Calabria Adventures

The stained glass windows of the Leona cathedral, sent warm yellow beams of light throughout the streets. The old building was magnificent, the aged intricately engraved stone, the inside chambers decorated with ancient tapestries and home to hundreds of books of the gospel. When the sun hit the gold, decorative glass, it almost appeared to glow. Not far from the Rinaldi estate, it was by far the largest of all S'allumer's churches. The most important figures in the faith worshipped and preached within these ancient walls, and it was the headquarters of the perhaps the most feared branch of the clergy - the inquisitors.

Once through those large doors and walking through the church Mauricio was humbled severely. The might of s'Allumer was a thing to behold, that which it extended towards her most faithful of followers. He took a moment to pray and donated some of his meagre savings in the savings jar before making his way to the grand inquisitor's office.

Many of the priests of this church were mice, and as their brother passed them by, the small creatures lowered their head politely and made a holy symbol with their hand.

Mauricio rapped his knuckles on the door, and a deep responded from the other side, ordering him to enter. Maur opened the door, the creak of the hinges echoing through the silent building. The old, stern-faced gorilla lifted his eyes, placed his reading glasses on the table and stood to face his returned comrade.

"Brother Mauricio," the gorilla - a man by the name Yaromir - spoke in a quiet voice that demanded respect. "I am glad to see you have S'Allumer has returned you to us safely."

Mauricio came in and made the holy symbol towards the grand inquisitor and then bowed to show his respect. "Brother Yaromir..." said the stoat to the gorilla. "Our holiness S'Allumer watched over me well. The lordling was delivered safely..." Said Mauricio, his voice respectful. "In my talks and investigations I found no clue of heresy. The Lord believes strongly in the heterodoxy of Haimorrous, as we already knew and follows the dogma as faithfully as the blessed monks of Haimorrous themselves..."

The gorilla returned the bow with the slightest nod of his head. "I am glad to hear that, and I am sure that his parents and other relatives will feel a great sense of relief." He sat at this desk once again, closing the book he was writing in and moved it carefully to the side. "I have lived in Triskellian almost my entire life, and have known the Rinaldi family since even before Lord Mordechai's birth. Lord Mordechai, as a child, was not one to take his religious studies very seriously. So you must understand that this is a very sudden change, and if the letters from his wife and head-of-guard are to be believed, they have witnessed his rambling to himself and scrawling for many hours in a book. Do you feel that his current beliefs are causing him harm, or could potentially harm others?"

Mauricio thought about that question for a moment before he returned an answer. “I saw no overt signs of instability from the lord, even if the guard did not let me investigate him as closely during our journey as might have been necessary…” The inquisitor said. “There were also some complications…” He put his paws together, thinking. “Maybe these are even possibly connected to our lord seeking s'Allumer's guidance in so heterodox a fashion…”

"Oh," the gorilla asked, placing his fingertips together as he listened. "Tell me about these... 'complications'."

"During our journey we were attacked by bandits. The battle was but a skirmish and they were swiftly beaten back." Mauricio began his story again. "One of the bandits had stolen a chest however and the guards decided that it should be me that would have to find and return it..."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "We managed to track the thieves to a plantation across the river, ran by two squirrels. A man named Aapeli and a woman whose name I did not catch but who was taught in the arts of water magic." He made sure to not miss any details that might be important, of course their swimming party was probably not important.

"When we tried to question the thieves however something very peculiar happened, a spell seemed to go off that paralyzed them completely. A very powerful spell... Among the mercenaries there was a spellbinder of some skill who through some digging found that they might have been under the control of someone even during the attack. A knight known as Johann Vallaine, whom we also met on the plantation, even swore on his honour that these two thieves were no villains, which makes it seem all the more likely."

Now Mauricio leaned in just a little closer. "When we returned to the caravan I spoke to the commander of this who, a little reluctantly, told me that the lord's family has had trouble with a witch and when I brought this to the lord, he confessed to this."

"He also believes his daughter might have been cursed by the witch. She does bear a remarkable black mark around her eye and this is not beyond the petty curses of a hag."

He perked up again. "Of course. Brother Yaromir, this aligns with what you told me about the lord's sudden chance. Perhaps the curse upon his daughter caused him to seek the help of s'Allumer... Perhaps he himself had dealings with this witch and wishes now to repent... His family is powerful and such power often draws one to seek out the dark arts as a curiousity..."

The gorilla listened patiently, nodding every so often at the Stoat's words. When Mauricio had finished speaking, the Grand Inquisitor remained silent for a moment, allowing himself to gather his thoughts. "I am not entirely surprised that Lord Mordechai has done dealings with a witch," he finally began. "He always was quite the foolish child," he added bluntly.

"Perhaps this will be a lesson for him and his family. They may be Rinaldi, and not have the same fears and worries as the common folk, but their family name does not protect them from the dark arts. I would quite like to see this mark for myself. It is possible that one of our Almoners can free her from the witch's curse."

"We must remain vigilant and alert, especially if devious spellbinders and those skilled in unholy magic are within our midst. We should attempt to find out more about these malicious magicians and see that they are brought to justice, before they can bring more pain and horror to the good citizens of this town."

Mauricio could not disagree with that this was a fitting punishment for one who'd dealt with a witch... although being reminded about the Rinaldi's untouchable nature put a bad taste in his mouth. He'd heard tales about inquisitor's finding out extreme heresies and then being silenced, either by the church or some direct funding from the heretic...

"We must surely do so..." Mauricio replied. "It would be a great honour if I could serve s'Allumer and the church by carrying on this investigation myself, to find the witch..." the stoat continued in an almost passionate voice. Aside from the event with his friends a few years ago, the inquisitor had not been given a case of any note yet... Maybe at last he could prove himself to his god and his order...

The gorilla mused the proposition over for a moment. "By the sound of it, your actions during journey have pleased the Rinaldi. They must have put a great deal of trust in you to disclose their dealings with the dark forces. " Silence filled a room, while the Grand Inquisitor gaze locked onto the stoat, reading his expression and subtle movements. After a beat, he continued, "very well, I will allow you to lead this campaign. You may also recruit fellow members of the church or trusted comrades to aid your investigation. I recommend you speak to Mordechai Rinaldi again as soon as possible and find out everything you can, and also suggest that he bring his daughter to our church to be cleansed in S'Allumer's holy light."

The Gorilla returned his reading glasses to his face, "If you have no further business, you may retire for the evening."

"I thank you, brother Yaromir. I will follow your suggestions..." Mauricio said with a slight bow. "May s'Allumer be with you." He said as he turned around and left the grand inquisitor's office. He was deep in though as he walked, thinking of the task he'd taken on. He wondered what would be the most wicked danger, the witch or the politics of the Rinaldi he would surely get embroiled in....