Xavier approached the inn. Finally. He had almost given up, but there it was. His night was painful, but he was satisfied now. He felt something on his face and he brushed his hand across to wipe it off. Upon looking at his hand, he saw red. Obviously he had some blood residue on his face. Not a good thing. He licked his hand and scrubbed his face. It came off a bit, but he had no way of knowing whether or not it was still there. He hoped it was gone.

Xavier opened the door to the Nightshade Inn. He could smell breakfast being made. It was quite a tasty smell... especially now since his mind wasn't clouded with just blood. Mmm... he was definitely going to get some of that when he had the chance to sit down.

Looking around the inn, he moved toward an empty table, but sharply turned around upon seeing his three companions. Nimbly dodging a serving woman, he moves over toward the table with Satya, Ardulace, and Selummiel. Smiling cheerfully, he grabs a chair and sits down with them.

"Good morning all of you. I trust you all spent a wonderful night? By the way, what is the breakfast that smells so delightful? I think that I might want some... Have you three already eaten?" Xavier's manner is totally energetic now, a sharp contrast to how he had been when he left them the night before.

"Good morning Lacy, was that you last night?" Satya asked as she realized the instrument in the woman's arms and remembered the issue of her disguising abilities from the previous day."You play beautifully" she said as she sat down next to her.

"'Quel amrun."
"Oh, Hello Seluumiel." Satya was startled by the silent approach of the pale elf, "I trust you both slept well."

Then again suddenly a voice from behind her chirps "Good morning all of you. I trust you all spent a wonderful night? By the way, what is the breakfast that smells so delightful? I think that I might want some... Have you three already eaten?
"Why yes Xavier it was a wonderful night. I can't remember the last time I slept so peacefully. I feel like a new woman," Satya said with a smile. "It smells like ham and fresh baked bread and ....honey?" The sweet and savory aromas where making her stomach gurgle and do flips while she waited for the meal. As she closed her eyes and took a deep breath in she heard the shuffle of feet. When she opened them she saw two of the morning kitchen staff unloading large plates of food on the table. Honey cured ham sat piled on a plate steaming and juicy, small rolls of warm fresh baked whole wheat bread sat wrapped in a basket with a dish of butter set next to it. Then followed a tray of assorted fresh fruits of the season, and to top it all off a large pitcher of hot cider. As the wonderful decadent smells accosted her senses a young boy scurried over with a stack of five plates and cups. He was barely tall enough to reach the table as he slid the stack over for them. She did not bother to answer Xavier's last question for her actions spoke for themselves as she grabbed a slice of melon and put it in her mouth as she loaded up a plate full of wonderful tasties.

"Good morning Lacy, was that you last night?" Satya asked "You play beautifully" she said as she sat down next to her.
Ardulace smiles, “Thank you, but I’m really just learning. I was here briefly last night, yes.”

"'Quel amrun." She greeted her new companions as she lifted the cup of water to her lips.
“And to you as well,” replies Ardulace to the moon elf.

"Good morning all of you. I trust you all spent a wonderful night? By the way, what is the breakfast that smells so delightful? I think that I might want some... Have you three already eaten?" asks Xavier.
The arrival of the food answers Xavier’s question, as Ardulace helps herself to some fruit. Glancing around the room she wonders aloud, “What has become of Chiron Po? Hast any of th… have any of you, seen aught of him?”

She turns to Seluumiel, “You wished to speak of certain matters? What would you know?”

Seluumiel filled a small bowl with seasonal berries and black pepper. She had not realized how hungry she was, it had been too long since her last meal. After adding a dallop of honey she popped one of the berries in her mouth savoring the marriage of sweet and spice.

Xavier enter the room with his usual gusto, it seemed a night of rest had done the pale man some good. She nodded to him in greeting and moved to stand near the disguised drowess.

Ardulace turned to her, "You wished to speak of certain matters? What would you know?"

The moon elf nodded, "I asked the innkeeper to send for you last night. I had hoped to discuss your meeting with the she dragon further. After studying the mayor's book I am convinced that the master the dragon spoke of is in fact Taimat, but perhaps some discussion can further illuminate our quarry. I will go into further detail of what I have learned when all are present."

She paused to take a sip of spring water and then regarded the taller woman, "I had also hoped to discuss matters of The People, matters which should be discussed in private."

Almost three hours after dawn Chiron saw the gates of Leaphaven rising up before him. Nodding a greeting to the morning guardsman, he marched into town, past merchants setting up shop for a day's worth of bartering, past children playing in the street, past mothers futilely attempting to get their young to do their chores, and up to the door of the Nightshade Inn. He paused outside and looked in through a window. Everyone was sitting around a table in the common area talking and finishing up their morning meal. Ardulace was present, an in her half elven guise.

