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Post by HorizonsDream on Aug 31, 2018 17:23:52 GMT -8
"I wasn't suggesting that we kidnap clerics, but perhaps find a way to speed up the process of getting clerics here to help us through diplomatic means," Ladonna says. "After all, the Baron and his daughter are suffering now."
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Post by Daos on Sept 1, 2018 13:26:47 GMT -8
Garnet returns to the room, with a book tucked under her arm. "I found it. Sorry it took so long but it was hidden behind the...behind the..," she hesitates, slowing her gait before coming to a complete stop. "...The genealogical records..." She sways as if dizzy, then drops the book to the ground as she clutches her head. "No...no, no..," she objects, before her entire body suddenly go rigid and she starts screaming in pain. She falls to her knees, still clutching her head, as blood trickles out of her nose. "Temple...in the wilderness...old...covered in ivy...!" She screams a second time, before practically spitting out a single word through clenched teeth: "Greywing!" Then, just as abruptly, she goes limp, breathing heavy and covered in sweat.
Both the reeve and the kohen turn pale and share a look of concern, worry, and perhaps even fear. "Impossible," Rorak mutters. "But why?"
Derica looks around the room, between Ladonna, Lillian, Katya, Ryan and Ingot. "I think I know...and it's not a coincidence they are all here, too," she remarks. Frowning, she adds, "You lot...meet me in my office. There is...something we need to discuss."
"We swore an oath!" Rorak objects.
"This is Gonto's will. And it may be our only choice," she counters.
The kohen shakes his head, but can't argue with her logic there.
Derica then turns and walks out, back to the barracks.
"Hey, do you think she meant me, too?" Liala asks. "I mean, I am standing right here, and she did say 'you lot.'"
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Post by Ezeze on Sept 1, 2018 16:52:04 GMT -8
Katya leaves Thessila's side to check on Garnet. There's not much she can do about the gnome's visions, but she can silently offer her support.
Only when Garnet can comfortably stand on her own will Katya say "If this is anything like what followed Garnet's last vision, Liala, I'll take anyone who can help."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Sept 1, 2018 19:09:34 GMT -8
Ladonna watches Garnet, but doesn't move to help her as she knows that her being the center of attention makes her uncomfortable, so she looks to Liala instead. "Even if she didn't, come anyway. It looks like we are going to be sent out again," she says before she starts for the Reeve's office. "What did they swear an oath about?" She asks herself.
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Post by Daos on Sept 2, 2018 12:00:29 GMT -8
As the party prepares to leave, Rorak calls out. "Wait, not so fast. I can't have all of my acolytes and volunteers just up and leave. McIntyre, you stay here."
Ryan stays behind, while Ladonna, Liala, Katya, Garnet, Lillian and Ingot walk to the barracks. It's a chilly day outside, and they can see their breaths as they walk and talk.
"I have never...heard of a temple...in the wilderness...before," Ingot notes.
"It looked old," Garnet says, using a handkerchief to dab away the blood from her nose. "Maybe some kind of ruins?"
When the group enters the barracks and steps into the reeve's office, they find her already at her desk. It's been cleared away of maps, papers and scrolls and now only has a single bottle of whiskey and a shot glass. The reeve is in the process of pouring herself a shot when they enter. "Sit down...and close the door," she orders, before downing the shot.
"Is it not...nine in the morning?" asks Ingot.
"I'm aware," the reeve says. Once the party has seated--the room is still a bit crowded with so many in it--she takes a steady breath before beginning. "It was over thirty years ago." She hesitates, as if unsure where to start the tale. "There was...people were..." She sighs again. "Forgive me, this isn't easy. We all took an oath to never speak of any of this again, not just for the sake of our children, but so as to not have to revisit such unpleasant memories. The truth is, Buho has something of a dark past."
She looks down at the bottle, as if tempted to take another shot, but instead puts the bottle and glass away, into one of the desk drawers. "It had been discovered that a small cult had infested the people of Buho. They worshiped in secret. On the surface, they pretended to be good, honorable Gontorites. They practiced their real faith in the privacy of their homes, in secret meetings, and such. They even built a temple. Not here in the village, of course, but out in the Hartwood. This was long before the Battle of Buho, and the goblin clans were small and constantly fighting each other, so it was safer back then. Once a week, they would steal away into the night, slip into their secret temple, and hold blasphemous rites. What's more...a number of the cultists were, at the time, council members and other people of importance."
