"Oh, that Seamus.My sister is a huge fan of yours and she has paintings of you all over her room. I told her a big star like you wouldn't care about small fry like us and she was basically wasting her time mooning over you." The man answers, sounding slightly irritated. "I guess some good came out of it, afterall. I supposed she asked you for help so you could come to my rescue like a knight in shining armor, like those parts you played in the opera?"
"I'm Sholn. I was delivering a letter to Fort Hailcourse when I was passing by a large bush. I felt something hard hit my head, then I woke up here."He replies.
"I have no idea where the Stelae are and seeing that I nearly ended up as a sacrifice, I don't want to know. There are 3 ancient, 12-foot-tall, semicircular menhirs forms an equilateral triangle atop Thrushmoor’s hills though. "
Vincent unlocks the door using the keys on the key ring they found on the chainshirt wearing skum.
Motes of dust hang heavy in this room’s stale air. Crates and barrels stand along the damp stone walls. A plastered portion of the wall in the southwest corner of the room has begun to crack. The room is strangely cold despite having no source of cooling.
Vincent realizes that the south western portion of the wall used to be a corridor that was sealed up with stone blocks and plastered over long ago. The dampness in the room and the hasty stonework have caused the plaster to crack. Chipping at the plaster reveals gaps in the stones that were put up without mortar.
A ghostly translucent green figure of a human in a tattered robe and empty eye sockets floats out of the wall next to Leonard and reaches out to touch Vincent. "Life... So long since I've had a taste"It intones in a hollow voice.
Vincent feels his lifeforce being drained from him with the spectre's touch. It then floats into the plastered wall.
Vincent realizes the creature is a ghost!
Hearing the voice, Sholn screams,"Noooo its the ghost! I told you we needed to get out of here!" With that, Sholn starts running out of the cell.
Hearing the sister was a big fan, Seamus smiles again, "A pleasure to meet you, Sholn. We do what we can for our fans, but I told your sister that it wasn't like in the plays and opera's. She wanted to come with us but I talked her out of it."
Hearing that the location was unknown, his smile wans, "Sad about not knowing the location of the Stelae, I really would like to avoid accidentally winding up there."
Seeing and hearing the ghost, Seamus attempts to strike his best pose and calls out, "A taste? A taste of life? Or a taste of something more specific? How long has it been? Would you like to tell us your story? this doesn't seem like a nice place to be, is there some way we could let you go some place else?"
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Howard, seeing how badly screwed up a single light touch from the spirit leaves Vincent, decides discretion is the better part of valor.
"Seamus, it looked like this place hasn't been accessed in quite some time, and the spirit mentioned that it was hungry... it may be that it cannot leave the room. Factor that into your plan..."
He then backs off out of sight of the spirit (ostensibly to try and calm the panicked young man who just ran off).
”Yeah I know, I mean running off with a guy she’s never talked to before? She bloody doesn’t think things through and I’m really afraid that someone will take advantage of her good nature . Good thing you didn’t bring her with you or I’d punch you in the face.” Sholn grumbles, aggrieved.
”Sorry. I know I owe you a debt…but there’s so much…arrgh…aggravation. I mean the time she ran out of the shop, to watch as you walked down the street, dropping the bottle of fish she was pickling, and nearly got fired, I had to go to her employer and talk him out of firing her.” Sholn complains, ”I mean I was thinking back then if I could get my hands on you, I’d give you a good tight slap for bewitching my little sister.”
”And here, life’s greatest ironies, I’m being rescued by the man I’d like to smack. ”Sholn sighs.
”I was slain most horribly!” The ghost moans, and upon his translucent body, the party sees hideous wounds caused by torture, as well as abstract, swirling monstrosities with too many eyes and too many mouths. ”And taken away from my beloved Nemira! With each sup of life-force – I’ll finally be able to travel further from my place of demise so that I can see her again…”
'That's not a bad idea.' Seeing Howard leave the room Seamus Looks at Vincent and Leonard, shaking his head, and stepping back, he asks the spirit. "Am I understanding you right, that you believe dining on our life force will help you see your beloved? But if you eat us, won't you be doing the same thing to us that your torturers did to you? Is that the type of person that your Nemira would want?"
He steps back, making room for his friends, "Is there some way we can help you without you doing to others what was done to you?"
