Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is LIVE! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Rel's Faded Glory Campaign (Thank You Old One!)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 118843" data-attributes="member: 99"><p><strong>Distrust, Betrayal and Oathbreaking Part 5: The Inquisition</strong></p><p></p><p>Scar backed away from the crowd gathered outside the church. He tucked the medallion inside his tunic and made his way back toward the barracks in search of Kyndalyn. He had some questions about the Inquisition and wanted to talk to Father Tomas or Kyndalyn and since Father Tomas was inside the church with the Inquisitors, Kyndalyn was the obvious choice.</p><p></p><p>He located the Captain of the Glynden Guard in the market where he was obviously doing his best to make sure that the men at arms who accompanied the Inquisitors didn't come to blows with Tarsheeva and her men. Kyndalyn ultimately had both group back away from Tadius' wagons and put a group of guardsmen in between them. Scar observed that if the battle hardened caravan guards and men at arms decided to do battle, the handful of green troops from Glynden would be easily swept aside or crushed between them.</p><p></p><p>After a few more minutes apart, tensions began to ease and Kyndalyn had time to speak with Scar. They stepped aside into the hollow between a guard tower and the main wall. Scar asked Kyndalyn about the Inquisitors and their legitimacy. Kyndalyn knew little about them but he could make a few assertions about what was and what wasn't within their power.</p><p></p><p>As the principal religion in Emor, the Inquisitors had the authority to bring individuals into custody in order to question them. If they were found to have committed wrongdoing of some kind, they were turned over to the secular authorities for justice (although this system was heavily based on information obtained by the Church).</p><p></p><p>But Glynden lay outside the Empire now. The Northlands had been abandoned to their own fate and although their laws were heavily based on those of Emor, the Inquisitors lacked the same authority they had within the official bounds of the Empire. That said, virtually all of the town of Glynden were worshipers of St. Cuthbert and if the Inquisitors decided to do something that wasn't strictly legal, there was probably little that Kyndalyn could do to stop it.</p><p></p><p>Scar absorbed all of this and tried to figure out where he would fit in. He was a worshiper of St. Cuthbert, but was only a lay-person, not a member of the clergy. Furthermore, he hadn't done anything wrong and resented feeling like some kind of criminal just because of the amulet he wore.</p><p></p><p>Kyndalyn informed Scar that he intended to go straightaway to talk to the Inquisitors and find out what was going on. Scar decided to hang around the market and see if a fight broke out.</p><p></p><p>Another hour or so went by before the head Inquisitor returned to the market plaza. He collected his men and then walked over to Scar. "You are 'Scar' if I'm not mistaken?"</p><p></p><p>"That's right."</p><p></p><p>"I'd like to have a word with you if you don’t mind. Would you please accompany me back to the Abbey?"</p><p></p><p>Scar agreed.</p><p></p><p>Back at the Abbey, the Inquisitor introduced himself and took Scar into the sanctuary. Scar saw that it now bore several new bits of accouterment including a large table set up near the front that was draped with a cloth bearing the symbol of St. Cuthbert. Lucius invited Scar to divest himself of his weapons and armor if he would be more comfortable. Scar indicated that that would not make him more comfortable.</p><p></p><p>Then Lucius asked if he would mind the use of several divinations upon Scar, including ones that would determine if his possessions were magical and would compel everyone present to speak the truth. Scar agreed to this. Both Lucius and another cleric set about performing spells.</p><p></p><p>Lucius asked Scar if he would remove the amulet he wore and lay it on the table. Scar complied. The Inquisitor proceeded to inform Scar that the High Priests of St. Cuthbert had foretold the coming of a powerful force of evil and corruption. Some of the other information they had receive from their oracles seemed to point to this force originating in the Northlands and that it would bear a symbol that resembled the form of the amulet.</p><p></p><p>The Inquisitor asked where Scar had obtained the amulet and Scar told him that it was given to him by Speaks With Stone. A series of questions followed this probing into whether Scar knew where Speaks had gotten the amulet from and what he knew about Speaks and the others with whom he had recently adventured.</p><p></p><p>The more questions that were asked, the more reticent and evasive Scar became. This only served to make Lucius more suspicious and his frustration started to become evident in his tone. Finally, he dismissed Scar after asking if he knew the whereabouts of Raven, Speaks and Rhys (Scar knew that Raven was in town but did not know where to find Speaks and Rhys).