As the brothers sped past the abandoned village 4 on their way out of Makolvo they both spotted movement in the tropical forests that surround the village. Jenny slammed on the breaks and skidded to a stop some distance down the road. After a brief discussion of whether it was smart for Brother Godfrey to move into the woods unarmed both he and Alden charged through the heavy growth towards the movement. Once the reached the spot where they think they saw movement they discovered a pair of fresh dug graves and an obstructed roadway that led back to the village. Brother Godfrey ran back to the road to let Jenny know they'd be looking around for a bit and to look after little Emily. While the priests was away someone a dozen yards from Alden burst from the brush and ran away from the village deeper into the woods. Realizing that the runner was much faster and not willing to shoot what could be a scared peasant with his shotgun, Alden just watched the unidentified person flee.
Once Godfrey climbed back into the woods the Brothers walked down the road towards the village and searched through the abandoned buildings. In one of the communal longhouses they found signs that someone had been camping out in the village, canned food and beer and a heavy bedroll spattered with the scales of the Hironem that slept in it. What the brothers didn't find was any sign of what had happened to approximately 70 Hironem peasants and the hundreds of pigs that they kept. Brother Godfrey, being no fan of Alden's father began making insinuations that the village had been slaughtered by the Lord of Makolvo until Alden finally lost his temper and threatened to strike his priest brother if he didn't shut up. While brooding from the fight Brother Godfrey noticed a stretch of ground that seemed to be flourishing abnormally in the late fall. As he begins rooting around in the area he found something solid just under the topsoil and with a little digging he found the skull of a Hironem and he reasoned that given the size of the patch, probably the remains of a few dozen more just under the vegetation.
Alden decided that he needed to confront his father about what happened but Godfrey needed to get his new ward out of Makolvo anyone realized he was the peasant away from her lands. Jenny drove them back to Pike's Harbor so that Alden could question the local Militia Sergeant. Sergeant Franz seemed to be reluctant to talk about Village 4, and when pressed he didn't know much, only that the village was troubled and shortly before the village was abandoned the militia was barred from it. Godfrey, not fond of the risk of keeping Emily so close to Handleridge Estates insisted that they leave but Alden was intent to speak with his father about the village so they parted ways and Godfrey began the long drive back to Sokol City.
Alden climbed the high hill to Hendleridge, arriving somewhat less dramatically than he imagined as he stopped to drink from a pitcher one of the gardeners offered him and stripped out of his sweaty armor. Within the manse he decided to dig into his fathers books. Alden had a limited education in bookkeeping and resource management but he was able to tell from notation that Village 4's population plummeted within a few months and thousands of firebirds were poured into it's ledger for the towne physik. Lady Chealsea arrived and interrogated her brother as to why he was tearing apart his father's office. Alden explained the abandoned village and the signs of a massacre. Chelsea assured her brother that there was a logical explanation, transfer of serfs for village maintenance or consolidation but the more she looked over her father's records the more her explanations became strained.
When Thaddius Hendle VanGelder returned to his home he was originally upset to hear his children bickering in his study, then disturbed to find his things scattered about the room, but the sight of his children arguing in his study like they did when they were little warmed him. As Alden saw his father he began interrogating him, relating the tale of the Hironem in village 4 and the mass graves. Thaddius held his son off and assured him that there must be an explanation. He told Chelsea and Alden that he would investigate the matter in the morning and that they would busy straightening his study before dinner.
Alden took dinner in his room, infuriated with his father's dismissive attitude but he found himself beginning to doubt the whole conspiracy. How could something this horrible be true given the honorable man he knew his father to be. He slept lightly and woke before the dawn to wander around the manse. While smoking on the porch near sunrise he saw an autowagon leaving stables and found that his father had departed without him or his sister. Convinced that his father was trying to cover up evidence he woke his groggy sister and made her drive him out to Village 4.
