The Serpantol Mystery

There is followup to the Serpantol Mystery here, and there is the missive which gave way to a lesson of Gareth's transgression.

The Serpantol Mystery

A deep blue mist begins to lift from the ground reaching knee level.

Datai looks at the floor.

Datai says (to You) 'Father?'

Datai says (to You) 'Do yah see that mist?'

Datai lifts her legs up onto the pew and leans down to look at the mist.

You ponder.

You say 'That's usually up on the ramparts in the early morning.'

A touch of divinity can be felt all around you.

Datai says (to You) 'I think its a good mist, Father!'

Datai takes a deep breath.

You say 'A creeping holiness.'

Datai says 'And its a very pretty blue.'

You say (to Datai) 'Like our Standard!'

Caenarfon puts his arms into the folds of his robes.

You say 'What do you think it will manifest to Sister Datai?'

Datai smiles brightly and sticks a hand down into the mist waving it around

experimentally.

You say (to Datai) 'What does it feel like Sister Datai?'

Datai says (to You) 'I dunno, its an unusual thing, Father. Usually there are nice

flower smells, or bright lights.'

Within the shallow blue mist a swirl begins to take shape, condencing slowly as it

spins.

Datai says (to You) 'Pray Father, maybe it needs holified by a real Priest of Nadrik.'

You say (to Datai) 'Yours is lavender is it not Sister Datai?'

Datai squints her eyes looking at the mist.

You grant Datai the favor of your god.

Datai says (to You) 'Can yah see any shape in it, Father? Like an elephant?'

You peer about.

You say 'There is something in there Sister Datai.'

Datai says (to You) 'Do yah see, I think its taking shape.'

The swirl of mist takes the shape of the landscape that the ruins of Serpantol sit

upon.

You gasp.

You say 'The ancient empire?'

Datai says 'Oh, our old Keep'

You say 'Shall we set forth?'

You say 'A sign of divinity is not to be ignored.'

You say 'Let us prepare.'

Datai says 'Alrighty, to the empire!'

... to Serpantol ...

Datai says 'I don't see anyone here.'

...

You get a machete.

Datai says (to You) 'Yah don't trust me with that, do yah Father?'

You nod.

...

Datai says 'There it is'

At the Gates of the Fortress

[Exits: north east south ]

(Golden Aura) (White Aura) Datai d'Aggravaine is here.

Datai looks all around.

You say 'The Keep.'

Datai says 'yah, poor old Keep.'

Datai says 'Should we walk around it first?'

You say 'After you Sister Datai.'

Caenarfon puts his arms into the folds of his robes.

...

A huge building shaped as a snake is to the north.

Datai says 'This is where those manatonics hang out?'

You say 'So it is written.'

You say 'Search every room Sister Datai.'

A Guard Post

This is where the Knights of Old had a station setup to greet people who

came to visit this castle, or to ward off attackers who attempted to invade.

[Exits: south ]

A broken desk lies here. You notice a few intact papers on the desk.

(Golden Aura) (White Aura) Datai d'Aggravaine is here.

Datai says 'Here's the old wanted poster for Sevarris. What did he do wrong, anyhow?'

Datai says 'Bad yinn!'

Datai says 'They could use a few lessons in manners from Suh Thrakhath.'

You say 'Long have I wished to see the return of the Empire.'

You say 'It was from here where he ordered the retreat.'

Datai sighs wistfully.

Datai picks the lock on an old weapons cabinet.

Datai opens an old weapons cabinet.

Datai says 'Oh look, the lock.. it... broke.'

An old weapons cabinet holds:

(Blue Aura) a Knighthood polearm

Datai gets a Knighthood polearm from an old weapons cabinet.

Datai smiles winningly.

You say 'One for your husband Sister Datai.'

Datai says (to You) 'I think Lord Gwaine would look smashing wielding this!'

Datai says (to You) 'Great minds, Father!'

Datai grins wryly.

You pat Datai on the back.

