The death of Acre St John

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Acre: The sacred quest of Acre St John

Thu Dec 26 09:41:32 2013

To: Knighthood Grandmaster Temple

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Tenaqznfgre bs gur Grzcyne Oebgureubbq,

Vg vf ybat fvapr V unir frra gurr. Jvguva yvrf gur sehvgf bs zl fnperq

dhrfg.

Zl gvzr vf fubeg. V unir hfrq n fvzcyr pvcure sbe guvf zrffntr, naq gur

fgnaqneq grzcyne pvcure ubyqf gur xrl gb zl xabjyrqtr. Nygubhtu gur

fgnaqneq grzcyne pvcure unf fcnprf guvf bar qbrf abg.

V erterg V qvq jvyy abg yvir gb frr vg, ohg jvyy qvr jvgu gur ubcr gung

bguref bs Tnergu naq gur Grzcyr zvtug fb gung Xavtugubbq pna cebgrpg gur

Qenpba bs Whfgvpr nf vg jnf ragehfgrq gb hf.

Nper Fg Wbua

Frarfuny bs gur Grzcyne Oebgureubbq

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Acre: The sacred quest of Acre St John - Primary Defences

Thu Dec 26 09:48:15 2013

To: Knighthood Grandmaster Temple

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3, 4, 1, 1, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4, 3, 4, 3, 1, 4, 4, 1, 4, 3, 1, 1, 4,

3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 1, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 1, 3, 3, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3, 3, 1, 4, 4, 4,

3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 4, 1, 1, 5, 1, 3, 4, 1, 4, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3

3, 3, 1, 4, 4, 4, 1, 4, 3, 1, 4, 3, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3, 3, 1, 3, 3, 3, 1, 3, 4,

4, 3, 1, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 1, 3, 1, 5, 1, 4, 3, 1, 4, 1, 3, 3, 3, 4, 1,

4, 1, 4, 3, 1, 4, 4, 1, 1, 3, 4, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 1, 5, 4

3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 4, 4, 1, 4, 3, 1,

1, 4, 3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 1, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 1, 4

4, 1, 4, 3, 1, 1, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 3, 3, 4, 1,

3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 5, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4, 4, 1, 4,

3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 1, 4, 3, 3, 3, 5 4, 4, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 4, 4, 4, 1, 1,

4, 3, 4, 1, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3, 5, 4, 4, 1, 1, 4, 3, 3, 4, 1, 1, 4, 3,

4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 1, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 1, 4, 3, 3, 1,

5, 1, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 3, 5, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1, 3, 5,

1, 1, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4, 1, 4, 4, 1, 1, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3,

1, 3, 5, 1, 4, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 4, 1, 4, 5, 1, 1, 4, 4, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4,

1

1, 4, 4, 1, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 1, 1, 4, 4, 1, 3, 3, 1, 4, 1, 3, 1, 4, 3, 4, 1,

4, 5, 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 1, 3, 4, 4, 1, 3, 3, 4, 1, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,

4, 1, 1, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1, 3, 5, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 4, 4, 4,

3, 1, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 4, 5, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 4

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Acre: The sacred quest of Acre St John - Secondary Defences

Thu Dec 26 09:50:50 2013

To: Knighthood Grandmaster Temple

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1, 9, 8, 13, 13, 3, 6, 3, 1, 4, 8, 3, 13, 1, 4, 8, 3, 1, 2, 3, 8, 8, 7,

9, 4, 5, 4, 8, 1, 13, 13, 1, 1, 9, 3, 13, 5, 8, 3, 8, 1, 2, 3, 8, 1, 8, 3,

9, 1, 1, 4, 4, 8, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 5, 16, 7, 7, 8, 23, 8, 4, 1, 2, 3, 8, 2, 4,

4, 8

1, 13, 13, 8, 8, 3, 8, 3, 8, 7, 5, 4, 8, 1, 7, 7, 15, 4, 13, 5, 8, 15, 2, 1,

7, 3, 15, 7, 7, 12, 1, 5, 14, 1, 2, 8, 4, 13, 14, 2, 8, 1, 8, 3, 7, 5, 8, 8,

3, 7, 1, 2, 1, 4, 8, 3, 1, 13, 8, 5, 1, 2, 1, 13, 5, 3, 13, 13, 7, 14, 3

49, 3, 1, 5, 49, 5, 1, 13, 13, 1, 4, 5, 1, 4, 7, 4, 9, 7, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 8,