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Hearing that the spirit is, for whatever reason, apparently willing to talk, Howard listens to the voices , and cautiously peeps around the corner, asking:
"Well, if going to your beloved is what you really seek, would it not be better to put you to rest, and give your body a proper burial, so that you can see her again in the afterlife? Taking life this way may very well take you to her (eventually), but it will undoubtedly take a very long time; would it not be more practical to take a pragmatic approach to all of this, and hasten the process...?"
'Howard is so smart, why didn't I think of that.' Seamus nods his head in agreement with Howard, "Yeah, what he said."
Never knew a famous person who didn't care about beautiful admirers.
...
Doesn't want to accidentally arrive at the stelea? Maybe he won't notice.
Leonard backs up out of the room and into the hallway, sword up. Let me at it, I can hurt ghosts. Not this ghost.
Leonard shouts at Sholn, please come back here before you get yourself hurt. The skum could be back at any time, you'll be safe as long as you stay with us. Leonard seems preoccupied with Sholn at first, while the others talk to the ghost. Don't want to let another person die for no reason. This one seems like a sensible and good person.
He does have a heart after all!
Leonard turns away, shaking his head. Fine then, let him die. See if I care.
Paying attention to the conversation with the ghost again, Leonard looks at the others. Might be a temporary thing. Might also need to see the remains of this "Nemira." We do need Sholn after all, we need him to tell us where they disposed of the bodies.
Leonard takes off at a run after the man.
”Yes. With each life I take..I grow stronger, and I can travel further!” The ghost answers. ”And I don’t care, I’d do anything to see her again…”
”Nemira wouldn’t care either! She only wants to be together with me…and they’ve locked her up in Iris Hill and claimed she died by the same illness that her husband did so she couldn’t come and find me!” The ghost starts wailing.
”Her husband was a self centred b@stard who was a wife-beater to boot who deserved his fate. He didn’t deserve her! And we truly loved each other…”
”Well…I can move a distance from my body, or an item that was with my body at the time of my death…if you could bring me to Nemira…”
”Nemira is still alive, and waiting for me…so why should I be moving on?” The ghost asks Howard.
Leonard manages to catch up with Sholn and grabs him. "Tell your friends they need to get out of here! It's the ghost I saw wandering around the corridor!" Sholn gasps.
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Howard gives the spirit a long, appraising look.
"Well, we were planning to go to Iris Hill in a day or so, anyway... I suppose that taking you there might be feasible. We would need a promise from you that you would not attack us, however, or any of the general townsfolk, whilst we were carrying your vessel (the denizens of Iris Hill, however, are fair game). If you swore upon the love you hold for Nemira, asking the Gods to forever keep the two of you apart if you break your vow, I would believe you."
He then chews his lip thoughtfully.
"Moreover, it would probably be prudent if you didn't manifest until we brought you to Iris Hill; we don't want to freak out the townsfolk... Now, where is your body? What sort of Vessel did you have in mind...?"
'Howard is smart, I wonder if he's thinking 'we drop the ghost down the chimney and let him kill all the bad people' too.' Seamus nods his head in agreement, "He's right, you would need to swear on your love for her."
"Oh sure! If you're taking me to see my beloved, I, Clymes Prett, would be willing to abide by the terms and conditions you have set. I swear that upon my love for Nemira.May the gods keep us apart should I break the vow."
" My body is behind the plastered wall," He gestures at the plastered wall. "Inside my stomach is a scarlet and blue ioun stone. It will do just fine."He then stands a little aside as the party breaks down the wall after an hour of hammering. They find a cell door which Vincent manages to pick the lock off, revealing a dessicated corpse dressed only in a ragged loincloth, that has undergone a process of natural mummification. The most recognizable features of the corpse are several large tattoos on the torso and thighs, mostly depicting abstract, swirling monstrosities with too many eyes and too many mouths.
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Howard nods.
"Very well then. We have an accord."
Once the body is revealed, Howard studies the tattoos with interest, before drawing a wickedly curved dagger, and delicately filleting the skin over the atrophied stomach, peeling back the layers subcutaneous tissue to reveal the magical prize within.
After the gem has been retrieved, he nods to the others.
"Alright. Let's head back to town, and report our findings. We have healing to do, and shopping to complete, before we tackle the Hill on the morrow. I think I have a reasonable way for us to bluff our way through the front door, so that it is easier for us to unleash mayhem..."
