In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 365):

Ketil shrugs and opens the gate. Entering it, you can hear the faint sound of water.

Goran advances with Ketil. Though he has light, the dwarf's night vision will help spot hazards and enemies in the shadows beyond the glowing coin.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 366):

Hograth will follow whoever leads, crossbow ready.

Urrun follows Hograth closely

In reply to Urrun (msg # 369):

The staircase shows signs of recent use. Several pairs of footprints show in the dust heading up, but only one heading down.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 370):

"Looks like we can expect some company. We should see where that one that came down went later..."

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 371):

Ketil pokes at it. "I give it a week, maybe two at most."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 21:44, Thu 01 Mar 2018.

In reply to Ketil Deepwalker (msg # 372):

"Could be the cultists then. Lets keep going."

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 373):

Mounting the stairs, you can see slashes of sunlight from the east coming through a doorway. The room, once sweet smelling, now has odors of corruption. Dead flowers and a broken vase are scattered about the floor. A velvet divan with bloodstains is against the wall away from the sunlit doorway. An intact vase of flowers is on the far side of the door. From outside, you hear mournful chanting.

[Private to Narrator: Bellphor]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:06, Thu 01 Mar 2018.

"It seems we might be close to the cultists we seek. Let's see if we can get sight on them."

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 375):

A blondish man in white robes with a blue surplice marked in yellow and gold with the emblem of the sun is standing by a beir containing a form draped in pink and gold cloth. Another person in similar ramient pours oil from a skin onto the body, and a red eyed woman wearing pink scatters flowers.

Goran gestures with his morningstar to Hograth and Urrun, then raises an eyebrow questioningly.

Look like sun priest

In reply to Urrun (msg # 378):

As soon as Hogarth sees the red eyes, he whips out a silver bolt and replaces the one that was in his crossbow, before aiming carefully at the woman's vitals.

"Anyone recognize the insignia or any of the symbols?" he whispers.

[Private to GM: Fast draw default, Dx-4 +1 for Combat reflexes, 11, rolled 7.]

Urrun puts his hand on Hograth's Crossbow, pushing it down ... she cries, not demon

In reply to Urrun (msg # 380):

Hograth in not convinced, and raises it again as he looks for tears...

Goran prepares himself to rush in if Hograth unleashes a crossbow bolt.

OOC: Wait action, move and attack into the room if Hograth fires the crossbow.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 379):

The woman wipes tears from her swollen bloodshot eyes as she runs out of petals to throw.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 383):

Noticing the tears, Hograth aims instead at one of the priest. Looking to identify the symbols and costumes, he demands to know what is going on here. Does anyone recognise anything about this place or the folk here?

Looks ta be a funeral, General

In reply to Urrun (msg # 385):

"We are dealing with an evil cult that relies on deception. Assumptions are unwise...does anyone recognize the symbols on the priests?"

Goran is more familiar with non-demonic rituals and the lore of spirits, but he wracks his brain for anything that this could be a ritual for.

09:25, Today: Goran the Marked rolled 9 using 3d6.  Religious Ritual (Shevnian) or Theology (Shevnian) - 12.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 387):

This appears to be a funeral for a priestess of the dawn, performed by sun priests.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 388):

"So these seem to be good folk, not cultists. Is there anyone we can talk to here without interrupting the ceremony?"

He lowers his crossbow.

"The ritual looks like it is in full swing. We could wait a few minutes, then see if we can speak to them."