In the Depths of the Crypt, Betrayal!

We find our intrepid heroes in a drainage pit having just found a secret door to a large room. Alexandru Croitoru, tired of the squabbling over who should go first, climbed into the room to discover a large communal bath with a full-wall mural depicting the subjugation of the mad sea-god Vargus and the Nar at the hands of Naeia and early Rexan soldiers. Another mural depicted what Alex presumed to be the village of Shagora with what appeared to be sea-men fathering a generation of only women. There was a door on the far end of the room that was guarded by suits of old Rexan armor. The daughters of Sisa bas Tanni and Novice Theophilus, son of Lucerno dei Candelario, followed Alex into the room.

Living Armor by Hero Forge Assets

As Brother Tarn, a priest of the Order of the Sea-Mother, crossed the threshold, the suits of armor became animated and drove straight for Tarn. Thanks to the quick thinking of the party's Alvi mage, the first construct’s sword was transfigured into a great spongy tube the color of a leaf just opening from its node, pale green, almost yellow and offensive to the eyes. Alex suggested that they strike for the living armor's joints, but the first few blows failed to do much damage as they glance off of it. However, with a mighty war-cry, Elissa bas Sisa eventually managed to strike a true blow. Rending the space behind the greaves, the first guardian collapsed into rust and ruin. The other daughter of Sisa followed her younger sister's lead and struck a blow under the pauldron of the second construct but failed to finish it. Riven Telstandis calmly swept into the room and caught a glimpse of the tiniest chink in the living armor at the joint of its helmet and shoulder piece. With a preternaturally fluid movement she drew her bow and let loose an arrow, striking the miniscule weak spot as if it were the side of granary. After the threat was neutralized, Tarn suggested the party rest in the room to recuperate and the exhausted adventurers agreed.

A]lex and the daughters of Sisa spent some time examining the images depicted in the murals which raised more questions than they answered and the women were horrified that they may have Vargusian taint in their lineage. Theo attempted to assuage their fears in vain. Tarn stepped in, ever-so-slightly manic, to suggest that they should be pleased to have the divine spark of Vargus in them.

In a distant future, in another universe a record scratches.

Riven was momentarily enthralled by the form of Vargus in the murals: his raw masculinity tapering into the fluid, the probing forms of a wine-dark, almost black octopus. Zhuge also noticed it and wondered when was the last time he had eaten.

Theo began to pray, hoping to heal the wounded before he rest for a while. He prioritized his brother in the faith, Tarn, for theurgical aid but Maya’s touch strangely felt distant to Theo and he was unable to do so. Tarn suggested with a smirk, that the novice mortify his flesh in penance to recement his faith, but when Theo asksed for theurgy on his own behalf, Maya's mercy came not in a drizzle, but a wave. Theo was beatific for a moment to the astonishment of his friends and the consternation of Tarn.

Nodinum, the 28th of Ikatrius, 114 post Refugium

As night watch was assigned, Alex demanded that he might take the watch with Tarn. Tarn seemed frustrated with this request, but when Alex suggested that it is for his own spiritual betterment, desiring to learn about the teachings of the Ouranic Church, Tarn reluctantly relented. Zhuge and Riven’s watches passed without incident, but as Alex queried Tarn about why the guardians of the Shrine of Naeia Aeriscae would attack him out of all the adventurers and if his Order had any legends concerning the humiliating subjugation of Vargus that might edify the party, Tarn attempted to use the Ar instill a supernatural terror within Alex. However, the innate dexterity that is a gift to all Oameni not only applies to the physical realm, but the supernatural as well, and Tarn was unable to succeed in his nefarious theurgy. Angered by his failure, Tarn then attempted to call upon the Ar to wound Alex to the quick, however, Alex literally shrugged off this theurgical assault. Shaken by his failure, Tarn began to flee from the room.

Alex hoped to merely hobble Tarn so that the party might interrogate him as to the reasoning behind his betrayal. However, in his enthusiasm, Alex accidentally vivisected the traitorous priest with his cortéla. As foamy blood and bile oozed from his mouth, Tarn died with his true god’s name on his lips - “Hail Vargus!”

The sound of Tarn's death throes roused the rest of the party from their slumber to the sight of Alex’s short sword buried to the hilt in Tarn’s guts. The wily and inscrutable Zhuge, who had feigned sleep during this time, assured them that Tarn had been the aggressor. A debate about how best to keep the priest dead ended with Kegho untying this Gordian knot by fiercely swinging his axe down onto the fallen Tarn's neck, removing the head and destroying the brain.

Afterwards, the party passed through the door previously guarded by the constructs to find an altar with a basin of brackish water and fine silver goblet. Shaken by recent events, Theo supplicated himself to Maya for guidance but received none. Alex knelt, prayed to his gods, and filled the goblet with the water from the basin but was stopped from consuming it by a physical reaction of disgust from the water’s putrescence. Elissa and Theo confirmed that this effect was not just a ward against the Oameni. Impatient, Amma suggested Alex just dump the water and bag the goblet. With this pragmatism, Alex fell a little bit in love.

While the other adventurers examined the basin of holy water, Riven employed her training as a Scout of Palesia in discovering three sets of footprints leading out of the altar room. The size of the prints and the gait, suggested to her that they belonged to two smaller Goblins and one larger being.

The party must now decide if they dare follow these prints further into the darkness of the ruined shrine.