The paladin still didn't know what to do about her. Froud's guidance had been sound, and after playing the events in the house many times over in his mind Chiron could find no definite evidence of Lacey's involvement with the boy's abduction. Time and observation. Be polite.

Chiron reached for the door, repeating to himself, "She could be telling the truth. She might even help the town. She could be good."

The paladin stepped inside, and quickly moved to the table where Bailash Castor's newest officers all sat. "Good morning. I trust you all had a relatively peaceful night? I apologize for my quick departure last night."Chiron paused for just a moment to consider his next words, "I was in a place of... conflict, and needed to seek out a neutral party to ask for subjective advice. I think the short absence has done me some good, and I was able to find the guidance I needed. I shouldn't need to leave you all like that again." As he spoke he tried to make eye contact with everyone at the table, taking special care not to exclude Lacey nor to linger to long on the drow and stare.

Having said what he needed to, the man pulled out a chair near Seluumiel and collapsed into it. "Was there anything interesting in the books the Governor provided?" he asked of the elf as he reached for a wedge of melon.

The moon elf nodded, "I asked the innkeeper to send for you last night. I had hoped to discuss your meeting with the she dragon further. After studying the mayor's book I am convinced that the master the dragon spoke of is in fact Tiamat, but perhaps some discussion can further illuminate our quarry. I will go into further detail of what I have learned when all are present."
Ardulace nods, “I thought it best that I not make my presence here obvious to…” she pauses to clear her throat, “everyone. I was only briefly in the common room before I found myself overcome with weariness, and retired early.”

Seluumiel paused to take a sip of spring water and then regarded the taller woman, "I had also hoped to discuss matters of The People, matters which should be discussed in private."
Noting Chiron’s rapid approach, she nods. “Perhaps that would be best.” She pushes her chair back far enough that her weapons will be clear of the table if needed.

"Good morning. I trust you all had a relatively peaceful night? I apologize for my quick departure last night." Chiron paused for just a moment to consider his next words, "I was in a place of... conflict, and needed to seek out a neutral party to ask for subjective advice. I think the short absence has done me some good, and I was able to find the guidance I needed. I shouldn't need to leave you all like that again."
Ardulace forces a pleasant smile and turns to the Paladin. “Thou need not ever apologize for thy rapid departure, Chiron Po.”

She then returns her attention to her breakfast, while remaining a bit farther from the table than most people would find comfortable.

At Chiron's approach the dark elf nodded and replied, "Perhaps that would be best."

Seluumiel watched the other priestess move to the opposite end of the table as Chiron Po pulled up a chair beside her. She and the dark elf had much to discuss. Seluumiel hoped the paladin would grant them the peace to do so. To her knowledge, not since before the elf wars had faerie elf and dark elf walked side by side, perhaps together they might find some path to undo the power of the Spider Queen.

The moon elf nodded to Chiron as he took the seat by her side, "Greetings Chiron Po, I trust the night has proved...enlightening."

"Was there anything interesting in the books the Governor provided?" the paladin asked as he reached for a wedge of melon.

Seluumiel nodded to Chiron and faced the group as a whole. She began to address the group as whole. "I have learned much from the Governor's book and we have much to discuss. I believe that Castor's suspicions are correct, Taimat is at the core."

Xavier's eyes widened at the food that came to Satya... and he hurriedly ordered the same. It looked delicious. He became very focused on the food... At least that's what he looked like.

Xavier was really listening intently to the conversation going on between all of the others. He would be able to pick at everyone's weak points in due time... He could do it. Knowing how to talk to a person was the key to getting what you wanted from them.

However, at the mention of the Dragon God, Xavier coughed a bit, choking on his food. He spluttered. "What? Tiamat? How is that creature involved in this?"

Seluumiel began to address the group as whole. "I have learned much from the Governor's book and we have much to discuss. I believe that Castor's suspicions are correct, Taimat is at the core."
Ardulace continues to nibble at her breakfast, then cocks one eyebrow in surprise at the moon elf's announcement. "Tiamat? Well, that certainly does complicate matters. We may have to content ourselves with trying to seal the portals or banishing the house back whence it came, and hope that she does not involve herself directly in this matter."

After considering the matter for a moment more she adds, "Some reinforcements might not be a bad idea either."

Xavier coughed a bit, choking on his food. He spluttered. "What? Tiamat? How is that creature involved in this?"

Seluumiel nodded to the pale man, "Sadly she has much to do with this. You will remember the book we found in the house 'Five colors, five heads is all I know of your fate.' Taimat possesses five heads and is worshiped by the evil colored dragons, draconic reptilians, and even some humans. There are cults to her here in Unther. It may well be that these cults were responsible for the appearance of the phantom house, there is much to consider."

