Arasmes stands silent as his companions recount their stories, a sympathetic look on his face.
Such sad stories thought Arasmes with some small guilt as he considered his own happy family life. It really must be terrible to live here in the Lands of Light. And yet - they have all come together to protect this community.
"Not mystery, Yolk, the cloak of my faith. Even dwarves stand before my Lady at their end."
Aluar let his eyes scan the room, going from one person to the next, the look of distaste and irritation clear on his face. His eyes finally settle on Angus and he speaks hurriedly, "I have no mother, I have no father. I was born in to this world from the grave and one day I shall return to it." The recitation of these words seeming empty and hollow, and they ring in the air a moment as he pauses, his right eye cooling as if a coal devoid of air. Aluar then removes the spiral of silver metal affixed to his coat's left sleeve and tosses it upon the table for all to see. Many notches are marked upon the length of the spiral from beginning to end.
"Between those two events this is what I do. Each mark is a soul that I have helped make the journey to stand before Pharasma. I was guided by the spirits of the dead amassing in this land. This right eye of mine you see that gives me my pretty face, can't see a damn thing out of it, except those that should be in a grave or escaped from one. A little souvenir of my unusual birth. Which brings me to a curious little situation..." Suddenly his attention shifts to Arasmes, staring straight at him , his right eye smoldering again. "I can see you in both eyes."
Aluar averts his attention back to Angus. "Though, I think we are here to see if we can help you, not talk about us. So, tell us what it is you know, friend, dwarf."
Yolk glances nervously at Aluar, licking his lips and swallowing hard, as if suddenly his mouth had gone dry.
As "Jean" talks, Arasmes goes paler.
Arasmes hisses "Soultaker" while taking a step back, and putting himself between Jean and Alia.
"Adriel, get Alia to safety. Angus, Gryfford, Yolk - with me. We can't let it get away."
Angus raises his hands and speaks loudly,"Everyone! Please! We have more important things to attend to than petty squabbles!"
He looks around the table and there is an intensity in his eyes almost as if there is a fire burning as they pass over you. "Now please, sit, we have much to discuss and very little time." A deep furrow forms across his brow and he gets very quiet.
The room almost seems to get darker as does the mood. Angus begins speaking slowly, "The significance of these events is more than just simple attacks on livestock. I fear that it goes back much farther into my history than I would like known. Unfortunately the only way I can explain is to show you. So I would like to give you one last chance to leave. Because if I show you this, your fate is bound to mine. Do you seek to know the truth about these happenings, or do you wish to return to your travels and homes none the wiser. The choice is yours."
Adriel stands ready at the commotion, but relaxes at the Paladin's powerful words.
My path is set, Angus Mcdarrow. I have lost my family and this palce is all I know. For now, I have no purpose besides existing and this town is my best chance to find...something. I' d not see this places families lose loved ones as I did. This I can do somethimg about. I am with you.
Yolk sits down on one of the chairs that were set before the group in the small library, he leans back into the chair and folds his arms. He then sets his gaze on Angus.
"I..I, for one am going to stay Brother" Yolk says, speaking hesitantly to Angus.
Gryfford steps between Jean and Arasmes, arms outstretched to keep them apart.
"Peace !" he shouts.
Not a smart move, to put yourself there, he chides himself.
He then adresses Arasmes, speaking rapidly at him without taking his eyes off Jean.
"I don't doubt your expertise in these matters, Arasmes. But we have two - no, three ! - priests in the room. Is it possible that they didn't have a clue as to the nature of Jean ? Whatever that nature might be !"
He inhales sharply to remain calm and somewhat lessens the tension in the room.
"And you, Jean, perhaps you could mind your manners ! In my experience, polite people tend to live longer than uncouth ones".
Ho ho, that didn't come out right he thinks.
He adds hastily: "Hey, it's not a threat, Jean ! It's just my experience on these matters !"
Still alive... we're progressing.
"Friends: let's say this little fracas was caused by a misunderstanding between honest and decent people coming from vastly different cultures." he pleads soothingly.
"And let us hear what our ominous sounding local priest has to say..."
Speaking to Angus: "I don't always like what the truth has to say to me, but I am keen to hear it nonetheless."
And what the god' rach' is a soultaker ?
