As the groups comes up on another religious symbol, Perri just waits for the group to finish working through their beliefs, watching for any sign of trouble while he waits.
The Home of Demetrios
The group pays their respects to the unusual shrine to Beory. Once they do the group makes their way around the grassy hill that rises nearly three hundred feet or so. As they make their way around and follow the dirt road it rises up the hill towards a stone home with a stone porch and slate roof built inside of the hill facing eastward.
Demetrios' house appears very secure, lacking windows but having a broad and inviting stone block covered front porch. Its only adornment is an ornately carved padded rocking chair. The chair itself seems so out of place when compared to the spartan home with no ornamentations. A stone block chimney covered in green moss has a small amount of white and grey smoke coming out of it and dispersing in the breeze. The solid oak dark stained door with iron rivets and a top and bottom thick iron band gives a statement of fortitude and protection along with the thick grey stone blocks.
You are maybe twenty feet from the porch and still on the dirt road. The road itself ends at the porch.
Harry chuckles darkly, "Aye, 'tis looks like we not be steered wrong 'ere. Lookie, there be the rocking chair we be warned about!" He shakes his head as if sharing a private joke with himself. "Guess we shouldna keep 'im waiting right?"
Well we are here. Shall we go and see what this is about?
indeed lead on brave friends let us see what is presented us Sylas says starting to get excited about the prospect.
Bynoth holds fast at approach to the porch, and gives his assessment;
"Given he is a wielder of magicks, perhaps hailing the old man would be a more sound approach. Our hostess bade us ware the rocking chair... It may be a product of the dweomercraftwork Master Grawlund suspects the sage works... Heedlessly triggering its capabilities is not a sound stratagem."
For his part, Perri watches the porch, door, and rocking chair, wondering which will move first . . ..
Cerilis keeps a relaxed stance as he watches the others and his surroundings. He mumbles to himself
Sometimes what you see is what you see....I hope at least...
The Home of Demetrios
A few moments pass and as the party members begin another conversation the thick door opens outward and the ancient looking sage steps out on to the porch. He begins speaking in Keoish as he walks to the rocking chair sets down and it seems the rocking chair begins to rock on its own accord. He notices that Perri and Harry both have one of his notices in their hands staring at it and then at the house. Has he takes his seat on the chair you can hear the lock on the door engage.
"Welcome! Welcome, brave adventurers. By the look of you, I see you have traveled a great distance to seek employment. Ah! I see you have one of my advertisements! Who would have thought those ravens could travel so far? I did want my notices spread about, you see, and as Crackle and his flock were willing to work for chicken feed. Enough.
I know you haven't come all this way to listen to the ramblings of old Demetrios. It was the gold—eh? The gold that caught your fancy. I mentioned it in my flyer—Ho, ho, flyer,.. ravens with notices...heh, heh! That's funny, yes? Well, ahem, I see your patience is strained just now, and as you have come so far, and as no one else has shown up, well, we should get right to the heart of it, eh? Eh?"
Sylas says Demestrios, I am Sylas Shadow, and pleased to meet you. We are of course curious to hear more about the employment you offer. Thank you for having us as guests. We have enjoyed our journey to your doorstep.
Harry greets the old sage with a guarded smile, "Aye, 'tis a long journey we have taken ta see ye, Good Sir, yet I kin say th' tales o' gold are not all that drives us 'ere. We be no common mercenaries, hacking and slaying at the drop of a noble!"
Demetrios the Sage
He looks about the party seeming to measure each of you for a brief moment individually after Sylas's and Harry's opening remarks.
"I would not have imagined that do-gooders would be willing to take up this quest. Eh...always amazed by what I learn of this world. Amazing..." He leans back in his rocking chair for a moment and then leans forward almost like a child for a moment when he does. "Well take a seat...relax we have much to discuss."
Each of you looks around the dirt road and grassy hill and the only "seat" is the one that old Demetrios is sitting on. The closest thing resembling a chair is the three wooden stairs going up to the porch. Yet he proceeds to keep talking never missing a beat.