Alden arrived at the village to find one of the family autowagon's parked in the village yard with it's lights on and his father leading a captive Hironem back out of the longhouse where he had been hiding. Alden angrily confronted his father without accusing him of anything directly. Thaddius, looking a bit perturbed explained that he left early to deal with the Hironem because it was his responsibility, not his children's. When pressed to look at the graves Thaddius left his bound prisoner in his daughter's care and walk with Alden to the back of the village. The Lord of Makolvo seemed unimpressed by the patch of thriving vegetation "It's a garbage pit.. if there were a mass grave in one of my pig villages don't you think I'd know..". Alden began to shovel at the tangled viney earth, pulling out remains until his father exasperatedly spoke "Enough, stop touching those.." she drew his canteen from his belt and handed it to his son "Wash off your hands, those corpses are putrid..". Alden began to protest about how his father knew about all of this and still denied it until he was cut off by Thaddius's commanding voice "Enough Alden.. There are almost 700 Hironem living in our fief, most of them stupid peasants. You know I couldn't admit Village 4 fell to the White Fever.. there would be panic if not an uprising. This had to be buried.". Alden was speechless still arguing with his father as they walked by to the autowagons in the village yard. As they drew in Chelsea scowled at her brother "Stop it Alden, you know its the right thing.. you just don't have the stomach to face it." Alden was stunned that his sweet sister would stand for dumping sick Hironem into the ground like garbage "You knew Chelsea?". His sister shoot her head calmly "No, and I understand why it was kept from me.. Don't be stupid.. leave this buried here.."
Lord Thaddius took the excavation tools Alden brought to the village and set about burying the excavated Hironem parts with his own hands in his morbid little garden. Alden couldn't stand to be near his father and his Sister offered him a ride back to Sokol City. As they parted ways Alden was icily silent for most of the drive, swallowing the bitter pill of his family's monstrous secrets.
Brother Godfrey woke the next day in the back of Jenny Sparks's autowagon with a bored little girl who wanted to know how much more they have to drive to get to the city. As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes he saw a column of black smoke rising up into the sky from the direction of Malovko. The sight worried him but he decided with Emily in his custody he shouldn't look into it and he asked Jenny to continue on to the city.
Alden rode in the family Autowagon Chelsea drove back to the city, turning onto the valley highway in the late morning. As they travelled South he also noticed a plume of black smoke rising into the sky. Alden wanted to contact his order but Chelsea had business in Sokol and Alden hadn't yet mastered driving so he was largely at her mercy.
Brother Godfrey Arrived in Sokol City in the late afternoon. He paid Jenny a fairly large stack of firebirds for the long journey and he returned to the Cathedral. As he stroke into the clergy entrance to it's yards he saw a pair of large white autowagons. He recognized their heraldry instantly as the local offices of the Inquisition. He knew the local Inquisitor by reputation, a stern and intolerant man named Barnes, who had ironclad opinions about scripture and even had some of his views published. Godfrey contemplated stashing Emily somewhere but he reasoned that when the Inquisition travels outside of their home they have a fairly tight focus on what they're doing and likely wouldn't take notice of her.
Godfrey sought out Father Benetton and ran across Cannon Eric, anxiously watching the door to the priests offices. Eric told Godfrey that the inquisition had arrived at the Cathedral without warning and nobody seems to know what they're doing there. Godfrey calmed the young man down and assured him there was no threat in the works of the Church. He asked Eric to look after Emily while he spoke with the old priest. He knocked at the priest's office doors and was invited in by a shaken Father Benetton. Benetton repeated Erics worries, apparently everyone in the Cathedral was freaked out about what the Inquisition might be after. Godfrey calmed the elderly priest down and explained that he was seeking a transfer to Sokol's Cathedral and wanted to know if Beneton would offer him a recommendation. Benetton was surprised and explained that he had just heard from the Deacon of Persons and Grounds that there was a position for a second catechist for the Cathedral and perhaps this was a sign from the Pancreator. Godfrey asked Beneton to look into the position on his behalf and he made his way back out of the office.
As Godfrey returned to the reception of Benetton priory he found Emily was sitting where she had been left but was talking with an soft-featured old priest in black robes. The kindly priest smiled but raised a white brow as Godfrey approached "I hadn't expected to see any Mahayana priests this far out of Elibyrge." Godfrey looked down at his simple red robes and smiled "I do seem to be unwanted everywhere I go.." The kindly old priests shook his head "Unpopular but very much so wanted.. It is important to argue about our faith.. If we all agree then we stop trying to move closer to Him. My name is Father Barnes.." offering his weathered white hand. Godfrey shook hands with the man he suddenly realized was an inquisitor and traded pleasantries before excusing himself and leading Emily away from him.
