In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 80):

Giles is disappointed to find that the vast majority of the half dozen or so larger tombs are so weathered that he can find few details on them...though he notes that one of them has been disturbed some time in the last few years, the covering slab is shifted slightly off centre.

On a few of the simpler Selentine era graves he does find some remaining details and indeed discovers the original grave from which the rubbing in the temple was taken.

Others bear partial details which are hard to make out but one bears an almost full inscription:

“To the Spirits of the Dead
He served for 22 years.
Lucius Tusidius Sabinianus, son of Lucius, from the Velina tribe,
A soldier in the 7th Praetorian cohort under Drajan,
His recruit,
Made this [inscription] for the well-deserving man.”

Colm indicates the grave inscribed in Bacchile, 'Sir Guillame De Movan, Chaubretton Ambassador to Glissom'

"There lies an old friend.  A man of vision and optimism, you would have liked him.  His loss was a terrible blow to Glissom and me personally."

Colm then nods to the disturbed tomb.  "Kores entered the tomb a couple years ago, seeking knowledge of the long dead.  He is obsessed with speaking with demons and gaining their power.  There is a sizeable chamber beneath the cover stone.  He went inside and invoked the Selentine Spirits...  The people know he is mad and avoid him.  Staying in his shop is one of the safest places in the city.

Kores is quite mad, but if you can focus his attention and harness his ability, he can be a powerful ally.  I swore to Brigantia a long time ago, that when the evil consumes him beyond all sanity, I would be the one to purge the evil from him."  Colm looks sternly into the distance.

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 83):

Giles focusses his attention on the near full inscription - can he make out a date? (His purpose here was to learn if any of the 13th returned and perhaps pick up leads that can be explored at Temple library or elsewhere).

"An envoy from Chaubrette you say? Have you ever been there? One day I hope to travel hence".

When the conversation turns to Kores a look of concern and doubt crosses Giles' face.
"I had put aside thoughts of Kores on this matter as you had assured me he was not a demonologist - yet here you tell me of dark rituals performed and gaining the power of demons! My master Brother Aelfric has braved his soul in learning all that is safe for a man to know to combat these forces and those who would bring them into this world... please understand, this is no small matter for me but indeed tests my faith and learning. Is Kores irredeemably lost? is he possessed at present? I may seem young and naieve but know that I have, with Aelfric, put the torch to dark cults before - I have seen what the demon taint can do and seen people reduced to puppets of their bloodthirsty will....Pray confirm to me now friend that Kores takes his path to combat these demons and not cavort with them! If it is the latter I think it is time that I decamped from your lodgings - the peril is too great for me to endure and the compulsion to act against it too strong..."

Anticipating the worst Giles gives thought to venturing to the north alone - wondering whether he might be able to locate Fabius with the "pursuit" spell that has worked so well for him in the past.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:58, Mon 04 Nov 2019.

Giles cannot make out a date but he is relatively certain that the inscription is of an age with similar graves Giles has found in southern Albion, dating from near the end of Selentine reign in Ellesland.

Colm looks at Giles as if he is an annoying puppy dog chewing on his best shoe. "What I said is true, Brother."  The glare is but an instant, and Colm's face returns to its usual calm visage.  "It is my belief that Kores wants to be much more than he is.  He is delusional, fixated, paranoid and considered by most people to be mad and best avoided.  If he were a Demonologist, surely there would be physical and supernatural signs to show it!  As I have just asserted, should it prove to be, I will deal with it.  Kores has served well and deserves some respect and dignity."

Colm's mood lightens, and he adopts a more optimistic tone. "Now that we have finished the potions, we have no reason to stay here.  I will be returning to my apartment and you are welcome to join me.  For his considerable help with the potions, I have invited Kores on the expedition.  Kores will be an excellent resource, carefully managed by myself, and is another example of my inclusiveness and tolerance"

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 86):

Giles sits and cradles his head in his hands in an attempt to avert the onset of a migraine arising out of the incompatibility of his training with the new knowledge he has to process.
"Please understand me Finan I am familiar with the many states of madness and ailments of the mind that can lay low a man. I have seen some make there way back to lucidity with careful nursing and guidance. I am not so simple as to think these are all the product of curses and impiety though at the same time have seen manias break out by the doings of hell spawn which dissipated when the source of the injury was exterminated.

Were you speaking now with my nephew who is a Capellar the matter would be beyond dispute and Kores' days be in short supply. I have seen your management of him and extraction of useful work so will accept his mind is still his own and that he is not forsaken. You have clearly known him for some time and such an arrangement has worked well for you.

I am keen to accompany you on the expedition north as discussed and accept that I am a newcomer and must bow to the will of the group such as it is. I practice tolerance, believe me I try but familiar as I am with the fickle arts of demons and their ability to turn brothers against each other know this -  if I were to witness or become aware of traffic with demons I needs must part ways with you and Kores for my own safety and either head back or continue on alone as the case may present itself."

