~ ~ ~ Shifing his cane forward a step, the Master Barber, clearly favoring his right leg, slowly eases foward into the lamp light from the temple interior, and with practiced grace, sweeps the brown fedora from off his head as he crosses the threshhold.  The tall gaunt man of middle years, late 30s early 40s, places both hands upon the cane's Silver Wolf's handle, and carefully executes a shallow bow to Siannodell.  The Mocking Man hadn't planned on bowing the Forest Priestess, but did so to cover his surprise at her appearance.  His information about the High Priestess led him to believe she was of greater age even than himself.  Yet, the woman before him had to be only a few years younger than himself.  Straightening from his bow, the Loremaster puts on his most charming smile, amused at the irony of her statement, and responds in his melodic English accent, saying "Indeed Siannoddell, it is an honor to make your acquaintance as well. And you see clearly through to the truth of the matter for why I am here calling upon you this eve."  The former Guild Master gingerly walks, supporting a portion of his weight on the cane, over to a fallen section of the temple's walls, and slowly eases himself down to the stone, taking the weight off his right leg.  Issuing a soft sigh of relief, Gideon casually regards the one-eyed holy woman for several heartbeats, before he gently chides her, saying "Forsooth Great Priestess, I don't often do charity work.  But as you put it, in a way, I am here to make a donation.  Perhaps even help answer a prayer or two." and leaves the baited hook dangling for her response. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ With a sardonic grin, the middle aged Barber quipped good naturedly "I'll have to remember to charge extra in the future for helping the Goddess with Her prayer answering."  Gideon quirked at Siannoddell's offer.  He'd seen many a healer over the years since he'd been deposed as the Master of the Thieves Guild in Baldur's Gate.  The Mocking Man almost didn't survive the change of managment.  For sure the poisoned blade claimed his right leg.  The Loremaster laid aside his silver handled cane, and proceeded to show the High Priestess what she'd be tending. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Undoing the buckle of his belt, the Master Barber pulled down his trousers to the knees, exposing his undergarments, but also revealing there was no leg to tend from mid-thigh down.  Leather straps and bronze buckles held the artificial leg in place.  The artificial leg itself was made of a light polished wood, likely balsa, trimmed with light silver-blue metal, probably mithril, probably created by Dwarves.  Gideon looked up from exposing the source of his limp, and with a smirk, says "Don't get any funny ideas." ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Having watched her beautiful face, as he revealed the source of his limp, Gideon noted the predictable play of emotions.  His own lips twisting in a suppressed smile, the Mocking Man nodded at the all to familiar answer he'd come to expect from priests.  The former Guild Master realized he'd missed the obvious about Siannoddell.  She wouldn't be wearing an eyepatch, if she could regenerate injuries such as lost limbs or a missing eye.  The middle aged Barber finally grinned broadly as he replied in his culture english-baroque, "Well, good then that must mean all the ideas you did have were naughty!  For shame on you, High Priestess!" and winked at her as he reached down to pull up his trousers. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ While carefully bent over, the Loremaster glanced up at Siannoddell, and casually spoke to her, saying "I've seen many healers, and from past experience, have learned it's best to cut to the chase.  It often helped weed out the charlatans from the true practicioners."  Gideon pulled his trouser up from around his knees, and as he buckled his leather belt back up, explained "But my leg is not why I've come to you this night.  Rather, I bring news."  Leaning back against the partially melted block of temple wall, the Master Barber reclaimed his silver-handled cane, and sedately regarding the High Priestess, informed her "I took the liberty of letting some acquaintances of mine know about the condition of your temple, and they're marching here even now as we speak.  A company of Dwarves from Mirabar should arrive in Elmshade as soon as three weeks from now.  Stonemasons, engineers, smiths, and artisans from the Spine of the World.  You may want to see about filling your temple coffers, if you would hire their services." ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ His smirk broadens into a grin, when Siannodell mentions the part about chastity vows, and Gideon merrily retorts "And for that, I heartily give thanks each and every day for everyone I met who hadn't!  It's saved my bedroom from being a terribly lonely place upon occasion."  Placing the hook of the cane over his left arm, the Loremaster reached with his right hand into his interior, left, vest pocket, and retrieved his pipe and tabacc pouch.  Some of the High Priestess' thoughts were slightly encouraging for the Mocking Man, especially the allusion that she still wrestled with her lusts.  Filling the bowl of his pipe, the Barber pulled a candle from its holder, and lit up the tabacc, taking a couple of drags on the stem.  Replacing the candle, the gaunt man blew a couple of smoke rings down over it, and shrugged at her question, answering "It all depends on how 'extravagant' and 'grand' your plans are for your Goddess' new church.  I will be employing their services also, so in any event, they'll find the trip worth their while." ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Quietly toking on his black wood pipe, the glow of the red ember in the bowl would reflect in his pale brown eyes, making them light up with a fiery orange ambience.  The Mocking Man didn't notice nor realize he'd disturbed the tranquility of the High Priestess' domain, and only later would realise he'd been quite rude, forgetting to ask her permission before polluting her space with his pipe smoke.  The Loremaster slightly nodded his head at some of what Siannodell said, but in reality, was merely confirming the responses he'd predicted to come from the Forest Priestess. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ When the Servant of Mielikki of finally completed her initial envisionment of the new temple and verbal plan conceptualization, he softly exhaled smoke through his nostrils, and lowering his pipe, smoothly replied "Siannodell, we are not talking about simple miners.  As I said, Durin Thunderhammer and those with him are some of the very best craftsman, artisans and engineers in gem, metal, and stonework from Mirabar and the Spine of the World.  If you do gain the aid of the Trinity Mages and they are versed in the magecraft for creating walls of stone and material transumation, this would greatly reduce the cost of rebuilding."  The former Guild Master used the Medallion of ESP to get a clearer idea of her plans for the new temple, and glancing toward the High Priestess, explained "The Dwarves will be bringing a vast selection of stone variants from which their resident mages will grow your preferred stone walls for quarrying and shaping as you desire.  You will be paying for their skills and perfectionism, and that will not come cheaply for your grand plans." ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The Master Barber stood up from the stone on which he sat, and replacing his brown fedora once more on his head, conjectured aloud "Without architectural schematics of what you'd like them to construct, I could only estimate what the cost might be.  You may be looking at half a million gold to rebuild your temple."  The Loremaster took hold of his Silver Wolf-Head cane, and nodded at her question about sending the Dwarves to speak with her, saying "That's the plan.  And with that, I shall leave you to your meditations and prayer.  Good night, Siannodell."  Pausing on her doorstep, the Mocking Man suggestively said, over his shoulder as final parting words, "You know, I've heard rumors that a massive army of Undead have entered the ruins.  I wonder where they came from..." and limped off into the darkness of the night, leaving the High Priestess to her thoughts. ~ ~ ~