. Red eyed things roaming the streets at night Hmm, no, not that I can thing of."

******

Drist was visibly surprised at the mention of "two legged rats" and turned quickly to his companions. "Could these be like the rats we saw at that Inn a while back? In the Welkwood? They were able to steal from us, and they could certainly steal from here as well." Drist turned back to Father Sedwick. "I believed we have already encountered rats such as you speak of. A while back, when we were in the Welkwood, at an Inn, rats like you have mentioned had stolen our belongings and we had chased them down. They walked on two legs and were intelligent as well as fairly large. Are these like the rats who stole the Chalice?"

Sedwick looked a bit confused. Before he could respond, Grummie finally rustled up the courage to speak, adding his two copper's worth to the parlay. Turning first to Drist, he inquired, "But yea saw these beasties attackin' da girl, right? Dids't those large rats look akin to da one's dat made dem holes in da Inn and stole from big Jutos?"

Drist admitted that those rats which were menacing the girls were actual rats, "all of whom walked on all-fours. A few ere somewhat larger, which protruding teeth, but none had swords, nor did any stand up, as did those at that inn."

After hearing Drist's reply, Grummie addressed Father Sedwick, asking, "So, dis Chalice? Yea seem ta hint dat these rat things and da theft mighten be intertwined, aye? What, pray tell yea, is dis chalice for? Have it some magic dat ken grow big rats? Or do I not understand yea?"

This served to further confuse Sedwick. He looked to Brother Richard, who merely shrugged his shoulders.

Suddenly, the gnome's face wrinkled, apparently with the stroke of an idea. Grummie began looking about, at the walls, near the floor, and turns to Father Sedwick for a final question, "Say good Father. Where dids't da chalice rest a'for it was nicked?"

This line at least made some sense to Sedwick. "Nicked? Oh, stolen. Why, it was in this, ah, what we call the preparation room. Right through here." Sedwick began leading the way towards the altar, then to the right,. Moving the curtains aside, back where he had come from. The gnome followed close at his heels.

This new room was fairly dark, with low ceiling and rather cramped. The bare stone floor was rough and discolored in spots. Two long and narrow wooden tables occupied the center of the room, each apparently supported covered by a white cloth. To the immediate left, there was a tall wooden cabinet, the doors closed. Across the room, in the northeast corner, was a simple wooden pedestal, covered in a thin coat of light blue paint that was peeling away in patches. "Right here," pointed Sedwick, "is where the chalice sat." There was indeed a distinct circular marking in the center of the pedestal's top.

Grummie began searching the walls about this pedestal, hoping to find peep holes, such as those he had overlooked back at that inn. All that was about here, however, was a door on this east wall.

Lwcynda asked, "And when did this theft occur?"

Father Sedwick said sheepishly, "Sorry to admit that I cannot say for sure. I noticed it was gone about a month back, but it could have been gone earlier. I do think its disappearance did precede the appearance of these rats."

Lwcynda confirmed, "And the rats we fought -- I think the were just the 4 legged kind but extra large. Now does the theft of the chalice coincide with the appearance of these rats I wonder? I thought that Marcella and that Z person brought those rat people we captured to ... well I can't remember where they were taking them."

Sedwick finally composed himself. "Yes, I am sorry if I mislead you, but when I said `rats' took the chalice, I meant the human, the real human, kind. To me, people who steal are rats. I really am not too familiar with the kind your friends are referring to."

This clarification no doubt mollified Grummie.

Lwcynda continued, "Father, can you think of anyone else who might be able to help us? Oh, and what exactly did the chalice look like?"

Sedwick looked at Richard again. "Anyone who might have taken it? Hmm, no, no, can't think of anyone offhand. And as to the chalice, it was a basic silver variety, slightly tarnished. No special markings or anything."

Grummie scoffed, and continued to study the stone floor, including the area concealed beneath the tables. As he did so, he momentarily turned his attention to the cabinet to the left of the entry, inquiring while pointing at it, "And what pray-tell be in dat, an' ken we be seeing in it?"

Father Sedwick answered, "It contains those items we use for deal with the deceased-various herbs, balms, and other sundry items. Nothing of any value, unless you're in the trade." He pondered the gnome's request. "You may examine it if you like," he said, seeming to find humor in the gnome's curiosity.

Grummie was beginning to think thee had reached the end of their investigation here, "Perhaps we best be getting back to Hawke?"

"Can't think of much else to ask, so I guess we should this kind man, and be on our way to meet the others, agreed Lwcynda.

And the were about to leave when. "By gosh, by garr," emitted the gnome, "well lookie `ere." Grummie was bending low, looking at a particular area of the stone fllor, somewhat near the cabinet that had drawn his curiosity. The others looked where he was indicating, but could see nothing that should command the little guy's excitement. "Cain't youse see it?" he asked. They kept looking as he pointed with his finger, and to some extent his nose low to the ground, outlining a square. Maybe it was because he was naturally low to the ground, or in tune with burrowing creatures, but he could see that the faint, very faint, outline around one to the stones that made up this floor was different from all the others. "Me thinks there be a trap door, dis stone be it," he claimed.

Drist the elf was drawn down to Grummie's level. While his normally keen elven senses for such things had not given him the advantage they normally should, now that the gnome had drawn his attention to it, he felt confident in confirming what Grummie was contending. "Yes, my friend, I definitely think you've found something there."

The more they looked, the three Seekers, Father Sedwick and Brother Richard, they could all now see what Grummie had discerned, one of the stones was subtly and slightly higher than the others! And, there were minute cracks around its edges where it meshed with its neighbors.

Drist pulled out a knife and began to wiggle it into the crack at the bottom of the loose stone, "Perhaps we can get this stone out and discover where the thieves entered the building, and maybe we will be able to trace there escape route."

Grummie stood straight up, holding his enormous nose high in the air, and blowing on his fingertips, as if proud of his discovery. Nonetheless, the muddy crust now impacted about his body, gave a comical relief to any thought of offering praise or applause. Grummie watched as his elven friend pried at the stone block, confident that he'd discovered the mystery and the solution all in one fail swoop.

Drist continued to work with the knife. He was pleasantly surprised to learn the knife circumvented to two foot square stone easily, as if this edging had no connection to those around it. With the help of Richard and Sedwick, he was able to wiggle the stone out.

Five heads quickly looked down into darkness. Grummie's proud nose was the first to turn upright, as the dark opening wafted forth a foul odor of soggy earth and mold. The stench brought with it a thick wetness that hung in the air, pressing against their skin. Sedwick retrieved and then lit a candle, which he used to illuminate to opening. The light exposed about five rungs of a rusting ladder that disappeared into more darkness below.

******

Meanwhile, back at the cottage of Artemus Buttwyler, Cassandra and Andremar continues their visit, chatting about this and that, learning of some of Artemus' more hazardous adventures, hearing about his musing on red eyed things that are rumored to haunt the village after dark, finding out how Tanner got his parrot, lost his eye sight, and other sundry details .....

********

Drist looked to his companions. "We now have two choices, I think. We can try to discover where the tunnel comes out, or we can move our search somewhere else." Drist awaited any suggestions.

Grummie grasped his huge nose with both hands, squinting and gasping, as his eyes watered and he tried frantically to fend off the putrid odor. He began to speak, but his accent, already thick, was muffled and mollified so badly, that he finally stepped away from the hole and was able to release his nose and speak clearly... well, more like normal anyway. "Me tinks we best find sumfin' big an' heavy ta put ore dat hole, whist we go an' share wid Cassie and Andremar what we found. Once we 'ear what dey hab learned, den we ken decide ifen we should stay assunder. Or mayhaps explore dis wretched hole all ta'gether. Dat be ifen dey not hab a better lead we should'st follow."

From what Grummie said, * what did he say? * wondered Sedwick and Richard, Drist, Lwcynda and the gnome decided the best get back to Cassie and Andremar before going any further here. Sedwick suggested that Hawke ought to be consulted, and decided to accompany them. Richard would stay here at the mortuary, and do whatever it was they did with the dead.

Soon enough, these four arrived at the cottage of Artemus Buttwyler, where they were pleasantly greeted, offered tea and cakes, and brought up to snuff on what C & A had learned from their visit. They in turn were told of the moving stone, and the smell form down below.

Upon hearing this, Artemus ears perked up, not that they were at all visible mind you. "Hmm, and opening down below the mortuary? Why does that ring a bell?" As the others continued to chat and share, Artemus began to look through his book collection, picking up volumes, leafing through them, and tossing them aside, till ........

"Ah, yes, here it is." While this served to draw everyone's attention, he was oblivious to this fact as he continued to pour through the text.

"Artemus?" prodded Cassandra.

"Yes? Oh, yes, why, er, I remembered something about this village, read it somewhere, and here it is. Seems near the turn of the century, round about 500 or so, this village was said to be a pirates hideout." He seemed very proud of this information.

"And?" encouraged Cassandra.

"And? Oh, and rumor had it that they hid out under the village. You might just have found the entrance."

Cassandra was still confused, "And they kept rats as pets?"

"Rats? Oh, yes, the rats. Well, no, I did not mean that. This discovery might well have nothing to do with the rats. Just thought you might be interested in some local history, that's all." He continued to bury his nose in the book, lost in what he was reading.

The others took the information in stride, thanked Artemus for his hospitality, and left, heading for the Inn of the Shadows, and their pre-arranged meeting with Hawke, as the supper hour was fast approaching.

On the way back to the Inn, Grummie said little, only asking of the others what they thought best... searching the putrid depths beneath the mortuary, or persue some other course. "Mehaps t'would be if we 'ere what Hawke may tink."

Lwcynda offered that she was ready to search the depths beneath the mortuary, but agreed that Hawke should be informed first, "So he'll know where where we will be." She added, "He might have more information about the pirates."

And so by 5PM the Seekers were seated at their usual table in the Inn of the Shadows, where they were joined by Hawke and Father Sedwick.

"Special tonite is bear stew," they were informed by the serving girl, "seems Saugus had a good day in the woods," she added with a wink. All were free to order what they might want.

As they ate, they shared what knowledge they had gathered. Hawke was impressed by the thoroughness of the Seekers' investigations, and dismayed to learn about the missing chalice.

"Not that I am familiar with this relic, I am appalled, Father Sedwick, that you did not report it to me as the main authority in the village. Theft of this magnitude should never be overlooked."

Sedwick looked at his own boots as he answered quietly, "I know, I just did not think."

Hawke was not mollified so easily. "I trust, Father, that that is all the information you have withheld." This came out more as a statement.

"All?" mumbled Sedwick, "er, yes, ah, yes, that's all," who continued to look at his boots.

Hakwe kept a firm gaze on Sedwick, but the cleric would not raise his eyes to meet the militia head's. Hawke finally relaxed.

Lwcynda asked him if he was at all familiar with the legend of the pirates. He answered, "I'm too young a man to have been around back then," with a grin, "and I can't recall any mention of them in from youth."

"Well then, as I see it, the mortuary seems to be a logical starting point. Something has been stolen from it. Not that I appreciate the significance, if any, of this item, it is still town property and must be found. Secondly there is this possible underground area, which might prove to be useful in the study of the rats. They do, after all, seem to come from and return to their warrens beneath the village." He let his conclusions sink in and offered time for anyone to add to them.

He then continued. "So, you Seekers of truth, I hereby offer you a commission, in the name of the Village of Chatwin. You are for the time being the official guardians of the village mortuary, free to protect it as you see fit. At the very least some of you must go there and spend the hours of darkness, to guard against any further intrusions. And, if you so see fit, you are commisioned to investigate the newly discovered area below, in the hopes that if might shed some light on the recent rat revival."

It was about 8PM as he pushed back his chair, crossed his legs, and waited for any responses.

Grummie polished off his mead and bear stew before adding to the parlay. Only then did he offer, "Aye, tis good. What saye yea Sir Hawke? What praytell ken the militia offer ta aid us in dis endeavor? Perchance a small troop o' guardsmen ta stand post at da mortuary whilst we search it's depths?" Grummie ordered another mead, while waiting for Hawke's response, and further comment by the rest of his company.

Hawke informed the gnome that, "Our militia is but a small troop to begin with. If you people are wiling to go down below, I can station one or maybe two men at the most. The rest will be needed to continue the vigilance against the rat menace."

Hawke was not exaggerating, for the Chatwin Militia was a militia in name only. Hawke served as head of this august body, and was in essence the sheriff of this small village. In a addition to Willie and Tom, there were only two other full time members, they being Largo and Jyllia. Zamora, a pristess of Pholtus and a fighter of sorts, helped out when she was in the village, but at the present she was off somewhere down the Wild Coast. There had never been a need for a true militia, and besides, the Chatwin Heroes were usually available to handle any major upheavals. Apparently the rat menace had not yet aroused their curiosity. So, in effect, the Seekers were the next level of defense.

"Whether we go down the hole or not is fine with me," said Cassandra, "Just it is already late in this day. I trust we are not planning a descent till morning?"

She looked at her good friend Andremar, "Bet you're looking forward to another good underground crawl," thinking all the while of their first adventure together, where they crawled though some narrow and winding tunnels.

Grummie nodded agreeably toward Hawke, and then turned to Cassie, "Aye, tis best to start in da morn'... more mead dat way" He chuckled as he turned up his flagon.

Drist nodded in aggreement with what had been said. "I would truly be best if we started during the day, for to enter a dark, unknown place at night could be suicide. Since we are all together now, why don't we decide who will go into the tunnel and who will stay in the Mortuary?"

Grummie's face twisted with a touch of horror, and he interjected, "But Drist, shouldn't we all go in? There be strength in numbers. An Hawke hast offered ta post a guard in da mortuary. Aye, twould feel much better ifen we all be party to dis merry descent." Grummie was obviously struggling to smile, although the thought of the matter plexed him deeply.

Cassandra added, "Yes, Grummie's right. If one of us goes down there, we all go down there. Isn't that right Lwcynda? Andremar?" She looked to her to `experienced' undergrounders for agreement.

"What we need to decide," she continued, "is if we'll be spending the night in the mortuary before we go down the hole." Her voice took on an ominous tone at the last phrase.

Hawke said, "Yes, I think that would be wise. A night there might just get you in the proper mood, acclimatized so to speak." He waited for agreement from one and all.

Drist looked at his companions and Hawke and spoke simply, "Well, I cannot fault your reasoning, and the plan is good, so I must admit defeat. Hawke is also right in that we should sleep at the mortuary, so that we will be able to begin first thing in the morning, if for no other reason."

Grummie's entire body visibly shivered and cringed at the thought of staying overnight in such a morbid place; however, he finally mustered the courage and demeanor (fake as it was), to reply, "Ayyye.. Tis w-w-hat we must do."

Lwcynda agreed with her companions. "Yes, I think it best if we spend the night there and then all go down together in the morning. How bad could it be if Father Sedwick is there? And Runt can stand guard with the militia men tomorrow."

And so it came to pass, there being no dissenting voice, that the Seekers found themselves alone together in the mortuary. Sedwick had accompanied them, and given them the grand tour. In addition to the chapel and the preparation room, there was reception hall to the left as one entered. It was decorated in dab colors, with yellow draperies about the windows and a large brown rug spread across the center of the floor. The room's few furnishings consisted of three stools and a rickety table. A door in the preparation room, where two bodies still lay and where the trap dooor to the underground had been found, led to a small hallway, which had shutters covering the windows and an exterior door. Once the tour had concluded, he had taken Richard, and wished them well.

By 10PM, the Seekers were alone in the mortuary. Cassandra volunteered herself and Andremar for fist watch. "Doubt he'll be getting much sleep anyway," she nudged. The mage had been very silent. "Why don't we make the benches in the chapel our beds, and those of us on watch will circulate?" she added.

Grummie, Drist, and Lwcynda did their best to make themselves comfortable on the narrow hard wooden benches, and drifted off to what passed as sleep.

Grummie felt a nudge on his shoulder, and a voice getting nearing and nearer, "Wa, wa, wa-ke up," the dulcet tone repeated over and over, till the gnome got his bearings and realized that Cassie was waking him for his watch. "Best raise the elf while you're at it. Me and Andremar are bushed. Quiet place this," she concluded before drifting off.

Grummie roused Drist. They figured it was maybe 2AM as they began to slowly move about the edifice, using their night vision and what moonlight made its way through the ill-fitting curtains to avoid bumping into things. All seemed well. The other three were sleeping, and the corpses, well, they were pretty quiet, too. It was as the two guardians entered the preparation room that they heard something. It was a soft sound, possibly scratching, coming through from beyond the door at the other side of the preparation room, the door which led to the hallway, which led to the outside.

Grummie slowly and quietly drew his trusty, yet rather short, sword from its scabbard. He then motioned for Drist to kneel down for a whisper.

Grummie hushedly told the elf, "Shhhh! I wil'st open da door wid a yell, hopen' ta wake da others an' surprise da intruder. Yea be ready ta leap to da attack, once we ken see what be scratchen. Aye, tis good?"

Grummie began to slowly creep toward the hallway door, while awaiting his companion's nod, whispered comments or actions.

Drist nodded slightly and drew his long sword, slowly making his way towards the door, awaiting Grummie's word.

The gnome and the elf made their way past the sleeping dead in the preparation room till the reached the hallway door. Slowly Grummie drew it open. He stuck his head, nose first, into the hallway. It was a bit cooler, with a breeze coming through the tattered shutters. The scratching seemed louder here, as if someone or something was working its nail, fangs, or something similar on the exterior door which was across and down this hallway, some feet from where they were at present.

Back in the chapel, Lwcynda, Cassandra, and Andremar still slept soundly.

Grummie continued his prowling approach, this time to the outside door of the hallway. When next to it, he turned briefly to his elf companion and nodded, making sure they were both ready... Drist gave him the `go ahead' signal. Making sure the door was neither bolted nor barred, Grummie pulled the door open with a war-cry...

"Zeeeeooowwwww!" replied the cat that had been calmly scratching at the outside, before it ran like the dickens across the graveyard and out if sight.

Back in the chapel, Lwcynda and Andremar still slept soundly. Cassandra was slightly awakened by some noise or other.

Cassandra lay in the nether world between sleep and wakefulness, wondering if she had heard something, or was it part of a dream.

Grummie clasped at his chest with one hand, his heart pounding loud enough to offset some of the tombstones out- side. He planted his back, flat against the hallway wall, and slid down onto his buttocks, gasping for air, and the vague remnants of his sensibilities.

After a brief moment, he regained his composure, stood, postured himself slightly, and returned to his patrol with the elf, forever mindful of his near encounter with death... by fright!

Drist sighed and shook his head, while putting away his sword. He gave the gnome a moment to compose himself, and said nothing about their close encounter of the feline kind. Once Grummie was ready, they can began their rounds again.

