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What ever wounds you received from fighting the halberdiers, and then later brother Io, are now healed. The clergy gives you enough healing potions to make you whole. If the bishop survived and wasn't turned into a vampire, he too is healed. If the bishop was turned into a vampire, read the following paragraph. Otherwise you may skip it.
If the bishop was turned into a vampire. He is restrained by several monks. Friars gather around him and pray. Laying their hands on him they cast aid spells and increase his ST. Another priest then casts cleansing spell on him and he suffers ten points of damage and is restored.
The dissenting priest, Arnault, seems
to be on your side now. He addresses the clergy while
standing beside you ``We must do the Mass of Ashes. Put the
mark on the faithful and slay the rest. This is the way to
rid our city of this curse.'' He gestures to one of his
attendant priests who opens a bible and begins to read aloud.
``A reading from the book of Ezekiel.''
The priest has a loud baritone voice that fills the hall to the
ceiling. Everyone settles down to listen and he continues.
``4 Saying to him: Pass through the
city and mark an X on
the foreheads of all those who
moan and groan over all
the abominations that are
practiced within it.
5 To the others I heard him say: Pass
through the city after
him and strike! Do not look on
them with pity nor show
any mercy!
6 Old men, youths and maidens, women and
children - wipe
them out! But do not touch any
marked with the X; begin
at my sanctuary. So they began
with the men [the elders]
who were in front of the temple.
-Ezekiel 9:4-6 ''
Thinking of the crowds that have gathered outside the cathedral, who are patiently waiting to see what is going on, you open the book of Father Thias and read. ``From the book of Father Thias.''
``All my crusaders.
Come home.
The war is over.
Christ has won.''
You fix the gathering of clergy with
your eyes and continue. ``We will not slay those who
receive not the mark. We will not start another
crusade. We shall send forth, and mark all those who will
receive it. It shall stand as a protection for them against
the evil. These rats have not the spirit to draw near the
mark of the lord. Rather they shall flee the sight of
it. And those who flee, that are people, shall be captured
and brought here. Our scholars shall try them to see if
they are bitten, if they have turned. Be it old men, youths
and maidens, women or children.''
You pause for a second to let that sink
in. ``Even those found bitten shall not be slain.
They shall be cleaned. This shall be our role.
Healing. Not slaughter. As it was done to the Bishop,
let it be done to the flock.''
The priest Arnault turns to face you
and says. ``So let it be done.'` He turns to the
clergy. ``Let it be written, and let the word go forth.''
With that the gathering begins to break up. Arnault steps
closer to you and speaks more softly. ``I shall go and
insist the governor hold all ships in harbor till they can be
cleaned of rats. Least this plague spread from city to
city.'' Being this close to him, you notice he seems to be a
bitter man. ``My concern is the rats that may flee the city
over land and through the swamp. What chance have we
against that.''
Forgotten, the rat catcher, Roget, steps
forward and speaks. ``We can light the marsh on fire.
Burn the whole thing. That will stop them, and rid us of
any already there.'' At this suggestion Arnault looks to you see
if you will approve it.
You answer ``Do all of these
things.'' And Arnault leaves the Cathedral to address the
government people and workers still waiting outside. You go
with him to watch. He addresses the government figures from
the Cabildo. ``Vampire infested rats have issued forth from
the gate. We fear they may already be on the ships in
harbor. You must hold the ships till they can be
searched.'' He looks to one senior official. ``Have any
ships left since yesterday?''
The portly man in upperclass clothes
answers. ``Yes. The Freeboard, departed this
morning.''
Arnault continues. ``We must send
priests to search this ship as well. May we have the use of
one of your flying carpets, so we may over take them on the
river. Before they make port.''
``Of course.'' The man answers.
``We will send our best pilot with you.''
The crowd seems to be grumbling.
You notice that many of the government people are intermingled
with town guard. The majority of the guard are armed with
halberds. They seem to be casting hateful looks your
way. One of them has an arquebus ready. He seems to
have fired it at you. The crowd is stunned by the loud
thunderclap of the gun going off. You are wounded
badly. Apparently this guard has decided to take the
revenge for his fallen comrades.
Take 3D+3 damage. Remember you stop 6 points due to the iron flesh ring.
You are immediately surrounded by
priests of your own order. They seem overjoyed that you are
still talking. They go into bed side manner as they check
the wound and break out healing potions. Father Duncan is
kneeling over you while the rest work. ``Tell us of your
adventure Lubik.'' They want to hear of your
adventure. Hmmm. You can hear a commotion from the
crowd. Probably apprehending the guard who fired at
you. Laying on your back before the Cathedral you see blue
sky and gentle white clouds. While they send for a
stretcher to carry you back to the Presbyteree you entertain them
with details of your journey in the swamp.
As they carry you to the infirmary you notice
Roget tagging along. The priests of your order heal
you. You and Roget spend the rest of the day in chambers
with the priests. The two of you get cleaned up, putting on
new robes, eating, and relating the tale of your trip into the
swamp. Roget now looks kind of like a priest. A
priest with long dark hair and a net-on-a-pole. On of your
brothers gives him a silver knife.
Roget the rat catcher
ST:
9 net-on-a-pole, silver dagger 1-1
DX: 18
IQ: 12 Pole weapons(2), knife(1),
running(2)
MA: 12 Literacy(1), naturalist(2),
tracking(1),
Acute hearing(3)
That evening, you take your spear and go out into the streets among the people. It has just gotten dark. It is hot and humid. There is an acrid smell in the air. You can see smoke rising all around the city. People must have been lighting fires in the marsh all day. The city is surrounded by a red halo flickering off the low clouds. It cast a weird light on the city. Making it look kind of hellish. Roget is at your side. ``This is a well formed night for hunting rats '' he says.