How The Wicked Fall - Chapter 7

Raven, Natty, Wynne, and Richard stand outside the large wharehouse, holding the candlesticks that have caused so much grief to obtain, and which may yet cause even more grief. The sun shines brightly down upon the group, illuminating all but your hearts. A few minutes later, an ashen-faced but grim and determined Joran steps from the wharehouse. He is wiping his blade, and upon it lies a black ichor, ugly in the bright sunlight. He quickly cleans it, and sticks it back into it's scabbard.
You all know with a certain finality that the deed is done. And the brightness of the light seems to mock you even more for it. But...it couldn't be helped, could it?
As one, your gaze falls upon the candlesticks, and the thought that you must bring these back to Wick tonight enters your mind. It is only noon however, so what shall you decide to do until the night falls?

Richard looks from Joran's face to the candlesticks, then back to Joran.
"I think I'm..."
He falls to his knees and vomits in the street.

"Perhaps we should put those candlesticks in a bag or something, so people won't see them as we walk back to Wick's place."

Raven Huddles close To the warehouse, trying to get as far out of the sun as possable. He's wearing a pair of red-tinted glasses.
"I can take care of the candlestick, but I think before we visit Wick we should see that our souls are put at ease. I say that we drop in on Mr. Dryeth for some "high tea"." Raven emphasises his point by gripping the candlestick even tighter when he mentions Dryeth's name.

"Why? We have no proof he is involved.
Dyreth is powerful. Influential. He has nothing to fear."
Joran squats down, his head resting on his hands, eyes downcast.
"What do you want to do? Attack him as we did Horstman? Much good THAT did."

Joran is downcast, and currently without ideas. It's obvious he would like to destroy the candlesticks at the first opportunity - here and now, if possible.

Richard agrees with that. "How should we go about it?"

"Destroying the sticks could release forces that we could not control. Perhaps we should return to Wick and show him the candlesticks and observe his response. Perhaps he will know the the Proper way to despose of these candlesticks?"

"When should we meet with Wick?"

"as soon as possible I would think."

"I agree, I think Wick could best help us in this matter."

"Lets move on, I do not want to be out with the candlesticks after nightfall. Joran, why don't you take the lead and I'll take rear guard."

Joran shrugs.
"Well... staying here certainly won't help.
I don't know if I can find my way back to Wick's place. Let's just check our Inn first, right?"
He rises.

I admit, I will be good to take a load off of our feet. It feels like we've been standing here for months.

Wynne is still visibly shaken over the whole ordeal. He wrestles in his mind over today's events, not knowing what is real and what isn't. Cade? Dyreth? The dead children? The "visions" he sees as memories become as a fading dream. So real at the time, but now they are suspect.
Though not long at all, it seems much time has passed since last he spoke. The words croak out of a parched throat.
"Wherever you guys decide to go is fine with me..."

"We still have the afternoon before we meet Wick this evening. We could use it to rest." Joran looks at Wynne as if he is some kid to watch over. "However... we could also visit a cleric to see what they can tell us about the candles, though I am stumped for one that would be able to tell us anything.:

I know not about the rest of you, but the sun is realy begining to bother me. I would like to rest for the afternoon in the inn... with the shades drawn.

"Perhaps Joram and I could go to the priest and the rest go to the inn. I am intrested in finding out more on these candlesticks as well."

"That sounds like a good plan to me."

Raven & Richard strike off to the Inn, intent on finding shelter and rest before what may very well be some strange events tonight. Joran, Natty, and Wynne instead turn to finding a temple.
There is a large temple present in Martira Bay, you have seen it in your travels and questions about the city. It is dedicated to something called "The Eternal Order." Apparently, they are vehemently opposed to the undead, but more than that you are not 100% sure about. The temple lies about a 15 minute walk from where you are.

Eager for any way to get the questions out of his mind, Wynne concentrates on the task at hand: dealing with the candlesticks. He shifts his pack on his small form and runs his fingers through his hair. Nodding to himself, he sets his feet toward the church...
"Time is wasting!" he says.

Joran follows behind.
"I don't know much about the Order", he sais. "Except for the rumors that they told us in Lekar - but I don't think you want to hear those. They aren not flattering. In Falkovnia, nothing of Darkon make ever is..."

