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Catching up to him out in the street The Redeemer says in a soft voice "Mind some company?" Before Darl has a chance to respond they both spot a group of about six church soldiers coming down the street towards them. As they fan out across the street, their weapons at the ready, the two men that left the tavern earlier can be seen a few meters behind them. The apparent leader of the group of soldiers beckons to one of the two men following and after conversing briefly with him the leader steps forward and looks straight at Darl. In a loud voice he says "I've been told that there's trouble brewing in Shad's place. Do you know anything about that?" It's obvious by the look on his face that it's a rhetorical question but he wants to see how Darl is going to respond.

"I certainly do," Darl responds. "It appears you've got a new visitor in town, one who has done nothing to prove his value to this community, and one who is not part of the group that Father Malaki has recruited in order to right the wrong which has fallen upon your town this troublesome day. Father Malaki has charged us with carrying out a very important task on his behalf, and this newcomer seems intent on running interference with that charge. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he is in fact working for the Unholy himself, sent here to run interference and prevent us from carrying out our mission." Looking at the two soldiers in the back, he addresses them directly. "You saw how he attempted to provoke me ... does your village always welcome such troublemakers with open arms? In any case, you can find him back at Shad's, unharmed, and probably gloating over his supposed victory ... I'm not one to suggest how to do your jobs, but am I to be punished for possessing discretion where he apparently has none?"

After pausing for a moment to let the question settle in, he continues ...

"As for the task which Father Malaki has set before us, I'm trying to understand the demon's motivations behind the attack. What, if anything, can you share with us to help us understand exactly how things went down this afternoon?"

The leader beckons three of the soldiers and one of them men from the bar over to him. After a moments discussion the four head down the street towards Shad's. This leaves Darl and The Redeemer facing the remaining three soldiers and one of the men from the bar.

Stepping closer to Darl and The Redeemer the man says "Did I mention anything about punishment? I simply don't like outsiders causing problems in our town. We've had plenty of trouble for one day and we have better things to do than babysit." The mans eyes narrow a bit the mention of Fahter Malaki. "As far as what Father Malaki may or may not have asked of you, that's no concern of mine." After a moments thought the man sighs. "If you truly are trying to help, I'll tell you this, before dawn this morning the upper floors of the church caught fire. Not surprising since it was made of wood and full of who knows what kind of dangerous stuff that the Father Malaki has collected. We were in the process of trying to put the fire out when the demons attacked. Many of the families and elderly fled while the rest of us stayed to fight. I might ask you where you were doing all of this?"

Darl attempts to project a more 'cavalier' attitude.

"Apologies ... I guess I assumed that you had some sort of punishment on your minds when you approached me with weapons drawn."

"As for my whereabouts, I happened across a small group of demons a number of miles from here. Based on their haste, I could tell they weren't your average raiding party ... they were obviously up to something. I managed to split one from the pack and tried to question it before it died; but all I was able to determine is that they had a small part to play in a much larger plan. I then attempted to catch up with the remaining demons, but arrived just in time to see the rifts closing after the attack."

"So I came to town and tried to help where I could."

Darl stops to ponder the man's comments. He had assumed the demons had caused the fire as a distraction, but he had to still consider the possibility that Malaki himself was responsible for the church damage. Perhaps it was time he spoke with the good father himself.

"If I may be so bold as to inquire ... was anyone actually in the church when the fire started? And how long was it burning before the demons arrived?"

"Not a problem." The commander congenially responds to Darl's apology. "I hope you can understand my men's anxiety over approaching someone of your stature and resemblance to certain members of the Horde. I felt, until we knew what situation we were walking into, that a bit of extra caution was warranted.

"As for the fire, I'm sure there were people in the Church at that time. After all, it houses many of the priests, including Father Malaki." The man pauses in thought for a moment. "Lets see...the fire started just before dawn and we'd been working on putting it out for a bit...I'd say there was probably an hour between the two."

