"Ciara, where have you been?" Ariana asked as the rogue attempted to sneak into the bedroom to the inn as quietly as possible. "Silphid returned hours ago."

"He didn't tell you?" She looked at the sack of inebriated flesh sprawled out on the bed. She only hoped that he was going to be conscious enough for his watch. Both sprites were huddled together on a blanket in the corner of the room.

"Only that you claimed that you would return in time to resume your duties." Ariana explained. "And then he passed out like that. I removed his odorous boots."

"I see. I um… I met someone." Ciara believed that she explained.

"Why would that keep you out late?" Ariana was curious. When Ciara returned a look suggesting that there was an insinuation to her explanation she merely lowered her gaze. "I do not understand what that means."

Ciara petted the wolf that greeted her with a head under her hand. Realizing that semantics were lost on the druid she kept it as literal as she could. "I met someone that I am attracted to and went back with her to her place for a couple of hours."

"Oh, why did you not just say that?" Ariana said as she started to unfurl the bedroll that she used during her rest period. Ciara realized that she elf was readying herself for meditation and was slightly disappointed that hours worth of 'girl-talk' with Tamarie appeared to be trivial to the druid.

"I guess I should have."

"Tell Silphid there is remedy for his ails on the nightstand." It didn't take long for Ariana to understand that state that the fighter tended to return in after visiting the tavern and visited the temple apothecary before returning to the inn.

"I will. Quel esta."

Ariana smiled and sunk back into meditation.

It was hard to leave Alluela back at the docks district. The bard had her own rental agreement at the Sailor's Booty where she could get room and food at a bargain provided that she performed for the patrons during morning and evening meals over the weekends. As much as she wanted to tell Ariana everything that occurred that evening, and attempt to explain the floaty feeling that she had been experiencing since locking eyes with the bard, this also felt like something that she wanted to keep to herself for herself. She had promised to return the following evening, and maybe even stay the night depending on whether or not the party to agree to that.

Ciara sat on the wingback chair in the corner of the room facing the doorway bouncing her knee up and down and trying to keep herself awake. Due to the necromancer attack the previous night they found it prudent that the watch rotation remained in the confines of the room. Unfortunately, for a girl who was used to flipping through the streets sitting there without a book to read was near torture. Instead she took out a deck of cards and playing a solitary game. The last half an hour of her watch, Ciara watched the hand on mayor's clock tower tick down, before stripping down and changing into a satin nightgown. Figuring it would take some time to rouse the fighter, she shook him awake 5 minutes early. Silphid's hand went to his hilt as soon as she touched him.

"Silphid, it's me. Ciara." She whispered.

He rubbed his face and sat up.

"Ariana left a tonic for you." She pointed to the nightstand. "Said it should help with the headache."

"'M fine." He said while grabbing the vial and drinking it down.

"Sure you are. Now get up and let me have the bed. You and Ari can have first meal without me, I am sleeping in."

"This stuff tastes like crud." He complained after downing the vial as he pushed himself to the standing position, allowing Ciara to take his place on the mattress.

"I cannot imagine it's much worse than that ale you drink." She teased him.

"Didn't see you complaining about it on the boat."

Ciara smiled. He appeared to hang on to his ignorance of her talents at the card table. Though she tolerated the ale, it was used both as a distraction and way to garner the guys' trust. "Good night, Silphid."

"Night." He offered back, and started his watch careful to listen for any signs of trouble both inside and outside off the room. Deep down he felt it his responsibility to make sure that at the very least there was not another attack at this particular inn while he was on rotation. He excused the previous evening as a case of paying too close of attention to the mayor and not enough on the inn, that was not going to happen again.

As the sun rose into the sky illuminating pinks and purples into the horizon Ariana exited her trance like state. "How do you fare this morn?" She questioned.

"Well enough." He answered. "Thank you for your assistance in the matter, though, it was not necessary."

She observed the empty vial. "Were it not necessary then why did you drink it? It could have been stored for a time when it could come of use."

"I did not mean to say it was of no use. Only that I would have still been able to do my job had it not been there." Silphid responded. "We are on our own for breakfast, I believe Ciara stayed out late."

"She did. I planned to return to the orphanage unless there is something today that I could assist with."

"Ciara is set to meet with the locksmith guild member midday for the identification, and we had discussed looking in on a potions shop on our way there, after that it is a matter of where the leads take us. It appears that the zombies from last night died from a shipwreck, no bite marks detected other than from small fish." He reported the findings from the medics.

"What zombies were these?"

He tried to think back to the previous night, and what was or wasn't discussed with the druid. "I suppose I forgot to mentioned we were attacked. Well, the docks district was attacked and Ciara and I, as well as some free lance fighters and other citizens rallied together to take them out." He explained with a bit more detail.

"Did you hear that Meera, we miss out on all the fun." Geera commented from his make-shift bed in the corner.