As Godfrey led Emily through the streets he felt the little girl suddenly stop and he turned to find her hair floating in the air as if she were submerged, her eyes glassy and pale. She spoke to him in the same stern voice as she had in the temple "You will not always be able to talk your way out of this.." and a moment later she blinked and her visage returned, not seeming aware of what she had said.
Brother Godfrey returned to his cousin's townhouse. Walking through the market stalls in the Bazaar the crowd had a very different feel, merchants looked shaken and the guards were vigilant and armed with rifles. When he stopped and asked a local merchant what was going on he was told that there had been a bloody gun battle between the constables and members of the Posjednik and several bystanders were shot. They didn't know what the battle was over but Lady Aria Turin Decados was caught in the middle of it. When Godfrey asked if it looked like a kidnapping the merchant explained that Lady Aria seemed to be on the side of the Posjednik thugs, helping them escape.
Godfrey and young Emily arrived at Hildi's to find that she had already left on her vacation. Her maid Ava greeted him and the wyrd child and explained that Sir Alden hadn't returned yet from his journey home. Godfrey just smiled and asked if he might let his filthy charge clean herself and borrow some clothes. Ava wasn't entirely sure but Godfrey's warm manner persuaded her. By the time Emily was made decent the sun was setting and Ava suggested she make a modest meal and let the girl sleep, which was just what Godfrey was hoping to convince the maid of.
Alden arrived in the city later the following morning and parted ways with his frosty sister. He made his way into the market and purchased a squawker from a shady merchant there. He tried to reach anyone in his knightly order or Jenny Sparks but had no luck. So he walked to the Salon in The Hub, hoping to find one of his order there. Instead he had a second encounter with Lady Silvia of the Mantis League. She was enjoying a quiet lunch in the empty Salon and seemed indifferent to Alden. Alden would have little of the game, he ordered a pair of glasses of Absinthe and joined her at her table. Luckily Silvia found his brazen manner charming and she even agreed to a stiff drink in the middle of her work day. They traded flirtations until she excused herself to return to work. Alden made a joke about chasing her off and she smirked, drawing out her calling card and writing her home address on the back with a stylish high-tech pen and handing it to him "Seven o'clock, not later, if you lose your nerve and don't come you ought not find a way to seek my forgiveness.". Alden just stood there and smiled with her address. He was sure the universe would screw this up but it still felt good to be desired by the fearsome blonde.
Alden walked to the Cathedral to find his brother and the little peasant girl he stole. He walked into the cathedral nave and flagged down one of the initiates to have him find his brother, then took a seat in the pews for some silent reflection. As he waited he noticed an armored man sitting a few rows back who seemed familiar but he just couldn't place where he had seen him. While waiting he managed to squawk Sir Altier of the Blue Glove and he found out that Marshall Henning had been trying to find him since yesterday.
Godfrey woke and put himself together and left Emily in maid Ava's care. She didn't seem to terribly put off by being made a babysitter but Godfrey handed her a few firebirds for art supplies or snacks or whatever keeps the inquisitive girl at bay. Stepping out into the streets Brother Godfrey returned to the cathedral to look into his prospects with Father Benetton. The older priest shared some great news with Godfrey, the cathedral was not only hiring a catechist but when he had mentioned Godfrey's name the Deacon had heard of him and was eager to meet. Benetton walked Godfrey across the yards and to the building that housed the libraries and dining hall, then upstairs to Deacon Bryant's offices.
Deacon Bryant was both younger and more of a woman than Godfrey expected. It's not that he thought a woman couldn't be a deacon but in his experience most clergy in the Externus of The Church are male. The Deacon's interview was very informal. She in fact laughed through most of the questions. She couldn't believe that a skilled catechist would arrive in the city just before the cathedral discovered a need for a new catechist. She even mentioned that it was almost a miracle. The Deacon signed off on his application and directed him under the cathedral to the Sacrosanct of the Bishop.
The Bishop's offices were nice in the kind of cold attractiveness of the Cathedral above. Beautiful alabaster tile walls and huge ornate support pillars. The reception was light airy with large windows that let in the sun but the hallway to her offices was almost black with darkness and as he walked deeper into the bowels of the cathedral he passed one church knight after another who eyed him suspiciously. Godfrey waited for several minutes on an uncomfortable couch outside of the Bishop's offices until Bishop Asha D'arch escorted a Muster Sergent through the doors of her office and explained to him that she would speak with the Count about his matter, that he shouldn't lose faith in this being resolved.