"I'm willing to follow the lead of Yolk, Gryfford and Adriel in this, Master McDarrow." Arasmes agrees, then after a longer pause continues "I will even swear peace with "Jean" till this threat is resolved - thought it is against my better judgement - if he will do the same."
"Thanks, Arasmes !" Gryfford grins and steps aside, relieved.
"That's for the best, I'm sure."
What the hell am I doing? thought Arasmes.
I'm betting a lot on the hope that a Soultaker won't break an Oath sworn in front of a Paladin of Erastil. He tensed The question is whether he'll swear one or just attack
Well, thats 4 out 6 at least and it appears our 'Soultaker is outnumbered. Sorry, but it looks like between our gladiator, 2 clerics and me, Taltosh too if he wishes, have plenty of muscle and magic to render to the town. You can either stay and play nice, or go and considering your attitude so far none will care to stop you. So which is it? Are you going to help us hunt or not?
While Adriel castigates Jean White, Gryfford shoots a manly comforting grin at Alia.
And fails miserably to impress the girl.
While the altercation between 'Jean' and Arasmes flared up, Taltōsh quietly stepped to the side. What is Jean's gift? What is different about Arasmes? This is quite strange, and I've seen some strange things in my young life, he thought.
Aloud he said, "Master McDarrow, regardless of the personal cost, I too am willing to assist in this endeavor. Hopefully this quest will bind our disparate band together--" Taltōsh paused, directing his attention to 'Jean' and Arasmes. "--if it doesn't disintegrate before we start."
"This is polite, if I was not I may take offense, to being called a 'Soultaker'." Aluar gives a quick nod to Gryfford. Brave man, but foolish, this vampire hunter is jumpy he may have actually attacked. "I help to bring new life in to this world and old ones find a final rest, never once have I acquired a soul in my duties to Pharasma."
Aluar turns to the table and sits down leaving Arasmes and Gryfford at his back ignoring the uncertain looks of the others."I will stay."
Gryfford has an appeasing gesture for Arasmes. We'll clear things up later he mouths silently to him.
Then Gryfford grabs a chair, turns it around and sits down on it, his arms crossed on the back.
"We're all ears !" he says to Angus Mac Darrow, eager and actually excited to hear his tale.
Yes, I believe we can continue now. Adriel resumes his seat and awaits the tale, possibly looking interested for the first time.
Angus smiles for a moment, but it is brief. You can see a sigh of relief pass over him then his face grows grim again.
"Thank you all for your acceptance. I beg your patience as I explain my tale."
He sighs and Alia walks over handing him a large book. As he takes the tome from her he flips it open to a bookmarked page. He lays the book open on the large table in front of him and you see something written in a strange language on it's pages.
He looks you each in your eyes individually and you can tell he is sizing you up one last time before he speaks again.
I warned Mayor Deverin that this was not an ordinary happening. However I have been ignored. In this book is the reason I believe that these are not random encounters. If you would all please place both hands on the table near the book." He demonstrates."I remind you that once you see this you are bound to its fate, and will be held accountable for the knowledge it reveals."
Adriel feeling rather too much and needing to get started (either that or he just needed a smoke) quickly lays his hands down.
Even out of the arena, I've still got me way with the ladies he thinks a little bit smugly.
Then he concentrates on the situation at hand.
Gryfford leans on above the back of his chair and puts his hands decidedly on the oak table near the mysterious book with an audible Thump !
Taltōsh followed suit, placing his gloved hand near the strange tome.
Gesturing at the book, Yolk throws a pinch of salt up in the air , directing his gaze at the words on the page.
Aluar stretches out a single finger and raises his hat with it clearing his vision, he leans forward from his reclining position and lightly places his hands on the table near the book.
Arasmes puts his hands on the table, directly across from Jean.
Angus begins to speak the words in the book out loud. As he does so you see lines of blue energy snake out across the table into your hands. The room grows dim and you feel a tingle start in your hands and run up your arms. The world around you grows hazy and disappears into blackness.