"Was anyone hurt?" The female sprite pipped in.

"Nothing that wasn't easily taken care of." Silphid answered. "Does this mean you two plan to accompany us this day?"

"Perhaps this evening." Meera answered for them. She preferred only coming out when she could be easily hidden.

"Very well. I am going to go to breakfast. Can someone make sure Ciara is ready by mid-morn?"

Meera agreed, and Ariana stayed to meditate to Chauntea and change into clean clothes before going back to the temple of Torm. As she reached the front doors she was greeted again by two standing guards in shining full plated armor detailed with gold. Both were pristine, standing with perfect poise with a glaive in their hand and a great sword at their hip. She and Eboni approached the door and the pole end of a glaive blocked her entrance.

"What is your business here?" The guard blocking the door asked her, as he seemed to narrow his eyes in her direction as if he was trying to not-so-subtly get a read on her motives.

"I have come to be of assistance in the orphanage."

"What is your name?" After providing her information, the guard ordered his colleague to go to the orphanage to verify her attendance.

"Why are you here this day?" Ariana questioned the sudden change in security.

"The high priest ordered it. There is a new evil in town, and he does not wish it to infiltrate the church or harm the children. Until the cause is rooted out, the Paladins of Torm are to keep tight guard over who comes and leaves these premises."

"The zombies, did they attack the church or orphanage?" She had yet to hear news of any further attacks.

"As far as I am aware this is only a precaution for now." He answered.

"Ariana!" the door swung open and Taraqui greeted her with a hug, which Ariana awkwardly returned with one arm patting the half-elf on the back two times. Taraqui affirmed her invitation to the Paladin on guard. "She can come with me."

Ariana started to follow when the guard called out. "The wolf stays!" She jerked around to face him and argued. "Eboni comes with me!"

Taraqui stepped in easily and assured the man that Eboni was indeed welcome inside the premises as well. It wasn't until they entered the courtyard that Taraqui explained the situation in more detail. There was a new attack only a few blocks away at the university. According to the report their were a couple professors and administrative staff that had stayed late, as they left their offices they were assaulted by zombies. The church was called in to assist in the situation when a young teacher aide ran from the school to notify them. Unfortunately before they arrived the dean of literature had already been killed. He was an elderly gentleman that provided as a distraction while the aide went to get help. The coroners were able to identify the zombies as citizens of Port Nyranzaru, and all three showed evidence of fang bites.

"Usually the Paladins are on assignment throughout the continent, but with recent troubles they were called back. They mean well, but they can be a bit intimidating. Those two arrived in the night just after the attack at the University. Cleavon was probably just grouchy since he is tired." Taraqui explained and then continued with her own crowning moment. "The high priest asked me to be part of the team that went to assist with healing, but while I was there Torm filled me with light that incapacitated all three of the undead assailants."

"It is good that you were there then." Ariana responded.

"The high priest has asked that we not speak of such things in front of the children." Taraqui cautioned before opening the door to the grand chamber.

Ciara joined Silphid on the roof as soon as she was cleaned and changed. Although still tired she figured coffee and biscuits would go a long way in waking her up, and they were nearing the appointment time.

"Any zombies in the inn this day?" Ciara questioned with a coffee mug in hand.

"Not that I have heard." Silphid answered, nursing his own mug.

"Ariana is…?"

"Back at the orphanage. She appears to really enjoy it there." Silphid filled her in.

"I believe it is more of a matter of feeling useful there." Ciara explained. "She is uncomfortable with the social norms of urban society, and doesn't know how fit into the culture. There she can utilize her skills in healing, and is told exactly what to do and how to behave. I think she will feel a lot better when we are back in the wild."

"When do you suppose that will be?"

Ciara shrugged. "I would like to dispatch the necromancer, but perhaps our best bet is letting the town guard know what we find out and investigate the crash site again. Now that we know where town is, we can scout the other direction, see if we can find any source of what brought it and the other ships down."

"Is that what you want?" He questioned whether leaving was really in the rogues best interest.

"No." She answered truthfully. Although part of her still believed that having a romantic attachment was a poor idea she really did want to see where things went with the young bard, and while being in the wild would be best for Ariana that was where she was a fish out of water. "But it may be our best option. This place is going to be inundated with zombies unless we can locate the source and I don't believe the necromancer is the overriding concern."

Silphid nodded, pretending to understand the words used. He did agree with notion. After glancing over at the clock tower he started to stand. "Shall we go?"

Ciara pouted as she looked at her coffee mug.

"Bring it with. We need to leave now if we are going to talk with stop by the potions shop." He urged.

On the walk to the market district Ciara listened for any discussion of further attacks from the locals. There was a couple walking the street discussing the events from the docks district, and a group of girls chatting about something going on by the University, but weren't clear on the details, only on hope that it meant that classes might be cancelled for the day.