"What sort of cult was this?" asks Liala, curiously.
"They were Crizzites."
There's a collective gasp in the room from both Liala and Garnet. Ingot remains stoic and shows no reaction at all, as always.
Noticing that her hands are shaking slightly, Derica quickly places them on her lap, out of sight behind her desk. "You can see why this isn't something we like to talk about. Gonto teaches us to respect and honor our parents, our ancestors, but...their actions bring us such shame."
"How was this...secret cult...discovered?" asks Ingot.
"The cultists were careful about who they brought in," Derica answers. "But they would also bring in their own children to indoctrinate them once they became old enough. I'm not sure how many generations this lasted, but this would be the last one. You see, my parents...I never speak of them. This is why. They were both cultists. My father was a council member and captain of the watch. My mother was the reeve. When I was a child, they brought me to their temple, trying to fill my head with lies. They planned to do all sorts of crazy things, including assassinating high officials. I...I was scared and confused. But I knew I had to do the right thing. I reported the whole thing to the baron. The current baron's father, at the time, I mean." She falls silent after this.
"What...happened?" prompts Liala, on the edge of her seat.
Snapping out of her reverie, Derica shakes her head. "Not wanting to risk a civil war in the town, especially with the watch captain being one of the cultists, he knew he couldn't rely on the watch so he sent for an inquisitor from Hart. A small army of clerics and paladins waited until the next midnight meeting, stormed the temple, and put everyone inside to the sword. Everyone except me and the other children, that is...that is why I never married. No parents to arrange one. And why I worked so hard to become reeve...to try and redeem my family name. To do better, so that the next generation would be safer from evil."
"And this temple...that was what I saw in my vision?" Garnet asks.
"It is. Temple Greywing, it was called." Derica answers. "And as mad as it sounds, it may be our salvation. I'm not sure why Gonto would send a vision of it, but my best guess is there must be some...kind of potion or artifact there that can heal this sickness. I realize how that must sound. Gontorites searching an old temple to the Mad God to find salvation. But Gonto must have a reason for bringing it up again, after all these years. Plus, the fact you were all witness to it. You see, the temple is deep in what is now Woodfang territory. Under normal circumstances, reaching it would be a task in itself. But you lot have managed to get in good with the Woodfang chief, and so it's obvious you would be the best candidates to go. If anyone can negotiate safe passage through Woodfang territory, it would be you lot."
"Perhaps then...this was all...meant to happen," Ingot says. "Your parents' actions...you becoming reeve...the burning of the Kurtz farm...capturing the Bloody Spear leader...the alliance with the Woodfang...perhaps Gonto, knowing this sickness...was coming, set these events...into action decades ago...all leading up...to this point."
"Destiny..," mutters Garnet. "It can't be broken."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Sept 2, 2018 22:09:08 GMT -8
Ladonna remains quiet throughout the story, and even after the story as she tries to collect her thoughts. "I don't think getting the Woodfang tribe to help us will be difficult," she says. "But we don't know what we are looking for in this temple. As the temple was dedicated to Crizza, won't Gonto's blessings be a little weak?" she asks.
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Post by Ezeze on Sept 3, 2018 9:10:16 GMT -8
This news had implications for Katya, for her relationship with Buho, for her relationship with Ser Walls, for her relationship with herself and her own powers.
Buho had once been a seat of power for her God. Then they had met a gruesome end at the hands of the Gontorian church. Aided by the Baron, and by her mentor.
It occurred to her to wonder if Ubisek knew.
Katya is quiet for a moment while she processes this new information, her face every bit as blank as Ingot's.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Sept 3, 2018 13:33:09 GMT -8
Lillian ponders on the given information, contemplating its implications. "What does this have to do with the illness?" she finally asks. "Are you insinuating that this cult put some sort of...delayed effect curse on the town? Or that some members are still out there, and that they caused the disease?"
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Post by Daos on Sept 3, 2018 13:49:27 GMT -8
"I wouldn't worry about that," Derica responds to Ladonna. "The temple is abandoned and has been for years. No followers of the Mad God remain, so any power within the temple should have faded by now. In other words, it's not really a temple anymore. Just a ruin. But even so, all of you have more than proven your dedication to Gonto. As long as you hold Her in your hearts, she will continue to protect you from the Mad God's influences." "As I said before, I believe there must be some kind of potion or artifact still in the temple, something the inquisitors missed," Derica explains again. "Something that can be used to heal the sickness before it consumes the whole village. It's the only explanation I can think of as to why Gonto would send a vision of it, after all these years."
