The walk to the church is short, just requiring you to walk up the wide road to the castle's quarter where most of the nobles resides. As with most of the Ghostwalk's buildings, Metrosan's church is a solid cathedral, able to serve as defensive strong point if needed.

Getting an audience with the churches' captain is also simple, just requiring you to flash your guild's mark to identify yourself. You're left in a spartan office for a few minutes, until an armored man enters the room. "Hail! You must be Sir Gorrid." The man walks up to Gorrid to shake his hand. "I understand you've joined the Phoenix Blades?"

Sir Gorrid nodded.  "It seemed it was time to try a different challenge.  So far, it seems to be working out well...

I understand you've come into a bit of a problem?"

Spriggy had never been in this cathedral before, and looked up at the grand architecture with the appropriate amount of awe. When the officer came in and began talking with Gorrid, Spriggy was content to stand at the side to listen and observe. When Gorrid mentioned the "problem" though, Spriggy couldn't help but mouth the word "scythe" and made the motion of swinging one. Just in case the officer wasn't entirely clear about the purpose of their visit.

Buck couldn't help but compare the cathedral's stonework to that of the magnificent dwarfen complex they had managed to escape from not long ago. After a thorough scan as they made their way to the office he quietly fumbled with something within a pocket inside his cloak, and when everyone seemed preoccupied with Sir Gorrid greeting the Captain he popped a small piece of the hard sugar candy Russel had stashed in the cart into his mouth.

Leila followed the others to the church. On tue way a squirrel jumped from a near by tree in to her shoulder. Surprised at first, she then offered him a few seeds from her pouch that hung from her waist. He chated with her for the few strides towadrs the church. Then he bounced off back in to the trees.

Leila stood outside the massive structure. Admiring the great stone work. Befor she walked in side. She stayed quiet as the Captian and Sir Gorrid greted each other.

"I'm afraid we do..." The captain takes a seat, and invites you to do the same. "First, I'm captain Eberley. It's an honor to meet you.

Last month, a patrol went beyond the lighting stones, to the ice fields far in the North-West. A small barbarian town named Tonnsborg sent word of strange black ice. Apparently, some frost folks claimed they had spread it, but despite said folks being chased off by adventurers, the ice still remains."

Sir Gorrid ensured his companions had a seat before taking one himself.  He was happy enough to remain standing.  "The poster mentioned something about a scythe?"

Leila looks puzzled. "What problem does this black ice cause? Strange as it is, ice is still just ice. Is it not?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Wed 24 May 2023.

"Some of us have actually encountered this black ice before," Spriggy replied to Leula, but loud enough that the captain and the others could hear as well. "We helped the citizens of Tonnsborg too. Frost folk were trying to enslave them. The frost folk's shaman claimed that the black ice was a gift from their god, but I believe they were mistaken. At least in part. The ice felt... deeper. More... primal. It is difficult to explain."

---

Here are some old quotes of what Spriggy knows about black ice, for easy reference:

Buck nods thankfully at Spriggy's interjection. Having never been near Tonnsborg, Buck wonders if satisfying his curiosity is worth the discomfort of the cold environ. His eyes stray from the speakers as he sits back and thinks on what little he's heard of the frost folk.

"So you're the ones who fought the Frost folks?" Eberley nods in approval. "Well, when our patrol headed farther, they found an ancient temple. One built out of black ice. Our soldiers couldn't tell how long ago it was last used, and the cold was too severe for them to remain long. So they left after taking the only thing they could carry. A scythe made of ice that seemed to radiate dark energy."

The captain sighs. "We've been trying to break it, exorcising it, melting it... The cursed thing seems unbreakable. At this point, we're pretty much out of ideas. We considered asking the Mage's guild, but we're worried they'll be more interested in discovering how to replicate the damned thing instead of destroying it."

"Have you gained any insights into who made it or the temple or what deity the temple is likely associated with?  Does the scythe have any affect on those who carry it or those near it?"

It seemed likely that this particular task would involve more research than fighting, but that was ok.  There would undoubtedly be threats that he could defend his companions against.  And perhaps Gianam would offer him some insights...

Eberley shakes his head. "We think it may be linked to Sedna... but it's more of a guess, based on where it was found. Truth is, even the Ghostwalk says it's too old to identify. And the temple itself offer little information. We've sent other teams there, but they've been unable to locate it again.

As for side effects, we placed divine seals on the weapon. We can't tell if the seals ar working or if the scythe has no dangerous aura, but none of the guards have reported strange thoughts or acted in weird ways."

Spriggy listened with interest and was already brainstorming several avenues of exploration they might want to look into. However, first he asked, "I don't suppose we can have a look at the scythe, can we? Spells and magicks happen to be a specialty of mine, so I may be able to recognize a clue or two upon close examination."

