Three Possible Survey Missions

Montock was meek little fellow, not particularly tall, and skinny as a rail.  He was quiet, but nervous and fidgety.  Just being around the young man for a few minutes spread his nervousness like a contagion, and everyone around him eventually felt anxious...like something was being left undone.

As Chief Surveyor Brower's assistant, it was often Montock that brought the group messages from their handler.  And on this night, the young man brought a thin bundle of parchment, folded and tied with twine.  He handed off the bundle to Timm with hardly a word, and was off again.

The group gathered together in Sympos' room, and went through the bundle.  Three survey opportunities were contained, just as the Chief Surveyor had promised.  They were to look them over, and let their handler know which they would like to pursue by the next afternoon.  

The other two cases might be reassigned to other survey groups, depending on who was available, and the urgency of the case.  But, more often than not, the Chief Surveyor might hold onto one or both of the rejected cases...for future assignment to Survey Group No. 13.

--------------------

Case 49-878-52
The Red Gate of Philoso

Recently upgraded from historical legend to a possible survey opportunity, the Red Gate of Philoso is a long standing myth in the northern reaches of Oth.  Perhaps the myth is based on reality?

Reports have come in from Fort Moss along the Northern Road.  Townspeople from the town of Nomville came to the Fort asking for assistance recently.  Several teens had been up to no good amid the ruins of a castle believed to have once belonged to the great mage Philoso.  They had been warned many times to stay out of the ruins, but teens being teens, they ignored the warnings.

Only 2 of 6 teens returned to the town, and the remaining four are either injured or dead within the ruins.  The townspeople, simple folk, and a superstitious lot, refuse to enter the ruins.  Adding to their apprehension, are the incoherent ramblings of the two surviving teens.  They report being attacked by monsters in the ruins, and that when they ran and hid, they came across a glowing red gate leading to another world.

The gate was reportedly in the basement of the ruins, and was round, with incomprehensible glowing red runes around its border.

The two surviving teens were separated from the four that are missing, and do not know their fate.  These two survivors have not been themselves since their return, and have been acting oddly.  This has only added to the fear among the townspeople.

The soldiers at Fort Moss decided this was a job for a survey team, and outside their mandate to protect the Northern Road from bandits.

--------------------

Case 50-923-99
The Cloud Castle

In the Western-most reaches of Oth, near the coast of the Vis'Aldorn Ocean, comes a report so fanciful as to defy credibility.  And yet, the source from which the story comes, and the number of witnesses to the event, suggest this is something worth exploring.

Three weeks ago, a group of Rangers of Oth, patrolling uninhabited areas along the coast witnessed a castle in the sky.  This shadowy castle floated high above the ground, with no column or support holding it up.  It was as if it had been built in the air, its very foundation laid upon the clouds.

The Rangers traveled in a wide circle beneath the edifice, attempting to identify by what trickery or magic the illusion had been generated.  At nightfall, they set up camp beneath the castle, and in the dark of night it seemed to disappear.  No sign of it at all remained in the morning.

The Rangers spoke to shepherds and hunters from nearby villages (Mearth, Vondis, and Fosk), and found that quite a few of them claimed to have seen the Castle in the Sky.  No one reported seeing any people in or around the cloud castle, but the descriptions of the structure were all eerily similar to what the Rangers had seen.

Who built the castle?  Who lives in it?  What secrets and treasure might be held behind its walls far above the land?

--------------------

Case 34-077-01
The Cult of Al Ana

The veracity of this report rests on the shoulders of a single witness.  One Mortney Reich, from near the town of Riverbend.  

Mr. Reich is a farmer by trade, and lives outside Riverbend.  But, it is where he goes to sell his crops, buy provisions, and socialize with people outside of his immediate family of eight.

This witness reports that there are strange happenings in Riverbend.  Husbands have been disappearing.  The womenfolk have become quite outspoken and daring, and the entire social order has been upset.

As unlikely a theory as one can imagine, Mr. Reich insists that the women of the town have resurrected the ancient cult of Al Ana, and that they have taken up worshiping the she-demon, like in days of old.

Mr. Reich claims that the River Frahm has taken to occasionally running red, as though its water has been replaced by sacrificial blood.  He had heard whispers of people hearing mad screams in the dark of night.  And that brings us around the missing husbands.  No fewer than 7 men have disappeared in the past few months.

A survey of this situation would consist of traveling to Riverbend, and investigating if indeed a demon cult has been reestablished in the town, and if necessary, dismantling this cult.

Comments

    • Jay

      I too agree with Shade.  If they do not follow Rukin then they should be shown to his bosom and their newfound belief will be extolled through the rotting of their flesh

      • Marcus Auerilius

        Timm nods towards Shade before speaking, "I would like to do all three, but the cult one is my first choice as well, although not for the same reasons as Shade. If these women are outspoken as we've been informed, we can just ask them about their beliefs. For due diligence, we should also investigate this man who made the accusation...I don't see myself as a farmer's hitman. Lastly, Shade makes an uncomfortable, but good point."

        Timm looks around for a few seconds meeting everyone's eyes and then continues.

        "Then cloud castle, then red gate...both of which sound ominous and worthy of us asking the King for resources and equipment that might aid in our success."
         

        • Mark Stinson

          Chris wrote:

          Shade fidgets with his right glove and says, "I love taking on cultists. You can kill all you want and people will thank you."