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Kendra Synclair (Common Room, Grinning Goat Tavern)
"So he's handsome, rich and devoted to you?" asks Crystal. "Well, I see two options. First, marry him and then just take a paramour or two. We have this gigolo in the guild, Nikos and by the gods, let me tell you, you don't know what pleasure is until you've spent a night with him. I could introduce you. Anyway, that way you get everything you want. Money, prestige, you make your folks happy but you still get a little something on the side." She pauses. "Well, I guess you could also marry him, get his money, then arrange a little 'accident.' But I somehow doubt a righteous and noble Holy Guard would go that far. Then again, if you are desperate enough..." She grins.

"Otherwise, introduce him to me. I'll marry him. Hells, I'll even let him put a baby in me if he's rich and handsome enough. Then you're off the hook." She widens her eyes in epiphany and snaps her fingers. "Wait, let's combine the two. You marry him and get his money, then I'll seduce him. Then we can use that to blackmail him for everything he's got. You can divorce him, since he was unfaithful, but you still get all his money, too. By the gods, I am a genius." She holds up her glass to Kendra then downs it.

Darga (Grand Market, Market District)
Darga buys a pound of fresh vegetables for a copper piece, a pound of cinnamon for a steel piece, a gallon of tea for a copper piece, a pound of common herbs for five coppers, and some beef and fish for 4 silvers.

He then heads to the Steel Tankard, which is as crowded as ever, especially in the current dreary weather. Elbowing his way through the crowds, he does not spot the pregnant woman anywhere. Cassandra, however, is currently serving food and drinks in beleaguered haste.

Gregeddin and Haahqae (Cult Hideout, Harbor District)
The warehouse is filled with deafening silence. The vast majority of these people are simple refugees. Before that, they were farmers, merchants, and craftsman before they were forced to flee their homes. Naturally, most are not too eager to step forward and volunteer to fight a giant.

Finally, Darewind speaks. "I know naught of any giant," he admits. "This is the first I've heard of it. But then, I have been incarcerated for the past five days. But if this is true, I question your method of insulting me and then asking for my help. Regardless, I will put together a group of our most skilled warriors to take care of the threat. Once we have taken the city, those refugees left out in the cold, outside the walls, will be welcomed within with open arms. But until that time, I will see to their safety and well-being."

Tulbas Erogund (253 Herbalist Street, Erogundali Mageware Shop)
Searching through his uncle's archives, Tulbas does find an old book called The Holy Order of the Stars. It details the old gods--the ones that vanished after the Cataclysm. It claims that there were 21 gods back then, split up into three pantheons. Each pantheon had 7 gods in it.

The Pantheon of the Dawn consisted of Paladine the god of Virtue and Redemption, Mishakal the goddess of Healing and Life, Branchala the god of Music and Harmony, Kiri-Jolith the god of Honor and Battle, Habbakuk the god of Animals and Rebirth, Majere the god of Discipline and Meditation, and Solinari the god of Magic.

The Pantheon of the Twilight consisted of Gilean the god of Knowledge and Balance, Reorx the god of Craftsmanship and Creation, Sirrion the god of Fire and Passion, Shinare the goddess of Industry and Commerce, Chislev the goddess of Nature and Earth, Zivilyn the god of Foresight and Time and Lunitari the goddess of Magic.

The Pantheon of the Night consisted of Takhisis the goddess of Power and Ambition, Sargonnas the god of Vengeance and Rage, Hiddukel the god of Secrets and Intrigue, Zeboim the goddess of the Sea and Storms, Chemosh the god of Death and Undeath, Morgion the god of Disease and Madness, and Nuitari the god of Magic.

The book explains that all of these gods, save the three gods of magic, would grant prayers and miracles to their most devout worshipers. These miracles included magical healing. This was done with special medallions known as Medallions of Faith. Sadly, the gods, their clerics and all magical healing vanished from the world when the Cataclysm struck, three hundred and fifty-one years ago.

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Darga buys the supplies Tulbas asked for, spending 1 steel, 4 silver and 7 copper pieces.

"Okay," Kendra says as she stands from the barstool. "And here I thought I was going to talk to someone that was slightly more sane than insane."

Trying to relate his response to the crowd around him, Gregeddin replies "It is the nail sticking out that gets the hammer, sorting the chaff from the wheat, and evidently the insult that gets it's questions answered fastest. Excellent! Together we will rid this city of Giant strife and show compassion for those subject to it's terror." Striking his fist emphatically in the air he chants "the order, for the people!!!" hoping to spruce up the crowd.

Tulbas is dismayed reading these medallions were required for the healing. Then he decides to give it a try nontheless. He searches all the descriptions of Mishakal and her attributes, and tries to raise her image as vividly as possible in his mind. Practicing the Craft such mental exrecises were not difficult for him. Maintaining the image he kneels near his uncle, puts his hands gently over his chest and pray, "Oh, marvelous goddess, lost ages ago, I pray to you in this time of great need with the hope that you can hear me. Please help my uncle regain his health and conciousness. I know many years have past since last the old gods intervened in mortal life, and that my need is as nothing to the gods, but I pray with all my heart since this request means my life to me. Please hear me and I'll devote my life to spread the word of your greatness and compassion." He concentrates all his will, trying to draw the aspects he read about the goddess upon himself and lay his hands, one on his uncle's heart and one over his forehead.

