D&D - Sword Coast - Sorscha's torture and bloody death.

[The Dark Power]

Sorscha leaves the group with the detritous of the previous nights loot scattered over the table. Securing a room in the Wyvern, she heads upstairs and sits on the bed, slowly removing her armour and equipment.

After a while, she rummages in her bag and places several vials of holy water on the bed. Each is marked with a crescent moon. Taking one, Sorscha approaches the small mirror screwed to the wall and empties the vial into the crude jug that sits beneath it.

She slowly begins washing the dried blood from her hands and sword. Once done she splashes the remaining water over her face as she stares into the mirror.

Leaving her armour & weapons in the room, she heads out into Waterdeep in just her clothes, unarmed.

For several hours she strolls aimlessly, feeling quite miserable. Through the docks and market districts, caught in a morass until after some time she stops. Set along the road, wedged between two houses, stands a statue of Selune, a shrine beneath it. Sorscha stares for a while, unsure of whether she came here deliberately or by chance.

After some time, she eventually finds herself kneeling before the altar. The previous nights exertion slowly begin to fade as she rests in quiet contemplation, not exactly praying, but perhaps trying to find a peace, or some semblance of reprieve from the....... tension?...guilt?....fear?..... within her.

[^^Truth]

Having followed the confused cleric at a distance from near the Wyvern, Arman stands in an opposite alleyway, draped in his black robes, watching the young priestess silently.

As she stands, he gives her a second, before gliding across the street and stopping in front of her, he pauses looking over the weathered statue of the moon goddess, "Interesting place to come.." he says quietly, his voice deep.

Arman then turns and regards the cleric evenly, scanning her clothing and weaponry, before raising his eyebrows.

"I meant to speak to you before you left, but I was out, by chance I noticed you down the road from the Wyvern.."

"I come to advise you, do not go back to whomever sent you on this task, it was a failure and if what you say is true, you are no good to anyone dead" he says in his husky voice, sounding thoughtful for a brief moment.

"Your true master is your God, cleric, not any man and you will not recover the gem which fools lost by placing your life in the hands of someone that believes themselves above the Gods."

"Finish your walk, finish your thinking, then consider coming back to the tavern and we can plan on how to get your gem and put you in good standing with your real master, not a fool that forfeits your life on his whim."

"Remember, you have not failed until you return empty handed, we may yet find the stone you seek and I am still willing to help should you help me in turn"

Arman turns away, but remains still for a moment "Besides, you cannot help me if you are dead and we have a verbal agreement"

Arman then begins to walk away slowly, towards the merchant quarter, although not immediately placing himself out of earshot.

[The Dark Power]

Sorscha jumps with a start from her reverie, staring at Arman through eyes that have been closed for too long, suddenly blinded by the unexpected daylight. She listens in silence and watches him go without comment as he fades into the distance.

With her knees numb, but beyond caring, she eventually rises and leaves, not before depositing a handful of coins amounting to some 300gp in the donation box screwed to the wall.

With new purpose she strides off into the city........to see the lesser imperceptor.

[illumination]

Sorscha.

You stuff the box with as many coins as you can fit, slightly obsessively, however the tiny donations box it is not suited to such huge guilt inspired offerings and is rammed full after only a hundred.

Resolving to find another later, you walk away leaden footed though the city, a queasiness in your belly as you rehearse all the possible explainations, debating what might sound most reasonable to a imperceptors ears.

You arrive at the small unmarked townhouse in the temple district that serves as a clandestine church, and meet Priest Shelloon who agrees to convey you right away to Kagaal, whom apparently is breakfasting somewhere nearby.

You arrive at a beautful festhall, wide and open spaced with many tables draped in white tablecloths and decorated with elven art on the walls. Marpenoth (October) sunshine streams in through large bay windows.

Your throat tightens as you are led to Kagaals table, he is once again dressed in the brown robes of a scholar, and is tucking into a breakfast of a huge bloody steak, despite the hour of the day.

Opposite him, you see Acolyte Selrey, he appears to not be eating, and you wonder if something is wrong with him, as he seems to be sitting very stiffly. Your blood runs cold when you notice missing fingernails on his right hand, which trembles slightly...

Kagaal continues to happily tuck into his steak, browsing a book which sits open on the tablecloth. Its spine reads, 'The sufferings of Ilmater, as revealed by the Abbot of Berdusk.'

The priest sits you down, next to Selrey, but remains standing himself, just behind you, a beautific smile on his face for the benefit of the other tables nearby. He catches your eye and nods, indicating it is time for you to speak...

[The Dark Power]

Sorscha does her best to keep her voice steady as she speaks.

'Dread Master, the holy Jewel was not where we had thought. We struck hard and fast. There was no chance for them to have removed it during our attack and no sign another had broken in and retrieved it,' she glances briefly at Selrey. 'It must have been moved before we got there. I await now your further orders'.

[illumination]

Kagaal continues to eat, slicing off a large piece of fat and slurping it into his mouth, chewing with gusto.

Through the food you hear him speak.

'Oh, so you dont have the jewel? I had thought you must have it to come here willingly...still, it was quite an ardurous task for one so inexperienced, perhaps it was unfair of me to expect either of you to get it back for us...'

Kagaal nods to himself, as he carves off another bloody piece of meat.

'Yes, well, dont be too hard on yourselves now, why dont you go and take a couple of days off or something...its only Bane's gem, im sure it will turn up eventually...'

You tense, confused, and are beginning to almost dare to hope you may be allowed to leave when inexplicably a bloody goblet of beef splatters near you, staining the cloth.

