Exploring Religion
“One…two…three…heave!”
Kellron and Jared grunted with effort, lifting the massive oak beam that barred the double doors leading to the main courtyard of the temple. Straining, the two warriors carried the bar back far enough to allow the doors to swing freely and then dropped it without ceremony.
The crash of the wooden beam echoed throughout the empty foyer disturbing the stillness that had finally settled about the sanctuary and nave. The disturbace was short-lived though and the completely natural stillness settled quietly about the six companions.
The remaining captives were now in the custody of Captain Rusuk of Sword House; Baob and Ferd had just finished transporting them along with a message to the good Major. The message included a brief update on the defeat of the devils as well as a request for two more hours before the Major retook the cathedral.
The request, delivered by two angels in full glory had been well received and Captain Rusuk had acquiesced. It would take him about that long to question the freed captives, figure out a safe place to put them, and organize a force to retake the cathedral.
Grimacing, the two men stretched their arms for a moment and then reequipped their shields and drew their weapons. As Deverat and Finslayer were drawn Baob and Ferd each grabbed hold of a pull ring on the doors and pulled. The massive wooden portals opened easily but creaked under their own weight.
A short flight of stairs led down from the doors to the courtyard and from there to the main gates leading to The Square. At the bottom of the square stood a score of men dressed in the same tattered, blackened robes as the captives inside had been. They stood silently at attention, facing the gates.
The slight groan of the doors caused the robed men to turn as one, shuffling their feet slightly, to look at the entrance of the cathedral. It became instantly apparent that the men were newly dead, their blood barely dried around the ragged death wounds of their shredded throats. Seeing the emblems of the church of Sarath, the walking corpses began to shuffle up the steps.
Kellron and Jared rolled their eyes. As one, the two men snapped up their swords in a salute and bent their will to the destruction of the corpses. Two brief flares of silver fire later and the courtyard was empty, save for the empty, fluttering, blood-stained robes.
Kestral scanned the walls and the grounds. "Looks okay from here. There might be a couple bodies up on the walls, but I can’t tell from this angle."
Jared nodded. “I just wanted to make it easier for the Major. We don’t have time to do a thourough search of the grounds if we want to make sure the cathedral is safe to enter.”
With that, the six companions went back inside closing the door behind them but leaving it unbarred.
---
The exploration of Latina’s Cathedral was…sobering. The infernal essence that had pervaded and perverted the temple was gone and the incessant roar of the hell-flame had given way to an eerie silence. It was if the almost palpable malice had not really left but instead was merely sleeping.
Turning to the left-hand door just inside the nave, the heroes (for that is what they were being called by the rescued survivors) began exploring the eastern corridors and rooms of the not-quite deserted church. Blue-gray fog covered the floor, giving evidence that something was still not right within the once hallowed rooms. The fog, which began to seem more like smoke, defied gravity crawling up each person’s legs like the grasping tendrils of some massive, cancerous belker.
The first real find was a book wrapped in black leather with a heavy iron clasp. Deducing that it wasn’t church property, Jallarzi invokes a minor divination and determines that at least three transmutation spells of moderate strength surround it. The wizardess claims it just in case; suspecting it may be the spellbook of the mad caster they had just killed.
Moving further down the hall they all begin to hear the faint muttering of unintelligible voices in a nearby room. Kestral just shrugs, unable to make out the words. Deciding not to take chances Jallarzi begins a summoning spell. The magics rip and tear from her hands before she finished the spell however. A malformed bear appears with a soft splortch. Instead of the rich golen fur of a celestial entity the bear is covered in what look to be black, segmented spider legs.
The alien bear looks mournfully at Jallarzi and makes a wet, questioning sound. Jallarzi tries to get the creature to respond to basic commands, but it is only with Kestral’s knowledge of languages that the wizardess is able to make the bear respond*.
Forewarned and now with an ally the heroes open up the door leading to the source of the talking to reveal a large meeting room reeking of some foul, acid odor. Half-sitting on the massive table and the chairs surrounding it were two…creatures. The things were amorphous blobs about eight feet across, and covered with eyes and mouths of all shapes and sizes. A number of the eyes extended from the blob-like shapes and swiveled to the door as it opened as the chattering from the many mouths increased in loudness and seemed to seep into their brains.