Cassandra heard soft footfalls, figured they were those of her companions, and fell asleep once more.

The night from here passed quietly. Drist and Grummie raised Lwcynda, and she took watch into the early morning light.

15 Planting, 584 Freeday

With the early morning light came a rapping on the main door, which Lwcynda opened. There stood Gork, with hot food and drink in hand. "Mee deeliver breakfast," he beamed. He was accompanied by Sedwick and Richard, as well as a member of the militia. She was maybe all of 19 years old, with brownish hair and eyes, a slightly ruddy complexion, maybe 5' 6". "Jyllia," she said, "Hawke has assigned me to watch the hole, whatever that means."

Lwcynda ushered them into the chapel, where the others were beginning to wake up. Gork's presents were a welcome sight for one and all. The Seekers quickly chowed down on what he had brought.

As they ate, Richard and Sedwick took Jyllia into the preparation room, to show her the entrance she would be guarding. The Seekers ate awhile discussing the plan of attack for the day, how well they slept in the night, etc.

Then, Sedwick's voice broke the calm. "What's this?" he uttered. "And they call themselves guards?" his voice continued as he broke into the chapel. "You call yourselves guards?" he asked looking at the Seekers collectively. He was Answered by many confused looks. "Someone had a snack last night. Which one of you sickoos was it?" Again, confusion reigned among the Seekers. "Oh, playing dumb. Well, come in here and see one of your band's handiwork."

Dutifully, the Seekers followed as he led the way back into the preparation room, where Richard held aloft the sheet that had been covering the corpses. Sedwick point to the lower leg of the male corpse. "Right there," he pointed sternly, "right there. Someone helped himself, or herself to a snack."

And, as they looked at the leg, they could all clearly see that there was indeed clear signs that someone or thing had taken a couple of bites out of the leg. "As Richard will attest, that is not the way we left this body yesterday."

Richard said that Sedwick was right. "No marks on the body when I left it."

Grummie's jaw hung open in amazement and wonder as he stared at the now desecrated corpses. He then instinctively began to search about the room, apparently looking for evidence of whom or what might have done such a thing.

Drist raised an eyebrow at Father Sedwick and Brother Richard. "Isn't it quite obvious? The rats, or those mutated creatures that resembled them, must have more then one hole in this building, and snuck in during the night, going somehow unnoticed to this spot, and leaving just as silently. They may even have a hole in this room." Drist waited for any other speculations from his companions, and comments from Sedwick and Richard.

Sedwick shook his head indicating disagreement with the elf's assessment. "No. Those are not the simple nibbles made by rats. Trust me. Our order is well versed in the handling of the dead. We have dealt with many deaths, including those who have not been found for days. When rats work on a body, it is much less intrusive than these." Rather than an eyebrow, he raised his voice instead. "Those are bite marks, incisors of sorts. No, not rats, fair elf, but someone with a taste for flesh."

An obvious cold eerie chill rippled through the gnome's body as Grummie remembered where they were. His eyes once again widened with exclamation as he declared, "Aye, could be rats, o' worse! Forget nay where we stand. Upon da land o' dose who past on. Upon da very soil o' graves. Fear I dat worse may be inhabit dese catacombs. The not-living an' not-dead may roam." Grummie gulped noticably, and continued, "and creatures o' thus putrid unrest may eat upon da flesh o' da dead... o' worse... da living as well!"

Cassandra looked in amazement and amusement. "Andremar, did you get hungry when we were on watch???" The mage had no quick retort for this, save but to look at her with extreme distaste. Then she smiled, "Only kidding." But, it did not seem a time for levity.

Sedwick seemed very riled. "You people have been appointed guardians of this mortuary, and your first night produces this result," he declared. "Well, you are I full charge now." And he just stormed off.

Richard seemed somewhat embarrassed by his superior's actions, but stood silently, re-covering the bodies. Jyllia stood by quietly, not knowing what to make of the situation.

The ever nimble and nosey gnome continued his examination of the floor. "Me thinks, me thinks, hmm, me knows something be different here," his right index finger indicated the floor between the table and the floor stone which they had opened earlier to reveal the pit. "These be scratches, these be. And they not been here before, less I be a rat meself." Since it was the gnome who had first discovered and uncovered the odd floor stone, the others knew that what the gnome was saying was very likely correct. "Sumpthin, or someone, been from there," indicating the stone, "ta here," indicating the table `o corpses, "and back agin."

Grummie stood straight up, having completed his evaluation of the floor tiles, and exclaimed. "Let us be off! I fear that da dead be walkin' widin' des catacombs, and we shoulds't use all da daylight we ken." He then turned to Richard and inquired, "Have yea anyone which might be able ta stay as well, someone o' da faith, what might be able ta disuade any o' these magical creatures o' unrest from exiting dis hole? I fear any simple blade may nay be enough ta thwart what lies below, no offense to da lady, o' course."

Richard replied that he, in fact, had some ways with the walking dead, "Though not with the overly powerful ones."

Jyllia seemed more frightened than offended by the gnome's remarks. "N-no offense taken," she stammered.

Lwcynda recovered from the shock of Father Sedwick's words. She said, "Perhaps it was or was not something undead that was in this room last night. I think I will try to 'detect evil' and perhaps we may get a clue."

She spent some moments in concentration and scanned the room, but no evil did she find therein.

To Richard she then said, "I find it extremely strange that Father Sedwick would jump to the conclusion that one of us had a 'snack' during the night. Does he usually over-react to situations or is he just so upset by this whole situation that he wasn't thinking straight? After all, we've come to help not make anyone more upset."

Richard replied guardedly, "Sedwick is under some strain, being in charge of this, our first posting outside of Montelgro . Our entire order will be judged by how well, or how poorly, we perform. We are off to a less than laudatory start, I'm afraid."

Lwcynda declared herself ready to go down and investigate the 'basement'.

"It's about time," said Cassandra, obviously champing at the bit to get a move on. "Get that stone open and let's see what we shall see this time."

Jyllia lent a hand to the proceeding, and she, Drist, and Grummie pulled back the stone once more. The dark opening wafted forth a still foul odor of soggy earth and mold. The stench brought a thick wetness that hung in the air. Cassandra produced her small hand lamp and shined it down, seeing that the iron rungs did indeed go to some sort of bottom some 15' below. "Well, here goes nothing," she pronounced as she put a tentative step on the first rung. Though it showed signs of rust, it felt firm. She continued this procedure with each rung till she had reached rock, or better described, mud bottom. "Come on down, the weather's fine," she quipped. "And, anybody got a real lantern? My little beam is getting swallowed up down here."

A check of the inventory revealed no lantern, but Richard was able to lend one, "Just don't tell Sedwick. He's very fussy about our stuff."

In a few more minutes time, the Seekers found themselves in the center of a 20' diameter chamber, obviously dug from the rough earth long ago. The walls were supported with moldy beams. To the north a rough archway led to what seemed a larger chamber, while a tunnel led away to the east. As Andremar shined the lantern around, tiny specks seemed to sparkle in the earth surrounding the archway.

"Which way, and who's doing the leading?" Asked Cassandra.

Grummie temporarily lost track of where exactly he was standing, as his eyes returned the brief sparkle about the archway. He stumbled about almost entranced and said, "Ahhh, I shall stay t'ward de rear, minda ya, by side Gork here. I shall follow yea, which'er way ya go. An I shall keep close eye, for somefin' evil sneakin' up behind us." Grummie drew his sword with one hand and his dagger with the other, as he watched the archway closely, and surveyed the ground as well.

Cassandra was slightly surprised at the nimble gnome's new shyness, but said nothing about it. "OK, that silver whatever is certainly intriguing ." She moved slowly towards the archway, watching the sparkle tickle off her narrow beam. She got to the archway and looked inside. She saw a chamber, maybe 20' x 30' to the north, still rough but better constructed than the smaller entry cave. The walls here glistened with a sheen much more intense than mere wetness, and her light rebounded and amplified this intenseness. "It's as if the walls are dripping with molten silver," she said in awe and admiration.

"I'll stay close to the front ready with my holy symbol and my sword should any nasty things come towards us." Lwcynda joined Cassandra and had a look at the silver specks, too. She asked Cassandra and Grummie "Would you two have a look at the floor and see if anything has passed through here recently?"

Grummie stayed close, making sure not to touch anything. He appeared to be a bit disheveled and concerned about his surroundings...

The silver seemed to be silver dust not silver ore, as if the walls and this archway had been deliberately coated with this substance. There also seemed to be some powder of some sort mixed in with the silver dust.

Nothing came out of this room at them. Inside the two found some animal bones that had been gnawed into unrecognizable lumps.

Grummie stayed in the entry caved, looking about nervously. His nervous glances noticed some marks on the ground, coming and going from the eastward leading tunnel. He could not discern what they were made by, however.

Grummie struggled to control his apprehension, but managed to march on with the party, as they explored further, making sure to point out the newfound markings on the floor of the entry chamber. "Me tinks dat be da markin's o' what been eatin' on dose corpses. But me not know what made dem."

Drist nodded in agreement with Grummie, and said to his companions, "Perhaps we should follow the markings to their end. These caves may go on for quite a ways and we don't want to get lost. At least if we are following something, we can always follow it back."

Cassandra offered to stay in front with Drist, "since Andremar has been so silent of late, perhaps you'll be better company." She drew her short sword.

They led off in a generally southerly direction moving through a sometimes shored up tunnel, that wavered between 3' to 8' wide. They had traveled for 25' to 35' when the tunnel opened into a room that seemed to be little more than a deviation point. A huge boulder rose from floor to ceiling in the northeastern part of it, and a steady stream of water droplets ran down its side. The floor of this area, for a good 10' in diameter, was little more than a molasses of mud. To the south/southwest, there seemed to be some dry land, and a wider passage beyond.

Grummie paced close behind the others, keeping an ever watchful eye on the floor and structural components of the cavern. Looking at the boulder, its trickle of water, and the accumulated water inside, he declared "Perhaps best that rock be right where it be, lest more water pour from beyond dat wall, aye? Da other side be our course, but check close that mud, first, 'for steppin' in it."

Lwcynda waited for the scouts and carefully looked around to see what she might see.

Cassandra stuck her sword carefully into the pool of mud which served as the floor. It enter with slight resistance, till it hit bottom about 6-10" down. "We can moved through it, but our pace will be slow and we will have to step carefully, or else we'll be taking mud baths," she declared, as she removed her blade from the much and wiped it with an old rag.

Drist scouted out the cavern as best he could, to see if there was any clean way to the dry land and/or the boulder. His trained ranger eyes concluded that to reach the boulder to the northeast, or to get to the obvious opening and dry area to the south, they would have to go through the muddy soup.

Grummie had already resolved that the south route was the way to go. However, as his watchful eye studied the cavern, he made out a footprint, probably a boot print, in the mud near the north wall, pointing in the direction of the boulder.

"Ah! Shhhh!" proclaimed the nosey gnome, as he drew the attention of the others to the footprint near the boulder. Grummie whispered, "Quiet, be yea! Me was mistaken, me tinks. Dat boulder mayhaps be a door, concealed by da water. What say yea we take a closer look a' it?"

"Good idea," said Cassandra. She drew a rope from her pack and fixed it about her waist. "Here, my nimble friends," she said to Grummie as she offered him the other end, "Take hold of this, lest I become mired in the muck." She then edged her way along the north wall, moving slowly as the mud impeded her progress, her hands groping the wall, till she reached the boulder. "Andremar, even if the mudcat's got your tongue, still shine that lantern beam over this way, so I can get a better look."

Andremar looked around briefly as if he were lost and replied in a confused voice, "Oh my, where have I been?", glancing over at Cassandra for an expected remark. Andremar moved his lantern quickly over the surroundings as if he had just arrived.

With the help of the gangly mage's beam she maneuvered her self along the face of the boulder until she had reached the far edge of it. There, perched on some irregular parts of the boulder, she was able to re-light her hand lamp. "Well, I'll be," she murmured as she gazed off somewhere. "Seems this big rock does not touch this far wall. There is a narrow fissure leading off somewhere, and I can see a stream of water running down there from the boulder. Area seems to be smooth stone, so no sign of footprints," she sighed.

She let this new data sink in, then added, "So, it seems that we have two ways to go. This way with the narrow opening, smooth stone floor, all wet. Or, the southern route which offers a dirk beach. Either way, you're all gonna hafta navigate the mud." She smiled at the thought of this prospect, as she stuck out her left leg, exposing a mud caked boot to the light of Andremar's lantern.

Grummie mumbled audibly, as he brushed at his clothing, and grumbled about recent encounters with mud and wishing he were riding on the shoulders of a big friend. Nonetheless, Grummie grasped at the rope and slowly but surely crossed the mire.

Cassandra held firm to her end helping him in his journey.

When he reached the farther side, he glanced behind the boulder, then off across the mud to where the other passage still beckoned. He shrugged with exaggeration, and whispered, "Me not know, what say yea we flip a coin."

"Well, since the footprint seemed to be going in the direction of the boulder, and the path behind the boulder must obviously be hidden for a reason, I suggest we should follow that cavern first. If we come up with nothing, then we can backtrack and go through the other path to the south." With this, Drist wadded through the mud towards the boulder.

Andremar pointed his lantern in the direction of both paths, looking at each one for a few moments, as if in deep thought. Then he said in an uncertain way, looking mostly at Cassandra, "Well, I would be inclined to agree with Drist here, I think that passageway is the wisest to follow... " indicating the boulder, " Yes... I think... think it is"

"Glad to see your mind made up," chided Cassandra, now perched atop the boulder.

Andremar gave the mud a long look, and then disapprovingly towards his boots. "Hmmmm... too bad. Looks like I may need to get new ones soon, " in anticipation of this momentous crossing.

"Jeesh," exclaimed Cassie, "I'll buy you a new pair, just let's get a move on. With Drist now at the rock, she tossed the rope to her friend the mage, and with much a grimace on his face, he squished his way across, with Lwcynda and Gork soon to follow.

The six now sat upon, stood upon, or clung to various parts of the boulder as they surveyed what lay behind it, with the help of the lantern which Andremar carries. It was, indeed, a small fissure, maybe 4' wide, which gave way to a narrow cavern some 10' along. Single file, they made there way to the entrance. The cavern, 10 wide at the most, had a high ceiling which was clustered tightly with what were probably stalactites. Some of these joined with stalagmites to form pillars. The floor seemed hard stone and sloped steeply downward away to the northeast. It glistened with wetness, and a shallow stream of water rolled down the gallery from the boulder.

Andremar looked about hesitantly. He took his lantern and tilted it slightly. As the oil moved away from the flame, the flame flickered for a moment Andremar whispered: "If there are creatures here, perhaps, we should dampen our light sources slightly, there is no need to give the denizens of this place advance warning of our approach". After having said that, he glanced over at Cassandra and prepared to follow this path downward.

Grummie toddled along toward the rear of the group, prepared to watch for dangers from behind.

Cassandra found herself alone at the front, again. Shrugging her shoulders, she took a few tentative steps on the slippery surface. "Careful, it is very slippery, wet smooth stone, " she cautioned. She took a few more steps, till she was halfway along. "This is no picnic, always found it much easier to go uphill." It took all of the dexterous rogue's skills to get to the end of this area, now some 20' or so from her comrades. "Seems to flatten out down here," she noted.

Drist began to follow now that Cassandra had reached bottom, being careful of the wet stone. He made it about halfway down before a false step took his feet out from under him, and the rest of the way was much quicker than he had intended. Cassandra tried to ease his fall, to no avail unfortunately.

"Just so you know, I am right behind you and ready for anything. But please remember that I have absolutely no sense of direction so I am utterly lost down here. Don't count on me to make decisions about which way to go. Any way is fine with me. I'll follow, and I'm ready if evil strikes." All seemed reassured by this reassurance, and so Lwcynda began her descent. She had barely finished speaking before she was sliding towards the bottom at break neck speed. Both Cassie and Drist were able to break her fall.

Andremar advanced cautiously, hobbling about like a small child unsure of its first steps. "Oh dear, the footing here is less than optimal is it not? Let us advance carefully, there is no way of telling what is down here and waiting for us to slip up, uh pardon the pun" Maybe the pun relaxed him, because he just about made it to the bottom before a small slip up hurried him to the three at the bottom.

Grummie had watched as the others had risked their health with little precaution. "Dis not be da way fer me," he announced. The innovative little gnome decided to retrieve a pair of daggers, and descend the slope with one in each hand. He used the daggers to grasp at various crevices, or strike at the surface of the smooth stone, and make his own handholds. Amusingly, he did so, facing backwards the entire time, inching his way down the slope, and watching the rear. It was even more amusing as Gork, always willing to learn from his masters, did the same thing. They got to the bottom with no difficulty.

"Well, now that we're all here, let's continue," said Cassandra as she turned away from the others. She hesitated, turned quickly back to Andremar. "Any more humorous incantations?" Without waiting for a response, she moved on.

In another ten feet they came to a cavern, maybe 30' in diameter, with a domed ceiling. The dome was cramped with hanging stalactites. Near the western wall several large stalactites and stalagmites had grown together, side by side, forming one colossal pillar that seemed more like a giant underground flower than a structure of stone. At the foot of this wondrous pillar a large clear pool had formed where the water from the gallery had collected. The pool took up the western side of this cavern. There seemed to be two ways out of this cavern, around the pool to the west, or fairly straight across to the east. However, both could be accessed by a stone floor which took up the eastern side of the cavern.

Drist turned to the young mage behind him. "Andremar, could you shine the lamp down the tunnels? Maybe we can see which way we should go, or something of any significance down one of them." Drist patiently awaited Andremar's brilliance.

With his sword in one hand and his dagger in the other, the gnome began his standard sweep of the room, checking the floor primarily (because he was so close to it), but also trying to pay attention to the walls and anything visible above with his keen night sight.

Grummie's check of the floor assured him of its safety. "Dis be good firm rock," he declared, "too good, nary a footprint do there be." His scan of the upper reaches, the ceiling seemed about 20' high, also left him assured, "There be nay a soul above us. Dat be a good thing," he noted.

Andremar, with Cassandra at his side, shone the light down the passage to the east, "Seems straight as far as the eye can see. Fairly uniform walls. " They then went their way around the pool, and looked northwest. "This one goes maybe 30' before it turns, seems more natural, uneven walls, some water dripping, but the floor seems to be rock or stone."

Cassandra stood by this opening, her hands on her hips, "Well, which one's it gonna be?"