8, 7, 9, 4, 5, 2, 7, 13, 23, 3, 3, 5, 13, 13, 9, 9, 3, 13, 13, 8, 13, 7

1, 2, 3, 8, 8, 7, 9, 4, 5, 1, 7, 4, 9, 7, 1, 3, 8, 15, 1, 1, 2, 1, 5, 1, 2,

1, 13, 12, 3, 3, 16, 2, 1, 8, 8, 3, 5, 8, 3, 3, 16, 23, 3, 8, 4, 8, 3, 1, 2,

3, 49, 1, 5, 5, 13, 7, 9, 12, 1, 5, 14

7, 3, 14, 3, 5, 8, 13, 13, 1, 7, 1, 3, 1, 2, 7, 1, 1, 1, 2, 7, 13, 7, 5, 7,

13, 8, 1, 23, 7, 3, 2, 13, 5, 13, 4, 1, 2, 7, 1, 1, 8, 4, 5, 3, 4, 8, 16,

13, 8, 3, 2, 3, 7, 8, 1, 1, 13, 5, 3, 7, 8, 3, 5, 4, 13, 14, 2, 1, 4, 7, 1,

13, 1, 3, 5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 23, 49, 13, 1, 9, 9, 7, 8, 7, 13, 14, 8, 7, 9, 3,

1, 1, 15, 1, 7, 7, 23, 3, 8, 3, 1, 13, 8, 5, 3, 8, 1, 4, 1, 1, 13, 8, 1, 14,

2, 1, 8, 13, 7, 16, 7, 7, 9, 3, 7, 1, 14, 7, 8, 3, 1, 2, 13, 12, 3, 3, 16

16, 7, 3, 7, 13, 3, 3, 5, 13, 13, 8, 3, 1, 2, 1, 13, 8, 3, 7, 4, 2, 3, 13,

1, 2, 3, 14, 8, 7, 5, 8, 5, 7, 13, 1, 3, 8, 13, 4, 1, 2, 7, 1, 2, 3, 12, 5,

4, 15, 13, 1, 2, 7, 1, 5, 49, 15, 4, 8, 12, 2, 7, 13, 23, 3, 3, 5, 9, 4, 5,

16, 7, 3, 1, 3, 8, 7, 5, 8, 5, 49, 13, 16, 1, 8, 1, 1, 23, 3, 7, 1, 16, 3,

7, 9, 3

The death of Acre St John

The Octagonal Temple

This room has a peculiar architecture, unlike any other in Gareth Keep.

The room is octagonal in shape. Eight gothic arches stretch from where the

walls meet and arch inwards and converge in the middle of the room to form

an hollow inner sanctum.

Sturdy stone columns support the arches which are decorated with marble and

inlaid with intricate ornamental carvings. Some of the arches and columns

are decorated similar to the style of the Old Thalos temple and bear the

mark of the Empire of Serpantol. The ceiling is covered in a myriad of

patterns with dark, yet vibrant colours burned into the ancient Shinalstin

glass. Any noise that is made is captured by a strange acoustic which the

room generates.

The masonry on the arches is an exquisite mix of religious and forgotten

symbols, engraved with Serpentine runes which sit at mismatched angles. At

the top of each supporting wall between the arches, many mirrors from

Shinalstin are set into the stone, reflecting the light to keep the room

surprisingly well lit. The reflections of the room change as you move and

different colours light the room as your position moves relatively to the

reflection of the surroundings. While moving the reflections of engravings

and runes are ever changing. Between each arch is an old, faded frieze of

one of the eight virtues, now complete from the painstaking restoration.

Each arch is large enough to hold a mounted knight in full battle armor.

Indeed, traces of horseshoes scuffs suggest that they have been facing the

sanctum far into the past. You cannot help but think that there is more to

this room than meets the eye.

A dusty and worn stone shield is built into the eastern wall.

A stone octagonal spiralling staircase snakes around the exterior of the

tower, and a trapdoor leads up outside to the battlements. Eight stone

benches cover each wall.

[Exits: west down ]

Eight stone benches rest against the walls here.

(Golden Aura) Anysse Renetar is here.

You clan 'Knights, to me.'

Sorien clans 'What's that?'

Naoise clans 'Hall?'

You clan 'To ...the Temple'

Anysse clans 'Within the Octagonal Temple.'

Sorien clans 'We come. We are training El'torath.'

Sorien has arrived, riding on A proud stallion.

Naoise floats in.

Sorien salutes.

Naoise salutes.

Sorien hastily tucks his dragonlance over his shoulder.

Acre staggers and sits at the bench.

Sorien looks carefully at you.

You sit on a stone bench.

Sorien says (to You) 'You alright, Sir?'

Naoise says 'Is everything well?'

You say 'I have returned from a long crusade.'

Naoise smiles.

Naoise nods.

Sorien says (to You) 'Your.... missive is quite.... perplexing. Code? Cypher?'

