As the day progresses, the cloud cover never seems to break, but even with the gray skies, everything seems darker than normal. Those with a sharp eye notice a strange black veil hanging over the city, like a very thin mist which seems to slowly be getting thicker, drifting in from the south.

Within the city, most people aren't worried, but some remember the warning from the blind prophetess: that a wave of black would hit the city before the next full moon. Was this it?

One man seems to believe so: Elrus Hart, a druid visiting the city from the planes near Bloodport.

"This is no mere cloud... this is something dark... I saw it overtake a village not far from Bloodport. A lot of bad things happened. Especially considering the earlier darkness that happened in this city" he noted, referring to various events fifteen to twenty years ago.

"Fortunately, I know a ritual to have the darkness pass." he explained "But I will need some components..."

Getting the bat guano is easy, especially since her mother's familiar is a bat. All she has to do is clean it's habitat. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. So, armed with gloves, cleaning tools - and a noseclip - she sets to work, much to her mother's amusement, who cannot resist teasing her daughter mercilessly about doing it.

Finally she has completed her messy task and collected as much as she can. After washing up thoroughly she then sets off to deliver it to the wandering druid.

She does consider stealing some soup from the kitchen but concludes it probably won't count as it is the family soup - free for all. She resolves to ask him about that.

Leigh had heard of the scavenger hunt from some guild mates and smiled. Two of those were totally up his alley. He chose a coin from his stash, it had been stolen after all. And then with a grin he headed to the Golden Lion, where he waited at a table in the middle of the busy lunch crowd all around.

He might as well make it some good soup, and it was fortunate that the weather was cooling as more soup and stew was being ordered. He watched carefully to ensure he got a soup and not a stew, then with deft fingers and a rakish grin he slipped a bowl off of one of the serving girls trays and off he danced, placing a bit of wood like a giant cork on top of the bowl so it wouldn't spill and would keep it warmer.

He headed directly for where he had heard the old druid was hanging out....though he fully expected the druid had made the request for soup just because he wanted something warm to eat. Still a smile on his face for being able to help.

(( a few seconds ago ))

Leigh Leigh (Sleight of Hand): 26 = 1d20 [7] + 19 — Stealin that soup!))

Accompanied by the witch Nari, Sami Lee Atianna paid a visit to Lucre Island and used his parent's connection to Spica Capella, the Arch Magus of the Pearl Tower, along with his personal charm and smooth talking to gain a plethora of shells worn by her wife Vydia Capella. The druid seems to have taken all the shells though, just in case he needed extras for the ritual. He did seem sure that one would be enough but he had his choice of bra-shells, necklace shells, bracelets and other shell jewelry to choose from for the ritual.

Jaeden knowing that even those that did not follow the One True God should be listened to in their various knowledges and as important people were listening to the druid he did take off the wall of his cell the small wooden holy symbol he had carried through his training to become a paladin. Riding to where the druid was staying he offered that for the holy item he could use.

Some new items appeared on the list:

Rani trots over to the druid with a couple of vials full of water.

"Here's the Water containing Essense of Halfling. Professor Kadrai had me and my mother sealed in a water filled aquarium for six hours the other day before concentrating the water we were in - and breathing. Well .. actually Mom was in for six, I joined her for the last three after I got off work."

"It was quite fun actually ... if you need any more, I'll be quite happy to do it again. - might do it again anyway"

She then hands over a feather. I ... plucked this off my sister after asking her to Wild Shape into a seagull. She's ...... not happy with me at the moment.

A rather irate seagull then starts to dive bomb her squarking angrily.

"Ow .. Shoo .. Stop it Prilla ... I SAID it was for the good of Duirt .. ow" *as a few other seagulls join in as well. She runs off, being chased by an entire flock.

Leigh sees the attack and his imagination runs wild long enough for a funny song with an older green Rani singing a song about this moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9t-slLl30E

laughing merrily and dancing to the song singing it as it went.

And yet more things were added to the druid's ritual being:

* A sock worn by a gnome - it didn't seem to matter it had a hole in it

* A tile off the Cathedral roof

* A hair from the head of the Cardinal

* The head of a Goblin

* The scream of a terrified man

* A preserved Heart of a Goblin

* A candle from a Crypt.

