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Darl allows the redeemer to enter first, stooping slightly as he follows him through the doorway and enters the cluttered office.

Giving the redeemer a chance to speak first, Darl pauses and looks around the office before addressing Father Malaki. "Greetings, Father. I understand you are the esteemed benefactor of the task being presented before us?"

After asking the usual questions regarding the orb, it's origin, and possible theories about its purpose, Darl will simply state, "So, Father ... you know who has it, don't you."

Retrieving the token from an inside pocket once again, turning it over in his large hand as they converse. "You're obviously a travelled man and something of a historian ... Perhaps you can shed some additional light on the symbols on this token."

Darl allows the redeemer to enter first, stooping slightly as he follows him through the doorway and enters the cluttered office.

"Good evening Father." The Redeemer says in polite greeting to Father Malaki. "May I introduce a colleague in our search for the missing orb. This is Darl." He says, indicating the very tall imposing figure entering the room behind him.

Father Malaki is momentarily taken aback by the dark presence that Darl presents, however, he quickly recovers. "Ah, good evening to you both. You just missed your friends. They were here asking questions. I suppose you have some for me as well?"

Giving the redeemer a chance to speak first, Darl pauses and looks around the office before addressing Father Malaki. "Greetings, Father. I understand you are the esteemed benefactor of the task being presented before us?"

"Yes, a terribly tragedy. I'm sure the others have filled you in on the details." He says with sincerety. "I will do everything in my power to help you and to reward your brave efforts as well."

Darl asks the usual questions regarding the orb, it's origin, and possible theories about its purpose.

Father Malaki responds with the same answers he's given before to general questions about the his life, the orb and his theories on it's use. {OOC: Read the end of chapter one One for a refresher on the specifics if needed or ask specific questions to Father Malaki if your looking for more details in any particular area.}

After Father Malaki winds down, Darl will simply state, "So, Father ... you know who has it, don't you."

Father Malaki's eyes open wide in surprise. "Why in the world would you think that!? If I knew who had it, I wouldn't need you would I?" He says somewhat indignantly. "I'd simply go get it myself or send a party to retrieve it. I need you and your new friends to figure out who has it and to retrieve it for me, that is, if you think you're up to it."

Retrieving the token from an inside pocket once again, turning it over in his large hand as they converse. "You're obviously a travelled man and something of a historian ... Perhaps you can shed some additional light on the symbols on this token."

Instantly mollified as the nature of a researcher takes over, Father Malaki comes closer to Darl and inspects the coin more closely. "Ah yes, this is definitely Salome's work. See this marking here?" he says as he points to one of the ruins. "This is Salome's personal symbol. In a direct translation I believe it means 'all powerful' or 'most powerful one' or something like that. Arrogance typical of Salome. The rest of the symbols usually indicate the authority of the carrier. I have a notebook around here somewhere that might shed some light on what the rest of the symbols mean, but it's too late tonight to find it." Father Malaki stops abruptly and looks up at Darl looming above him. "Say, how'd you come by this? It's extremely rare for one to be out of the hands of one of her minions. I'd guess that losing one would end in the death of the subordinate."

Darl smiles at the thought. "Well ... thankfully, the fiend I took this off of won't have to worry about that anymore."

"Sadly, Father ... that brings me back to my first question. The demon who was carrying this was part of a group that I was tracking. Somewhat strangely, when they noticed me, they only sent one to investigate ... while the rest continued to run on, in quite some haste. After I dispatched the first, the rest of the group led me here, just on time for them to escape through the rifts at the end of the raid."

Darl pauses a moment, to allow the various implications of his story set in.

"I fear, Father, that we must consider the possibility that this was no ordinary raid ... this token suggests that Salome may have had some part in organizing it. On the other hand, it may just be a freak coincidence, and the group I was tracking may simply have been taking advantage of the free ride home."

"In either case, this is the first clue we have at the moment ... and if there's a chance that Salome has the orb, I'm sure you can appreciate that we need to confirm or disprove that theory as quickly as possible. Perhaps we can offer a hand in tracking down that notebook?"

Father Malaki looks thoughtful and worried as he considers Darl's theory. "Oh dear, that would truly be bad if Salome managed to get hold of the orb. Especially if she somehow knows how to use it." More deep contemplation before Father Malaki again breaks the silence. "The fire was set before the demons arrived, so I just assumed that the orb was taken first and the fire set to cover the thieve's escape. You're suggesting that maybe the demon raid was to cover the escape instead? There was at least an hour or two in between the two events, though. Wouldn't a diversion in the form of a raid be better if it happened at the same time as the theft?" Father Malaki looks at Darl and The Redeemer expectantly.

"Darl," The Redeemer chimes in after Father Malaki's words trail off "Did the demon you killed say anything that might give us an idea of what they were about?"

Darl pauses thoughtfully.

"Well, let's see. I first saw them a number of miles from here, traveling parallel to Demon Territory as opposed to directly to it. After a while, they adjusted their direction somewhat towards demon territory, which put them on a direct course with the village."

Darl pauses again, trawling through his memory banks ... and then, raises his head solemnly.

"Well, apologies for trying to break this gently." he states. "But no use trying to ease the blow. 'I should be with my company headed for that puny town ahead, not listening standing here listening to your puny mouth.' ... That's a direct quote."

"Their 'mission' was to get here ... and Salome herself ordered them to save their power so that they may create rifts once they arrived here."

"And ..." pausing once again, with a deep frown, "He spilt this information to me while we were still at least an hour away."

With a sigh, Father Malaki says "It appears...that our efforts to remain hidden were already compromised before the days events. What do you make of the rest of what he said? Does it support your thinking that this was not just a simple raiding party or could there be some other explanation?"

"It's still possible that this was a standard raid ... though I have my doubts. The group I tracked were specifically coming here to facilitate the retreat, which would suggest it was pre-planned. And from what I hear, the demon retreat was rather sudden ... and I've never known them to choose to run away when there was a good fight to be had."

"As for other explanations, I'm open to alternatives ... I'm certainly not one to want to rush into Demon territory until we've explored all other options as to who may have the orb. To be honest ... I was just returning from an ill-fated journey that direction, and was looking forward to a few days where I didn't have to look over my shoulder every five minutes as I travelled."

Darl holds up the coin in his hand while continuing.

"If it was just a standard raid, then it's probable that the carrier of this token was a fairly low-level member of Salome's army. If the raid was a distraction or coverup as the thief made their escape, then she likely would have entrusted the escape to someone with more stature in her community ... Perhaps decoding these other symbols on this token would help set our minds at rest?"

Father Malaki ponders Darl's words in silence for a few moments before carefully responding. "What you say may be true, but even if they were here to steal the orb and used the raid as a distraction, I don't know how they would have found out that the orb was here." With sadness in his voice he says "The only explanation I can think of is that somebody has betrayed me from within."

Father Malaki looks down at his table and without meeting their eyes quietly says "Leave me now and come back in the morning. Maybe I will have more answers for you then. Please tell the guards that I am not to be disturbed any further this night."

Darl considers the Father's words carefully. He certainly didn't want to go rushing back into Demon territory, especially with the rag-tag group of misfits he had encountered today. It was true that, perhaps, there was more to learn within the town which might help them confirm or deny that Salome was behind the theft, before they might choose to risk their lives attempting to retrieve it.

"Certainly, Father," Darl responds. "We'll leave you to your re-sorting. Please do consider finding that notebook, as it may help shed some light on things. Should I seek out Brother Tobius about accomodations, then?"

After getting an answer (either directions to a room or advice to seek Tobius), Darl will excuse himself and duck out of the Father's study.