Chapter Nine: the Ragged Man (Father Abstinence)
Alev approaches the front door of the mission. Standing on the modest front porch he knocks at the door and steps back waiting for a response. For several moments nothing happens. Then the door opens and a wide-eyed swamp elf looks about peering at each of you in turn. The sounds of singing burst forth from the place and everyone can hear the swamp elves struggling to sing hymns to Marius. The elf at the door holds his index finger and makes a shushing sound. He then waves you into the place.
Inside about a dozen swamp elves stand in a group facing the altar. They are all singing with great heart about the greatness of Marius and how the wheel turns and other such. The elves appear to be a pretty standard selection of the race: lanky, dirty, wearing ragged clothing with mud on their feet. At the front of the congregation is a well groomed, balding human. His forehead is slicked with a thin sheen of sweat and his arms flail about punctuating parts of the hymn as he directs his congregation. His rather ample belly jiggles in rhythm with the lyrics.
As the song comes to an end the man's eyes light up as he seems to have just noticed the "visitors" in the back of the church. In a jovial voice, the man calls out, "Palebranch, will you please lead your fellows in singing 'The Wheel Grinds out Justice' while I greet our guests?" One of the swamp elves moves to take his place at the front as the old man walks down the center aisle of the church towards the Starborn. The elves take up another song with the same enthusiasm as before, but with less talent, as their "chior master" has abandoned them.
"Greetings, greetings, welcome to our humble mission of the Blessed Marius," the man stage whispers to the heroes working to be heard over the music without interrupting. "I am Father Abstinence Morton of the Church of Marius. Please come inside and take your rest from that wretched swamp!" Father Abstinence seems friendly enough as he ushers the party into the place.
Anyone that enters the place feels an almost immediate relief of tension and weariness. A sense of a load being lifted overcomes each of the heroes . . . a great burden taken off of their shoulders. The more observant members of the party (Seebo and Casey) notice fleas, ticks and swamp bugs leaping off of people's bodies as they cross the threshold of the building. Curiously, none of the insects will enter the building as they scuttle off of the front porch back into the swamp.
Father Abstinence will answer no questions or talk with anyone until the singing is complete. He motions rather insistently for quiet if anyone tries to speak while the elves are singing. After the elves finish singing he claps his hands in celebration and calls out, "That will be enough for today, my brothers. Thank you, thank you. Please help yourselves to the refreshments." The elves make their way towards a banquet table off to the left of the large worship room and take handfuls of fruit, nuts, cheese, bread and jerky. Father Abstinence turns to the heroes, "Will you join us for our noon repast?"
posted by Brent Nall at 3:05 PM
7 Comments:
Oops . . . everyone that enters the place feels a sense of relief . . . EXCEPT Alev. It will take a bit of role-play and comment on the effect before you all realize that he is excluded from the effect.
Unless someone specifically points out the insect situation, Neil doesn't notice (failed spot check). However, if someone DOES point it out . . . any insects that are forcibly taken into the place flee at the first opportunity. If Father Abstinenence notices them (fairly likely) he huffs and looks a bit squeamish until the critters leave.
There is no magical aura apparent in the area using detect magic, but vermin do not enter the place, and flee if given the chance.
Is there any particular reason you decided to stay outside Rygorh? I thought I was supposed to be the stand-offish one about "holy" places.
Eh, suit yourself. Hey Casey, pass me a plate, I'm starving!
As you make your way to the food Father Abstinence cuts in front of you . . . "Here, let's wash up before hand." He draws a large wash basin from under the table, calls on the power of tha law and justice and creates water into the wash basin. He provides a bit of lye soap and some towels to dry off.
"Now, that's much better. Make yourselves at home."
There are a few tables and chairs handy, some rough wooden plates and spoons and roughspun towels. Clay and wooden cups with clear water are also handy.
Before anyone eats Father Abstinence asks for a moment of silence. He prays aloud to Marius and the will of the Universal Wheel to blees the food and provide nourishment to everyone for their health and well-being.
"Ok, let's eat!" and he digs in.
While washing up, "Sorry Padre, I forget my manners sometimes. Its just such a relief to be out of that vermin infested wretched hellhole of a swamp. We really do appreciate your hospitality!"
The meal is filling and tasty. The elves sit on the floor in groups of two or three eating cheerfully.
Father Abstinence asks for news of Crescent City and what's happening of late. He listens attentively to anything you might tell him about the goings on in the city; he asks questions which make it clear he has lived in Crescent City in the past, but has not been there in many months.
To your questions he states that he is a humble servant of the Church of Marius here to spread the word of his church to the "heathen elves" of the swamp. He has been here for about a year and a half, with a couple of brief vacations back to Crescent City.
"So, will you be staying overnight? Or will you be moving on?"
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