| Bard Power.
Near the Empath Guild...
| STUDY
You carefully study the bloody symbol.
You recognize that it is a symbol used by Empaths and herbalists to denote magic and herbs that have blood staunching properties.
Alchemists also use this symbol, meaning "coagulation" in a much broader sense.
PERC(RECALL)
The bloody symbol pulses with history, drawing your vision far afield.
You see a narrow alley lit only by a sputtering torch held by one of the Crossing's town guards. He and his companion stand above a manacled Elf, kicking the fetal figure with their boots.
The guard without a torch draws his sword and spits on the Elf. He says, "Necromantic trash. We don't need to waste the judge's time with this one, am I right?"
A voice from the shadows, mocking in its confidence, replies, "Now that's hardly fair."
A stone hurls through the air and slams into the side of the torch-bearer's head. He collapses like a rag doll, the torch left to tumble and roll into a puddle of filthy water. A cloaked figure steps out from its hiding place, drumming its fingers against a small cambrinth orb.
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Near the Academy...
| STUDY
You carefully study the bloody symbol.
After some contemplation, you realize that this symbol is built as a palimpsest image, layering multiple symbols on top of each other to produce a gestalt. With expert ease you pick out the component symbols: the body and the soul, divinity and necromancy, free will and immortality.
The arrangement of the symbols suggests an alchemical operation, wherein the body is transmuted into something represented by a sub-palimpsest of free will and immortality. Necromancy is used as the operation's catalyst, while divinity is expelled as a waste product. The symbol of the soul sits at the "bottom" of the image, framing the entire operation.
Roundtime: 20 sec.
PERC(RECALL)
The bloody symbol pulses with history, drawing your vision far afield.
You see the sanctum of an abandoned church. A thick layer of dirt and grime layers everything in sight, though the interior is remarkably preserved for all that: the church has not been ruined, but locked away like a forgotten bauble.
A middle-aged Human slowly walks down the central aisle, leaving distinct boot prints in the dust. He reaches the lifeless stone altar and places his right hand upon it, staring up at the feeble light coming from a stained glass image of Truffenyi.
Over a minute passes, but nothing breaks the silence.
The man grunts to himself and raps on the altar with his knuckles. "Fine, I'll do it myself."
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Outside Drelsted Prison...
| STUDY
You carefully study the bloody symbol.
After considerable thought, you come to the conclusion that the symbol has no commonly accepted meaning. If it means anything, it is something very specific, such as a signature or code word.
Roundtime: 20 sec.
PERC(RECALL)
You are disoriented by a rapid change in lighting that leaves the street visible only by the wane light of Xibar. The wave of dizziness recedes but does not entirely pass, joined by a warm sensation in your stomach and general giddiness. You belt out something jaunty in Gerenshuge, your voice slurred and unrefined.
Something comes up behind you and your drunken haze evaporates in a wave of pain and terror. You stare down in dumb incomprehension at a blood-soaked knife, and the blood that gushes from your ruptured throat. Shock takes your body and you try to gurgle out something plaintive to the gods, but the only response is a whisper at your ear, "Ssshhh, ssshhh. Do not regret, your life has gone to the most worthy cause."
Roundtime: 12 sec.
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