The Rune Stone

Braciolini

" And what about brother Braciolini. We have not found his corpse yet. What have you done to him ? " Asked Kralich, covertly preparing his hands for conflict, and at the same time, letting his, now surrounded, companions know what was most likely to go down.

" We do not owe you any explanations for our actions. We have a sacred duty; failure to protect It would be a far greater sin. All will be forgiven. " Eirik would say, reaching for his priestly staff, which rested on the table besides them all this time. As soon as he placed his hands upon it, it had flared up with an energy Kralich recognized all too well. He was a mage. The priest wasted no more time as he flung a bolt of energy towards the company mage; attack which he thankfully blocked before being struck from behind by one of the villagers. A girl who couldn't have been older than sixteen.

The rest of the party had their own troubles to contend with, as the villagers and guards started to swarm them at the command of the Father. Torstein, now fully back in his power started to wrestle with two guards at one, the space being far too small for his axe. Nicholas and Varonno covered eachother's backs, fighting off the zealous peasants who seemed to have no problem flinging themselves upon their blades, no matter how many fell before them.

Kralich pushed the girl off of him with a force blast, as she attempted to stab him in the neck with a ritual dagger of sorts. He then turned around to face Father Eirik again, who was conjuring up another spell. Kralich was even faster on the draw this time, striking first and sending the man flying backwards into a bookshelf. In the meanwhile the old barbarian moved one to assist the other two as they simply culled the fanatical villagers who had no regard for their life, as if they were rabid beasts. Eventually none of the guards or villagers stood on their own feet anymore, they were all struck down or dying from their wounds, not that the company was much better themselves, hundreds of cuts were present on the combined arms and bodies of the non-magical trio. If they did not have any armor upon their bodies they would have surely perished in the assault.

Kralich then moved towards the knocked out priest, trying to wake him, after kneeling beside him. " Where is the brother ? Tell me and I will ease your pain. " he'd say towards him as he saw his eye lids flutter awake. Eirik simply looked about at his slain congregations as pure rage filled his face. He then turned to Kralich and simply screamed as energy built up inside him. Kralich jumped back, towards the rest of the group before errecting a quick barrier around them. The explosion that followed caked the entire room in blood. The mage carefully lowered the barrier only to see that all of the corspses were now gone, evaporated into a fine red mist. " Fanatical 'till the end... " he'd mumble more to himself than anybody else. " Come one, we have to search the place, see if we can find the brother in here. " continued the mage in a louder tone. " We won't have too look much. " said Varonno pointing towards a, now, knocked aside bookshelf. " A stroke of luck at last. " he'd continue as he started to move the shelf even more, revealing a hidden chamber of sorts where a man stood laying on his back, slowly breathing as if in a coma.

The company moved all together inside and Kralich attempted to use little of his known healing magics to wake the man. " Who ... Who are you ? They sent you to finish it ? " said the newly concious man as he looked towards Kralich and the rest. " I am Kralich. I am here to help you. " argued the mage, kneeling down and offering a hand to the man. " You ... You don't know how glad I am to see somebody that is not from the village. I ... " the man would stop to groan slightly. " My leg isn't doing so well. And I can't ... feel my foot. " Kralich hummed as he looked over the man. " Maker your hands are cold. " mumbled the man as Kralich looked about him. " The leg will heal in time. The foot ... may have to come off . Frostbite. " answered the mage, ignoring the statement. The man sighed. " I thought you might say that. But if the foot goes ... it goes. There are far more important things than an old man's feet. " he'd say as he attempted to get up again. " I don't have time to rest now, I am so close. The rune is just up the mountain. " he'd continue. " How do you know that ? Are you brother Braciolini ? " asked Kralich, helping the man stand. " I am yes. Wish the circumstances were more pleasant. My research lead me to Haven ... and I have heard the villagers talking during my stay here. I know they keep the Rune somewhere stowed away. " he pasued slightly. " Haven lies in the shadow of the mountain that holds the Rune. I know it. There is an old temple there, built to protect it. The door is always locked, but I know where the key is. The prist, Eirik, he has a medallion that opens the temple door ... I've seen what he does with it. " Kralich hummed before turning to Nicholas. " Would you kindly ? " asked the mage. " Aye. Sure. I'll go pillage the rest of the chantry. " he'd say tilting his head. The mage then turned back to the brother. " What about you ? Are you sure you could make the journey ? " " It is not that far and ... will you let me lean on you ? For the rune, any pain is worth enduring. " Kralich furrowed his brows deeply at the statement. " Do you know if the rune posseses any healing powers ? The lord that financed you research, he is gravely sick. " said the mage, prodding for a certain reacting. " I ... I certainly hope the rune will save him. The legends speak of their miraculous powers. There are many stories of pilgrims being healed, the blind seeing, and the lame dancing in joy. Perhaps it is The Maker that does this, Perhaps it is the belief itself: By believing the rune is magical, you make it so. But as a scholar there are so many tests that need to be conduction to give a definitive answer. I cannot say for sure until then. " he'd answer. Before Kralich could press any further Nicholas entered the room one again with a round silver medalion in his hands. The thing looked old. Ancient even. " I reckon this is it. No ? " he'd ask. Brother Braciolini allowed a smile to curl on his lips as hope filled his eyes again. " That is indeed it ! We can now enter the temple ! Come ! Let us waste no more time. " he'd spurr the others on, disregarding the c*****e in the main hall.