"Perhaps you should see this then my son. Please give me a hand."
To view the slab, furniture and rugs must be moved and the slab scraped clean. Almery eagerly allows PCs to investigate the markings as long as they put everything back. He loves a good mystery. It is written in a familiar but ancient dialect (DC 12 Linguistics or DC 9 bardic knowledge).
Hagrym helps clear the area to examine the supposed divine marking. I doubt Dwerfater would pass along a message to just a village of mere humans, but I'd better look for myself, the dwarf considers as he grabs a table and moves it away, so that the design can be viewed.
Feeling some of his frustrations lessen some, Cyrus sets down his battered pack on one of the pews and lends what assistance he can in clearing the area. Glancing again at the children and then back the Elder he places a simple request.
"Perhaps the children should return to their parents while we discuss this matter. It is one thing for the gods to move adults as their pawns, but I would not feel comfortable adding the truly innocent to this game."
"Papa, can we stay? I want to know what Freya has to say to us also." exclaims the boy.
"Run along and do your chores children. I will let you know later."
He turns to Cyrus, "They are my adopted children and the children of Freya."
"I think that word is priest,"exclaims Jossan."I was trying to figure it out for you and surprise you papa!"
Almery turns to Cyrus, "They are my adopted children and the children of Freya."
~The town withers around him, yet he has taken on these two children as charges of the Church. Why would none of the other townsfolk offer to take this responsibility for him? Could they be waiting to see if the priest fails at his task as a sign that Freya too has given up on this place?~
Turning to Cyrus and Almery Naomi says Come on Cyrus, let the children stay, they are so cute, Father Burgand what do you think the symbol means?
Glancing towards the minstrel, Cyrus’ green eyes flash hard, but his voice remained calm.
”It is because they are children that I asked them to be sent away. I have no desire to add Harbinger of Terror to sins I must atone. I know we have all been together for a short time and you have little reason to trust my words, but please do not bring them into this. Should the gods demand it later, so be it, but let that act be on their hands and not ours.”
No sooner does the words leave his mouth seeking their dismissal, but the Hanged Man once more mocks him as a fool.
"I think that word is priest,"exclaims Jossan."I was trying to figure it out for you and surprise you papa!"
Sighing deeply, Cyrus looks away from Naomi.
"My apologies."
After helping move the furniture to see the slab, Turvijagal will have a look at the inscription and see if he can read it:
"Let's have a look. Hmmmm... Interesting..."
“Take heed, for undying iniquity rests within these walls.
Upon this site the scepter of united faith fulfi lled destiny.
The dread priest, Akruel, shall rule no longer.
We, the faiths of the world, place this stone
so none shall ever forget the bloodshed.
Take heed, lest evil awaken!”
Leaning forward on his axe and listening Ulfgard nods.
"It seems we have found the resting place of some evil swine. Does anyone known in the historys know who this Akruel was. His name for sure sounds omnious."
Know. Religion
Hagrym searches his mind, wondering if any of the lines triggered anything the High Priest had taught over the years.
"Must be some other clues in this chapel, I suppose. That's about the only sense I can make of that inscription. Perhaps there's some other clues under or near this slab?"
Turvijagal will try poking around the slap to see if there's any kind of mechanism, or if it moves at all, or sounds hollow with a bit of a tap of the pommel of one of his daggers.
You recall something about a death priest Akruel Rathamon, but that is about all. It was ages ago.
Almery collects items Lessef’s farmers occasionally discover about the village while tilling their fi elds. Buried items found in the fields around the village include rusted weapons, tools to carve stone, mining implements and even ancient pieces of armor. Almery believes Lessef sits on an ancient battleground or military encampment. He keeps these items in the bethel’s cellar and gladly shows them to visitors if they inquire into Lessef’s history.
"Must be some other clues in this chapel, I suppose. That's about the only sense I can make of that inscription. Perhaps there's some other clues under or near this slab?"
"Or perhaps there is something in or under this strange hill that the chapel rests on. It is surely not a natural structure to rise thus on this plain."