Grummie studied the two passages, and turned around to look the way they had come. After wrinkling his brow a bit, in contemplation, he finally offered, "Me tink it best we go straight on, as best we ken, so as not ta stray too far, or get lost on our way. We ken double back an' check da oders later." He then pointed to the path that seems most directly across from the point of entry into this room, trying to keep the party going in a semi-straight fashion...

Andremar looked at Grummie blankly, clearly somewhat confused by the gnome's accent. Finally after sorting though his thoughts Andremar said : "Well , whichever path we proceed to, I think we should create markers as so not to accidentally retrace our paths, with these many options there are sure to be a possiblity of doubling back" Andremar stopped to recover from his long phrase, out of breath.

And so, the Seekers headed for the passage that ran northeast, that one being straight across form the slanted entry hall. Andremar did his best to leave a small pile of scraps from some of the stalactites, like a small cairn, to mark their way. Cassie took point, along with Drist. This passage, a bit more than 5' wide, headed fairly straight for some 30' or so, bent slightly right, than straightened once more. Then it turned abruptly due north where it ended in a sagging black stained door.

Cassandra asked the wizened gnome, who had been resolutely guarding the rear, to give his assessment of the door, 'from a purely structural point of view." He gave it a look see and declared, "Though de wood be saggy, me tinks the frame be good." Assured of its relative safety, Cassandra examined the door itself, lest there be something special about it. A few minutes study led her to conclude, "Guess it's just an old worn out door." With Drist's help she pushed it open.

This revealed a large room, maybe 20 x 30', with rough, soot darkened walls. This room was relatively dry. The faint smell of soot hung in the air, and dust motes spun through the room form the door's disturbance. The room was strewn with large piles of charred wooden boards. Some dull yellow objects could be seen protruding from some of these piles.

The gnome hefted his monumental nose into the air and sniffed. He studied the chamber only briefly, from a safe position outside, then interjected, "Hmmm... Me tinks yea best be careful. Dis room not doubt meant ta be burnin' sumfin'. Let us make sure we not be barbequed next, aye?" With that, he began to survey the walls and floor outside the door.

Things outside the door seemed normal, as normal as things could be down here in this rather strange area. Cassandra decided that the entry way was not dangerous, so she went in to have a look at the piles. Without disturbing them to any extent, she gathered that the yellow things were, "bones, old bones. Probably human, but pretty old." She stood, waiting expectantly, when

Grummie was still engaged in his examination when he was nudged by Gork, "Mee heere something, yes?" The gnome, ear close to the ground, listened intently. "Dat be sumpthin, all right, and it be comin dis way," he declared. For he had detected a scraping sound on the rock floor, still off in the distance.

Drist, having said nothing up to this point, quietly and calmly moved to a position in the room where he could see the entryway, and lifted his sword to ready himself for whatever might be coming.

Grummie tapped his fingertip against one of his temples... obviously deciphering the dilemma at hand. He mumbled briefly, yet audibly, "Boulder... hummm.. slope... humm... rolling". Suddenly, the gnome dropped to all-four's and began searching the floor frantically, most especially directly under the feet of the other party members. [obviously seen one too many indian jones films]

Lwcynda and Gork were also ready. Lwcynda had her holy symbol ready as well as her sword, should she discover some unholy, undead thing coming towards them.

Andremar began looking around nervously and started fumbling around his pockets, apparently for spell components. Andremar whispered: "Let us be careful and prepare our..ourselves"

Cassandra moved back to the entryway, standing before Andremar, affording him protection from whatever this might prove to be. She remembered her friend's earlier warning about light, and turned the lantern away, till the sound got closer.

The scrapings proceeded towards them. When they seemed close, Cassie turned the light on whatever .. and whatever was an apt description. Whatever it was, it might have been human once, but now seemed horribly disfigured. A long tongue protruded from the mouth, elongated teeth glinted in the light, the arms swung almost to the ground, and long nails scraped along the stone floor. Rotted clothes hung from its body, and it gave off a very foul stench. It was 10' away and seemed very menacing, indeed.

Drist readied his bow, awaiting an opening for a shot. "Be careful," he cautioned. "and don't get too close to it. Its arms can reach much farther then ours." Then he asked, "Andremar, got any spells you can hit that thing with?" Drist said all of this while still keeping his full attention on the creature in front of him.

Andremar, after a quick and brief bout of nausea, looked about rapidly and then shouted: "Quickly friends, let us rally against this foul creature!" A moment later, Andremar's fingertips began to glow and he began chanting a familiar spell, Magic Missile.

Grummie found himself caught completely off-guard, expecting a trap of another type. He hurriedly jumps to his feet, wielding his short sword and dagger, and set to receive the advance of the most unholy creature.

Lwcynda tried to turn the creature. Lifting her holy symbol she said to the creature, "In the name of Mayaheine and all that is holy I say Get thee hence from this place." The creature did balk momentarily, but then came on, the gnome, who was still readying his weapons, clearly in its sites.

Andremar, having overcome his bout of nausea, pointed his index finger and fired two missiles at the fiend. They struck with unerring accuracy. The beast showed confusion. By now Drist had maneuvered himself to a point where he had a clear shot. His first arrow hit the creature squarely in the chest, knocking it back a step. Cassandra let loose with her short bow, and her arrow also found the mark. The creature seemed hesitant to pursue this any further, as it began to back away. Drist let fly another arrow, but the shot went high. Cassie unfortunately followed Drist's poor aim. As the creature turned to flee, Grummie let fly a dagger, hitting it squarely in the small of the back, and it went down like a pile of worn out rags.

Grummie cautiously approached the half-rotten corpse, and poked it with the tip of his short-sword, making sure it was truly dead this time... . The thing moved, but apparently in nerve reaction to the poking. Grummie then thrust the blade of his weapon deep into the foul creature's torso... using both hands and all of his meager weight. It went though, allowing odious bodily fluids to seep out. Now certain that the beast was dead, the gnome carefully retrieved his dagger from the undead creature's back, making sure not to touch the flesh or garments of the monster. He wiped the blade across the floor and on his pant's leg... muttering "Eewww! Most foul an' unholy dis place truly be. Let us not tarry, long. Me skin be crawling." While near the corpse, Grummie studied it, wondering if it might hold any clues to the recent problems in the mortuary above.

Not that he was an expert in necromancy or anything, this creature did have teeth, so it could have had the snack which had so angered Father Sedwick.

"Any idea what this thing is, or was?" asked Cassandra of Lwcynda.

"Not sure. Never seen anything quite like it."

"Well, it certainly was ghastly," noted Andremar, putting away his spell components for another day.

"Hee sure steenk," said Gork.

The Seekers now had time to finish their search of this cave. The charred wood seemed to have been planks, and the yellow protrusions proved to be old bones, probably human. Whether these planks were used to burn the original bodies was impossible to determine. The walls seems cave like, carved out, but there were no others ways in or out of this area that could be found.

Grummie studied the situation briefly, then added, "Me tinks we should bury o' burn dis foul creature, or take it ta da clerics above, for proper rites. We should na leave it hither, for twood be dead once, might arrise from death again." With a shrug, he concluded, "But we should move on, backtrack, an' study da other passages in dis foul catacomb."

Andremar appeared lost in thought for a moment then suddenly said: "Of course!" Andremar waited for the party's attention, then continued excitedly "I think I know what it is! it makes sense, this must be a ghoul! up until now I always thought ghouls were tales concocted to scare small children, but it seems to fit the description... it is undead, and it eats the dead..." Andremar, oblivious to the gruesome scene nearby, smiled excitedly at his idea.

"Perhaps it was a ghoul, I am unsure. I will have to check with some other clerics. In any case, I think we should just burn it and not touch it as it may carry diseases and we would not wish to spread disease through Chatwin."

Whether it was a ghoul, or something slightly more `ghastly', the party set about using the wood in this room to push the remains in to the center, and then setting a proper funeral pyre. Soon, whatever it was had gone up in flames.

The Seekers backtracked to the previous cave, the one with the domed ceiling and the stalactites and stalagmites, where there was a second passage, this one being around the other side of the pool.

This passage wound its way north easterly, then due east. There it led to the wider opening of a shadowy cavern. The ceiling here rose away into blackness, with dark silhouettes of stalactites pressing into view, giving the impression of some fanged beast lowering its jaws upon the party. Strangely, the uneven floor was devoid of stalagmites, affording an unobstructed view to the far walls, some 40-60' away. Inching their way cautiously in to this damp cavern, the Seekers awaited Andremar's lantern beam to pass over the area. Grummie, as usual, kept steady watch and listen to the rear, least another one of those hideous beasties sneak up on the party.

Andremar let his light do the tour of the cavern. It seemed to be a natural cavern, thought the floor showed signs of work, mostly the removal of whatever stalagmites might have once stood here. Small pools of standing water had collected in several depressions. The light revealed a large door of some sort, with glinting fittings, set in the north wall. Andremar continued the scan the rest of the cavern, but the walls contained some cracks, crannies, and alcoves, which could not be fully illuminated from the safe distance of the entry way.

Drist asked Andremar if he could use the lantern to examine the alcoves that are hidden in darkness, then he suggested that someone examine towards the door and make sure it was safe to cross.

Andremar nodded his head slightly and slowly advanced towards the alcoves. He turns while passing the front members of the party and asks: "Uh... anyone coming? I could use a little protection from the ghastly creatures wandering about..." With that Andremar stopped. Lwcynda took out her sword and accompanied him. Drist did like wise.

Normally Cassandra wouild have stuck with her closest friend, but seeing how well guarded he was, she began to examine the floor between where they stood and the enticing door across the way.

Grummie, with Gork, remained near the rear of the party, watching the entrance, and searching the various corners and dark areas above for anything out of the ordinary. He used his infravision wherever the light would not interfere.

Cassandra was about halfway across when ...

Andremar's threesome had moved slowly to their left, then gradually right, shining the lantern in the crevices and indentations. The first two proved empty, but the third ...

Grummie and Gork heard nothing nor `saw' nothing in the darkness of the passage.....

"Stay back, you fiends, or I'll crack your skull," promised the male voice, somewhat cracking itself. Cassandra, Grummie and Gork turned towards the sound. Emerging slowly from another alcove was a young man, his face drawn and dirty, garbed in dark robe and cloak, waving a quarterstaff in the light of Andremar's lantern, some ten feet away from Lwcynda, Drist, and Andremar.

Grummie quickly switched to bow and arrow, having the distance to be of use. However, he was fearful that he might accidentally hit one of his companions, should he try to actually use it. Still, he thought it might prove worthy as a deterrent of any aggression by the mysterious dark figure. Still yet, it might prove antagonistic, so he choose not to actually point it at him, but merely waited at the ready, for the man to make a move.

Lwcynda curious and impulsive as usual said, "We are not fiends but rather friends who are just having a look around. I am Lwcynda a cleric of Mayaheine and these are my friends and companions. You look like you have been here for a while. Who may you be? How long have you been down here? How did you get here? And Why are you here? We mean you no harm unless you wish to harm us or fight us."

With Andremar's light now full in his face, the young man seemed much less menacing. He lowered his staff, his shoulders loosened, his robe smelled of wetness. Bruises and scrapes were evident on his rather dirty face. A full backpack sat at his side. His young voice quivered, "Mayaheine? I, I am Brother." His garb became instantly familiar to all as being similar to that worn by Sedwick and Richard of the mortuary. "How did I come to be here? Well, er, I , um, was working above in the room of the dead. I, ah, was cleaning up a spill, clumsy me, " he laughed half heartedly, "when I discovered something unusual about the floor, a secret stone of some sort. So, I ah, I could not resist the urge to find out what might be below. Guess you could say curiosity go the better of me," he laughed again. "But, not much of an adventurer I guess. Saw some little green eyed monsters, took a mean tumble down some slippery rocks, finally ended up here. Been here a couple of days, almost a week I figure." He looked down at his muddy covered boots.

Drist leaned over to Lwcynda and murmured, "Something doesn't seem right. If Brother Selmo's been missing for more then a couple of days, why didn't Father Sedwick tell us about it? Surely, they must have noticed him missing?" Drist awaited Lwcynda's reply.

Grummie found himself very suspicious of the scruffy young man, and his story to boot. He casually began to skirt the perimeter of the party, making sure to flank the man, and gain a clear shot. Unable to contain his curiosity, the gnome spoke up, "Aye, sir, we be searchin' dese here caverns for a thief, an' may da gods forgive me, but yea be as suspicious as any. So, ifen yea be truly a man o' da cloth, an' free o' guilt, yea be willin ta show us what be in da pack there! But ifen yea be guilty, den choose ta live, an ask fer forgiveness, least we be forced ta send ya to judgement now!" With that, the gnome tensed his grip upon his bow, and drew slightly against the string, ready to react in a moments notice.

The young man seemed a bit taken aback, then spoke with a quiver in his voice, "If y- you insist," extending his pack for inspection. Since Grummie had dead aim, Cassandra advanced side like to take the pack and not interfere with the gnome's line of sight. She took the pack and looked through it. "Food, or the remains of some rations, couple of vials..."

"Holy water," explained Selmo.

"Change of clothes, candles." She raised her head. "Kinda like the stuff in my pack."

Lwcynda then said to Drist and Andremar "I'm inclined to believe him after that rude Father Sedwick was accusing us of eating that body. I have a feeling that all is not right and that Sedwick did not tell us everything. Let's offer him something to eat and maybe get more information from him."

Since he had not run, the gnome decided not to shoot him, for now at least. To the offer of food, the young man said, "Oh, my yes, I am quite hungry."

Grummie, cautious and suspicious as usual, found himself a bit embarrassed and blushed slightly as he lowered his bow and relaxed his stance noticeably. He was sure that he had caught the thief, attempting to lie his way out of the trap set before him. He though with surety, that the stuffed pack held the missing chalice, and the evidence needed to thwart the villain's plans.

Unfortunately, however, the little gnome did little more than scare the poor fellow, who perhaps, truly was an innocent member of the church, alone and afraid in the darkness. Grummie stowed his bow and his weapons, then approached, carefully, so as not to overly startled the young man. With his head held low he offered his wineskin to Brother, along with a somber apology, "Here Brod'er Selmo, drink yea from me skin! I owe yea a humble apology, for I did misjudge yea far too soon. Mayhaps dis unholy place hab been tearin' at me senses. Nay! D'ere be no excuse. I ask yea for forgiveness."

The young man retrieved his pack from the rogue. Then he sat himself down upon a flat rock and repacked it with all the tiems Cassandra had apparently jostled. He showed visible relief when the gnome put the bow away. When offered the wine skin, he hesitated, then gave a brief smile, and drank deeply from it.

Andremar continued to eye the stranger suspiciously, but when the new arrival turned to him, Andremar quickly made an embarrased smile. Andremar then ruffled up his brow and asked in a strangely controlled voice : "What can you tell me of the Relic that is housed in the monastery above?" Andremar sat back slightly and awaited the response, hoping to learn more about the stranger.

Selmo abruptly stopped his drinking, held the skin in mid air, "Re- relic? Ah, er, what relic?" Some of the contents of the skin still leaked out, and he looked to wiping up the liquid which had spilled upon him. As he looked at his lap he answered, "I, er, know of no re-relic."

Lwcynda, the former friendly, continued with Andremar's theme. "Yes, and why is such a relic kept at all and so 'ungarded' in a place for the dead? Pray tell, what is the real reason you brothers have ALL come to such a dreary place as our city's grave yard? Surely it is not to watch over the graves of these dead unless they are all rising and causing havoc. What is the real reason you are here?"

Selmo had mopped up his mess. He returned the skin to Grummie with a mumbled `thanks'. "Why we're here? Well, we, er, our order that is, was invited here. Not that one such as I am privy to the details of such things. You best ask Father Sedwick about it." He stood up, brushed himself off, gathered his pack and staff. "Speaking of whom, isn't it about time you help me out of here? Surely you can guide me back to the mortuary."

Drist confirmed the Brother's beliefs that they could bring him back to the mortuary, but were currently on a quest for Father Sedwick to bring back a Holy Chalice that had been stolen. Drist asked Br. Selmo if he would like to continue on with them, or if he truly wanted nothing else then to go back to the mortuary.

"Er, chalice? Er, uh, I don't know anything about any chalice." He put his pack on his back, leaned on his staff. "Now I'd really like to get back to the mortuary. I've been stuck down here a few days."

Grummie ambled over to his companions, in an attempt to talk to them a bit more covertly. He explained, "Me tinks ifen we lead here Bro'der Selmo back, den we losen precious time on da heels o' da thief. But ifen we take 'em back, we ken mayhaps learn more from Father Sedwick about da Chalice, an why Broder Selmo not know o' it, an such." Needless to say, Grummie didn't help much, as the Seekers tried to decide the best course of action to take next.

"Well what do you say Brother Selmo now that you are refreshed. Will you come with us for a while. We really need to get to the bottom of this?"

Selmo looked at the ground, then around the cave. "This place gives me the creeps," he said softly, "I'd really like to get back above ground."

The gnome grumbled audibly, then confered with his companions, "Well, me'tinks we'd best help da lad. It be most unfortunate ifen some'fin woulds't happen to him down 'ere." Grummie began making preparations for the trek back to the mortuary.

Lwcynda whispered to her companions, "Just to be sure that he is who he says he is and not a thief in disguise of a priest and actually did take off with the chalice and hid it down here somewhere do you think it would be wise if I cast a 'Zone of Truth' spell around him and then we ask him the same questions to see if he is who he says he is? I don't want to be over cautious, but you never know. We are a very trusting bunch sometimes and I wouldn't want to get back only to have him run away and we will have lost our only clue. If he is telling the truth then we can bring him back. What do you all think?"

"It sounds like a good idea. And if he is who he says, then I have another suggestion. Perhaps we should split up, so that Selmo will get back, and we can also continue looking, so the thief doesn't escape while we're gone. What do you all think?"

Cassandra had been silent through all this. She chose this moment to note, "Whatever you want to do, Lwcynda, is fine with me. But, I must confess, I'd certainly like to have a good look at that door over there before we leave this cave. Once we go back up, I'd rather not have to come down the slippery incline again." So saying, the rogue headed for said door.

Lwcynda was left to decide on what questions to ask there new found `companion' remembering that when ~zone of truth~ is cast, he will know about it. Of course, the others were welcome to suggest a line of questioning as well.

Grummie sparked with newfound inspiration and added, "Aye, tis good idea, dis ~Truth~ magic. Might me suggest yea stick ta da basics: Who, What, When, Where, How, Why... For sample... Ask him name, what he do here, when got here, how got here, why here." Having said that, he turned to go with Cassie, to investigate the door, "Await me o' nibble Cassandra, for'st I will aid thee." And he trotted along her side.

Well Lwcynda felt that she must do this whether Br. S liked it or not. After all they were seekers of the truth now weren't they? So she nodded to Cassandra, "Good Idea."