Datai says 'Hrm, lets search upstairs first.'

Datai says 'I wonder what we are looking for?'

The Cafeteria

[Exits: south ]

A barrel of wine lies here.

(Golden Aura) (White Aura) Datai d'Aggravaine is here.

The ghost of Tesalon slowly fades into existence.

Caenarfon's eyes widen to saucers.

Datai gasps and jumps back behind you.

Datai looks at the ghost of Tesalon.

the ghost of Tesalon looks quietly to the two then vanishes out of view.

Someone slowly fades into thin air.

Caenarfon gapes slowly.

Datai says 'Did yah just see a ghost of Lord Gareth, Father?'

You say 'I hope you can remember Sister Datai.'

You say 'A painting of him would be something.'

You say 'The greatest Lord Knight of them all.'

Datai says 'He was kinda ghostly.. I'm not sure it would do him justice.'

Datai says 'I hope he's okay!'

Datai says 'And not like suffering in limbo because of something horrible!'

You say 'He made a future for humankind.'

<1594/1594hp 824/824m 406/406mv (9:30am) (The Cafeteria) |Defensive| |S|>

You say 'And made Algoron safe with the Empire of Serpantol.'

You say 'I wonder what might have woken him from his peace?'

The ghost of Tesalon slowly fades into existence.

You say 'My Lord.'

You say 'What brings you from your peaceful slumber?'

You salute.

Datai blinks in amazement and then salutes.

The ghost of Tesalon whispers '...truuuuuuth...'

You say 'Your Knights of Gareth are its defenders my Lord.'

You say 'To tell the truth always, even if it leads to our death.'

The visage shimmers and fades in and out, seeming quite unstable in it's projection.

Datai says 'We'll find it, the truth is out there, but what about?'

The ghost of Tesalon whispers 'Here...buried...truuuuuuth...a dangerous truth...'

You think about it.

Datai says 'Oh dear. In this old Keep?'

You say 'The truth must be discovered.'

The ghost of Tesalon says (to You) 'careful you must choose...wisely you must

choose...'

You say 'Falsehood or misrepresentation of truth cannot be laid bare to history.'

Caenarfon puts his arms into the folds of his robes.

Someone slowly fades into thin air.

You say 'I shall endeavour to do so my Lord.'

Datai says 'Its something dangerous, Father.'

You say 'To seek the truth is often dangerous.'

Datai says 'But, in order to protect it, we'll have to know what it is.'

You say 'What truth might lie lost or forgotton in this ancient land?'

Datai says (to You) 'All sorts of horrible things I can imagine.'

You say 'Serpantol has seen much pain.'

A lonely wind blows through the ruins.

Datai says (to You) 'We better finish exploring.'

You say 'Do you think we need to dig?'

Datai gets a digging stick from a Robe of Many Pockets.

Datai says 'I have a digging stick!'

You say 'A digging... stick Sister Datai?'

Caenarfon puts his arms into the folds of his robes.

You say 'Not say... a shovel?'

Datai says (to You) 'Look, usually I just dig up little things, Father.'

Datai says 'Do yah think its burried outside? Or in the basement?'

You say 'Lets try here first.'

Datai says 'This is a cafeteria.'

Datai says 'You can't dig through a cafeteria.'

You say (to Datai) 'So long as you are sure Sister Datai.'

Datai says 'Why don't we have a cafeteria in our Keep?'

You say 'Stanley has a monopoly.'

You say 'Then onward.'

Datai says (to You) 'Well, lets look around the rest of the ramparts, and then go down

to the courtyard.'

You say 'To dig is down.'

You nod.

You say 'Very well.'

Datai says 'Well, the floor is too hard to dig through.'

Descending on the Ladder

[Exits: up down ]

You say 'You can hold my hand if you like Sister Datai.'

You say 'If you are scared.'

Caenarfon tries not to look scared.

Datai sighs and pats you on the back.

