IC II

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

Zellar will pray for the following spells:

1st: cure light wounds, protection from evil, augury
2nd: bless, detect magic
3rd: dispel magic
4th: exorcise

In the early morning light, Zellar will cast her augury spell and ask of the Mnencir:

"If we pull down this fell church, will the gate to the shadowrealm be closed?"

[shaidar]

Newton

"Ribar and I spoke last night before we retired. He would really like to try and reconsecrate the church, if we can close the gateway to the shadow-realm. He's prayed for a spell of blessing for the church to help in any ceremony as well as some spells to detect enchantments, as have I. He was wondering if there might be an item that is linked with the shadow-realm that is keeping the doorway open. He thinks that it might be in one of the houses the shadow-folk were in. I pointed out that it might be the iron crown itself. We thought by using spells that let us locate magic we might be able to work out if this is the case, and if so we came to the conclusion that throwing the item through the door in the church that leads to the shadow-world might be enough to close the link".

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"Sounds good to me. Assuming the place is cleared now of shadows, we're in no hurry today. I can take Goshawk and Mardan Cy with me and investigate the houses. Hopefully your gods have a plan that let us close this rift."

[shaidar]

Newton

"Sounds good. Give us a shout if you find anything interesting. We'll be checking out the church"

Newton and Ribar approach the church, with Wilter and Toma following a little behind.

Once at the church Ribar casts Detect Magic to see what it reveals.

[PresGas]

Sumer

Sumer opts to go with the others in exploring the houses.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

He looks about, brow furrowed. Nodding, he turns to his retainers. "Notai, Wulfka, go along and search the houses. I think I'll back up Newton at the church."

"Hey, Newton! I'll help keep an eye out with you two." Gardo trots after the duo.

[thirdkingdom]

Fifthmonth, Twentyfirstday
The Village of Shadows

First things first: Zellar enters a trance and asks of Mnencir a question. "Will pulling down the chapel be good or bad?" The answer she gets back is an emphatic "Bad."

Note that augury only gives an indication if an action will be baneful or beneficial within a short period of time.

The rest of the time is spent exploring the remains of the village. Ribar and companions approach the church, and the cleric casts a spell that enables him to detect magical auras. The crown glows, as does the church itself, but in a strange manner. It's hard to tell. The temple has a clear, defined exterior. One could walk around it, measure it, feel the smooth stones of the wall, laid with geometric precision. It obviously exists in the Mortal World. Yet, also quite obviously, the interior seems to exist in both; one can stand inside and, from a certain vantage point, look both out the door into the Mortal world and at the same time out a window into the realm of Shadows. Perhaps the interior no longer exists solely in one place, or perhaps it truly no longer exists in either.

The other adventurers begin a methodical search of the houses, finding little of value but plenty of interest. Most of the houses are still furnished as if their inhabitants may one day return. This was clearly no village of wealth, but a frontier community fortified against the depredations of the forces of Chaos. A total of 94 gold coins, 452 silver coins, and 1,246 copper coins are found, the most recent bearing the kingfisher motif of the Principality and the profile of Garcuth II, the father of the current Scarlet Prince. Curiously, the adventurers find weaponry in the houses -- blades and bows, mostly, with a few axes and shields thrown in for good measure. All worn and bearing the tell-tale marks of heavy use.

The true find, however, is a journal bound in brown leather, the writing inside careful and labored, as if the writer learned her letters late in life. It seems to be a combination ledger and notebook for thoughts. Many of the pages contain lists or amounts, carefully totted up in columns: "Onions, 3 bushels, sold for 7 sp per bushel." "New shoes for Jenny, paid blacksmith 1 gp for the four, and to trim her hooves." "Rain last night, near an inch. Worried the leeks and garlic will drown this spring afore harvest."

The last few pages, however, are more grim.

Thirdmonth, Seventhday, 303rd year of the Fifteenth Cycle*. "More orcs have been seen in the woods, and they've been shooting arrows at those of us felling trees for the new pasture. Manded took an arrow through the bicep, but Markla healed him, through the grace of Manifest."

Thirdmonth, Fourteenthday, 303rd year of the Fifteenth Cycle. "Clearing for the new pasture's been halted, as the orcs have become more numerous and bold. We were forced to flee back to the walls, yesterday, and the Prince's men filled several full of arrows, but I fear they will not stop."

Eighthmonth, Thirdday, 303rd year of the Fifteenth Cycle*. "It's been getting worse and worse the past five or six months, and the Prince's troops left this morning, pulling back to defend the border. Said they could no longer defend the village, and that if we stay we'd be slain. Torstril and her family left with them, but everyone else stayed. This is our home."

