Separate names with a comma.
Yeah, Elmo really makes all the difference. He has more health than your normal level 1 party combined, so it's like bringing five more characters...
No, it's not a bug. Rannos says that they never go near the temple themselves if you chose to blackmail them for the temple's location.
Aren't you supposed to switch sides and become a good guy? He'll give you the quest to clear the moathouse as penance for burning down the church.
