CH 2: Two Heads are Better

[HorizonsDream]

After slaying three trolls, casting spells, and saving people, Echo was pretty exhausted. She watches the reunions of everyone for a few moments before she turns to the Pharise, Argis and Cadegund. "Pharise, I need to speak to you about this temple that we are heading towards," Echo says. "I was meaning to speak to you earlier about it, but chaos erupted."

[JadedDM]

"I have something more to add, as well," Hollidan says. "Were it not for Echo and the wand, we never would have succeeded. She did all of the heavy work, we were barely able to scratch those things."

"Then it seems we are in your debt, Miss Soulstaff," the Pharise said. "Perhaps it was no coincidence that you joined our expedition. Come, we can speak by the fire." He turns toward the others. "Set up a watch, a wider perimeter than last time." The paladins and clerics nod and get to it.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo looks to Hollidan with surprise. She hadn't expected someone to give her credit for anything. Now the question was if she should be snooty about it or not. ~Well, I can stand him more than most,~ Echo thinks to herself as she walks towards the fire with the Pharise. With that in mind, she decides not to be snooty about the whole thing. "Well, first off, what exactly is your name?" Echo asks. "I feels odd just calling you Pharise all the time."

[JadedDM]

"While I am grateful for your assistance, we are hardly on a first-name basis just yet," the Pharise says. "Pharise is the proper title you should use when addressing me. That being said, my actual name is Pietas. Pietas Archonson."

[HorizonsDream]

"Oh, don't worry. I'll still call you Pharise, but I felt I should at least know the rest of your name," Echo states. "As for the temple, it is going to prove to be extremely dangerous there," she explains. "This is going to sound insane, but an owl told me this. No one has returned from the temple we are seeking."

[JadedDM]

"What manner of owl was it?" he asks. "Are you certain it happened, or was it a dream or vision?"

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm certain it happened," Echo says. She had just woken up, but she wasn't going to go into those details. It just makes her look like she was crazy. "It was a tawny owl."

[JadedDM]

"There's an old story regarding Baerin, that Gonto sent a talking owl to warn him of the dragon's coming. It was also a tawny, or so the legend goes." Pietas strokes his beard. "Surely this cannot be a coincidence."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, the fact that it talked to me, of all the people here, is a bit odd as well," Echo admits. "Though, I assume that you'll still wish to continue forward. The owl knew it was dangerous, but didn't know what dangers we would be facing."

[JadedDM]

"Yes, we suspected there would be danger in the first place. At least now we have confirmation," the Pharise says. "We'll have to be more careful. We've already lost three pilgrims, I don't want to lose any more."

As an afterthought, he adds, "Oh, you may as well hold on to that wand. Nobody else here can use it, anyway, and according to Hollidan, you've mastered it quickly."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, I'm starting to understand the wand better," Echo assures the Pharise. "If you will excuse me, I think I need to get some rest. Spell casting takes a lot out of me."

[JadedDM]

"Yes, by all means," the Pharise says. "You've done your part. Now we must do ours. I need to arrange for a funeral for those departed and make sure the guard stays on their toes; no easy task, as there are more pilgrims than paladins and clerics put together."

[HorizonsDream]

"Do any of these pilgrims know how to defend themselves?" Echo asks. "If there are a few that can, they might be able to help out with the watches."

[JadedDM]

"Most are just farmers, craftsmen, and simple merchants. None have any serious combat training. Some will fight if they must, but against creatures like those two-headed monstrosities...well, even our best warriors weren't much help against something like that," the Pharise says.

[HorizonsDream]

"Hmm, speaking of which, Hollidan came into possession of a sword while we were in those caves," Echo says. "I know it is magical. He says it is a holy sword. We also came across some gemstones and coin."