Oshuamp - Episode 5: There Are Those Among Us

Recap
After discussing the note, the crew takes a short rest. Felix leaves mysteriously as they sleep. They gather together and meet in the Cafeteria to eat their lunches; Ethir casts Purify Food and Drink out of caution. After their meals, they step out into the Hallway to assist in the Common Area and hear a knocking on the front door. Fearfully, they gather and open it. Outside in the biting snow, the frame of a young man stands amidst the gales. He informs the group that he has brought what timber could be gathered from the logging expedition, and they contemplate for a moment before permitting him inside, encouraged by their weapons and his full hands.

He introduces himself as Yahlumlo, a logger who survived the recent accident but was left behind by his companions as he was trapped and unreachable. Sister Lauren overhears the conversation and emerges from the Common Area, thanking him for his gift, and escorts him to the Cafeteria for a hot meal and promises him payment when Sister Madeleine arrives.

Yahlumlo delivers the timber to Sister Alicia in the Kitchen and takes a bowl of stew from her. He takes a sit in the cafeteria and waits to eat, as he realizes the other party members are watching him intently. Ethir sits across from him and has a brief conversation about Yahlumlo’s history and life in the city, and the nature of the accident. Ritora attempts to Detect Magic in the area, concerned that this man may emanate a magic aura, but she discovers nothing from the people around her, or from the food in their presence.

After the meal, they consider their options for the remainder of the day, and, still concerned from the events earlier and the dangers of the First of Elsyth, agree that it is in their best interest to stay put and protect the Orphanage, and themselves.

The desperation for more firewood presses the Sisters to request that the party traverse carefully out towards The Pawnman, a local tradesman who would still have a supply of timber that could provide a few more days of comfort. As the day has progressed towards the afternoon, they are told that the violence typically settles as the Gallows become more active.

With great caution, they set out through the front door, into the blizzard and high snows, to the Southwest area of Slums North. They pass several burnt homes, with dissected pieces of rotten wood poking out through the height of the snow. A line of manacled criminals stands at the base of the Black Steps, awaiting their execution. A gathered crowd cheers on their deaths.

Further through the snow, they encounter more burnt and broken homes, finding the North Slums mostly empty in the afternoon. Yahlumlo leads them safely to the Pawnman, and introduces them to the owner, Clark, a young human man who is working on affixing fur and wool lining to clothing and boots. He offers them a deal on the request timber, extending his sympathy to the orphans and the Sisters. The crew purchases items that are lined with fur and wool, providing themselves better protection against the biting frost.

As Ritora exchanges her shorter cape for a better winter cloak, the magical color fades, and Clark asks if it was magical. She denies it, and the party rushes out. Clark stops Yahlumlo, and asks the name of the girl – which Yahlumlo provides. He is thanked, and Clark pays him a silver, promising that those who need to know will be told.

Outside, Ethir calls out to Malo, who arrives, and squawks at a patch of snow, in the center of a burnt and broken home. Fearfully, Ethir follows Malo over, and inspects the area which he has illuminated with a Light imbued stone. He kicks through some upturned earth, and discovers a severed, frost bitten hand, clinging to the dirt. As he elevates it and turns over the palm, he sees runic symbols branded into the flesh.

They hurry back to the Orphanage, passing the Gallows, now empty. As they arrive back at the doors, Sister Honey opens them and they shut them in a hurry, as a small band of men in black cloaks gained on them. Unaware of who they were, or their intentions, they kept the door sealed and move inside.

The crew learns that Infernal is commonly used by a group within the city that uses it to hide their communications among the members. It is unknown if it is a band of bandits, or criminals, or a cult or something alike. The runic language was also depicted on several homes that were destroyed and burned by the Guards in the Slum Riots twelve years ago. Conspirators were held up inside their rowhomes and the Guards chose to burn the homes with the people inside instead of breaking through and apprehending them.

Returning to the kitchen once more, they collect dinner and begin to eat together, sitting with the awkward teenagers. Ritora notices that Sister Desielle continues to glare at her whenever she is within sight. Anthony confesses that he writes poetry about Marybelle, and that he despises Sister Desielle, considering her mean, overbearing, and strange. He tells them that he notices she often stares at different empty things around the Orphanage, silently, and that Sister Madeleine does something similar, but she talks to whatever she sees. He doesn’t usually hear her, because it is often a whisper.

They converse briefly with Sister Desielle, and realize that she is pained by the breaking of the teacup because it was a gift from her brother. She is offended when Nesgrim uses the word peculiar.

They collect heavy garments from the Storage Room and seal the door frames of the Chapel to dispel the draft that was pushing through. As they finish, they begin to walk back towards the Common Area, and are startled when they see a woman who looks like Sister Madeleine ascending the spiral staircase near the kitchen, humming a loud tune to herself.