5. Temple of Lathander

The group enters the now-familiar Temple of Lathander. With no oversized dragonborn of a Grand Duke throwing a fit, there are many more patrons sitting in the pews and admiring the architecture.

Duke Belt sees the party coming and beckons them to a private room in the back of the temple.

"Hail, friends! May Lathander's light brighten your day. What brings you here today?" He leans close to whisper. "Is it about... the Plan?"

"In a way, friend. It appears that my party may have a similar situation to Aiwë, we wanted to check to see if that was true" Dieter says. His head had started to ached where his crown had come in when they entered the temple. He was certain it was more in remembrance to the pain he had experienced here than anything else.

He looks at the grand architecture and things of his dwarven family.

Aiwë pats Dieter's shoulder encouragingly. "Will you have a look at my friends, and then give my head another try?"

Belt rubs his scaled hands together. "Ah! I was wondering if you'd come by for that. Whose memory shall I check today? I'm afraid it's the type of magic I can only call on only once a day."

Dieter steps aside to let Stella or Aiwë through. He ponders on the past few days as the procedure takes place
You told me a half truth lathander, I will find happiness.

Stella puts a finger to the corner of her lips. "I haven't been able to notice any gaps in my memory, though I was in quite the daze when Viconia spoke with me, so it's possible she left a memory with me. But Aldous was captured and even said Viconia 'did a number' on his head. It might be best to try to see what Aldous might know next," Stella suggests, turning to him.

Aldous shuffles forward, biting his lip. "Oh I hate not knowing if I don't know!"

Belt nods emphatically. "Don't worry, boy. Soon you'll be sure you know what you didn't."

Without further ado, the dragonborn casts the restoration spell...

Aldous blinks and stumbles as the spell takes effect, only held aloft by Belt's strong hands.

"She did! She did do a number on my head! Give me just a second, and I'll tell you what I remember..."

Aldous, bound and gagged, blinks dust from his eyes. He freezes when he hears voices.

"What's going to be done with him?" That would be Ajantis.

"That's none of your concern." A smooth, female voice. Viconia.

"I think it is. He’s my passage up."

The young noble carefully, slowly, tries to slip his hands free of the ropes.

"You have already been paid your due."

"Keep the gold. I want a meeting with the one at the top."

"Rieltar? He’ll never meet with the likes of you."

Rieltar? As in, Rieltar Anchev?

"No, not Rieltar. I want to meet with the other one. I want to meet with Sar-"

"Keep that name off your tongue, fool!"

Who are they talking about? Sar-something?

"Really, drow? Scared of a name?"

"You’ve no idea what I fear. Where did you hear that name?"

"Nashkel. The good mayor let it slip over too many drinks."

"Another fool."

"Now see here, I’m not as foolish as I look. I netted you this lordling. No doubt he’ll make a good bargaining chip with Duke Silvershield. Either that, or you can slit his throat and let the news get to his father, and promise to do the same to Skie. Surely the whole thing’s easier without all four of the Grand Dukes arrayed against you. I just want to skip the line and meet the guy in charge, show him I’ve got more wit and skill than the rest of his henchmen. Excepting yourself, naturally."

"I am not a henchman. I-"

Unable to contain himself, Aldous spits the gag out of his mouth. "You’re not going to lay a finger on Skie, you misbegotten traitor!" He squirms on the floor, trying to slip free of his bonds.

"Well look who woke up. Think he’s heard too much? He’s probably just as useful dead as alive."

"No! I will magically erase his memory, just to be sure."

Aldous feels a cool hand on his face, and he stops struggling...

"You’ve got some scary tricks, drow."

"Pray I don't use them on you..."

Massaging his temples, Aldous relays the overheard conversation as best he can to the group.

"Sar...sar..." Stella flips through what remains of her notes, but shakes her head, eye-stars spinning green. "Doesn't shine a star...And it's not like we have time to go all the way to find Mayor Ghastkill and interrogate him for the full name...Ajantis is likely still around somewhere...Maybe Koveras knows who that might be? It must be an important secret..."

Koveras' frown, which has been largely absent this trip, slips into place. "I don't understand. Rieltar Anchev is the top, the leader of the Iron Throne here. Anybody superior would have to be from Sembia, and I know of none there with anything resembling this name."

He freezes. "Unless..."

The half-orc's face goes slack, and he looks as though he's going to be sick.