Sorien says (to You) 'Welcome back from your sojourn!'

Sorien beams a smile at you.

Sorien smiles at Anysse.

Sorien looks at Anysse.

Anysse studies the numbers carefully before tucking her missive aside.

You say 'I have been on a holy quest.'

Acre winces in pain.

Sorien beams a smile.

You say 'And in this hour I have returned to thee.'

Sorien looks down to you, inspecting for any wounds.

You stand up.

A calming sensation washes through every portion of your body!

Sorien moves to assist you.

You wince.

You say 'It is no good.'

You sit on a stone bench.

Sorien whispers 'The Lay on Hands is no good?'

Sorien glances at you.

Sorien looks at you.

You say 'I am spent, see the wound.'

Naoise follows you with a look of mild concern.

Anysse looks at you.

Acre opens his plate to reveal a terrible mortal wound below.

Naoise cringes.

Sorien frowns.

Sorien says 'Surely the cleric? Or more healing?'

Acre takes gasps and shortened breath.

Sorien casts a weak spell of healing upon you.

Sorien utters the words, 'judicandus qfuhuqar'.

You feel better!

You say 'It is too late for me.'

Sorien frowns.

You say 'But look within this room.'

You say 'For it holds many secrets.'

Sorien looks about the room.

Sorien nods at you.

You say 'I had hoped to see the Grandmaster, but I have not seen him for a long time.'

Sorien says 'Whom is the Grandmaster?'

Naoise quietly mouths the eight virtues.

You say 'That, I may not tell thee.'

Sorien furrows his brow.

You say 'But there are those here which know him still.'

Sorien glances at Anysse.

Sorien glances at you.

Sorien furrows his brow.

You say 'But he may only be revealed to one who has been inducted as a Knight of this Temple.'

Acre waves his hand around the ancient temple.

Naoise ponders.

Sorien nods solmenly.

You say 'You were right, the messages are in cipher.'

You say 'The first is simple to provide direction.'

You say 'The other is the Temple cipher which is more challenging.'

Sorien says 'Acre St John is... Nper Fg Wbua.'

You say 'But there is knowledge within beyond our dreams and expectations.'

Sorien nods quietly.

You nod at Sorien.

Naoise looks deep in thought.

Naoise whispers 'knights within knights... ciphers...'

You say 'As the Grandmaster is not present, it falls to you to get the message to him.'

You say 'Then he will be able to use the Temple cipher to reveal the knowledge.'

Sorien looks to Naoise, then to Anysse.

You say 'Or to any Knight of the Temple.'

You say 'To become one, you must solve the riddles in this Temple.'

Sorien nods sagely.

Acre gasps in pain as he raises his hand to point up to the ancient stone shield.

Sorien nods at the shield briefly.

You say 'And be inducted into the circle of this Temple.'

Sorien says (to You) 'I know if it, Sir. That is only one, though.'

Sorien frowns as he looks at the wound again.

You say 'No, there is another.'

Sorien ponders.

You say 'From the first you will prove your worth to attempt the second.'

Anysse follows your gesture toward the shield and gives a slight nod.

You say 'The second will open ancient secrets and an ancient, noble purpose. '

Naoise ponders.

You say 'My time grows ever shorter.'

You say 'Do you have any questions?'

Naoise says (to You) 'How will we know sir? That we have it?'

You say 'You will know once you have breached both the Primary and Secondary defences.'

You say 'You must find the secret within this room, and within the library.'

Naoise nods.

You say 'Only then will you have both parts of the key.'

Naoise says 'Yes sir, I will strive to crack both then.'

You rest on a stone bench.

Naoise says (to You) 'But you, you need healing. A good cleric...'

Acre gasps as crimson seeps into his white robes and plate mail.

Anysse says (to Naoise) 'Guidance will come, should you seek it.'

You say '... skills, I am beyond their power.'

Naoise watches horrified as the blood stains you.

Naoise nods.

Naoise says 'Yes sir...'

Acre is going very white, a grim look on his face.

You say 'Be without fear in the face of your enemies. '

Naoise nods.

You say 'Be brave and upright that the Lord may love thee. '

Naoise says 'Yes sir.'

Sorien nods sagely.

You say 'Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. '

You say 'Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. '

You say 'For the Temple, the Knighthood, and Lord Tesalon Gareth.'

Naoise salutes you.

Acre looks faintly up into the ceiling of the temple.

Acre sniffs softly.

You say 'Lavender...'

Acre raises to his feet with a last effort.

You stand up.

You salute.

Type delete and your password again to confirm this command.

WARNING: this command is irreversible.

Typing delete with any other argument will undo delete status.

Alas, all good things must come to an end.