Grey Kingdom: The Game

[Larrin]

Mottul: You stand guard over the bodies maybe 15 minutes until a blue clothed priest with a few watchmen come across you, its obvious they're coordinating a search of the city for bodies. They are most shocked by the dead bodies of the cultists...since until now no one has ever seen human evidence of the enemy. The priest seems to be low ranking and doesn't recognize the symbol, but suggests you come you take one of them to the temple along with a description of the attack, or else he can do it when his patrol is done, he figures if you can get it there sooner, it'll be better. If you want, you could even take one of the bodies on the cart to the temple.

He begins a death rite for the fallen friends of Max and the other bodies on the cart, a ritual, you glean its intention is to consecrate the bodies making them un-raisable as undead, and to give them peaceful journeys to the heavens of the immortal gods and the human saints. The guards say it'll only take ten minutes, and Max seems to want to stay to see his friends off. The guards bind the corpses of the cultists and offer you one to take back with the cart if you're willing.

Mynic: The satyr leaps upon the table, spilling drink and treading on food "I want decadence! I want pleasure to be the goal, and decay its end. As flowers live for the sun and blossom in fragrance and beauty and then fade into wilted echos, so should this land's death be! This is a doomed land, as all mortal lands are, though this one is closer to its great winter. The Castle Bleak must choose its death, and I would see them die a flowers death, they've had their day of sunlight, let the slide into decay begin. May they drink, may they close their eyes to the coming end, may they cling to their lost prosperity!!! If you would be my agent, then I would have you be an advocate for celebration and opulance! Convince them to waste their stores on festivals, to spend their time listening to songs and poetry of what once was, not listening to reports of their certain death. Descend them into the desperate madness of the once pretty fighting the inevitable ravage of time! For I am Nero, Lord of Falling Empires, and I would have this be their end!" His voice is a mix of fever, longing, madness, and an odd compassionate sincerity, as if he believes this would be the best thing for everyone...

(insight/knowledge): You know that the Autumn Court has strong symbolic ties to the end of life, the autumn years of the mortal coil as it were. His reasons for wanting this probably don't follow the mortal concepts of right and wrong, but more focuses on his ideal of emotions he believes should be felt to create the proper artistic ending to the realm. Or he's just plain nuts.

[nubz]

Möttul loads the cultists' bodies on the cart unceremoniously, "Eh, they can all come with me. I shall not have it on my consciense if they get blessed while I'm away." {Three cultists versus strength 20 with the aide of a simple machine and the correct use of fulcrum and lever} Looking to Max, he chooses his next words carefully. "I wish you a good journey upon your Path. I will not ask you to join me, and do not prevent you if that is your wish. These men had families, those families have a right to know what happened here on this day - to know they gave their lives protecting their land, loved ones, and livestock. If you need to do this, then go with pride and be humble in the face of their sorrow. If your own family need be assured you are not among the fallen, ease their burden of fear. I will take these bodies to the Temple, mayhap with the aide of an ablebodied guard as I do not know these roads. If you need find me, I feel they will know better than even myself where I shall be heading."

If nobody offers to be his guide, he will make his way past the crossroads where he offered a potion to save the life of the commander. From there, if the guardsmen are once again not available as tour guides, he will do his best to find the Temple on his own.

((The shield will sit on the cart with the bodies, and his sword is once again in its sheath. If trouble finds him again, he will not waste time with the shield; instead, he can save time and put the extra killing force behind his sword. Also, I didn't see a name for the inn from earlier posts, or I would have given it to Max as well. Also, I think he would take the knives from the cultists and stab them into the wood of the cart closest to himself in the off-chance he wants to use them as thrown weapons.))

They call me paranoid. Fearing death from all corners. Well, better nervous than dead, I say!

[Death Cobra]

5 Dice Rolls Random 3

Mynic takes note if any of the others at the table react to the sudden outburst from the satyr. With a smirk upon his lips Mynic replies,
" That is all, a great revelry? That can be very easy. All mortals need is a clean victory and holiday to coincide. Thinking they have won, mixed with stories of old will ripen them for consuming."

Finishing his remark Mynic picks up a ripe fruit and sets it down after a glance.
" Is there a specific event you have in mind, or is it left to my choosing?"

