The Chalice Of Heironeous

[*Agony_Aunt]

Dorian ignores the passing Guvner and priest, instead reaching out with his mind towards the temple. What was it? And more importantly, why the call?

"Will we be allowed entry to the temple?" he asks.

[*Agony_Aunt]

Dorian appears to miss a step and almost falls. He is glad for his mask, which hides his shock.

Without saying anything to his companions, he then quickens his pace and heads straight for the temple doors.

He orients his mind on a memorized spell, making the necessary adjustments to change it from its intended effect, into one that can inflict wounds on touch.

If anyone attempts to bar his way... they will regret it.

[*Midnight]

No one bars the doomguard's progress into the temple and they soon find themselves in the same surroundings as Hasclaan found himself moments ago. Although the arrival of the dark clad figures three of them in masks and robes causes a stir the few priests who remain they are busy tending to the sick that have taken up residence in the temples pews.

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The priest leads Hasclaan to the keep, the structure looks fortified in a similar manner to the temple and stands just as tall. Evidently the man accompanying Hasclaan is of some importance as none of the guard bar his way and all seem to incline their heads respectfully to him. They climb up a narrow stair case and along a landing to a large room with double doors. The priests opens the doors and within a bunch of grim faced men in armour stand over a map the city is in the center of it and markers indicating what one would assume are demon's are moved around. It is sometime until they are noticed one of the men looking up.

"Knight commander Wainwrought may I present Hasclaan Gunnt a scholar who knows much of the foe you fight."

[*Selebius]

"Thank you", Hasclaan nods to the priest before greeting the Knight Commander with a bow.

He looks around, trying to assass the mood of those present before starting to speak.

His voice is firm and it is obvious he is used to speak in front of an audience- perhaps because of his affiliation with the Guvners, perhaps because of something else that happened in his past.

"Sir, Ladies.. gentlemen.

I am Hasclaan Guunt of the Fraternity of Order, sent here to investigate the Demon threat.

Recently I raided a stronghold where I was able to capture a priestess of Iuz. The protocol of her interrogation is among the other documents I offer to share.

Also I offer my assistance... I have faced demons several times, even in the Abyss itself. I have a good idea how to battle them and how they behave in combat... I dare not want to use the word tactics here."

He pauses a bit, takes a deep breath before going on.

"I will be honest... as some of you might have realized already I am a pragmatic man who cannot compete with the standards of valour and reighteosness Heironeus demands from his servants.
But lets forget this differences as in times like these the servants of law shall work together.

If offer my knowledge and what I found out so far as well as my abilities as a wizard to help you in this dark times."

He leans closer to the Knight Commander, lowers his voice

"But there is more. Four agents of entropy who call themself Doomguards are on their way to the temple.
I know something is under the temple.. perhaps a Baatezu? I fear they will try to contact it. One of them is a man called Ramal- perhaps he is known to you?"

((Diplomacy rolled: 27))

[*Agony_Aunt]

Dorian whispers "Let's play the part before proceeding"

He heads to the main altar and kneels and bows. However, instead of offering up a prayer, he discretely traces his deity's holy sign upon the floor.

A small blasphemy, but if Herenious was watching over these fools, then he was obviously not doing a good job of it. It was a risk of course, doing this here in the temple, but Dorian took great pleasure from the act.

[*Krayt]

- If you think it neccessary. *He followed in the wake of the cleric and knelt down a few feets behind him to his right. But he was far more interested in the scenery looking to each section of the hall. His gaze lingered on the roof whil he fegined the prayer. He reached out searching for the epicentre of the malignant force.*

Usualy the forgotten rests below. His gaze fell towards the ground as he continued with his musing. Another trick of the gods? Of course the entity was only interested in what it could gain from them. Just as any god. What if they was lured to help the knights, or more so the gods of this realm against the demons. Surely they wouldn't simply let it die and lose a domain of their influence without effort to prevent it. Another question is if it truly are dying, just another ruse perhaps.

[*Er_Nano_Infame]

so far ayase followed her group, silent and brooding, thinking, observing the people and the surroundings. she more or less ignores priests and sicks, though took note of their presence. she would listen if that voice spoke, warily.
she would loiter about as the others fake to kneels at the altar, and as soon as she gets the chance, she would casually slip behind a corner or column or pew, hopefully vanishing from sight, to find a quite spot somewhere (should she even have to walk off by some lenght) and there cast detect magic on herself hopefully without causing suspiciouns or alarm. she then peers around hidden again among the shadows, also focusing to visualize whatever auras may be present, also examinating ramal.

[*Midnight]

The Heronites listen to Hasclaan, to begin with they seem distracted, unintrested in this self important stranger and his presumption to teach them about the best way to tell them of all people how to combat chaos and evil. As he mentions a Baatezu though this changes. It seems his guess is accurate.

"What in the blazes are you talking about!?"

The speaker a blond haired mustached noble is silenced by the stare of a silver haired man in armour. It is this man who speaks now.

"Everyone out."

He is not loud but all seem to hear him and everyone apart from the priest who nrougjt Hasclaan here files their way outside. The doors are closed.

"Before we discuss anything else mister Gunnt tell me what you know of this thing you assume to be a Baatezu and tell me how you know. I sincerely hope I shall be able to avoid an act of great... Pragmatism.

********************************************************************************


Inside the temple the doomguard's blasphemy goes unpunished, something is answering their "prayers" though.

"Yes you are correct I am below, past the side chapel to the right there is a trap door that leads down to the crypts. I am beneath those."

They all hear it as one.


Ayase slips into the plane of shadows and out of sight only to erge a few moments later safely concealed behind a pillar out of sight. As she casts her spell first on herself she would be unsuprised with the result, a strong reading of magic mostly from her own equipment and her own invocations. When she casts again this time at Ramal she would receive a similar reading. He clearly carries magical equipment and enjoys the benefit of a number of active spells.

[*Selebius]

"So you know. Good."

Hasclaan clasps his hands behind his back, under his cloak then talks with lowered voice.

"It called out to me. Even when I was still miles away from this town it could make its presence felt and as soon as I entered it started to tempt me. Or tried to."
Smiles a wry smile then he goes on.
"Even as a... pragmatic man I am not one who trusts a whisperer in the dark, who, according to what it promised might be a devil of some kind.
However regardless if I am correct or not I wonder what else it might have lured here with its whispering. Those Doomcrows for sure. What about the Demons? And who knows what else might have entered under the flag of a refugee.

Think about this when planning this defence. While I do not believe a devil will assist a demon I know devils always play their own little games and this town will not matter much to it"

[*Krayt]

After his show he besought one of the priests. He started by lauding the magnifiance of the temple.

- A true wonder. The architechture is bears the hallmark of an genius. I have dabbed alittle in the art of sculpturing myself but I always found architecture to be most fascinating. *strangely in all grim and daunting apperance there was a bearing of an artist blended into it, the cut of his robe, the shape of his mask the odd details of his various items* How long have the temple stood here? Seems ancient with a few modifications and restructure during the years of course. I suppose the older parts is intact and in its original shape in the lower levels? Wouldn't it be possible for us to see it?

Mauric didn't like to tell the truth even when it didn't matter in the slightest. It just didn't feel good inside somehow. Like he decived someone he really ought not.