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Galahad's Private Meeting
The Scene: Galahad's Room at the White Horse Inn
You've been recovering in Deeptown since your battle with the foul Dung Golem. You were just pondering whether to even consider making a guest appearance at a new Tavern in town The Gnoll's Claw. They are
purporting to have a dedication to you tonight, though you figure it's just an attempt to make money using your newfound celebrity status, when you receive a curious message from a person you'd
least expect; Sister Elijah!
Figuring you'd better see what in the name of The Creator she wants you make due haste to the Temple. You are welcomed very cordially by the altar boy who escorts you to
the more private section of the church. You soon realize you are being taken to Sister Elijah's private quarters but before you can react you are already there. Her door opens, and the altar boy
departs.
She looks at you a little less sternly than you are used to. "Don't worry, Galahad, you are perfectly safe, please enter."....
Confusion probably showing on my furry face, I enter.
As you enter the spartan chambers she closes the door behind you. "I don't like you Galahad...I want you to know that, I am not doing this because I like you!" ."I'm doing this
because of my duty to the Church and most of all my duty to The Creator"..She walks over to the bed ..bends down and pulls a wrapped item out from underneath the simple cot. She acts as if she were
about to hand the item over to you but seems to be reconsidering it....
"As you know, Father Cassius is dead, his body stolen...our brave Paladin Deacon Cross slain in battle, his body is
also missing.... and now all we have left to "lead" us is Father Bob. If I were not a mere woman I would lead, but Church doctrine forbids it." I can still help things from behind
the scenes, Father Bob will follow my suggestions, but the church still needs a champion. I have prayed about it, and it is clear to me... You Galahad... or should I say LEXINGTON..are that
champion..." She then hands you the carefully wrapped item. It feels Very light in your hands...She pauses waiting for your reaction, her face is that same stern mask that she always seems to
wear....
I gasp - "You know." Working that through slowly unwrap the item
She continues to watch you intently....Fumbling with your thick paws you manage to get it open. Inside is the most intricately worked glove that you have ever seen. It is both elegant and stern all at the
same time, ..Holy symbols are worked into the fine leather as though they had always been a part of it...You immediately sense an aura of holiness about it....
Sister Elijah with startling
intensity,"You now hold the Glove of the Glorious Saint, bear it wisely...for the future is a dark one indeed...
The Sister pats her foot a bit, perhaps becoming a bit impatient, or maybe its simply she is uncomfortable being "nice" to you. "Are you speechless "Galahad" or merely don't
know what it is you hold in your hands??"
"I - I must pray."
Her expression eases a bit, "Now that's the smartest thing you've said tonight"...She watches you leave...and says under her breath, in a tone that only your Gnoll blood allows you to
hear..."may the Creator, watch you and keep you safe...Lexington of the purple eyes...."
I turn, glove in hand and go to the small chapel, not the main sanctuary. There I kneel and pray for some guidance amid the myriad of choices before me. How shall
this glove be used? Should I investigate the Avalon Prince/Monks of the Celestial Sai connection? Should I leave this town on the planned mission or should I remain to see to this congregation?
The glove feels light in your hands, you can feel a slight tingle to it, a soothing warmth just barely discernable. The small chapel is deserted, it is a bit late and most of the acolytes are bedding down
for the night. One altar boy is making rounds, he was apparently about to douse the candles in the chapel, but upon seeing your arrival he bows to you and departs....
You pray for some time.....
The glove seems to grow warmer, not a painful heat but a soothing one...
A breeze must have blown into the chapel for the candles darken considerably...they must have blown out....for it is
dark....too dark...you
feel cold and alone...outside? no not outside there are no stars visible...but no roof is visible either....You hear water dripping...you reach for the floor..it is no
longer a worked stone floor, but a rough cold stone that no stonemason has ever touched...have the candles returned? a light? an eerie light...along a "wall" coming from a glowing fungus? it
grows upon curious pointed rock formations coming
up for the floor...where are you?? You can make out a child quietly sobbing.. but so far so very far away...the glow brightens allowing the
child to see..his sobbing stops...he is soothed and drifts off to sleep..on a mat of furs and straw...You sense yourself back in the chapel... five acolytes pass by in the hall, led by a larger sixth,
there faces look familiar but you can't quite make them out...the candles have returned though they are still somewhat dim....A dark opening appears before you... a portal into a long abandoned
place...it is familiar but you can't quite remember....Voodian's herbs have dulled you memory perhaps?? Evil is within the darkness a foul evil from below....it grows...pig-like beings flee in it's
presence, not wanting to be devoured by this vastness....it grows....The altar-boy must have returned and lit more candles for the room is now quite bright....You see a congregation of people smiling,
happy, engaged in joyous worship
of The Creator..The Sanctuary is filled to capacity.... guest preachers come into the church to share their stories of the Creator's blessings....Sister Elijah
is there...stern but not so weary looking, though she occasionally looks over her shoulder at some unknown something...Father Bob is also present, looks well...like Father Bob....the singing continues....
You wake up.... it's morning!.....At some point you must have put on the glove...for you are now wearing it..The disease that the Golem infested into you is gone..you are cured....You sense the
abilities of the Glove....
I spend a moment reflecting on the vision I have been graced with. Then I rise with a start, for I believe I understand its meaning. Taking the time for the exit
rites, I hurriedly depart. I look about for Sister Elijah.You do not see Sister Elijah, but you do spot an up and coming acolyte named Levi that you know can be trusted. I ask him to relay this message
to her ," "Thank you. I know what I must do, and it must be done soon." I then make my way out of the Church and into the street.
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