"Is one of you perhaps a student of metaphysics or theology? Oh, too bad. I do so love a rousing discussion. I have spent my life studying minor deities, their followers, and why some men are attracted to one, some to another. Interesting study, to be sure, to an old graybeard like me, but not terribly practical to such folk as yourselves, I'm sure, eh?
Eh? Or is it? No? Well, then." He takes a quick look at the group and can clearly see that his question largely goes unanswered.
"Well I see you are group that likes to get straight to the point." His hand shoots up and he seems to be mimicking an arrow as he says that. "Yes, exactly, straight to the point...I like that...I do really I do."
He leans back as if to take a breath and his chair begins to rock without any movement by him.
Perri finds the driest spot he sees, and plops down. As the old man rambles on about getting to the point, he just rolls his eyes and waits.
Bynoth watches the sage intently and remains standing despite the sage bidding them to be seated;
"Thank you for the offer. I will remain standing Master Sage."
Always take the high ground. Better vantage.
As talk turns to favourite animals, the priest of war adds his own succinct musings;
"Furyondian War-Hund. Strong. Loyal. Fierce."
Harry plops himself down on the ground, none too mindful of where the dirt started and the grass began. Shading his eyes from the sun he squints up at the elderly man trying to get a read of him.
His words are no more an attempt ta get a read on us as well!
"I 'ave no favorite animals that I kin say I enjoy bein' around yet on the open waters the sight of dolphins prancin' in the air always gladdened me heart. Showed we wus 'n the right course, if'n ye get my drift!"
Demetrios
Demetrios seems to ponder Maja's question for but a brief moment. "Why dear lady...I love animals. I especially love the one that sore above us. My favorite..." He looks up and about for a few moments as he ponders the question. "Owls, they are a wise bird with great patience and yet they are dangerous when they need to be. Yes..that is my answer...birds but owls are my favorite." He seems to give Maja a warm smile and then finishes his answer. "A river otter is a noble creature indeed...full of mischief but wise to the current and the water. I believe you have chosen well." He smiles again at Maja and turns to listen to Harry as he speaks all the while glancing at each of the guests before him this day.
"A dolphin...I can't say I have seen any dolphins throughout my many years. I have never had a need to travel the oceans but I have seen many wonderful pictures of dolphins. I understand they protect wayward sailors at times. Is that true master sailor? Good to have a friend in the open sea I would imagine...eh...eh? Yes, I would think so.
He stops for a moment and then goes right back to talking. Well if you are interested in the work I have for you I would guess I need to get to the point....so I am going to get to the point, eh!
He looks around as if checking to see if anyone else is listening or maybe he is waiting for everyone's attention.
"About a half year ago, news came to me from the south from a dear friend of mine. Horribly disturbing news. Ah, but you are strangers here and don't know our history. Just have patience a bit longer. All this is really quite important."
I am partial to the scorpion myself Sylas says with a smile and a nod letting others sit and standing as well after saying his part about animals he will listen intently.
Maja nods in agreement. "Oh yes, owls are majestic. A bird that's close to your heart. Tee hee." Maja seems to be staring directly at Demetrious as she says this.
[dice=Bluff]1d20+11
** spoiler omitted **Does Maja knows anything about what she sees?
[dice=K. Local]1d20+11
Demetrios
Demetrios turns to Sylas and takes a quick look at the olf. "A scorpion...a fearsome predator a scorpion is..eh. I have studied them in some detail in my younger days. They are bold, without fear, and pack a deadly sting making them a dangerous foe master olf."
He turns back to Maja and pauses a moment inspecting the women for a few more moments. "The folk are wise, more than most give them credit for river maiden. The owl is close to my heart in more ways than you know."
He leans back on his chair and then his head seems to pop up. "Well back to my story...it is important and if you plan on taking up this venture you will need to know these things." He coughs and clears his throat.