"This is a lot...to take in," Ingot comments. "But something I do...not understand is...how did this cult...begin in the first place?" "I'm not entirely sure," Derica admits. "I'm not even sure when it began. It may have started with my parents' generation, or it may have been going on for much longer than that. I shudder to think. But my parents themselves...they claimed that the Mad God spoke to them. That he whispered in their ears, and nobody else could hear him but them." "So the Mad God himself was directly behind it? That seems...weird," Liala notes. "I mean, Buho is small and insignificant. I mean, from a political perspective," she hastily adds. Derica shakes her head. "I agree. But the Mad God is...as they say, 'mad.' Maybe he chose Buho randomly. Or maybe it was part of a larger plan. The important thing is, he was stopped. And we have all worked hard to ensure he never found another foothold into the village. In any case, I would ask that you all keep what I told you in confidence. And this mission, as well. If there is a cure in that temple...there are some in the village who may refuse it, if they know where it came from. I hate to be...underhanded about the whole thing. But it would be for the good of the community." "You wish us...to lie?" Ingot asks. "Not lie, exactly. Just...withhold information. If anyone asks, just say you are being sent on a secret mission by the reeve to get a cure. All of which is true," Derica explains. "And thus, technically is not lying."
She adds, "Did anyone have any other questions? If not, you should go grab your gear and prepare to set out."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Sept 3, 2018 19:21:58 GMT -8
"I don't think I have any questions," Ladonna says. "But we should probably hurry as we don't know how long the people are going to be able to hold out."
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Post by Ezeze on Sept 4, 2018 8:01:58 GMT -8
"I have my things packed and here already" Katya inclines her head in agreement with Ladonna.
"... Since I've been staying at the temple to help" she adds.
She keeps her expression neutral. She has so many more questions and she's excited to see this temple - but those would not be the reactions of a devoted Gontorian to hearing about this news.
Even so, she is eager to get going.
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Post by Daos on Sept 4, 2018 14:16:30 GMT -8
"Very well..," Ingot says, slowly rising to his feet. "I have a new suit...of armor that my father...forged for me...before he fell ill. I shall retrieve...it and my other gear. Shall we meet...at the gate?"
"Right now the village is locked down to keep the disease from spreading, but I'll send word to the watch at the gate to let you through," Derica says. "Good luck, and may Gonto watch over you all."
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Post by Ezeze on Sept 4, 2018 15:21:57 GMT -8
Katya heads to the temple to collect her things. She avoids the Kohen as best she can, she doesn't think it will be difficult considering he has been busy. She anticipates that he won't want to talk to her, either.
After she's thrown her things on her back she pauses for a moment, and remembers how miserable it had been to run out of food before they returned last trip. Even if she did not anticipate being gone long, even if she thought the Woodfang would likely be more than happy to host them, it was a good idea to stock up.
She hadn't heard from Bula in a while. She'd take the opportunity to stop by. No doubt the inn would be empty with everyone so wary of the disease. She could get supplies and tell the half-orc she was headed into Woodfang territory. Two birds, one stone, so they say.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Sept 5, 2018 12:38:41 GMT -8
"I need to tell my family where I'm going, but I will meet you all at the gates," Ladonna says. With that said, she leaves to tell her family that she is going to hopefully find a cure for this disease, and pick up a few provisions as well.
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Post by Daos on Sept 6, 2018 0:09:14 GMT -8
After getting their gear and supplies, the party regroups at the eastern gate. Garnet is once again wearing her studded leather armor, with her warhammer on her belt. As expected, she appears rather nervous about the expedition.
Ingot has his familiar shield and morning star, but his chain mail armor has been replaced by custom splint mail, clearly designed to fit his unusual frame. He shows no fear, or worry or...any emotion at all, of course. His face remains completely stoic and impassive.
Liala has no armor, but does have a bandoleer of darts over her shoulder. She looks excited at the prospect of going on an adventure, despite the dire stakes involved.
Only a single person mans the east gate, and it's the youngest member of the watch, Stephen. He says, his voice cracking a bit, "Um, the reeve said I'm supposed to let you leave. But only you. Nobody else is allowed in or out, no matter what. Well, except the priests from Hart, if they show up..."
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