Chapter 46 - The Dark Book and the Hooded One

General Summary

While their companions explore the secret dungeon beneath the Landgrave's love nest, Ingrid and Eliyahu meet with Rabbi Mordechai ben Yitzhak in the city's Fogarma Quarter. They ask him if he is aware of anyone using dark magic to summon the Sensenmann to destroy the city. The Rabbi turns the question back on the visitors: they have been listening to vile rumors and baseless speculations, and indulged in the typical libel against he Fogarma, instead of examining the content of the prevailing myths of the Apocalypse, which are almost entirely Gaalite in origin. The Four Riders, while they have some basis in the Fogarma Writ, are based in Gaalite speculations. The Fogarma, at any rate, do not believe in the end of the world, certainly not prior to the coming of the Messiah, who will lead his people back to the land of Giyon. HeIn any case, they have no interest in the destruction of Rotz, which is after all their home as well. He is not aware of any writings concerning the prior plague, which put the Gaalites in control, but says he will look into the matter. Ingrid is skeptical about cooperating with the Fogarma, who, after all, killed God, but Eliyahu strikes a deal to have the rabbi perform some divination to gain some answers. That done, they go to seek out their comrades, to report what they have learned. As they leave, Ingrid looks over the crowd outside the gates of the compound. While they could be capable of violence, they seem demoralized, leaderless, and drunk.

* * *

Quite shocked by what they find in the cellar, the rest of the party try to make sense of what they have found. Certainly, the Landgrave's character seems far from unimpeachable. Franz, Erich and Johann, and some of the mercenaries who less than an hour ago were guarding the mansion help themselves to the contents of the Landgrave's mansion. As the mansion is progressively emptied, the core group undertakes a thorough search of the torture chamber. Dietmar still intuits nothing magical about the place, but, soon after being joined by Ingrid and Eliyahu, they find a trap door beneath the floor, where there are four skeletons in rotting clothes. Why are they there? Ritual purposes? Or simply to hide evidence of crimes committed?
The companions return to the main part of the house, to see if a book can be found that explains what has transpired here. There is no library in the house - the only book present is a copy of the Writ by the Landgrave's bedside. Dmitrei - the party's designated reader, leafs through it. For the most part, the book appears to be exactly what it is, but there are illuminations in it that have decidedly lewd imagery, and in some places in the early chapters, which detail the Creation and Expulsion, a dark, hooded presence is noted. Worse, the final chapter, the Unveiling, has God's name scratched out. Here, perhaps, is the book of summoning they have been looking for, Dietmar considers. The fact that Ingrid and Eliyahu brought back nothing concrete only strengthens his conviction. The letters found earlier suggest that the countess may be the real link to the Dark Powers, although its presence in the Landgrave's private mansion is a bit of a mystery.
The book did not seem to be magical, but it seems like it has power nevertheless, so the group takes it to the Cathedral, to seek out Peter the Chaplain. They show him the book, and indicate that it may have been used in the summoning ritual. Peter agrees, and asks what he thinks should be done with it. After a lengthy discussion, it is decided that the book should be tossed in the fire - perhaps this will cause Death's minions to vanish. As they do, a huge ball of fire engulfs the chamber, consuming Peter and his attendants - only the companions somehow emerge with minor burns. Certainly, the book, despite not having any detectable magic about it, has a great deal of power. Dietmar considers trying to dispel it, but is dissuaded by Dmitrei and the others - if it has already burned several people alive in its own defense, it would certainly be able to wreck other sorts of violence. Dissuaded, after his attempt to remove the curse ends with a nosebleed and a headache.
As most of the companions retire for the night, Ingrid and Eliyahu return to the Fogarma Quarter, to report about the book, and to see if the rabbi has found anything. Mordechai seems completely unsurprised about the book, and says that his earlier speculation about the nature of the Gaalite nature of the dark magic seem to have been entirely warranted. He also says that his own attempts at gematria and reading the stars have yielded the following information: Death's presence here is caused by someone very close to Ingrid and Eliyahu. This disturbing news must be pondered overnight - Eliyahu requests shelter, and and exchange of magical secrets, to which Mordechai agrees, so long as Ingrid and he sleep in separate quarters. To this they agree, and Eliyahu learns a new incantation.

* * *

In the middle of the night, the city streets are suddenly filled with sounds of screaming, fighting, and a far-off horn. Eliyahu and Ingrid depart from the Quarter to rejoin their companions at the Honeypot. As buckets of raining continue to fall upon the city, it becomes clear that the gates have been breached, and that the army of the dead has fallen upon the populace. Dietmar calls on everyone to head toward the gate to fight off the attackers, but Franz says that the city is doomed, and that they should save themselves to live to fight another day. As the slaughter spreads, Dietmar is eventually convinced, so he calls upon owls to carry them north of the city. The dead, and the rider with the bow watch them depart, but take no action.
After alighting, they begin to make plans: should they return to the city to inspect the damage, or seek out the Landgrave and the Countess to find out what their part in all this was. Ingrid and Eliyahu are also curious about the meaning of Mordechai's words about the cause of the Totentanz arriving at Rotz being someone close to them. Suspicion naturally falls on Franz, who is known to have pledged himself to the Sensenmann. Franz repeats that he spoke to him, and dissuaded him from attacking Wunschau, since that is already a dead city. As his friends press Franz for more answers, Eliyahu begins to inspect Ingrid's necklace. Mysteriously, it will not come off her neck. He finds that it is imbued with dwarf magic, and causes her to pine after Albenheim, and Prince Laurin. Any attempt to remove it will cause harm to someone dispelling it, which Dietmar learns immediately, to his detriment. Right on cue, she begins to talk of returning to Albenheim, which is at least safe from the Sensenmann, and, the reason they came north to begin with.
With this, they retire for the night into Nit's hut. They are awakened early on by the sounds of birds of prey and human voices somewhere above them. Whatever it is circles above them, but then flies off.
The following morning, after waking, Eliyahu sends a newly summoned Abdo to fly over Rotz, to inspect the damage. The populace has been slaughtered, and corpses litter the streets. However, there are groups of living children, which appear to have been unharmed. As they ponder the meaning of this strange attack, Dmitri, after asking Franz about his strange black pawn, sets up his chess board, with the pieces in the same position as during his game with the Sensenmann. Soon, the cloaked figure appears from behind a tree, sits upon his portable stool, and makes a move. The companions ask him why he destroyed Rotz, and the hooded one answers that it is a strange question, considering one among them opened the gates for him. Perhaps others helped, as well. Sparing the children was part of the deal made. After saying that he will see them again soon, the Sensenmann departs.
Franz, facing attacks from all sides, says that he made the deal as the best possible solution, just as when he made the initial deal for his brother's life. Eliyahu then mumbles an incantation, and Franz falls under his spell...

Rewards Granted

• A new spell for Eliyahu

Missions/Quests Completed

• Location of a book, possibly of summoning
• Escape from Rotz
• Meeting with the Sensenmann (?)

Character(s) interacted with

• Rabbi Mordechai ben Yitzhak
• Peter the Chaplain
• the Sensenmann (?)

Report Date

29 Sep 2021

Primary Location

Rotz auf den Wunsch