All of the faces at the table turned to see a bruised and bloody Warforge slowly stagger up. Fizban was the first to speak up and welcome the newcomer. "Yarek! I see you have been trying your hand at PvP again...with the usual results!"

"Yeah. Some smart-mouthed Bard pulled out a construct-bane weapon! I'll get him though!" Yarek slumped into an empty seat. "I just need to rest up a bit. Does anyone have a good story to share?" He reached for a jug and filled his glass.

"I have a story to tell." Bukaroo spoke up. "Have I ever told you the story of Goolan's Seamless Red Robe?"

"That's not much of a story," Goolan interrupted "Besides, it's not like I could ever wear the thing."

"Still, I have always thought that there was a bit more to the story than we were able to see! I would like to tell the story and let the others decide what it might mean."

"Tell it then." Goolan shrugged. "It shouldn't take long."

Bukaroo proceeded to spin the tale: "Goolan, Fizban and myself were returning to the refuge after a foray into the Tomb of the Wizard King. We had acquired the legendary Phylactery of Raiyum and were on our way to return it to Zawabi...in hopes of receiving a fat reward. As we looted the dead Kings chest, Goolan pulled out a Seamless Red Robe, which turned out to be a Robe of Protection. He had stuffed it in his pack in hopes that it may bring a few gold pieces from the Auction House.

Suddenly we heard a yell from a human voice followed by several gnoll yelps. They clearly came from the other side of the sand dune that we faced. Goolan pulled his Sword of Shadows and ran forward without a moments hesitation. Fizban and I followed as quickly as we could...but nobody can keep up with that Warforge when he is in a full run. By the time we cleared the top of the dune, two gnolls were down and we saw Goolan bring the sword down onto the head of the third one, splitting him open from pate to breastplate. The three of us turned to help the gnolls intended victims...a man and a woman. The man, who told us his name was Yosef, was breathing heavily while he leaned on a stout quarterstaff that appeared to be his only weapon. His wife, her name was Mari, sat upon a small donkey, and she was obviously very pregnant. I checked the two carefully until I was satisfied that they were not injured. Fizban found the pair to be strangely curious.

"Why would the two of you be traveling alone in such dangerous territory?" Fizban asked, as he eyed the two with great intensity. He later told me that the two possessed an aura of magic, the likes of which he had never seen before.

"Please," the man said "We must get to the refuge! My wife's time is almost here!" Goolan nodded his approval to Fizban who proceeded to pull a scroll out of his pack. We all gathered closely around the small donkey and Fizban used his scroll to teleport us into the refuge.

We escorted the couple to the Inn, only to be told that there was no room. The innkeepers teenaged son suggested that we might make a soft bed in the stables. He grabbed a lantern to show us the way. We led the donkey around to the stable area as the woman began to shriek with the pains of labor. Goolan lifted her in his arms and carried her under a slight overhang where we smoothed out a spot in the hay for her to lie down. Goolan and Fizban then went off to secure some food and fresh water, while I stayed to lend what assistance I could. Although I am a trained healer, this was a new experience for me.

When Goolan and Fizban returned the baby was born and his mother was resting comfortably. He was a healthy boy, perfect in every way. But he seemed to be a very strange child. I had emptied a food trough and lined it with clean hay for him to lie upon, and though he was naked and cold, he never let out a single cry. He just looked right at my eyes and gave me a sweet smile as if to say 'Thank You'. I said out-loud, as if to answer those eyes, that he was very welcome. I wish I could describe to you all the feeling of profound peace that washed over me as I looked into those smiling eyes. Then I felt a large hand rest on my shoulder and I turned to see Goolan looking past me to see the child. I turned to speak to the big Warforge:

"The mother and the baby are both healthy. He is a fine boy, don't you think?" But Goolan did not answer me...he seemed like he hadn't heard me at all. His eyes were glued to the new babe who cooed and giggled amongst the lowing of a few cattle. Then Goolan did a very strange thing. He sank to his knees before the child and bowed his head in reverence. Then he reached into his own backpack and pulled out the Seamless Red Robe of Protection...and he gently wrapped the baby warmly and set him back to rest upon the hay. Though Goolan spoke softly I was close enough to hear his words:

"May this robe help to warm you and protect you...for you are indeed a Stranger in a Strange Land." It was then that I noticed the innkeepers son kneeling beside Goolan. He said:

"I wish that I had a gift to give the baby. Wait! I know!" The boy leaped up and ran back into the inn, he obviously intended to retrieve something from inside.

Then Goolan stood, and the three of us said our goodbyes to the small family. We then set off to find Zawabi. We hadn't traveled more that a hundred meters when we encountered a group of three men, obviously wealthy merchants, with fully loaded camels. The tallest of the three stopped us with an air of urgency.

"Please, you must help us! A child has been born here tonight. We must find him! Can you point us in the right direction?" I turned to point at the stables beside the inn, but I froze with astonishment. The baby and his parents seemed to be bathed in white light...the light was coming from a star that hovered in the sky above them. We could see the innkeepers teenage son standing by the makeshift cradle holding a small drum that he softly beat as he gazed lovingly at the delighted baby. The three men just nodded silently and moved toward the light. We proceeded on our way and finally found the great Djinni Zawabi in a state of great agitation.

"There is a disturbance in my refuge tonight! I feel that a great power has descended here. I wonder...could it be a God that has visited us tonight?" Zawabi stared at the bright star that hung so low over his refuge.

"No." Goolan said. "It is only a newborn child. But....perhaps...it is the Son of God. You will find him beside the inn, wrapped in a Seamless Red Robe."

Bukaroo finished his story and was surprised at the silence that had crept over the guild table. Everybody stared at Goolan, as he poured himself another glassful and drunkenly slurred: "Like I said, the robe would never have fit me anyway."