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"Not yet," Gilathanas says. "If we move quickly, we may still harry them enough that they'll recall the troops and buy Qualinesti yet more time. There can be no further delays, however, or else we truly will fail."

"It is a 'long shot' anyway." Sturm says slumped in a corner, looking at the Elf, "I believe the Measure is firm on this, the Elves have a chance to save themselves, they have weapons, the people here do not." The Knight gives them all a stern glance. "These people need our aid, perhaps we can do some damage while we are here, perhaps not."

"Goldmoon, stay here, Elistan will need guidance, Magpie, we need your help." He looks directly at the Gully Dwarf. "Stay with us, the rest of you go and get the Children, Riverwind you are in charge as before. Bring them back here safety."

"You say the Dragon is no threat? Even a Dragon with no teeth is dangerous, so say the stories, I remember the stories told by my nursemaid, of Huma taking on the Queen of Darkness." Sturm shakes his head and gives Maritta a concerned look.

Jerrard wrote:"You say the Dragon is no threat? Even a Dragon with no teeth is dangerous, so say the stories, I remember the stories told by my nursemaid, of Huma taking on the Queen of Darkness." Sturm shakes his head and gives Maritta a concerned look.

"We will not take her lightly, but we must get the children." Riverwind turns for the door but looks back over his shoulder "Just be ready to go rescue the men when we get back."

Laurana pulls her disguise over her shoulders and follows the plainsman.

"Me stay with you?" Magpie asks, sitting next to the Knight.

Goldmoon moves over to Elistan. "Let's pray together to Mishakal and ask her for as much healing power as we each can transmit" she suggests.

She prays for healing spells (cure light wounds, cure moderate wounds) to fill all her slots.

"Nothing would please me more," Elistan says. "The Disks have opened my eyes, and I can feel the power and the love of the gods of light now as if they had always been present." He chuckles. "I suppose they have, I had just never noticed before. "I feel I have finally--after all of these years of looking--have found my true calling and wish to serve Paladine and the other gods of light directly. But, there is one problem. The Disks refer to something I need--a 'medallion of faith.' I don't suppose you have any extra about, do you?" he asks the plainswoman.

Goldmoon smiles at Elistan. "I do not have an extra one, but I can give you one all the same. Watch, you might need to do this at some point, too."
She kneels down in front of Elistan and motions to him to do the same. Then she takes her medallion off and holds it up between them. "Mishakal, Goddess of healing, this is Elistan who wishes to serve you as I do. Please grant us the favour and duplicate the medallion, so he can wear the symbol of his dedication to you."

As Goldmoon lifts the medallion over her head, it suddenly drops back around her neck. But a second medallion is still in her hands. This one is different in appearance, though. Instead of resembling an infinity insignia, it instead looks like a platinum dragon--the icon for Paladine.

Accepting the medallion, Elistan reverently puts it on. "Praise the gods," he whispers, on the verge of tears. "I am not worthy of this honor, but I swear I will dedicate my life to strive to be worthy."

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Elistan is now a true Cleric of Paladine.

"You are indeed wise.." Laurana says as she leaves.

"You big cleric now?" Magpie asks curiously.

"Paladine." Sturm says with a painful bow. "The Platinum Dragon." He sits near the Cleric, still severely wounded.

Once Goldmoon has recovered her spells, she will examine Sturm, dressing and caring for his wounds in the traditional way, and then pray to Mishakal for more healing (cure moderate wounds) 1d10+1=8.

The party dons their disguises, which vary in complexity depending on how much there is to disguise. The women, like Tika and Laurana, need only wear hooded cloaks to hide their weapons and armor (and in Laurana's case, her ears). The men's disguises are more elaborate, and some have to try and cover up their faces, as well. Caramon is such a large man, that he stands out despite his disguise--so he hunches over, trying to imitate an old woman.

"This way," Maritta says, leading the way back toward the staircase leading up to the next floor.

Meanwhile, Goldmoon casts a prayer of healing over Sturm, which heals some of the acid burns he suffered in the last fight.

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Goldmoon casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Sturm, healing (1d10+1): 8 HP.

Tas stays behind as there is no way to disguise him as a woman due to size.

Maritta leads the disguised Caramon, Riverwind, Laurana, Tika, Eben and Gilthanas back to the stairs. After climbing them up to the second floor, she leads them down the northern hallway, an area they had not explored previously. It opened up into a massive hall to the east. Along the way, they pass by a large pair of ornate doors guarded by a pair of hobgoblins.

"Verminaard's throne room," Maritta whispers. "Leave the talking to me, and act natural."

As the party starts to pass by, one of the hobgoblins steps forward. "Who is that? Maritta?"

"Yes sir," she says, bowing quickly. "Just going to feed the children and take them out for a walk outside."

"Hmph, carry on then," the guard says, returning to his post.

As Riverwind and Caramon pass by, they overhear one hobgoblin mutter to the other, "Boy, there are some ugly women in this group."

Riverwind says nothing, but does make note of the doorway Maritta points out.