Naomi looks at Cyrus slightly confused, then she asks
Are we talking about the symbol on the floor, your funny dreams or the fox being turned into a stole, because if the children know the fox is eating the chickens they won't mind if we kill it.
"The dreams that Zors has deemed to bless me with I would prefer to remain among the adults. The cycle of life between a fox and a hen in this town remain very low on my concern list. If this symbol holds the key to allowing me to return to my normal life, then I will send a crate a chickens every month until the foxes die of gluttony."
“Take heed, for undying iniquity rests within these walls.
Upon this site the scepter of united faith fulfi lled destiny.
The dread priest, Akruel, shall rule no longer.
We, the faiths of the world, place this stone
so none shall ever forget the bloodshed.
Take heed, lest evil awaken!”
Stopping abruptly as Turvijagal begins reading the inscription on the floor, Cyrus lowers himself beside his pack when the man finished the reading.
~So you deal me another hand of Blind Man's Draw. Or has the opening gambit been passed to one of the others and now I can fold?~
Absently listening to the flurry of conversations around him, Cyrus looks up when Galerio mentions the chapel resting atop the hill.
"Almery, when you discovered the mining gear and stone shaping tools, were they from one location, or scattered around? I have spent time in many assorted camps over the years and while a man will easily part with coin and promises, they hold their tools closer than they hold their gods."
"I have heard whispers of a long deceased Death Priest name Akruel Rathamon. Unfortunately the name is about all I recall. Death Priests are generally a sorry lot, so I'm sure no one here would want me to remember much more than that!"
"These were found over the years in the fields. As to exactly where I do not know."
"I have heard whispers of a long deceased Death Priest name Akruel Rathamon. Unfortunately the name is about all I recall. Death Priests are generally a sorry lot, so I'm sure no one here would want me to remember much more than that!"
"Forgive my asking, especially given the company, but what is a Death Priest? While I am able to call upon Zors in times of dire need, my initial calling in life was not that of a clergyman."
"These were found over the years in the fields. As to exactly where I do not know."
"Thank you all the same. It was a foolish thought that crossed my mind, as you would know better than any if there was something under this church."
Thinking on it a bit…
"Perhaps this hill isn't really a hill after all. Itbe a tumulus that that was made to intern this Akruel Rathamon, or his followers. If that's the case, maybe there's some sort of entrance at the base of this hill. Probably buried. Hagrym and Ulfgard may be the best to find such an entrance. If there is one."
"I never paid that close attention, but you know how good clerics are all the time healing people, banishing undead, and using their God to help others. Well, Death Priests are pretty much the opposite of that. Think of all the awful things you have heard about evil necromancers, cults, and add them all together. Death Priests are teh head of all that."
"I never paid that close attention, but you know how good clerics are all the time healing people, banishing undead, and using their God to help others. Well, Death Priests are pretty much the opposite of that. Think of all the awful things you have heard about evil necromancers, cults, and add them all together. Death Priests are the head of all that."
~Except when those people needing the help can't pay the price for that treatment or are turned away for other causes. Then they turn to those like me to render what aide we can when they have no other choice.~
"Thank you for the perspective on their kind. I would prefer to avoid the undead as much as possible, as I have enough trouble among the living to add another seat to the table."
"Been the priest here for nigh on 50 years and have never seen any entrances and have been mostly around the hill. That except the wooded area on the south side as most folks only go in there for wood and hunting."
"Oh, sorry it is a bit dark down here with just a torch." Burgand casts light "Don't mind you looking whatsoever!"
"Naomi has the right of it. Let's look in the basement...if that doesn't work, than we need to go check out that wooded area."
Watching as those around him summon magics with ease, Cyrus wanted to ask how they were capable of doing such feats so easily. While it was true that Zors would grant him small bursts of healing magic, Cyrus had never successfully been able to call upon Zors for more than that. He had tried many times in the past, especially in the early days of his service to the Hanged Man, but every time he felt he had a grasp on the right prayer or incantation, nothing would happen.