Clymes sinks into the ioun stone.
Sholn tells Leonard, when asked, that he does not know where the bodies of those sacrificed were disposed off.
The party returns to Thrushmoor with Sholn in tow and reunites him with his sister at the Silver Wagon, who gives him a heartfelt hug, then thanks Seamus, "Oh my gallant hero, you've rescued my brother and returned him safe to me" and gives him a peck on his cheek. She then hands him her grandfather’s shield with a Griffin emblem on it,"I can never hope to repay you for the brave deed you have done. Please take this as a token of appreciation." Howard recognizes as a +1 heavy steel shield. Throughout this entire scene, Sholn is burying his head in his palms and shaking his head. "I'll never hear the end of this.." He mutters.
The party also returns to the Sleepless Agency for a lunch of Fried Pork Knuckle, Saukeraut, spaetzle, Beef Goulash and beer. Winter is also having lunch there, and asks the party, ”Oh Leonard, good to see you up. How did your trip to Fort Hailcourse go? Did you manage to meet up with Accuser Omari in Fort Hailcourse?”
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Howard grimaces.
"The Fort had been overrun. The Guards had been turned into Juju Zombies, the cellars and food stores were full of Skum and Oozes, and there was a rather nasty shapeshifter that could travel through mirrors. Luckily, they were all dealt with. It also seems that the Cult has been engaging in human sacrifice... the only person left alive was Sholn, but we were able to return him to his sister."
Winter blanches. "Oh Pharasma...do you have any idea what happened to Accuser Omari? Did you see any signs of her?"
"Good you dealt with the undead. They are a scourge to Golarion and must be eradicated."Winter states resolutely.
"Dakash was here a while back to gather his belongings. He said... Your dinosaur, Claude, died?" Winter looks at Howard.
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Howard shrugs.
"Well, there were a *lot* of bodies. We know that the Constable and the Magistrate, at least, were definitely sacrificed... and were then butchered by the Skum for 'provisions'."
When Winter mentions Claude, Howard's expression sours.
"You mean my brother? The dinosaur was just the flesh-vessel that I used to preserve his soul on this plane. Yes, I failed him. He is gone."
"That's utterly vile. How did the skum end up in Thrushmoor anyway?" Winter mentions.
"Your brother?" Winter is genuinely shocked. "I'm sorry about your loss. But as a spellcasters you know there are ways to bring him back if you have his body..."
The afternoon passes uneventfully. Dinner is of cabbage rolls, Ciorba Radauteana, beef salad,drob served with roasted potatoes. The party turns in for the night except for Howard, who keeps watch, his lonely vigil not giving him any solace from his grief.
The party, after breakfast of eggs, ham, cheese and toast, head to Iris Hill the following morning. They put on their cultists disguises, and tap themselves with the wand of disguise self, except for Leonard.
Crows stand sentry on the building's eaves, periodically calling out their dreadful squawks.
The various buildings that make up Iris Hill are built with solid stone blocks, and thick vines of ivy cover the wall with a verdant blanket. Sturdy timber-frame construction makes up the second floor of the buildings, jutting slightly from the walls below. The manor, with two large chimneys and circular dormer windows, is clearly the tallest building among the others on the estate. The whole estate is surrounded by a thick green hedge.
Breaking the thick hedge that surrounds the estate, this squat building sports a pair of heavy wooden doors bearing a small sliding hatch. As the party approaches the Gatehouse, the small sliding hatch opens and they can see an eye peeking out through it.
"So who goes there?" A gruff voice calls out.
Before leaving fort Hailcourse, Leonard takes the Magistrates and Constables badges from the two bodies they found, placing them in his pack. Might prove useful to be a government officer at some point.
I don't think any of the things we killed were byakhee, I'm guessing it fled elsewhere, and I don't wish to spend too long tracking it down. I've got a personal interest in this Iris Hill.
Leonard lies in bed a long time, sword sheathed beside him, pack on the ground, clothes cleaned and laid out for tomorrow. That ghost...I don't trust it.
It will not hurt you, it swore a solemn oath, that would be against it's nature. Sleep now, and let me keep watch, as always.
I'm not worried about us, it's that woman. Nemira. He said she was still alive, and he's now a ghost...that can't possibly work out well. I'm guessing he'll kill her if we ever reunite them.
