----- Rand steps down from his horse as he turns to face the man that just walked up to them. "We know the woods are far from safe to travel at night and usually we wouldn't, but we have most urgent business to
discuss with the Priest of the Hunt. Do you, my good Sir perhaps, know where we might find this Brocaster"?
-----As Thalog and Rand converse with the men, Arliss bows his head slightly, and closes his eyes, seemingly in meditation. After a moment of careful mediation, Arliss raises his head once again. He addresses the man in the wolf-cowl, "Allow me to tell you what sort of men we are, good sir! We have come from Hearthorn at the behest of Jacian Dawnrider, Sun Lord of the Temple of Solarius! There are strange tidings afoot, where animals go mad in the city streets, posing a threat to the good and innocent folk of the land. Some say it is the rise of Sycros, the Mad God himself, which is causing these terrible events to occur! The Dawnrider himself has sent us to seek the priest of Thales, Brocaster, to make him aware of the problems at hand, and to obtain his counsel on the matter! We ask once more, oh man, do you know of this Brocaster, and where we may find him, for our task is of the gravest urgency! Rest assured, we mean no harm to you, your associates, or the wild beasts of this land!" Arliss waits for a reply.
-----Rand turns slightly towards Arliss, lowering his head slightly as he does so. In a voice barely above a whisper, that only Arliss and possibly Thalog can hear he says "I don't mean to question your judgement, my good Paladin, but are you sure its wise to reveal quite so much? We have no idea what kind of men these are".
-----Arliss leans in towards Rand and replies in a whisper, "Fear not, good Rand, for Joren, Himself, guides our mission. Strange these folk may be, but they have not the blight of evil upon them. Still, I'll try to be more cautious in the future."
-----The heavy-browed man glances toward the wolf-cowled man to see if he speaks up. Turning back to Rand, he simply says, "You've found him. I'll let Broacter speak for himself."
-----At all that Arliss has said, the savage-looking man slowly uncrosses his arms, bringing his arms down with shaking clenched fists. He throws his head back letting out a yell that resembles the long wailing cry of a wolf. With the full moon over his left shoulder, the effect is truly startling. Suddenly, he is silent with his head down and it seems as though the furious animal sounds to the east pause.
-----After emitting a forced sigh, the wolf-cowled head looks up, the fire in his eyes returned. "YOU WILL BRING THE HORSES INSIDE BEFORE THE MADNESS UNNERVES THEM! JON-KYLNE, WATCH THE FIRE! RINDA-RAVEN, WITH ME!" He points at Arliss, Rand, and Thalog. "YOU WILL FOLLOW US!"
-----They lead the three men and their horses into the small keep. The lower floor of the keep is mostly open. A row of stalls stands along the west wall. A fire burns in a fireplace in the north wall and stone stairs climb along the east wall. On some of the walls, animal skins and fur pelts hang, marked with symbols.
-----Raven, the heavy-browed man wearing studded leather, and Rinda, a beautiful woman wearing leather and buckskin, lead the horses to the stalls. The savage-looking man stands firmly before Arliss, Rand and Thalog. "I AM THE ONE YOU SEEK! I AM BROACTOR, PRIEST OF THE HUNT! YOU HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DAWNRIDER! YOU SPEAK OF MADNESS! YOU WILL TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW! The Priest of the Hunt begins to pace back and forth, stalking like a caged animal.
-----Arliss instinctively steps forward and opens his mouth as if to speak. However, at the last moment, he closes his mouth again, apparently thinking better of it. He glances back at Rand and Thalog and looks at them knowingly, as if to see whether one of them would like to try their hand as group spokesman.
-----Thalog looks at Arliss. Then in his cold calm voice, he whispers to his companions, "You have the most desire to be group leader, Sir Arliss, but you must not get discouraged by comments that were meant to help. Please continue."
-----Arliss nods once at Thalog, but he yet hesitates, glancing at Rand to see whether he would speak...
-----Raven turns to Rand, "Ya, what is going on here?"
-----Rand steps forward beside Arliss, nodding his head slightly in thanks as he does so.
-----Rand calls out in a loud voice "Priest of The Hunt, I am Rand al'Thor and these are my companions Arliss Vanderbrook and Thalog. We have come forth from Hearthorn bearing with us news from the Sun Lord himself. The news we have come to impart is simply this".... taking a deep breath Rand begins.
"Within the last month there have been reports of violent animals causing damage to property and attacking traveling merchants, this was during the last month of the winter season. Then two families brought pet animals that had been injured to the House of the Healing Light, those animals had begun showing slight behavioral signs of madness, fortunately those animals were easily healed with simple curative spells. The situation has fast escalated however, more animals have begun showing those signs of madness and the curative spells are no longer enough to heal them. The Sun Lord believes the spreading madness to be a curse. People are frightened now to merely travel at night for fear of the animals".