It is still pre-dawn as Midian, dressed in common clothes and wearing his vestments as an acolyte of the Temple of Donai, makes his way up the public stairs to the roof of the main Mithran Temple of Constantine.
Reaching the roof, he notes with some regret that there are only a few people gathered around the large—and always-burning—cremation bowl in its prominent position on the eastern side of the roof. He is well aware that his master, the Seeker Harlan, was not particularly well liked, even amongst those of the Temple, but surely someone with his record as a Seeker should be accorded with more respect in their passing into Donai's care than this.
Midian approaches the small group clustered around the eternal flame and his regret is somewhat assuage when he sees that, not only is Loremaster Unami from his own sect there, but also that it would seem that Dawnmaster Fazaar—the high priest of all Engle, dressed in his robes of cloth of gold—would also be officiating the ceremony; an honour afforded few indeed.
A figure approaches him from out of the darkness and he recognises one of his fellow apprentices—Basilly Cullen, a minor Stemian magus apprenticed to Seeker Lomani.
"Midian," begins Basilly in a formal manner, "May Donai make your master welcome. He did serve the Temple well."
[OOC: Please modify your equipment sheet as appropriate for someone attending a funeral in the presence of important people. Note, I have described him wearing his vestments.]
OOC: For the funeral, as noted Midian would wear common clothes and vestments, and as far as other items would only have brought small concealable items, likely two daggers and his set of thieves tools.
”Magus Basilly, Donai will take us all some day. For mortals we see this as a soul taken too soon,” Midian says. “I see it as a mentor taken too soon. He had so much more to teach, and I had so much more to learn.”
Midian is a young man with somewhat dark skin, showing his mixed race heritage, a man who could feasibly pass for a member of either of the predominant races of human in the region. He is clean shaven today, save for a small well manicured goatee and thin sideburn hair. His hair tends to be an unruly mess, but today he has it cut short.
He has features that seem just a bit over large for his face, and a sleepy looking set to his eyes. It is both a distinctive face and a forgettable one, as by design.
He observed the ceremonies without outward emotion, either a solemn respect for the proceedings or a man processing his shock at the events they signify. He seems set apart from it all, like an orphaned child, in the absence of his mentor.
Midian has the lanky appearance of many youth who have not grown into their bodies, so it is hard to gauge his training regimen from simple observation. At the moment, clad in common clothes and clerical vestments, he has the appearance of someone wearing clothes just a bit too baggy for their frame.
He typically sprawls comfortably in any scenario, like a thoughtless cat, but in the dour scenario of the funeral he moves as a man enervated, a bleakness weighing down his posture and his steps alike.
Midian is a young man with somewhat dark skin, showing his mixed race heritage, a man who could feasibly pass for a member of either of the predominant races of human in the region. He is clean shaven today, save for a small well manicured goatee and thin sideburn hair. His hair tends to be an unruly mess, but today he has it cut short.
He has features that seem just a bit over large for his face, and a sleepy looking set to his eyes. It is both a distinctive face and a forgettable one, as by design.
He observed the ceremonies without outward emotion, either a solemn respect for the proceedings or a man processing his shock at the events they signify. He seems set apart from it all, like an orphaned child, in the absence of his mentor.
[You might like to fill in Midian's description at some point (i.e., height, eye colour, hair colour, etc.), but I would recommend looking at the articles for the Sorian and Stemian races before doing so if you want to really have him look as he could be a member of either ethnic group.]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
OOC: For the funeral, as noted Midian would wear common clothes and vestments, and as far as other items would only have brought small concealable items, likely two daggers and his set of thieves tools.
”Magus Basilly, Donai will take us all some day. For mortals we see this as a soul taken too soon,” Midian says. “I see it as a mentor taken too soon. He had so much more to teach, and I had so much more to learn.”
"It is as you say," says Basilly with a slight bow. "Do you know what they have planned for you now?"
Before Midian can reply, an attendant priest of the Mithran sect claps his hands for attention and Midian and Basilly join the group near the cremation bowl where Midian now sees the body of his master wrapped tightly in its saffron-coloured burial wrappings lying on the slide that will deliver it into the flames.