The potions shop had an aura of mystique to it. Along with potions, there were scrolls, wands and other magical items. The walls were draped in crimson cloth, a backroom was closed off with the same fabric. Ciara scoured the shelves, each potion was labelled most with low level arcane spells mixed with some healing potions, but there were a couple higher level vials of fly. Silphid appeared more interested in the collection of magical daggers in the display case near the register.

"Is there anything I can help you find?" A silvered hair elf with a silky voice clad in all black asked them both.

"We are looking to speak with lady Marquisa." Ciara answered her.

"That is I. Are you here for a reading?" She pointed to the back room.

"No, we have been inquiring around town about the latest nefariousness around town and your name was brought up."

"Are you accusing me of something?" She asked defensively.

"We heard you had a viper." Silphid chimed in.

Ciara attempted damage control. "No. We only hoped that with your expertise in the arcane craft, that you may provide as a resource, but if that is wrong we can leave."

"Stay, come." She ordered them into the back room, where there was a divinity table set up complete with a crystal ball. As she motioned for them to sit a foot long red and orange spiked scaled snake slithered over her shoulders. She rubbed under its neck and it bared its fangs to the fighter, but stayed perched on the elf. "I believe you asked about Ruby."

"Is she venomous?" He asked.

"Of course she is." Lady Marquisa answered. "But I can tell you that despite what the populous may believe I had nothing to do with the raising of any zombies. There is much about my kind that the denizens do not understand."

"Are you speaking of elves or witches?" Ciara asked her.

"You know?"

"You have quite the collection out there. Not many can make a potion of both identify and cure light wounds." Ciara explained. "And I can tell you that seeing Ruby clears you from any wrongful accusations that may be made against you."

"How so?" Silphid asked her.

"The marks made were at least an inch and a half apart." She told him.

"Much too big for Ruby to make them." Lady Marquisa added. "So then, what is it that you believe I can help with?"

"We do believe that the person or persons responsible for this trouble is proficient in the arcane arts, specifically in that of necromancy. This shop may attract that type of individual. Have you had any recent customers that you could identify as raising a concern?"

"Like witchcraft, necromancy is a study that has been amply misunderstood. It is the person that wields the magic which makes it depraved, not the spell itself." She explained. "And I am not in the habit of pointing the finger at clients based on appearance alone."

"Is there any that you sense could be behind this?" Silphid pressed.

"There was older gentlemen cloaked to hide most of his features. I did pick up on a scar that ran from the right of his nose down to his chin passing through both lips. He picked up a scroll of repair undead among other items, but refused to leave any contact information. It is not required unless one is interested in being in the preferred shopper list or establishing a line of credit in the store."

"Have you seen him before?"

She shook her head no. "And not much of a conversationalist. If anyone is behind it, I would say it was him."

"Is there anyway you can notify us if he stops by again?" Ciara requested.

"I will not be an accomplice to a sting operation. It's bad for business; however, if you set up shop at the bakery across the street there is nothing I can do to stop you. Although that was nearly a week ago, and I have not seen him since."

"We will keep that in mind." Ciara replied. "Thank you for your assistance."

"You are very welcome. Is there anything I can get for you before you leave today?"

"I am afraid that our cash flow is in short supply." Ciara answered. "And we already have a line of credit going at the temple; however, as soon as we are in possession of some treasury I will definitely be back."

As soon as they were out of ear range of the store Silphid spoke up. "I do not trust her."

"What is it about her you do not trust?" Ciara had watched for signs that she was being lied to and deceived in any way, and found the elf to be entirely honest in her feedback.

"I do not believe her to be morally pure." He skirted around the point.

"You believe her to be evil?" She guessed, although she sensed her to be more morally neutral. "Be that as it may, I do not believe her to be involved in these acts."

He shrugged, excepting that to be true but still thought it prudent to remain cautious. They made it to the locks shop just ahead of schedule, and Ciara was greeted by the smiling locksmith.

"Always the pleasure, Ciara. What have you and your friend decided?" He pointed to Silphid who was standing a few feet back from the doorway. "He can come in if he would like."

Ciara motioned for Silphid to join them and handed Sylvain the coins.

"I have to admit to being slightly disappointed."

"I can understand that; however, we happen to be in a middle of crisis and I am not sure that now is the best time to go venturing into the jungle. That said I was intrigued by your proposition, and its entirely possible that it can be accomplished at another date." She assured him.

"Very well. My contact was able to identify the venom as being of that of a couatl."

"A what?" Silphid questioned before Ciara got in a reply, she also had not heard of the creature.

"I don't have much description of the creature itself except that it is a large feathered and winged serpentine native outsider driven to see law and good triumph."

"It's a good creature?" Silphid questioned.

"In all reported cases."

"How would a good creature be turned evil?" Ciara questioned.