Before anyone could react one of the blobs spit a black gummy substance at Kestral, momentarily blinding her. The other blob flopped to the flagstone floor which dissolved into a morass of mud almost instantly. The battle was brief but hard-won, with the summoned bear being slain almost immediately. Fortunately no one lost their senses to the maddening din the creatures created.
The next room was equally dangerous. Another meeting room it was empty of creatures though the walls were covered in clear-seeming slime. In the center of the room hovered a multi-colored sphere of light that pulsed at random intervals. Jallarzi recognized it as a small and probably unstable gate. Deciding to not take chances the half-elf backs everyone up and invokes a fireball at the far edge of the room.
Amplifying the blast, the gate adds energy to the blast. The blast of fire should have stopped short of the room’s door. Instead the flames blast from the room, licking the hem of Jallarzi’s robe. If they hadn’t stepped back the half-elf’s own spell would have engulfed them.
Discussion follows for no one is willing to let the minor-gate stay in place for others to find. Jared is the one who comes up with a solution. Invoking a holy-white aura, Jared manages to dispel the gate, with Baob teleporting him away at the last moment before the gate implodes; sucking the contents of the room, the slime, and the fog in the corridors before it disappears with a quiet pop.
It was in the cathedral’s library that they discovered some clue of what the invaders had been doing for the past few days. Searching the open books Kestral discerned that they all discussed church relics. Questions to Baob revealed that the High Priestess Raptoran most certainly would have been entrusted with a scroll of The Invoked Promise** which would be used in only the most dire of circumstances.
Now even more concerned that a relic of such power might have fallen to infernal hands the group hurries their searching of the first floor rooms. Within the kitchens they find a grisly stew containing blood and other things. Elsewhere in Raptoran’s private chapel they find a small stash of arms and potions, apparently not found by the invaders.
Aware that their time was running out the heroes descended into the crypts, intent on making sure that the church relics had gone undisturbed.
---
*Jallarzi didn’t know Celestial. Kestral did and I think Jared might have too. Certainly the avorals knew it. This would come up again though with summoned critters outside of combat. Kestral would give the caster the phrase for “do what she says” and would then order the creature as needed.
**aka a scroll of miracle.
“One…two…three…heave!”
Kellron and Jared grunted with effort, lifting the massive oak beam that barred the double doors leading to the main courtyard of the temple. Straining, the two warriors carried the bar back far enough to allow the doors to swing freely and then dropped it without ceremony.
The crash of the wooden beam echoed throughout the empty foyer disturbing the stillness that had finally settled about the sanctuary and nave. The disturbace was short-lived though and the completely natural stillness settled quietly about the six companions.
The remaining captives were now in the custody of Captain Rusuk of Sword House; Baob and Ferd had just finished transporting them along with a message to the good Major. The message included a brief update on the defeat of the devils as well as a request for two more hours before the Major retook the cathedral.
The request, delivered by two angels in full glory had been well received and Captain Rusuk had acquiesced. It would take him about that long to question the freed captives, figure out a safe place to put them, and organize a force to retake the cathedral.
Grimacing, the two men stretched their arms for a moment and then reequipped their shields and drew their weapons. As Deverat and Finslayer were drawn Baob and Ferd each grabbed hold of a pull ring on the doors and pulled. The massive wooden portals opened easily but creaked under their own weight.
A short flight of stairs led down from the doors to the courtyard and from there to the main gates leading to The Square. At the bottom of the square stood a score of men dressed in the same tattered, blackened robes as the captives inside had been. They stood silently at attention, facing the gates.
The slight groan of the doors caused the robed men to turn as one, shuffling their feet slightly, to look at the entrance of the cathedral. It became instantly apparent that the men were newly dead, their blood barely dried around the ragged death wounds of their shredded throats. Seeing the emblems of the church of Sarath, the walking corpses began to shuffle up the steps.
Kellron and Jared rolled their eyes. As one, the two men snapped up their swords in a salute and bent their will to the destruction of the corpses. Two brief flares of silver fire later and the courtyard was empty, save for the empty, fluttering, blood-stained robes.
Kestral scanned the walls and the grounds. "Looks okay from here. There might be a couple bodies up on the walls, but I can’t tell from this angle."
Jared nodded. “I just wanted to make it easier for the Major. We don’t have time to do a thourough search of the grounds if we want to make sure the cathedral is safe to enter.”