More attendants in their orange ceremonial robes pour several ewers of oil into the large shallow bronze bowl in which the eternal flame flickers and no one in this group of about a dozen Temple insiders is surprised that the oil doesn't immediately cause an eruption of extra flames. Midian, being one of those insiders, is privy to the knowledge that the ever-burning flame in the bowl, while being truly eternal in nature, is a cold flame: a visual projection of Mithra's magnificence devoid of the killing heat that is also his to command.
Dawnmaster Fazaar in his cloth of gold robes takes his place at the altar and begins the death rites just as the first rays of Mithra's light sweep across the land. At the same time, Midian feels both the familiar Dawn Rush of Mithra's power and a flash of heat as the oil in the bowl is ignited by the Dawnmaster's power. Midian continues to watch, dry-eyed, as his master's body is slid into the bowl of burning oil and the specially prepared wrappings also catch fire with a bright flash to hasten the cremation process.
By the time the body is finally reduced to ash, dawn's light has made it easier to see just who it is who has attended the final rites of Midian's master; the numbers are not flattering.
As well as the Dawnmaster and the Loremaster—who took their leave almost immediately the ritual was over, no doubt to attend the Dawn Ceremony taking place in the Temple proper below— the only other people who are not a functionaries required by the ritual are Basilly and his female master, Seeker Lomani, and the elderly Seeker Venn, who is the leader of the Seekers for this Temple.
The tall figure of Seeker Lomani gives Midian a bow of acknowledgment before leading Basilly away.
Meanwhile, Seeker Venn approaches Midian carrying something in his hands.
"Voda," he says in introduction, presenting Midian with what looks like a candle covered by a metal cap. "Your master's wishes were that his light be passed to you."
As he says this, Seeker Venn removes the metal cap and Midian sees that it was covering a small eternal flame: a permanent display of Mithra's power over darkness.
[OOC: Make an Insight check please.]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Midian shrewdly regards the gift and the gesture itself, the man it is coming from, the leader of the seeker order, for any hidden significance or inference. Outwardly he remains the picture of an emotionally shell shocked man having witnessed a solemn event.
[OOC: Just checking. Can you now see more information on the World Anvil site? For example, the article on Seeker Venn (searches are the easiest way to find things)]
Seeker Venn is a slim, middle-aged Sorendenese man whose dark hair is starting to be peppered with gray. He has the beginnings of a patrician beard and dark continually moving eyes which miss nothing. From previous experience, Midian knows that Venn is an innate sorcerer with some limited mastery of ice magicks, but he is considered more of an investigator than a magus.
Midian is surprised both by Seeker Venn's words and that he is to be the recipient of Seeker Harlan's eternal flame. His master was a vainglorious man who had little time for Midian beyond what was absolutely necessary in the relationship between master and apprentice. He also preferred to spend his off-duty time womanising rather than providing pastoral care for his student.
Still, to be given the eternal flame of his master is a great honour.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Midian takes the sacred object with appropriate reverence.
“I am honored, Seeker Venn. If I might speak candidly, my mentor, Harlan, contributed a great deal to my own education, but I never thought he considered my training to be of special importance to him, just a duty of his. One he did well, mind you. I am just surprised that he would have asked that this be granted to me. Particularly when the nature of his death was sudden, death by violence. I wouldn’t have thought he would have reason to concern himself with where his sacred flame would go following his death, unless he somehow predicted his death in advance.”
"Walk with me Voda," says Seeker Venn. "I would like to get away from the stink of death this place has."
Venn leads Midian away to an area of the roof where a light breeze from the river is keeping the remnants of the smoke of Seeker Harlan's cremation at bay.
"You do your master credit with your loyalty, Voda," says the older man turning to look at Midian. "But I know full well that Harlan was not the best of mentors. And, truth be told, he had not made any provision as to who his eternal flame should be passed to... Giving it to you was my choice."