Aiwë steps in to steady him. "What is it? What's wrong?"

He reaches out for Aiwe as he swoons, eyes glued on a scene no one else can see. "Why would he do this. How could he know that we would know?" His speech is practically slurred.

Koveras clutches Aiwe's arm and shoulder, as much for comfort as for stability. He looks at her with hollow eyes. "Her name was Sara. My mother's name was Sara. I-I don't know what this means."

Aldous curses and steps in to support Koveras from the other side. He sags under the weight of the heavy half-orc, but manages to help get him to a chair.

"Breathe," she croons in Orcish. "In, out. This isn't an attack. You're safe here." For the benefit of the others Aiwë continues in Common. "There are lots of people with a name that begins that way, I'm sure it's unrelated."

Stella bites her lip and shakes her head. Duke Jannath revealed to them he had superiors in...
She nods.
Stella's bites her lip again and slumps her shoulders. That would be like finding out Halla had been sent the assassins after them. It wasn't exactly the same, but...this was a serious reaction.
Stella steps forward to help, but doesn't see a way to without getting in the way.

Why was this kept so secret? What danger did it hold for Reiltar? What was his relationship with his mother?

Stella steps over hesitantly and kneels down next to the half-orc and looks up at him, eye-stars a mix of teal and violet. "How could he know that we would know what?" she asks gently. "Aiwë's probably right. But what can you tell us about her?"

Aiwë wants to tell Stella to stop, to get Koveras some space and quiet, but then she remembers something.

It didn't matter that Keggruk was resurrected. It mattered that he died.

Rieltar is insane and horrible—and powerful. Why take a wife and half-orc stepson as a charity stunt when there are so many more powerful plays? Unless she was an attractive match. One who appreciated his ruthlessness and violence.

Sara had a half-orc son. How much was she immersed in orcish culture? Did she appreciate Gruumsh? Was that the tie between Bhaalist Rieltar and Kossuth?

It didn't matter that Keggruk was resurrected. It mattered that he died. A follower of Gruumsh would bat no eye at a ritual killing, even if it was themselves. Especially if they were brought back in secret later.

Aiwë feels as though she's crazy for such a trail of thought. There's no way. Right? It can't be. It would kill him.

"I know it's hard, but maybe talking about her will help." Aiwë stands with her hands on Koveras' shoulders and begins humming a lullaby just loud enough for them to hear.

Aiwë casts Calm Emotions.

Koveras releases a relieved breath as he falls under Aiwe's spell.

"My mother was a noblewoman from one of the northern cities on the coast. Luskan, I think. Her house fell on hard times, her people turned on her. They threw her out into the snow. She would have died if not for my father. My true father. Shargam was a long-range scout for an orc tribe. He nursed her back to health. Maybe he thought she would make a good slave. Maybe he was lonely and just wanted someone to talk to."

Koveras leans into Aiwe's hands. "From what I understand, they found love - of a sort. At some point, Winski joined their little family. Eventually they all traveled south looking for a new start. I was born on the ship they took. All I know is that my mother, Winski, and I were the only survivors of that voyage. I'm not sure Shargam ever even saw me, before whatever happened."

The half-orc lays his head on Aiwe's hand. "I was raised by my mother and Winski in Sembia. Eventually things grew desperate for us, and suddenly we were moving in with Rieltar Anchev. As a young boy I chafed under his strict rules, despite the punishments. Until the day I spilled wine on one of his spellbooks." His voice drops to a whisper. "I did it on purpose. That's when he murdered her. 'You did this,' he said. 'You did this.' And I did. It was my fault."

Despite her spell, Aiwe feels warm tears on her hand.

"Only an evil man would do such a thing and blame it on a child." Aiwë looks at the party with a helpless frown.

Shargam was likely named for Shargaas, the orcish god of shadows and assassins. How much had he and Sara appreciated the name?

"If Sara is a lead, it's probably best to talk to Winski. Koveras said he's still in the Iron Throne compound. Until then, I think we better focus on other 'Sar' names." She pats Koveras' head with the hand he isn't leaning on. "They're far more likely."

She turns to Duke Belt. "Thank you for your help, my lord. I believe that's all we need today." To her friends she continues. "I need to spend some time at Torm's temple. While I'm there I'll see if any of his servants can help with my memories. Does anyone want to come with me?"

Koveras gets to his feet. "I've never been inside a temple of Torm."