"Perhaps a hundred years ago or more, the evil Cult of...I hesitate even now to speak the name aloud...it was in Arthemene's day when they
arrived, led by their high priest, Ohjos. Ah, but you must have it all if you are to know what you face. Ohjos sought leave for his followers to build a tower on a small hill amidst the vast, trackless swamp that lies to the west called the Hool Marsh. No one knew, then, why they desired to settle in such a desolate and dangerous place. Nor did we know then what evil rites they practiced there undisturbed." He sees that the members of this party are interested and have settled a bit and have relaxed somewhat while he spins his tale to them.
"But several of our youths, who were drawn to the cult out of curiosity or boredom, escaped to tell of the terrible black name. This
flame, when touched to a living creature, burns cold and drains the victim's life force. Worse still, once the flames begin to burn upon a victim, no normal means can extinguish them. I have spent a good deal of my life's work studying this terrible magic. It is far older than you might know. It comes from the times before even the great Suel and Bakalunish empires. Even older than the time of the Dragons and the Giants. It is a terrible tool of evil when the world was still young." He clears his throat once more. He begins to speak again and as he does his voice seems to crack and he stops and leans back on his chair and begins again with his tale.
"Boazor, our lord's youngest son, was one of the youths drawn to the Cult of the Black Flame."[b] His voice seems to crack again and then fade. [b]"He was not so fortunate as the other disillusioned youths. The boys who escaped told a horrible tale of how young Boazor was consumed by the black flame that does not burn, rolling and writhing upon the ground until only an empty husk was left, with not a mark on him. Ohjos laughed, the boys said, and bade them heed the example of what happens to those who break faith." He pauses and seems to collect himself for a few moments. He looks out eastward at the sky and then back to the party before him.
wise sage 100 years is a long time in a humans life. I fear to ask what exactly this has to do with today and the business at hand? Sylas says as he considers the religious knowledge he knows.
Harry is silent as he digests the story woven by the old sage.
Black Flame...In all mah travel's searching fer clues to me own magic, I have NEVEAH heard of such a fell dweomer! Is...could be be possible this be related to th' Plague? He thinks furiously to himself, glancing back to his fellow spell-caster Sylas. Gotta tread careful here...
"Ahhh...Master Demetrios, ye speak o' this Cult...Cult of th' Black Flame. I kin tell this be a subject that vexes yer heart yet I must know...this man Boazor, ye knew 'im well did ye not?"
If'n I 'ad a son who fell prey to this Cult then I would do anything fer revenge against it...
[dice=know religion]1d20+15
wise sage 100 years is a long time in a humans life. I fear to ask what exactly this has to do with today and the business at hand? Sylas says as he considers the religious knowledge he knows.
You have never heard of the Black Flame Cult. However, you know of many fell and evil things that occurred during the end of the "Time of Creation". Not many of the short-lived races even know about this time period. You only know of it from tales you heard as a child. But, you are aware of a very old tale of a local lord, the old local lord of this area, who lost a son to some wicked cult. However, this was a very long time ago. The other part of it that is noteworthy is the comment about "Arthemene's Day"...that was the local lord's surname if you remember the tale correctly. Which would mean it was Boazar Arthemene that fell to the cult. The Arthemene family died out with no heir and a new lord was given the land and deeds. You also seem to recall that there was a relative to Lord Arthemene who was offered the title and land and did not take it when his relative passed.
Demetrios
Demetrios turns to Sylas and seems to steel himself. Of course. You are right to ask. Let me continue with my story as its purpose is important to the task at hand." He clears his throat and seems to relax as he takes hold of his recollection of the events in the story.
"Where was I....ah yes...But Ohjos had gone too far. Two of the
bravest boys managed to slip away while all the congregation was gathered for some despicable ritual. When our Lord heard their
tale, he gathered his fighting men and called for all his vassals to send troops. Soon, a great army gathered on the plain below the lord's stronghold. The common people came too, bearing pitchforks, scythes, whatever they owned that would serve as weapons. For they had also lost sons. They all marched off through the swamp a force so large that even Yiss the Old, whose domain it is, feared to confront them. But Ohjos must have received a warning, for when they arrived, the tower and its surroundings were abandoned. They must have used some arcane knowledge to make good their escape so thoroughly. The rooms were stripped bare, and nothing of value was found there. Nothing except three boys of the village, drained and lifeless. A warning, some said, not to pursue Ohjos and his minions. One of those boys was Enrix, my own son. My only son. My dear, poor Enrix." The regain composure seems to falter but the old sage holds himself strong and he looks about the group.