</p><p></p><p>One of the men at arms was dispatched to Nan's where he knocked on the door of the room that Raven had rented. Raven answered and the man at arms informed him that Lucius would like to speak with him at his earliest convenience. Raven replied that he would be willing to talk with him in the morning. The man at arms thanked him and departed.</p><p></p><p>Raven arrived at the temple in the morning and was generously welcomed by Lucius who offered him some tea. Raven accepted. Lucius then got down to business and asked if he might use some of his divinations to determine what items of a magical nature Raven carried. Raven declined. Without missing a beat, Lucius asked if Raven minded if they were under the influence of a <em>Zone of Truth</em>. Again, Raven declined stating that his word as a dwarf should be assurance enough. Lucius replied that he wanted Raven to be assured that he also spoke the truth.</p><p></p><p>Raven asked, "Do ya' plan on lyin' to me otherwise then?"</p><p></p><p>Lucius returned, "Not at all."</p><p></p><p>"Let's get on with it then. I've got work to do." Said Raven.</p><p></p><p>The interview with Raven was considerably shorter than that with Scar. Lucius asked a series of questions about his involvement with Speaks With Stone and what he knew of the amulet that he wore. Raven reported that Speaks seemed a decent fellow and had comported himself with bravery and honor. He knew little of the amulet or its origins.</p><p></p><p>Raven also said that he thought that Speaks was getting a raw deal with the townsfolk who seemed fairly unappreciative considering the service that Speaks had rendered to them. As he had only just arrived in town, Lucius could not speak to that particularity but did say that he had received some disturbing reports that Speaks With Stone had threatened violence against some of the townspeople without much provocation. Raven had little else to say on the matter. (There's that 6 Charisma coming into play)</p><p></p><p>Lucius concluded the interview by telling Raven that the High Priests of St. Cuthbert had received ominous visions about an evil arising in the Northlands. He hoped that Raven would remain vigilantly on guard for any signs of corruption among those with whom he came into contact.</p><p></p><p>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, half way across the northlands in the depths of the Darkwood, Speaks located the source of what had been calling him. It was an enormous Treant standing in a lush clearing. Speaks landed before the mighty oak and transformed back into human form.</p><p></p><p>The Treant addressed him in a low bass voice, "Greetings, Speaks With Stones. I thank you for heeding the call of the wood. I am Great Root."</p><p></p><p>Speaks was awed and humbled before the incredible power and antiquity of the being before him. "I…I am honored to stand before you. How can I serve you."</p><p></p><p>"Word of your deeds has spread on the wind and reached my leaves. I know that you are a faithful servant of the wilds, as am I, although different paths call us. I belong to the will of Elhona. If you shall serve anyone in this forest, it shall be her."</p><p></p><p>Speaks knew of the goddess, Elhona. She was the more nurturing partner of the Green Man, Obad-Hai. "What is it that you ask."</p><p></p><p>"I would ask you to do a terrible thing. For in so asking, I would require that you face horror beyond imagining and that you become an Oathbreaker. And so, I shall not ask. Because if you were to take on such an onerous burden simply because I, whom you have only just met, asked it, I would not want you as an ally. One so easily swayed as that is not staunch enough to make it through the trials ahead.</p><p></p><p>Instead, I ask that you go to a place within these woods and seek what may be found there. If you do, you will know what must be done and can decide if you have it within you to do it." As Great Root spoke, he reached out one his giant limbs and touched Speaks with the twigs at the tip. As he did so, Speaks' mind filled with the image of a dark and foreboding temple sitting in the midst of a black and gnarled wood. He now knew with complete certainty the precise location of this place and could walk there with his eyes closed if necessary.</p><p></p><p>Speaks asked tentatively, "Is there danger there?"</p><p></p><p>With the utmost solemnity, Great Root replied, "To your very soul. I am aware that you have close friends and allies. If they will join you, you may survive the dangers of That Place. Without them, I fear you will have little chance of success."</p><p></p><p>Speaks replied, "I will seek what can be found in the depths of the Temple. But I fear for my own woodlands in my absence. The townsfolk of Glynden seem less tolerant than they once were."