IC II

[PresGas]

Sumer

Not liking the feeling much at all but still exhilarated by this new experience (could it also be the haste spell?), she gets her wits about her. "Feargus, what do we think about the building you spoke of. Should we go after it now and do I save my burning hands for defense or for really getting that building started afire?"

She prepped her potion of polymorph self to be nearby in case. Better to keep one's escape route close at hand if necessary.

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"I think we go there first but don't know if burning it to the ground is really the answer we want. I think we try to break in and see if there is some kind of a 'key' there."

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"That seems wise, Feargus. We know the shadows were not harmed by mundane fire, so Sumer's spellfire should be reserved for attacking them directly; firing the house will do no good, I think.

"If our previous experience is any indication, the shadows will appear forthwith once we venture a little further into the village. We should be ready for them to appear at any moment."

Zellar gestures with her wooden cudgel and leads the party forward, towards the suspicious building.

[shaidar]

Newton looks at his followers "Ok, change of plan, you guys keep an eye out and holler if you see anything"

He turns to the group "If this is how we're going to do things then that's fine, but we need to be aware that we're running the risk of getting ourselves surrounded by shadows, particularly if we stay in any one place for too long"

[PresGas]

Sumer

Having cast Haste before entering and knowing it will last for some time, Sumer is taking up the flank and ready to defend with eldritch flame. She will follow the group when ready.

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers advance through the village. It's quiet, and they think they see movement out of the corner of their eyes from time to time -- shadows flitting behind windows or in open doorways -- but nothing emerges.

The indicated building is large, made of stone, and has the air of a temple. A carving is above the door, a geometric form that Ribar recognizes as being a sign of the church of Manifest! Beneath the carving the door hangs ajar in its jamb, open a few inches, revealing blackness beyond!

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"Well, this is unexpected... are the shadows protecting this sacred place? Or has it been desecrated and realigned to some dark purpose? Ribar, this is one of the homes of your god... it is not right for us to simply barge in without your counsel. What would you say we do?"

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

As he waits for Ribar's word, Feargus reaches out, and pushes open the door a few more inches with the end of his mace. He mutters, "Wish we had somebody who could see in the dark with us...Could Manifest have offered this as a solution to 'protect' a village like this in the middle of nowhere from the forces of chaos in the last age?"

Sorry, I know it's not called an 'age' but I can't remember the phrase that TK's been using to describe them...

[shaidar]

Ribar looks puzzled "I am unsure, but it does not strike me as something aligned with the teachings of Manifest, but I am an inexperienced priest. Let me look closer"

He moves to get a better look at the door, to see if there are other markings, or perhaps a variation in the symbol of manifest that might indicate something.

TK, has Ribar heard about anything like this in his training? It doesn't seem like something Manifest would do.

[thirdkingdom]

Ribar looks puzzled "I am unsure, but it does not strike me as something aligned with the teachings of Manifest, but I am an inexperienced priest. Let me look closer"

He moves to get a better look at the door, to see if there are other markings, or perhaps a variation in the symbol of manifest that might indicate something.

TK, has Ribar heard about anything like this in his training? It doesn't seem like something Manifest would do.

it is definitely *not* something Manifest would do.

[shaidar]

Ribar examines the symbol and the door frame. He looks thoughtful for a few seconds and shakes his head "No, this goes against the core tenets of the church, this place must be cleansed and the villagers put to rest".

[PresGas]

Ribar examines the symbol and the door frame. He looks thoughtful for a few seconds and shakes his head "No, this goes against the core tenets of the church, this place must be cleansed and the villagers put to rest".

Sumer considers Ribar's words. "I'm for finding the source and putting it down. How do we want to figure this out? Why are we not under attack yet?"

[shaidar]

Newton

"If one of the shadows indicated this building to Feargus, perhaps they want to be released and are holding back"

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

Zellar puts away her scimitar and equips herself with her silver dagger.

"Did anyone bring a light source? My lantern is stowed on brave Jepeto."

[PresGas]

Sumer

"For the building, I may have something for you but it is not a torch, nor is it a bright light. We may throw it in and we may see just a hint of what is inside"

With a flourish, she casts a cantrip of a small light with much smaller firefly-like lights orbiting it. You would think indoors it may cast enough usable light to maybe be 5'. However, it could attract the attention of something from further away.

She hands it to Zellar, and though insubstantial sits in her hand.

"You could use this to toss in there. I think I have given it enough 'activity' to attract anything that may not think very much. It may help us weed out the not so smart ones."

[thirdkingdom]

The door is cracked open slightly more, and Sumer's light tossed within. For an instant it, and the light streaming in through the doorway, are illuminated, revealing a large open area, with pews or seats arranged in the middle, the perimeter of the room swathed in shadows. And then, as if a filter drops, the light fades, and the shadows move forward to converge.

The inside of the building is still visible, however, although it is like being inside a room with but a single window as night falls, the darkness almost palpable.

[shaidar]

Does the building have windows?

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

If no one else has a light source, Zellar runs back to the packtrain, stows her spear, grabs her lantern and a pint of oil, and rejoins the party as quickly as she can.

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus
"A church of Manifest then...", Feargus turns and sees Zellar run back for a light source. "I wonder how Brave Jepeto would feel if he learned that Zellar wanted to use him as bait yesterday...Did it look to you guys like the natural shadows enveloped Sumer's light or was that more of the unnatural kind...?"

[shaidar]

Ribar

"It was most unnatural, those shadows must be cleansed"