"Hey, Xuor, let me lend you a hand with those." Taking a share of the load, Devon and Xuor walk over to the inn to meet up with the rest of the group.

Devon's stomach gurgles loudly and he looks around hoping nobody heard it. "Guess I'm pretty hungry myself!"

As they near the Inn, a tall elf greets them at the door.
Although Devon is polite by nature and very careful not to offend anyone, he never did care much for elves. Mainly because it seemed most of the ones he met acted like he was a lower class than they, or at least too good to have him in their presence. He hoped she wasn't like that. He noticed how her eyes seemed to almost look right through him, he was hungry, tired, and had enough of the eye game from earlier.
So he looked into her eyes trying to match her intensity and
said, "That's the way I like to start a day, with good news!
Well met Miss. You can call me Devon. I would like to wash up real quick if you could point me in the direction of your facilities, please. The food sure does smell good!"

Devon and Xuor hitch the horses to separate posts and head inside the inn. Devon goes and washes his hands and returns to sit down at the table and eat breakfast hoping to learn a little more about his next destination and his new companions.

Brinna Looks up to see Lorae standing outside the inn. "Good Morning, I had you stallion shod as he had no shoes on and the granite rocks with tear up hooves in no time."

Devon greet Lorae question and response with his name.

"He is lost and looking for Tiverton," Brianna looks pointly at Lorae.

"Devon, You can wash up just off the kitchen the innkeeper has a bowl and pitcher of water and fresh towels." Brianna offers Devon that bit of information, "Then come join us<" she adds as he walks off in the direction she pointed out to him. "Come on Xuor, I think we well deserve our breakfast."

Devon walks off and Brianna shrugs to Lorea. "I think you would be better at explaining the situation about Tilverton better than I could."

When Devon returns Brianna is talking to Lorae. "Oh and think either your and/or the drow's skills might be needed. The blacksmith's youngest child fell ill last night and is still sick. His oldest girl in coming here with some winter wear. I thought we might look at before we head over the mountains. She can lead you back to see if you can help their child."

Brianna looks up and nods to Devon as he approaches the table.

"Good Morning, Devon," Lorae ofters an unexpected smile and nod as her is introduced. As Devon returns her gaze, a twinkling of good naturedned mirth dances in her eyes. She certainly likes a oerson who will look her in the eyes.

As Brianna esplains that the young man was looking for directions to Tilverton Lorae nods, "Ahhh, another on their way to Tilverton, and there no Tilverton. That is still so strange to me."

As Devon is off washing up, Brianna reports on her morning events and by the time Devon returns, Brianna is telling her about the sick child.

"Save some breakfast for me, I will go see to the child now."

With that she heads off and cross the across the commons toward the blacksmith's shop.

Brianna had the right of it, though she had no idea as to whym Lorae had a very deep commitment to the wellfare of of children all children..

Devon returns looking ten times better than when he walked into the place. The dust and dirt from travel were washed away, his hair neatly groomed, and was almost clean shaven with the exception for a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee.
Sitting down to a hearty plate of breakfast, Devon demonstrates immaculate table manners, not wolfing his food down in spite of his bear-like hunger, keeping his elbows off the table, listening to the conversation, but always waiting for his mouth to be empty before he spoke.
"My compliments to the chef. The elf woman, Lorae isn't it? She seems like a nice person. I've only known her for a very short time and she's earned my respect and admiration already." He takes a bite of his meal, and waits til his mouth is clear.
"I admire someone that can put others needs before their own. I hope the child will be alright. By the way, what did she mean that Tilverton is gone? Did she mean the WHOLE city has disappeared?"
He continues eating, hoping he's planted a seed for conversation to gather information. As stated before, he's a talker that's for sure, but what is a good conversationist without being a good listener?

"My compliments to the chef. The elf woman, Lorae isn't it? She seems like a nice person. I've only known her for a very short time and she's earned my respect and admiration already." He takes a bite of his meal, and waits til his mouth is clear.
Brianna looks up as Devon speaks, not sure she heard what she did. the she simple chortles with unsuppressed mirth, "Lorae? The cook?" she ask incredulously after she stopped laughing. Where did yu get that idea? Lorae is our Paladin, not the cook."

"As for Tilverton, that is what is being told by many The city of Tilverton is a huge hole in the ground and anyone trying to go there to find out what happens disappears. The Purple Knights and War Mages are guarding the place and allowing no one near it. Anyway that is what we heard." Did you have family there? if so then I am sorry to inform you of this."