</p><p></p><p>"Your woods will remain inviolate. I shall see to it." Great Root spoke with utter certainty.</p><p></p><p>There seemed little left to say. Speaks gazed up the enormity of the Treant and said, "I will go."</p><p></p><p><strong>NEXT: Distrust, Betrayal and Oathbreaking Part 6: Messages</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Rel, post: 118843, member: 99"] [B]Distrust, Betrayal and Oathbreaking Part 5: The Inquisition[/B] Scar backed away from the crowd gathered outside the church. He tucked the medallion inside his tunic and made his way back toward the barracks in search of Kyndalyn. He had some questions about the Inquisition and wanted to talk to Father Tomas or Kyndalyn and since Father Tomas was inside the church with the Inquisitors, Kyndalyn was the obvious choice. He located the Captain of the Glynden Guard in the market where he was obviously doing his best to make sure that the men at arms who accompanied the Inquisitors didn't come to blows with Tarsheeva and her men. Kyndalyn ultimately had both group back away from Tadius' wagons and put a group of guardsmen in between them. Scar observed that if the battle hardened caravan guards and men at arms decided to do battle, the handful of green troops from Glynden would be easily swept aside or crushed between them. After a few more minutes apart, tensions began to ease and Kyndalyn had time to speak with Scar. They stepped aside into the hollow between a guard tower and the main wall. Scar asked Kyndalyn about the Inquisitors and their legitimacy. Kyndalyn knew little about them but he could make a few assertions about what was and what wasn't within their power. As the principal religion in Emor, the Inquisitors had the authority to bring individuals into custody in order to question them. If they were found to have committed wrongdoing of some kind, they were turned over to the secular authorities for justice (although this system was heavily based on information obtained by the Church). But Glynden lay outside the Empire now. The Northlands had been abandoned to their own fate and although their laws were heavily based on those of Emor, the Inquisitors lacked the same authority they had within the official bounds of the Empire. That said, virtually all of the town of Glynden were worshipers of St. Cuthbert and if the Inquisitors decided to do something that wasn't strictly legal, there was probably little that Kyndalyn could do to stop it. Scar absorbed all of this and tried to figure out where he would fit in. He was a worshiper of St. Cuthbert, but was only a lay-person, not a member of the clergy. Furthermore, he hadn't done anything wrong and resented feeling like some kind of criminal just because of the amulet he wore. Kyndalyn informed Scar that he intended to go straightaway to talk to the Inquisitors and find out what was going on. Scar decided to hang around the market and see if a fight broke out. Another hour or so went by before the head Inquisitor returned to the market plaza. He collected his men and then walked over to Scar. "You are 'Scar' if I'm not mistaken?" "That's right." "I'd like to have a word with you if you don’t mind. Would you please accompany me back to the Abbey?" Scar agreed. Back at the Abbey, the Inquisitor introduced himself and took Scar into the sanctuary. Scar saw that it now bore several new bits of accouterment including a large table set up near the front that was draped with a cloth bearing the symbol of St. Cuthbert. Lucius invited Scar to divest himself of his weapons and armor if he would be more comfortable. Scar indicated that that would not make him more comfortable. Then Lucius asked if he would mind the use of several divinations upon Scar, including ones that would determine if his possessions were magical and would compel everyone present to speak the truth. Scar agreed to this. Both Lucius and another cleric set about performing spells. Lucius asked Scar if he would remove the amulet he wore and lay it on the table. Scar complied. The Inquisitor proceeded to inform Scar that the High Priests of St. Cuthbert had foretold the coming of a powerful force of evil and corruption. Some of the other information they had receive from their oracles seemed to point to this force originating in the Northlands and that it would bear a symbol that resembled the form of the amulet. The Inquisitor asked where Scar had obtained the amulet and Scar told him that it was given to him by Speaks With Stone. A series of questions followed this probing into whether Scar knew where Speaks had gotten the amulet from and what he knew about Speaks and the others with whom he had recently adventured. The more questions that were asked, the more reticent and evasive Scar became. This only served to make Lucius more suspicious and his frustration started to become evident in his tone. Finally, he dismissed Scar after asking if he knew the whereabouts of Raven, Speaks and Rhys (Scar knew that Raven was in town but did not