Datai says (to You) 'Its alright, Father, there's only ghosts!'

You say 'Oh that's fine then.'

A Dank, Dark Cell

[Exits: south ]

Skeletal remains lie here, in the corner.

(Golden Aura) (White Aura) Datai d'Aggravaine is here.

Something intangible floats in the air here.

Datai says 'Ew, I'm not touching those remains, Father.'

Skeletal remains lie here, in the corner.

Caenarfon peers into the remains.

You say 'There is little left.'

Datai pushes it around with the end of her staff.

Datai opens skeletal remains.

Skeletal remains holds:

(Blue Aura) a battered staff

The whispers of prisoneers long since dead linger in a wind that somehow managed to

find it's way to you. It says nothing of importance and serves only as an reminder of

the tragedies that happened in this place.

Datai swallows.

Datai says 'This is a pretty creepy basement, Father.'

Datai says 'maybe we should try digging on the grounds.'

Datai says 'They built pretty good floors here, I reckon.'

Caenarfon blesses the memory of the unfortunate soul.

You say 'There is one odd room here.'

Datai says 'Oh, the magic holding cell?'

...

The Magick Holding Cell

[Exits: east ]

(Golden Aura) (White Aura) Datai d'Aggravaine is here.

Datai gets a broken key.

You say 'There is the other key for the entrance to this place.'

Datai says 'Well..'

Caenarfon looks over the runes in the cell.

Caenarfon checks over the floor.

Datai says 'Well, I don't see anything new here, Father.'

Datai looks over the room with a frown.

Datai says 'And its a good floor.'

You say 'Perhaps we need to search around the temple of the Serpent's Eye?'

... much digging later ...

You begin digging...

Dirt lands across the trail, a few broken pieces of old weapons among the debris all

to be found.

Your dig did not discover any exit...

You say 'Ah, a defence here at some point.'

Caenarfon holds up a rusted blade.

A few tattered remains of old Knighthood battle standards are exposed, nothing

repairable though.

Datai says 'Well it is a Keep, Father, and yah know that everyone loves to take

keeps.'

Datai says 'Oh, look at those standards.'

You say 'Like that one that was found so long ago.'

Datai says 'Yah, but in really bad shape.'

... a LOT of digging later...

Your dig uncovered A half decayed page long forgotten!

Around the Fortress

You are walking on a north/south trail in front of the old fortress.

[Exits: north south ]

A half decayed page long forgotten is here waiting to be read.

(Golden Aura) (White Aura) Datai d'Aggravaine is here.

Datai says 'Oh Siccara!'

A half decayed page long forgotten is here waiting to be read.

You say 'Delicate.'

Datai gets A half decayed page long forgotten.

You beam a smile at Datai.

You say 'What does it say Sister Datai?'

Datai ponders.

Datai says 'Who's T.S.?'

Caenarfon gapes in wonder.

Datai gives you A half decayed page long forgotten.

And in the days of my youth behold, I came across a beautiful woman whom

worshipped the dark diety Mencius. My lack of wisdom at such an age lead to

my persuit of her, which she demanded I join her in worship of her god,

which shamefully I did. This I have not shared with a soul and remains the

soul burden upon my shoulders.

T.S.

You say 'Those papers within, Severaus? or something?'

Datai ponders.

Datai says 'Sevarris.. well that's an S'

Datai says 'did he have a first name?'

You say 'I know not?'

Datai says 'It sounds like the confession of a Knight'

Datai says 'Well, one evil brewing like that, yah don't know what other things it

could have tipped off.'

You say 'What he needs is to confess.'

You say 'He has realised his error, and this message shows regret.'

Datai says (to You) 'But its really old, Father.'

Datai says (to You) 'Can yah do confession for ghosts?'

You say 'Beauty did seduce him and bring him to ruin.'

And in the days of my youth behold, I came across a beautiful woman whom

worshipped the dark diety Mencius. My lack of wisdom at such an age lead to

my persuit of her, which she demanded I join her in worship of her god,

which shamefully I did. This I have not shared with a soul and remains the

soul burden upon my shoulders.