Not really sure how she can contribute at this time, Leila sits in silence and listens. Takes a mental note: the scythe has been found. Looking f,or a way to destroy it. "if it does not DO anything why does it need to be destroyed? Perhaps it is when it is wielded, it does something?" she spoke out loud, but quietly, to herself.

"Of course. The Scythe is stored in a fort outside of the city. It will take a few hours to reach it. As for why we want to destroy it... I'll let you judge for yourself."

Eberley leads you to one of the churches rafts. It follows the northern branches of the river, leading to a small fort on the flanks of the Sunrise Reach. The Captain leads you inside, down into a series of secure vaults. Many of the doors have multiple locks, magical seals, and various sigils on them.

You're stopped at a door with two guards, who salute Eberley before opening the door. Inside, standing in the center of a protective circle, is the scythe you've seen on the poster, complete with the threatening fog surrounding it. The weapon seems made entirely of black ice, that seems to suck up the light surrounding it. Despite being the right size to be wielded by a man, something about it feels... big. Like the space it takes in front of you was merely the tip of a threatening iceberg, who's true depths you can't phantom.

"Has anyone actually touched it?  Has it caused any effects other than looking ominous?"

Buck hangs back at the door of the vault, eyes trained on the peculiar item. Thankfully Gorrid has already open both lines of inquiry Buck is most curious to know so Buck doesn't have to interact with strangers.

The answer to Gorrid's question would determine how close Spriggy got, but regardless, the bard moved in as closely as he dared in order to examine the tainted relic. He called upon his vast knowledge of near-forgotten tales in order to piece together any clues he could from the weapon in front of them. He did his best to fathom its unfathomable depths. He shared what, if anything, he could conclude from his observations.

---

I would like to use my Bardic Lore on the scythe. Hypothetically, I could outright ask how to destroy the scythe, but that doesn't sound like any fun. So instead I will ask, "What magicks does this scythe possess?"

"A few volunteers touched it, after being appropriately blessed, and showed no obvious harm. And we've seen no other..."

"Um... Captain?" A priest walks in, looking a bit embarrassed. "I have not yet had time to report this to you but... The seals in the vault seems to decay abnormally fast since this artifact was brought here. I cannot say for certain that it is the cause, but I would still recommend moving it somewhere else as soon as practical."

Eberley frowns at this comment. "And it wasn't noticed before now?"

"Well, we do regularly monitor the state of all our seals. And they weaken at a variable rate even at the best of time. But since that scythe was brought in, their lifespan has been shorter across the board..."

As the two priest talk, Spriggy walks around the item, looking at it from all angles. Even a short glance is enough to tell how unnaturally sharp it is. Had it been a normal weapon, it would be on par with a surgical knife. And with the magic permeating this thing, there's no telling what it could cut.
You recognize the ice as Essential Ice, a form of matter in it's purest form. To your knowledge, nothing short of Essential Fire could melt something like that... but considering that's it's also black ice, it may be protected from that.
As for the oppressive feeling it gives out... you're reminded of summoning rituals gone wrong. As though something was seeking a way into your reality, and the scythe is enter a key to open it's way... or the tip of it's toe, poking in.

"Are we talking about seals failing in hours, days or weeks?"

With guards engaged in a new discussion about the seals, Buck decides to do some investigation of his own. He heads back the way the group came in and sizes up one of the large sealed doors. He is sure these vaults have seen many things but hopes this most recent and powerful occupant has left some tell-tale impressions.

Buck steps close to the heavy door and carefully traces the largest of the arcane symbols with his thumb, slowly following its arcs in one long and snaking continuous path.

Buckthorn rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,2.  Communion Of Whispers

Leila follows suit. Studies the scythe, with her eyes, not getting to close. " can some one tell me more about this blackice. I just know so little"

"Curious," Spriggy commented after his investigation. To Eberley, he asked, "Were you aware that this weapon is made of Essential Ice? Basically the purest elemental ice you can get. Normally Essential Fire would be needed to melt such ice. However, considering this is also black ice, even that may not do the trick. Maybe Essential Sunlight?" Spriggy wasn't even sure that that was a thing. He would need to consult his books in a little while. Right now though, he tried to answer Leila's question first.

"Black ice is more or less like regular ice, except... deeper. It has more... depth. It's ice, but... eldritch? Ugh. I don't know if I have the words to properly explain it. And keep in mind I am not sure I even properly understand it myself. I just know that when I examine this scythe closely, I can feel what I am attempting to explain. It is like this scythe is a key that can unlock a floodgate. or like it is the toe of some great beast already poking into our realm." Spriggy shook his head in an attempt to shake the horrible implications of such a thing out of his mind. "Regardless, I believe it is imperative that we find a way to succeed in this current mission."