CH. 06 - Feyr is the Mind Killer
May 13, 2020 16:32:11 GMT -8
Post by Daos on May 13, 2020 16:32:11 GMT -8
The sun was just coming up as Kalana and Jaeron arrived at the temple, along with Aguru and the acolyte. The pair were exhausted, filthy, reeking, singed and wounded. A priest took them to the medical wing, where they were patched up, offered food, drink and healing, and allowed to get some sleep. By that evening, they were refreshed and good as new, although their clothes still reeked of the sewer and were burned from walking through that oil fire.
It was that very evening of the 28th, that a raising ritual was attempted on Johannas. It was a surreal experience for the two. Neither had seen anything like it before. The druid's body was brought out onto the altar. It had clearly been cleaned up, and been placed in white robes. The room was filled with incense, and numerous priests prayed in chants as the raiser cast the actual spell. But in the end, nothing happened. Johannas did not return. The priests explained that the ritual was performed exactly as it should, and his body should have been healthy enough to survive the ordeal; furthermore, he was a follower of Octhanus, so surely the goddess herself would not have objected. The only explanation was that Johannas did not wish to return. He had found what he was looking for in the next life, and to forcefully rip him out of that heaven would be cruel. The church agreed to take care of his body, and to send his belongings to his next of kin.
For the rest of that day, Jaeron and Kalana were forced to consider whether the others would return or not, as well. Fortunately, that was not the case. The next day, the 29th, Senllip went through the same ritual. His charred body was brought into the room and placed on the altar. The priests had done their best to clean him up, but he was still terribly disfigured. However, when the ritual was completed--and a bright white light descended from the ceiling and merged with the body, the halfling's wounds healed and he suddenly sat up, gasping for air. The priests healed him up entirely, and one could not even tell he had been killed, save for the fact that his clothes were badly singed. Even his hair and eyebrows had grown back! When asked about the experience, Senllip remembered nothing of it. One moment he had been watching as the fireball hurtled toward him, then the next, he was lying on the altar. However, he felt a little off afterwards. As if a small part of him had been left behind in the afterlife. He was still in good health...just slightly less so. It was difficult to put into words. But the priests assured him this was normal, and he would eventually adjust to the change.
The day after that, the 30th, it was Imrich's turn. He, too, could not remember anything from his time in the ether, and also felt slightly weaker, as if he was not 100% whole anymore. His wounds were also completely healed, but his clothes were still badly singed.
Once the four were reunited, the cleric who actually did the raising--an elderly halfling priest named Seredic Farfoot, spoke to them. "The church and the city thanks you for your efforts. The sheriff has filled us in on everything. It was unthinkable that any slaver organization would dare operate in our city. Serenity is considered neutral ground, not to mention holy ground. We've reached out to the Syndicate about this, and they disavow having any part of it, claiming it was the Crimson Wolves alone. Likewise, the Crimson Wolves themselves swear that this was a rogue splinter cell who does not speak for the rest of them, and that they would have never sanctioned such an operation." He shakes his head, as if he isn't entirely sure he believes that story. "In any case, the church has decreed that until those refugees that were taken are safely returned, the Crimson Wolves are to be shunned. They are to receive no healing from us, nor any aid or succor of any kind. Some feel that this may be too harsh, but the high priestess herself feels some action needs to be taken, lest something like this happens again."
He adds, "We've also decided, on our sheriff's recommendation, to increase funding to the law enforcement office. For too long, there has been no crime in Serenity, and over the years, we came to rely on that fact too much. We let down our guard, and innocent people have now paid the price. We are already discussing options to increase security in the city."
His face turns a bit darker. "Despite our gratitude, there is a matter of unpleasantness to discuss. One of the slavers that was left behind was dead when the sheriff's men arrived--an elven woman, whose neck was snapped. According to the statements taken by the other slavers, the blessed one," his gaze turns to Imrich, "used her unconscious body as a shield, and then later, a projectile. This led to her death. As someone who has been touched with Octhanus' blessing," he says, referring to Imrich's elemental heritage, "I am surprised by your actions. All life is sacred, even the lives of criminals. In any case, this is in violation of our laws. The sheriff has spoken in your defense, and in light of your actions to protect the refugees, we have decided on a minor sentence: A fine of 200 gold pieces, to help cover the cost of her raising." He adds, "Of course, the costs of your own raisings will be waived entirely, as thanks for your service to the city."