Tenthmonth, Twentyfourthday, 303rd year of the Fifteenth Cycle. "Winter's coming, and we haven't been able to go out past the walls for the past few months to gather firewood, or even hunt. All the horses and mules have been killed and eaten, and there's little food to go around. I don't which I prefer; the starving or being killed by orcs.

Tenthmonth, Twentyeightday, 303rd year of the Fifteenth Cycle. Ameri couldn't stand it and tried to flee. She . . . didn't make it very far before the orcs took her. Alive and screaming. I can still hear her cries. Markla . . . says he has had a vision from Manifest. A solution to our problem. Some sort of ritual that will save us, give us the strength to fight off these orcs. We're to meet in the temple tonight, under the new moon. I hope he's right; I don't know if I can take much more of this.

And with that, the entries in the journal end.

*About sixteen years before the current year.

[shaidar]

Newton

"Perhaps the only answer is to read the journals of the shadow-cleric, they may provide an answer, although it could come at a price. Maybe something more will be revealed at the new moon, or the opposite, at the full moon."

Ribar seems rather despondent at the lack of progress.

When is the next full and new moons?

[thirdkingdom]

Newton

"Perhaps the only answer is to read the journals of the shadow-cleric, they may provide an answer, although it could come at a price. Maybe something more will be revealed at the new moon, or the opposite, at the full moon."

Ribar seems rather despondent at the lack of progress.

When is the next full and new moons?

New moon is in seven days.

[thirdkingdom]

Also, note that this may not be an issue you can solve quickly.

[shaidar]

how many days travel is the closest decent sized temple to Manifest, compared to the distance to Kimrid.

[thirdkingdom]

how many days travel is the closest decent sized temple to Manifest, compared to the distance to Kimrid.

There's one in Alice, about two days to the south.

[shaidar]

Newton

"The new moon is days away. We need to do more research to close this doorway. But we'll have to find some way or blocking up the door until we can close it so nobody wanders in, or something wanders out"

Ribar pipes up "I could head back to the church of Manifest in Alice and ask there...but it's 2 days travel in the wrong direction"

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"It seems we must split our forces no matter what, if we are still to take the battle to the orcs.

"Perhaps Ribar could travel back to Alice with Alwen Nar as an extra sword arm, and maybe some other companion if we think it worthwhile. It should be relatively safe, and two men can travel lightly and hopefully avoid the notice of any beastkin or horrors. On the way they'll intercept the caravan and can warn them to avoid the village.

"The rest of us can continue northwards to Draea. Ribar and the others could rejoin us in the north, as soon as they are able - or send word if Ribar learns more about this dread place."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"I guess warning the caravan is something that should be done. If we need to send a three people to make sure of things, then let's do so. We should also try to make some sort of warning here as well."

[thirdkingdom]

Fifthmonth, Twentyfirstday
The Village of Shadows

A plan is hatched. Warnings are carved into the wooden walls surrounding the village, warning travelers to bypass around the settlement. The adventurers return to camp and retire for the evening. Nothing untoward happens during the night.

https://orokos.com/roll/811275: 1d6 4

Fifthmonth, Twentysecondday
The Village of Shadows

The adventures rise in the morning. A tentative plan involves sending Ribar south, accompanied by Alwen Nar -- and perhaps a third, as well as maybe some mercenaries -- to warn the approaching caravan and then consult with the temple of Manifest, while the rest of the party heads north towards Draea.

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus
"Goshawk, can you please accompany Ribar? I will see you in Draea...Yes, I know you haven't been there yet and you keep getting stopped on your trips north. After you take care of this, ride north with all haste to join us, get word to us either in Draea via messenger or if that isn't possible, then thru Madam Fleur."

[shaidar]

Newton

"Thank you Alwen and Goshawk. Now, who agrees that we send half the mercs with then, just in case."

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"Alwen Nar, your sword-arm is needed to get this important information to the Temple of Manifest. Go now with Ribar and Goshawk, and make haste. Here is some gold for any expenses that may arise."

Zellar gives Alwen 100 gold pieces.

"If Ribar needs time to consult with his fellow faithful, I'd ask that you learn what can about throan in your downtime. It is a substance in demand in the south, and is available in the woods near Alice. It might prove a fruitful opportunity for us later."

Alwen Nar

"I was looking forward to killing some orcs, m'Lady, but I know the caravans must be protected. Alright, then. I'll be off."

[beniliusbob]

Newton

"Thank you Alwen and Goshawk. Now, who agrees that we send half the mercs with then, just in case."

"We may need those mercenaries against the Broken Tusk clan. But perhaps we can hire some sideneros in Draea, in addition to the cavalry that were already promised."