Kendra Synclair (Common Room, Grinning Goat Tavern)
"Well, that's a rather rude thing to say to someone who's just trying to help you," Crystal says. "Besides, if you were willing to sit and drink with me, things must be pretty bad. Maybe you need to hear some outrageous suggestions," she points out.

Gregeddin and Haahqae (Cult Hideout, Harbor District)
The crowd cheers, but Kelryn raises his hands and they instantly go silent. The power this man holds over them is nothing but absolute. "But for now, we prepare tonight's celebrations." He claps his hands. "Let us begin."

The people begin moving about, preparing to set up tables and chairs, start cooking food, and so forth, for the celebration at nightfall. Kelryn turns to Gregeddin and Haahqae and gestures. "Come, we shall speak more privately," he says, leading them to his private office in the back.

Tulbas Erogund (253 Herbalist Street, Erogundali Mageware Shop)
No matter how much he focuses or concentrates, nothing happens. No celestial choir can be heard, no glowing lights or sudden winds, no miracles whatsoever. Raetmal doesn't even stir. Perhaps it was true, that a Medallion of Faith is required. Or perhaps his faith is simply not strong enough. Or maybe the gods have really left and there is nobody up there to hear his prayers.

"How is hearing outrageous suggestions going to help?" Kendra asks curiously. "Maybe the marriage wouldn't be so bad if he didn't want me to be the pretty little house wife that has a lot of babies."

Gregeddin nods and follows along through to the back. Any hopes of anonymity within the city he may have had are surely gone with his antics in front of the crowd, perhaps it's just better to embrace the notoriety now he wondered.

"Oh good, the crowd was a little loud, better to continue planning without it." Haahqae agrees while following after the prophet. "To help the giant we also have a woodsman from the Steel Tankard and a mage who won't leave his wounded uncle's side until he gets better."

Kendra Synclair (Common Room, Grinning Goat Tavern)
"Well, don't do that then," Crystal says. "There's an herb that you can take that will prevent you from ever getting pregnant. I can hook you up with our supplier. Your hubby will never know something is amiss. Hell, he may even think it's his fault."

Gregeddin and Haahqae (Cult Hideout, Harbor District)
Kelryn leads them to his office where two armed men stand guard outside. One of them opens the door to let the three in and closes it behind them.

The office is small and simple. There's an old desk and a few chairs. The desk has nothing on it at all, and there is nothing else of note in the room. Kelryn sits behind the desk and clasps his fingers thoughtfully.

"Well now," he begins. "I am uncertain if I should commend you on your bravery or lambast you for your stupidity. Coming into here, interrupting my speech, accusing me of not helping my own people, then bringing up your little cause--all an attempt to force my hand in front of my flock, obviously. My question is--what is in it for you two? How does the death of some giant benefit you?"

For a second Tulbas gets angry when nothing happens, then he shakes it off thinking to himself he should have known better. He gets up, open the far window to let fresh air in, and goes to the chicken to brew some herbal steaming liquid to put later near his uncle.

"Or my fault," Kendra says. "I think he all ready believes something is wrong in that area. That, I think, I could probably do."

Gregeddin pondered Darewind's question as Haahqaue replies, he hadn't really thought much about why he, or they, were doing it other than just something to do, yes it would end up helping some people he supposed but that was not it's biggest attraction for the bard.

"Notoriety is a funny thing, able to push, pull or otherwise sway the minds of people. Without any direct source or elixir to bestow it upon oneself you have to take chances in the moment to acquire such a richness. However I would view this as a mutually beneficial relationship, a Giant would make a fine trophy to demonstrate the physical power of your Order to outsiders." Gregeddin replies merrily, "I'm sure I could write a good chorus telling the tale of followers who risked their lives to righteously rid this foe."

Gregeddin and Haahqae (Cult Hideout, Harbor District)
Kelryn appears amused. "Glory hounds then?" he asks, leaning back in his chair. "Interesting. But aren't you worried that, should the giant be slain, the credit for doing so will go to me, or more likely, the Master Himself?"

Tulbas Erogund (253 Herbalist Street, Erogundali Mageware Shop)
A cold autumn breeze enters through the now open window. Not long after, a small grey owl flies up and perches on the open windowsill, looking inside.

Kendra Synclair (Common Room, Grinning Goat Tavern)
"Well, there you go. Problem solved," Crystal says triumphantly. She reaches into a belt pouch and procures a couple of small herbs. "Here, first time is free. That should at least get you through the honeymoon night."

Now that Darewind seems more at ease in the situation, Gregeddin takes a moment to look at his physical appearance, trying to see if: The medallion hanging around his neck? The detail on it if visible. Any bruises or rashes on his arms from being in prison shackles?

Gregeddin chuckles, "I'm fairly certain that my face and appearance has been branded into the memory of the crowd, given their death stares just now." Gregeddin continues curiously, "Oh I was under the impression that you were the Master?"