Grummie and Cassie moved over towards this door.

As Lwcynda began her spell, she debated to herself whether she should tell Selmo what she was up to, but decided to just proceed, lest he produce a counter spell. So she then followed the line of questioning that Grummie suggested, starting by saying, "Just to get all this clear Brother Selmo ..." and she proceeded review the information they had obtained from him. Selmo seemed slightly hesitant to go over his testimony again, but then stood still to face the music. He repeated his story, answered the questions, with no real deviation from the first telling. -He found the secret trap door by chance, became immediately intrigued and rushed down, took a tumble, ended up where he was found, and knows nothing about any chalice.- As far as Lwcynda could tell, he was telling the truth.

Meanwhile, the rogue and the gnome approached this door. It was a large oak one, bound in thick fittings of dull brass, with a large iron circle serving as a pull ring. The upper half of the door was covered with ominous-looking primitive stick figures. A jawless skull motif was prevalent throughout these runes. While the door seemed neither locked nor trapped, it definitely seemed rather heavy.

Grummie was obviously disturbed by the etching on the door. He studied it closely, checking for light beneath it, or a gab through which to peer. He listened for sounds, sniffed the air, all the while, making certain not to touch it. He turned to Cassie and explained, "Me no like it... No, me don't! I know yea good a' findin' traps, but dat not wrote on dere, fer not a reason. Tis a warnin', I'd wager. Lest we all be ready for what lie beyond, let us not open it, till all are prepared. What say yea?" He then turned to the others, obviously hoping for their input, as the worry crept across his small face.

Cassandra figured the door itself was safe, but the gnome cold be correct in his mistrust of the writing. "Andremar? could we trouble you for a consultation?" she asked sweetly. To the gnome she said, "He'll be able to descipher it, or curse himself trying."

Andremar stopped brushing off his cloak and looked about quickly, repeating Cassandra's last words slowly. "Oh, oh! yes!" Andremar suddenly advanced towards the door slowly, with light source in hand, until he could see the writing..." He cocked his head slightly and began trying to read the message.

After careful study he announced, "Primitive writing, really, just a general warning. Think it's tribal, maybe from the south, way south. Best I can gather, whoever put it there did not want anyone to open the door. However, it does not promise any harm. They are not dangerous ruins, just warnings."

Drist steped towards Andrewar and Cassandra. "I just thought of something. Perhaps we should split up. The majority of us go through that door, and one of us can escort B. Selmo back through the caves. What do you think?"

Grummie thought momentarily, then addressed the others, "Nae, I must disagree... We shoulds't stay tagether, fer safety in dis horrid place. Ifen all agree, den we ken open dis only door, an give a quick peek within. Ifen it lead elsewhere, we ken shore up da door, an come back ta it... But da decision nae up ta me alone." He then turned to the hulking door, and shook his head, saying, "Alas, o' Jutos da giant, where are yea when we needest yea most." Lastly, he turned to Cassandra and nodded adding, "I stand ready ta open it, ifen yea decide ta proceed".

Andremar repeated his words over again and stopped on one word which said mindlessly and now repeated slowly "ruins did I say? I must have meant runes... yes runes... surely one would know ruins are old decayed buildings and that runes are arcane writings" Andremar smiled slightly... "Now why did I say that...?"

"Maybe you thought the `runes' were in a state of `ruin', "deadpanned Cassandra, "in any case, I'm with Grummie on both counts. Might as well open this door, and let's stick together while we do so."

The presence of Jutos would have made this task easier. However, Grummie and Cassandra put their collective strength into the effort, and it was an effort, and pulled the massive door open. Beyond the door lay a roughly circular cavern. Andremar's lantern beam revealed that the cavern seemed to have no floor what so ever. Rather it seemed to drop away into a dark abyss from which rose the soft sound of water churning. Jutting from the far walls of the shaft, some 20' away, were seven evenly spaced spears, with their hafts pointed toward the ceiling at a 45 degree angle. Mounted at the ends of the spears were jawless human skulls, all of which faced the members of the party who stood at the door. Two links of thick chain were suspended from the center of the ceiling; they jingled in sharp clinks.

"Well, what now? Do we investigate this place or take the Brother back first?" asked Lwcynda.

Drist asked Andremar to shine the light towards the top of the pit, and then to the bottom, to see how close the water was. The chains hung from the center of the ceiling, some ten feet away. Each was only 6' in length and seemed somewhat rusty.

Andremar nodded lightly to Drist and proceeded slowly towards the edge and shined his light below. He knelt slightly as if the light would travel further if it were closer to the ground. Andremar peered over. A voice boomed from the skull across form the door. "Begone! Let the dead rest, lest they rise again." Then it fell silent. Andremar's lantern beam could only go about twenty feet down, and no bottom was in sight.

Drist suggested that they might have to bring the Brother back because the only way to continue on is to climb the chains.

"Not necessarily. We don't have to rely on those chains. We could use rope if it's secured properly, " noted Cassandra. She dropped a stone down the shaft, and listened for the expected `plop' as it hit the water below. She waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, a barely perceptible `plush' was heard. "That is one long way down I'm afraid.

Grummie nodded in agreement, and added, "Aye, tis quit da puzzle, dis room. Say I dat we bar da door, and take Broder Selmo home, for we come back ta investigate furder... Plus we ken check on da militia las in da mortuary. Besides, me needs a snort, for we tackle dis filth again!" He chuckled, as if joking, but somehow he seemed to really want it.

And so the Seekers decided to make their way back up to the mortuary, accompanied by a solemn Brother Selmo. They closed this large door for now, perhaps forever. To facilitate the climb up the slippery rock portion, Cassandra drove some spikes into the rock, then looped the rope on some upper rocks. Once everyone had made it up, she hauled up the rope. It took an hour or so, but they were able to make their way back to the surface with out incident.

It was mid afternoon when they climbed those familiar rungs and emerged in the preparation room. True to her word, Jyllia was sitting there alone with her thoughts. Upon seeing the Seekers, she asked, "What did you find down there?" Before anyone could respond, she noticed the disheveled Selmo. "Who the blazes is he?"

Grummie brushed the decay from his clothes and responds to the fair lady, saying "Dis be broder Selmo... lost in his curiosity, nay ta mention dat hole o' da catacombs." Grummie tossed a smirk and a wink toward the wayward cleric. Glancing back at the young lady, he continued, "Now, fetch yea master Hawke and Broder Sedwick, will yea?"

Apparently the sounds of their arrival, and the gnome's voice, had already attracted some attention. In a moment, Father Sedwick and Brother Richard entered the room. "Back so so-" started Sedwick, who stopped short the moment his eyes fell upon Brother Selmo. Richard was equally struck.

Sedwick swallowed hard. "Selmo, where in the blue blazes," he began angrily, "have you been? We've been very concerned. The others have had to do your share of the labors."

Selmo took his accustomed posture, looking at his shoes. "I. er., well, I um, I've been, ah, below."

"Below?!" bellowed Sedwick, the skin on his bald pate flexing, "In the name of Montelegro, man, what were you doing down there?"

"I was, well, I thought-"

"I doubt you did any thinking at all. Look at you, all dressed up like you're some sort of adventurer. "You're a monk, a follower, and nothing more. Think what effect your actions might be having on the name of our blessed order." He paused to let the full value of his words sink in. Selmo continued to stare at his shoes. "To your room now. I have a few more words for you, but I'd rather these fine people not have to be a party to them."

Selmo sulked off. Sedwick took a couple of deep breaths. The skin on his head began to turn from the violent read, back to a more normal tone. "I guess I best thank you for finding my wandering lad. Not what else have you been up to down there?"

Jyllia had stood silently till now. "Begin' your pardon, Father, just that this one requested I fetch Hawke." She indicated Grummie. "Now before I be doing any fetchin', I best know why Hawke need be fetched. I hope you don't mind if I listen."

Grummie turned to the group, then back to Jyllia, explaining, "Mayhaps we nae need ta see Master Hawke, ifen we 'tend ta return to da crypt dis eve. But suggest I too all, we keep note o' da sun falling in da sky, an da approach of night, upon us. I fear we should'st nae be below, after sunset."

Sedwick nodded in agreement. "Yes, just what's going on down there anyway?"

"I think Grummie is right so let us tell Father Sedwick what has happened below so far and then be off." Said Lwcynda.

Not that darkness bothered her, for that which she claimed as her last name, `Duske', belied her fondness for the dark, "I've done some of my best work after sundown," said Cassandra, "but I guess we could take the rest of this day off. Maybe a few words with Sedwick, the off to the Three Towers for supper. I wonder what the special might be?" The rogue's mind had quickly shifted from below to above ground.

Which, of course, posed the question, just what would Sedwick be told?

Grummie waited briefly to allow someone else to explain, knowing that his accent would be more burden than help, in storytelling. Nonetheless, after a moment of silence from the others, he decided to go ahead and deliver a brief accounting of their adventure below, thus far. He started, "Well, be mostly old damp cavern down dere. Found archway e'crusted in silvery dust. Me find that most interesting. Lots o' chambers. Big boulders, water, mud. Be da normal cave scenery, mind ya. But found ole' Broder Selmo lurken in da dark. Minced and skewered, he nearly was... for we took 'em for a thief in monk clothing." (he snickered, but only briefly). "Oh, found one nasty down dere, too. Ghoul, zombie, livin' dead thing, be all I know. Twas a most foul beastie, but to da eternal dead, we send it. An for we 'cided to bring back yea clergyman, we pondered one last door. It be marked wide ruins... er.. rune... er.. funny magic warning type wordings. We open it, once good Andremar say twas safe, an find big cavern hole wid chains hang from da ceiling, an pit widout a bottom, an spears on da far wall wid skull on day haft, speaking out ta us, nae to disturb dem. Twas a cunundrum indead, good father."

Sedwick looked curiously, and scratched his head, as he tried to make sense of the gnome's tale. Finally he offered, "Er, did you say `lining dead thing'?"

When he got confirmation of this fact, and a better description he suggested that it might have been a ghast, "Bit tougher than a ghoul, and it gives off that stench you noticed. That would be my guess. Hmm, who knew that they were down there." He reflected on this for a bit, "Hmm, you don't suppose that it was that thing that helped itself to a snack from the bodies we had laying here the other night do you?"

The Seekers were left to ponder this, for no one could say for sure.

Lwcynda said, "That's about the size of it. Maybe if Andremar or Cassandra try to describe the runes/writings to you Father you might have some idea what they mean. Probably something about not going in."

So, Andremar and Cassandra did their best to describe the writings, but Sedwick could not identify them.

"Well, Sedwick said, "I thank you for what you have done, finding Selmo and all. But, there is still the matter of our missing chalice. I trust you have not finished you explorations?"

He was dutifully informed that the Seekers would be resuming in the morning. Jyllia agreed to keep watch here till the Seekers returned later that evening. They were, after all, the official guardians of the mortuary now.

"So, what say we get a bite to eat, and whatever," said Cassandra.

"Food sounds like a great idea. None of us have eaten all day, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we're all in need of something to eat," said Drist

Andremar shook his head in eager agreement with Cassandra's suggestion. "Yes, indeed we should get something to eat. The rigors of the past while have been quite taxing. Mayhaps we should acquire some equipment better suited to his cave crawling..." as he looked disapprovingly at his now ruined footwear.

At the mention of food, the little gnome's eyes brightened, and his lips smacked. No doubt visions of sugar plumb wine, were dancing in his head. "A wee nip and mutton chop be to me liken' ifen yea please. So say I, we be off, ta fill our bellies, aye?" The gnome was obviously feeling suddenly festive.

"Well, I'm for that -- let's get something to eat & drink. By the way, has anyone seen Gork?" asked a worreid Lwcynda.

"He's probably around somewhere," said Cassandra. She looked at Andremar's now muddied and soaked shoes. "A trip to the general store seems in order, my `dressed for the wrong occasion' friend." For indeed, Andremar, in his gaily colored robes with that star emblazoned traditional wizard's hat did stand out in a crowd, or cave for that matter.

"Do we need anything like more ropes etc for when we go back into that cave?" wondered Lwcynda.

"Probably a good idea. Andremar and I will see to it, since he's got to see about better boots. Why don't we meet at the Three Shadows in a couple of hours?"

Seeing the gnome's anticipation, and hearing the roar of his stomach, she said to Grummie, "Course, you can get a head start on dinner. We'll catch up once we get there."

Just before they left, Sedwick caught them at the door. "My thanks for what you have done so far. And, er, um, I trust I can rely on your discretion. No one else has to know about the young Selmo's foray into the abyss I trust." It was a calm statement, and before anyone could respond, he had closed the door behind them.

And so, Drist, Grummie, and Lwcynda began to make their way to the Three Tower, running into Gork along the way. "Mee only gone for a meenute, honest," the goblin said.

And, Cassie and Andremar headed over the General Store to deal with its new owner, Haiendal. Cassandra got two more lengths of stout rope, while Andremar tried on every pair of boots in the place. He finally settled on black leather upper calf length pair with `non-slip' soles. The were dutifully adorned with little wizard symbols. Andremar was pleased, but slightly disappointed that here were none of the new, `flashing light in the heel models'.

Eventually, these two joined the others at the inn. Grummie had already enjoyed a light snack of mutton and was warming towards supper. This evening's special was a full course treat, starting with consume de bear, toasted bear paws, followed by roast leg of bear. Seems old reliable Saugus had another good day at the hunt.

As the evening meal progressed, they were joined by Hawke . "Heard you were back above ground. How are things done under?" They reported in the same fashion as they had to Sedwick.

Upon hearing the description of the symbols on that iron door, Hawke said, "You know, they sound like warning drawings like pirates use. I recall that way back, maybe 50 -100 years ago, rumors of pirates using Chatwin as a hideout, were about. Maybe you've stumbled onto their secret."

At the mention of Pirates, Cassandra's lips moved to form the silent word, "Treasure."

His mind then turned to the other finding, that of the undead creature. "Not all that surprising the undead would lurk under the graveyard, now is there. Course, wonder if that could be in any way connected to our recent infestation of rats? And, what about those `sightings' of dark skulking figures which some have reported seeing at night?"

Cassandra looked to her companions, to hear if they had any thoughts on this matter.

"Oh, any luck with the lost chalice?"

"Haven't found it as yet," said Cassie.

Lwcynda said, "Well Hawke, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you are right. There simply must be a connection and I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be finding that out. At least you know where we are going so if we aren't back within a few weeks you had probably better send someone to find out what happened to us. Do you think there is anyone in town who might know more about those pirates or those markings? Maybe that Sage, or maybe I should go to the bookstore -- I might find something there. After dinner I think I will go to the bookstore. Anyone want to come? Then I guess I'll go have a bath and meet you all at the cemetery. What about you guys?"

Drist said, "Hmm, I just thought of something. Perhaps someone still lives in these caves, and took the chalice to add to whatever treasure they may have? Well, as for me, I'm going to rest while I can, so I'll be ready for the return trip to the caves. I think I too with wash up and will meet you all at the cemetery."

Hawke noted that the existence of underground thieves was a possibility since, "Someone, or something, is stirring up those rats. Still, doesn't explain those nocturnal sightings."

Cassandra said that she thought Lwcynda' bookstore idea might be useful. "And, another source of info might be good old Artemus, the bard. How about Andremar and I paying him another visit?"

And, so, while Grummie stayed around for desert, Lwcynda and Gork went to Bittle's Books & Study to see what she could find about pirates. Drist saw to his personal hygiene. And Cassie and Andremar paid Artemus a visit. By 8PM everyone had reassembled at the mortuary.

Grummie had learned that four deserts in one too many. Lwcynda had confirmed that the symbols on the door were the kinds used by seafaring people, probably pirate types, to warn the superstitious away from whatever they wanted people to stay away from. "Those symbols themselves have no specific meaning. They do suggest that either pirates, or someone pretending to be pirates, or someone playing at pirates, put them there to deter anyone from going in."

"But," reminded Cassandra, "There was merely a shaft going down with water well below."

"Well, my research says that whoever put those symbols there was trying to keep anyone from going down," Lwcynda responded. "Anyway, did you two have any luck?"

Cassie and Andremar reported that Artemus had heard stories of pirate activity located on the Jewel River to the west possibly stretching as far east as Chatwin maybe 75 to 100 hundred years ago. "The stream which runs through our village does connect up with the Jewel." However, Artemus knew from personal experience that what pirate activity went on nowadays, was coastal, along the Wild Coast, some two days to the east, with various pirate bands, hiding our in little villages along that coast. "He told us of his own personal experience with a group of pirates which had headquartered some thirty miles south of Safeton." He assured us that if there was any activity in Chatwin now, he would certainly have heard of it. "Just too far inland any more, he claims."

So, the Seekers were left to reflect on their newly gained information, and to rest for the night while preparing for another descent in the morning. Jyllia took leave with the promise of any early morning return.

The Seekers set up a watch rotation, and settled in for the night.

16 Planting, 584 Starday

The night was a quiet one. No one, nor nothing disturbed the stone which sat above the underground passage ways. Jyllia returned at dawn, and prepared to sit watch. The Seekers ate some breakfast and made ready to head underground once more.

A somewhat troubled Sedwich appeared, wringing his hands nervously, his voice slightly shaking, he said. "Be-before you go, the-there's something I th- think you should know." Seeing Jyllia, he said to Lwcynda and the others, "I really need to talk with you who are going below in private." He waited for a response, but before anyone could do so, he added, "And what I have to say must be sworn be kept just between us. Is that OK with you Seekers?"

Grummie sluggishly nodded in agreement with Father Sedwick's terms, obviously curious about what he had to offer, and obviously experiencing pain and discomfort from his over-exhuberant appetite the night before. Nonetheless, he awaited the others to agree, and listened closely to what was said.

Andremar looked in the direction of Sedwick and nodded, "Of course, what is that you have to tell us?" Andremar's voice started out quite loud and quickly descended to a lower tone as he realized that he was speaking too loudly already. Andremar resumed in a much softer tone. "What is your request?" eagerly awaiting a reply Andremar moved closer.

Lwcynda and Gork agreed with the others, not that the goblin had much of a clue as to what this was all about.

"Not here," whispered Sedwick. "Come around to the main room." He led the way through the chapel, past the entry hall, and into a sparsely decorated rom. It had rather drab colors, with yellow draperies about the windows and a large brown rug spread across the center of the floor. There were three stools and a rickety table. He closed the door behind the Seekers.

He rub his hands nervously, and spoke quietly, pacing slightly. "Well, er, you have a right to know, so I guess, ah, well." And he took a deep breath. "I know who took the chalice." He paused. "There I have said it," with a finality, as if this was really newsworthy.

