[Game Thread] Part III: Schatten

[Lord of Monies]

"Ok, yeah, great idea, keep that on hand, but first we still need to check out his body. So far each corpse has had writing on, and Mickey here is the only one we haven't looked at yet. Valuable information, being the most recent victim," Saul paused, looking at Legio for a second, "...of peculiar circumstance anyhow."

Not wanting to play odds with a patience of orcish decent, Saul opens the drawer and puts his sword against the body's throat.

[ManicMonky]

"I would like to finish what I started, scribbing the words branded into each corpse. It really shouldn't take long. After that, perhaps it would be best to find some way to prevent them from rising again." He reached into his backpack again to with draw his scrolls and pen. Thank the goods that I got this out of the way of that fire before it was burnt up. He moved over to the body of the corpse that he had not seen yet and began to copy the brand onto the paper.

Odd, we never did find out if these brands were postmortem or not. I wonder if perhaps we should check Legio's body as well. He had just finished copying down the brand as Saul opened the drawer that Michael was in. He quickly stood up placing the parchment back in the scroll case as he did so. The last time a drawer was opened something came to life and attacked them, and he was not about to let that surprise happen again. He pulled out his torch, just in case.

"Well, Saul, are there any brands on Michael?

[aidensmama10]

"I agree, you are right about burning the dead. We should start the ritual soon, so that their souls can be saved. Now, if you think it wise to open that then I won't stop you. Let us just be ready in case he rises again." Pandora said readying to cast her turn undead power.

[Demogorgon]

Saul pulled, and revealed an empty cubby.

A wave of putrid air rolled out, and the light in the room destroyed the darkness within.

On the inside, the walls were dented, and in several places dry blood seemed to stain the walls. The smell was simply horrid, like meat left out in the sun for a few days.

Five parallel gouges in the ceiling of the cubby, like something out of a nightmare. You could almost feel fingernails sliding across stone. Looking closely, Saul finds a single fingernail towards the back, but no writing adorned the cold walls, and there was no body.

[Lord of Monies]

Saul gagged and turned to find some fresher air to breath in. He left it a moment to spread and thin, allowing him to stomach a closer look. The smell seemed oddly strong for a deceased of a day, but all the other markings reminded him that this wasn't the most ordinary of circumstances. No doubt that Michael was still moving about after death by some kind of power. Maybe a twisted version of his own for all anyone knew. No telling until he's found, though. A nagging thought made him pocket the fingernail. He was in the company of magic users now. He made no assumptions on what they could do, specifically, but some part of him thought that with a part of the body, magic could help locate it. He was likely wrong, or best case scenario it was a long shot.

"Looks like we're on a priest hunt." Saul opens the drawer the whole way so everyone can clearly see the nothing.

[ManicMonky]

Kaleton was over powered by the smell, it was a rank, putrid stench that felt like it was trying to crush his stomach while punching him in the face. He dropped to a knee and vomited toward the wall. His thoughts traveled back to the newly dead priest before thinking of the missing dead one. I have to check if he's branded before we leave. I have to know. He vomited again, then attempted to recompose himself but still felt a little sickly and wobbled a bit as he stood up and moved over to the dead priest and began to check the stomach and chest for markings.

[Demogorgon]

OOC I think you meant Legio, when you said the Dead Priest? The other two bodies have been searched, so I shall proceed like so.

Apart from the trauma to his neck there were no obviously evil markings on him. His neck was snapped twice, and a tattoo of a flower rested on his shoulder.

[ManicMonky]

"Well that's a bit of a relief I guess. He doesn't have any markings on him." Kaleton stood up and looked toward the priest who introduced herself as Pandora, "Pandora, right? Maybe this will help a little. It's Michael's journal. Maybe you can get more out of it than we have so far."

Kaleton pulled the journal from his backpack and handed it to Pandora. "The last entry in the journal was written after Michael had already been dead. And I'd like to get it back once you are finished, please."

[aidensmama10]

"Very well, I will see if I have any helpful knowledge." Pandora said taking the journal. After the first opening of the drawer she had moved away from the group abit to distance herself from the stench.

