Chapter 8: Against the Cult of the Reptile God

[Starbeard]

Moogeye Comcra, monk

"In hindsight, I believe the mother was just cooking a meal. These recent events have augmented the darker side of my imagination. I do not know where her other sons are, and it would be too risky continuing to search the place without knowing of their whereabouts. In the end I doubt we would find anything; do the bedrooms of evil cultists differ very much from the rest of us? I would not even know where to begin searching for clues of their current sentiments."

She listens quietly to the rest of the conversation, nodding in agreement that they should steal away and seek out the hermit. "The church would provide a fitting cover indeed for their evil activities. My intuition suggests that the holier the camouflage, the more vile the pit beneath. We should be extra prepared before investigating that place."

[ChubbyPixie]

"Hmmm. Perhaps the hermit can give us more information on this church. I do also have a hunch, based on what we've heard so far, that the church could well be the center of all this," says Telkis.

[Inferno]

Day Seven.
The Gade Family Farm (19)
Dawn. Saturday, October 22nd, 576 CY
Cloudy, damp, cold, misty







The bleak autumn day slowly emerges from the darkness. The heavy clouds continue to lighten but the rising sun hasn't burnt away all the mist yet. The farming village of Briarsgate is awake.

The investigators quietly confer behind the Gade family barn (19), out of sight of the Hochstedt's farmhouse. Nearly unanimous, they move northwest toward the ramshackle hovel of the strange old hermit, following a line of trees in the hopes of passing unseen through the stirring hamlet. Long Bo the druid carries a sack of decapitated reptilian heads. Its bottom grows black and wet with inhuman blood.

Atop the hill to their right looms...

• The Village Church (21). A stone temple to Merikka, benevolent goddess of the harvest, surrounded by a wall and a line of majestic elm trees. The gates have opened with the tolling steeple bells of dawn.
  

  

  Church of Merikka.jpg (462.7 KiB) Viewed 3226 times

They continue on and pass:

• A Small Cottage, (20) surrounded by elms. There is a light inside.
  
  A Rundown Farmhouse and Barn (22) in need of upkeep. A rooster crows. A vineyard is visible out back. A scarecrow guards the fields.
  
  

Then their tree cover wanes. Before them lies an open run of 150 feet of exposure and risk. Far ahead, they see:

• A Prosperous Farmhouse and Barn (23). This house looks solidly constructed and recently whitewashed. But the barn has seen better days.
  
  

On their left hand is the serene pond at the center of the village, now reflecting the ominous grey sky. On its other shores, they can make out:

• The Mayor’s Residence (10) overlooking the water. Lights burn within.
  
  
  
  The Livery Stable (8), also alive with light and movement.
  
  A Millhouse, Waterwheel and Pond (26). Mouser remembers this was the home of the men and boys that flushed Hoom and him from hiding.
  
  
  
  The Inn of the Slumbering Serpent (25). The small, old building is dark and still. This is where Mouser claims he last saw Hoom Feethos alive.

Suddenly, as they contemplate how to cross 150 feet unseen, a black bird soars directly overhead, hurtling out of the northwest. Bo the druid softly whistles and Sephus banks, descends and lights on his shoulder. "CAW! CAW! CAW!" the crow cries insistently.

Long Bo casts a magic incantation and can once more comprehend the language of birds. He translates Sephus' report for the benefit of his companions: "The elves' cottage (9) remains empty. There's no sign of life there. They've either wisely fled this doomed village, or else fallen to the fate of all Men who don't."



"The hermit is not at his hovel (27). At dawn he set out for the windmill (NW of 24). He is not alone. He met other men there. I didn't recognize them in the mist. They pried open the windmill's door, and entered, only minutes ago."


Actions?


Briarsgate Map:

Briarsgate Map.jpg (485.89 KiB) Viewed 3226 times

PCs are at X. 1 square = 20 feet. Lighter areas mark visibility. All else is from memory.
Map key is here.





Status:

• Avril Hollysword, Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric 1/2: AC 7, HP 10/10, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl
  Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 3: AC 4, HP 25/28
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 3: AC 3(1), HP 8/16, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 3: AC 6, HP 20/22, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 1/1 3rd lvl
  Moogeye Comcra, Human Monk 2: AC 8, HP 11/11
  Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 2: AC 2(0), HP 17/19, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: AC 0, HP 16/28

Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[ChubbyPixie]

"We could take over this run down farmhouse," suggests Telkis. "I don't think we can hope to cross here unnoticed. If one of you holy types can cast that silencing spell, there won't be any warning to the others if the people inside are compromised."

[Starbeard]

Moogeye Comcra

"Agreed. The activities of the hermit pique my interest, but there is no way we could leave this small copse without being seen. Taking over this old farm house is something we can do now, and will allow us to lie low until better conditions arise."

[Zhym]

"I am sick of hiding," growls Grothnak. "We need to find out who the hermit is meeting with. Unless we can do that some other way, moving in the open is a necessary risk."

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo feeds his friend again and then addresses the group.

I agree with Grothnak on this one. The time for hiding is over!!! This curse is getting worse by the minute and we must take action now!

The tall druid is anxious to show someone important their new evidence.

I don't want to fight against these poor innocent duped townsfolk any more than the rest of you all do. I say we listen to the bird and go see what we can find at this windmill. We can safely walk out in the open now that we have these.

He holds up the disgusting and wet bag of heads for all to see.

Lets go find that hermit!

[AleBelly]

"Onward. Hiding and sneaking has gained us little. Those that wish to hide should leave. Let us advance towards the windmill."