==================
It is now 10 AM, Bludsin 30th, Flamesday.
(The party is at full health. Casters may choose new spells for the day.)
It was that very evening of the 28th, that a raising ritual was attempted on Johannas. It was a surreal experience for the two. Neither had seen anything like it before. The druid's body was brought out onto the altar. It had clearly been cleaned up, and been placed in white robes. The room was filled with incense, and numerous priests prayed in chants as the raiser cast the actual spell. But in the end, nothing happened. Johannas did not return. The priests explained that the ritual was performed exactly as it should, and his body should have been healthy enough to survive the ordeal; furthermore, he was a follower of Octhanus, so surely the goddess herself would not have objected. The only explanation was that Johannas did not wish to return. He had found what he was looking for in the next life, and to forcefully rip him out of that heaven would be cruel. The church agreed to take care of his body, and to send his belongings to his next of kin.
For the rest of that day, Jaeron and Kalana were forced to consider whether the others would return or not, as well. Fortunately, that was not the case. The next day, the 29th, Senllip went through the same ritual. His charred body was brought into the room and placed on the altar. The priests had done their best to clean him up, but he was still terribly disfigured. However, when the ritual was completed--and a bright white light descended from the ceiling and merged with the body, the halfling's wounds healed and he suddenly sat up, gasping for air. The priests healed him up entirely, and one could not even tell he had been killed, save for the fact that his clothes were badly singed. Even his hair and eyebrows had grown back! When asked about the experience, Senllip remembered nothing of it. One moment he had been watching as the fireball hurtled toward him, then the next, he was lying on the altar. However, he felt a little off afterwards. As if a small part of him had been left behind in the afterlife. He was still in good health...just slightly less so. It was difficult to put into words. But the priests assured him this was normal, and he would eventually adjust to the change.
The day after that, the 30th, it was Imrich's turn. He, too, could not remember anything from his time in the ether, and also felt slightly weaker, as if he was not 100% whole anymore. His wounds were also completely healed, but his clothes were still badly singed.
Once the four were reunited, the cleric who actually did the raising--an elderly halfling priest named Seredic Farfoot, spoke to them. "The church and the city thanks you for your efforts. The sheriff has filled us in on everything. It was unthinkable that any slaver organization would dare operate in our city. Serenity is considered neutral ground, not to mention holy ground. We've reached out to the Syndicate about this, and they disavow having any part of it, claiming it was the Crimson Wolves alone. Likewise, the Crimson Wolves themselves swear that this was a rogue splinter cell who does not speak for the rest of them, and that they would have never sanctioned such an operation." He shakes his head, as if he isn't entirely sure he believes that story. "In any case, the church has decreed that until those refugees that were taken are safely returned, the Crimson Wolves are to be shunned. They are to receive no healing from us, nor any aid or succor of any kind. Some feel that this may be too harsh, but the high priestess herself feels some action needs to be taken, lest something like this happens again."
He adds, "We've also decided, on our sheriff's recommendation, to increase funding to the law enforcement office. For too long, there has been no crime in Serenity, and over the years, we came to rely on that fact too much. We let down our guard, and innocent people have now paid the price. We are already discussing options to increase security in the city."
His face turns a bit darker. "Despite our gratitude, there is a matter of unpleasantness to discuss. One of the slavers that was left behind was dead when the sheriff's men arrived--an elven woman, whose neck was snapped. According to the statements taken by the other slavers, the blessed one," his gaze turns to Imrich, "used her unconscious body as a shield, and then later, a projectile. This led to her death. As someone who has been touched with Octhanus' blessing," he says, referring to Imrich's elemental heritage, "I am surprised by your actions. All life is sacred, even the lives of criminals. In any case, this is in violation of our laws. The sheriff has spoken in your defense, and in light of your actions to protect the refugees, we have decided on a minor sentence: A fine of 200 gold pieces, to help cover the cost of her raising." He adds, "Of course, the costs of your own raisings will be waived entirely, as thanks for your service to the city."
==================
It is now 10 AM, Bludsin 30th, Flamesday.
(The party is at full health. Casters may choose new spells for the day.)
