CHAPTER 06
Baldwin's Woodland Cabin, Astraena
Mid-October

Having conquered the Feyic Vault, defeated Veilspire, vanquished Shep, freed Giles, and made peace with Mi'driel, the P.A.R.T.Y carefully backtracks through all the clearings, ponds, and forest crossings, finally returning the the cabin where their adventure truly began.

The humble burial mounds that were assembled to house the remains of the Blackarms that assaulted the cabin weeks ago have been shifted a bit, revealing bones that have been picked clean by insects and other scavengers.  The scent, though not overpowering, is far from pleasant, and Wes whinnies in protest.

The sun has just finished setting as the P.A.R.T.Y. breaks through the treeline, dirty, sweaty, and generally ready to be free from the narrow trail.  The cabin and nearby stable/barn look much as you left it, offering welcome respite from your journey.

[Crossroads]

In reply to DM (msg # 1):

Whoa there, Maeve says, laying a reassuring hand on Wes' flank.  When the horse has calmed sufficiently, she stoops to form a cup with her hand to aid Keef in dismounting.

Before we get too cozy, let's check to be sure that nothing's taken up residence here in our absence.  Boreas, can you check the perimeter?  I'll take a look in the cabin.  Zuriel, you and Lyriel take the stables.  Keef, you're with me.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

Zuriel nods at Maeve's assignments, and he and Lyriel begin making their way towards the stable. As soon as the others are out of earshot, he turns to Lyriel, speaking in an undertone.

"Yesterday, you said that you saw Eldric in your vision. When you were coming to from your trial in the vault, you were screaming his name. It didn't seem to be a happy reunion. The Eldric I knew...would never willingly cause his sister grief." The paladin pauses to swallow a lump in his throat.

"Whenever he spoke of you, his entire countenance changed. You were the most important thing in the world to him. What did you see in your vision? I don't mean to pry, if you'd rather not talk about it, but...if you do want to, talk I mean, I'm here," Zuriel finishes awkwardly.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:38, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

Boreas nods.

You're right.  Best make sure nothing is waiting to surprise us.

He disappears into the foliage, making a quick but thorough search of the perimeter.

[Hide 12]
[Perception 30]

Lyriel nods, grateful for Zuriel's words, though they send a twinge through her as all mention of her brother does. Their walk has taken them almost to the doors of the stable. She looks up at him, and puts a hand on his arm to slow his stride. She takes a deep breath, wishing the air was more clear, before continuing.

My vision was set in the future. Sometime after we returned to Hae'driel. I had started investigating the circumstances surrounding my brother's death. Even at the time...they were suspicious, like the Church wasn't telling the whole story.

The last sentence tumbles out before Lyriel can stop herself, and she gasps, remembering to who she was speaking.

Goddess, that wasn't...please don't tell anybody.

Zuriel takes her hand in his, and smiles down at the cleric. "Lyriel, you know me better than that. I serve Tassada, through the church, but that doesn't mean I approve of everything the Church does. You can always speak freely with me."

My father though, is a different story...

Lyriel gives a faint smile back in acknowledgment, though it is short-lived. She shudders, trembling starting in her hands and radiating out to the rest of her body as she thinks on the rest of her vision.

But that's not the worst part. Earlier...when we were first in the Vault, after we defeated Cassie, I had a vision of Eldric's death. The official word is that he died in battle, ambushed by cultists at a temple his patrol was clearing behind Drynnian lines. But in the vision, he was shot...betrayed. He was shot full of crossbow bolts by somebody wearing a tabard of the Flame.

Her tremors worsen, threatening to overwhelm her with sobs.

In my second vision, Eldric was still alive. Or resurrected. He told me that he was the victim of a cover up, some foul play originate by the human noble house in Tris my father serves as adjutant to - House Mason. If this were true, it could start a civil war. But I buried him, Zuriel! He's...he's dead and gone. So the rest of the vision can't be true either, can it?

Tears begin to leak from the corners of her green eyes as she looks up at Zuriel, spilling down her cheek and into the forest green mantle that was her traveling glamor for the day.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:18, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

Zuriel pulls Lyriel into an embrace as the sobs wrack her body. She buries her head in his shoulder, and he holds her tightly, but his eyes are haunted, looking over the top of her head out into the woods.

A betrayal? By House Mason no less?! This can't be true... The implications were too horrible to consider. Such a conspiracy could tear the Empire apart.

As her trembling subsides, he disengages from the embrace and looks into her eyes. With a finger he brushes a lingering tear from her cheek, astonishing himself with the bold familiarity of the gesture. "I know Eldric is dead...I was there too, when we buried him." He gaze becomes distant as he thinks of that bitterly cold March funeral, leaden-gray clouds spreading icy sleet over the city.

He takes a breath to steady himself before continuing. "My vision was a mixture of truth and fabrication. Or, fabrication based on truth. I don't think things really occurred the way you saw in those visions. That place...wanted to test you. Perhaps even to wound you. But still, in order for the vision to strike home, there had to have been an element of truth..."

Zuriel considers the situation grimly, disturbed by the possibilities. He looks back down into Lyriel's eyes. "If you want to...we can begin posing questions to the Book of Answers. In my experience, the answers are often vague and only lead to more questions, but it might help us put this matter to rest. And your mind at ease."

The rest he leaves unsaid.

Or it might reveal a conspiracy that sets this continent ablaze in the fires of civil war...

The cleric goes silent, considering the offer. When it's clear she isn't going to immediately respond, Zuriel turns back to the stable barn door and pushes it open, one hand on his longsword.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 8):

Keef stays close to Maeve as they search the perimeter.

With the Everstaff stashed against his back, Keef holds Flametongue out in front of himself with both hands, threatening each shadow with it's might.  If one were to listen closely enough, one would hear Keef humming a war march to himself.

In reply to Keef (msg # 9):

Boreas returns from his perimeter scan without having found any signs of danger in the wilderness around the cabin.  The stable, too, looks much as you left it -- no worse for the wear, save a spotty layer of dust from disuse.

Crickets at their chirping to the nocturnal symphony that accompanies the forest's awakening from its day-long slumber, and the calling of birds and other animals soon join the chorus.

The cabin's windows remain boarded up and secured from the last time you stayed there, and the door is locked.  Though you attempt to unlock it using Baldwin's key, the door does not budge -- as though it was barred, from the inside.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:15, Tue 07 Jan 2014.