Arkanum - The Story So Far
Arkanum - The Story So Far
Burial of the Dead
When the group has disappeared from sight the people left at the manor begin to set up camp. Once they have finished work begins on disposing of the bodies they have found. A preliminary search of the village reveals that it is indeed deserted and they do have a church and small graveyard. Stephen forbids anybody from entering the covenant until morning, and a total of eleven bodies are found around the outside of the manor.
It doesn't take to long to bury the deceased and hold a short memorial service. What is surprising is that each body seems to radiate a slight magical aura around it. Other than this there seems nothing different between these skeletons and others that you have seen. Sister Moon seems to study the bones closely before helping with the burial.
After the bodies are buried you return to camp, which has been set up at the foot of a small hill to the east of the manor. Dinner is cooked and eaten in silence and then everybody lays down for the night, the mood for talk gone after their grueling work.
Morning comes and the camp is a hive of activity. Stephen comes up to you soon after breakfast. "We should investigate the covenant now, how do you think that we should go about it?"
Sister Moon steps forward towards him. "Filia, I think we should look carefully, everybody should be visible to anybody else to detract the Adversary from claiming another through deed or
trickery. Perhaps we should start from the outside, the parts most visibly open, as they might tell us something before we enter the foyer in proper fashion."
Ationamus nods after Sister Moon has finished speaking. "I agree with Sister Moon, we should always stay visible to each other. I also think that we should stay two by two, never being alone
somewhere. The visit may be longer but safer, and this is the most important thing. Try to remember everything you see, even if it doesn't seem to be of import. If you find something special, call the other but stay together, whatever happens, no matter how long you must wait before we arrive. The safety before everything. Agreed ?"
The other mages muuter their support of the idea and split off into pairs to begin exploring the ruined bits of the covenant. This doesn't take long and not much is found except the remains of a few furnishings. The manor does seem to have been damaged by a fire, but only the west wing shows any serious sign, having
been completely gutted. The only thing of interest is what looks like a spring at the back of the manor house. The water runs red amongst the algae and weeds and the stone surrounding it is badly cracked and leaking.
Although the sun is shining brightly onto the manor the windows all show darkness and nothing can be seen within. Once the search is complete you regroup by the fountain which is now looking surprisingly clean and white after Xathras' washing of it last night. A couple of the grogs are gathered around it talking, shadowed by the tall statue on top, which seems to shine like a becon in the late midday light.
Stephen steps forward again, "Well, we can either venture into the manor now or investigate the village. The choice is yours, but I for one would like to sleep in doors rather than spend another night on the hard ground so I vote for the village." He stands patiently wainting the other mages answers.
Looking at the others, Ationamus starts speaking. "In fact, we haven't find anything yet about what happened. So, I'd rather try to explore the manor, but I don't think it's a good idea to
divide us in two other group. So I propose that the group follow the majority of the choice."
"I would agree that sending two groups off into the Manor might be unwise. However, at least one magus should stay with the grogs while they increase the permanency of our camp - I think we all agree that we will not be staying in the manor for a while. They will feel safer and, with a guiding voice, may stand the fear this place instills better. I offer my services if all of you wish to explore, all I ask is that you tell me what you find."
Sister Moon looks almost downcast at the talk of a "permanent camp," and she shifts her feet and feels her hip as if trying to ease a pain, and it should be a trifle pointed that she thinks there might still be a chance of sleeping indoors when she says, "Yes. Perhaps we should send a resourceful individual down to the village for the nonce," breathlessly but without excess. She glances at the west side of the manor, "Tcht. What shall we do with that big hole in the wall?"
Xathras agrees with Stephen and Sister Moon and heads for the village without waiting to see what the others decide.
The majority of the group decide to explore the village and start over to it, following Xathras. Restu stays behind with the covenfolk and grogs.
The village is not far, about five mintues walk away from the manor house. Most of the houses seem to be of the same design - a basic small building for a family - with a few smaller and larger houses. There is also a small meeting hall, blacksmith, tavern, church and a school.
Xathras takes careful note of the school. As far as he has known,
education comes from the clergy or from private tutors. The so-called universities seem to be places where the scions of the nobility pool their tuition to save money for wine. Otherwise, he spends time examing the small houses looking for clues about how the covenfolk actually left. Did the hearth fires burn out, or were they smothered or doused ? Is there food in kettles or on plates ? Are valuable (at least to them) metal cooking
implements or tools left in the houses. Most importantly, the few real valuables of the covenfolk were likely objects of worship in the church so he heads there to see if they are they still there? He enters cautiously, remembering the last time he was in such a place.
As before he finds nothing that shows a hurried departing of the last occupants. Every place he goes into looks as though the people there knew they would be leaving.
As they pass the meeting hall they catch a movement out of the corner of their eyes and suddenly the main doors fly open and a small figure darts out and away from them.
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