He then points at the capped candle holder in Midian's hand. "If you look at the base, you will see that that particular flame has belonged to several Seekers, and I thought it best that it remained in the Temple rather than get passed on to a relative of Harlan's who would not understand what it represents."
Reflexively, Midian turns the candle holder over and can see where four names in the cuneiform symbols of the Sorendenese language have been stamped into the metal.
"However," continues Seeker Venn, "you have not yet truly earned the flame of a Seeker, so I want you to consider this to be on loan to you until you have proved yourself by bringing to justice your mentor's killer."
Then, after a moment, he asks, "Do you accept the challenge, Apprentice Voda?"
[OOC: This is pretty heavy handed and you as a player shouldn't feel obliged to follow this storyline, but it is there if you want to. And of course, Midian could say one thing and then do something completely different. Also, could you confirm that you can see the 'homebrew rules' category on the World Anvil site.]
[Edit: I have changed the name of the eternal flame on Midian's character sheet.]
OOC: I noted the entries on Hero Points and experience gain based around failed skill checks followed by successful ones. Are there additional house rules or were those the ones you were referring to?
Midian seems intrigued by the prospect. “As you say, Harlan was not the most invested of mentors, but that did not make him without skill. Whoever managed to kill him likely poses some credible threat. These cultists are dangerous. I am not without pride in my skills, but frankly speaking, I am also not without care for my own life, Seeker Venn. What makes you think I can succeed where more seasoned agent, a vetted Seeker like Harlan, fell?”
"Harlan was arrogant," replies Venn harshly. "And kept most of his findings to himself until he was ready to grandstand the finale in a raid."
Then after a moment, "But you, on the other hand, should be more aware of your limitations, and be less willing to take risks. All I'm asking if that you find the perpetrators and tell us who they are, not bring them to justice. That will be a job for more than just a single person."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Without directly committing to take on the task, Midian makes additional inquiries.” “They say it was Arion worshippers who struck Harlan down. What can you tell me of these people? I would like to know a bit more about who I would be investigating before I commit to it. If Harlan was biting off more than he can chew, attempting a raid on his own, he made a grave miscalculation. One our order also suffers for, as he took whatever intelligence on this sect he had to the flames with him.”
OOC: Can Midian roll Religion to articulate his own theories or understanding of why the worshippers of Arion would be the enemies of his sect?
[OOC: Yes. Please make a Religion check. For the sake of experience, less than 5 will be considered a failure. For a success, the amount of information you get will be based on the amount of the roll.]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Without directly committing to take on the task, Midian makes additional inquiries.” “They say it was Arion worshippers who struck Harlan down. What can you tell me of these people? I would like to know a bit more about who I would be investigating before I commit to it. If Harlan was biting off more than he can chew, attempting a raid on his own, he made a grave miscalculation. One our order also suffers for, as he took whatever intelligence on this sect he had to the flames with him.”
In answer to Midian's question, Seeker Venn says, "Followers of Arion are endemic in the magus community—the worship of the first sorcerer gives those looking for easy power access to dangerous magick without the knowledge and experience required to properly control it."
He then turns to look out over the river in the direction of the King Oran III's palace on Palace Island.
After a moment, he adds, "As to who it was specifically behind the attack that killed Harlan... Our main suspect is a Gundian woman named Sarina. Neither she or her maid servant have been seen since the attack, which occurred in her room at an inn in the Scholar's Ward... However, if they did do this, they then apparently fled leaving some very incriminating evidence behind them... Which makes no sense, as Harlan's body was cold when it was found by the inn owner, so they would have had plenty of time to tidy up their tracks."
He then points at the king's palace and says, "The Dawnmaster and the Loremaster plan to petition the king to have other religions declared anathema in Constantine. Harlan's death and the mysteries surrounding the recent death of the warlord might sway him to act... However, I have my doubts. And I am a very much aware that we Sorendenese are very much in the minority in this country."