know where to find Speaks and Rhys). One of the men at arms was dispatched to Nan's where he knocked on the door of the room that Raven had rented. Raven answered and the man at arms informed him that Lucius would like to speak with him at his earliest convenience. Raven replied that he would be willing to talk with him in the morning. The man at arms thanked him and departed. Raven arrived at the temple in the morning and was generously welcomed by Lucius who offered him some tea. Raven accepted. Lucius then got down to business and asked if he might use some of his divinations to determine what items of a magical nature Raven carried. Raven declined. Without missing a beat, Lucius asked if Raven minded if they were under the influence of a [I]Zone of Truth[/I]. Again, Raven declined stating that his word as a dwarf should be assurance enough. Lucius replied that he wanted Raven to be assured that he also spoke the truth. Raven asked, "Do ya' plan on lyin' to me otherwise then?" Lucius returned, "Not at all." "Let's get on with it then. I've got work to do." Said Raven. The interview with Raven was considerably shorter than that with Scar. Lucius asked a series of questions about his involvement with Speaks With Stone and what he knew of the amulet that he wore. Raven reported that Speaks seemed a decent fellow and had comported himself with bravery and honor. He knew little of the amulet or its origins. Raven also said that he thought that Speaks was getting a raw deal with the townsfolk who seemed fairly unappreciative considering the service that Speaks had rendered to them. As he had only just arrived in town, Lucius could not speak to that particularity but did say that he had received some disturbing reports that Speaks With Stone had threatened violence against some of the townspeople without much provocation. Raven had little else to say on the matter. (There's that 6 Charisma coming into play) Lucius concluded the interview by telling Raven that the High Priests of St. Cuthbert had received ominous visions about an evil arising in the Northlands. He hoped that Raven would remain vigilantly on guard for any signs of corruption among those with whom he came into contact. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Meanwhile, half way across the northlands in the depths of the Darkwood, Speaks located the source of what had been calling him. It was an enormous Treant standing in a lush clearing. Speaks landed before the mighty oak and transformed back into human form. The Treant addressed him in a low bass voice, "Greetings, Speaks With Stones. I thank you for heeding the call of the wood. I am Great Root." Speaks was awed and humbled before the incredible power and antiquity of the being before him. "I…I am honored to stand before you. How can I serve you." "Word of your deeds has spread on the wind and reached my leaves. I know that you are a faithful servant of the wilds, as am I, although different paths call us. I belong to the will of Elhona. If you shall serve anyone in this forest, it shall be her." Speaks knew of the goddess, Elhona. She was the more nurturing partner of the Green Man, Obad-Hai. "What is it that you ask." "I would ask you to do a terrible thing. For in so asking, I would require that you face horror beyond imagining and that you become an Oathbreaker. And so, I shall not ask. Because if you were to take on such an onerous burden simply because I, whom you have only just met, asked it, I would not want you as an ally. One so easily swayed as that is not staunch enough to make it through the trials ahead. Instead, I ask that you go to a place within these woods and seek what may be found there. If you do, you will know what must be done and can decide if you have it within you to do it." As Great Root spoke, he reached out one his giant limbs and touched Speaks with the twigs at the tip. As he did so, Speaks' mind filled with the image of a dark and foreboding temple sitting in the midst of a black and gnarled wood. He now knew with complete certainty the precise location of this place and could walk there with his eyes closed if necessary. Speaks asked tentatively, "Is there danger there?" With the utmost solemnity, Great Root replied, "To your very soul. I am aware that you have close friends and allies. If they will join you, you may survive the dangers of That Place. Without them, I fear you will have little chance of success." Speaks replied, "I will seek what can be found in the depths of the Temple. But I fear for my own woodlands in my absence. The townsfolk of Glynden seem less tolerant than they once were." "Your woods will remain inviolate. I shall see to it." Great Root spoke with utter certainty. There seemed little left to say. Speaks gazed up the enormity of the Treant and said, "I will go." [B]NEXT: Distrust, Betrayal and Oathbreaking Part 6: Messages[/B] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Rel's Faded Glory Campaign (Thank You Old One!)
Top