Looking up to see where it came from you see Kagaals face suddenly scarlet bright, creased in rage. He's shaking, apopolectic... a small spray of bloody pieces of beef speckle your side of the table with his first sentance:

'FOOOOOLS!!!! YOU.......FUCK.....FUCKING INCOMP....et...entsssss....'

Diners and staff from all over the festhall look over at the screaming, bloody faced cleric of Oghma. You wonder if he is going to leap over the table and kill you both with his bare hands when he erupts in a spasm of coughing, steak caught in his throat. He sinks back down into his chair, drooling badly on himself before clearing the blockage and spitting it on the floor. He leans back in the chair, panting, sweating profusely. You can see a large vein pulsing on his head as he calms down. The priest attends him with a napkin and he dabs at his forehead as the imperceptor gets his breath back....

[The Dark Power]

Sorscha attempts to maintain her composure, the desire to flee beginning to build, but tempered by an equally strong desire to plunge a blade into the maniacs gut.

Despite the tension of the situation Sorschas mind begins to wander, a mad train of thought almost making her burst out laughing......fatfuckyourenotworthytoweartherobesofapriest....ofanychurch.......

'Forgive me my Lord, I have not made myself clear, I do not come here to admit defeat but rather to update you on the search. My troupe remain resolute and I determined to see this through to the end' youmiserablefuck 'I bring you information, not news of failure. The gem has been moved, not lost. I will' stabyouinthefuckingthroat'dedicate all means'toguttingyoulikeafish'to it's recovery'.

cunt

[illumination]

Priest Sheloon comes to his masters aid, as he take a glass of water, before shaking his head and speaking quietly.

'Your quest for the gem is all but over. You see, our source informs us that it was moved to the Temple of the Moon, the evening before you attacked.'

He narrows his eyes.

'Now either you were dreadfully unlucky, or one of you two were indiscreet and the beast-rutters got wind of it.'

'And I needent remind you, that our great leader Fzoul, peace be upon him, teaches that there is no such thing as coincidence.'

[The Dark Power]

Sorscha addresses the red faced priest, morelikelyitwasyouthatwasindiscreet'mylord'

'I can assure you it was not us Dread Lord, we were at the temple less the evening of your command. My contacts were with me throughout, there was no chance of any betraying us'.

Sorscha glances at Selrey as she speaks. sorrymyfriendbutyouretakingthefallforthis

[illumination]

'That is strange indeed. As Acolyte Selrey has been insisting the very same.'

He glances at your rivals missing fingernails.

'Quite forcefully and with passion I may add.'

The older cleric finally clears his throat, his rage subsided.

'It is a moot point, the gem is beyond us for now, and I am searching for a volunteer Acolyte to escort a caravan of salted fish back across the great desert to Zhentil Keep. It shouldnt be a long journey though Anauroch, hounded by barbarian desert cannibals, I would expect the volunteer to be back in, oh, a year or three.'

'Besides, it will give the lucky acolyte the opportunity to reflect on
their failures. The heat I have heard is also quite a purifying,
highly spiritual experience...'

Kagaal turns to his Priest, momentarily talking as if you both werent there.

'Do tell me dear Sheloon, as a matter of interest, which one of these has been providing the best tithes, recently?'

[The Dark Power]

'Indeed my Lord, I note that acolyte Selrey did not even make it to the target, perhaps waylaid chatting to the wrong people? A known thug named Tomka perhaps? One who would sell his mother for a few coins and wag his tongue to the highest bidder........no, I'm sure instead careful plans were being laid for an imminent attack. Unfortunately it seems those bold enough to act were the ones at the forefront, in the name of the Dread Lord'.imgoingtokillyouall

[illumination]

Selrey seems to be not quite himself, and can only manage to raise a shaky voice.

'Don't listen...to...to...the bitch, she, she's responsible for the leak, my men were good, you have...my gold...'

Kagaal continues to dab at his mouth and sends a concerned look at Sheloon.

'I thought I told you to keep him functional, the man's a wreck... Anyhow, how much has the good Selrey raised for us.?'

Sheloon opens a notebook, trailing a finger down the page.

'He....'donated' just over two hundred when we brought him in, eminence.'

Kagaal smiles benevolently at Selrey.

'Why, thats not so bad, is it. Perhaps it will be profitable to keep you on this side of fareun after all, Selrey!'

[The Dark Power]

Sorscha grins, 'Is that it? Clearly you do not honour our lord as much as I dear Selrey', the lie flowing easily from her lips.

Reaching beneath her tunic she produces a neck purse, light just 100GP from the shrine to Selune, and slides it across the table within reach of the Imperceptor.

'Over 300 gold, all the sweeter as it was previously the property of our enemy......'

[illumination]

Kagaal smiles thinly as his priest counts the gold with raised eyebrows.

On a nod from Sheloon, he speaks.

'Well, sister, it seems your sins are absolved!'

He makes a holy sign.

'However, you may have have avoided caravan duty this time but you remain an Acolyte. There are only so many chances young clerics get in this church. If i were you, id not make a habit out of failure.'

'You are to go now, I want nothing more to do with you until you have gained more experience. Your band of skirmishers seem to be gaining notoriety. Perhaps a jaunt out of the city would do you well. I hear there is war brewing in the east. Conflicts always provide ready opportunities...'

'And as for you Selrey, I shall see you in a couple of years, should you survive the journey....'

Kaagal takes the purse from Sheloon and slides it into his pocket, indicating it is time for you to go.

[The Dark Power]

Sorscha stands, bows and departs.

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