T.S.

Datai says (to You) 'Well, this paper is like a confession, Father, maybe yah should

try the rite.'

You nod.

You say 'Confession cleanses the soul, and tells us of a lesson learned.'

Datai says (to You) 'Maybe other wrongs were commited because of this mistake, and

he'll need help fixing them.'

You say 'One we have regret and knowledge of our wrong, can we grow.'

You say 'TS, have shown this wisdom since your transgression.'

You say 'And may your soul learn your lesson well, that beauty seduces, but only in

love will find your purpose.'

Datai clasps her hands in a pious expression.

Caenarfon blesses the spot where the page was found.

You say 'May the power of the Lord find your soul and bring you to peace.'

Caenarfon puts his arms into the folds of his robes.

You say 'I don't think our records cover the Knights of that time.'

You say 'Perhaps we ought to check Old Gareth Keep?'

Datai says (to You) 'But I can't think of anyone with those initials... yah!'

You say 'If they did progress, we might yet see them there?'

The Old Gareth Keep was a red herring.

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Datai: a note sealed with a lute and falcon regarding: Serpantol Mystery

Wed Feb 9 17:53:03 2011

To: Anysse Gwaine Kuririn Caenarfon

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To the Lord Knight and Shield General:

Today Father Caenarfon and I sat in the Altar room when a blue mist formed

about our feet. It shifted to show the image of the ruins of Serpantol. We

went there, and looked around the Keep, there, in the cafeteria, the ghost

of Tesalon appeared. He was having great trouble with keeping in our plane

of existance, but warned us of a terrible Truth buried there. The sort

which wisdom would be needed to deal with.

We searched the Keep, and dug around the outside. There we found a decaying

letter:

And in the days of my youth behold, I came across a beautiful woman whom

worshipped the dark diety Mencius. My lack of wisdom at such an age lead to

my persuit of her, which she demanded I join her in worship of her god,

which shamefully I did. This I have not shared with a soul and remains the

soul burden upon my shoulders.

T. S.

We prayed over the remains, that this knight's confession, though late,

bring his spirit comfort. We are at a loss though, the confession, while by

no means a good thing for a young knight to involve himself in, is hardly

world ending. What other evils came of his actions are unknown.

We have checked our current rolls, as well as went back in time to ask the

Shield General there to check his rolls for a T. S. Who may be troubled.

I told him to leave a note in Stanley's room and I'd get it "later". Time

travel is tricky.

Because Lord Tesalon seemed so worried, we've only shared this with Sir

Kuririn, to see if he had any ideas, and now seek your advice on how to

proceed.

The High Clerist will continue to pray for this lost Knight's soul.

Siccara bless,

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Datai: a note sealed with a lute and falcon regarding: The Serpantol Mystery

Thu Feb 10 23:53:47 2011

To: Gwaine Anysse Rassilon Kuririn Caenarfon ( Immortal rp quest imm religion Siccara Nadrik Ghost of Tesalon )

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To the Lord Knight and the Officers of the Shield and Sir Kuririn:

Not going to lie, after this night I sat on the pews drinking hard.

Reflecting on a simpler older time, I pulled out that parchment Father

Caenarfon and I had dug up. I spilled some holy beer on it, but the orginal

ink was strong and well set so it just washed off some of the grime and

marks of the years of decay. It's somewhat clearer now, that the initials

are T.G.

Now those are initials we all reconise. Is the immortal soul of our first

Lord Knight still lost and troubled from not having proper confession?

If its not, it's probably troubled from us loosing Nadrik and Austinian.

I wonder what he must think of all this.

Anyhow, I think I'm drunk writing now. I should get some rest.

Siccara bless,

Lady Datai d'Aggravaine, Lorekeeper of Knighthood

PS: No wonder he was against women in the Knighthood. What a horrible

experiance!