Sylas nods almost extending a hand to take the old sages hand in comfort but stays back and says I am very sorry for this loss. I wish I could asuage the grief you feel now with some small comfort. Ohjos escaped with his fell companions from the tower. Now you wish us to enter the swamp again. Was your boy's body recovered properly for burial or is there some evidence you wish us to collect from this abandoned place? Is there news of more children disappearing and perhaps a rise again of this cult? I also remember stories from my young years that the Arthemene family had a relative who refused the title and that the family fell. All of the children were lost and not just the youngest? This seems strange.
Demetrios
Demetrios seems to relax especially after Sylas's and Maja's kind words.
"I did lose my son dear girl and yes I am very old. I will not go into how that is but there are some of us that have taken an oath to protect those we love and care for. In doing so we have prolonged our existence on Oearth. Eh...we bear the weight to protect those we love and those we honor." He leans forward and then back and his chair begins rocking once more.
"Let me continue my story and you will see why it concerns the present." He seems to settle back and goes back to recalling his story to you. "My only son. My dear, poor Enrix." He sighs deeply.
"Well, onward. Since that day I have studied all I can learn about the Cult of the Black Flame. But they seemed to disappear without a trace. No word of them was heard until just a month ago. In my long life I have traveled only a few miles from this little village, but news comes to me far and wide from my many friends. The sage Orimaxes, who lives far to the south in the Hold of the Sea Princes, knew of my interest in the Cult of the Black Flame and sent word that it has surfaced again in his country. The new high priest is not content to use the black flames to control his own followers only. He has found a way to use them as a weapon and has begun to gain power in the land, leaving only the empty shells of those who dare oppose him. He stops the rocking chair in mid movement and leans forward.
"For many long years I have feared they would come again! Now Orimaxes, the friend of my youth and my dear colleague, has begged my help, and for that I need you. There is no good that will come of this Cult and the Black Flame. It is an ancient evil and it is foreshadowing of darker events to come. But for now we must deal with the problem at hand the best we can. So you see master olf it is before us now and we must not ignore this poison before it spreads to our own doors!"
Cerilis' posture remains calm and steady, but on the inside is a different story.
A dead child...a parent should never have to bury their own children.
"Hunh. I thought he had something here for us, but h wants to send us to wage war on those who remind him of his son's death. Sounds like they need war waged on them, from his tale, but not what I thought was being requested." The young man ponders . . ..
Demetrios
He repositions himself on the chair...and continues as he sees several of the group with odd looks on their faces.
"I have developed a formula for a potion that can extinguish the black flames! But the potion is useless without one ingredient: ferlow seeds roasted in the source of the black flames. Here is a small bag of them." He pulls out a pouch that nearly half full and bounces it in his hand. "The potion does not require many. I think that one source of the black flames lies within the Temple of the Flame, in that long-deserted tower in the Hool Marsh. Our army never found the temple, and none from the village have gone back there since. It is an accursed place. I have spent my time researching not only the origins of the Black Flame but the Hool Marsh so that when the time came I could call on a party such as yourself to carry out this deed."
He puts the pouch back in his robes and he leans back in his chair once more and then begins to rock back and forth.
Bynoth listens to the old man's grim tale with a hard expression;
"The loss of innocents to such a grim fate is ill news Master Sage. Take solace that these heretics who venerate this Flame of Black shall all know true suffering... We will scour them from this world."
Harry stands and stretches his muscles, turning to gaze at the old sage with a frank look. "Sounds like ye 'ave prepared fer this. I like bein' prepared. I take it ye 'ave a map where this Temple be located? At least a general location of it?"
