RP: A History Lesson
It's Variday, Aestry 25 00:34:00 1018. The full moon is up. The tide is high and rising. Heavy rain drenches you in the dark as it falls from grey-black clouds, driven by a howling east wind.
A05: Adventurer's Guild, Guild Hall
Ga'Elian is dripping wet from having just been out in the pouring rain. Now, inside the Guild hall, he is reading the notice boards. His griffon is quartered in the stables.
Verna enters the hall, rain shedding from her cloak. She shakes it lightly in the entryway to aid the shed before walking further inside. The opening of her hood pans over the new hall with mild curiosity. When she last visited the former Guild Hall, it was a pile of rubble and bodies.
Myaris comes in, her hood up to get out of the rain though she slips the cloak off, and shakes her silvery hair. She sighs a little and glances around the hall for a moment before heading to the boards herself, she needs some work.
Ga'Elian watches as the others come in after him. He says, "Hi. I'm surprised to find no further information here updating what was knowna couple weeks ago about Skyhold. By chance, do either of you know anything about it?" <sildanyari>
Verna's hood opening pans to the question. "What of Skyhold? That is a rather broad query."
Ga'Elian says, "Well, I refer to the matter of the caravan and mercenary company. The latest word that I have had refers to some festival of the Shadowfall, and someone preaching nonsense about darkness showing him the light."
Verna considers this before responding. "Shadowfall is a time most simply fear or seek blessings until it had passed. Only the undead and the vile celebrate it as a holy day. As for the mercenary company, what is its significance? I am not aware of current events in Skyhold. The invasion of Rune, Asumit and his demons, and now the fiendish entities about the city have held my attention rather firmly."
Ga'Elian's attention is now focused on Verna. "That already is more than I had known about Shadowfall. Can you tell me more about it, like where it took place, who the significant factions were, what impact it had on the world?"
"It is an annual event," Verna explains, "just as the recent Skydancer's Song, the Hunt, or Yule. It is a reverence to Illotha, daughter of Maugrim and Taara, matron of murder and venerated queen of vampires. As I said, most recogize it as a time to avoid the shadows and secure their doors. Only abominations would celebrate such a time."
Ga'Elian listens intently. "Was there some occurrence that it marks?"
Verna's hood tilts. "That is an excellent question. It may commemorate some past event, alleged or genuine, or it could merely coincide with a celestial event. I would need to research the history of Shadowfall to be certain."
Ga'Elian nods. "I thank you truly. This gives me a sense of the importance of some of the rumors I have heard. Whatever is behind the disappearance of these mercenaries and the prisoner transport caravan. Now it falls to us in the Guild to piece together who is responsible, and what their ultimate aim is. I am sure that the high-profile, high security prisoners in that transport (whomever they may be), are somehow connected to the preaching of this advocate of Darkness."
Now it is Verna's opportunity to gain knowledge. "Fascinating. It is entirely possible that one or more prisoners were Illothan, though that is pure speculation in lieu of facts. Under the presumption that some or all were freed, if the mercenary company was the escort, they are likely slain, captured, or worse."
Ga'Elian looks grim, and says, "Exactly. Speculation, but the theories do give us something to start with, something to check out."