Again his features change, now from the fey to a likeness of a saint/hero whose feast may be approaching. (History/ Religion)


(((I think you enjoyed writing that little post.)))

[Larrin]

Mottul: Max seems quite opposed to being left behind. He's learned a little about bravery tonight, but would quite obviously like to stick with the guy with the sword. "Their families will find out what happened soon enough, I'm coming with you!" he says in a mix of determination and 'don't-leave-me-behind'. Max sticks close to you, giving you instructions on how to get to the temple, though you could have probably found it yourself, since its bells are still ringing every 5 seconds or so. The route leads you back to the crossroads where the guardsmen seem to have set up a command post. One recognizes you and nods, then notices your cart o'cultists. He walks over to inquire a bit about 'whats all this then', but doesn't hold you up any longer then it takes you or Max to explain your mission.

The river temple is somewhat ironically fairly far from the river, very near the outer town wall in an area where the richer estates are. Its a nice big white stone building, square with lots of columns and a nice rounded dome on top with carvings of Saints and the gods. The bells ringing are in a little tower atop the dome. From inside you hear chanting, sounds like a basic blessing to ward off evil, but you've never heard so many people saying it in unison.

You make it to the main entrance, the doors are wide open, and a priest in white is giving orders to two more priest, each with an escort of guards, probably another corpse patrol being sent out. beyond them you can see the chanters, six priests in Blue robes swinging incense over candles, very obviously a ritual.

The priest in White sees you and immediately comes over. "Do these dead need blessing?" he asks and motions for one of the priest he was instructing to come over.

Mynic: The other fey show no obvious reaction, though they were definitely listening to it, all eyes were on Nero and now they turn back...they mostly just don't like being at this table, and you'll admit its not a very appetizing one.

Nero plops down crosslegged ontop of the table and pulls a piece of meat out from under him and chews it while laughing. "Easy? To find a holiday; yes, to find a victory; no. Their war is against shadows, and they've never yet had anything anyone would call a victory. True decadence needs no victory though, just detachment from the outside world. The castle is filled nobles that are doing little else then worry about dying and plotting the defence of their precious wall. Get them to cast aside care and eat drink and be merry and my agent you will have been. I've no interest in how you do it, win them a victory, put on an opera, force them at knife point. They've lost their desire to revel, and that is the first step that needs doing. Do this and a boon I shall grant thee."

Relgion/History: You know humans often have festivals on equinoxes and the fall equinox is coming very soon. You also know that wartime often overshadows such festival, often a king or lord will forbid celebration when it would distract from an ongoing conflict (except Christmas, no one forbids Christmas, that would be wrong!).

[nubz]

"Begging your forgiveness, but if you even try to bless these sinners, I'll . . . well, bad things. Bad." He begins with a simple, "What sort of enemies do you have," befroe telling them the abridged version of tonight's tale. Most important of all, he shows the cultists' various trinkets and allows the man of faith to shed some light on the subject at hand.

[Death Cobra]

3 Dice Rolls #3

" Very well, with your pardon I will take my leave. "

Finishing his sentence Mynic again changes, reverting back to the old man facade. If there is nothing else from Nero he leaves their cavern and returns to the surface. If he doesnt know how then he will ask for a guide to return him.

Once back up on the path he will continue onto the post he was directed to before by the human patrol.

Hmm...too many possibilities to decide at the moment, so for now Mynic waits until he finds out further information from the humans end. A plan should come to him as information flows. Maybe he will play the role of a prophet of a vaguely known, near forgotten deity that saved the realm before there was anything to save...

[Larrin]

Mottul: The priest listens to the story and quickly examines the symbols the cultist wore. "Finally the face of our enemies is shown." he says with bitter relief. He holds up the symbol, not fearing to touch them. "This is the symbol of the Prince of Graves, one of the cruel gods orcs worship. Humans that worship such beings only invite destruction on their fellow man. This was one of the possibilities i'd considered, but even after tonight's attack it still wasn't fully clear what was behind it. No we know, thank you. May all the saints bless you for this. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to gather my brethern and discuss what must be done. My knowledge of The Princes is limited. If you need anything else tell Brother Simon there I told you to speak with him, and he will help you." He indicates a priest inside the temple in a sand colored robe who is lighting candles around the chanters. He then leaves quickly into the temple and disappears into a "Priests only" door.