Cassandra was singularly not impressed, "Out with it man. Who?" She spoke with great sharpness, showing no respect for the priest.

Slightly taken aback, Sedwick looked to the others, but could see that, while they might not have shared the rogue's anger, they certainly shared her curiosity.

"Selmo." He whispered.

"WHO?" demanded the rogue.

"Selmo, Brother Selmo, poor misguided Brother Selmo," he said with a softness in his voice. He sat on one of the stools, his shoulders slumped in defeat. "I spent most of the night with him, quizzing him on his action. Finally, shortly before your return this morning he told me what he had been up to. See, Selmo is the bookkeeper of the mortuary. Since we've taken over, he has poured through the accounts and found that the operation is in trouble. He learned also that those who kept the morgue long before were in the habit of interring their dead in some catacombs below. The missing chalice, it turns out, is a holy relic, placed on that special table by those who ran this place some time in the last century. Its purpose was to keep the secret entrance, which you've used, closed. Selmo removed the chalice so he could go below and check upon the remains, in the misguided hope of looting them, thereby finding financial means of helping our order."

"So where's the chalice now?"

Sedwick let out a major sigh. "Gone. Missing. At first light I sent Selmo out to retrieve it. He claimed to have hidden it on the outskirts of the village in an old abandoned building. The chalice was no longer where he left it. I have no doubt he was telling the truth."

Lwcynda raised an eyebrow. "With all due respect, Father, but Selmo is a good liar. I used a truth spell on him down below and he fooled me completely."

Sedwick said, "Yes, he told me about that. For some reason he was lucky enough to avoid the spell. Happens sometimes, right? Well, I know what he says is true, or at least what he believes to be the truth. You will help us still, won't you?"

The mighty yet little gnome's expression bore his mood quite obviously. His nostrils flared, his skin shone with red hue as his temper smeltered, his muffled growl was barely mute. Then, unable to without his frustration, he spluttered, "AYE! Risk our mere lives for yea, eh? Face -ta- face wid da foul ghoulish beasties we tred, and for but a lie." Obviously, he wasn't impressed with such priestly folk engaging in secret misgivings, such as Brother Selmo had. But, with a final "huff, and puff", the gnome managed to control his temper, and his voice, he stretched his neck and shoulders to relieve the stress and tension, then concluded, "Well, be not yea fault good Sedwick, so, I say we help yea, but only for yea honesty would I feel so. Liars might many be, but not of the cloth they do not claim to be holy. Such, I expect yea will be true to yea calling!"

Drist, not fully trusting Sedwick, isn't quite convinced. "If it was Sedwick all along, why didn't you tell us before we went in, so we'd know who or what we where looking for?"

Grummie wrinkled his brow, then decided to clarify a bit, leaning over to Drist, before Sedwick could responder... "Err... Good Dristarian, twas Selmo dat nicked da grand goblet, nae Sedwick! And he nae told us, cau se he just dragged da truth outta da false prophet when we returned. I nae sure, he may o' suspected such, all along..." The gnome's attitude obviously improved greatly, and he smiled and playfully slapped Drist on the back of the leg (he couldn't reach his shoulder), and with a chuckle, "Too much mead for yea last eve, aye Drist? Aye, twas good, maken da head spin". He roared with laughter.

Cassandra laughed at the gnome's outbust. To the elf she said, "Our little friend has got you there, Drist. Not only can he out eat us, but the drink does not seem to clog his ears. Perhaps cause they're smaller than yours," she pointed at the different ear shapes of her two companions.

Sedwick almost smiled, at the playful interplay, if only he could understand it. Still shaken he said, "I think he's got it correct," indicating the gnome. "I had no idea about Selmo's activities, only knew that he wasn't around. Never put two and two together. Guess I could have been more astute, but there were all those rats, and here we are, trying to make a good impression on this village, and now, oh, now, our whole order's reputation is in jeopardy ..."

As there seemed no end to the cleric's self loathing, Cassie, whose natural inclination was to feel absolutely no sympathy for a male member of the church, cut him off gently. "Father Sedwick, relax. The past is past. We, as Seekers of truth, and as citizens of Chatwin, will do what we can." She turned to the others. "So we have undead beasties to deal with and a missing chalice to find. I do want Selmo to show me and Drist exactly where he `hid' the chalice, sometime. But shall we go after the cup, which we do not have a clear lead on.? Or shall we go down below first?"

Grummie waited, unsure of his own response, then decided to say, "Well, ifen da cup be for much less use dan ta hold down a trap door, den its worth be less important to da whole o' Chatwin den da beasties, pirates an unknowns lurkin beneath us, aye? Me thinks, for what it be worth, dat we shoulds't go back down, an' see bouts dat chamber."

Cassandra scratched her head uncertainly. "I think he wants to go back down below. I'm all for that, especially since we got all this extra rope." She held the extra lengths aloft. "And," a smile crossed her face as she continued, "Andremar no doubt wants to break in those new boots of his. Don't you?"

Andremar quickly glanced over at Cassandra and Grummie. "I confer with what I believe Grummie said, we should venture down". Andremar looked at his new boots and looked over at Cassandra 'though I'm not sure if I'm eager to sully these new boots. Andremar smiled as he absentmindedly began fiddling with a frayed end of a rope. "Yes... I believe we should go and investigate"

Lwcynda offered some dissent. "Well of course being a cleric and not really enjoying the damp, ghoulishness of the basement I would much prefer to go after the chalice, but I will abide by a group decision. However, I think the pirates can wait, whereas the good name of the brothers cannot. We cannot let this information be leaked. By the way, where is Brother Selmo? And Father, how long has he been part of the order? Did he come here with you or was he here already? Have you or anyone else in the order been friends with him? Where is he from originally? Did he have a previous history or inclination toward kleptomania? ............... Oops, sorry, got carried away. I guess it was that refreshing bath and meal."

Sedwick tired to take the flurry of questions from the ever curious Lwcynda in stride. "Ur, Selmo? He's still with us. He's been sent to kneel and pray till such a time as I feel he has made some amends for his lack of judgment. He has been with the order for a few years, and, yes, he did travel down here with us. I, myself, did not know him all that well, but that is really not important. He is a member of our order, and I am responsible for his actions. No, he's not a thief, he's more curious than he should be. His intentions in trying to help the order were honorable, just misguided.

Drist remained silent, and this was interpreted as agreement. And so, down they went once more. The Seekers had left Jyllia to guard the entrance. Gork insisted on tagging along this trip. "Mee want to seeee theeee dark things." No suppressing a goblin's excitement

Things were much as they left them- dark, dank, damp. No families had moved in for homesteading. And no, these caves had not gone condo- at least not yet. With Cassie and Drist at the lead, they retraced their retraced steps, through the entry cave, along a passage which, once again, took them east, until they reached the huge boulder room. They knew the behind the boulder lay the tricky sloping passage which would take them to where they had found Selmo. However, there was still a second option here. For through a bit of mud to the south there was a wide open and seemingly dry passage.

Drist glanced back and forth between the two entrances. Finally, he turned to the rest of the group. "I think that we should go down the unexplored passage. We already know what is down the other cave, and we are not in a great hurry to reach the pit. Perhaps down this new cave we will find the chalice, or something else of importance."

Grummie nodded in agreement as he glared down the new unexplored corridor, and said, "Aye! Twood be no good ta go down da slippery path again, for we know what endeth there. Let us journey onward an' later return ta de puzzle o' da chains an' pit." He then noticed the raised eyebrows as the remainder of the party attempted to decipher his strange accent, so he smiled and pointed to the more flat and dry path, stating "Me say go dis way!"

Cassandra edged her way gingerly across a small amount of mud and reached the dirt and then stone floor beyond. The other followed. Drist noticed that there were some claw like foot marking on the sand, heading in the opposite direction. "Might have been that ghastly thing we fought yesterday," he concluded.

The two leaders made their way in a generally south westerly direction along a stone floored, narrow , 5-8' wide, tunnel for maybe 60' or so, till this narrow tunnel gave way to what appeared to be a vast cavern with a relatively low ceiling. Natural stone tiers descended into the cavern, the bulk of which stretched into the shadows to the south and east. Despite the cavern's large size, the place was cramped because of the excessive number of mounds of raw earth that choked the floor. The mounds were so large and undulating that thee almost appeared as sands on an ocean floor. From somewhere beyond the range of their light, the Seekers could discern the faint sound of running water.

Grummie moved up toward the front of the march, and studied the ground and nearby walls closely, yet cautiously, saying, "Me warry 'bout da footin' ahead, wid so much water about." He got a closer look at the dirt dunes, narrow holes, fissures, and rubble piles. He could here, but could not see, the water.

After some moments of expert study he elucidated, "Aye, me be tinkin' right, It be dangerous ta be walkin' here. We best be moving slow, or t`will be fallin', dat be fer sure. Any quick movments, well, dey might be making yee slip," he warned one and all.

The gnome decided to lead the party through the chamber, trying to plot the best and safest path, until which time something of interest, or a point of egress could be found.

After thinking about it for a moment, Drist concluded, "Well, I see no reason why we can't still make an attempt to move on. Although, I think we will have to take some precautions."

Andremar nodded sagely to the gnome's phrase. "Yes, if I understand him correctly, we should proceed carefully. I don't suppose there is any other way of going about this, surely we wouldn't be uncautious." Andremar looked around the area searching for a place where they could perhaps anchor a rope to aid the descent if needed.

For now, the party was headed on level ground, sort of. The gnome led the way in a meandering eastern direction, wandering around and through sand piles and rubble. Slowly, very slowly, they all moved, lest feet slipped away into the sand, or a trip might bring one to a cutting halt. They had travel 100' or more, though they had traversed only 40-50' of the cave, the path being so circuitous, when they came to the source of the sound of the running water. It was here they came upon a chasm. It seemed about ten feet deep and contained a running stream which cut north to south through this cave. The chasm was somewhat narrow, being from 4'-6' wide at any given point. But, the edges of it were dirt, not stone, so a sturdy place to set one's foot was not available.

Grummie studied the situation carefully, moving slightly up and down the streamline, attempting to locate a safe place to cross. At one point he turned to Andremar and commented, "Tis time ta find dat rope an da placen ta tie it, me tinks!" The best way across, in lieu of building a bridge but with what?, was to jump. This conclusion was relayed to the others, with a reiteration of the need for ropes.

Cassandra began unraveling some lengths.

Andremar nodded at Grummie. "It would be much safer if we had an anchor as we attempt to cross this treacherous area".

Cassandra noted that she did have some iron spikes, "But don't see how well they will anchor in this sandy area,"

Andremar then sat lost in though for a second: "Hmm... is there any evidence of anyone passing through this area recently? Disturbed dirt, footprints? This is a muddy and crumbling area, it would not be hard to see evidence of recent or past passage..." Andremar and Drist looked at the ground with this different point of view. Soon enough they noticed a disturbed area, as if someone or something had `clawed' away at it.

"Indeed," responded the gnome. "Somethin' been there b'fore! What pray tell was it? An what it been doin' clawin' about? Must been for somethin it dug?" The gnome decided not to crowd the area, assured that Andremar and Drist could uncover the puzzle without his help. Nonetheless, he was obviously anxious about the discovery, as he craned his short neck trying to see all there was to see.

"Hmm, you may be right, Grummie. Perhaps this is where Selmo hid the chalice." Drist began carefully examining the clawed area to see if there were any signs that it had been dug up.

Grummie suddenly blurted forth, as he reached out a hand toward his elven companion, "Be warry there good Drist... for might be da dwellin' of some worm-kin sand beastie!"

They took a closer look at this `clawed' area. It became obvious to the trained eye of Drist that these claw marks were probably made by some creature as it moved though the area, apparently heading in the direction from which they had come. Grummie confirmed that these were not the marks of a burrowing creature. The was nothing else to be found in this area.

"As I recall," said Cassandra, "Selmo hid the chalice outside, not down here. At least that was his story."

"Well" said Andremar, following Cassandra's vein of thought. "Selmo seems unsure of the chalice's location still, either way, this trail of claws clearly is an interesting venue to pursue..." Andremar was clearly still beaming from the success of his last suggestion.

Drist, who could think of nothing else to say, looked around to see if there was any way to continue onwards from this point. He could see that whatever made the claw marks had come from the other side of this chasm. It seemed about ten feet deep and contained a running stream which cut north to south through this cave. The chasm was somewhat narrow, being from 4'-6' wide at any given point. But, the edges of it were dirt, not stone, so a sturdy place to set one's foot was not available.

Grummie grumbled audibly, then muttered, "Oh Jutos, how we miss yea." Glancing at Andremar he smirked and commented, "He coulds't just stride da chasm wid ease." The gnome sighed. "Well, someone shoulds run 'n jump it I suppose, and we ken secure a rope across it den. Volunteer?" He grinned widely.

Drist looked across the ravine to the other side, and tried to see if there was anything that the rope could be secured to, or maybe on which a lasso could be thrown.

Alas, Jutos was not here, and there did not seem to be anything on which a lasso could be thrown. So, it fell to whoever bought into Grummie's volunteer to fly program, which, of course, meant Cassandra, she being the fleetest of foot.

She picked an area where this side seemed the firmest, where the distance across was about 5'. "Fix a loop around my waist, give me 8' of slack, and all of you hold the end of the rope. " Once the rope gang was organized, she took one more look at the other side, stepped back five measured strides, trying to assure herself of a solid take off point, and exclaimed, "here goes nothing!" as she quick stepped to the firm stop and leapt, as best one could, towards the other side. It was neither pretty nor graceful, but she managed to land, face first clearly across the chasm. Gathering herself to her feet, she listened lest something being attracted to her presence. Hearing nothing but the collective heartbeats of herself and her companions, she looked back to them. "Next?"

Grummie gandered at Dristarian, and responded, "Might yea afix da rope on dis side, for yea be the fleetest of foot. An' den we all ken cross da chasm." With that, Grummie volunteered to go next... Looping his arm over the rope, and making sure it was slightly slack, so as to allow him a grip should he miss the other side.

Drist took hold of the rope on his side. He backed up a bit to keep a firm footing. Cassandra did likewise on her side. Grummie looped his arm over the rope, and made sure it was slightly slack, so as to allow him a grip should he miss the other side. He nimbly handed his way across. Now with the two of them across, Lwcynda followed, and so did Gork.

That left Drist and Andremar still on the former side.

Drist turned to Andremar. "It's your choice, but I would suggest that you go next, since I would have a better chance of jumping across." Drist awaited Andremar's response.

Andremar looked cautiously at the chasm. "Dear me, it looks deeper when I consider jumping across" Andremar looked at his companions who were already across and smiled embarassingly at his fearful composure. "Well, uh... give me the rope then and I will try" after being given the rope and getting a good running start, Andremar leapt and landed with legs hurt and eyes closed...

The mage flew through the air. A sudden jerk form the other side brought him across like an arrow. He landed at Cassandra's feet, dirty, but safe. Drist soon followed suit, and all the Seekers had made it.

This side of the chasm was similar to the other. Mounds of sand and rubble made movement tedious. As they wound their way through, they cam across some more claw marks, and some well gnawed bones. Nothing much else of interest was found here.

Soon enough they reached the other end of this particular cave. A raised tier of more solid dirt marked its ending. Once up on the tier, an exit was noted. It was approached cautiously. Shining the light into it, all could see what appeared to be a large irregular cavern with a high, dark ceiling supported by numerous wooden beams, Most of these beams looked very weak and some had already fallen or broken. A faint vinegar odor seeped from several cylindrical shadows against the far wall. Several clods of dirt rolled down from above, skipping down the walls near the cavern's entrance.

Drist asked the rest of the group if anyone was daring enough to enter the somewhat questionable cavern. He suggested that something be thrown or shot at the wooden beams to see how safe it might be inside.

Grummie studied the distant darkness carefully, hoping to spot movement or warmth from anything alive and awaiting to ambush the party. Slowly but surely, he made his way forward, scanning about carefully, and his tiny short sword held at ready before him....

What he could see of the beams led him to believe that they were safer than they looked. He slowly made his way into the darkness, using his heat seeing vision to search for signs of life. The others remained behind huddled around Andremar's lamp. Grummie proceeded maybe 20' in, till he was at the edge of the glow of the lantern. Tot he others he seemed a small blot of darkness in a very dark cave. The gnome discerned no life forms.

Lwcynda said not too loudly, "Grummie are you sure you want to be up there alone? I will come up with a light if you like."

Andremar only stood still, holding his lantern and keeping the light that it cast over the cavern. Andremar was visibly nervous, afraid, even expecting something to leap out of the shadows at any instant.

The gnome turned, moved back into the glow of the lantern and waved everyone onward, as he turned and began to explore further, searching, prodding, seeking ... anything.

Seeing the gnome alone at the edge of the light, Cassandra moved slowly forward, her shadow leading the way, till she reached the gnome's side. She listened, but heard only the sound of her own heart beating. Lwcynda followed.

Drist will give his eyes a second to adjust to the dark, and then will Move into the cavern with the rest of the group.

Soon, all but the mage stood together, 20' inside this odd cave. Andremar held his lantern up so that the group could see as well as he could bear the light. Andremar moved forward so that the light would illuminate the path for the leaders of the group, but not so far as to cast the light unnecessarily ahead of the group, so as not to attract too much unwanted attention.

Unfortunately, the attention, `wanted' or otherwise, seemed to be directed at him. For, no sooner had he taken three steps into the cave, than there was a hissing sound, and as the lantern grew dimmer, the others thought they saw smoke or for rising from the lantern, enveloping the poor mage in it. And then there was no light whatsoever. Before anyone could react, scratching or scuffling was heard, and something plopped to the cave floor in the vicinity of where the mage had last been seen.

Those with infravision tried to pry the secrets from the newly made darkness. They could identify what they figured was Andremar, but nothing else? Their calls to him fell on deaf ears.

The gnome suddenly dropped to the ground and exclaimed, "Move not, cover yea head, for me thinks good Andremar set ofen a trap o' smoke er gas cloud. Hurry, but move not or set another off, yea might." The gnome quickly pulled his cloak over his head, hoping not to fall victim to the same fate.

Andremar felt something cool and wet slash about him. The lantern sizzled and went out. Suddenly he sensed the presence of something next to him. Just as the stench of whatever it was reached his nostrils, so too did its claws. He felt sharp, tearing pain in his shoulders [*], and then he could move no more!

Drist, determined to find out what happened, crouched and began to make his way slowly towards what he feared might be his fallen comrade, looking around carefully for signs of anything that could have caused the smoke.