And suddenly a scene grows out of the darkness. You see an old dwarf standing in what appears to be a archaic church structure. It has not been used in some time. There are chunks missing from the stone floor, the windows have been boarded over. The elderly dwarf stands near the altar reading from a dusty tome. He mumbles the words under his breath and shakes his head. All of a sudden, a loud noise as a younger man wearing armor comes rushing into the room slamming the door behind him. ‘Doctor McDarrow! They’re coming!’ he yells. The old man glances up hastily and whirls around. As he does so you notice a young girl with long blond hair standing behind him dressed in what appears to be a cleric’s robes. He hands the book too her and says, ‘Read Quickly!’ The girl apprehensively begins reading, slow halting words in a tongue you cannot understand. As she chants the very room seems to shake and above the altar a white light begins to glow. Something pounds at the door and the young man rushes to secure it. The girl continues speaking and suddenly a decaying hand shoots up from the floor and grabs her leg. She screams and nearly drops the book. The old man rushes forward and kicks the hand away and yells, ‘Keep reading.’ As she hastily continues more hands shoot upward and zombies erupt from the floor and crack holes in the boarded windows. The circle of light in the room becomes a glowing vortex and the wind seems to pull everything towards itself. The girls voice shakes as she continues to read, the wind whipping her hair and shaking the pages. The men swing their swords at the zombies that come ever closer. However as the glowing vortex continues it becomes difficult for them to hold on. They grab on to anything as they are drawn to the center of the light. At that moment a chasm opens directly beneath it and the girl disappears into its depths. The whirlwind continues to spin and glow brighter. The old man slowly loses his grip on the wall and you see him pulled into the glowing vortex and as he flies toward it you hear him yell, ‘You must stop him, YOU MUST... YOU MUST!!!The AMULET!’ The last thing you see is the panic and desperation on his face as the blackness returns and the library comes back into focus.
Adriel blinks back to his senses. Well, that was ...Vivid.
What were we looking at McDarrow? The future? The past? The young male called the old man 'DR McDarrow?', That is supposed to be you?
Taltōsh kept his hand by the strange tome, unsure if he should withdraw it. "I believe that was the past. And that Doctor McDarrow is a relative of our esteemed Master McDarrow."
Directing his attention to the dwarven paladin, he added, "Your father, perhaps?"
Yolk pulls his hand away from the table hastily, turning it backwards and frontwards as he stares at it, wide-eyed.
With a look of consternation on his face, Yolk says, "What amulet?" more to himself than anyone else.
Looking at Taltosh, Yolk confirms his speculation, "This book's title says: Ritual of Past; but what..? What were we seeing, Angus?" Who were they? he finishes, looking directly at Angus.
Aluar snatches his hands back and clutches his holy symbol pulling it from his left sleeve. He stares down at the silver spiral in his right palm, features heavy and eyes distant.
With a slight almost imperceptible nod as if he just came to some conclusion, Aluar draws a dagger and marks three more notches on his holy symbol before replacing the blade to its sheath. One notch a small distance from the beginning of the piece, the second about halfway along it, and the third near the end.
Angus looks shaken and slightly pale. He sits once again and takes a deep breath before speaking. He nods to Taltōsh,"You are correct, what you saw there is the distant past, in a time and place far away. The man you saw is an ancestor of mine, Alastair McDarrow. He was an archaeologist, you see." He coughs a bit and gestures to Alia who dashes off without a word.
Angus continues, "While excavating a site far to the northwest of here, Alastair came across a strange amulet buried in the tomb of a king. However he was not the most careful of men, and unforunately invoked the magic the amulet held."He hesitates a moment as if unsure of what to say.
Alia returns at this point with another large book, a pitcher of ale, and several glasses on a wooden cart. Angus takes one and fills it drinking deeply. He looks back at the group and offers you each a glass.
Gryfford pulls slowly his hands off the table, and reclines carefully on his chair as if the book were some kind of vicious animal ready to pounce on him.
He stays silent for a moment, looking at nothing, withwdrawn into himself.
Jean's ritual catches his attention and puts him back into focus.
He stares at the ugly man in the morbid garb, as if trying to decipher the meaning of what he just did.
He looks at the other men in the room, just to reassure himself about the reality of the scene and his surroundings.
And then he gazes somberly at Angus.
Yolk acquiesces, taking the pitcher and filling his glass. Putting the glass to his mouth, he pauses, silently studying his companions from the rim.