Gathering himself back to his feet he attempts to lighten the mood:
"This outing has given me a new lead - I will head over to the Temple library to make enquiries about this Lucius Tusidius Sabinianus - who may have returned from the north with a tale of his own to tell"

<Orange>OOP: Am hoping this doesn't put too much of a dampener on events unfolding - just trying to role-play Giles accurately. Obviously group harmony is what it is all about so maybe his outbursts are best viewed as immaturity or lack of worldliness?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Tue 12 Nov 2019.

OOC:

Reminders and queries:

40% chance for each potion that it is in some way defective.

What was the purpose behind the northern expedition again?

OOC - 40% is BETTER than I was expecting, thanks :o)

Going North to find artefacts and gold to fund the War Chest?  Possibly to recruit some Reiver Clans?  This may have been me subconsciously knowing we were going anyway?  Also ties in with Kores, Giles, and Colm's character Arcs too.  This is s a great opportunity to complete Kores character arc too (kill him off)!

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 89):

When the opportunity arises Giles will head over to the Temple library to make enquiries about this Lucius Tusidius Sabinianus

Giles finds it difficult to learn much more about the man, indeed there seems little interest among those who recorded the history or rather transcribed older sources in preserving much of the Selentine legacy at all. He does discover another piece of writing bearing the name which seems to be a receipt or order for a dozen barrels of uisce beatha.

In reply to GM (msg # 91):

Mildly annoyed that this line of reasoning has led nowhere, Giles makes enquiries about the Lost City of Nem...

The library attendants with whom Giles enquiries about the City of Nem give him the distinct impression that he is not wanted there any more.

In reply to GM (msg # 93):

Giles takes the hint and departs and, having exhausted his leads for now, makes his way over to the burnt out chapel to assess whether the foundations can be built on once more.

Giles inspection of the burnt out building reveals that it was probably a storefront of some sort before it was converted into a small chapel, most of the stone is intact but the roof has fully collapsed and the interior is reduced to charred ash.

In reply to GM (msg # 95):

Travelling back to the apothecary Giles remarks on his findings with regards to the chapel to Finan, keen to try to move on from the stern words exchanged at the cemetery. He will try to engage Kores in conversation when the chance allows - along the theme of the previous priests that have passed through Glissom - and Kores' view's on what they might have done differently to avoid the attention of the Scorchers.

Giles eventually gets Kores to acknowledge his presence though the tall, strange man refers to him as Tobias a couple of times as well as Dann and Guillame....

On the subject of previous priests he nods and mutters about a Father Jacob, " got scared, moved to the country." and a Brother Jacob, " killed by those fire-worshippers"

" Do different? Do different....don't build in Scorcher territory....up hill is better..but Father Jacob liked the poor....don't know why...whats the point of them...can't even read..can't record knowledge...may as well not live at all...may as well be fuel for those who want to learn...for those with the will to do what must be done..."

He became agitated and grabbed Giles by the shoulders a little foam on his lips, " We must learn all that they know...those that lurk in dark...in the shadow...in the pit!  Only by knowing what they know can we elevate man to his true place above all else!!"

In reply to Kores Varias (msg # 97):

Giles tries hard to appear untroubled by Kores' intense ranting.

He forces a smile and attempts to ease Kores' hands from his shoulders.
"But will they teach aught that they know, friend? Lies and false promises surely are the only coin they deal in - or if I am wrong, be so kind as to share with me something of value that you have pryed from their kind?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:55, Tue 26 Nov 2019.

" I know of the Lost Legion. The men that came from far Selentium to die. They crossed into the forest borders heading north, they lost some of their number beneath the trees and others died within Shaders Pit, the others ventured onwards north into the Bracks and were lost."

" No...wait....that was the Elf.....from the Artisan...I learned...I have forgotten...from the earthly form of Shader I learned to draw knowledge from the skulls of men...and I learned that flame burns flesh as well as paper...I learned death and loss from the wretches that took my family down into hell...."

He released Giles and turned sharply banging his head against the wall...

In reply to Kores Varias (msg # 99):

Giles seeks to wet a cloth and place it around Kores' forehead in the hope to calm him and prevent further self-inflicted damage.
 to Kores 'I am sorry friend to have brought back past pains. Speak more if it helps though, get it all out - bring it in to the open where the devil-kind are weakest. What is this you say - all of the Legion were lost in the Bracks? You can read memories from skulls..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:18, Thu 28 Nov 2019.

In reply to Giles (msg # 100):

OOP: Giles starts to wonder if the planned expedition has been so delayed that he should consider heading back south to the Monastery....

OOC: Yeah...sorry about that, took a bit longer than expected, but they're on their way now.

Colm has carefully planned and sourced his equipment for the up and coming expedition - Arms, Armour, Potions, etc.  Some of these have taken weeks to assemble.  Has Giles done the same?  Id the Monk fully prepared for most situations?

In reply to Colm Cernach (msg # 103):

Giles has limited coin to spare on new arms, armour or potions - though he has invested in warm weather gear and sturdy boots in anticipation of icy conditions ahead. His arms and armour such as they are will have to do. He will put his hand up to carry anything that helps the group.

In reply to Giles (msg # 104):

All Aboard the Spring Festival thread!