There was a time when you would already have done something about this. What about you has changed?
Nothing's changed, I'm just older now. And I will do something, I'm just not sure what.
That morning at breakfast, Leonard takes Howard aside, Is that ghost around? I'd rather he not overhear this.
When the ghost's ioun stone is in another room, he continues.
Listen, I've been thinking. He said the woman was still alive, and waiting for him. If we take him to her, well, he might try to reunite the two of them the only way he knows how. From the look of his body, he had some sort of cultists tattoos. I don't think we should try to bring them together, and if he comes back when she's around, that'd be us killing her.
The key to my past is buried here. Count Hasteron Lowls, what kind of a man is he?
A worse one than you.
Only one way to find out.
Assenting to unlocked manacles, Leonard puts the constable's badge on. Casting prestidigitation, he makes himself look a bit dirty and beat up. What do I do about my sword? Perhaps I'll just draw my cloak close around it, and hope nobody notices until the front door's open?
"Howard can use it for his disguise and hand it to you at the first sign of combat?"
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...however, he takes a bit longer than usual.
During that time, he chain-casts Infernal Healing 12 times, lights a candle, and uses it to heat the blade of his dagger, before slowly, deliberately, and methodically making shallow, linear cut marks along the surface of his flesh at his upper arms and thighs.
All the while, tears are streaming down his face.
"I-I am sorry Claude. Sorry for me weakness, my stupidity, and inability to save you again..."
[ooc]After all, all *I* am good for is delivering potions, and the occasional Guidance, so I might as well make it official...
"Oh Avery, Bob and Charles! You're two days late! Where are your sacrificial victims, and where's David? And who's the last guy you have with you, anyway?" The voice asks, but in a more genial manner.
Leonard hands his sword to Howard, be careful. It might try to talk to you, and it can hear your thoughts if you let it.
He also pulls out a kukri from his belt. Anyone want to try to hide this on me?
Leonard stays in the back of the group, head down and eyes on the ground. He doesn't say anything.
As Seamus watches Howard remove the stone from the cadaver, he notices the several large tattoos on the torso and thighs, mostly depicting abstract, swirling monstrosities with too many eyes and too many mouths. Pointing to the tattoos he asks Howard. ”Ummm Howard, what are those? And why in the name of the gods would anyone want them as tattoos?”
As they return Sholn to his sister, Angus accepts the shield, and gives the girl his third best bow, ”It was a pleasure to be of service my dear. Once this situation is resolve perchance I can take you to the opera. I think you would enjoy the view from my private booth.”
As they leave, Seamus waves and then leans over to Howard showing him the shield. ”So my friend how much do you think we can get for this beauty?”
’His brother? Claude was his brother? Really? How odd, I could see half brother but they don’t look….oh just a flesh vessel. I need to remember to ask someone what that is.’ Sitting down for lunch Seamus stays near listening to the conversation. Looking fairly confused as Howard and Winter talk, Seamus nods and smiles. Once they are done speaking Seamus swallows his mouthful of Fried Pork Knuckles, he then winks and nods at Winter, ”How you doin’?”
”This Cultic robe ensemble doesn’t go with my new boots, armor or head band. Oh well, the show must go on.” Holding up the outfit they had ‘acquired’ Seamus reluctantly puts it on and then uses the wand to add to the disguise.
When Leonard goes to hand the sword to Howard, Seamus asks, ”Are you going to have him put it in the bag of holding? Or do you want it closer? I can carry it tied to my pack, so you can get to it easier.” Seeing the Kukri he adds, ”Hide the Kukri? Is that a game like ‘spin the bottle’ or ‘pin the tail on the donkey ?”
He then follows Vincent up Iris Hill. ”I’m sure glad there are no Stelae, ummm by the way what exactly is a Stelae. I mean other than the name of somebodies frumpy aunt?”
As the cultists inquire about Leonard, Seamus gives his best smile and waives flamboyantly. ”It is so good to see you! Oh how I have missed being here at the Hill, it seems like even more than two days that we have been late. As for David, he fell drastically ill. That’s why we were late. He got ill, and then, well then he died. It was terrible, but the new guy here is Davids brother, Leo…errr Bill and Bill wants to join us. He really looked up to David and wanted to carry on his work. So we thought we would bring him to Melisenn err Ms. Kororo and ask her if he can join.”
