"Very well, for your Monk and Wizard companions I will procure two potions of Cure Light Wounds, for your Were-Kin warrior a breastplate, and for the others who have decided to eschew borrowing items I will devote their portions to providing more potions, and a waterproof lantern," Reverend Flo says.
"Now, to go get your other two companions," She says, rising from her seat and gesturing the rest of you to proceed her out of the office.
Back downstairs the situation is explained to the mercenary, who takes it all in stride and signs readily enough, save that he insists on being the 'Senior Officer' of your group for this mission: he has gauged your skills and knows that he is the most experienced among you, even if not by much. He also fully introduces himself:
"Name's 'Sergeant-At-Arms Noah Plasterer', and you all would be well advised to follow my lead. I'm an experienced hand at this 'Killing-things-for-money' business. Even if I mostly do it on field, hill, and glade as opposed to cavern and crypt I still have more experience than you lot. I've worked with adventurers before, and know a thing or two about surviving these sorts of excursions, such as how to probe a chest with a collapsible rod to test if it's a Mimic or liable to explode when touched," He explains at length.
"Very good Seargeant, but for now we must retrieve Brother Saul and sign him on to your group so that you may be on your way," Rev. Flo declares and leads you all out into the driving rain for the short walk to the local temple of Pharasma...
It is a miserable fifteen minutes that you slog through the rushing waters of the local streets. Even though this is the county seat the Royal Engineering Corps has not seen to the infrastructure here in some twenty years and the walkways are in a sad state. Your way is mired with puddles; broken sections where the pavers are smashed to pebbles and the mortar to dust, and slimy patches of rotting refuse and less savory material. You wonder why the count takes no pride in his town, or if perhaps some debt or fee that he owes due to gambling or other foolish indiscretion saps the monetary vitality of his house and lands.However, soon enough, you are under the awning at the doors of the temple of Pharasma.
Like most temples of the Judge of Souls, Pharasma's temple here is built in a great colonnaded circle with high awnings to the north, east, west, and south. Within there are three levels in each of the four quarters of the structure and a large circular central hall which surrounds a spiraling central dais adorned with her holy symbol in glazed tile. Above the Dais is a domed roof with a large hole at it's apex, the Oculus, through which Pharasma is said to look down on those laid out on the dais before they are cremated or buried. Your guide takes you up a spiral stair to the third floor, where the clergy have their Bedrooms, and then along the halls to the door marked "Brother Saul", under the frame of which shows yellow candlelight, where she knocks once.
"Enter." Comes the reply from within, and Reverend Flo does so, the door having no lock.
You see before you a young man of Human stock. He is kneeling before a low lectern upon which rests a large Illuminated copy of "The Bones Land in a Spiral", Pharasma's main holy text. Two candles burn in sconces to either side of the book which he appears to be reading.
"The time has come for me to leave the cloister, hasn't it reverend?" He asks, without turning around, though he closes the book on the lectern.
"Yes Brother Saul, it has, the moment we both have known would come for some years hence is at hand," Reverned Flo DeLaHunt declares, and he rises.
"I must say 'Good Evening' to you then; you, who are to guide me to the day of my death; may it be deferred for as long as I am still able to do Pharasma's holy work..." He declares, and approaches the door, at which point you all notice that Pharasma's holy symbol is seared into the flesh of his forehead as if with a branding iron...