With that, the six companions went back inside closing the door behind them but leaving it unbarred.
---
The exploration of Latina’s Cathedral was…sobering. The infernal essence that had pervaded and perverted the temple was gone and the incessant roar of the hell-flame had given way to an eerie silence. It was if the almost palpable malice had not really left but instead was merely sleeping.
Turning to the left-hand door just inside the nave, the heroes (for that is what they were being called by the rescued survivors) began exploring the eastern corridors and rooms of the not-quite deserted church. Blue-gray fog covered the floor, giving evidence that something was still not right within the once hallowed rooms. The fog, which began to seem more like smoke, defied gravity crawling up each person’s legs like the grasping tendrils of some massive, cancerous belker.
The first real find was a book wrapped in black leather with a heavy iron clasp. Deducing that it wasn’t church property, Jallarzi invokes a minor divination and determines that at least three transmutation spells of moderate strength surround it. The wizardess claims it just in case; suspecting it may be the spellbook of the mad caster they had just killed.
Moving further down the hall they all begin to hear the faint muttering of unintelligible voices in a nearby room. Kestral just shrugs, unable to make out the words. Deciding not to take chances Jallarzi begins a summoning spell. The magics rip and tear from her hands before she finished the spell however. A malformed bear appears with a soft splortch. Instead of the rich golen fur of a celestial entity the bear is covered in what look to be black, segmented spider legs.
The alien bear looks mournfully at Jallarzi and makes a wet, questioning sound. Jallarzi tries to get the creature to respond to basic commands, but it is only with Kestral’s knowledge of languages that the wizardess is able to make the bear respond*.
Forewarned and now with an ally the heroes open up the door leading to the source of the talking to reveal a large meeting room reeking of some foul, acid odor. Half-sitting on the massive table and the chairs surrounding it were two…creatures. The things were amorphous blobs about eight feet across, and covered with eyes and mouths of all shapes and sizes. A number of the eyes extended from the blob-like shapes and swiveled to the door as it opened as the chattering from the many mouths increased in loudness and seemed to seep into their brains.
Before anyone could react one of the blobs spit a black gummy substance at Kestral, momentarily blinding her. The other blob flopped to the flagstone floor which dissolved into a morass of mud almost instantly. The battle was brief but hard-won, with the summoned bear being slain almost immediately. Fortunately no one lost their senses to the maddening din the creatures created.
The next room was equally dangerous. Another meeting room it was empty of creatures though the walls were covered in clear-seeming slime. In the center of the room hovered a multi-colored sphere of light that pulsed at random intervals. Jallarzi recognized it as a small and probably unstable gate. Deciding to not take chances the half-elf backs everyone up and invokes a fireball at the far edge of the room.
Amplifying the blast, the gate adds energy to the blast. The blast of fire should have stopped short of the room’s door. Instead the flames blast from the room, licking the hem of Jallarzi’s robe. If they hadn’t stepped back the half-elf’s own spell would have engulfed them.
Discussion follows for no one is willing to let the minor-gate stay in place for others to find. Jared is the one who comes up with a solution. Invoking a holy-white aura, Jared manages to dispel the gate, with Baob teleporting him away at the last moment before the gate implodes; sucking the contents of the room, the slime, and the fog in the corridors before it disappears with a quiet pop.
It was in the cathedral’s library that they discovered some clue of what the invaders had been doing for the past few days. Searching the open books Kestral discerned that they all discussed church relics. Questions to Baob revealed that the High Priestess Raptoran most certainly would have been entrusted with a scroll of The Invoked Promise** which would be used in only the most dire of circumstances.
Now even more concerned that a relic of such power might have fallen to infernal hands the group hurries their searching of the first floor rooms. Within the kitchens they find a grisly stew containing blood and other things. Elsewhere in Raptoran’s private chapel they find a small stash of arms and potions, apparently not found by the invaders.
Aware that their time was running out the heroes descended into the crypts, intent on making sure that the church relics had gone undisturbed.
---
*Jallarzi didn’t know Celestial. Kestral did and I think Jared might have too. Certainly the avorals knew it. This would come up again though with summoned critters outside of combat. Kestral would give the caster the phrase for “do what she says” and would then order the creature as needed.
**aka a scroll of miracle.
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