"Captain?"  Marek said quietly, and turning his head gestured to the docks.  There were several dock hands milling about.  They had an odd look on their face as if listening to a noise they couldn't quite hear.  They were going about their business, but slowly, hesitatingly.  The normal bustle that happened around the sky docks seemed muted somehow.<br/><br/>Matron Sera moved to take her daughter's hand a concerned look on her face.  She hesitated, then added, "The wizard killed himself, that's why we couldn't get him to remove the curse."<br/><br/>High priestess Pas gasped, and Doxi knew why.  There were few curses stronger than a death curse.  Pas said, "We should get her to the temple, quickly.  I'm going to need help lifting this curse."<br/><br/>Theristina, gripping the wooden rail of the ship was gazing out at the men on the docks, "Capn' pardon my impudence, but I don't think you should be walking through the streets alone with that one.  You didn't fall under the curse the way the rest of us did, but I'll tell you, it's a strong compulsion.  I can see it in those men's eyes now, we may have some problems on the way there."<br/><br/>Janmorel, the cute engineer squeaked, and the bulge in her leather trousers showing that she was feeling the effects as well, "But we can't leave the Virtuous Maiden undefended either.  Leaving just Zephyr here to guard the ship might not be enough.  It's fine when she just has to scare off nosey burglars, but Vera's scent is all over this ship.  We might have to use a little force to keep people from boarding."<br/><br/>Doxi knew that Zephyr, the air elemental was good at warding off the occasional theif, but if a determined party tried to get on, she'd be too little to stop them and would have to retreat to her core.   Then again if there was trouble in the cavern like streets that cut into the mountain town of Black Peak, it would be better to have people with her.<br/><br/>Matron Vera spoke out, "Well, I'm going with my daughter and that's all there is to that.  I'm not much good in a fight, but I can keep my daughter under control and keep her moving.  She'll listen to me and not run off into the arms of the first man who drops his trousers."<br/><br/>Pas said, "And I'll need your help daughter, you know the rituals and I have a feeling the priestesses of Shoni may need all the help we can get.  But remember, if we do get into a fight, we have to try to be gentle.  These people," she said gesturing to the town of Black Peak, "these aren't enemy nation's armies, these are our neighbors and friends.  We must try to get to the temple, and do so without hurting anyone if possible."<br/><br/>So that simply left her crew.  Doxi had to decide who to leave behind and who to take. Theristina obviously was the best fighter, but not exactly the kind of woman who 'pulled her punches,' especially if her opponent was a man.  Stoella was a good swordswoman and an excellent first mate, she'd be good to lead a command if needed, and good in a fight.   So she would be good to stay behind, but at the same time, she thought of Blackpeak as her home, and would go to great lengths to incapacitate an opponent who fell under Vera's curse without harming them.  Janmorel wasn't a lot of good in most fights, but she did have keen insight and a knack for coming up with unsual solutions to problems.  Finally that left Marek, if anyone could defend the ship, he could.  His shape shifting abilities might be able to hold the ship alone with Zephyr, but then again, there were several routes from the docks to the temple, and having him scout ahead could provide routes that would avoid large groups of people, and therefore any potential problems.   Finally Zephyr would of course not be able to leave the ship, but it was likely if there was a problem on the ship, she couldn't hold it herself.<br/><br/>Doxi had a tough decision to make about who was going and who was staying.