They're tattoos, people get them for all sorts of reasons. Leonard looks at his left hand, they're significant symbols to that man for some reason or other, though I'm sure he doesn't care as much now. Death changes everyone's perspectives.
Yes, tie it to your pack, that's a good idea. Leonard says this, waits a moment, and then, steeling himself up, takes off his sword. Bye. Tie it tight enough I can draw it easy, easy and quick. I'm not used to having it far away from me.
Want to join them? What about my constable symbol? This doesn't make any sense...I don't trust this man.
...
Angiliath's supposed to tell me to calm down now. He's clearly a good liar. It will be all right.
”Oh that’s so sweet of you.” Holissa leans her head against Seamus’s shoulder, snuggling up to him. The entire party sees her brother, Sholn, turning a redder shade moment by moment, giving Seamus dirty look. They also hear him make a grinding sound with his teeth.
The person on the other end on hearing David died, sniggers, ”Was it something he ate?”
”Heh, you can go in, but I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when Melisenn finds out that you’re not only late, you’ve screwed up and returned empty-handed. Recruitment is handled by Raymond, he’ll guide the new initiate through. And remember, no one is allowed to accompany him through the initiation.” The voice replies.
”Wait, why is Bill wearing a constable’s badge? He isn’t one of the cops, is he?” The voice takes on a note of suspicion.
Seamus gives Leonard a funny look, "I know what a tattoo is, I mean why that thing, you know a blob with several mouths and multiple eyes. It's just yucky."
'Wow, her brother looks a little red.' Seamus smiles at Holissa and placing his hand on her shoulder, moves her back a little looking at Sholn. "I will make sure there are three seats so Sholn can chaperone. I would never take advantage of an adoring fan."
Want to join them? What about my constable symbol? This doesn't make any sense...
Seamus smiles, "How right you are about David. It was as if something stuck in his gut."
He nods toward 'Bill' "Don't worry about the badge, he's a con-man, not a cop. He was just dressed up like that when he asked to come along. See we even put his own handcuffs on him so you would know he can't do any harm. Besides if Raymond doesn't like him we can use him as a sacrifice, David wouldn't mind."
Leonard looks up at this, clearly objecting to being used as a sacrifice. Don't kill me.
He shakes his head, should never have agreed to this...
Vincent, not as used to having to hide his motives from those beneath him, lets Seamus handle the talking and remains stone-faced unless he is forced to speak.
"Yes you'd better. And you'd better not take advantage of my sister or I'll kick your sorry @rse." Sholn glowers at Seamus but seems to be pacified for now.
"All right, so what was he doing, impersonating a cop and getting caught by the real deal and had to make a run for it?" The voice gives a nasty laugh.
"Sounds like a bumbling incompetent only fit be sacrificed. Scratch that, bring him to Simon instead." There is a click sound, then the door opens and the party can see the interior of the guard house. There are two humanoids with disturbing tribal tattoos their faces. They have red eyes and their jagged teeth appear to have been filed down to points,and are clad breastplates and wield battleaxes
Vincent realizes they are kuru, a tribe of savage cannibals and they have the following ability:
When a kuru hits a living creature with its bite attack, he gains 1 temporary hit point by ingesting the target’s blood. This ability does not work on creatures that do not have blood.
The other person in the room is a man with neatly trimmed hair and beard in nobles clothing with a rapier and a unholy symbol of Hastur on his belt.
"Remember, you lot have ground floor access only."The cultist chides the party before shooing them on their way.
Vincent checks the door finding it neither locked nor trapped.
This long hall, clad with fine wood paneling, looks like an oversized curio cabinet, with hundreds of items and art objects on display on small tables, in vitrines, and on benches. Dozens of paintings and tapestries of various sizes hang from the walls and muffle the echoes that would normally be present in this marble-floored chamber. A double door leads outside, while two other doors go deeper into the manor.
Portraits in various artistic styles of the counts, their wives, and a few relatives and domestics wearing all kinds of expressions and outfits line the walls. A portrait in a freestanding picture frame on a small tea table with a single chair features a child posing near a kitten at the foot of a luminous window, seemingly terrified. Vincent realizes that the painter intentionally created a frightening situation for the child and then expended great efforts to seize his wide-eyed expression.