"Give me some credit for common sense, please and thank you! I know that she didn't cook the meal, my admiration of her is in her selflessness and kindness. I said nothing about lorae being a cook, I was Just commenting that the food was good."

Inwardly reflecting that he knew it was a mistake to make both comments together without clarification.

"No, I have no family there. My father, before he died gave me a very old map of the this realm, not very accurate though. He told me if I were ever to escape Genesica, that I was to follow the route planned out on the map and follow the directions written at each location. Both my parents died in a dragon attack, and I am here by the grace of fate. Back in my homeland, some spoiled rich kids from a city call Sebria bet that I wouldn't enter a portal rumored to be unstable and unreliable. They gave me half before I entered and they said they would give me the other half of the wager when and if I came back through. Well needless to say the joke is on them. I have half of a 156000 gp wager AND I made it out of Genesica. But now It seems my quest is to meet with failure. If Tilverton is being guarded, how would one get to look for clues to the cause of the city's demise? If you are all headed there may I join you?"

Catching sight of Lorae speaking with the newcomer, Alexandria motions to her, beckoning her over. "Happy morning Lorae, may Eilistraee bless this day for you. And also for that man, who is he? He seems to be quite the good man... A traveler, perhaps?"

"And I must say, I've not seen Flame today. I'm rather surprised. Does h- ... sh- ... hmm... does it often disappear like that?" She says, struggling over what gender to apply to Flame... she hadn't been able to identify one as it was.

"Good morning, Alexandria." "The young man in question is Devon, he is on his way towards Tilverton, though I do not think it is his destination."

"As for Flame, He is mainly tied to Brianna, but he is also independent. Be assured, that by the time the food is served for breakfast, he will be there. That is the one thing you can be sure of about him, He is never late for a meal."

"Now, I have someone I need to go see, I am going to see a child who is ill I would have invited you to join me but these people live close to the Underdark and I am not sure if they would react well towards you, but just in case I have need of you skills I do have a disguise ring you might be able to use. If you will consider helpoing out".

"The credo of the Dark Maiden is not exclusive. By showing my willingness to aid those who are in need, then I will have a chance to show my brothers and sisters who cannot see the truth at the moment what is the truth." Alexandria brushes a few strands of hair out from in front of her face, tucking it behind her ear. "That is, if you are going to see my fellow drow. If not, then I will be able to spread the message that not all of the drow are evil, and goodness can be achieved, possibly creating an oppourtunity for acceptance towards my people. I will come with you."

Smiling as she rose, patting her sword, Alexandria shakes her head. "And thank you for your offer, but I will decline the use of your ring. I will not hide my heritage, because the Dark Maiden has chosen me for who I am, not who I can be. I am ready to go now, if that is when you wish to leave. If not, I can go whenever you wish."

"I only mentioned the ring, but I was pretty sure you would choose to be yourself."

They went off together and easily found he Blacksmith's home, next to his shop.

"What is this child's affliction? And why this child, out of all of the others sick and dying in the world? A special, personal connection?" Alexandria strode proudly, feeling the Dark Maiden's presence with her. The moon had fallen, limiting the connection she had with her, but it was still there.

"Brianna told me that the Blacksmith's daughter was taken ill. That is why I go there."

Lorae knocks of the door of the house. "could there be others here, I have not doubt, but I do not have the omniscience to discern such," Which is a very unusual thing to say. "I do what I can when I can, and for me a child is need is of personal importance.

A sandy haired boy of about 10 opens the door, "Yes?"

"Your father mentioned you sister was ill, we have come to see what we can do to help her."

As the boy looks out at them his mouth drops open, "MOTHER!" he yells running back into the house.

Some minutes later a woman cautiously looks out the crack in the door. She had the look of a care worn mother, as she pushed back a lock of errant hair before opening the door further. Hiding behind her skirts is the boy.

"I am Lorae and this is Alexandria, priestess of Eilistraee and a healer, we have come to see what we could do for your daugther."

There was an immediate sense of relief in her face. "Please come in."

Whatever reservations she might have had concerning Alexandria were overcome by her anxiety over her daughter's illness.

She leads the way to a bedroom, where the girl lay. She quikly tells them both about the her daughter's illness. there has been a fever that goes up and down, general aches, acute muscle cramps, and nausea.

Lorea turns to the mother, "Please bring a kettle of boiling water, and we will have to undress her to see if there are any more signs of her illness."