Gryfford mumbles under his breath to no one in particular:
"What were they trying to accomplish ? It seems as if they invoked their very doom themselves, by conjuring this... vortex... which sucked them in."
He drinks his glass in one gulp, then pours himself another one, which he consumes in the same way. Then he puts the glass back on the table.
Well, he reasons what we just saw being in the distant past, these poor people have been dead for a long time. This belongs to history.
He breathes deeply and evenly, the way his fighting arts teachers taught him, so as to calm himself.
The breathing routine works as usual and he feels calm and readiness being birthed in the center of his belly and spreading throughout his entire body.
Except it isn't history he corrects himself calmly.
Or we wouldn't all be gathered here at this very moment to listen to an anxious dwarf paladin.
Gryfford sees Yolk looking at him and he gives him back a strangely comforting neutral look.
I'm glad we're all in on this he thinks.
He then turns back to Angus to ask him grave questions, his voice solemn.
"In what distant gods-forsaken land did this tragedy come to pass ?"
"What did those doomed souls - among them your revered ancestor - try to accomplish by sacrificing themselves to this unearthly globe of eldritch power ?"
"What do these portentous and foreboding ancient deeds bid for the hapless community of Sandpoint ?"
"What's an archaeologist ?"
Arasmes still holds the table, apparently deep in thought. After a few moments he absently reaches out with his left hand to the pitcher, and his right hand to a glass. A red skull-shaped mark is briefly revealed against the glass as he pours the ale.
"Fascinating." he murmurs briefly.
"You have it Gryfford" mutters Arasmes as Gryfford finishes talking.
Taltōsh withdrew his hand from next to the book. Carefully filling a glass with ale, he tentatively took a sip. With a little noise of pleasure, he drank more deeply.
"I also agree with Gryfford. His questions are most pointed."
Adriel downs a mug to help him relax a bit and waits for Angus to elaborate.
Angus takes another swig from his ale and looks to Gryfford, "You are a man of many questions, a quality lacking in many of this age. Unfortunately I cannot answer your questions, because I am not certain of the details. Not even a week ago I had the vision you just saw, and woke up in a cold sweat. After much prayer and supplication to Erastil I believed that it was related to the strange happenings of late. It was then that I informed the Mayor of my inklings, but without actual proof, I was dismissed. Perhaps it was because I had no solid lead on what the amulet was or how to deal with it. But I cannot see any other reason for this vision." He pauses and looks at you all.
"I know that this seems crazy, but please I need your help. Something evil is coming, and the attacks on Sandpoint are only the beginning."
Adriel sees the worry in the Paladin's voice. It was not comforting.
He stands and looks at the dwarf. What aid I can give , you shall have. I know not what your vision portends, but I have lost a family already. The children of this town should not share that fate. I am with you.
"Indeed," said Taltōsh. "What must we do first to assist you?"
Arasmes snaps out of his attack of contemplation.
"I can see why the Mayor is dubious. The question is whether this is a mere nightmare, or a Divine Revelation."
He smiled easily
"I sense this is indeed a Divine Revelation, friend. Too many coincidences for it to. I can also see why the Mayor would like it to be just a nightmare."
Clapping his right hand on to Angus's shoulder in a friendly manner, Arasmes leans in, looks him in the eye, and says quietly
"We are allies now. Erastil must have heard your prayers, and has sent you the help you need. Be easy."
Gryfford takes his chin in his hand, taking the time to reflect on all that's just been said.
Then he joins his hands, and begins to speak precisely.
"Well, Arasmes, I agree with your assessment of the situation. Not that I have any expertise in... undead matters, mind you."
"But I trust my guts." He clasps a hand on his stomach, making his chain shirt clink. "This vision of yours, Angus, is not mere idle phantasm born from the night."
"Besides, Jean, you told us you've been drawn to this town by the spirits of the dead ! Something wicked is happening right now, and this nightmare is evidently a clue to it."
Gryfford stands up from his chair, puts his hands on his hips to square himself and takes a deep ample breath. He looks at Angus with a focused, calm and somewhat fierce expression.
"Yes, we are comrades in arms now." He has a sweeping gesture to include all the people in the library.
"And I am honored." He grins proudly.