Turning back to Midian, he says, "It would help me greatly if you could follow this matter up so that any retribution that we might deliver will be at least aimed at the right people, with sufficient evidence of proof. Doing so will also prove you worthy of taking on the eternal flame of a full Seeker. Will you do this thing? I warn you, it is likely to be dangerous, and I would caution you to be very careful and that you should bring any information to directly to me, and only to me."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
[OOC: While the Sorendenese Empire is the largest political power in the local region, the Kingdom of Engle is its northern-most province and so is exposed to a number of different cultures, including that of the recently conquered Stemians, the indigenous people of the area. These cultures all have their own beliefs, many of which are at odds with the doctrine of the Mithran faith—the state religion of the empire.
Arion is something of a special case, seeing as he seems to appear in one form or another in all the cultures of the world of Magudonya. Called the first sorcerer by some, his teachings are seen by the Mithrans as a quick path to ungodly power and the Sorendenese Empire has problems in the past with cults of Arion followers, who deny the obvious proper place of Mithra as the supreme god.
Because of this history, the Temple takes great pains to try to put the worship of this god in a negative light whenever it can. Many of the other cultural organisations of the Sorendenese Empire also follow their example. For example, the royally funded School of Occult Studies, where the king himself provides patronage for those innate sorcerers who can't afford to pay for tuition, will expel students who become involved with the Arion cult.
To add to these suspicious nature, the Arion cult does not make the location of its temples and shrines public, preferring to recruit its members in secret. This makes it very hard to know just who is involved with these cults.]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
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It is still pre-dawn as Midian, dressed in common clothes and wearing his vestments as an acolyte of the Temple of Donai, makes his way up the public stairs to the roof of the main Mithran Temple of Constantine.
Reaching the roof, he notes with some regret that there are only a few people gathered around the large—and always-burning—cremation bowl in its prominent position on the eastern side of the roof. He is well aware that his master, the Seeker Harlan, was not particularly well liked, even amongst those of the Temple, but surely someone with his record as a Seeker should be accorded with more respect in their passing into Donai's care than this.
Midian approaches the small group clustered around the eternal flame and his regret is somewhat assuage when he sees that, not only is Loremaster Unami from his own sect there, but also that it would seem that Dawnmaster Fazaar—the high priest of all Engle, dressed in his robes of cloth of gold—would also be officiating the ceremony; an honour afforded few indeed.
A figure approaches him from out of the darkness and he recognises one of his fellow apprentices—Basilly Cullen, a minor Stemian magus apprenticed to Seeker Lomani.
"Midian," begins Basilly in a formal manner, "May Donai make your master welcome. He did serve the Temple well."
[OOC: Please modify your equipment sheet as appropriate for someone attending a funeral in the presence of important people. Note, I have described him wearing his vestments.]
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
OOC: For the funeral, as noted Midian would wear common clothes and vestments, and as far as other items would only have brought small concealable items, likely two daggers and his set of thieves tools.
”Magus Basilly, Donai will take us all some day. For mortals we see this as a soul taken too soon,” Midian says. “I see it as a mentor taken too soon. He had so much more to teach, and I had so much more to learn.”
Midian is a young man with somewhat dark skin, showing his mixed race heritage, a man who could feasibly pass for a member of either of the predominant races of human in the region. He is clean shaven today, save for a small well manicured goatee and thin sideburn hair. His hair tends to be an unruly mess, but today he has it cut short.
He has features that seem just a bit over large for his face, and a sleepy looking set to his eyes. It is both a distinctive face and a forgettable one, as by design.
He observed the ceremonies without outward emotion, either a solemn respect for the proceedings or a man processing his shock at the events they signify. He seems set apart from it all, like an orphaned child, in the absence of his mentor.
Midian has the lanky appearance of many youth who have not grown into their bodies, so it is hard to gauge his training regimen from simple observation. At the moment, clad in common clothes and clerical vestments, he has the appearance of someone wearing clothes just a bit too baggy for their frame.
He typically sprawls comfortably in any scenario, like a thoughtless cat, but in the dour scenario of the funeral he moves as a man enervated, a bleakness weighing down his posture and his steps alike.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"It is as you say," says Basilly with a slight bow. "Do you know what they have planned for you now?"
