Ivory Monolith
Ivory Monolith
Dana listens attentively as you explain your mission to her. She is the
current leader of the order that brought the Onyx to bay in the first
place, and so you feel she deserves to know. Shila, for once, is no
longer looking toward the Elder Cleric reverently. Instead, she is
looking at you incredulously. You're going to have to do a lot of
apologizing to her later, you realize. She's not going to be pleased
that you kept this from her.
When you are done, there is a moment of silence from Dana.
'Your mission seems routine enough, though it troubles me that the
Onyx may be returning to our land. I have more reason than your
King does, however, to believe that this is the case.'
Shila and you look at each other in the moment of hesitation that Dana
takes before she continues. This is bound to be bad news.
'About two weeks ago, one of our clerics in the vicinity of the Onyx
Tower stumbled upon a woman... who appeared greatly injured.
Our cleric used his arts to stabilize her, but she was still in immense pain.
This cleric carried the woman to the nearest temple that he could find.
It was there that we determined that she... was possessed by the Onyx.'
Neither you nor Shila can think of any reaction. Both of you just stare
in shock. There was someone possessed by the Onyx?
'Where is she now?' you ask.
'Is she all right?' Shila asks, making you feel somewhat bad for not
asking that question first.
Dana looks to you first and then to Shila. 'She is residing in the temple
near Obern. She never regained consciousness, so far as I know,
but she is alive.'
'Obern...' you say to yourself. 'That's on the other side of the High
Barrier.'
'The Onyx... Could you remove it from her?' Shila asks, looking
visibly shaken by this news.
Dana nods. 'We succeeded, but she did not awaken. We have
contemplated what action we should take for these past weeks, but
have come to no conclusion. It is good to see that some are more
willing to take action. Will you still be crossing the High Barrier?'
You take a moment to contemplate. Even with this news, your mission
has not changed. You have to find out what happened to that
scout. You nod at Dana.
'Very well.' she says. 'You may stay here this evening, and in the
basement you will discover more than enough supplies for your
journey. Take what you need.' With that, she gets up from her chair
and exits the room.
'I don't think she's very pleased with your decision.' Shila informs you.
'And where are we supposed to sleep?'
'Here, I suppose.' You reply. Since entering the room, you have noticed that
there is another bed, in the opposite corner of the one you saw
first. 'Why doesn't she like the fact that we're going on? I thought
that she was glad to see someone take action.'
Shila smiles. 'She'd rather that her own clerics thought of a solution.
She sees you as someone who's going forward without enough
information, and without thinking it through.'
'How do you know all this?' you ask.
'I'm a cleric too, I know how we think. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going
to sleep. It's been a long journey.' Shila walks over to one of the beds,
leaving you to figure out what just happened. After a few moments,
you decide that sleep is the best idea, and journey over to the other
bed.
The next morning
Home
This page hosted by
