WRATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS
The death of Aroden changed everything. The skies boiled, his priests despaired, and brother turned against brother in bloody war. To the north, the Worldwound opened.
The armies of the Demon Lord Deskari came tumbling through, trailing destruction in their wake. Even after four Crusades they remain a very real threat contained only by the Wardstones, a series of artifacts sealing off the border of the Worldwound from the rest of Golarion.
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The excitement in the air is palpable: Aramasse!
You and Master Cilnias are part of a long line of people waiting to enter Kenabres at first light. The faces in the crowd represent people from around the Inner Sea: a small wagon-train of tanned and dark haired Varisians, hawk nosed knights from Taldor astride massive warhorses and wearing fine chain armor, and at one point you catch sight of the dark skin of a man from the deep southern lands.
As the light of dawn fills the air you can see the great outer wall of the city has been whitewashed for the coming festival week. The tension and excitement of the crowd reach a boiling point the bells in the cathedral at the heart of the city ring out to announce the dawn of a new day. You dismount and speak softly to your horses to calm them before joining many in the crowd in morning prayers to Iomedae. Moments after you finish the rest city gates swing open. As you begin to file into the city you watch officers of the city watch do their best to keep the line orderly. Glancing up you see they are backed up by a cadre of troops atop the gate and adjoining wall. Dawn glints off helmets, mail, crossbows and massive ballistae. No doubt the Watch has a very long week ahead of them.
The southern city gate opens out into a residential district and you follow the majority of the crowd along a cobbled street leading north towards the city center. You pass a variety of stone and wooden buildings, many of which look cramped and a bit rundown despite the holiday decorations. Temples to Abadar and Torag border the main thoroughfare leading from the gate to Southgate Market. Armorers, weaponsmiths, animal trainers, sellers of enchantments, pennant designers, and scribes congregate at Southgate Market. A number of smithies dot Southgate, and the tang of iron and a haze of forge-smoke hang perpetually in the air.
Cilnias points out the shop of Caelda Halse who holds the reputation as the best swordsmith in the city. Rumor tells that she drips an angelic tear into the molten metal of each blade, imbuing it with special powers against demonic foes, making her blades very popular among the Crusaders. He gives a smirk and shrug when you ask if its really angel tears.
The road climbs up and north to another gated wall. As you pass through you note that this inner wall is much thinner but the ramparts are guarded by a similar troop of soldiers. The neighborhood on the north side of this gate is clearly more prosperous: the buildings are designed in a much more modern style with flat roofs and more space between them. Despite the early hour many merchants have begun to set up temporary storefront or carts to sell all manner of decorations and food for the festival. You see a variety of meats of a stick, fresh baked bread and pasties, and confections. Some carts sell decorations including hand held wind kites in the shape of knights, the Sword and Sunburts sylbol of Iomedae and more than a few silver dragons. Many sell beautiful white and yellow flowers, popular gifts for women and children during Aramasse.
The crowd you entered the city with has thinned considerably as people move off down side streets to the markets, squares, temples and inns that are their likely destinations. Many of the wagons and merchants head West towards the river and the warehouse district. You continue north and come to a city square dominated by a great stone fountain and ringed by a variety of taverns, inns and merchant houses. Below the signs of all of the inns hang signs indicating no vacancy.
Cilinas reminds you that you have significant and serious duties during the coming week, but smiling he points to the north and tells you that if you’d like you can enter the Novice lists in the Tourney field that has been built north of the city. You continue north and begin the ascent up the great switchback ramp of Heroes Walk, which gives you an excellent view down over the Eastern part of the city. Directly below you Cirilian points out the dome of the Heroes Hall, where the names of all Crusaders from Kenabres who fall in battle are carved in stone.
The ramp ends at another set of defended gates which lead into Old Kenabres, the heart of the city and the location of many of the city's oldest and most important buildings. The great domed spires of the Cathedral of St Clydewell dominate the skyline of Old Kenabres, and you can see attendants hard at work finalizing the last details for the mod-day opening ceremonies that will take place in the great open courtyard in front of the Cathedral. To the east you catch sight of the grand Temple of Iomedae and Cilnias knees his mount and speeds ahead towards the Silver Scales chapter house nestled against the wall to the north. His excitement is contagious and you quickly follow.
Rounding the bend towards the Temple and Chapterhouse you see The Kite. Built to house the Wardstone of Kenabres, The Kite is an imposing diamond shaped block of marble and granite that bears the scars of precious demonic attacks. You say a prayer of thanks to Iomedae and you move past towards the Temple. In the hour or so it took you to cross the city the morning services at the Temple have ended, but there is still a sizeable crowd in the open area in front and you can see a number of people have stayed in the church itself for additional prayers or to speak with fellow church goers. Cilnias waves at a few people in passing, though most of the people he greets are unknown to you.
Moving past the Temple you approach the Chapter House which is a moderate sized stone manor hours surrounded by a small glade. One of the oldest buildings in Kenabres it was purcashed many years ago by Terendelev and remodeled into a beautiful and tasteful residence for her and any member of the Order when they are in Kenabres. As you pass the fence a young boy runs forward to take the reins of your mount and lead it to the stables. You dismount and head towards the chapter house but Cilnias has other plans.
“We should go say our respects to Master Theodric.” He says, nodding his chin in the direction of the graveyard bordering the grounds of the Chapter house. You can see the excitement at returning to Kenabres drain from your master’s face as he considered the death of his own master. Silently you cross the grounds and open the gate leading into the cemetery. Despite the proximity to the Temple and Cathedral the grounds are empty and serenely quiet. Dappled light comes down through the great pine trees that dot the grounds, and you can see many headstones and crypts that dot the gently hilled terrain.
The tomb used by the Silver Scales is much like the manor house – built of beautiful stone but not overly decorated or ostentatious. Cilinias frowns as you approach and you follow his gaze to the tomb door which lies slightly ajar. As you approach you can see that the gravel walkway leading to the tomb is churned and overturned. Your master instinctively goes into a defensive posture and scans the area.