Before Midian can reply, an attendant priest of the Mithran sect claps his hands for attention and Midian and Basilly join the group near the cremation bowl where Midian now sees the body of his master wrapped tightly in its saffron-coloured burial wrappings lying on the slide that will deliver it into the flames.
More attendants in their orange ceremonial robes pour several ewers of oil into the large shallow bronze bowl in which the eternal flame flickers and no one in this group of about a dozen Temple insiders is surprised that the oil doesn't immediately cause an eruption of extra flames. Midian, being one of those insiders, is privy to the knowledge that the ever-burning flame in the bowl, while being truly eternal in nature, is a cold flame: a visual projection of Mithra's magnificence devoid of the killing heat that is also his to command.
Dawnmaster Fazaar in his cloth of gold robes takes his place at the altar and begins the death rites just as the first rays of Mithra's light sweep across the land. At the same time, Midian feels both the familiar Dawn Rush of Mithra's power and a flash of heat as the oil in the bowl is ignited by the Dawnmaster's power. Midian continues to watch, dry-eyed, as his master's body is slid into the bowl of burning oil and the specially prepared wrappings also catch fire with a bright flash to hasten the cremation process.
By the time the body is finally reduced to ash, dawn's light has made it easier to see just who it is who has attended the final rites of Midian's master; the numbers are not flattering.
As well as the Dawnmaster and the Loremaster—who took their leave almost immediately the ritual was over, no doubt to attend the Dawn Ceremony taking place in the Temple proper below— the only other people who are not a functionaries required by the ritual are Basilly and his female master, Seeker Lomani, and the elderly Seeker Venn, who is the leader of the Seekers for this Temple.
The tall figure of Seeker Lomani gives Midian a bow of acknowledgment before leading Basilly away.
Meanwhile, Seeker Venn approaches Midian carrying something in his hands.
"Voda," he says in introduction, presenting Midian with what looks like a candle covered by a metal cap. "Your master's wishes were that his light be passed to you."
As he says this, Seeker Venn removes the metal cap and Midian sees that it was covering a small eternal flame: a permanent display of Mithra's power over darkness.
[OOC: Make an Insight check please.]
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Insight Roll: 6
Midian shrewdly regards the gift and the gesture itself, the man it is coming from, the leader of the seeker order, for any hidden significance or inference. Outwardly he remains the picture of an emotionally shell shocked man having witnessed a solemn event.
[OOC: Just checking. Can you now see more information on the World Anvil site? For example, the article on Seeker Venn (searches are the easiest way to find things)]
Seeker Venn is a slim, middle-aged Sorendenese man whose dark hair is starting to be peppered with gray. He has the beginnings of a patrician beard and dark continually moving eyes which miss nothing. From previous experience, Midian knows that Venn is an innate sorcerer with some limited mastery of ice magicks, but he is considered more of an investigator than a magus.
Midian is surprised both by Seeker Venn's words and that he is to be the recipient of Seeker Harlan's eternal flame. His master was a vainglorious man who had little time for Midian beyond what was absolutely necessary in the relationship between master and apprentice. He also preferred to spend his off-duty time womanising rather than providing pastoral care for his student.
Still, to be given the eternal flame of his master is a great honour.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Midian takes the sacred object with appropriate reverence.
“I am honored, Seeker Venn. If I might speak candidly, my mentor, Harlan, contributed a great deal to my own education, but I never thought he considered my training to be of special importance to him, just a duty of his. One he did well, mind you. I am just surprised that he would have asked that this be granted to me. Particularly when the nature of his death was sudden, death by violence. I wouldn’t have thought he would have reason to concern himself with where his sacred flame would go following his death, unless he somehow predicted his death in advance.”
"Walk with me Voda," says Seeker Venn. "I would like to get away from the stink of death this place has."
Venn leads Midian away to an area of the roof where a light breeze from the river is keeping the remnants of the smoke of Seeker Harlan's cremation at bay.
