stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. II [IC]

[stonegod]

Tessa states that the ritual to cleanse the fane requires all three relics from each fane. Apparently one cannot be cleansed by itself.

The box opens with some difficulty, having been forced closed, but opening it reveals some ancient parchment. Carefully opening it, almost reverently, Avron discovered a chalky, course white powder. Both of the scholars have seen enough ground bone to recognize the substance. The parchment faintly bares the letter "E".

 

[pathfinderq1]

Tessa continued to watch a bit anxiously as Avron pried the box open. She considered Marot's words and Jarrith's carefully before she answered, and her voice had an abstract, faraway tone to it, as if she were focused on the item and its contents.

"I think we need all of the artifacts- from the reading, the cleansing ritual is an all-or-nothing proposition. It can't be done piece by piece. From the looks of it, this is a holy relic, the remnants of a saint. We ought to treat it carefully, while we have custody of it- and really, I don't know that Mateusz would even want it. It might have value to a church of the Host, but it holds no knowledge, no pathway to power... Now that we have it, though, I'd think we best depart- while its removal may not serve to cleanse the fane, it is possible that taking it will alert whoever holds the power of the ritual, or it may simply cause the energy here to do strange things..."

 

[EvolutionKB]

Avron

Avron nods and looks into the shadows of the chamber. "Go go lets go" He carefully closes the box and carefully stows it in his backpack. If the others admonish him, he speaks again, "I found it won't hurt it if I hold it," not forcefully, just like a child holding a newly hatched butterfly.

or it may simply cause the energy here to do strange things..."

"We are all going to die!" Avron wails, before shuffling toward the exit.

 

[DEFCON 1]

"Now that we have it, though, I'd think we best depart- while its removal may not serve to cleanse the fane, it is possible that taking it will alert whoever holds the power of the ritual, or it may simply cause the energy here to do strange things..."

Khensu hears what Tessa says and nods sagely. "I think you are very right, lady of the Host. Your judgement on this is wise."

The shifter turns and sees the archivist shuffling towards the exit, so he motions with his arm to the rest of the group. "Shall we go back above? Once we have returned to the horses, we can decide on the next fane to go to. I would think the closest one would make the most sense." He follows after Avron and looks down upon the crazed little man as he walks. "You seem to have a need and a desire to find these relics, sir. Your life's work in a sense? Perhaps you might join us as we search for the other two, as an archeologist's knowledge would be most useful."

Jarrith shrugs and begins following the two of them back up to the surface.

 

[Stormwind]

Ashlyn continues to consider the strange madman from time to time, but her considerations seem underlaid by something else, ... something not part of her usual character and personality, a mix of empathy and pity, though only the more perceptive of her companions is likely to notice it.

Nonetheless, with the immediate business at this fane dealt with, Ashlyn wipes down the spade and places it on the side of Avron's backpack whilst he places the odd saintly relic within.

Ashlyn then proceeds out of the underground chamber until she stands once more within the ruins apon the hill. As she looks around the ruins, she mentions, almost absentmindedly "Should the darkness be removed from this land, I should like to see this place rebuilt and once again dedicated to Dol Arrah. In truth there is much to be done in this land, enough to last several lifetimes. Perhaps ..."

Ashlyn's voice trails off, but it seems clear that the events and trials of the last few weeks have, in their own way, bound her to this land.


Suddenly Ashlyn shakes her head sharply, and once again focuses on the immediate and practical aspects of what they must do. Turning to Tessa she asks "So if I understand right there are two more fanes to be dealt with, Any ideas on where we might find them?"

 

[pathfinderq1]

Suddenly Ashlyn shakes her head sharply, and once again focuses on the immediate and practical aspects of what they must do. Turning to Tessa she asks "So if I understand right there are two more fanes to be dealt with, Any ideas on where we might find them?"

Tessa continued to watch the crazed scholar warily. She was deeply uneasy about allowing him to keep custody of the relic, but trying to take it from him might provoke an even more dangerous reaction. At least, if he was where they could keep an eye on him, Tessa did not doubt that he could be "persuaded" to give the item up if needed. She was focused enough on that debate that it took her a few moments to respond to Ashlyn's query. She thought for another moment, trying to remember the details without consulting the Tome- she certainly did not want to allow Avron to even see the critically important tome, given his mental condition... "There are two more fanes- one in the forest, somewhere near the Visanti camp and one in the swamps, where the river drains out. We chose this one because we had already been here, but I don't know much about the others. Perhaps the forest one next- I know some of you have met with the Vistani before, and perhaps they might know something about the one close to them..."

 

[EvolutionKB]

Avron

"You seem to have a need and a desire to find these relics, sir. Your life's work in a sense? Perhaps you might join us as we search for the other two, as an archeologist's knowledge would be most useful."

Avron turns and grabs the shifter's collar, his voice calm but with an edge not directed at Khensu. "Yes, I'm cursed you see. Cursed. I'll join your merry party, if only for the miniscule chance that lifting my Curse will allow me the chance to walk alive out of this hellish place." Spittle flies from his lips as he speaks his mind. Then as if suddenly embarrased by his outburst, he speaks once more, calmly. "I am not just a scholar, I have other talents as well. Not that Mateusz ever really noticed." He shrugs and continues towards the exit.

 

[DEFCON 1]

"Yes, I'm cursed you see. Cursed."

Jarrith looks over at the man and snorts. "You, and everyone else in this group. It isn't that special anymore."

 

[pathfinderq1]

Jarrith looks over at the man and snorts. "You, and everyone else in this group. It isn't that special anymore."

Tessa nodded in agreement, and the faintest trace of a smile brushed her lips. "Indeed, we might look more askance if you were not cursed. As he says, we all seem to have been touched by one curse or another- but we have also seen just how strong our faith can make, and just how stubbornly we can strive in the face of those curses..."

 

[Stormwind]

Ashlyn laughs and turns to Jarrith with a grin on her face, "We are not all afflicted by some curse or another, .... although I believe that we all suffer under the curse that afflicts this land."

The Lady knight then turns to Tessa, "So it's off to visit the Visanti camp again. Who knows perhaps we will have another question for Madam Eva by then."