Marble busts of scholars from the Sincomakti School of Sciences, including three effigies of academically renowned ancestors of Lowls sit on small plinths. The sculptures with the Lowls name on their bases have been smashed against the floor and damaged.
Small-town perspectives of Thrushmoor and a half-dozen large paintings of the surrounding landscape hang here. The large pictures include a historic piece, in which the first settlers of Thrushmoor are shown living in two clusters of huts on low hills, hard at work to reclaim the surrounding land from the swamps. The Star Stelae have been depicted almost as an afterthought.
Statuettes of dragons, giants, and strange beasts litter the shelves. Among these is a poorly executed, 1-foot-tall, clay figurine of an elephant-legged, multi-mawed, tentacled aberration. Vincent realizes that this hideous figurine is a representation of a dark young of Shub-Niggurath.
Set on an ebony pedestal is a human skull that has been marked with elaborate carvings of geometric shapes and lines. Small, worked garnets are set in the teeth, and a thin line of silver rings the eye sockets.
Porcelain and ceramic dishes, jugs, teapots, and vases, some of which are of excellent quality, are kept in a glass showcase.
Worthless, bizarre, and sometimes grotesque souvenirs from across Ustalav and beyond are displayed here: coffee cups made from uncapped monkey skulls; a stuffed three-eyed bat; multicolor-dyed freshwater sponges; a mummified ogre’s ear; and more.
A battered shield hangs on a wall, bearing the device of Mendev. According to a plaque fixed under it, the shield belonged to Fassimar Lowls, a cadet who died just beyond the northern border of Ustalav during the Second Mendevian Crusade. The shield is a nonmagical heavy steel shield.
A man dressed in a fine noble’s outfit appears frozen in a shimmering field of amber. The subject is in suspended animation after falling victim to what Howard and Leonard recognizes as a sepia snake sigil effect.
The party also hears a cold, otherworldly voice, "Do not take anything in this chamber. You are prohibited entry into the south door. Sacrifices are to be taken north." The party looks around, but sees no one.
Leonard keeps quiet, staying within arm's reach of Seamus, and his sword. Angiliath, meanwhile, whispers menacingly in Seamus's mind.
You're ssso sstupid. Take the skulll, put it in your bag. That skull, you sstupid idiot...worththlesss.
I suppose we should head north. Leonard looks towards the front door, as though he's thinking about running.
Vincent checks the north door to find it neither locked nor trapped. He opens the door.
This room is furnished with a big table, eight chairs, and a glass-paned cupboard. The room smells of smoke from the fireplace, and a few dirty dishes, an emptied wine bottle, and used cutlery testify to a recent meal consumed at the table. Three men clad in noble outfits are lounging on the chairs, looking at the party expectantly. One of them taps his foot impatiently on the floor, "Get moving with the call-sign, I don't have all day."
"Well done."The man gives Howard a slow clap. "At least you haven't forgotten everything, though you have a lot of explaining to do."The man growls at the party.
"Avery, Bob and Charles, you were sent to capture 4 adventurers. And deliver them here unconscious and trussed up. Instead you show up 2 days late, with a beat-up cop not properly knocked out and tied up. What's the meaning of this? And where's David?" The man rises from his chair and demands.
Looking around the room, Seamus moves beside Leonard, "Hey, Leonard, is your sword supposed to talk?"
'I should have asked Leonard to take off the manacles one lie would be easier than two.' As they approach the men sitting in the dinning room, Seamus rolls his eyes "I'm sorry, we told the Kuru at the front door, I didn't think about the not sending a memo. David died, it was something in his gut, food poisoning maybe. This is his brother Bill, he wanted to come along. He's a con-man dressed as a police officer, so we put the handcuffs on him, so everyone would know he's not a threat." Seamus shrugs his shoulders and gives 'Bill' a 'wicked' grin."That way if we have to use him as a sacrifice he will be easier to handle"
The man barks out a laugh. "The Kuru can't even speak. They've barely enough intelligence to obey orders."
The man then eyes Leonard speculatively, taking note of his battered condition. "Looks like this Bill ended up second best in a fight... That means he's only useful as a sacrifice."
"Simon - take him."The man orders as the other two cultist stand up, waiting for Seamus, Howard and Vincent to hand Leonard over.
"The rest of you may return to the guesthouse."