Chapter Five: Bapdis Orjo's Gift of Reconciliation

Mordred descends the spiraling steps to a chamber about 25' wide and 50' long. There is a firepit in the center of this chamber, full of glowing coals that flicker with low, timid flames. At the far end of the chamber, a small, blackened figure, like the charred remnants of a doll or mannequin, leans against the wall, in a seated position with its head resting on its knees.

Missed that, sorry!

There are more brass and glass bowls, bottles, and other vessels and containers in the cabinet, some empty, some stoppered and full of liquids. There is also a small wooden box full of ashes, six scroll cases, two bound books, a stack of clay tablets, a brass ring, an iron rod about 18" long, a pair of oilskin gloves, a curved knife with a gem-studded handle, and a large red egg on a metal trivet.

Very carefully, Domarc will pull out the containers that have liquid in them, the scroll
cases, the books, the clay tablets, the ring, the rod, the knife, the gloves and the metal trivet with the egg on it and place them on one of the tables in the room for closer inspection.

"Lots here for curious folks," he says, "but I do wish there were warning labels..."

The figure would be maybe four feet tall if it stood to full height. It isn't moving at all.

Tᴀᴄᴛᴜs Isᴛᴜs Iʟʟɪᴄɪᴛᴜs
(fake Latin for "handling that which is forbidden")

The books seem to be treatises on the nature of fire; the tablets appear to be notes on experiments, written in Pafthinel's cryptic shorthand.

The charred figure twitches and scrabbles a few feet away when Mordred pokes it. It swivels its head towards him and makes a crackling, hissing sound with its mouth.

The charred creatures responds to Mordred in its incomprehensible crackle-hiss language, and maintains a wary posture.