Mynic: Nero makes a dismissive gesture, giving you permission to leave, and returns to his eating. You exit the cavern and see no signs of the fae who led you here, but you know the trick; you circle the mound three times, going the opposite direction, and return fully to the mortal world. Its easy enough to get your bearings and head back to the humans fort.

This time you meet with no interruptions, though once or twice you think you see one of the Dundaes keeping an eye on you. As you approach the fort you notice that you've been seen but the guards seem fairly relaxed, and you get passed inside with very little fuss. Inside the fort is a minor hustle and bustle as this appears to be the hub of supplies and orders for the patrols. You quickly glean that its really only a skeleton crew running the patrols, older guards, some with injuries, etc (no real skeletons though ). It seems like most of the army is very busy elsewhere, and the people here expect to be called away at a moments notice. Until then, they guard against orcs and whatnot coming down from the mountains.

You quickly learn a few other things: The fort is run by a silver haired captain named Nahm, there is a caravan returning to Castle Bleak in two hours, The people here are somewhat separated news-wise from the castle.

[nubz]

1 Die Roll Knowledge (Religion)

"Good Brother Simon," Möttul begins, "You will be of assistance to me, as there are things you know which I do not." He starts with asking for all the man knows on the Prince of Graves, feeding him what little I know and again showing him the trinkets. "Also, I will be in need of a few potions, is there a man among you that has these at his disposal?" Taking note of everything of importance, he finds out if wounded men have been coming in, or if all injured persons are still out in the streets. Finally, he asks this Simon fellow if they (the priests working) know of any area in town which was hit harder than the rest.

[Death Cobra]

3 Dice Rolls Random 3

Well with two hours to kill Mynic rests against a wall near where the caravan is forming together. For the time he just waits and listens, trying to passively overhear any rumors and information. When the caravan looks like it is going to start moving Mynic will get up and try to join whatever crowd going with it. No better way to move unnoticed then when moving with the cattle.


Not the most exciting, but it gives Mynic a chance to better assess the situation he is up against.

[Larrin]

Mynic: You don't hear much other than that things are bad on the "wall"

The caravan leaves on time and it takes two hours over the roads to get to the castle. Its quite a large fortress, Grey stone walls rising up in the flat plains and high keeps and towers rising even higher. It looks like it could hold several thousand people. Surrounding the castle is a much smaller earthen/wood wall that is fairly well guarded. withing that wall is farmland, rather a meager crop so far if you're any judge. the farms lead right up to the proper castle walls. The mood in the farmlands is bleak, peasents don't even look up as you go by, but keep at their task. Your knowledge of humans is enough to guess these are probably serfs.

you can just see on the horrizon a third wall, dark black and shrouded in haze. This would be the famous "Wall" that is holding back the Bleak Desert, the last defense against the unknown.

The caravan stops before the stone wall of the castles, and those with no business in the castle are told to get out, and a guard comes to you indicating that he believes you should too.

Mottul: Brother Simon listens to your story. "The Orc gods all are the same to some extent, at least as far as humans are concerned. They are tyrants that demand sacrifice and action, they care not for heartfelt prayers or good deeds of Justice. (insight: only the last bit about good deeds and prayers is biased by his beliefs, the first bit is probably fairly accurate) The Prince of Graves demands to be fed, deaths to feed his armies. As you might guess those armies are of an undead nature. Cults that follow him and provide enough soldiers for him in turn receive access to said armies. I can only assume thats part of what we saw tonight. Knowing this its even more important that the dead receive blessings otherwise their spirits will be called to the grave."

As for potions, etc; "The hospital of our order is at the back of the temple, that is where towns people would bring the wounded and dead, only a vistor would come to the main entrance (he gives you a friendly smile, and Max looks embarrassed that he didn't think of that). They would know best the state of the injuered, and will have potions and salves for healing. Let us go"
He leads you out of the temple and around the side to an inconspicuous archway that blends in quite well with the rest of the temples decorations, except that it leads inside to an open space with cots and many priest in white. There actually aren't that many injured or dead people here. It seems that injury was not as common as death amongst anyone but the guard, at least not as far as the doctor/priest have seen. Upon your request, they give you three healing potions free of charge, as Simon imports upon them your aid in identifying the threat, and your obvious concern for the injured. The worst parts hit are the town square and the docks, from the scarce information that has come in.