Pelias carefully wipes the blade of his sword and polishes the holy symbol on his shield, giving ample opportunity to those who wish to hide. Then he nods at Grothnak and Bo, stepping out of hiding and confidently towards the windmill.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis regards the others levelly for a moment. "The purpose of hiding is to avoid killing innocents," he says.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo

If they are still bold enough to attack us, can we not simply fight against these perceived innocent townspeople using non lethal methods? If we murder everyone that is being controlled, there wont be much sense in saving this town in the first place.

It is clear that time is already against us. Hiding away for the day wont get us any closer to the answers we seek.

[Inferno]

DM:

Then Long Bo the druid caws again in the language of birds. Sephus croaks a reply.

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

"Cut across the road northeast to the woods along the west side of the church wall," offers Grey. "Move north under cover beyond the town. Cut west to reach the windmill and hermit with those men."

[Starbeard]

Moogeye Comcra, monk

Moogeye considers the arguments for a moment, then shrugs. "I do not mind being seen and attacked. I will outrun any foe here. But there is a time and a place for all things. The question here is whether it is the time to act in the open. There is still a danger that we will gravely misstep: we are not wholly certain who our enemies are, nor their level of knowledge or capabilities. However, I believe we have already intuited the main issues: reptilian monstrosities and the undead lair beneath several buildings; beneath the inn is an altar of unspeakable evil; whatever else we investigate will likely unveil only subtleties that are unnecessary to the task at hand."

[hedgeknight]

Ingrid Esthof

"Indeed, let us get moving. It is light enough to see, but perhaps no one is watching. We can't hide forever and wait for the good folk of this town to be further tormented. Trithereon despises the evil of slavery and this town has fallen under some type of enslavement...of their minds, their souls! It must be stopped and why are we here now, at this point and time, if not to stop it? We have spells and weapons, wit and will to help us. Let's get this done!"

Ingrid hefts her pack and shield, and follows Pelias, heeding Grey's directions.

[Zhym]

Grothnak follows along with Pelias.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Fair enough." says Telkis and trundles after the others. He's not looking forward to pummeling seamstresses and farmhands again, but they do have a point.

[AleBelly]

Pelias follows the path outlined by Mouser.

[Inferno]

Day Seven.
Briarsgate. North bank of the pond (near 22)
Early morning. Saturday, October 22nd, 576 CY
Cloudy, damp, cold, misty





Long Bo the druid and Sephus eerily exchange more caws and croaks.



Then the black crow flutters skyward, south across the water until he is swallowed up by the grey mist.

Pelias Blanchflower at last unshrouds his shield, once more revealing the sacred heraldry of Heironeus: a god's fist gripping a bolt of lightning. Then he leads the group northward out of the village, following Mouser's suggested path.

They ascend toward the Church of Merikka (21), the highest structure in Briarsgate. They move wordlessly between the high, granite wall and the elm row. The sound of soft footsteps comes from the other side of the stone enclosure. To their left they see a vineyard (north of 22) whose grapes have been left to wither on the vine. The farmhouse there (22) has light burning within.

They leave the cover of trees, and then the village's boundaries, treading north across farmland, and west. They see no living soul.



Soon, the abandoned windmill (NW of 24) looms in the distance.

windmill.jpg (199.88 KiB) Viewed 3176 times

They cautiously approach, through the unharvested cornfield that surrounds it.



As they draw nearer, they see the windmill's door has been unboarded, and that someone watches from the now-open portal. He ducks inside and, before the investigators reach the windmill, another man warily limps from it. The old hermit.

the old hermit.jpg (363.97 KiB) Viewed 3176 times

"What the hell are you doing here?" he growls, gruffly looking past them.
"Have you been followed? Get inside, quick, before anyone sees you."

Stepping over pried boards and nails, the heroes enter the dark windmill. The hermit slowly, wordlessly leads them downstairs into its cellar. "We're coming down!" he grumbles. "Don't kill us."



Down there stand perhaps a half dozen men in the windowless dark. Still and silent as the dead, they watch with trepidation as the heroes descend. Those with weapons already have hands on hilts. The tension is thick. One of them gets a candle lit and wary, fear filled faces emerge from the darkness.



From their attire, they are farmers and villagers. The hermit croaks to them, "Speak of the devils. These are the ones I was just telling you about."

Another long pause. Suspicious eyes uneasily assess the party, especially Grothnak, Telkis and Avril.

Finally, one of the anxious men breaks the silence. He rasps, dry mouthed, "Please. Tell us. Is it true? ...Did you burn down the Golden Grain Inn?"


Actions?





Status:

• Avril Hollysword, Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric 1/2: AC 7, HP 10/10, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl
  Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 3: AC 4, HP 25/28
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 3: AC 3(1), HP 8/16, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 3: AC 6, HP 20/22, Spells: 3/5 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 1/1 3rd lvl
  Moogeye Comcra, Human Monk 2: AC 8, HP 11/11
  Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 2: AC 2(0), HP 17/19, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: AC 0, HP 16/28

Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

"We too witnessed that," says Grey enigmatically "The gods have finally taken notice of the evil living here, and are meting out retribution. We can only hope that such good fortune should continue."

"Of more import," he continues, changing the subject. "Is what was found beneath the town. The source of corruption..."

[AleBelly]

Pelias pulls his waterskin from his belt and takes a long swig. He hands it to the dry-mouthed man. "You sound thirsty. Share my water, sir. As my friend was saying, we have explored several taverns. In the cellar of the Foaming Mug dwelt a band of hostile, possibly ethereal, bipedal lizards. Have any of you seen the like? If not, perhaps my companion Bo could show you. They have been slain."