Natty Follows Joran and Wynne to the temple.

Raven heads back to the Inn, where he hopes to rest and meditate on the days events. Also, after a quick rest Raven plans to check out the Inn's common room and see if there are any stories going around that might be related to the candlestick situation.

Using his skills (and spending a suitable amount of time) he learns that a valuable item was apparently stolen from one of the ships in the harbor, the Bountiful. What the item was isn't sure, but there is rumor that it's owner is seeking it quite strongly.
Also, the attacks of the undead are becoming more frequent. The priests of the Eternal Order are preaching even more persistantly that the Hour of Ascension is at hand, that the dead will rise to reclaim the land of the living. They are also going to even more lengths to fight the undead however, along with the city constabulary and the Harbour Watch (in the Waterfront District).

The city is divided into eight quadrants; the Waterfront, West District, Guild Quarter, North District, Merchant Quarter (where the Marketplace is), East District, Government Square (where Government Hall is), and the South District.
The Waterfront is self-explanatory; West District is home to the slums; Guild Quarter is where most skilled workers are; North District is home to wharehouses and mills (and where you eventually found the candlesticks); Merchant Quarter is where most people buy most things; Government Square is where most city buildings are located; East District is for the wealthier citizens (and where Stefan Dyreth's manor is located); and South District is where the middle-class live.
The city is home to 10,400 souls and due to it being a major port it has a lot of different races in it. Elves, Dwarves, and other demihumans are not an uncommon sight on the roads. The city is ruled by Lady Mayor Reldkasen.
The Inn is located in the Merchant's Quarter.

Continuing on, the Temple of the Eternal Order comes into a view. It is an opposing sight, a large gray edifice with skulls and skeletons carved into it's facade. Not many people seem to be hanging about the entryway, but it's doors stand open all the same. A set of stairs leads upwards into the chapel, and the interior seems to be dark but with flickering shadows revealing the pressence of candlelight. There are a number of stained glass windows, all presenting pictures of an old man holding a sickle and slashing at various skeletal appendages that are rising from the ground beneath him.
Entering into the temple, you can see a man in a dark robe tending to the altar at the far end of the room. He turns as you approach, and you can see a large scar upon his cheek, ruining what might have once been a handsome face.
He speaks to you, his voice a deep baritone, seeming to match his robes,
"And just what can the Eternal Order do for you penitent souls today?"

Wynne lets out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding as he sets foot into the holy temple. The stained glass windows, showing the harvesting and defeat of the undead, does much to help him recover from the day's ordeal. He looks around, wondering if this place will set off the strange visions he's been having lately. As they approach the man in the dark robe, Wynne looks at him in curiosity, finding his voice and appearance both disturbing and fatherly at the same time.
He glances at Joran, confering to him the right to begin the conversation with the human.

Joran turns to Wynne, whispering. "Raven still has the sticks, doesn't he? I knew we would forget something important..."
He smiles at the priest, not entirely sure what to believe of this temple. It didn't look very cheerful. But priests hardly ever did.
"We have a question regarding... well. Regarding the dead.
I don't really know how to put it.
A friend of us has come to possess a strange... item. One that seems to hold a fascination to the dead, or the unliving, actually.
We hoped to find some priestly advise as to what to do with it... and maybe some lore on what it is."

Wynne rolls his eyes as Joran whispers to him. Bringing the candlesticks with them slipped his mind also.
In total support, Wynne nods to Joran's statements, and adds, "Yes, have you heard of such a thing?"

An item that attracts the undead you say? Such a creation would be a blasphemy, and could only be forged with the dark necromantic magic of the Gray Realm itself! I would strongly suggest that you bring this "item" of yours to this temple, that we may dispose of it! The Hour of Ascension may be at hand mortals, and we must do everything in our power to halt the dead from rising and reclaiming this land from the living! By destroying your artifact, we shall appease the gods of Death, and they shall forstay the Hour a little longer!
As to lore of the item, well until I know more about it, I cannot tell you anything.

"The item is not with us, now, though in the safe hands of a friend. I can describe it for you. They are candlesticks, adorned with winged women, like demones form the depths of hell, very life like. There are dark red candles on them, with white tallow.
They look very evil... I agree we should destroy them, but we have no clue how..."

