Uphill Battle

[Carthrat]

"I guess that makes our next goal clear," murmurs Tom. "Well, the only other thing.. where would the other Thralls be around here? Can they be.. released from their service, so to speak?"

[Dracos]

"Have they really...  If that is what we kept there, then yes...they have... if they were actually anabarian and if that was really what we were keeping there," Dracos considered. "Was it?  And if so...why would one of these barbarians go through all the effort to stage a clean murder, prepare the body to look murdered,...and then leave something that would immediately cause us to believe our 'hated enemies' the anabara did it.  Isn't that...fairly sloppy for a spy that managed to get all the way there and then out without anyone knowing?"

Dracos attempted to pull him into solving it as well, letting the priest's own facilities work towards his benefit.

Dracos

[Brian]

"The garrison," the elder priest offers weakly, shaking his head again.  "I don't understand."

"Y...yes.  They're common everywhere, though.  They're the workforce of our spheres."  He frowns.  "I don't suppose you have any in Anabara?"

[Dracos]

"I am not toying with you," Dracos acknowledged to the man, attempting to instill calm reason by using the same. "This is a mystery.  A reality that does not add up and is meant clearly to confuse and misdirect good men into hating more.  We are men of knowledge.  Let us see past what lies before us...  what does this really mean?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"I don't know!" the elder priest snaps.  "The world has gone mad, I can make sense of none of it!"

[Dracos]

Dracos sighed and shook his head, standing and leaving the man tied there for the moment as he went to check the notes he'd found earlier in his bag, hunting for any knowledge on both enemies and allies of the church.

Dracos

[Brian]

The church doesn't seem to have allies, as much as subordinates.  Chief among them, the Templar Guild -- which would be the knights.  As far as enemies ... all heathens, heretics, and those who refuse the Creator's grace, and all who would deface the divine Shroud -- Anabarans chief among them.

[Dracos]

Dracos looks for any details on the relationship with the templar guild, leaders in such, or specifically, notes of suspicion, assuming his alternate persona would be up on such details.  Though knowing him, he probably kept it to himself.

Dracos

[Brian]

Phil doesn't find much of what he's looking for.  All he's really able to determine is a bit of Templar Guild history.  Apparently, the Church and the knights came from the same sphere, and used their control over the Gates to expand.

That explains some of it, but there's no clear reference to leaders that Phil hasn't already heard of.

[Carthrat]

Making sure he's out of earshot of any of the other questioners, Tom continues to question the priest; "And while we're at it, have you heard the names Bjorn Christianson? Or Timothy Maus?"

[Brian]

"N...no, I...."  But Quincy pauses, squinting as he considers.  "I think Christianson is one of the savages," he whispers.  "A heathen who speaks with spirits, in the grasslands.  But I don't know anyone named Maus."

[Carthrat]

"Hmm. So we know where two of them are.. oi, Phil, get over here," he calls for his friend.

"We've got a bunch of horses, now, so a few of us could move really fast. I'm tempted to head over to these so-called savage lands and see if we can't find Bjorn, while you keep on towards the gate."

[Dracos]

OOC: Drawing telepathy, 3 dice.
IC:
"Did you remember something, Tom?"  Dracos gave a slightly surprised look, "Let's continue as a group until the road."

~Hsst, what are you doing, man?  That should probably be discussed outside of the guy's ear-range.  Even if we play off you remembering it, I'd rather consider what we share closely.  We never know when someone nearby will become someone we can't trust later or say something they shouldn't.  Not that we shouldn't say anything but we need to be careful...and you should probably learn more from him on inner church doctrine...  for your sake AND so that I know it if I'm going to be moving by myself.~

Dracos

[Carthrat]

~I get that, man, whatever. I don't really know what to ask about the church, though. Apart from the most general of questions. Though, I know...~

"On a different topic, tell me about this Shroud," continues Tom, bowing his head a little. "And how the Church claims to keep it back."

[Dracos]

"Quincy...  this would be good practice, if you truly wish to help the church change.  The men here have mostly lost what memories they held, and thus they will not be as judging as others that may be come across," Dracos suggested, trying to lead the man to 'taking the opportunity to teach Tom about the religion.

Dracos