The woman was old, he could see it in her skin, but she was well toned from military service and her eyes were sharp and vital. She offered Godfrey a warm smile and gestured for him to enter her offices. The room was dominated by a rounded desk that hugged the top of a large masonry Jumpgate Cross set into the floor. The walls were spartan save a suit of armor on a rack and a few modest book cases. She sat at her desk and told Godfrey that she has a vision for Sokol's Diocese. She believed the right men and women could mold the land and the people into a place of peace and order where people were shown kindness and mercy. She knows that the path she has set holds many challenges and she needs clergy that are as devoted to making a difference in people's lives as they are to the one God that has given mankind every precious gift they know. Godfrey, charged with the Bishop's zeal told her that he thought he was the man she was looking for. They shook hands and she told him Deacon Bryant would settle him in. Just like that Godfrey held position in Sokol's Cathedral.
As Brother Godfrey was walking back across the cathedral yard one of the initiates ran to him to tell him that there was a knight waiting for him in the cathedral proper. He walked into the nave of the cathedral to find his brother looking bored in the pews, but as he entered another armored man stood and began to walk towards him, on the strange knight's breastplate was emblazoned the Imperial Eagle. As the Imperial Questing Knight rose Alden's memory clicked and he recognized him as Ivan Turian Decados, the winner of the Decados Crown Tournament two years running and the first lord in over two decades who stands to win a Triple-Crown, holding crown titles on all three Decados Planets that host the Prince's Royal Tournament. Alden is stunned into inaction as the Questing Knight genially questions Brother Godfrey about the death of Itoska Slava Decados. When Alden finally joins the conversation Ivan introduces himself formally as a Knight of the Questing Order and suggests that they get coffee in a nearby shop. While readying to set out across the city there was a bustle through the cathedral as the Inquisitor and his retinue loaded into autowagons and hurriedly drove out of town.
Ivan expressed some doubts about the claimed cause of death of Itoska and questioned Godfrey about the disposition of the body, specifically about any visible wounds to her flesh. As Godfrey walked Ivan through the state of her body he recalled the odd detail that in his vision he saw her gunned down before her throat was slit. Her corpse's slit throat was evident but her body showed no indication of recent bullet wounds. Godfrey shared the secret of his vision with the Questing Knight and Alden told him details of the colorful goings on at her funeral. When Ivan inquired about Alden's relationship with Lady Itoska Alden shamelessly admitted that she had taught him Montok. Ivan seemed skeptical before admitting "She never taught me..". Sir Ivan asked who the undertaker was but when asked if he was going to exhume the body he seemed disgusted by the notion. And shortly thereafter the Imperial Questing Knight thanked the brothers for their help and paid for their coffee. After Ivan departed the Brothers caught one another up on what had been happening and Alden expressed concern that he hadn't checked in with his order in some time. So, Alden squawkedJenny Sparks for a ride out to his Order's manse and they set out to Chapman keep, arriving later that night.
The Brothers arrived at Henningholm Mannor to find the it emptied of knights save Lord Henning and his brother Sir Gunther. Alden was called into the order's main hall and given a mild reprimand while catching him up on operations. While finding out where his brother knights were along the valley, a messenger brought in a sealed letter for Lord Henning. Henning read the letter and confirmed how long ago it was sent before informing Alden that the Inquisitor took all of his retinue and drove up the highway towards Snopa Pass. Alden offered to go investigate but Lord Henning told him senior knights were on that task and he was needed in Sarsbourg to steady Lord Braam.
Alden and Brother Godfrey cajoled Jenny into driving them out to Sarsbourg in the dark of the night. As they crossed into the town of Woodbridge at the edge of Sarsbourg fief Brother Godfrey thought it was unsettling that the town's toll booth was unattended. A quick search around the moon-lit road found a trail of blood and a pair of guards stuffed into a barracks shack. After a brief search of the town they found survivors tied up in the town pub who told them that armed men stormed the town and took everyone captive. They didn't see any livery on them and they don't know where they were headed but the road only leads towards the Lord's manor in Sarsbourg Towne. When they returned to Jenny's cab she informed them she wasn't going to be driving them into a gunfight, she isn't risking either her neck or her rig for a generous fare. After some wheedling from the brothers they convinced Jenny to drive them closer to Sarsbourg Towne and the brothers pushed on into the darkenned road to Sarsbourg Towne.
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