Cassandra did her best to get a torch from her back and light it. What she saw in the suddenly blaze of it was not good. Andremar seemed prone and motionless on the floor. Drist, crouched halfway between them and Andremar, found himself towered over by another one of those ghastly creatures! In one fell swoop its claws struck down at the elf. For the moment, the beasts paws flew over his head.

Drist decided to try and make his way back towards the others, attempting a few swings at the beast's hands with his sword while he did so. Perhaps it was nervousness which caused him to swing wide, but luckinly the creature's claws missed their mark as well.

Lwcynda attempted to cast light at the creature's face and eyes. His drooling image began to glow eerily. It swung wildly at the brightness.

At the notice of light in the cavern, Grummie decided to chance a peek from under his cloak, and was amazed, if not embarrassed, at the situation at hand, and his unprepared posture. The gnome tossed his cloak to the ground and rushed toward Andremar. He easily ducked under the creature's brightly outlined form.

Cassandra advanced warily, using the torch as a weapon. Not that she could wield it very well, but the heat from it moved the creature to the side. Grummie began dragging Andremar to safety. He found the mage to be quite stiff indeed, and bleeding from wounds to both his shoulders. The gnome did his best to staunch the flow of blood.

Since the creature was effectively blinded, Lwcynda realized that turning was no longer an option. Drist had gained his bow, and fired a flurry of arrows, one of which hit the creature. It was at this time that the creature's sense of survival over took his hunger. His claws reached about for familiar purchase. In moments he was scurrying amidst the upper beams, but not before Drist connected with yet another arrow.

Cassandra watched the lighted creature's progress as it scurried through the beams and off to the northwest. The light revealed a passage out that way, which the creature apparently took. The light grew dimmer. Her natural instinct was to follow, to strike at the creature while it was seemingly still so vulnerable, but the sight of Andremar still, still lying, lying still, kept her from rushing off rashly.

Grummie had done his best to stop any bleeding. The wounds were gashes, similar to those seen before. The mage was alive, and seemed to be conscious of his surrounding, just unable to move in any way. Lwcynda administered a cure, but it was half an hour before Andremar could move his limbs.

"That wasn't much fun," he declared, thereby announcing his return to the realm of the fully functional.

"Feel up to going after that thing?" asked Cassandra of her boon companion.

Then she asked the priestess, "How long does that light spell of yours last?"

Lwcynda said that it should hold on for over an hour, "So it should still be aglow wherever it lit off to."

The rogue asked, "Then, shall we strike while the iron's hot? Or lit? or, well, you guys know what I mean."

"Well, since we need to go in that direction anyway, and we should deal with the creature while we can see him, I can't see any reason why we shouldn't follow him." Said Drist.

Lwcynda agreed with him. "If Andremar's up to it, let us be off!"

Obviously willing and ready to reconstitute his faith in himself, the gnome quickly spoke up in agreement, "Aye, this filth dis creature, twood strike me friend Andremar down such. Let us be off after him." With that, the gnome grasped a short and dagger from his waste and prepared to stomp off in search of the beast.

Cassandra's torch still burned, so she used it to light the way from the front. Andremar's lantern had to be refilled, but it was still serviceable. They made their way through the beams, till they found the exit which the fleeing beast had apparently used.

The opening was narrow, maybe 5' across at most, and the support beams ended here. It seemed more like a tunnel than a cave, very rough in nature. Neither the torch, nor the lantern could project light more than 10' ahead before the passage turned. The good news was that they could see the top, so nothing could ambush them from above. The bad news was that the top was barely 4' at the best of times. All but Grummie and Gork would have to crouch, squat, or some such thing in order to move along. They also realized that weapons beyond short swords would have difficulty maneuvering in there.

"Seems like the odds are stacked in its favor if we go in there," said Cassandra. "But, if we must, we must. Anyone have an alternative to crawling in there?"

"The odds might not be as bad as you say, Cassandra. If this tunnel continues to stay as small as it is now, then the creature will have even less manueverability than we will. Plus, we may be able to fire more arrows at it while it tries to get near us. I doubt it will be as hard as you think." Drist suggested that they continue on down the tunnel, reasoning that the creature had to have chose this direction for a reason, and that there is a good chance that the cave will get larger eventually.

Grummie was fond of the elf's strategy and reasoning of the situation, evident by his comments, "Aye, yes, focus all ourn weapons ahead, bows an' long blade too. He ken nae get by us ifen our blades be forward, arrows down-shaft. Aye? An, we ken nae leave da beast, unchecked, for he mighten kill another, shouldst we nay persue him... what be of that? What ifen he come back upon us, or some monk in da mortuary in da night? Onward, say I, ifen we dare, for da tunnnel need searching anyway, right?"

No else shared Cassandra's misgivings. Something still nagged at her, like repeating a pattern, but she could not quite put her finger on it, so ...

They organized in single file, size order, the only thing that made sense under the restricted circumstances. Grummie led the way, his short weapons drawn. Drist had Cassie's torch, and his long sword. Grummie could walk, but Drist needed to hunch over. Cassandra was next. She used her left hand to balance on the ground. In her right hand she had a dagger. Lwcynda had her symbol around her neck, but both hands were free if she needed them, not that she could see much besides Cassie's back. Andremar did what he could with the lantern. Gork walked backwards, wary of what might come after them.

They walked, stumbled, and/or crawled 10-20' curling to their left. Here the tunnel continued hard left, and also to the right. "North, I think," Said Drist about the right hand passage. Lights to the left showed a gradually narrowing area to a point, where is seemed it would end completely in 7-10'.

Grummie looked quite perplexed, mystified actually. He studied the tunnel, looking back, forth and side to side, then shrugged and suggested that he first check out the narrowing path, before proceeding further.

Grummie attempted ascertain the grade, only to realize that the ground, though irregular, was relatively level. It seemed to him like a dead end of sorts. It might have once led somewhere, but there was no sign of that now. It just narrowed to and end. "Metinks did `ere be nuttin. Mehaps we best proceed up dat way," he concluded, indicating the more northern route.

Drist nodded in agreement with Grummie, and waited for the others before continuing on.

"Alright, I'm with you. Let's go." Said Lwcynda

Upon apparent approval from his comrades, the gnome again took the lead and moved onward down the adjacent tunnel, ever-ready, poised for the unexpected.

They edged their cramped way north another 20' or so to where they found a momentary respite from the narrow passage. Here a wider area, some 15' in diameter, allowed for some reflection. A narrow passage continued north, another went to the east, and an third went west. Claw like imprints came and went from each of them! The lights could be shone down each maybe 5-7' before being lost in the narrow and irregular dirt walls.

Drist bent down to the ground, and examined the prints, trying to determine which of the claw marks were the most recent. Unfortunately, none stood out from the others.

Grummie was beside himself. "Oh heaven be," exclaimed the gnome with a tiny stomp and impression of exhausted efforts. "Me tinks dis tunnel wind about on itself, akin to a snail shell." The gnome stumbled about a bit, studying the ground, and the newfound exits. With a shrug, he tossed his dagger on the ground at his feet, then bent down and spun it... stating "Where it stops, 'n points, let us go."

Andremar stood silently as he had for the last while, the shock of the brutal attack still clearly fresh in his mind. Andremar looked at the claw marks with mild interest and fear. Andremar looked around his environs and crouched slightly to rest, waiting for his companions to decide what to do next.

All watched enthralled as the gnome spun his dagger. Round, round, and round it went. Till it stopped the blade point . . . . . .south, which of course, would mean back the way they came. Cassandra felt that just, but, the gnome spun the dagger once more. Round and round, and round, till . . . . it pointed east. Naturally, as all concentrated on the aforementioned dagger, no one noticed that some smelly beast had advanced on them form the north and was in the process of attempting to rend them all limb from limb! The ghastly creature, not glowing at all, swept down upon the gnome and the elf. One claw ripped across the gnome's left shoulder, the other caught the elf on the right flank. Its fangs failed to connect with either for now. The wounds seemed minor, but neither the gnome nor the elf moved in any way. They both seemed frozen in place.

Andremar's fear heightened.

"I knew this was a bad idea," said Cassandra.

Lwcynda's natural first impulse was to try and turn the beast. Though she boldly displayed her symbol, the monster acted as if it was immune, showing not even the slightest reaction.

Seeing her two companions frozen in place, Cassandra readied her weapons. Her mind recalled what had brought about her previous misgivings, a time when she and Andremar and Lwcynda had crawled through a long tunnel only to come up in the lair of a swooping beast. She gulped, took a deep breath, and prepared for the worst. A quick glance at Andremar told her he was nearing panic. She jounced him with her left foot. "If you ever cast a crucial spell, I suggest now is the time." She flung one dagger at the thing, but left Andremar clear line of sight to the target. The dagger flew high and to the left.

Andremar clenched his teeth through his fear and stared wide eyed at the beasts before him. [apparently seeing double or triple through squinted eyes?] Cassandra's cry suddenly sent him bursting into action and Andremar quickly began to weave a spell. He edged his way towards his frozen companions, and extended his hands, fingers fanned, across them, as if reaching out to the beast. A burst of color erupted in the cavern as Andremar's colored missiles began to thrust themselves at their target. Two bolts hit the stenchy, drooling thing squarely in the chest. It seemed stunned, but did not fall unconscious, as former victims of this spell had done in the past.

This delay allowed the priestess to use her sword upon it, as did Cassie. Gork help Andremar drag the rather limp Grummie and Drist from harm's way. Lwcynda drove her bastard sword through the beast's mid section. Cassandra jabbed a short sword into a thigh. The beast spewed saliva and flailed its arms, still with little effect. The two women continued the fight, with more effective sword thrusts. In fact, Cassandra's short sword took one of its legs off. It fell to the ground in a smell, somewhat disgusting heap. For the moment, the Seekers seemed in control of the situation.

"How are they doing?" Cassandra asked Andremar, indicating the plight of the gnome and the elf.

"Um, still, er, well, not doing to much, I'm afraid," the mage replied. He stood next to the two paralyzed ones, Gork at his side.

"No, theeeey no move at all," confirmed the goblin. "Only to breeeethe."

Lwcynda made certain that this beast would harm them no more. She cut its head right off.

Noticing this, and still recalling their last crawl in adventure, Cassandra cautioned, "Whatever you do, don't show him that head."

As they caught their collective breaths, Cassandra motioned for a hush. "I hear something, hmmmm, that way I believe." She was indicating the east passage, where the gnome's dagger had point just moments ago. "Guess Grummie was right, but I doubt he'll get much satisfaction from it right now. " She listened more carefully. "Sounds like more that one, whatever it is."

Andremar was glad for the respite as short as it was. Cassandra's comment at first confused Andremar as he heard the inflections of her voice and heard "here" when he was sure she meant to say "hear". Andremar was now confident that the last spell had taken far more from him than he first imagined... Andremar quickly faced the source of the noise and began to anticipate what would surely be a battle...

Cassandra had known Andremar for a long time, and could sense his confusion. To make matters perfectly clear, she reiterated, "I hear some things coming here. I might have heard a herd, but I doubt it was that many. More than one, too."

Lwcynda said, "Watch for whatever is coming. I'm going to try a remove paralysis spell on Drist."

While Cassandra and Andremar watched the right side passage, the priestess cast her spell. In a minute the elf was free from his immobile state.

A glow was becoming evident from the passage. The sound of dragging foot falls was very near, indeed.

When Lwcynda finished with Drist, said, "I don't know if the paralysis will just wear off or not, but for the moment I think I don't have time to try again on Grummie. I think that light advancing may be our 'other friend'. Gork, please watch over Grummie for now while we try to dispatch this other beast." The goblin complied, pulling him into the narrows, and straddling the still still gnome.

Drist stood up, brushed himself off and, while still not quite sure what had happened, noticed the oncoming glow. He prepared for yet another battle. He had only enough time to nod his thanks to Lwcynda.

The cleric waited to see what might arrive, readying a Bless spell.

As all anticipated, the glowing creature sure looked like the one they had encountered earlier. This time it was accompanied by two friends, both of whom drooled in anticipation of a meal. One of them stopped momentarily to enjoy a snack of that which the party had recently killed.

Lwcynda's bless went off. The beasts were about 8' away.

Aided by Lwcynda's blessing, Drist got off a few arrows shot at the creatures, but both went high. Cassandra tossed two daggers, with equally bad luck. And them the battle really began. The creatures closed in for the kill. The party got in the first thrusts, with Drist's longsword at least grazing one of the lesser beasts. Cassandra must have been depressed over her misgivings about this whole deal, as she missed so badly with her sword and dagger, one would have thought she was on the other side. Lwcynda remained strong in the face of such evil, and drove her bastard through light boy.

The one grazed Drist in return, but he did not feel any extra ill effects. Cassandra was caught with a claw(*), and she went stiff as a bone. The lit one struck the cleric twice, but she miraculously shrugged off any extra ill effects. With little choice, those who could continued to press the fight, for to lose meant supper, the beats' supper. With a mighty stroke, Drist cleaved his cleanly in two> Grummie advanced, lest that one devour Cassandra, and struck out with his sword, but to no avail. Lwcynda lopped and arm off the lit one, but it failed to deter him from further efforts.

The lesser one went after Drist, raking his claw across his elven mid section. The lit one struck with his remaining limb at Lwcynda, but his lack of proper balance cost him a good shot. Drist struck twice with sword and knife, and Gork drove his short sword into its side. Lwcynda lopped the head off the lit one, a glowing moon toppled to the ground. The survivor struck out madly, raking Drist with one claw and Gork with the other. The elf held his ground, but the goblin stood still. He then bit Drist for good measure! Lwcynda came into this one from the side, but missed the mark. With a cry to this elven god, Drist struck with sword and knife again, and again both found the mark. The beast went down in a pool of yuck.

"Looks like we're adventuring with a bunch off stiffs," said Drist to Lwcynda.

"You got that right," responded the cleric.

"What be goin' on," said the gnome, who just regained the ability to move. He surveyed the scene. Drist and Lwcynda, covered in blood and gore, looked about. Cassie and Gork just stood. Andremar, apparently overcome by panic, watched quietly.

But once again, somehow, by the skin of their collective teeth, and Drist's elven blood, had survived!

Cassandra came to, too. She realized how close she and her friends had come to death. She listens for any other sounds. "Nothing, I hear nothing." In a couple or more minutes, the little goblin came back to life. "Mee have fun, but mee hurt too."

Grummie sluggishly examined everyone's wounds. He was quite disoriented, but appeared to be in much better physical shape than his companions, who had fought so valiantly when he was little help at all.

The gnome pulled himself together and started tending the wounds of the others, all be it, he wasn't very skilled in such matters. It was quite evident however, that the knightly elf had taken quite a beating, and Grummie said, "Lwcynda, dear may yea please aid yon friend Dristarian. He be most hurt o'us, me tinks."

That being said Lwcynda cast cures upon the needy, starting with Drist, who headed that list. She cast two cures upon him, and then one upon herself.

As the gnome busied himself, helping his friends and saviors, he mentioned, "Mayhaps we should taken da head o' one dese beasts, in a sack to da mortuary. Dis be of grave concern to da militia and Chatwin, me tinks. Best we know what dese be, and best how ta fight dem. What ifen dey be many many more?"

"At he very least, the head of that one," whose face still glowed, "could serve us as a beacon for a bit longer," deadpanned Cassandra.

Lwcynda thought it better that they might burn the 'beasts' lest they return for yet another encounter.

Andremar feel to his knees and let out a relieved sigh as the latest sudden burst of action finished. Andremar smiled slightly knowing that they were finally safe. "I think that two consecutive battles are enough for today" remarked Andremar off handly, speaking to no one in particular.

About thirty minutes passed. The head stopped glowing, and no extra sounds had been heard. Water dripped here and there. There was the occasional creak of a beam, but the gnome still thought the structure was inherently sound.

"I still don't hear anything else," noted the rogue, "So, do we burn these and go one, saving one head for reference, study, and DNA testing? Or do we head back out for this day. Let's vote."

The gnome rubbed his chin, then concluded, "Me tinks we burn da most o' it, an taken da one head wid us, fer study. What say yea?"

Lwcynda agreed with Grummie and looked in her backpack for a sac of some sort to put the head in.

"Here. I have a sac. Put that head in here," said Cassandra offering an open sac. "Now that we've torched the others, and gotten this great souvenir, are we going on, or are we going up? We still have no lead on that missing chalice."

Lwcynda accepted the sac and bagged the head. "Well, we can go on for a bit, but when that head starts to smell worse than it already does we should take it up to the brothers. Perhaps we should check around here while we are at it and look where the beasts came from. Maybe there is a clue to the chalice in their nest. Then we can go back to where we were and decide where to go next."

Meanwhile Gork began a small fire and did his best to make a ghoulish and ghastly roast.

"I agree," said Drist, "We're still able to continue onwards, so lets not waste our energy. The monsters couldn't have come from too far away, so we should take the chance to explore while we can. Who knows what might happen if we leave now and don't come back until tomorrow."

And so the Seekers creaked and crawled their way into that small net work tunnel once again. They soon arrived at the three way split. Since the big one had come from straight up, they chose that one to explore. Unfortunately it only went another 20 difficult feet before narrowing to a close. They back tracked and took the right hand route, from whence had come the other three. This one wound east, then south, the east, then north to a wide area, where all took a welcomed stretch. Drist examined the ground and found that the freshest tracks had come for a spur to the northeast.

This led them on a gradually northerly twister for some 40-50' till it turned sharply to the right and opened into a small cavern with a ceiling of perhaps five feet. Unfortunately, the floor dropped away into a steep sided pit, the bottom of which was lost in darkness below.

Grummie looked perplexed, almost dumbfounded by the caverns ever-winding tunnels, and the seemingly endless possibilities. He turned to his companions and with a shrug, "Me not know! Do dey come from da pit, ya tinks? Did deyin' wander in dis catacomb, or come frum some-wheres? We ken keep searchin', and finden' all da dead-ends, den go back for da father's advice, aye?"

Cassandra examined the edge of the pit. She found the frayed end of a very old rope attached to a rusty spike. Her thiefly wiles told her that the spike was no longer worthy of much weight, "but someone, or ones have been down this pit." Further reflection, and a check of their own rough drawn map, suggested that they had found pretty much all the ends of all the trails.

Grummie leaned over the edge and studied the spike, asking Cassandra "Does thee thinken it would hold me? Have yea another spike?" Awaiting a response, he pondered, and plotted, "Have anyone a torch, ta drop an see how deep dis pit be?" Grummie obviously wanted to research the mystery of this pit, and the other one in the catacombs before quitting again.

"No way that old thing will hold any of us," answered Cassie as she struck another torch, making a mental note to get some more next time she was above ground. She let the torch down as far as she could. They could see what appeared to be a bottom, maybe 15 or so feet below. "I can probably scramble down these sides, but I want to be ropes in, lest I get caught in a cave in."