"I suppose an enchantment could be used to control one, but it would take a powerful arcanist to do such." Sylvain cautioned. Much more powerful than they would be strong enough to go up against. He hoped for their sake that it wasn't that.

"What can you tell us of the properties of the venom?"

"It has a weakening agent with an immediate onset, the effects last up to ten minutes."

"So it would not kill you?" Ciara ascertained.

"The venom would not kill the average adult person by itself, but the bite can do enough damage to critically injure or kill them."

"Do you know what color the cottel is?" Silphid asked thinking that perhaps it was the same creature that was seen in the logging camp only misrepresented as a dragon.

"Couatl." Sylvain corrected. "I have not had the pleasure to see the creature myself, only heard that they consist of brilliant hues, although mainly travel invisibly. Unfortunately that it all that I have."

"No, that was helpful. I appreciate it." Ciara responded. "If you do find out anything else I am sure that you have the resources to track me down."

"Of course, don't forget about the standing offer." He instructed.

"I will keep it in mind."

Ciara couldn't help but feel that they were leaving with more questions then answers, the biggest of which was how a good lawful creature could be used to create what may eventually turn into an army of undead soldiers. Silphid shared his thought about the dragon, and decided the next step was to visit the library to research and hopefully find a picture or detailed description of the couatl. Perhaps then follow the lead at the primary school to talk to the witness.

The library in town was small, but did have a decent collection of planar books that they used to find what they were looking for. The description of the couatl matched that which Sylvain had already told them, although was told to be primarily of iridescent blue and green hues. Since they hadn't actually obtained a description of the supposed dragon they figured it was worth a shot. Ciara did her best job at copying the picture in the book to present to the child.

The schoolyard appeared full of children running around in what appeared to be recess. They were stopped by a teacher, who after a couple preliminary questions pointed them in the direction of Thomas Aura, the 11-year-old boy that claimed to see the dragon before hiding away in a trading cart with his cousin Svinn Trumph.

"Thomas?" Ciara approached the boy.

"That's me." He responded. "What do you want?"

"My friend and I heard that you had an encounter with a dragon in the jungle and was hoping that you could tell us about it."

Thomas nodded. "My dad and uncle are butchers who trade with the logging community. They bring clothes and supplies, and the hunters provide them with more of the specialized meats for the shop. We go about once every month, and the last time we went Svinn and I were climbing trees when we saw it flying away from the camp. I told my dad and he didn't believe me. Said I had to stop making things up."

"Well, I believe you. What did the dragon look like?"

"Big." He held out his arms.

"As in size of a dog or a horse, the size of a cart or house?"

"I don't know, bigger then me." He responded. "And scary."

She questioned further about features of the dragon, teeth and scales, the long tail and wing span. The only thing she could get out of him was that it was red, and when she showed him the picture he laughed.

"That's not a dragon!"

"No, no it's not." She agreed. "Well, thank you for your time. Is your dad set to go back to the camp anytime soon?"

"No." Thomas shook his head and looked forlorn. "I heard mom and dad talking about how the camp was destroyed. They aren't sure if anyone made it out. My friend Gunter lived there. They don't know I heard, tried whispering and all, but… he believes me now."

"Of course he does. I'm sorry to hear about your friend."

"Are you going to kill it?" He asked, now looking to Silphid.

"I will." Silphid replied definitively.

"Good!" Thomas replied before running off to join his classmates.

"Silphid, you know the priority is…"

"I know." Silphid replied thinking back to the red dragon that destroyed his home. "If the camp has already been destroyed there is no pressing concern, but I will live up to my promise to the boy."

Silphid couldn't remember much of his life before the attack, he was too young to remember specifics; he didn't know what his parents did for a living, and couldn't remember playmates that he had or even what his favorite toy to play with was. However, every time he smelt certain aromas he was filled with a sense of unequivocal adoration that he guessed could be attributed to his biological parents since Lutia swore she never wore lilac as a scent. That deep feeling of love and belonging he kept firm in his heart, an undying driving force to one day avenge the village and the family he lost that day.

"Do you still believe we should venture back to the crash site?" Silphid asked Ciara as they aimlessly walked through town. Without knowing where to find the necromancer there was little the new information they had could be used to accomplish.

Ciara nodded. "We can leave on the marrow, come day light. Would you mind terribly if I stayed out tonight?"

"Ariana and I can make it an early night in order to allow time for adequate rest." Silphid assured her. "Stay out of trouble."

"I will certainly try." Ciara winked.

"Is there anything that you require of me today?"

"Would you mind terribly speaking with the Captain of the Guard and giving him a description of the suspected necromancer and information about the Couatl? Perhaps they can track down a location for us while we are away. Let them know the dangers in engaging with the arcanist. Otherwise stock up on necessities on the road, rations and the like. I will let Ariana know to do the same."