Rani, Leigh, Selis, Norret and Serina, dressed up as evil spirits and went around in the dark of night, picking up these items. A terrified nun at the Cathedral claimed she saw an evil black clad fairy, with wings, fly up the belltower stairs. This nun, however, had been known for taking sips of the sacremental wine.

And now the 'Beautiful Death' had been added to the druid's collection. This turned out to be a Belladonna, aka Deadly Nightshade, flower that was retrieved by Rani, Leigh, Sarina, Selis and Norret.

To get it, they had to journey to some woodlands to the north of Duirt. There, they were attacked by two insect swarms, as well as some sort of giant carnivorous plant.

"Next time I'm going to be carrying alchemical bombs with me" Rani was heard to remark on their return. "The plant can try eating those instead of me"

She later has her revenge on all plants by ordering a vegetable salad scattered on top of ratatouille.

"We should have enough to give it a decent go only a few items left on the list. I divined three possible last minute additions to make the ritual stronger, though even if no others are found, it should be sufficient."

Nari speaks to the druid about the new ingrediants and decided to take on the task of the Suspicious stew. Taking down what was needed he went and collected the items while on his way home. His cauldron was already bubbling and waiting. Cutting up and pressing the needed things he sung to himself and yet again wondered if they were helping the city, or helping a fiend to cause pain. What did they really know of this druid after all. But he couldn't let a chance go to help all the people who were in need.

He figured he should do his part as well, it's not very good for business if everyone in the city disappears after all. Heading down to the docks he looks for a seagull and takes aim.

Sami will saunter up to the druid and present a dull bronze dragon scale, omitting where he got it from, just saying that it was a present from his Grandmother and that he hopes it helps achieve the desired results of getting rid of the miasma.

(( Sami will have approached Beluvial and asked for her for the donation of an old scale of hers. He will have explained it's to help get rid of the miasma according to the druid and will give his Grandmother a peck on the cheek in return for the present. ))

*when Nort arrives to deliver the dead bird he will inquire as to what is left to procure...upon hearing that there is still a lullaby to give he will clear he throat and look around to make sure no one else can hear him before singing one out. A nice and gentle lullaby which is at odds with his rough demeaner and body size.*

Don't you cry, I'm right here with you

Feel the darkness running away from here

Don't you cry, I will stay with you

Nightmare, demons... all end now

So close your eyes and you will travel

To a magic world

Where peace reigns forever

Today the stars will guide your dreams and

Protect all the things above you

Tonight an angel will come to give you a kiss

Only for you

Sweet dreaming now, my little piece of love

Here we go, don't look at behind

Hold my hand and we will fly away

Here you have a thousand of adventures to live

Just choose one every night

Don't remember (the) darkness and sorrow

Come here now, back to light

he was laughing before he had even entered the building. They still needed so many pairs of boots and shoes... so he was going shoping at the public baths.

Paying the entrance fee and some more for some nice smelling shampoo and soaps he moved quietly down the corridor, slipping into the room where people's clothing was cleaned. Grinning all the while he "Cleaned" out enough pairs of boots and shoes to do the job and left the rest. Then thought about how much more harder it would have been if people started wearing mismatched footwear. He laughs at the thought as he exits again. Wanting to use his new shampoo and soap another time. He had a delivery to make to the druid.

Time was wearing away at the deadline and people weren't getting all the things so he stepped up again. This time he changed his appearance up and went to visit a certain building in the Central Quarter where he knew for sure there would be an old book of law laying around. That judge was almost as old as Duirt. he grins at the pun and while a murderer was on trial he slipped over to the office and looked for a well used copy of law. Snatching it up he was out and gone before he too would be standing trial.

"Well that looks like we have almost everything." Elrus noted as he added the last content to the brewing pot "This should be sufficient"

Focussing on the brew, he started to perform his magic, a light mist slowly spiraling out of the cauldron. It seemed to sparkle slightly as it touched the black miasma.

"It will take a little while to take effect... but it looks like its working!"