At the Shrine of War
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_One morning, Hammer and those cityfolk who were interested in what he has to teach gather on the field outside the shrine. A rack with wooden swords and a few practice dummies have been set up.
"Alright everyone. I think you all know that this is a dangerous land, so I'm offering you some free lessons on how to use a sword. I'm not going to teach you how to become an adventurer or a soldier, but I'm going to teach you how you can at least handle a sword when you have to. So, everyone take one of these practice swords and we'll get started."
After the wooden swords have been spread amongst those gathered, he starts showing them some basic techniques.
"The first thing you want to remember is to hold your sword with one hand, not two. Most people think that holding it with both hands puts more strength into your swings, but it's really the opposite. This isn't a greatsword either, so just hold it with one hand.
Secondly, you don't swing with your wrist, you swing with your shoulder. That'll let you put more strength behind your swing. Try it like this…"And so begins a day of teaching and training, as Hammer teaches the cityfolk different basic techniques, first by just practicing swings, then against the dummies and finally some simple sparring._
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Word spreads, particularly around Peltarch, that free lessons in weapon handling will be given soon at the shrine, aimed particularly at merchants, farmers, cityfolk and others who would have little to no experience with such things, but still interested in learning to defend themselves.
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An Elven ranger clad all in grey dismounts his unsaddled horse nearby the shrine and approaches the great statue of Tempus, the Lord of Battles. He speaks loudly and in Elven words, perhaps a prayer of sorts, or a vow - or both.
"You visited us on the day that I fell. It was not a good death, it was not a fair death. Though you are not my God I will not do to you the disservice of failing to recognize your presence there. Since then I am given a second chance, but to those who I would visit my vengeance, they are now dead and gone. So I can only promise this to you; that I will use this chance to continue to fight with honour. And to die better."
At the end of his speech he bows his head and places a dagger among the offerings to Tempus. He simply leaves the shrine and rides off to the north, slowly on horseback.
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((OOCly yes, do with that info as you will, but only if your PC would know IC))
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((Is the Shrine of Tempus considered to be on Peltarch soil? IIRC, it is. Maya had to ask permission for it's construction, and it's on the same map as the outer wall defenses. Can a DM please clarify?))
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_Hammer holds a night-long vigil at the shrine, gathering the different parts and laying out the bodies as best as he can. He chants the lays of the dead, commending the souls of those who died to Tempus.
Sergeant Ivor Marsk, Commander of the Damarran Steel Fang 1st Company, 3rd Sword "The Furies".
First Fang Katerin Bersk Marsk' second.
Fang Navarra of the proud Rashemi.
Fang Zora Starag, who had the makings of a great priestess.
Fang Talindra Sunblade, the taciturn scout of the Furies.The names are solemnly recorded onto the piece of framed parchment Hammer carries on his chest plate, alongside other honoured fallen, including several of them Legionaires, who died in Jiyyd or against the Dracolich, and other names. Some forgotten, some still fresh. All preserved.
During the morning, Hammer gathers up what remains of the Furies' equipment, treating the Sergeant's spiked gauntlet with particular reverence. He then builds five pyres, laying the bodies on them. At noon, the pyres are lit and continue to burn until the next sundown.
Curiously, word also trickles along the pass that the spirit of one of the warriors briefly appeared, saluted Hammer and vanished.
As to those responsible.. Hammer seems to believe that it was Oscurans, as he claims that a witness saw a man with a curved greatsword, known as "Sogar", walk away from the scene, covered in fresh blood, still wearing his Peacekeeper cloak. Another Oscuran was also sighted at the scene; an unnamed but known Malarite._
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It definitely happened.
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A battle ensued upon the soils of the hollowed shrine to tempus. Blood was spilled and no guards were left standing… Only blood could be seen from this horrific site. Bodies missing heads and blood spued upon the shrine. A helmed bloodied figure could possibly been seen walking into peltarch shortly after. When asked if he knew what had happened he simply replied. "dead men tell no tales"
((there was a bloody fight that was overseen by dm))
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As she passes the bloody scene outside the shrine of Tempus, the Dirge leans down to the body of a temposan woman, ghasping for the last desperate breaths she will ever make, Aune leans down and slides a small bone needle into her neck, her actions hidden from view by the long frolds of her robes, draining something whilst whispering.
"Shhh, it will come soon enough, close your eyes and give unto him."
Slipping away quietly before the other temposans arrive. she makes her way to norwick, if stopped…
" 'twas naught within my power to save her, she was upon his door already."
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A small group of red-armored warriors bearing the symbol of Tempus arrive from the south, lead to the shrine by Hammer. Are they there to guard the shrine? Reinforcements to fight the Shadovar? The vanguard of a Temposan invasion? A combination of all three, and more?
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((There needs to be a DM overseeing things like this happening when PCs do them. As far as we can tell, no DM did watch it over. Therefore I'd be inclined to say "it never happened".))
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((Can the DM please confirm wether this happened or not? There seems to be some confusion about this.))
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Smush waves happily to the man with the angry face
"Hallo dere! You alls come tuh help fix duh statchoo?"
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Devlin plods in on horse, and dismounts with a thunk hard on the ground. His expression becomes grim as he sees the damage, and places a hand on the pommel of his blade.
"So who is it that is going die today?", As he looks toward Hammerhand, then with a critical gaze over he snaps his head toward the Half-Orc, which slowly turns into a undeniable death stare.
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The towering slab of a Paladin doesnt seem to budge
"Needs tuh collect for duh new statchoo dat Sogar is gun build"
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Said paladin quickly finds himself prone to verbal, and if things escalate, physical aggression from an incensed Hammerhand who demands in no uncertain terms that the remains of the shrine are left undisturbed.
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The Half-Orc Paladin of Kelemvor, Smushface, has been seen cleaning up all the dust and rock from the statue and putting it all into a neat bag. He whistles happily as he does it.
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_A seemingly dazed Hammerhand was lead into the Peltarch by Sol one evening. Not particularly unusual, if not for word spreading troughout the land of the shrine of Tempus being, for the most part.. gone. The statue, the offering plate, the engraved stones and even the offering plate are simply gone. Strangely enough, a few offerings are still there.
Did something manage to get around Hammer and Saria's guard, assault the shrine and leave nothing but dust, or is it a sign of Tempus displeasure? With the recent lizard and kobold attack on Peltarch, and the growing likelihood of war.. it would be a very bad omen indeed._
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Another blonde, this one delightfully pretty, gives the shrine a wide -wide- bearth upon seeing the barbarian woman standing guard.
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_A Proud looking blonde barbarian approaches at dawn, a laden pack on her shoulders. By noon she had set up camp (hidden so as not to disrupt the view of Tempus's shrine)
Shortly thereafter taking up duties to help Hammerhand care for the place, but more importantly to help him guard against any who come with ill intent_