I would like to do this thing for you and am willing to do so without selling my services, however, instead of payment perhaps you might share a few small wands of healing magic and perhaps a scroll or two which might save a friend of mine from death or even more powerful, bring them back? The loss of another friend to me to do this thing would bother me greatly. Sacrifice for the greater good is acceptable, but so is preventing such loss. Sylas says solemnly.
Demetrios
He looks to the cleric and nods to acknowledge Bynoth's statement. "I appreciate your bold words and I know they ring true as no Cleric of Hextor takes his words lightly. I am not looking for vengeance; instead, I look to make my son's sacrifice worth it by saving as many lives as I can from this foul magic. I believe this is the best way to honor those lives lost."
He turns to Sylas and Maja and back to the group. "Let me finish my tale and then if you decide to take up this venture we can discuss your needs. As they will be many I presume as the venture into the Hool Marsh is not without its own perils."
He continues: "Someone has been living there, though, and recently. A powerful wizard named Baltron took up residence about a year ago.
His purpose was to conduct some arcane research in an out-of-the-way place with a damp, boggy environment. He passed through our village as he headed north around the swamp to take the shortest path to the old fortress. He discovered he could not hire porters or servants to live in that place for any amount of gold, and left immediately. He has not been seen or heard from since. Several months later, an eerie green light appeared in the marsh, shining upward from the old tower and disappearing into the sky. You might have heard about this strange light in the marsh It is visible
for miles, particularly at night once near that area. No one knows
what happened to Baltron, but I sometimes speak with those living nearer the marsh, and they say that the lizard men of the northern areas of the swamp worship the green light. Who knows what Baltron did...these are not times to be tinkering with powerful magicks. If he did there could be more sinister things in that old tower. Foul things tend to gather around things much fouler.
Rumors abound among the common folk, of course, but I shan't bore you with baseless gossip. Only take the seeds to the tower, roast them in the black flames, and return them to me. There is sure to be gold and treasure for your taking if interested in it if you can find the cult's secret temple; they cannot have carted it all off in their haste. And Baltron, it is said, could have paid any amount for servants had he found some willing to follow him. His treasure is doubtless still in the tower.
Your road lies to the west through the great swamp but I would recommend you traverse the northern edge and enter the swamp by the shortest route. You cannot fail to find your way; the beacon will guide you by night. If this is your call I would ask you to go now, and swiftly return. My prayers will be with you, brave adventurers."
He stands up from his chair and the chair seems to stop rocking almost immediately.
"As for your questions on aid. I can offer you two things both of which you can choose to take or not. I can offer you a small bag of goods that I have gathered for just this occasion if I was lucky enough to get a brave group of adventurers to take up this important task. It is not much but it will help to keep you alive both in a fight and in the swamp. Trust me when I say that the Hool Marsh has killed more fools looking for gold than anything else in this region. The entire marsh is filled with Bullywugs, Lizardman, and other foul creatures more than willing to feed off fool's bones. But it is not the creatures that will kill you...eh no eh...it is the hidden dangers of sickness and the biting bugs. The quicksand, poisonous frog, snakes and drakes that inhabit that make it just as deadly. I also offer you a guide that knows the swamp and owes me a favor. He can be found to the north and he will be able to assist you into the swamp. He is an old grumpy trapper who has helped me on occasion and I have helped his family a time or two. He still owes me a favor and with a letter from me he will assist you but I would strongly recommend a small reward if you are successful. I would imagine he will barter a price for his services they are worth it; he knows the swamp well. His family has several generations of traversing that swamp and if anyone can get you in and out alive it would be Faramon. He knows the lizard tribes and how to get around the bullywugs and other creatures."
Demetrios
"I do not believe you can extinguish the black flames with water...not normal water. It is a dark magic from the time of creation. The more I learned of its creation and from wence it came the more I had hoped I was mistaken...alas...I don't believe I am. As I stated before there is a reason why we have this foul plague upon us. There is a reason why foul things fall upon those with power... It is not by chance that the plague, the black flames, and these other foul events are transpiring at the same time. Like all wars there is prelude...it is in these times if we take action we can stop the greatest loss of life the greatest suffering. We can only do our small part. We can only do as much good as we can for as many as we can. But if there are many of us are doing as much as we can then we might find a victory in all this darkness."
