01-20-963: Archbishops and Archives

Finishing at the Bishop's Residence, the party sought out access to the Catacombs beneath the Cathedral. Finally entering the massive building at the end of the plaza, they were met with sights of incredible artwork assembled over the millennia and the grandeur of the Twelvefold Sanctuary. Statues of marble and gold adorned alcoves below enormous paintings of holy events and individuals while the ceiling featured frescoes of the Divines fighting against the Betrayer Gods. There they met Brenda and Adler, clergy of the Twelve. Nexus spun some creative interpretations of the truth informing them that he was in the city to attempt to translate some of the documents recovered in the Catacombs and earned an audience with Her Holiness, Archbishop Erian Gerris.

The group was led out the back of the central hall of the Cathedral and up several floors to the Archbishop's study. After a crash course in etiquette from Sister Brenda they were shown in to meet Her Holiness. A gracefully aging human woman in her early sixties, the Archbishop spoke with the group about access to the catacombs, which she initially denied them, and access to the documents found there. After a little persuasion from Nexus, deciding against using Luci's forged letter from the late Bishop Tessel, the Archbishop granted them a sealed letter to access the Archives and attempt to decipher the documents.

On their way to the Archive a brief stop was made at the Temple of Pelor, where the group learned about a dwarf woman who had come to the temple about six months ago, upset that the clergy of Pelor hadn't done more to stop the continued goblin threat during and after the Goblin Wars.

Arriving at the Archive, which appeared to be more of a resolute fortress than a library, their writ allowed them entrance and access to read through what was found. Three pages were brought to them, and with some magical aid Nexus was able to read and transcribe the text. Despite the obscure, almost poetic way the pages were written, Nexus and the group were able to discern that it was an account of the battle between Pelor and Ioun on one side, and Tharizdun on the other during the Dawn War. Specifically, reference was made to a "Son of Suns now gone away," a "Mother of Knowledge badly wounded", and a "Father of Sons of Suns." It was also determined that the pages were consecutive, although there was a portion missing that would have gone after the first recovered page. Meanwhile, Luci read from Autumn in the Summer Court. Discussions were had about the possibility of a Cult of Tharizdun in the city, though any information regarding potential cults was not available for viewing. With the assistance of Dendra, Nexus was able to identify an allusion to St. Mattathias taking his host across the seas to protect the world from some unspecified threat.

Documents about First Age civilizations in the vicinity of Constag, Dr. Venma's home, were investigated and Nexus compiled a list of his findings here:  First Age Civilizations in Western Central Telthien

With translation and interpretation in hand, the party returned to the Archbishop.  Along the way they passed a rather grumpy looking Bishop Hugh Torranes, at whom Dendra waved her ring. After a short explanation of why waving rings at people could be considered very very strange behavior, they met with the Archbishop and were granted access to the catacombs.

On leaving the Cathedral, Neron the Beggar met them outside and delivered news about Nora. Apparently she had found work at a tavern in Ritten known as the Quivering Sweeping Rivering Rumble.  After showing off the fact that he had purchased a new set of fine clothes with the money that Luci had given him, Neron informed the group that the Beggar Prince had invited them to the theater in a very matter of fact way. After providing them with tickets for the opening night of "The First King of the Baran't" Neron bid everyone goodbye and left them too plan out their evening.