The morning brought a new GOLEMIC SCRIBES, with more news of the White Dragon, and also announcing the start of the monthly Loviatar orgy. Knowing that Randsom was a follower of the Goddess of Pain led them to the assumption that with the loss of his hand he might have sought sanctuary in the church. It was therefore decided to visit the orgy to see if they could gain entrance and find him. It was at this point that it could be said that they had lost sight of their goal, namely retrieving the amulet!
As they were preparing to leave a familiar figure wandered into the Inn. Malleus and his Red Setter dog familiar, Fang were a surprise to everyone, not least Malleus himself. He explained they had been sitting down to breakfast when suddenly they found themselves in the middle of the market just outside. He was a little put out as breakfast this morning had been his favourite! The situation was more-or-less explained to him while he and Fang tucked into breakfast and he suggested that maybe the amulet had interfered and brought him here. It was not unknown for the amulet to meddle like this - it had done it at least twice before.
The Church of Loviatar was located not a long way from the Slave Market. By the time they arrived, quite a crowd had gathered in the courtyard in front of the Church of Loviatar. Splitting up, Corrie, Crompton and Brithe took to the roofs of several buildings around the courtyard, while Samson, Johnson, Lucy and Malleus mingled with the crowd. Sadly, they had not spent too much time discussing what they were going to do in detail.
In front of the doors of the church, a whipping cross was permanently set up. About a dozen city guards were stationed around the courtyard, holding back the crowd. Soon the doors opened to bring out the Priests of Loviatar, dragging with them a young naked girl who was chained to the cross in preparation of the sacrifice. A Priest in lush robes came out - obviously the High Priest. At this point, things began to fall apart. A magical fireball exploded in the doorway of the Church, launched by Corrie and following her lead, Brithe sent another, which exploded just in front, engulfing the High Priest and lesser priests. The High Priest walked out untouched, but one of the lesser priests was incinerated on the spot, as was the girl to be sacrificed. Crompton joined in, conjouring one of his illusions - a red-nosed Djerrold, to threaten the priests. Samson attacked the guard nearest him as the crowd began to disperse. He knocked the guard to the ground and in front of dozens of witnesses, finished the helpless woman off with a blow of his war club. He then fought with two other guards who charged to the defence of their comrade. Their swordsmanship was sufficient to severely hurt Samson, who turned to escape. As he ran, the crowd impeded him, so he began lashing out to force his way through them. The guards caught up and stuck at him He then turned to fight again and they overwhelmed him. It was only Brithe's intervention that prevented Samson from falling into their hands as he whisked the fallen warrior to safety.
In the meantime, the Priests of Loviatar had retreated back into the Church and a shimmering in the courtyard announced their response to the attack. A huge, hideous creature materialized - a foul plague elemental, a creature of corruption and decay stood before the Church, and sought the source of the fireballs. Detecting Corrie on the roof, it began to climb the building. It in turn, was attacked by Lucy, Malleus and Crompton, inflicting significant damage to the creature and deflecting it from its purpose, allowing Corrie the chance to get into a position where she might better attack it. They defeated the creature, but their casualties were great and they fled the field of battle, licking grievous wounds. Samson was only just alive, while several of the others were sorely wounded.
Chartrise, having been busy in the Mask Temple and dealing with Guild Haldeman, was on her way back to the Last Call Inn later that day. Going down a street, she became aware of someone following her. She tried to duck into back streets to avoid them, but whoever it was had seemingly anticipated this and she recognized the sigil of Brandson on her attacker's weapon before a blow from behind sent her into blackness.
When she awoke, she found herself stripped and bound in a small cell. A man she recognised as Pasha Brandson spoke to her explaining her position to her. He circumspectly informed her that he held Marie, but wished to get hold of the Amulet. He explained that it had been left in the cell under Slave Market where Parvel had been holding Marie when his men had attacked. If it was not still there, then it would be in Parvel Guildhouse. Chartrise realised he was holding her cube of force. Brandson explained that she would get it back only when the amulet was deposited into a collection basket in the Mask Temple. To ensure her compliance, another cleric of Mask was brought in and cast a Geas on her. Very soon after, she found herself outside the Last Call Inn.
When she went in, she found out what the rest had been up to and was astonished at the mess they had got themselves in without her!