"You do your master credit with your loyalty, Voda," says the older man turning to look at Midian. "But I know full well that Harlan was not the best of mentors. And, truth be told, he had not made any provision as to who his eternal flame should be passed to... Giving it to you was my choice."
He then points at the capped candle holder in Midian's hand. "If you look at the base, you will see that that particular flame has belonged to several Seekers, and I thought it best that it remained in the Temple rather than get passed on to a relative of Harlan's who would not understand what it represents."
Reflexively, Midian turns the candle holder over and can see where four names in the cuneiform symbols of the Sorendenese language have been stamped into the metal.
"However," continues Seeker Venn, "you have not yet truly earned the flame of a Seeker, so I want you to consider this to be on loan to you until you have proved yourself by bringing to justice your mentor's killer."
Then, after a moment, he asks, "Do you accept the challenge, Apprentice Voda?"
[OOC: This is pretty heavy handed and you as a player shouldn't feel obliged to follow this storyline, but it is there if you want to. And of course, Midian could say one thing and then do something completely different. Also, could you confirm that you can see the 'homebrew rules' category on the World Anvil site.]
[Edit: I have changed the name of the eternal flame on Midian's character sheet.]
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
OOC: I noted the entries on Hero Points and experience gain based around failed skill checks followed by successful ones. Are there additional house rules or were those the ones you were referring to?
Midian seems intrigued by the prospect. “As you say, Harlan was not the most invested of mentors, but that did not make him without skill. Whoever managed to kill him likely poses some credible threat. These cultists are dangerous. I am not without pride in my skills, but frankly speaking, I am also not without care for my own life, Seeker Venn. What makes you think I can succeed where more seasoned agent, a vetted Seeker like Harlan, fell?”
"Harlan was arrogant," replies Venn harshly. "And kept most of his findings to himself until he was ready to grandstand the finale in a raid."
Then after a moment, "But you, on the other hand, should be more aware of your limitations, and be less willing to take risks. All I'm asking if that you find the perpetrators and tell us who they are, not bring them to justice. That will be a job for more than just a single person."
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Without directly committing to take on the task, Midian makes additional inquiries.” “They say it was Arion worshippers who struck Harlan down. What can you tell me of these people? I would like to know a bit more about who I would be investigating before I commit to it. If Harlan was biting off more than he can chew, attempting a raid on his own, he made a grave miscalculation. One our order also suffers for, as he took whatever intelligence on this sect he had to the flames with him.”
OOC: Can Midian roll Religion to articulate his own theories or understanding of why the worshippers of Arion would be the enemies of his sect?
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Religion check: 19
In answer to Midian's question, Seeker Venn says, "Followers of Arion are endemic in the magus community—the worship of the first sorcerer gives those looking for easy power access to dangerous magick without the knowledge and experience required to properly control it."
He then turns to look out over the river in the direction of the King Oran III's palace on Palace Island.
After a moment, he adds, "As to who it was specifically behind the attack that killed Harlan... Our main suspect is a Gundian woman named Sarina. Neither she or her maid servant have been seen since the attack, which occurred in her room at an inn in the Scholar's Ward... However, if they did do this, they then apparently fled leaving some very incriminating evidence behind them... Which makes no sense, as Harlan's body was cold when it was found by the inn owner, so they would have had plenty of time to tidy up their tracks."
He then points at the king's palace and says, "The Dawnmaster and the Loremaster plan to petition the king to have other religions declared anathema in Constantine. Harlan's death and the mysteries surrounding the recent death of the warlord might sway him to act... However, I have my doubts. And I am a very much aware that we Sorendenese are very much in the minority in this country."
Turning back to Midian, he says, "It would help me greatly if you could follow this matter up so that any retribution that we might deliver will be at least aimed at the right people, with sufficient evidence of proof. Doing so will also prove you worthy of taking on the eternal flame of a full Seeker. Will you do this thing? I warn you, it is likely to be dangerous, and I would caution you to be very careful and that you should bring any information to directly to me, and only to me."
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
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Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.