Soul searching

DM's eyes only:

Fully armored, but with her helmet attached to her side, Maura approaches the merchant that has occupied the road up to Krag at the base of the mountain. She'd smile warmly as she neared. She had done business with him many times in the past and rested at his camp, so hopefully, he'd know her by now.

"Good morning," she'd begin. "A friend of mine lost something in the area and I was hoping you'd be able to answer some questions and help me find it."

(( BUMP. ))

Returning to his usual routine of keepimg the local undead populations low, Milo ventures into the foothills of Krag.

He would approach the merchant's camp in his long, sauntering stride.

"Maura, good to see you," he begins. "What brings you out to a place so overcome with treachery?" He would look out across the wooded field, and up the path to Castle Krag, as if to clarify his meaning.

She nods to the merchant, "Excuse me," then turns to Milo with a warm smile. "I'm searching for something a friend of mine has lost," she walks away from the merchant and closer to the Kelemvorite, "I'd prefer to discuss this in private though."

Milo nods, returning the smile.

"Absolutely. Lead the way, good lady."

Maura would lead him further down the road, back toward the river, and into the trees far from the beastmen's tower.

"It's a fellow aasimar, Malkaris. A darkness is corrupting his soul," she'd begin quietly, keeping her voice low and stepping close to the paladin. "I've pressed him for answers, but he doesn't seem to know much himself."

"All I know at this point is that he awoke near the foot of the mountain with a gaping hole in his chest that never seems to heal, yet doesn't kill him."

She frowns. "It oozes this substance like tar and..." her brow furrows and she closes her eyes. "I've seen that blackness before. I witnessed an angel fall. His wings were dripping with the stuff."

She takes a deep breath then looks back to him. "I also know that a fiend did this to him. That's all I can tell you."

A shadow seems to befall the features on Milo's face as he listens. He furrows his brow and pulls his lips thin.

"I've never heard of such an affliction, but I shall inquire within my order to see if any answers can be found. Death is famously our expertise, but we also seek out disease and corruption, so there is at least a chance.

"But one thing I can tell you from my own experience is that hope should never be lost. I came close to my own demise at the hands of a powerful creature of shadow. My very life force was being drained from me, and yet here I am today." He would offer a warm smile, and his face broghtens again.

"I will do what I can to find you some answers, or at least a push in the right direction." He places a hand on her shoulder and nods in reassurance.

She smiles warmly, "Thank you, Milo." She looks down the road toward the river then back to him. "I have other business to attend to, but if you discover anything, you can address a message to me at Ironhouse."