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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 2042551" data-attributes="member: 18280">The Tale of AmalricQUESTIONS ANSWERED:There are two main doors -- the double doors at the front of the Church, and a smaller door in the back.&nbsp; The small door has a metal latch, and there is a place for a bar in the double doors, but no bar visible.&nbsp; There are also a few windows, at least large enough for a man, with latchable wooden shutters.&nbsp; The shutters would withstand a wolf, say, and even if something larger forced its way in, it would make a hell of a noise.&nbsp; The soup had been pretty thin, and none of you believes that there was any pork in it.MORE HAPPENS:After a time, Fellan returned.&nbsp; Kregor and Glom, who were still waiting outside, were the first to hear the hoofbeats and look up.&nbsp; They were surprised to see Amalric riding on the horse behind Fellan.&quot;I found him, perhaps three-quarters of the way to the Dwarfie Run,&quot; Fellan said as he cantered up to the churchyard.&nbsp; Amalric slid off the horse as soon as it came to a halt.&nbsp; The priest was unable to meet anyone's eye.&nbsp; Fellan came off the horse after in a smooth motion.&nbsp; &quot;Tell them what you told me.&quot;&quot;I am so sorry,&quot; the priest began.&nbsp; &quot;This is all my fault.&nbsp; I was supposed to be the sheppard to these people, but I was too much a coward, too weak for what needed to be done.&nbsp; Too weak to keep them safe.&nbsp; I thought...I thought that if I killed the demon, then maybe I could somehow redeem myself.&nbsp; But I failed in that as well.&nbsp; I hadn't even the courage to approach its lair.&quot;He looked up then, at the faces around him, his eyes red-rimmed.&quot;You ask how I know it is a demon.&nbsp; Oh, it is a demon.&nbsp; Sent for the sins of this place.&nbsp; For my sins.&quot;He looked away again.&quot;It was a harsh winter.&nbsp; It seemed that it would never end.&nbsp; Some began to whisper about the old ways, that it wouldn't hurt to offer a log to the old gods.&nbsp; Then, perhaps, a log cut to look like a child....I wouldn't let them do it in the Church, but I didn't stop them either.&nbsp; I should have stopped them.&nbsp; The miller....I knew when they sacrificed the first one.&nbsp; On the millpond, that first one.&nbsp; It was frozen over.&nbsp; The miller said that, when the ice melted, all of the signs would be washed away.&nbsp; They did it in the mill, later.&nbsp; You have seen the graves, I imagine.&nbsp; Children.&nbsp; Burnt to the old gods of winter.&quot;Amalric began to weep.&nbsp; &quot;I should have stopped them.&nbsp; It was my duty to stop them.&nbsp; But I was a coward then, as I am now.&nbsp; Better that I had never been born.&quot;&nbsp; He choked back the tears.&nbsp; &quot;And now this...a demon for our sins.&nbsp; The Seven Good Gods have turned their backs on Kell's Reach, and we shall never be forgiven.&nbsp; They have turned their backs on me.&nbsp; They are right to do so.&quot;He stood straighter.&nbsp; Still unable to meet anyone's eyes, he looked up into the sky.&nbsp; &quot;Slay me,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;It is what I deserve.&nbsp; Slay me, and perhaps the demon will go away.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 2042551, member: 18280"] [b]The Tale of Amalric[/b] QUESTIONS ANSWERED: There are two main doors -- the double doors at the front of the Church, and a smaller door in the back. The small door has a metal latch, and there is a place for a bar in the double doors, but no bar visible. There are also a few windows, at least large enough for a man, with latchable wooden shutters. The shutters would withstand a wolf, say, and even if something larger forced its way in, it would make a hell of a noise. The soup had been pretty thin, and none of you believes that there was any pork in it. MORE HAPPENS: After a time, Fellan returned. Kregor and Glom, who were still waiting outside, were the first to hear the hoofbeats and look up. They were surprised to see Amalric riding on the horse behind Fellan. "I found him, perhaps three-quarters of the way to the Dwarfie Run," Fellan said as he cantered up to the churchyard. Amalric slid off the horse as soon as it came to a halt. The priest was unable to meet anyone's eye. Fellan came off the horse after in a smooth motion. "Tell them what you told me." "I am so sorry," the priest began. "This is all my fault. I was supposed to be the sheppard to these people, but I was too much a coward, too weak for what needed to be done. Too weak to keep them safe. I thought...I thought that if I killed the demon, then maybe I could somehow redeem myself. But I failed in that as well. I hadn't even the courage to approach its lair." He looked up then, at the faces around him, his eyes red-rimmed. "You ask how I know it is a demon. Oh, it is a demon. Sent for the sins of this place. For my sins." He looked away again. "It was a harsh winter. It seemed that it would never end. Some began to whisper about the old ways, that it wouldn't hurt to offer a log to the old gods. Then, perhaps, a log cut to look like a child....I wouldn't let them do it in the Church, but I didn't stop them either. I should have stopped them. The miller....I knew when they sacrificed the first one. On the millpond, that first one. It was frozen over. The miller said that, when the ice melted, all of the signs would be washed away. They did it in the mill, later. You have seen the graves, I imagine. Children. Burnt to the old gods of winter." Amalric began to weep. "I should have stopped them. It was my duty to stop them. But I was a coward then, as I am now. Better that I had never been born." He choked back the tears. "And now this...a demon for our sins. The Seven Good Gods have turned their backs on Kell's Reach, and we shall never be forgiven. They have turned their backs on me. They are right to do so." He stood straighter. Still unable to meet anyone's eyes, he looked up into the sky. "Slay me," he said. "It is what I deserve. Slay me, and perhaps the demon will go away." [/QUOTE]

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