Welcome to Gaia! ::

(Alright thanks for the help. ^^)

Brillux quietly sat. He didn't need to eat anything since he was dead, so the nice quietness of the room was all he needed. The skeleton would move when the time had come. Relishing this brief moment, he figured he wouldn't get many chances alone again.

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Cresstus had enjoyed a refreshing night's sleep. Deciding to eat quietly in the tavern he gazed out a nearby window while enjoying some Maple Nut Coffee. Not really hungry he hadn't ordered much and occasionally nibbled. Something was on his mind.

For many nights he had, had visions of this town. Like destiny was trying to pull him into something. Yet the Cleric couldn't figure out what that was. The tavern around him seemed kind of quiet around him. Sitting in a table far away from the pregnant women and their male warrior, he hadn't noticed their presence.

Suddenly, the door burst open as a middle aged man came in, in a hurry. The bartender gave him a confused look.

"What's the matter Joe?" the bartender asked.

"M-My daughter! S-She's caught a fever! I-I've heard that there's a Cleric that had come to town but I haven't found the person!" Joe gasped.

Cress looked up and sighed. Part of him hated being a Cleric, yet someone had to take care of the diseases and sicknesses that plagued the land. Quietly standing, the young man left the amount of money for his meal and gently walked over to Joe.

"I'm a Cleric." he said tenderly, "Kind sir if you could calm yourself do you think you could explain the kind of ilness your daughter is plauged with?"

Relaxing upon his large staff, his poster was firm and ready for travel, but also gentle and soft. Cress was no amature, yet he wasn't a Master either. No matter how hard he tried Cress could never achieve that class so he always just teetered inbetween.

"I don't know if he was or not. I was at the forge most of the night" Said Firin wolfing down another piece of sausage. The paladin had felt a holy presence around but dismissed it. To her it felt like a monk, it was their just faint. "I have a feeling I should help though. It is duty..." Said the paladin to the group and gesturing towards the middle aged man who was panicing about his daughter.

"Eric's right." Roxanne stated, reaching out and taking hold of Firin's arm to keep her from standing up. "Whenever we use our magic, it triggers whatever the idol has planted within us and causes it to grow. Trust me, I speak from experience. It's best if we let the cleric tackle this one solo."

Nonetheless, Roxanne kept an eye on the cleric while she continued eating her meal. Their small group would likely need the services of such a person if the wizards couldn't reverse what the idol's magic had done to them.

"My daughter! Sh-she's fallen into a deep sleep! She was fine yesterday but this morning she wouldn't wake up! On top of things she's running a really bad fever!" the man said with fear to Cress.

"I see...hmmm..." Placing a hand to his chin he began to think. "Are you sure she didn't wander off anywhere yesterday?" he asked with concern. He had his suspicions that the poor child had consumed a Bilmanyo Fruit. A fruit which was grown to be used for magic potions, dream powders, and forging weapons.

"W-Well she told me that she had found some wonderful and sweet berries. Th-There's a small fruit farm just outside of town. I-I wonder if-"

"What color were these berries!" he asked in sort of a terror-filled voice.

"W-Well they were red and speckled. Wh-Why? Don't tell me she might have eaten something poisonous!?"

He sighed, Cress hit the nail on the head. Problem was he would have to venture off into the nearby woods to find a cure for the effects of the fruit. Yet he was no warrior, biting his lip he pulled out a small tome from his bag and flipped though it's pages.

"Yes, she's consumed a Bilmanyo Fruit. By the way you speak, maybe several. The girl's condition isn't deadly, but the poison in the berries often times has odd effects if consumed without boiling them first. You're just lucky she didn't end up paralyzed. I can make a powder that should flush out the poison but..it requires a certain plant that happens to be growing in the nearby woods." he replied to the man closing his tome.

"I'm no warrior, so unless you can point me to a sellsword or two there really isn't much I can do. Silverfawn Plants are rare and only grow in chaotic places. Still, I will find a way to save your daughter! Yet you should go home and make sure she's got plenty water. The poison also drains the water from the person slowly. A warning too, keep and eye on your child. I probably won't be around if something like this happens again."

The man thanked him and hurried out the door. Letting out an annoyed sigh Cress was unsure of what to do. It wasn't like there were warriors sitting right under his nose, most of the sellswords moved from location to location, much like himself. Still he would have to venture alone and probably risk his life if he had to.

(I figured everyone would like to stomp around a small forest dungeon. =P At least it would give us all something to do. )

(About time we wandering off into another dungeon, thank you for kicking us in the right direction again SD. =P This side-venture will give Shade time to juggle around with his idea of tossing in a villain a little bit longer.)

Roxanne shrugs. "You have a point there, and such a chance is not to be sneezed at. Go offer our services to him, if he offers payment just make up a story saying we were headed that way anyway." Roxanne said, nudging Eric with her elbow. "Best if the cleric was approached by the knightly looking person rather than an overdue warlock, paladin, or candle witch."

Turning to Firin and Mina, she added. "Just remember, if you MUST use your magic try to limit yourself. Carriages don't come much bigger than the one we got."

(((Oh yeah, I ought to think about that more.)))

"Oh come on, you're all not overdue. Just a bit rounder than most is all." Eric quickly left the table. Fully knowing if he had not, the warlock was going to have some words for him. Not the nice kind she was pulling earlier either.

Heading over to the Cleric, Eric waved to him as he did. "We meet again, Cleric. I see you're in need of a sellsword, allow me to offer my assistance." He then tapped Cress on the shoulder. "My wife's heart goes out the the child's situation. I have other travelers that may be able to also help you."

Eric began to chuckle. "I think we were born with the wrong names, my name is Eric Castor. I'm a swordsman, but I'm doing some lancing these days. A different kind of edge you could say." He replied, he looked to the others momentarily, then back to the the Cleric.

"Don't worry about paying me, I would like your services though. Of course you remember my concerns of my wife's journey. I could use someone like you along for the ride." Eric began to walk away. "I'm going to ask everyone to prepare, you're more than welcomed to follow."

After heading to the table, Eric pressed both of his hands on their table. "It's done, everyone get ready to go. If possible, stuff Brillux somewhere. Mina's bag will do." He stated.

Firin had entered the room where Mina, she, and Brillux were sharing. Noticing the skeleton was still "Sleeping" for lack of better words. "Sorry to do this to you!" said the paladin hauling him into Mina's bag along with the rest of their possessions. That done Firin turned to her armour.

First went her molding breastplate and greaves. Then her boots and gauntlets. Lastly she reverently strapped her sword to her back. "One last thing" she muttered. She muttered a faint prayer of protection into the silence in the room. Then she trampled back down the stairs carrying her armour and the witches's bag.