[Demogorgon]

The Journal First Cycle of Darksmonth I have decided to keep a journal from now on. I am Michael, to become Archcleric of Yarlon in the coming years. Today marks the sanctification of the Alter in the unfinished Cathedral. I preformed the Hallowing myself. It was the strangest thing, as I completed the ritual for a moment I felt as if there was a presence there resisting me. Then I broke it, and completed the ritual. Apart from that, today has been average. I preformed a healing on a woman with a tumour. The effort left me feeling drained, but I must admit I pulled some satisfaction from the effort. I am glad she will live, hopefully for many more years. Second Cycle of Darksmonth After the brief darkness today I was the first back to the Cathedral, where I was met by a ghastly sight. A man dangled by his neck from the arches in the ceiling to a few feet above the alter, hanged to death. As I went to see if he was still alive, the rope holding him snapped. There was nothing I could do, he had been gone for too long, but the thought of the people finding out this had happened in the Church was horrifying. One death was bad enough, but their fears in the next weeks of Darksmonth could create horrors. Marquis and I cleaned up the mess before the workers arrived. Later, while we were investigating the body, we realized that there were finger marks vertically around his broken neck. He had clawed at the noose after a seventy foot fall, digging gouges into his own neck. Third Cycle of Darksmonth More extensive examination of the body revealed a brand on his stomach, scabbed over but not yet scarred. I have transcribed it here as best I can. This certainly pends further investigation. After prayer today, the Woman who I healed two days ago returned. The tumour was once again growing on her. Apparently my healing was not as thorough as I had hoped. I once again did my best to stop its spread. __________________________________ It is dark outside, and I cannot sleep. I sit in my new chambers, a candle light flickering. Tonight is the first night anyone has slept in the Cathedral. The mystery of the dead man continues to bother me, but that is not the reason I am awake. I feel as though I am being watched, from the darkest corner of my room. It is a childish thing, but I feel as though every time I look there a part of me wants to leap from the window, away from here. To certain death, but away from him. The presence in the corner is a male, I'm sure of it. He does nothing but sit there and stare at me, but this will not let me sleep. I would banish it with the Church's might, but I left my holy symbol on my night stand. Reaching it would require me to reach past the edge of my bed. There is a shadow under my bed. I dare not. Fouth Cycle of Darksmonth Today passed in a blur after my sleepless night. Asking if the others slept well, every one of them decided to sleep at their home instead of here, citing their families and children as reasons to go home. While I laid awake, the watch drove off something from the Darkness, but one man was killed. I'm no longer sure I could have helped if I was there, given my weakness last night. Next darkness, I shall confront whatever lurks here. In case something happens, somebody needs to be informed. I have sent a messenger East to ask for help. They should arrive in six days, given no delays. I have found the dead man's family when they came here to look for him after two days. I did not show them the body, but they were devastated none the less. There is nothing I can do for them. Night of the Fourth Cycle I rest my right hand upon this page, and my left hand upon my holy symbol now. As I went to bed, I realized that the dark area in the corner of my room is opposite a mirror. By all respects, it should appear brighter. To fully destroy whatever evil this is, I shall confront it on its own ground. Now I am blowing out my candle. The smell of smoke and the fading ember of the wick are the only signs of life. Soon they will fade. The scratching of my quill on this page is now the only thing I can sense, except for his eyes. Calling upon my own power before the churches, I feel him smiling at me. I do not want to contaminate the Church's power on the likes of this, so I continue to draw upon myself. I am completely relaxed. I am still confident of my victory. He also knows that he has no chance against me. I can feel him fleeing my chamber, all except for the tiniest sliver of his presence. I am following him. I can feel the kill. Although my mind tells me it has only been a few days, my heart tells me this evil has been with me since the beginning, and only now do I see it. I must vanquish it. Something is touching me. I hear a voice, screaming, Michael, Michael. Fifth Cycle of Darksmonth I at last was convinced by the voice that I needed to open my eyes. It was one of the acolytes. She had heard me mumbling to myself in my room, and knocked. Upon not hearing a reply, she thought something might have been wrong. She opened my door, it was unlocked, and found me sitting upright in my bed, perfectly relaxed. She tapped my shoulder, and then began to call to me by name. This is how I awakened, bathed in sunlight from my window. I can see why she was worried. I seem to have lost all my girth. Before, I was perhaps ten shy of two hundred pounds. Now, I can see each of my ribs, and I will likely top one hundred and thirty after I eat. I am ravenous indeed. _________________________________________ I just finished breakfast, where I ate like a horse. I am feeling much better, but I do not thing I shall pit myself against the presence without calling upon the Church again. I rehallowed the Alter again today, and felt nothing resisting me. I have been considering how to honour the man who died a few nights ago. I feel that he deserves at least that from me, after allowing my demon to speak with him. Sixth Cycle of Darksmonth Today, the Cathedral's doors were opened to the public. I gave my speech after sleeping well last night. They cheered, feeling the vitality of the new place of holiness. I dedicated the Church in its entirety to the Dead Man. "For one who died in the building of this new holy place, I hereby name this the Umbra Cathedral." There will be no more darkness until tomorrow, but I feel the need to deal with the presence immediately. I have arranged for a box to be built, to give me the darkness I need. I shall sit with my back against one side, and have the opposite wall made of a mirror. In this fashion, I shall confront my foe. I put my quill once more to the page, as my other hand clenches my symbol. My assistant is putting the lid on the box. And now there is shadow. It is working. I feel him here. I start with a trickle of my power, intent on feeling him out. Once again he smiles at me. I am adding the full weight of the church to my exorcism. Still he smiles. I cannot touch him. I cannot touch him.. Why can't I touch him. I cannot make him stop. He is taking over everything. Only my quill continues to scratch on the page. The rest of my body is not my own. It is like being raped, but I cannot scream, and I cannot get out. Without my consent, I can feel by body rising, pushing against the lid. It does not move, so I use my power.. MY POWER, NOT YOURS UMBRA, LEAVE ME ALONE. Why won't you leave me alone.. Here the quill has punched a hole through to the next page of the diary, and seems to fall into a repressive silence. Eighth Cycle of Darksmonth Umbra and I fought and fought, and at last I began to question why. We both wanted the same thing... a way out of the darkness. For him, it was worse than for me. My muscles ceased to obey me, and True Dark shrouded in around me. For him, he had never known anything else. I began to pity him. When he realized this, he showed that he could help me, if I helped him. He showed me how to use the Dark to move my limbs once more, how to flutter my eyelids.. to see. Then the realization hit me. I knew where I was... a stone box in the wall. I panicked, began thrashing around beyond all reason. He tried to calm me, but I would not listen... I think I may have broken my hand against the wall, but I ignored it. After what felt like days, but may have been seconds, I calmed. Umbra showed me the way out. It was easier than I thought it would be. I could go into the light now, but I will not leave Umbra after he helped me. Noone else would have helped me. He will see the light.