He seems to can a measure of strength about himself and he seems to stand a little straighter as he finishes.
Harry strokes his scraggly beard thoughtfully as he contemplates the words spoken with such passion. Hearing the words seem to echo the words in his own bones, the magic infusing his blood answering him in their own way.
Aye, I kin refuse the sage, I kin say no to me family 'here, but kin I say no to th' magic in me blood...
While he politely awaits his companions replies (and questions) he already knew he would accept the terms. It was written in his blood you might say.
Bynoth acknowledges the sage's initial words with an affirmation;
"Indeed we do not. Oaths are binding and should never be made lightly. While you do not wish vengeance wrought upon those murderous heretics, my faith is not as forgiving... As they worship flame so shall they burn - sundered flesh and souls alike... here and in Acheron both."
As Demetrios continues the favoured of Hextor listens intently, before speaking his mind - eyes blazing with fervour as he does;
"War and conflict are the natural concourse of all races. Suffering too is the kismet of the chattel, so has a place in the order of things. However discord, pestilence and chaos cannot abide. As you rightly say wise one, complete victory is the long term stratagem in any war, but first this campaign must be fought and won."
Cerilis continues to be patient.
Demetrios
He seems to ponder your point for some time. "I do believe that in some small way the events of the plague are tied to how the Black Flame has reappeared." He then seems to jump into the other subject with a bit more candor. "I believe foolish wizards look for secluded locations to do foolish things. This Baltron I believe dabbled in arts he shouldn't have. He very well could have awoken a sleeping sickness for all I know. It is not wise, and I am sure you know this, to be using magic of any real power. It seems to attract unwanted presences to you and those around you. So I am not sure if Baltron "created it" or if he was the catalyst for its creation. Never the less it is here and it can be a problem. Old Yiss is not kind to those that invade his terrority but if that green light is being worshipped as some sort of totem by the lizard folk it presents a problem for both him and you."
The old sage stands up and he walks towards his door. "So, I take it that this brave group is willing to take up this quest? eh...is that the right conclusion?"
Harry nods slowly in reply to the hobniz, "Aye, I believe we need ta do this. Th' Plague that infests this land must be dealt with and if'n this Black Flame be related to it, then we needs ta stop it!"
Our actions could have an effect that will be felt by many...We should not back away from an opportunity like this.
Sylas looks at the sage for a time and then the members of his group and he finally seems to stop thinking and says if in some small way we can bring meaning to your loss then that alone is enough for me Demetrios. If I become a hero of legend won't my parents be proud? Indeed I will do it.
Demetrios
Each you can see a glimpse of a small smile across his face. "It does my heart well to see a brave group of selfless adventurers taken on this dangerous mission. As I said before, I have two things I can provide." He points his right hand towards his chair and on it is a brown leather knapsack on the seat. "First is the gift I can provide directly to you. In that bag a several potions, wands, and such that will help you in times of trouble. The second is a small map that will guide you around the Hool Marsh to a small home of the Faramon. He can help guide you into the Marsh."
He turns to Maja: "Yiss is the old King of the Lizardmen. He is old but still powerful from what I understand. In his younger days he brought together all the northern tribes of the lizard people. He is a powerful force in the marsh; be wary of him and his tribe.
He then turns to the entire party. "Your road lies to the north and to the guide Feremon and then through the great swamp. You cannot fail to find your way; the beacon will guide you by night when you enter the swamp. Go now, and swiftly return. My prayers will be with you, brave adventurers. May all the angels of Legos guide you and the Mother Beory protect you."
As the sage provides gear and apparently some final tidbits of information, Perri finally gets up out of the dirt.
"If it was going to be easy, he wouldn't have needed to call for help, right? Guess we should get to walking."