Ardulace continues to nibble at her breakfast, then cocks one eyebrow in surprise at the moon elf's announcement. "Tiamat? Well, that certainly does complicate matters. We may have to content ourselves with trying to seal the portals or banishing the house back whence it came, and hope that she does not involve herself directly in this matter."

After considering the matter for a moment more she adds, "Some reinforcements might not be a bad idea either."

"You speak soundly Ardulace," Seluumiel replied. "Though first we must find what called the house to this world. I suggest that we begin with the cults of Taimat in Unther."

Chiron wasn't sure he was ready to leave the house, because he wasn't sure the house was ready to leave Leaphaven alone. "Before searching for whoever or whatever summoned this house, we should go back there and double check that the immediate threat to the town has subsided. The children saw undead, the guards saw ogres... we should ensure nothing else has already been brought through those doors before we go sleuthing."

He took another bite of melon before continuing, "Don't get me wrong, I definitely want to find whoever called the house here and started all this mess. I just think there's one step we need to take first, and that's to go back to the house."

Satya listened to the conversation thoughtfully as the whole group had assembled and after finishing a bite of warm bread she added, "I will agree with Chiron. When tracking a foe I always start with the trail that is the hottest. The house seems the most logical approach, because what if this cult in Unther has nothing to do with it. Then we have wasted precious time instead of making sure that more children are not lost and guards killed. From what you tell us Lacy, I do not think that the appearance of the house was a planned thing. If I'm not mistaken in what you have relayed that black dragon seemed equally surprised at getting trapped inside as I was. It very well could be a faulty portal, and where ever it leads to is where we need to be going to get to the root of the issue. Destroy it from the other side. Then if it lands us in Unther we will know the next step we should take."

She was hesitant to say anything more then what she felt she understood. This Tiamat creature, Queen of the Dragons, seemed awful and they all feared the idea of encountering her. She must be truly great indeed.

"I believe that we should stop by our employers as we are headed out of town and make him aware of the possible threat in Unther. With the war to the north that is so close to his door step I am sure he has contacts closer to Unther that he can inform of this potential threat. Also I do beleive that he has two people arriving today that just might be that reinforcement that you stated we will need Seluumiel."

Seluumiel watched Chiron and Satya cooly as they spoke of the need to return to the house. She took a sip of water and listened to them each in turn.

Gazing at the human warriors she replied "In all our dealings with this phantom house we must tread with great caution. It may well do us good to investigate the sight of the place again, but let us not forget the capricious nature of that house. Remember that the building nearly faded away with Ardulace and Chiron still inside, and you Satya were trapped inside for a time as well. I for one do not relish the thought of finding myself prisoner to another world, and becoming prisoners ourselves will not do the people of Leaphaven any good."

The moon elf paused to take another sip of water before continuing. "Regardless there are too many coincidences lining up for any of this to be a coincidence. I do agree, we should meet with the Governor before making any decisions. He knows more of this land than any of us."

Pausing a moment she smirked, "And Satya, though I do agree with her, it was Ardulace who suggested reinforcements not I."

"My apologies Ardulace, I was so absorbed in watching my meal and listening to the conversation that I did not realize my mistake."

The sun shone brightly as two women, one on a huge, dapple-grey Percheron and the other following on a smaller pinto, approached the gates of Leaphaven. The sound of the birds in the woods was slowly giving way to the noise of the busy marketplace beyond. The leader scanned the city's wall from end to end, squinting her green eyes slightly against the bright sky.

"We are almost there, my lady. Soon we will be much safer inside a city's walls. Remember that Castor said he would have a surprise awaiting your arrival," the armored one said to the hooded-and-robed figure in tow.

Tenacity Valence was a knight, and her device was blazoned on every visible possession, even the barrette that fastened her sun-bleached, strawberry-blonde hair in its perfect braid. Any observer with an adequate knowledge of heraldry would be able to place her as Cormyrian minor nobility.

The past three days had been spent worrying about attempts on the life of her companion, a refugee from the wars in Unther. Tenacity had made several valiant tries at conversation on the first day, but Camille von Richter seemed preoccupied. Since then, it had been contained to the necessities of camp and travel.

She would be glad when this commission was complete. Such somber proceedings grew tiresome after even a few days, and she couldn't tell why this one woman had been singled out. Time for reflection later, of course, and a proper bath. Tenacity forced herself to refocus as they approached a comfortable speaking range with the gatekeepers.

"Greetings!" she called to the guards. "My name is Tenacity and I have business with the governor. With me is my charge, Camille von Richter. Pray direct us to my lord Castor's manor."