Syra and Freehill
Karrinkas manages to convince Syra of his good intentions. When the rest of group catches up to them there is a sudden dawning recognition that runs across her face.
"It's you... Sarata's ritual ... I guess it worked. We thought she was crazy, but it worked."
A huge smile spreads across her pretty face. "You're here and now you can depose the Matriarch! This is amazing."
There is a cautious look from one of the party to the next. "Yes, get rid of the Matriarch, yeah." They sound less than convincing and Syra's face begins to fall.
"That's why we brought you back, that's why we've been working all this time. So that we could bring about the prophecy, so that you could free all of our people."
"Hold on now, who is 'we'? I assume that Sarata was the woman whose body we found - did she have a tattoo with three teardrops?" Arlissa tries to calm things down and get some information.
"Yes, yes. Sarata is an Abantine - she's dead? She always talked in grand style of sacrifice and spirtual things, but she's so arrogant sometimes it's hard to tell. There are six of us, or were. Maybe only three now, maybe only two."
"Who were you running from?" Berke's voice is direct and to the point, without any of the reassuring and friendly tones that Arlissa projects.
"The Matriarch's hunters. They came to arrest me but I escaped. They may have discovered our group - Pallas was found ripped to shreds on the street this morning, and others might have been compromised. Judging from the reactions, the Matriarch must have been furious that Sarata succeeded in stealing your statues. But now that you're freed, you can take care of that, right? So many people have died to bring you back..."
The group uneasily looks back and forth between themselves, but Arlissa steps in again with a calm, confident voice. "You mentioned a prophecy. We need to hear it, to know it."
"Adolphus has it. He was the one that Hara granted it too."
"And where is Adolphus?"
"About a day from here is Freehill. It's a independant town, just small enough and far enough away that the Matriarch's troops don't concern themselves with it. It's run by a self-important man named Adanus Freehill, but it's a good place to stay. Adolphus is there with some friends. He can tell you more."
The path seems clear. Travelling to this Freehill gets them farther away from New Gorkana and the Matriarch, which can't be a bad thing they figure. Along the way they learn a bit about Syra. She was an apprentice to a fellow named Ashtalus, one of the original members of the conspiracy to bring our heroes back from stone. When he died, she took his place.
Adolphus is an herbalist and healer whose son was taken and killed by the Matriarch's guard for sedition. In his grief, he stared up into Hara Sunmother's face and berated Her for letting these terrible things happen to Her children. For three days he did this, but on the third day at noon (the holiest time of the day for Hara) he was struck blind for his impertinence for questioning Her will and motives. But he was also granted a prophecy of how the Children of Hara would be freed. Adolphus escaped from New Gorkana just before Sarata managed to steal the statues.
As Syra warms to the heroes, she reveals that she has recovered some things from the conspiracy that the Gorkanans would want destroyed. From her pack, she pulls a large scroll in an ornamented case. Signs and sigils of Llassa run along it.
"Here, this is better in your care than mine" as she hands it over to Arlissa. Arlissa unwraps it, mumuring prayers to Llassa as she does so. It is a complete copy of the holy scriptures of Llassa.*
"This is a great blessing Syra, thank you". Arlissas face seems to visibly light up as she looks over the scroll.
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Freehill rests at the edge of the rising highlands to the south of New Gorkana. A gentle stream runs through, fed by a large lake that looks to have been partially created by damming. A few houses are scattered about with nearby fields on one side of the stream with a larger building on a slight rise behind them. On the other side of the stream is a single house with orchards straddling it on either side. A small mill turns in the stream as it issues from the lake at the earthen dam. Fences run along the border, built as if for a cursory defense more than for division of land claims.
"Welcome to Freehill." Syra says as they look upon it. "The big house over there is where Adanus keeps his 'family'. Best we stay out of their way if we can. Adolphus is staying at the potter's with Gweni."
The potter's place is a simple one on the riverbanks. Syra leads our heroes in as the sun begins to cast long shadows from the hills and trees. They are introduced to Arni the Potter, his wife Gweni and their daughter Hope. Hope is about two years old and her eyes grow wide upon seeing Karrinkas. She buries herself in her mothers arms, peeking out from time to time. Karrinkas curls up on the floor in order to look less threatening, a plan that works rather well. Arni seems more the silent type, keeping an eye on the heroes while tending to the evening meal.
Syra introduces the group to Gweni, who is thrilled and has much the same reaction as Syra did. "Now you're going to get rid of the Matriarch, right?"
"Actually, we were hoping to here Adolphus' prophecy. We don't exactly know how we might do what you ask. Is Adolphus around?"
Gweni fidgets, "Well, that may be a problem. Adolphus went out to gather some herbs and such and hasn't come back yet."
"Wait a minute", Berke interrupts, "We were told this guy was blind. You let him go wandering around in the woods?"
"Well, he always goes with some of the men from the village. He has a great sense of smell, and can find herbs better than the sighted it seems."
"Ok", Samus says with a sigh. "Which way did he go?"
Our heroes and Syra throw back on their packs and tighten their armor. Karrinkas picks up the scent of the scrounging group. The trail leads northwest into the woods and the hills. The shadows lengthen as they follow Karrinkas' nose into the dark.
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* Scroll of Llassa - basically picture a Torah-like scroll and case. These are both history and philosophy drawn together.
the two threads I posted on are still not on page 1. Grrrr!