"I don't care WHO destroys them, as long as it gets done. They give me the creeps... for more than one reason.
But I would like to be sure and be present when it happens, you'll understand that.
Maybe we can return here later, but for now we need any information you can give us."

"Wynne turns to Joran. "We would like nothing else but to get rid of them. Things of such obvious evil - I fear they may have a corrupting influence. Should we retrieve them...perhaps talk to our friend about this? We just have to be careful who gets their hands on them..."

"I would like to watch the candle sticks be destroyed so that I can be sure in my heart that this evil is gone."

"Hmmm..." The dark-robed priest seems to think for a few minutes, leaving the pair in an uncomfortable silence.
They take the time to look about, and can see that the floor they stand upon, and even the pillars themselves are not composed of solid stone blocks like they originally thought, but instead are created of tombs, each with inscriptions of the person who is interred within. Looking down, they can see that they stand upon the crypt of one "Jonas Depape." Before the priest speaks again, they hear an odd thumb from one of the pillar-crypts as well...a thump that came from inside the pillar. But before they can focus too much upon the sound, the priest speaks again,

"I have very little to offer you. I will consult the libraries shortly, but this will take time. In the meanwhile, I can only offer you this information.
Such an item as you describe may very well have come from the sea. Well, more specifically, from an island in the chain to the south known as the Finger. There have been similar relics found upon those island shores. But someone must have brought the relic from the island to this city. You may try looking into that avenue whilst I consult the archives. I wish you good speed, and may Death turn his gaze from your souls awhile longer while you work against the horrid undead."

"The Finger, eh? Sounds familiar... but I'm not too good at places.
What island would that be?
Does it have a port?"

"The Finger is not an island; rather it is a chain of islands off the coast of Lamordia to the south. The largest has the charming name of Agony, whilst the tip island has the monicker "Demise." As far as I know, none of the islands are inhabited. In fact, I've heard that Lamordians are deathly afraid of the place, believing that a devil of some kind lairs on Agony.
As I said before though, I would suggest you find out who brought the candlesticks here. They may still be at port. They could much better tell you where the sticks came from, and thus, I may be able to help you more."

"Sound charming." Thurgoods greets the priest before he turns to leave.
"Thank you for your time. We will heed your advise."
He waits until they are out of the temple, then turns to Wynne and Natty.
"Well, what do we do now? Go back to the inn and question Wick?"

Sounds good to me, lets go.

Wynne nods his head. "I'm all for that. I would like to get to the bottom of this!"

Everyone groups together later that evening at the Inn. The common room is alive with talk of the undead attacks increasing, and you see no one abroad through the windows. Although no attacks occurred during the day, apparently no one wants to chance an attack at night. The smokey torchlight casts flickering shadows upon the walls and the conversations of the patrons combine into a low murmur that permeats the entire room, yet disturbs the party's own conversation not one bit.
One of them brings up the choice of going back to Wick with the candles as he requested. Another brings up the possibility of inquiring as to the origins of the sticks before returning them to the scarred employer. There may be other avenues as well. What to do?

Joran looks downcast. His eyes occasionally wander to the window, to the darkness beyond.
"I'd wish this whole thing was over. Those candles give me the creeps."
He shudders.
"Anyway, shouldn't that girl visit us here? I say if she doesn't show we go to the docks tomorrow morning. I HATE waiting."

Wynne is lost to visions of the previous day. The name "Cade" rattles through his head. Shaking it, he adds his consent to Joran.
"One way or another, we have to get to the bottom of this. I, too, wish that it were over. So many things going on: I just don't feel safe here."

"Yes, That course of action sounds good to me."

"I'm with you. Maybe we could just...get rid of them. Hide them, or throw them in the water or something?"

Wynne looks at Richard.
"But, if we do that, how will we know if that will stop the undead from attacking the city? You saw what those candlesticks did to those--children. I have a feeling that the candlesticks and the rash of undead attacks are connected. I just know it!"

"I agree, Staying in control of the stick is the best way to make sure they do not fall into the wrong hands and cause more evil."

"Very well. We set out tomorrow morning.
In the mean time... it may be wise to guard those sticks. I don't think they are safe even here.
If you agree, I will take first watch."

I'll join you for the first watch, I already rested this afternoon and I'm not all that tired.