[Kshnik]

Nik, wanting to take a peek at the journal, slides behind Pandora and begins reading over her shoulder. Nik skims the first couple of sections as he recalls their words but upon reading the last section his eyes open. Upon finishing it, Nik re-reads the last section again before speaking to the group Our dead priest has wrote another entry into the journal Nik states calmly and it appears he has decided to join with this Umbra individual. Also it reads that he can move in the light.. no longer regulated to the darkness.

OOC: I didnt know who we were waiting on so I figured I would post.

[ManicMonky]

"But that's impossible, I've had the journal with me the whole time. It's never left my backpack." A small wave of fury washes over Kaleton as he wrestles with what this could mean. If the book has been in my possession the whole time, how could someone have made changes to it? Unless... He pushed the thought from his mind, it was too ridiculous to fathom. "It must have been there before, from when the other priest gave it to us. He said it stopped but I guess I never looked at it to be sure. I just took his word for it." He tried his best to sound convincing but in the back of his mind, the thoughts he had before still lingered.

"However, that doesn't change the fact that it seems Michael has joined with this Umbra and claims that he's free to do as he pleases regardless of light or dark. Let me see the book again please."

[aidensmama10]

"Sure." Pandora says passing the book, and now thinking about what was written as well as the new turn of events. "Well maybe we should check it from time to time, just to see if maybe it is magically charmed to continue passages. He might have set it up where he could write in it with out having to touch it. Just a thought though." She said trying not to look as crazy as she sounded.

[ManicMonky]

"Hmm.. I have never heard of that before, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to keep checking it." Kaleton stared at the book as he spoke then opened to the new entries to look over them for himself. "Perhaps we should go though, I don't really like being down here with all these dead bodies and I have taken a sketch of each brand so far, so I have what I came for." He paused for a second then said, "Well, everything except answers, I guess. Just more questions." He placed the journal in his backpack and cinched it up tight figuring it would be harder for someone else to get into with out him knowing.

"I'm going to head back up stairs, I really can't stand the smell of burning flesh. I will be looking at the darkness schedule to see when the next darkness is scheduled. I wouldn't object to anyone coming with me either."

[Lord of Monies]

"Yeah, I doubt there's anything else to find down here. Though..." Saul takes out the fingernail from Michael's drawer and gives it to the wizard. "I'll be the first to admit I don't know much at all about magic,but I figure having a part of a person might help if you have any finding spells, or something similar. Best to cover the angles." He gives the man something of a smile before following Kaleton up the stairs. Their limited options butt heads as Saul thinks, then stand down and pass the buck for a different opinion.

"So, it being clear that we're now looking for a walking, dead priest, what do we do if we can't find him?" he asks Kaleton.