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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 9431771" data-attributes="member: 82106">Starn and Vulthrun carry out their research through the night, focusing on doing something which will allow them to meet the challenge presented by the Cardinal in the immediate term. Kira, between requests to retrieve other texts, reads through the work on the initiation rituals of the Knights of Pelor. She seems rather engrossed in this, and in fact Starn begins to wonder if she's going to get around to finding that copy of 'Cults of Light' that he was wondering about. When he approaches her to ask about it, he sees that she's making detailed notes on an Arcane Ritual, once used by certain invokers, to wreathe their troops in the holy fire of the Sun itself. While the entire ritual is somewhat beyond the competency of either Kira or Starn, he sees that she's outlined a plan to take certain elements of it and reproduce it, with undoubtedly somewhat lesser effects.Starn notes some elements where she might be having a bit of trouble, and asks if he can help. "Oh! I didn't see you there, no this is just some magical doodling I've been doing. Let me get back to work." She hustles off to fetch Starn's volume, with a promise of some tea, but Starn isn't fooled, this is serious work. He sits at her chair and begins to correct some of the ritual forms which he's had drilled into him for the last 10 years, seeing how her idea really does have merit.As Kira returns, she tries to shoo Starn away and clean up her work area, but he stops her: "This could work. If I can complete the closed form of the sigils required to contain the mana in question so that the protective magic is potent, then you could imbue an entire formation of soldiers with a form of mental and physical protection. It might well be sufficient to make a critical difference when confronted by a strong enemy."Starn completes the formulation of a ritual of protection mixing elements of the Endure Elements ritual he already has a formula for with the forms of the Holy Coat of the Sun. Arcana DC(13) Roll 20 + 13 = 33. Success!Starn, Kira, and Vulthrun proceed to the South Gate of Winterhaven, where Terjon's troops have been marshalled. Manning the gatehouse itself are members of the Town Guard, who normally carry out gate security and other routine tasks. The three join Terjon and the others as they climb to the roof of the barbican/gatehouse. The men look nervous and some even prepared to flee if things start to look dangerous. Starn speaks with Terjon for a moment, and then announces in a loud voice "If you will all form up here, Vulthrun, Kira, and I will perform a ritual of protection and blessing."Vulthrun continues "Draw up your men, Terjon, for I shall bring down the very blessing of the Holy Sun! Men, no fear will touch you, the very blades of your enemies shall shrink from you, such is the true blessing of Pelor! Kneel!" Terjon has in the meantime drawn up his ragtag 2 dozen fighters, and at least some of the Town Guard line up with them, and the ritual is carried out! "Holy Sun, shield us from the forces of Chaos! May we hold the light and protect the world from Primordial Darkness!"The visible effect of the ritual embues the men with a kind of gleaming appearance. Much of the effect is psychic, they simply KNOW that they're blessed, and thus will hold fast, at least against any assault they could feasibly resist. When they are attacked the unit will withstand most attacks more robustly than usual.Furthermore, word begins to spread that Pelor's Light has arisen to defend the settlement. Ernest Padraig soon arrives with another group of men of his own household. The people of Winterhaven seem caught up in the excitement. Many cheer him on, though there are always a few dour looks from certain quarters.Complexity 3 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)Goal (staged): Rouse the Padraig family from their grief and muster them (RESOLVED) and Winterhaven itself (RESOLVED) against Cardinal Erban's heresy and impending coup.8/8 Successes/2 Failures/0 Hard DC Available/1 Secondary Skills Available/0 Advantages Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Diplomacy, Insight, Religion, Bluff, Intimidate, Arcana</blockquote>

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