Kiss of Darkness: Part 1--A Hint of Shadow

[Rystil Arden]

OOC: One of these should work....

(OOC: I'll say! By the way, you slipped up and put the +10 to Diplomacy instead of Disguise in your character sheet, so you probably need to switch those. Anyways, you failed all of them except Local and History, but that should be enough )

[SBLOCK=Val]This is the symbol of the cult known as 'Kiss of Darkness' that was completely destroyed almost twenty years ago. Back in the heyday, the cult was known for evil plots involving demons and undead, mostly related to crushing and destroying Sundaria and its people in a tide of darkness. They used to have a fairly wide base of followers under an extremely powerful and dangerous leader named Temera Invesperasci, but Temera was destroyed along with most of the cult, and the rest of the power base crumbled forever.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Nonlethal Force]

As Val looks to the paper, Rhaka sighs as she looks to Dhistan - wondering what rude comment he'll add this time.

"Are you able to tell what it is, Valerie?"

 

[Bront]

"A cult, the Kiss of Darkness," Val says. "Though they were suposedly eradicated almost 20 years ago, but evil rarely ever is extinguished so easily."

 

[unleashed]

Baeleth Dawnmist, Male High Elf Swashbuckler

“Do you know what dark deeds this cult was involved in, before their supposed destruction?” Baeleth asks, his attention returning to Verra as he wonders how much longer the priest will be.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Rhaka adds, "Or where we can find them? I've gotten the impression that this is more of a hunting ground that a headquarters for them."

After a moment she adds, "In the wild, birds build nests for one year. When they leave for winter, squirrels often posses the nest. While the squirrel may be using the nest, the fact that it was built by the bird does not change. Who did you say was in charge of the warehouse? I expect that the owner of the warehouse may be connected as well - just as the bird is connected to the nest."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Not bad ideas, nature-girl. I agree," Dhistan comments, "We need to find their actual headquarters, and by my estimation, the fact that all the pussyfooting around back there didn't get us all killed back there means that A) he went back there and B) it isn't close by at all. And while I seem to remember hearing that the owner of that warehouse was actually one of the sacrificees, it is still true that there was weird stuff built under it. If our squirrel was a demon, I think our bluebird might have been a smuggler."

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Rhaka gives Dhistan a wary nod of approval. "If the squirrel was a demon, should it have taken long to bring back reinforcement and finish us off? I will freely admit to not knowing much about how demons travel to and from their homes."

"And if the owner was a smuggler, it is a shame that we once again see the old addage is true. In the wild, the hyenas often return to their own vomit. How is you all say in the city? What goes around comes around? The loss of life here is horrible; but it goes to show that behaving in illegal manners often has unexpected consequences."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"The use of demon was a second metaphor, but I didn't think it was too far to be missed--apparently it was close enough to the truth be confusing anyway. That wretched kidnapper stinks of old human--he's no demon. I meant he's a demon summoner."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"As to illegal matters, I'm afraid I can't agree. Whether or not something is locally illegal has nothing to do with whether it is Lawful in the planar sense of the word Lawful. Lawful has to do with efficiency and effect. For instance, regimentedly smuggling illegal medicine to save the lives of dying children--illegal? Yes. Lawful? Still yes."

 

[unleashed]

Baeleth Dawnmist, Male High Elf Swashbuckler

Baeleth begins to sing softly to himself as he looks at Verra, losing interest as the topic starts to drift.