Arkanum - The Story So Far
Arkanum - The Story So Far
The Arrival
The group finally gets to sleep and sets off early the next morning. Around mid-afternoon they finally arrive at a large manor house in very poor condition. The evidence of large gardens and great orchards remains visible and there is what looks like a small village off to the side. The remains of fields that look as
though they haven't been tended for some time now are beyond the village. This must be where the covenant was housed.
As the group approaches a flock of ravens takes off from the orchard, wheels once overhead and then flies off. Mount Tierne bears over the covenant ominously, as though guarding it from something. Close to the main entrance can be seen the skeletons of what most have been the previous covenfolk, some of them twisted into grotesque positions, their skulls screaming silently towards the heavens. The covenfolk nearby turn away and a few can be seen to pray quietly.
The west wing of the house has been destroyed in a fire but the rest of the manor looks as though, with a bit of work, it could be returned to it's past glories. The mages dismount by a large fountain just outside the entrance, everything seems to be covered in a layer of lichen and creepers which just heightens the sense of emptiness about the place. The ornate doors of the manor lie some way off, ripped from their hinges and the inside of the building is dark and forboding. A cold breeze blows, chilling the warm May air, and the a few of the group shudder visibly.
Antia slowly walks up to the main entrance, stopping a few paces short to gaze into the empty eye sockets of a twisted corpse. She extends her hand towards the body, but stops herself mid-gesture.
Taking a few steps back, she turns to Bruen and murmurs a few words in Euskara. Then she walks back towards the group that has started dispersing slightly.
"Protection is a good idea," she says in latin, glancing at Ationamus who as soon as the party stopped began working on a magic circle. "My people live nearby, and I fear for them. I think they may be safer than your manor, though. Bruen and I must go to them before it is too dark to travel. You can accompany us, if you wish. I would not want to sleep here tonight."
She shakes her head, waves her hand in the direction of the destroyed west wing. "I can speak with spirits, walk in their lands, and sometimes control them, but this is not a good time. In the morning, I could try to visit the spirit world and maybe take a few of you with me. Will you come spend the night with my clan?"
Although communication is hampered by her limited skills in latin, it appears that Antia's ideas on magic are not entirely normal. The poor latin might be an indication by itself and while she was speaking she pulls out a few amulets carved in simple animal forms.
Gabrielle and Xathras have slowly and carefully moved their way toward the manor during Antia's speach and Gabrielle seems to be examining the ground and bodies for personal items. "I would like to see if I can get any impressions from anything we find", she says without looking up. She bends down and glances looks at something more closely before continuing her search of the ground.
Xathras meanwhile has approached the fountain and is examing it closely. Underneath the undergrowth can be seen intricate carvings and designs. After a short while spent pulling bits of plant off of the stonework he stands back and beginnings chanting and gesturing wildly. A few of the covenfolk look on fearfully and eventually he points at the fountain and a mighty torent of water erupts from his finger tips. It hits the fountain, clearing away much of the foliage. When it finally stops Xathras returns and continues picking the remaining leaves away, oblivious to the stares he is receiving from the covenfolk and grogs.
While the covenfolk recover themselves Ationamus, who has finished his circle of protection, gestures to one of the armed grogs to follow him into the manor and starts forward. As he does Bruen steps between him, Antia and the building, and scrutinizes it closely for a moment, then turns and speaks quietly to Antia
in Euskara for a moment. He then turns to Ationamus, and says "I think you should not go now. There may be bad things inside. Wait until several are ready. If the spirits are unhappy, you will need more than one to go with you." Making sure that Ationamus is not going to enter the covenant Bruen goes back to watching the building.
"Dear God in heaven, what have I done to be exiled to this bleak place" mutters Benedict under his breath. Stephen half turns towards him as though he heard wht Benedict just said but then returns to watching the others.
Benedict looks around at the others and glances over at the village. "Before we enter our new abode I would like to bury the old inhabitants. It is not right that they are left in such condition."
Sister Moon quickly scans the entire horizon, viewing everything casually. She then lightly grasps her waist's hem and mutters a prayer and a blessing. "I think it's obvious that our first duty to the covenant is to pave the way of change and agree with Benedict about disposing of the bodies .... by burial." So saying, she unfastens her travel cloak.
Sister Moon kneads her fingers as if to release tension in them or to warm them up before work is to be done. She turns to Benedict, who she seems to be taking a liking to, and asks bluntly, "Where do you wish to let them return to the Maker?" It should be obvious that she has respect for his intuition and
leadership from what she has seen of him and his compassion. To Antia and the rest, "Perhaps it would be best that after this we progress slowly," pointing to the fountain and manor, "as this will take care and planning, not rapine and force." To Xathras specifically she steps closer and says gently, "Sometimes letting the surroundings tell us things requires that we pay attention to it, and not always bend it to our will, although we are free to do so. I am nearly afraid that the Adversary will see it as a calling otherwise." Her body language seems more than permissive to whatever he chooses to do and not in the least disapproving of his eagerness. In fact she looks as eager herself that he does explore his surroundings.)
When Sister Moon has finished speaking Stephen steps forward and runs his hand over the edge of thefountain. "I suggest that we investigate the village before we do anything else. We may find a house or other building that is habitable. I for one would like to sleep with a roof over my head. If most of the covenfolk were in the Manor then the village should be relatively untouched. Do you agree?" He looks around at the others.
Sister Moon gives one nod of her head, pulls the hair from around the top of her travelling cloak, and brushes off some of the dust from the road, "That will give us plenty of time to consider our situation, seek our conscience, see if there are any survivors, and if the demoiselle wishes, " (nods again and brightens), "her favourable effects might be found in their possessions there."