So, with a rope loosely tied around her waist, and the other end held by the gnome and the elf, Cassandra eased her way down to what turned out to be a reasonably solid bottom. "Loose dirt and mud," she proclaimed. "Doesn't seem to be much down he--- Oh, what's this? Hey, I think we got something here," she called up. Those who looked down saw her hunched over and throwing up dirt. "Just a little bit more, come on, come on, uh, uh, oop!" and she fell back on her bottom. It's a chest, a wooden chest. Been here for some time. Lower another rope and we'll haul it up."

In a few minutes' time both the chest and the thief were back a ground level. "Nothing else, down there." Those who now held the chest estimated its weight at 50 lbs. She gave the chest the once over, then turned her attention to the rusty lock, the very rusty lock. "No way I can pick that one. No way at all."

"Well, since it's so rusty maybe if we give it a 'whack' it will fall off" said Lwcynda.

"Aye, whack it we must," agreed the gnome. "But mayhaps Cassie should checkin it first, fer deadly trap, o' trick of old it might be rigged. And stand clear away, all that not be whacking it, mind ya." Seems the gnome was still a bit gun shy on this day.

Cassandra gave the chest another going over, and found nothing amiss, except that it was obviously old and well made. The lock was not the padlock kind. It was the kind the was an integral part of the chest. The lock could not be whacked off, the chest itself would have to be broken open.

It took some doing, and some healthy wacks, but one side was able to be bashed in. Inside they found 255 gold coins unlike any other they had ever seen. There was a tiny wooden box studded with what appeared to be corral. Cassandra examined this box, "the old trap within trick," she cautioned, but it seemed safe. Inside were 20 small gems, "agates, I think," and a very nice pearl. The was also a medium blade, a cutlass, in a worn leather sheath decorated with three silver skulls.

Grummie gawked and gasped as the torchlight flickered across the vast treasure. Or at least, vast it appeared to him, as his attention was focused on the gems, mostly. In a mutter (moreso than normal), he managed to request, "Mayhaps, when da booty o' dis day be split, ken me hab me share in da gems? Me nae want gold, just da gems, minda ya." Suddenly, the gnome felt very selfish, as was obvious, he pulled his attention away from the dainty box of baubles, cleared his throat, and with a blush, "Forgive me! Let us not be hasty. What say yea dis blade need be studied fer magic trait? Does't it be magic? Anyone know," he inquired. With that, he tried to not be obvious, as he coveted the pretty round jewels, and attempted feverishly not to gaze at them.

Cassandra appreciated the gnome's desire. It reminded her of her early days, before Chatwin, before meeting and adventuring with these fine companions. In those earlier days some of this booty would have already found its way into the folds of her cloak, but now, "Yes, my friend, those gems are fine sparklers indeed. I'm sure you will get your fair share in them," she grinned.

The blade intrigued her, too. She hefted it, and swung it a few times. "My this does move smoothly," she concluded. "Might we not just take all this to the surface soon?" Then as an after thought, "But no chalice did we find."

"Well, I guess this was worth the effort. I shall cast a 'detect magic' to see if anything here is magic. If so someone might need to use it as we continue our investigations. Then what shall we do -- head back up with this?" Lwcynda checked for magical properties. The blade did register in a positive manner! A magic weapon. But no other magics were in the room, down in the pit, or anywhere else here.

The clerics question hung in the air, where to now?

Drist agreed with Lwcynda. "I think we've been down here long enough for one day, and besides that, we should bring all of this up before we continue. It would be hard to fight with our pockets and packs full of treasure."

Andremar looked in strange fascination at the blade as if his mind where elsewhere... suddenly he jumped up with a start... "I had the strangest dream... I was inundated with work at some strange college... I think I am fine now..." Andremar smiled, "Perhaps I can see if this blade is magical"

The others informed him that this had already been done, and he redfacedly looked at his shoes. "Ill try to pay better attention in the future, now that I have more time on my hands," he vowed. To himself he mused, maybe I'll visit Planescape.

When it seemed no one reacted, Drist restated his last suggestion. "I think we should return to the surface with our new find, and perhaps attempt to discover the magical properties of this sword."

Grummie nodded, "To da surface den? Me gullet be akin' for stout ale and fresh ham." His countenance dropped suddenly, "But da chalice, coulds't it be hidden somewhere. Did not Father Sedwick or Broder Selmo mention dat? Hidden some place not in da catacombs? Me memory nae good, but let us r'member it o'er food and merriment, aye?"

It took about an hour, but the Seekers made their way back through the various caves, and back to the surface, where things were pretty much as they had left them.

A representative of the Watch was still there. Father Sedwick arrived anxiously, "Any luck?"

"Well, yes, and no," replied Cassandra. "We are lucky to be alive, to have returned at all, and to have found some goodies.

The head priest looked over the items and coins. "We have no claim on any of that," he said dismissively. "those coins are far too old to have been ours. And none of our order would use such a blade."

"But," Cassandra said, "no luck in finding your chalice." She let this sink in, an all could see Sedwick's shoulders sag visibly. The see picked up on what Grummie had reminded her of below. "Course, did not Selmo say that he hid the chalice above ground? We found not sign of it down below. All the hidden troves seem to date back to some time ago."

Sedwick summoned Brother Selmo. 'Selmo," he said harshly, "we need the truth, the whole truth. What did you do with the chalice?"

Selmo was shaken by the tone, but he did not change his tune. "BY my word, on all that I hold dear, I took it and hid it amid some old buildings in the east of the village. As you all well know, it is no longer where I put it. I swear that to be the truth. I have caused enough trouble, why would I want to cause more?"

Sedwick listened, then looked tot he Seekers. "I am afraid I must believe my adept here. He is telling the truth, or at least what he really believes to be true. Is it not possible that he did do as he said, and someone, or something, else took the chalice from the hiding place?"

Cassandra, the most adept at `finding' things, had to grudgingly admit to this possibility. "But, then, who or what could have taken it, and where is he, she and or it and the chalice now?" She looked to her companions for any insight, ideas, of just plain hunches they might have.

Drist gave this problem some deep thought for a moment. "Well, I have an idea, but it's a real stretch of the imagination. I have a hunch that the disappearance of the chalice, and the infestation of these rat-like creatures, if no coincidence. This may be a bit far-fetched, but I think the creatures must have something to do with all of this. Perhaps they're more intelligent than we think." Drist then awaited any other ideas.

"Drist may be correct in assuming that the rats and the loss of the chalice are connected. Now where was it that we fought the rats? -- perhaps near where the chalice was hidden? And what about that girl and her dog -- they were being attacked by the rat people and we never could find her. Perhaps Hawke has found her. I'm not sure what to do next. I'll think for a few minutes." And so Lwcynda thought.

Grummie grumbled under his breath momentarily, as if some opportunity had slipped through his hands. Then, suddenly, he perked up, and annouced, "Aye, what good be a idea, widout'en a plan? Aye? Let Selmo guide us ta da place wheren' da chalice once be hid, and search fer proof. Rat fur, o' rat feet prints, mayhaps? Den we know fer certain we would be searchin' out da den o' rats"

This plan was as good as any. And it just might connect the dots. Selmo agreed to it, though he reminded them that he had looked for the chalice, and it was no longer there.

"Nay, but footprints they're might be," clarified the gnome.

And so Selmo, to appease one and all, especially Father Sedwick, led the Seekers to the area of Chatwin where he had hid the chalice. It was in the south eastern region of the village, [beyond # 17 on your adventurers' map] where only a few buildings stood, and those were not in very good condition. He showed them the exact place where he had left it. "Right here, wrapped in a cloth. But it is gone as well." As all could see, there was no sign of the object of their search.

The gnome and the elf began a search of the ground for tell tale rats prints, or any prints. It had been about a week since Selmo had done this dirty deed, and there was but one clear set of prints. They arrived and led back the way they had come. "Er, I think they are mine. After confessing to Father Sedwick, he sent me to retrieve it, middle of the night, and I could not find it then, either."

On a positive note, there were some rodent prints, normal size, and some scat, and some sign that some areas of the ground had been brushed or blown about.

Drist attempted to determine in which direction the rodents left, and any other information, since it seemed obvious to him at least that the rodents were the culprits.

Lwcynda had a different idea. "I seem to recall that when we looked for that girl her footprints and the dogs' paw prints seemed to disappear near the river. Also, that Willie called those rat things 'osquips'. Well I don't know much about osquips so I think I will go to see the either that ranger Shantyra or that hunter fellow, Saugus and ask them what they might know about the habits of these creatures. Then again maybe Hawke will know something. Anyway, after fighting those undead creatures I need to cleanup and get some rest and in the morning I think we can meet at the tavern and decide what we shall do. What do you all say?"

Drist soon became frustrated in his endeavor, since these little rodent prints scurried all about, with no particular pattern or direction.

Grummie pointed out, "Drist, me friend, me-tinks dese rat printies be small and normal size here. Not like da ones o' does larger rodent dat attack da girl. Suspect I dat dese be only passing prints o' vermin. But me judgement of size be a bit, er, smallish to da rest of yea". He chuckled heartily, and the tip of his large nose bounced with each deep belly-full of laughter. He then continued, "Well, me tinks da lady's idea be sound. Me will accompany her, and mayhaps, asken da local patrons and citizens o' dis part o' da town ifen dey hab seen or heard anyt'ing out o' sorts."

Both had made valid points, and surely the group did need a cleansing. Before heading for home, bath and supper they decided to knock on the door nearest inhabited building. It was the cottage belonging to the dwarf Zamora. Next to it stood a clearly symboled and labeled shrine to her deity Pholtus. They found the priestess at home. "Yes," she said, "I have been here in the village for the past few months, and yes, I have been aware of the rat attacks. Spent much of me days working on the cracks and crannies of the walls of the Watch headquarters. Got to keep them vermin out of there, you know." When asked about this area, and anything she might have noticed, she replied, "Sure, seen some vermin round here, but that's not all that uncommon. This being the edge of the village, some people have been in the habit of dumping their unwanteds round here, and the little beasties feed on `em. Yes, I notice some people sculking about after dark, but I just figured they're throwing stuff away. Not much I can do about that, now is there?" She was unable to give any description of any of these nocturnal visitors, not even male or female.

So, following Lwcynda's lead, the Seekers returned to their dwellings, cleaned up, ate, rested the night away.

17th Planting, Moonday

And, at an appropriate early hour, say 9AM, the Seekers found themselves at their usual table in the Inn [the Shadows of the Towers]. "I think I have some good news," offered Cassandra upon her arrival. "Last night, for the first time in a while now, there were no reports of rats roamings, attacks, or the like. Maybe we have accomplished something at least." She sat down. "Now on to today's agenda. Where shall we go to try and find the missing chalice."

Grummie paused only briefly between bacon slices and chunks of morning ham to comment, "Well, me see only two paths. Ta study again da site o' dis disappearin' girl, and ta study da pit below, wid da talking skull. Me admits, me doubt either will help us a bit, wid da chalice or da ratties. Me not see how any can be related at all." The gnome went back to snacking at his hearty little breakfast, and slurping down fresh fruit juice, before returning to the conversation, "Aye, and let us imagine da chalice be found and fenced. Who in ChatWin would be able ta move such an item. Pawn shoppes? Aye? Let us stop by da Knight Owl's in, and as me partner ifen he be receiving any good chalices recently."

Lwcynda responded, "Well I still think we should go back to the river and try to find out more about that girl & her dogs. I also think Grummie has a good idea about going to see his friend to see if the item has been misplaced, sold or 'fenced', what is this fenced? Has it been locked up in a fence somewhere? She looked quizzically at Grummie. Also, I will go see Shantryra and/or Saugus and ask them about osquips. Shall we meet back here in an hour?"

Grummie blushed brightly, realizing he has used one of the unspoken words he had learned from the many patrons of his pawn-shop. (Many of which, were no doubt under the employ of thieves guilds.) He apologized, "Me word, me lady! Please forgive you me, for the cant of thieves that word originated, me tinks. Means to sell stolen goods, it does. Lest, I must admit, I know not their secret language, but only a few words and gestures have I caught from the element that would frequent me business."

Cassandra did not know which was more comical-her long time companion's still naive innocence, or her more recent friend's tongue twisting denial. "All semantics aside, then, I suggest a three way spilt. Grummie will check out the `fence', Lwcynda will visit with Saugus and Shantyra, and I will `stake out'" and here she turned to Lwcynda, "That's thief talk for `keep watch over'- where we once encountered that girl, her dogs, and those large rats." She allowed this to sink in, "So, you others can decide whom you will accompany, and we will meet back here at noon or so?"

"I think I will accompany you, Cassandra. I believe my skills could be best utilized there." Drist said.

At about noon, these three returned from their planned rounds. The gnome reported that no one had even tried to fence, or pawn, such an object in the recent past. Both Shantyra and Saugus agreed the while osguips are aggressive, they do not usually hunt out in the open in a village. Something must have driven them above ground, out in the day light to perform such an attack as had been witnessed. The prints which Lwcynda described as found by the place where the chalice had be hid were too small to be osquips. Cassandra found some dog paws prints in the softer ground near the river. And "I could not help but get the feeling I was being watched," she added, "while I staked the area out."

The gnome appeared enlightened as he concured, "Aye, twas da ghoulish besties below dat drove out da rattie osquip thingies. Dey musta be settled back down now. Da chalice? No way ta know where it be ... found it was and by dishonest o' folk, I would warrant. Da pit below? Intrigues me, it does! Let us consider exploring it, aye? Dat enspelled skull maketh me wonder ifen a necromancer be hiding below somewhere... spiriting up dese ghoulish monsters from da dead. Could da disappearing girl be faerie folk, mayhaps?" The gnome realized he had said more than a mouthful, exhaled deeply, then raised and waved his hand frantically, trying to order lunch from the bar maid. (If only he were a bit taller, and could gain her attention).

As other continued to sit in silence, Cassandra spoke. "I, too, am intrigued by that mysterious area down below. And maybe we might explore it sometime. However, we must admit that there is little chance that the chalice, the key ingredient to our successfully ending this mission, could be down there. The young cleric took it, hid it, and someone or thing either saw him, or happened upon it, and took it. The idea that the girl, whom no one seems to know, is of the faerie folk is a possibility, which makes her even more interesting. Lwcynda, Andremar and I have had some experience with some faeries, though that was a ways back. If faeries have something, they often have it for a reason, or they want something in return for it. In either case, we need to decide on our next course of action." She pushed back her chair. "So, you'd for doing what at this point?"

Drist sat silently and attempted to think of a course of action, but could find little that they have not done. "It seems that we are at a dead end, so to speak. I can think of no sensible course of action that we might take to discover the whereabouts of the chalice. Does anyone have a suggestion of where we might look, or who we might talk to?"

Grummie said that he'd go along with just about anything, and still liked the idea of the Skull Pit.

Lwcynda said, "Well I don't know where to go next. We could explore through the trees across the river where the girl escaped. We could try to look for another entrance into the caves below the grave yard because I doubt that someone went into the cave through the building where the brothers stay. They might have seen Brother Selmo hide the chalice and then they took it and found another way into the caves below. I just don't know."

"Well," said Cassandra, "when Drist and I staked out he site where this whole thing started, where we saw that girl and her dog, I did get the feeling I was being watched, too. " She looked at her priestly friend, "so maybe your area, or idea, is the next step?"

Grummie scratched his chin, thoughtfully. Then sighed and concurred, "Me tinks we hab little ta work wid, but me must agree wid Cassie an' Lwcynda. Let us venture forth inta da wood, and search for da eyes Cassie felt. Mayhaps wid all o' us searchin, we ken find more. I will speak wid me woodland rodent friends, an' see ifen dey know anyting. Aye?" The gnome awaited agreement or an alternate course, eager to move on, but distressed at their lack of options.

And so that afternoon, they headed down to the river, the second, or middle, bridge area, where they had first encountered the rat menace and that girl and her dog. Grummie scoured the area for 'little rodent friends' and after some interesting discussions with some voles, he reported, "Dat girl, she be round 'ere from time ta time. She be either 'iding up in da trees, or under dat bridge or one de udders. Dey say she's not 'ere at the present, but she be comin 'ere bout every day." And that was the vole truth!

Drist immediately came to the obvious conclusion. "If the girl has not come yet today, but she does come every day, it is safe to say that she will be here in the near future. So let us find a place to rest while we wait for her to appear."

"Aye, Agree I do," spouted the gnome, with renewed enthusiasm. "Me tinks we had best be prepared wid trick o' catchin her to, least she wisk away like magic. Me fears she be fearie kind, and hard to catch her, it might be."

And, so, the Seekers took to the trees, hiding themselves as best they could, in the hopes that this girl? Fairie? might return. They were left to think about what they might do when she did.

It was around dusk that their patience and perseverance was rewarded. A cloaked figure, accompanied by a dog, approached the central bridge from the south side. Though the face was concealed by a hood and the dusk, the figure did not seem too imposing. It seemed to look about, the dog staying close to its side. Then, it moved as if to cross the bride, but instead, darted under it at the last moment. The dog followed. Five minutes passed with nary a sound.

Grummie whispered to his companions, "A trap door, mayhaps? Lets her vanish, it does. Shall we search under da bridge?"

Drist nodded towards Grummie. "Yes, we should follow her, before she escapes us once again." Drist waited for everyone's consent before heading towards the bridge.

"Meyhaps yee should wait for godot the way they be respondin'", the gnome muttered as he slowly got down from his perch. He saw that Cassandra was there already. So Drist followed. Cassandra motioned Drist and Grummie to this side, while she quietly made her way round to the other. In what little light was left of this day, and considering the shadowy nature of under the bridge, they could barely make out something moving at the south edge. Both the gnome and the elf could `see' with their infravision, that it was a living, no make that two, living forms. They seemed to be low to the ground near the south edge underside of the bridge, on the bank, not in the water.

Grummie waited patiently, quietly, trying very hard not to move, or even breath loudly; although the excitement mounted within him. He awaited action, either for the figures to emerge from one side or the other, or disappear into some type of secret door, as he originally suspected.

The gnome continued to wait patiently. For now the figures did not move.

The gnome grew vastly impatient, grabbing slowly at his bow and preparing an arrow. He meant to challenge them if they failed to present themselves, and he should be prepared.

Drist continued to watch the figure beneath the bridge. "I would like to be able to approach this strange person, but I fear we will scare her off. I have a feeling, however, that something will happen soon, so perhaps we should wait until he/she/it does something."

Lwcynda, who by this time had joined Cassandra, also waited and prepared a 'hold spell'.