"Ah ... I had assumed that the demons had started the fire during the attack ... thanks for the clarification." Darl tilts his head slightly, as if deep in thought. "I've been told that most of the fighting occurred on the side of town away from the church ... and it appeared to me that the church is where the wounded were taken. Did any of the demons actually try to push into town or make their way towards the church ... as if they were looking for something? Or were they content to stay on the outskirts of town ... as if simply waiting for someone or something to come to them, so that they may help facilitate an escape?"

After getting his answer, Darl will thank the soldiers for their time ... then, as if an afterthought, pull out the token and ask, "One last question ... I took this off a demon I killed, who was part of the group making its way here just in time to help facilitate the demon escape ... I don't know if it's related, but it could be a clue ... have any of you ever seen anything like this, or know what it represents?"

"Ah ... I had assumed that the demons had started the fire during the attack ... thanks for the clarification." Darl tilts his head slightly, as if deep in thought. "I've been told that most of the fighting occurred on the side of town away from the church ... and it appeared to me that the church is where the wounded were taken. Did any of the demons actually try to push into town or make their way towards the church ... as if they were looking for something? Or were they content to stay on the outskirts of town ... as if simply waiting for someone or something to come to them, so that they may help facilitate an escape?"

"Well," the man says with a thoughtful twist to his face as he cranes his neck to look up at Darl "We were busy fighting the fire one minute and then the next a boy came running up the hill screaming about demons. We all grabbed our weapons right quick and ran down to a battle already in progress. Can't say for sure if the demons had been laying in wait for a signla or not. My guess is they say the fire and it attracted them. Dumbdest thing, building a bonfire this close to demon-land." The man smiles wryly at his own wit. He seems to be warming up to Darl some now that they've begun to talk.

After getting his answer, Darl thanks the soldiers for their time ... then, as if an afterthought, pulls out the token and asks, "One last question ... I took this off a demon I killed, who was part of the group making its way here just in time to help facilitate the demon escape ... I don't know if it's related, but it could be a clue ... have any of you ever seen anything like this, or know what it represents?"

The soldier takes the coin and looks it over, flipping it from one side to the other before handing it back. "Doesn't look familiar, don't think I can help on that one." The man looks thoughtful again--all this thinking appears to be taxing the mans brain and threatening to give him a headache-- "Now that you mention the 'retreat', that's the darndest thing. I've never heard of a demon raid being cut short so rapidly. They fled with very few prisoners. I know we were holding our own, but they hadn't begun to take many casualties yet. I would think they would have pressed harder."

When the soldier finally winds down, The Redeemer says softly to Darl "May I see the coin? I've spent a fair number of years near demon territory, maybe I'll recognize it." His tone of voice says that he may already knows what it is.

"Ah ... So you didn't just join me for the company, after all," Darl jokes. Pocketing the coin, he adds "Hold that thought for a moment."

Turning back to the soldier again, Darl adds, "It's growing a bit late ... And Brother Tobius had mentioned assisting us with accommodations for the night. Since he's not around, do you have any suggestions as to where I might find him, or someone else that we should talk to?"

"Well, Brother Tobius can probably be found up at the chapel. His room and office are there. It's early enough that he's likely not went to bed yet." The soldier directs Darl and The Redeemer to the location in the church where the good brothers office is located. "There should be guards posted outside the church entrances, just tell them that you talked to Lieutenant Evans. While you're up there, you might talk to Father Malaki about that little bobble of yours. He may know something about it.

"It's been nice talking to you, but it's about time we returned to our rounds. Have a good evening and good luck to ya." With those parting words, the lieutenant gestures to his men and then proceeds to head down the street the way they were going. The man from the tavern trails along with the soldiers and then turns to head back into the Shad's place.

"Sorry to hold you off, there ..." Darl states to the Redeemer, once they are out of earshot of the guards. "Tobius was less than welcoming earlier today ... so I figured it'd be good to catch him soon regarding a roof and a bed."
"But on to more important things ... you recognized this token ... what can you tell me about it? Some sort of identifier used by Salome or the Unholy, I gather?"

As they converse, Darl will lead the way towards the church, intending to chat with Father Malaki ... and also Tobias, if he does not yet have a bed after his discussion with the Father.