~At least you learned how to set bones, stitch cuts and which herbs could dull the pain while you did it. Those things in themselves were blessings to many.~
Forcing the fatigue from his mind, Cyrus stood up and walked down the steps to the basement with the others to see if the gods held any further surprises for them.
"Downstairs sounds like a good plan, we may want to check the woods regardless of what we find down there also. I dont see well in the dark or dim light, would a more gifted person in that area care to take the lead?"
Jarvis draws his sword and readies himself to go down there stairs, waiting for someone to step forward, if not he will go.
Hagrym nods and takes the lead. He didn't need any torche, so he just grabbed his traits shield and marched forward.
Giving Naomi a disapproving look
"Well was trying to prevent us announcing our presence too obviously as I can make light too...
Women!
"Right. Noisy people in armour. Good. Makes it easy for me to get catch enemies unawares. Death clerics? Oh well, I like a challenge!"
"After you, everyone! I'll just follow up behind in case anyone else misses anything along the way. I'll be quiet down there."
Turvijagal will follow the others into the basement. Being stealthy about it. Just in case.
Well, you roll perception checks and unfortunately I guess for the party you detect no traps nor secret doors. The only evil the paladin might detect is a bit of new party jitters! After a 20 minute search you are pretty convinced there is nothing else down here.
Did I say unfortunately? Sorry, meant to say fortunately. Roll playing XP is adding up in nickels and dimes though!
"Well ladie, the complaining is almost as loud as our armor. And I do not hide my presence... for now!"
Discovering nothing new in the basement, Cyrus walked over to the tools that Almery had collected over the years. Unsure as to why the older man had felt these were important enough to store in the chapel instead of melting them down for scrap and taking whatever coin he could get for them, perhaps there was information here that could be gained after all.
~Unless they never took turns at the forge, in which case this is nothing more than another delay.~
"A moment longer please."
Pointing to the scattered items in the basement, in particular the mining gear, Cyrus knew this was a long shot.
"I shared lodging once with a dwarf who said that he was raised by the forge and was trained to look at a tool or blade and determine if it was forged by fellow dwarves or some other race. He would go on and on about the different hues of ore and similar. If there is something elsewhere, perhaps these scattered items would give us an indication of who built it, or at least when."
The image of Torval Shieldsplitter, better known as Torval the Strangler to the guards of the Watch, passed quickly through his mind. He and Torval had shared that cramped cell for almost three weeks before Torval went to the gallows.
~He talked about ores to the day the noose went around his neck for killing those girls.~
{Afterwards}
"So, we eating supper before or after we head to the woods?"
"I do not know how long until the sun sets, so perhaps a quick look before to make a plan for tomorrow?"
"Eh, sneaking around isn't the honorable way to battle. Face it head on, defeat it, and take the glory," Hagrym laughs as listens to the criticism from Naomi. "If someone wants to be all quiet, then take the lead and do it, but if you wait on me, you'll get a bit of tromping around, I suppose."
"I can give you the key to the inn if you need a place to stay, but unfortunately there is no staff to cook you supper."
"It will still be more comfortable than sleeping outside"
"Off to the woods then. Chicken grabbers and ne'er do wells beware! Perhaps they will be one and the same. In any case, we should probably proceed with purpose."
Galerio will ready his crossbow and stay towards the rear flank of the group.
"I'm more comfortable in a cave than a forest, to be honest. Tracking foxes isn't my strong suit."
Shaking his head and grunting Ulfgard takes the lead walking carefully trying to find tracks.
Taking 20 to find the tracks for a 27. "Urmpf. Could you stop whining like goblin babys when the lightning cracks. I try to work here. It´s easier with a foxhound but if you are nice and easy, pretty please, I should be able to follow its tracks."
Small prints are evident on the outskirts of town (DC 16 Survival check). The tracks never enter the village, however, as the fox is too spooked by the villagers. You can easily track it to its lair if you wish.