The Reconquista: Part I (Shadows over Istivin)

[Seeten]

Anastasia listens to the worker, and watches the others. Twice in a week they have almost been crushed by falling stone? Seems odd. The unusual coincidences just continue to pile up...

 

[Branding Opportunity]

Anastasia listens to the worker, and watches the others. Twice in a week they have almost been crushed by falling stone? Seems odd. The unusual coincidences just continue to pile up...

One of the stories which you overhear is of the first accident which happened only a few days ago. Five children were playing in front of the temple when a statue of a Pelorian saint came loose from a niche above and crushed them. It was this accident that prompted the current renovation. The makeshift shrine seems to have been placed here by the locals in commemoration.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The largest of these parties is a posse of fierce-looking mountain fighters numbering nearly a dozen, guarding a nobleman of some bearing. He has jet-black hair, and a fulll beard with dark eyes, and carries an unknown heraldric crest on his tabard. They rush past you at quite a clip, nearly running over a half-dozen townsfolk in the process.

"Now, if that's the sort of squabbling, petty vulture tearing the heart out of the motherland that your friend meant," Reivik comments loudly, "I find myself in whole-hearted agreement!"

At the far side of the temple, facing Qualtaine Square, is a makeshrift shrine of some sort, composed entirely of flowers, hand-written notes, and candles. A number of townsfolk stand around, obviously discussing the temple. An elderly woman goes from person to person, trying to sell them flowers for the shrine.

After a brief glance at the aftermath of the apparent accident, Reivik raises a hand to attract the old woman's attention.

"What does the shrine signify?" he asks her.

 

[Branding Opportunity]

"What does the shrine signify?" he asks her.

OOC: The old woman asks you to buy "flowers for Pelor" (5 cp) and gives you the same information I just wrote two posts above. Pardon my laziness!

 

[Hypersmurf]

OOC: The old woman asks you to buy "flowers for Pelor" (5 cp) and gives you the same information I just wrote two posts above. Pardon my laziness!

"A few days ago?" Reivik repeats, surprised, as he fishes a silver coin from his pouch. "But the rubble remains?"

"A dreadful tragedy," he agrees, handing the woman the coin. "Were the children your relatives? Or friends of your family?"

 

[Branding Opportunity]

"A few days ago?" Reivik repeats, surprised, as he fishes a silver coin from his pouch. "But the rubble remains?"

The woman looks at the dwarf, then at the church, then back at the dwarf again. After a moment she seems to understand what he is saying, "No, no, Master Builder, the rubble only happened this morning. Another block was about to flatten a stonemason, when the most beautiful elven lass you have ever seen, clad all is shiny mail, came flying from Pelor himself on wings of gold, and lifted him to safety. This elven woman simply smiled and then dissolved into a thousand sun motes which drifted back to Pelor's side. It was truly a miracle!" She smiles warmly as she remembers and pockets the coin Reivik has given her. Picking out the two prettiest bundles she can find, she hands them to the dwarf, "Thank ye very much, sire."

At the question about the children the woman shakes her head, "No, no, they were of no kin to me. They were street orphans. Many about these days, left over from the war."

OOC: "Master Builder" is a term of address used by local humans for dwarves. It comes from the stereotype that all dwarves are supposed to be good at building things from stone.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Reivik's forehead crinkles as he crosses to lay the bundles on the shrine, and he glances back over his shoulder at the temple.

OOC: From previous visits to Istivin - was this building a temple to Pelor last time we were here? If so, a question for a workman... /OOC

"What prompted the restoration work?" he asks a labourer. "We'd heard the city was almost untouched by the war...?"

 

[Branding Opportunity]

OOC: From previous visits to Istivin - was this building a temple to Pelor last time we were here? If so, a question for a workman... /OOC

OOC: Yes, this temple has been here for over two centuries.

"What prompted the restoration work?" he asks a labourer. "We'd heard the city was almost untouched by the war...?"

OOC: See post #122 above

 

[Hypersmurf]

OOC: See post #122 above

OOC: Buh. Missed that.

So they're renovating the whole front of the temple to prevent more falling-statue accidents?

 

[Thanee]

Latalya

“Thank you, Master Harris. I am Latalya. Please, take care in future. It might be wise not to stand too close to the building, if your eyes cannot make out what happens above.”

The elf returns a friendly smile and after the group has learned about the weird incidents, which the workers quite fittingly describe as cursed, she left with the others for the Marchioness.