Once she is gone, Lorae pulls back the bedcovers on the girls and begins to undress her. "I believe that you should take the lead in this."

Both priestess and Paladin work to undress the girl and while they do she undergoes a sudden muscle cramp in her back. It last for about 20 seconds of excruitating pain before subsiding. The girl's screams in pain and her mother rushes in. she soothes the child and Lorae leads her back to the kitchen before returning.

They find no rashes to indicate certain types of diseases, and nothing else that might give them a clue to the nature of the illness. The woman returns bringging a kettle of hot water. There is a bowl on at side table that the mother had been using to bathe her daugther's face when her fever raged. Lorae takes out a packet of herbs and crushes them, then adds some hot water. Immediately the scent of a forest after the rain fills the room. After finding nothing on her body to give them a clue her mother redresses the girl and goes to brush her hair. She brushes and braids one side and then goes to do the other. The girl immediately cries out again and pulls away from her mother in tears.

"Let me," says Lorae and she delicately to parts the girl's hair with her long slender fingers.

"Yes," she annouces in triumph, "Alexandria, do you have negate poison. "I believe she has been bitten by a praticularily poisonous spider."

Well Then about your request, I have no problem with you joining us on the trail. What say you, Xuor? We have lost a few and gain a few but one more won't make much difference."

Brianna had no problem at all with another joining them as they traveled. It would certainly be safer for Devon at least.

"Do you have a mount?" ever practical Brianna asks. Devon would never keep up with them walking. There was her red mare who currently wasn't being ridden.

Alexandria was not surprised at the surprised expression on the young boys face. The usual reaction to the of her kind. Instead of taking offense however, Alexandria simply smiled brightly, letting her radiance shine through.

Remaining silent as she moved through the house, Alexandria did a silent prayer to Eilistraee. This seemed like a serious situation. However, a child in need was a child who deserved aid. And Alexandria was not going to hold that back because of racial prejudices.

The girl was in rough shape. Lorae seemed to know her way around healing. However, more could be work than a simple disease or poison. And her eyes radiated magic, Alexandria began to look around the girl for a sign of a magical illness.

When Lorae asks about her magic, Alexandria blinks, ending her spell. Speaking in her calm, soothing tone, she replies "I do possess the power to remove a poison from the body. I will do so, if that is what you believe it to be such. Allow me, and please step back."

Approaching the sick girl Alexandria calmly brushes the girls hair out of the way. He forehead was searing hot, the clear sign of a fever. Time to call on Eilistraee's power. Reaching into the folds of her dress, she pulls out a small black stick. Speaking in a powerful voice, Alexandria says, in drow, "A l'Olath Wenress' yorn, tlu k'olah d'nindol elg'cahl. Xal Eilistraee dormagyn dos." She then pursed her lips, and rubbed the charcoal on her lips, as a woman may do with makeup. Bending over, Alexandria kisses the girls forehead, leaving a small imprint on her forehead. The imprint glows, and begins to fade, being absorbed into the skin. Then, it disappears completely, from both the girls forehead and Alexandria's lips.

Turning back to Lorae and the mother, she says "She should now be freed from her affliction. I will, however, take another closer look, to make sure that there are no lasting effects. Eilistraee's goodness is not limited to her own children, but to those of all kinds. As her apostle, I will not do a simply job, but a complete check, as I would for one of my own. If it is possible for me to cure any additional effects."

Returning to the girl, Alexandria begins such operations as checking a pulse, feeling skin elasticity, observing the eyes, everything she can imagine which would indicate another disease or affliction.

____________________________________________________________

Translation: By the Dark Maiden's power, be clean of this poison. May Eilistraee save you.

Also, I want to take 20 on a Heal check, for a total of 37. I'm pretty sure that if there's anything else, I'll notice it.

Never knowing who is listening, he never was one to use his abilities in public much less talk about them. After all, that's how he made a living in his homeland. If those he won wagers from knew he had advantages that no ordinary commoner had they would have felt cheated and probably lynched him.

"Yes, Brianna, I do have a horse. I have a self sufficient mustang that comes to me by a special "CALL". It saves on feed and boarding. I have items that allow me to travel in other ways as well. You have a beautiful stallion, yourself. What was it I overheard you call him? "Shadowbane". It suits him. He looks very well taken care of. When we leave town and the entire group is together, remind me that there is something I need to address the group about that I prefer not to bring up in public with strange ears listening, ok?"

With that he finished off his breakfast, wiped his mustache and goatee clean, and left a 3 gp tip.