(G614 31/01/2026 via Roll20 - JF, KT, AP(GM), AD) 5ED14

 

(G614 31/01/2026 via Roll20 - JF, KT, AP(GM), AD) 5ED14

[This continues the story of Rogier the bard, a warforged called Gravedigger and a goliath paladin known as Uthmar Shatterstone. They have arrived at the  mysteriously deserted town of Everaska and have just recently entered the manor house of the Viers family.]


DAY 17 cont ...

Our brave heroes continued to wander around the house looking for useful things and any treasure that wasn't nailed down.

Gravedigger found a set of keys in a kitchen drawer that allowed them access to some of the rooms upstairs.

In the master bedroom he found a sinister looking journal. He translated the first page:

''
That which stands behind the world may be reached by those who dare to step sideways
''

Along the edge of the cover, in smaller script, almost like an afterthought:

"Do not read this aloud unless you are prepared to be answered"

It continued:

''
I write this not as confession, but as instruction.

The Other Plane is not distant. It does not lie beyond the stars nor beneath the earth. It exists beside us, pressed thin against our reality like breath against glass.
Most believe the planes are separated by vast gulfs. This is a comforting lie.
The truth is simpler, and far more dangerous: the Veil is weakest where people gather, where lives overlap, where faith, fear, and memory are layered thick upon one another.
A house will suffice.
A district is better.
A city is ideal.

The passage is not opened by force, but by alignment.
Time must hesitate.
Witnesses must be present.
And the reflection must be invited.
Those who fear possession misunderstand the process. The Other does not steal the self - it reveals it. What was taken from Veershade was not flesh, but certainty.

They stepped through willingly, though they will never remember agreeing. I record the ritual here so that it may be repeated, refined, and - if necessary - completed correctly next time.
''

None of them knew anything about what any of the above meant, although they all agreed it was a bit rum.

Gravedigger also noticed at the bottom of the page, written later, in a different hand, or  the same hand grown unsteady:
"I hear him now, even when the mirror is covered."

They went back to Lady Vier's camp and Gravedigger gave her the book and the translation.
'Oh deary me!' she exclaimed.

For reasons known only to himself Rogier decided to tried being intimidating and  demanding more money, going 'WOT!' and lurching at her in the most alarming fashion.
She gave them all 100 gold each. 
Gravedigger, rather ashamed of his companion's behaviour, handed his back later on.

Gravedigger then translated more of the book, sat at a table in the shelter of Lady Vier's pavilion.

He looked for the more pertinent parts, and translated them from Infernal.

''
I attempted the alignment elsewhere.
In the cellar. In the upper rooms. Even beyond the house.
All attempts failed.
The Veil does not tear twice in different places. It thins only where it has already been wounded. The entrance remembers.

To stand anywhere else is to knock upon a door that does not exist.
''

In the margin, cramped and irritated:

''
The circles are not redundant. Each serves a voice.
''

Gravedigger thought on this. The author appeared earnest, but it didn't tie in with any established religious thinking. There was no "Veil". There was a "Weave" and also the Plane of Shadow. Perhaps it was the name for one of these, or it was a name for an Alternate Material Plane as yet unknown, or an alternative name for an existing Plane in the established Cosmology.

Gravedigger talked to Lady Viers.
'It's all very good finding out the truth,' he considered. 'But where does it get us?
Do you think we could get all the people back?'
'I know not,' she admitted. 'But I think you should try the pentagrams. None of this matches up with our understanding of the other realms, but it could be interesting to find out.'
'Hah!' puffed Gravedigger. 'It is all the lies of demons and devils if you ask me! I was taught the Traditional Model in my seminary. It is well established.'

He did more research, late into the night and deduced that their were three pentagrams they should focus on:

Pentagram 1 — The Anchor - Runes of binding, devotion, and endurance
Pentagram 2 — The Voice - Runes of sound, names, and invitation
Pentagram 3 - Gravedigger wasn't too sure about this one, it looked like nonsense to him 

DAY 18

Gravedigger spent another day translating the journal.
Rogier helped when he wasn't arguing with Uthmar or trying to intimidate passing badgers.

Uthmar spent the day either napping or attending to his weapons and armour.


DAY 19

Our brave heroes returned to the manor house and the rooms with the pentagrams in them.
Gravedigger consulted the journal and arranged them all on the pentagrams he had deduced to be the ones required.

As the ritual began all the doors slammed shut and the air began to feel thick. The pentagrams began to radiate darkness. They found that they were now stuck to the spot. The flickering of the candles seemed to freeze mid flicker. Motes of dust hung in the air.

Next a voice said something in an unknown tongue, the floor began to pulse as if breathing.
It was all kicking off now, that was for sure, there was hardly anything of the sinister persuasion that WASN'T happening now. A mirror in the room clouded over, then cleared. The runes on the floor began to move.

Something dark moved in the mirror, then in blur of moving light and shadow they found themselves moved into the interior of some sort of tomb.

Rogier, without any hesitation at all, seeing a sarcophagi, went over to lift the lid so he could loot it. Gravedigger and Uthmar did not like disturbing graves and left him to it.

After searching the place for loot, they moved forward into another chamber that contained several chests. It was hardly a surprise to any of them that they turned out to be mimics.

A hap-hazard fight ensued, with our brave heroes eventually coming out on top. They then sat down and got their breath back for a while.

Eventually they stood up again and examined a door to the north. Rogier knocked on it and stood back. Gravedigger put his ear to the door.
'I hear hissing and clicking,' he informed the others.