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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Teneb" data-source="post: 790398" data-attributes="member: 3572">As we drew near, Paks heard chanting coming from the direction of the shrine.  The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end at the sound, so I made the assumption the chanters didn’t have my best interests in mind.  Paks and I briefly conferred, followed by her moving through the trees to the opposite side of the clearing from me.    I sought a vantage point among the trees and spotted two robed figures in the shadow of the shrine, and three other men standing in a rough pentagram chanting.  In the middle of the pentagram, hanging from a tree by his ankles, was the comatose form of Father Thomas.  Enraged, I stepped from the trees hefting my mace and shield.  “Release Father Thomas and surrender to the gods’ justice!” I shouted in righteous indignation.        One of the chanters waved contemptuously in my direction and the two robed figures began moving towards me.  One of their hoods slipped a bit and I caught a flash of ivory.  Skeletons.  These evil men were using the raised dead!  My hopes for their salvation faded as bony claws slid off my splint mail and demanded my immediate attention.      I drew upon my faith and a golden light flared from the many-limbed tree embossed on my steel shield.  The next skeletal attack ended just before hitting my arm, halted by the power of my faith.  As I drove my mace through the spine of on of my assailants, I heard a wild yell from the other side of the clearing as Paks joined the fray.  I dispatched the second skeleton as Paks downed one of the chanters.  In short order, the remaining changers were down, having refused another demand for surrender.  Paks suffered a minor cut on the arm, but the gods favored her and I was able to heal the wound.    Sadly, Father Thomas did not survive the ordeal.  We untied him and lowered his body gently to the ground.  I turned towards the defiled shrine and unfurled the scroll of sanctify; the spell flowed from my mouth of its own volition.  An angelic trumpet blast broke the still air as golden dust sparkled down from the heavens, covering the structure.  I averted my eyes briefly from the strong glow, turning back as the illumination faded back to twilight.  The shrine was returned to its natural state.    Paks and I bundled up Father Thomas’ body and returned to Dullum for the night, and from there to Holliston to report to the Revered Mother.  My heart was heavy; I had recovered an amulet from one of the chanters which indicated he was a member of the Cult of Orcus.</blockquote>

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