Inquisition into the Unknown 3

A series played using Dark Ages: Inquisitor. This post is published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

Back in town, Amelina and Nigelle update Anna on their first expedition. They take care to describe the mural, illusion, and strange shrine. Anna considers their findings [Intelligence + Occult, 6 dice, 1 success]. There are vague stirrings of recollection in her mind, but nothing concrete. With a sigh, Anna realises that she will need to go in person to examine them. Together, and with Favian's aid, they set out for the estate at dawn.

They guide Sister Anna to the shrine off the throneroom. While Anna gets to work on the shrine, Nigelle and Amelina investigate the remaining side rooms. They find a trophy room stuffed with a variety of taxidermied animals (some chimerical) and weapons and armour. [Perception + Alertness, Amelina 8 dice, 5 successes / Nigelle 6 dice, 2 successes]. Nigelle recognises the arms and armour as being from a wide range of cultures, and confirms his suspicions that they have all seen use in battle. Amelina notices that all of the appartenly chimerical creatures were assembled after death. She also spots an intricate crystal goblet, which she wraps in cloth and slips into her bag.

Meanwhile, in the shrine, Anna is scrutinsing the idol and surrounding runes [Intelligence + Occult, 6 dice, three successes / Intelligence + Theology, 8 dice, 3 successes]. She confirms that this is a chamber where ritual sacrifices have taken place, and that the idol is not an obviously satanic one. She's unsure of the cultural origin but is certain that it has an occult significance and power. She reaches under the bandages on her back to feel the constantly open wounds beneath them. With blood on her fingertips, she anoints the idol while muttering a prayer to subdue the idol's power [Willpower, 6 dice, 4 successes].

The next room Amelina and Nigelle find is another well-appointed bedroom, less lavish than the others but still very respectable [Perception + Alertness, avg 7 dice, 4 successes]. The wardrobe contains several sets of men's functional clothes, a heavy mace and shield hang on the wall, the bedside table holds some momentoes. Among the latter is a carved wood and silver plaque, the message is an endearing and quite personal message to the estate's guard captain and is signed only "R." Nigelle quietly wonders what this could mean about the relationship between the two men. Amelina pockets a small hand mirror on the way out [Amelina Dexterity + Legerdemain, 7 dice, 3 successes / Nigelle Perception + Alertness, 6 dice, 1 success]. Nigelle remains oblivious to her light fingers.

Anna, the idol bound by her blood and faith, turns her attention to the sacrificial pit and it's runes [Intelligence + Occult, 6 dice, 2 successes]. She determines enough to gain a fragment of the True Name of the shrine's patron. She takes the time to obscure the runes to ensure that nobody else will be able to discover it. Satisfied with her work, she steps back into the throneroom to await the return of her acolytes. This could be a rewarding trip.