Under the Tomb

by Floyd Fiftynames, Licensed Bard

Some heroes have an innate understanding of their narrative - yours truly is such a one, and Lothar's friend Riordan could be counted among those as well, but it wasn't the strong suit of our brawny protagonist. He was happy to leave the direction of his party's exploits to Riordan, Salem, and Lioto, while he fulfilled his role to the best of his ability. 

Of course, I'm speaking in trends here more than hard and fast absolutes - there were a handful of exceptions to the rule, and the Order of the Night was definitely one of those exceptions. Until recently, Lothar had not even known who they were, but after Salem showed him the etching in the book of the robed men in beak masks, an association was forged that would not have to be re-emphasized. It had been hard to adhere to the doctrine of patience which the group had instituted back at the beginning of their travels, but Lothar understood the necessity, especially when he thought back to what he was like, and what he knew of combat and the kinds of magic and evils in the world back then - there was not merely a difference in the level of power between the Order of the Night and the villagers in Oakshadow the night they were brutally slaughtered, there was a chasm as wide and as bottomless as the one he had grown up so near. 

Today, however, he knew that this chasm, while not exactly closed, was growing smaller, maybe even within jumping distance for the Band of the Red Oak. While this might not have been the correct time to hunt them down, the time was ripe to begin uncovering their origins and methodologies, to being the study of the enemy that would ultimately lead to Lothar's retribution, and their downfall.

As the group investigated further, at the library and archives of the Ubus, then in the private library of the Order of the Collar, they came upon the opportunity to visit the tomb of the last sanctioned head of the Order of the Night. They of course acted upon this opportunity, and were amazed to discover a secret passageway which led below the cathedral, and into a secret chamber filled with summoning circles within holding cells, which Salem and Riordan believed were designed to contact supernatural dimensions where horrible, evil beings dwelled - beings who delighted in the punishment and suffering of wicked souls. After passing through several rooms, they found themselves directly under the High Revelator's seat, where an ongoing, unclosed portal to Hell itself existed. After quickly dispatching a small devil, Salem blocked the portal by shaping the stone around it.

The party was prevented from further investigation by the beginning of the birthday festivities for the High Revelator, Anders, but the knowledge of this portal's existence, and its placement within the cathedral, left the band suspicious, and on alert for signs of trouble.

FF