[i]"You seem more in your element now priest."[/i]

"Of course, my friend," The priest replied in hushed tone so not to be disruptive, yet with just enough bated breath to emphasize his sincerity that followed, "A prison is a ghastly place, I would rather not spend any time there that I needn't, and I am sure you do not need me to explain the whys to you."

His young eyes scanned the entourage as some did, to his quiet surprise, pray to whomever they gave thanks to. He took them away only to watch the manner in which the orc he had spoken to deftly handled the staff that belonged to him before, without further word or effort or issue, fold himself comfortably upon the floor seated. It was not for some time after that any others approached him, although first the towering giant-woman. She had said whatever prayers she needed offer to who patron or patrons, Marthan could not be sure, and then ably took control of her last few goods that the justice had kept away from them. While the priest understood the rationale, it was almost lamentable for him when he realized their hearts were... decidedly more just than most who dared this formidable lands, but what was done was done. He had no say in the process outside of informing their judge whether they be good, bad, or otherwise in nature, and there was certainly even less an unarmed priest could do about keeping arms about at hand for those who were more noble than others; fortunately this whole lot of them had them to begin with, a crime unto itself but excused in the [i]Marches[/i] more often than not.

Seeing that the towering figure handled the tremendous, intimidating, quite clearly orcish weapon before him, it would be a lie if the priest did not expect some part of her to lash out. Pleasantly surprised to see that her tightened fist was some form of gratitude, alongside her words as they came with equally sincere respect and sincerity, all he could do was smile kindly in response. He hadn't any gesture he could think of that would be as meaningful as that and it raised questions he did not wholly understand as a young practitioner of faith. Before he could dwell on it, so too was he thanked by the man who had an outburst at the justice earlier who had begun sharpening his sword in the temple. It was not a practice one would regularly permit short of those ordained to wage war in the name of Erithar but the priest had to exercise [i]some[/i] sincere leniency as these people did not know any better. Only one of them seemed to have any clout in that capacity, so he could not fault them, at least not now, but Marthan did make a note to inform them in the future of some general customs of practice to abide by while inside the chambers of the holy.

As all was finally done, their brief time spent in the smokey, perfumed air had, and had enough at that to give their blessings to whoever for more or less sparing their lives this time, or whatever it was they truly prayed about or over, the priest at last spoke up seeing as they had come to increasingly gather. An hour or so of their time was admirable, few of even Reddenbarrow spent time here for that long other than for major holy days, celebrations, or tribute, and so it stoked the excitement of the priest who had in the meantime come up with something for them to begin with. It was by no means much but it was far, far more than what the humble farmers and their wives dared deal with, and not something the militia would risk time on.

"I see you have all done that which you have needed to do." His voice echoed ever so slightly in the towering halls among the basic pillars he stood beside near the pulpit.

"But it is unfortunately time I need ask something of you all to help see you to your freedom. It is that I have a quest for you, a task, and not of particularly light matter, at least not to the people of our village. It is something I believe you all are fit to do given what seems to be your collection of skills and fighting capacity and something our poor militia cannot spend time on from patrolling the farmland and surrounding woodland."

The priest delayed for a moment as he walked away and off into his chamber, returning with a scroll and a scroll case. He neither unfurled its contents nor did anything else with them short of allow them to rest in his hand and place the other to his chest while he spoke up yet again.

"There is a raided stead not far from our village where an attack by thieves and brigands left the ground barren and burned. Erithar be praised by all the thankful those fires did not consume more the crop of the surrounding steads, but the abandoned farm is still of value to us. Unfortunately, the creatures of the wood have moved into the remains and its area..." He paused only to allow the scenario to evolve in their minds, knowing they would quickly begin to understand as he continued, "And have laid claim to the land by their presence. We have those among us in the village who could put the stead back to use yet no means to do so as long as these things remain. So it is you who I need ask and task to clear out these vermin from every inch of the plot."

Motioning with the scroll case, the priest continued after, "I have a map I will lend you for the village and the surrounding countryside for all the Marches. The stead is not far as you will see but you will need travel and becoming lost is, as you know, most dangerous. Please, I beg of you, do not dare into the woodland either, I am sure this will already rouse some of its ire by slaying all manner of invasive creature for a risk we must take to secure future harvests."

[hider=Effects]Each member of the party finds the remainder of their equipment, all of their weapons, returned to them just as they were when left. They also receive an additional bonus in the form of a wool blanket, provided by the priest.[/hider]
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