Antia and Bruen exchange a few more words in Euskara, in an urgent tone. Turning back towards the magi, Antia shakes her head firmly. "No. You don't understand. You were sent here by your parens; you are nice persons, but you are responsible only for your own lives. Bruen and I are responsible for our clan. We have
a duty. We must see that everyone is alright. You are welcome to accompany us if you wish." She turns around and starts walking away again.
"Oh my dear," Sister Moon blushes and looks slightly embarassed for being seen as thoughtless, "it hadn't crossed my mind that they might be in danger too."
In the charred grassy area nearby, Gabrielle will cease her rummaging through cinders and things to address Antia, "You bring up good points, my lady. I will accompany you to your clanhouse for the evening. If they are distressed, perhaps I can ease their mood."
Ationamus glances around, "If anybody else is then I will stay here, but if not then I will go with Antia to her clan. What will everobody else be doing?"
"This is not a place to be," Gabrielle replies, "Remember the sodali who was sent to investigate. I am certain he had his protections, but they availed him not. Do not, I beg you, give us another body to bury on the morrow."
Stephen steos forward again. "So, Antia, Bruen, Benedict and Gabrielle will go to meet Antia'a clan while Sister Moon, Ationamus and I are stay here with most of the covenfolk, although a few will be sent with you Antia as protection. You will probbaly not make your clan by nightfall so I suggest staying the night and beginning in the morning. That will also give us a chance to set up a more permanent camp until we have investigated the covenant. It seems the covenfolk are against staying too close to the manor for the time being and have started heading towards the far edge of the orchards." He turns to Restu and Xathras. "What are you going to do, are you going to stay or go?. The light is beginning to fail so I think the burying of the bodies will have to wait until tomorrow."
Restu nods, "I am willing to be in either party, although I might be more useful in dealing with the clans."
Antia stares at Stephen and the other magi with disbelief. "Maybe I did not understand so well because my latin is not good. I thought FOUR messengers had disappeared here without word. You said the one magus that was found alive killed his healer horribly, then killed himself. I saw all the twisted bodies around us. And you think staying here for the night will be safer than the forest?" She shakes her head. "Maketoak are very strange!" She turns to Bruen, shakes her head a second time, but with sadness. "Mutil hori tentelapikoa da," she sighs. She looks at Stephen again. "I want to be very far from this place when night comes. We can come back to Villa Inferna in the daytime, but not if we are killed by demons." She turns away and resumes walking.
Bruen grunts at Antia's comment, and his face momentarily breaks into what only the very observant would notice as a tiny smile. "Enough talk. We are wasting time. We should go now."
Restu listens carefully to everyone. He too is shocked and horrified at what has happened and perhaps more fearful of the task before them. He had expected the creation of a coven to be a joyful time, filled with the discovery of both knowledge and people, but this... Caution and methodical analysis, he thinks.
Restu takes a deep breath, "All of you have a point," he says in Latin," I hesitate to remind you all that it is mid-afternoon and I, for one, would hesitate to start investigations until dawn. Burial should be started - and completed - by what remains of the light of day. I also would hesitate descending upon the villagers if any remain. We are strangers, and by coming from the direction of the Manor, are associated with the horror which has occurred. In conclusion, perhaps we should withdraw from the direct environs of the Manor, set camp and our defences, and prepare for further study on the morrow. While we do this Antia and Bruen can go to their clan and discover whether there are any other victims"
Stephen turns towards Antia. "I am sorry, I did not think that if we stayed close to the covenant we may be in danger. I only want to find out what has happened here and I must admit that I am not giving much thought to other peoples needs. It is obvious that some of the others wish to stay so we will and I wish you luck on your journey. I hope that you return quickly and that your clan is well. While you are gone we shall start the process of cleansing the covenant. Please take care." He turns and begins to walks after the covenfolk. After a while he reaches the edge of the overgrown orchards ands disapears into the trees.
Three of the grogs move to follow Antia, keeping some distance behind the mage and her companions.
"If all the sodalii staying would volunteer some small item to me for safekeeping: a hair, thread or other personal item, it would allow me to determine more easily if you are in trouble or if something goes terribly wrong while we're gone. I give you my word I will return these things when we return, and I will not use them except in dire emergencies. Xathras, if you do not mind I will check in on you to make sure everything is safe once a day. Is this acceptable to everyone?" Gabrielle looks at the magi expectantly.
Xathras offers a lock of hair to Gabrielle. He says, "It will give the hounds our scent, at least."
Benedict steps forward and takes an apple from a tree at the corner of the orchard and puts it in his pocket. "Stephen, I can move people about. It is taxing, but after we stop for the night I shall return to this place. Can you have some grogs waiting for me so that I can find the rest of the group. After checking on you I can return to Antia and let them know how you fare."
As Stephen walks off he turns in reply to Benedict. "Do as you will. We will be waiting for your return." He starts walking again and disappears into the trees.
Benedict waits until Gabrielle as an item from most people and then they both ride to catches up with Antia and Bruen. Although he is by no means an expert horseman, the steed seems to tolerate his presence. Actually he seems to enjoy travelling as he gallops ahead until almost out of sight, then waits by a picturesque hollow with a spring flowing out of it. As the rest of the group joins him he laughs "I love the feel of this country. You have quite a beautiful homeland." Then he asks "Does your clan have a
priest?"
"No," says Bruen in reply.
As they vanish over the hill a cloud passes over the sun. The rest of the group at the manor moves off towards the orchard, leaving the house silent and alone once more.
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