'Oh, uhm... I'm looking for a friend I was seperated from years ago, I'm not even sure he's still alive. I thought the skills that come with bounty hunting could help with that,' Alyndra blushed, 'And I kind of ran out of coin on my travels.'
Celine squeezed Alyndra's hand for encouragement before speaking to her softly. “It is not for us to decide Carina's punishment, especially when there may be more things that we don't know about.” She left it ambiguous what she meant by that and turned back to the priestess. “I'm sure your Order has rules for such cases, so best to leave it to you. Anyway, where can we find High Priestess Carina? Like I said, we need to ask her a few questions about the bounty she put out.” She repeated her earlier question.
"Poor thing." The blond woman embraced the young woman and hugged her tightly. "Worry not - it's not much, but I can always offer you a place to stay here, should you need it."
"Of course." The priestess stepped back. "Follow me." The blond woman led the trio through the hallways, they passed several acolytes, a rather beautiful garden with fountain and few altars. She stopped in front of a wooden door and knocked. "Come in!" Juanita opened the door. The trio found themselves standing in front of middle-aged woman, who despite her age, oozed with sexuality and grace - high priestess Carina looked from the documents she was working on and smiled. "Hello there. How can I help you?" she inquired pleasantly.
Celine gave polite thanks and a nod to Juanita, then focused her attention on the High Priestess. “Good day. We're sorry to interrupt your work, but we would like to ask you a few questions, if that's alright. It's about a woman called Verena...” She carefully observed the high priestess as she said that, waiting to see her reaction and searching for sings of anything unusual.
@Tjf @unisol_gr44 Immediately, the woman's face became serious. She nodded sharply. "That will be all, Juanita." she dismissed the priestess. The blond bowed and left the room, closing the door behind. "I understand that you are from bounty hunter's guild?" High Priestess asked seriously.
“We are,” Celine admitted as she took a quick look at her companions before turning back to Carina “we saw the bounty and we would like to know... well, everything you can tell us about Verena. Approaching a woman like her without knowing what to expect is often... not very good for one's health, shall we say.” The elf explained as she looked at the high priestess. She considered asking specific questions, but decided to wait and hear what Carina would tell them first.
Not knowing if she could control herself enough to hold a civil conversation with the woman and keep herself from exposing their plan for the High Priestress, Alyndra said, 'I-uh-I'll leave you two to ask the questions. I forgot something.' She stepped ouf of the chamber with Priestess Juanita. She frowned, talking quietly so they wouldn't be overheard, 'She lookes pleasant enough, but then... that's what she wants everyone to think, right?'
"No idea." Gih shrugged, as he approached the elf, "You know any inns that accept goblins?" He asked her, his expression showing no signs of guilt.
@Tjf @unisol_gr44 @moonblack The high priestess sighted. "Truthfully, I can tell you nothing of her capabilities." She paused for a moment. "A few weeks ago, we captured a cultist - after interrogation, she admitted to being part of Heide Braun's cult 'Thorns of pleasure'. She was sent here to recruit the witch but was rebuffed. She described several... disturbing artefacts, including one book that I managed to identify - 'Whispers in the Mist'. It's a very dangerous artefact, but my request to send it to temple for protection were rebuffed. Considering the number of other questionable and dark things that were described to be in witch's hut, I fear that she is not a person to be trusted with them... and recently, there were several strange things happening in the village." The woman got up and walked up to the window. "I need your group to capture that woman, so we can interrogate her. We also need to secure any dark artefacts present, move them to the temple and study, to make sure they are not dangerous or in any way responsible for... events in the village. There is a possibility, that the cult will send another emissary - this time, someone dangerous." The woman turned to a bounty hunter, her face full of worry. "Make no mistake - the witch was present in this village for as long as people can remember her, yet despite her age, she looks no more than thirty - and that makes her dangerous."
The dark elf sighted. "At least it looks like you are trying to do something... ah, very well. You might take one of the rooms upstairs." She threw a key to a little goblin.
"Thanks." Gih nodded at the dark elf, as he barely caught the key. He heads upstairs to his room, where he counts his looted coins. After that he heads to sleep, planning on heading to an alchemist shop to buy more potions.
As he counted the income, he noticed that he gained 4 gold coins overnight. The next day, he woke up early, fresh and ready for new day of excitement...
Gih woke up quite early, since goblins are naturally nocturnal creatures. But the old bounty hunter he was with saw to that, forcing the little goblin to sleep early, and wake up early. Though if he wanted to, Gih could easily stay awake for a day or two. He heads for the nearest alchemy store to buy potions, hopefully he can buy a few. Or at least restock the two he lost.
As Gih travelled around, he had to dodge a group of thugs, that recognized him. It took him some time, but finally he found a shop he was looking for. "Yes, how can I help you?" The man behind the counter looked at him.
Gih growled as he realized he was a wanted goblin now. He'll need a new cloak, and probably a hood. But as he made it to the shop, he looks around to see what they had, "What potions you have?" He asked.
"Rrm. Need health, and poison. Weak poison, mostly to paralyze." Gih replied, "And yes, me have coins. Me work for bounty hunter guild." He added in a rather proud tone.