The figures, which the gnome and elf were fairly certain were a human sized being and a four legged animal, remained equally still, as if they, too, were willing to wait it out. It they had an escape route, they showed no signs of using it. And, they were surrounded by the Seekers on two sides, the bridge on one, and the river on the other.

Keeping one hand on the dog's back, the "liberator of goods" stuck to the shadows, trusting the night to hide her and hoping her companion would remain silent with the strangers nearby. Couldn't be too careful...

She thought to herself, 'Hope they aren't chasing _me_.... though, can't take any chances...' Silently, she drew one of her daggers... just in case.

Grummie stared into the darkness. He sensed the figures in their had drawn closer together, as if huddling.

The gnome got quite frustrated, and was ready to leap into action, bow thrust down their throat, when it dawned on him. Instead, he decided to catch them by surprise... utter and complete surprise... The gnome stealthfully tucked away his bow, made sure he was hidden from view, then he cupped his hands about his mouth.

Since she was in darkness, and those who were peering in at her were in the twilight, Kellay could she the eyes of two were glowing slightly, that they probably had night vision. She also realized that the shortest one, maybe 3' tall, brandished a bow, which momentarily aimed in her general direction.

Then, she saw the weapon cast aside, and this small figure spoke, in the deepest voice, growling loudly, into her darkness, "Fe Fi Fo Fum, Dis my bridge, pay da TOLL or yea head will roll"! He appeared to be awaiting a response... movement.. anything!

Lwcynda whispered to Cassandra, who happened to be nearest her, "That didn't seem to work much. Let me speak. I will just tell her that we are friends and remind her that she is in our debt as we did save her from the osquips a while back."

Lwcynda waited and if the majority of her friends were in agreement she would indeed announce who they were(the Seekers in search of truth) and that this person(the girl), and her dog, were in their debt. They (the Seekers) only ask for some information and do not wish to harm her or her companion.

Drist, at a loss for ideas, silently nodded his agreement. Grummie tried to keep his temper, having been waiting for some response for a long time, too long.

So, in a calm, female voice, the priestess spoke as she had suggested.

A female voice responded in kind, somewhat shaken, "What is it you want to know?"

Grummie, now feeling embarrassed that he might have frightened a young girl, bows out and chose not to respond. He hoped that the more gently spoken woman of faith might better be equipped to handle this matter. Nonetheless, he watched closely for anything out of the ordinary.

Lwcynda, after a healthy pause for thought, said, "We thought that you might be able to help us. You see we started out by wondering what was going on in the town with the 'rat'-osquip attacks and when we first encountered you we saw you were being attacked by them. We were wondering what had started theses attacks and why. We thought you might have some idea. Then we started to investigate a little and found some old pirate caves under the grave yard. We found some nasty things down there but nothing that explained the sudden onset of 'rat' attacks. We came across the theft of a certain relic belonging to the brothers who are taking care of the graveyard and we are now trying to locate it. It seems it was taken and hidden somewhere in an old barn or something but when we went there it was no where to be found." Lwcynda took a deep breath. " So now we are trying to find it and believe it might have something to do with the osquips but we are not sure. Anyway, what we would like to know is if you might be able to give us any clues as to what may be happening in the forest and around the outskirts of the town. Have you noticed anyone moving-into the forest or directing the animals or have you seen anyone who might have run into the forest to hide some thing or can you think of anywhere someone might hide something of value out here?"

Lwcynda waited for any answer the girl might give.

Grummie tugged at Lwcynda's pant leg, and when she stooped, he whispered, "I be wonderin' where she was headin' when she come under dis here bridge. Metink's there be a trap door!"

Grummie then began to study the walls and structure of the under skirting of the bridge, trying to be casual about it. His atypical skepticism was evident.

Andremar used his lantern to help the gnome in his examination. The gnome's instincts proved to be a bit off. The underside of the bridge seemed quite well built, and no passage, secret, concealed, or other could he find.

The girl kept her face hidden from the light by the hood of her cloak. She responded. "Relic? Hidden by an old barn? Now, just what might such a thing be worth? Let's say one might know where someone might, er, relocate, such a thing-just what might this `relic' be worth?"

"Well I can't be very sure." Lwcynda turned to her companions and asked "Anyone have any ideas?"

Grummie jerked around when he heard the "girl" inquire about the worth of the chalice. He knew this type of reasoning all too well, and was compelled to jerk her hood off, with a dagger pressed firmly in her rib-cage. He was certain that this was no "little scared girl", and he managed to withstand his temptation and impulse, but the scowl on his face screamed of distrust.

Grummie no longer concerned himself with the bridge or the walls, or any hidden passage. This "person" was far more interesting, and up to no good. She was suddenly the type of person he was used to dealing with, over a pawnshoppe counter.

He readied himself for the worst, as he answered Lwycnda in the most serious tone he could muster (not easy for Grummie),

"Not sure it be worth much. Who'er got it would probably pay someone ta take it away once dat curse set in. Da priests did say twas cursed, and da only way ta be rid o' da curse was ta gib it a monk or priest, aye? Said selling it was nae good, for da curse would only get worse den. I say, I hope we find it soon. Care not who got it, just hope ta get it back to da priests, an' soon, for da plagues set it." He quivered and shuddered, as if disgusted by the thought.

The gnome's statement seemed to have the desired effect. She moved about, then began to move towards him. "Ok, you got my attention. You've made enough racket, and I was only trying to sleep and all."

Grummie had given his own party a quick wink, but now turned to face whoever this was. The person stepped out from under the bridge with hands raised. 'She' looked somewhat boyish, cloaked and hooded up, with just a circle of face showing.

The Seekers stepped back slightly, so as not to overbear 'her.' The voice was still that of a girl. "So, now what's this about a curse?"

Fearful that Lywcnda would not approve of his little deception, and her religious beliefs might prevent her from continuing it, Grummie decided to intervene. The gnome bowed as low as he could reach and stated, "Aye, Grummorald Featherfoot, a Seeker of Chatwin, glad ta meet ya. We know not much o' da curse, but dat it causes bad luck, illness and eventually death, longer da chalice be defiled. Taken it from da clerigy be just this cause. We need not know who has it, or even wish ta cause dem harm, but to save dem from it. Ifen yea can spread da word, it should be returned, for to sell it does not remove da curse."

As the gnome spoke, the other Seekers gathered near him. Kellay could see two women, one obviously a cleric since she had identified herself as such. A second, less obvious about her class, cloaked up and all, though she did have a short sword sheathed at side. An elf, a tall gangly fellow in bright robes with a pointed hat holding a lantern in one hand, staff in the other, and what sure looked like a goblin with leather armor and a long sword in sheath.

Lwcynda, not sure what to say simply said, "Can you help us?"

The cloaked girl's right eyebrow twitched at the mention of a curse... and then again when she learned what the curse might do, though little other change of emotion showed on her face.

She said calmly, "Really? That doesn't sound too.... pleasant. Actually, you know, I may have found something that could be a chalice..." She shrugged and lowered her hands. She could barely restrain herself from grabbing her sword once she got a good look at the group.

To herself, 'If I give that cup thing then maybe they'll go away... oh wait, they said it was cursed... well, maybe they won't blame me for stealing and they can help me remove the curse...'

"Just give me a sec, and I'll go get it." She started backing away towards the underside of the bridge.

Kellay felt the corner of her eyelid begin to twitch. Calm... Don't give anything away... Just get the damn cup thing and hope it's NOT the one they're looking for...

The girl retreated under the bridge, in the folds where it met the ground, where Grummie suspected there might be a secret door. All the Seekers eyes were upon her as, in she bent down, back to them, and rummaged around in something, the dog nuzzling her side. Just when the gnome was sure he had been duped, that there was an escape he had missed, she rose up and turned towards them. Andremar's lantern shone on some item in her hand. As she got closer, all could see that it did, indeed, look like a chalice, a simple silver chalice, marred by dirt and tarnish.

In her hands, it seemed almost hot to the touch, as she did not clutch it, more like just letting it rest on her palms. The girl offered it over. "Is, is this the item you seek?" she asked almost meekly, almost hoping for a negative response, as the possible 'curse' was effecting her speech.

Grummie knelt on one knee before her, bowing slightly, then looking up at her, trying carefully not to over-do it, or offend Lwycnda. He reached out his hands to take the chalice, but didn't touch it, not yet. He then said, in a somber tone, "I believe it is da chalice we seek." He sighed and continued, "I do hereby accept da return o' da chalice, for da purpose o' returning it to da rightful owners, the clergy o' da monestary." He then gently grasped it by the sides, and asked with a hopeful tone, "Forsaking the curse upon dis vessel, doth thee give it freely?"

Seeing that the situation was in his companions' capable hands, Drist decided to wait things out.

The girl said, "Yes, I do give it freely."

Lwcynda looked at her companions and seemed to finally have grasped the situation. "Well Miss, I do believe it is. May I have a closer look?"

The girl handed it to her.

Lwcynda examined the chalice. It certainly looked like the correct item to her. "It certainly looks like what we have been seeking. I am sure the good brothers will want to reward you for your help in finding this for them." She looked in her side pouch, and finding some gold pieces, she says, "I have a few gold pieces that I can offer you now." She offers the girl 5 gold pieces. "Mayhap the brothers will want to give you a few more if it is indeed the right chalice. They will know for sure. Can we meet you here again tomorrow?" Lwcynda waited for the girl to respond.

Kellay's eyes glittered at the mention of a reward. It would probably be less then what she could get in a night's haul, but money was money, after all.

Graciously, the girl answered, "Thank you for you generosity. I would like to, ah, meet the people this came from... it would be nice to know for sure that I haven't contracted anything from being in contact with it... Not that I don't trust what he said, there, of course..."

The other female member of the Seekers stepped forward. "Actually, you are free to accompany us if you would like. Since that is probably the real chalice, and as Grummie the gnome here has mentioned the `curse', then you might benefit from those at the mortuary who have the ability to remove such things. It wouldn't hurt for you to get checked out." There is a definite sense of sincerity in her voice. "Oh, by the way, my name is Cassandra. That is Grummie the gnome, Drist the elven ranger. The priestess here is Lwycenda, a very good woman indeed. The tall gangly guy with the light in your eyes all too often is my best friend Andremar. And that's Gork the Runt," indicating the goblin. "I don't mean to be pushy, or forward, but you do look like someone who could use some, er, companions, if not some friends. Why not come along with us?"

With that Cassandra motioned to all to head off. Over her shoulder she says to the girl, "Or we could meet you here again tomorrow. Up to you."

The girl seemed puzzeled, as if wrestling with something within herself. ~do I want to go with them... argh, don't want to leave the stash this early... oh hell, I can come back for it later, it's hidden well enough. Besides, safety in numbers... Scar will never expect me to be with a group...~

As way of answering Cassandra, the lithe girl ran back under the bridge. Grabbing her pack with her essentials and leaving the haul in its hiding place, she motioned for the dog to follow her as she jogged back to the strange group.

"I'm Kellay D-- just Kellay." with a quirky half-grin. "And I'll gladly except your invitation... that is, if you don't mind, of course..."

"No," Cassandra answered, "Some new young blood, er, I mean, spirit, might be just what we need." She continued to lead the way, and encouraged the girl to walk at her side.

Grummie seemed anxious to return the long sought item to the mortuary, and the rightful owners. "Aye, let's us be getting der quick." He moved along with Lwcynda at his side. They talked quietly together, their conversation being apparently private. He apologized to Lwycnda for misleading the girl, but felt it necessary to recover the object, without paying some huge "finders' fee".

Soon enough they found themselves in the vestibule of the mortuary where a beaming Father Sedwick and a very grateful Brother Selmo.

Sedwick could hardly contain himself. "The chalice! It's the chalice! You've done it. You've recovered the chalice!" Here he stopped to catch his breath.

Selmo was more relaxed, and relieved. He said calmly, "Thank you all so very much. Thank you for making up for my carelessness."

Sedwick had caught his breath. He was down a few octaves but still excited. "I do not know how I can ever repay you."

Lwcynda said, "Father Sedwick, Grummie & I would like to speak with you privately for just a moment if you please."

Sedwick answered, "Certainly. Step in here." His right arm indicated the room just off the vestibule, a study of some sort.

Lwcynda nodded to Grummie to follow along.

They left and the door shut behind them. Cassandra said to Kellay. "You'll have to excuse my friends. They often need their private moments. I prefer to take mine at night, outside, after dark," with a glint in her eyes. "Been in Chatwin long?"

Once inside, with the door shut, she whispered to Grummie to explain how they were able to retrieve the chalice and see if the father will go along with a so called remove curse spell and a small reward for Kellay.

Grummie attempted to explain and convince Father Sedwick. He explained that even though no known curse existed, nor was any such myth attached to the chalice, it could be. Would his deity not be offended by the theft of the object? Didn't the heavenly host sometimes exact revenge on those defiling their temples? A curse could be in place, and he could examine her, or pray over her, just in case.

Sedwick smiled. "Hmmm, seems it took deception to lose the chalice. And now some deception was needed to get it back. I guess two wrongs do sometimes make a right. Sure, I'll remove the curse. Why not. And if you say so, I will gladly include the girl in the reward. Lucky she picked it up, rather than some passer through, now wasn't it?"

The three returned from the other room.

Sedwick looked seriously at Kellay. "It seems, young lady, that I owe you a debt of gratitude, and that you might be in some difficulty from the risk you took retrieving our ancient relic."

Both Lwcynda and Grummie nodded in earnest seriousness.

Cassandra said in a comforting tone. "You best heed them, Kellay. Who knows what the item has as a history?"

Kellay had been examining the area around them, instinctively noticing and marking all possible exits and valuables, when Cassandra posed her question. Pulling her attention back to the older woman, she replied.

"Oh, for a bit. You know, in and out." Shrugging, she tried her best to avoid personal questions.

Sedwick said, "Kellay is it? Well, if you will come into the chapel here," indicating an open door to the right, we can see what we can do about any curse.

Kellay could see the indicated room had benches or pews as did a normal chapel. She was also aware by now of the familiar smell of incense.

Suddenly remembering the curse that the chalice supposedly contained, she stopped looking for possible objects to "liberate" and turned nervously to the priest.

"Ah, yes, sir, that would be very kind of you..." Her skin crawled as she realized just what a curse on her would mean... It meant that she had magic on her. Shuddering almost imperceptibly, she entered the room Sedwick indicated.

Grummie watched as Kellay exited into the chapel. He then turned to his friends and began skipping about the room. He felt young and giddy. He cheered, "We did it, hurray!" He quickly calmed himself, realizing he was being both loud and far too exuberant for a place of worship. He still smiled and inquired of his companions, "What now? I must admit, I do so enjoy your company, one an' all o' yea. I should check in at da pawne shoppe, before we commit ta anythin' else. An see what be new, or what be needen' be found. I should's be acquirin' trinkets and baubles for da shoppe, I admit, but no rush." The gnome finally stopped and noticeably gasped, having forgotten to take a breath in his excitement. He had obviously found his place with the Seekers, both in friendship and purpose.

Father Sedwick ushered Kellay into a modest chapel. He instructed her where to stand, near the rail of the alter. He went to the alter and extracted some oils, and a brazier. Once he had this lit, and the aroma of incense surrounded her, he began to sprinkle oil, form a metal wand, in her general direction. He then went through some incantation, the words to which made little sense to her. After about five minutes of the ritual he smiled.

"There you go Missy, right as rain. Let me just put this away, and we can rejoin the others."

Kellay sighed with relief and smiled back at the priest. No magic is good magic, especially when it was on her!

Cassandra made sure that the young girl was out of earshot. "Now that I have us all alone, I was thinking. This young girl, she seems all alone, to have no one, save that dog of hers. And, she did end up helping us, and we did play a rather clever trick on her. Perhaps we might invite her to join us? At least offer her some friendship? For all we know, she might turn us down flat, but at least then we did offer. What say you all?"

Grummie appeared noticeably worried at the prospect of inviting the girl into their trust. He found it hard to trust others, but remembered, not too long ago, joining the group himself. He shrugged after a moment of self-thought, and said, "Aye, tis good. Mayhaps she ken be of help, aye? No need ta nae trust 'er till she prove not to be trusted, right?" He smiled and nodded in agreement to Cassie's suggestion.

Lwcynda said, "Well I guess we can invite her to join us. I wonder what special talents she might have? .... "

Cassandra said, "Well, she does seem to be good at locating things. Hmm, I wonder . . ."

Drist simply nodded in agreement with the others, unable to shake the feeling that he had seen this girl somewhere before, on one of there previous quests. Drist shrugged and ignored the feeling as one of suspicion about the girl.

So it seemed decided.

After a time, Sedwick returned, as did the girl. "Ah, here's your friends back. And I removed the, uh, curse, so she's right as rain." He had a grin on his face as he spoke.

Kellay found herself back in the vestibule seemingly surrounded by the Seekers. Cassandra, the cloaked female spoke. "My friends and I were talking about you. We were wondering, since you do not seem to belong to any group or anything, and you did help us out after all, maybe you might like to associate with us sometimes? Nothing formal or anything. We do not have an initiation rite or that sort of thing."

Kellay looked at the woman thoughtfully, but Cassie continued before she could reply.

Cassie seemed at a loss for words here, till she stumbled on, "Look, here's the deal. We meet every Waterday for lunch and the Inn of the Shadows. In fact we have a regular table. So, if you'd like to join us for lunch, and if something of interest comes along, then maybe you might come along with us, if it suit your fancy. What do you say?"

All eyes were upon Kellay as they awaited her reply.

"Hmm... Well, I suppose it wouldn't do me any harm." She smiled at the group. These guys seem to have a good rep, so maybe that'll rub off a bit...

"Thanks for the invite, I'll see you at lunch sometime, then?"

Cassandra said, "Sounds good to me, er, to all of us actually. You will have no trouble finding us, I assure you." There was some lightness in the rogue's voice suggesting that she knew they'd have difficulty finding the young girl, especially if she did not want to be found.

Cassandra continued, now speaking to everyone. "So, we may well have found someone to replace Jutos, though I think she will walk softly and carry a smaller stick." Everyone laughed, cept Kellay who had know idea who Jutos was.

"Not to worry, I'm sure Grummie will delight you with tales of his large friend." Then Cassandra had another thought, and her demeanor changed. "Er, Father Sedwick? Now that we've found your chalice, I don't recall. Did we agree on a reward, or is this gonna be one of those, 'virtue is it's own reward,' ones?"

It was the priest's turn to grin. "No, no. While I agree with the platitude, I do understand that you all have lives and living's to make. Suitable recompense will be sent to you shortly. How about if it finds you at the inn you mentioned. Say next Waterday?"

This seemed agreeable to all. As they left the mortuary they all knew they had done a good deed.

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