The walk to the church is short, just requiring you to walk up the wide road to the castle's quarter where most of the nobles resides. As with most of the Ghostwalk's buildings, Metrosan's church is a solid cathedral, able to serve as defensive strong point if needed.

Getting an audience with the churches' captain is also simple, just requiring you to flash your guild's mark to identify yourself. You're left in a spartan office for a few minutes, until an armored man enters the room. "Hail! You must be Sir Gorrid." The man walks up to Gorrid to shake his hand. "I understand you've joined the Phoenix Blades?"

Sir Gorrid nodded.  "It seemed it was time to try a different challenge.  So far, it seems to be working out well...

I understand you've come into a bit of a problem?"

Spriggy had never been in this cathedral before, and looked up at the grand architecture with the appropriate amount of awe. When the officer came in and began talking with Gorrid, Spriggy was content to stand at the side to listen and observe. When Gorrid mentioned the "problem" though, Spriggy couldn't help but mouth the word "scythe" and made the motion of swinging one. Just in case the officer wasn't entirely clear about the purpose of their visit.

Buck couldn't help but compare the cathedral's stonework to that of the magnificent dwarfen complex they had managed to escape from not long ago. After a thorough scan as they made their way to the office he quietly fumbled with something within a pocket inside his cloak, and when everyone seemed preoccupied with Sir Gorrid greeting the Captain he popped a small piece of the hard sugar candy Russel had stashed in the cart into his mouth.

Leila followed the others to the church. On tue way a squirrel jumped from a near by tree in to her shoulder. Surprised at first, she then offered him a few seeds from her pouch that hung from her waist. He chated with her for the few strides towadrs the church. Then he bounced off back in to the trees.

Leila stood outside the massive structure. Admiring the great stone work. Befor she walked in side. She stayed quiet as the Captian and Sir Gorrid greted each other.

"I'm afraid we do..." The captain takes a seat, and invites you to do the same. "First, I'm captain Eberley. It's an honor to meet you.

Last month, a patrol went beyond the lighting stones, to the ice fields far in the North-West. A small barbarian town named Tonnsborg sent word of strange black ice. Apparently, some frost folks claimed they had spread it, but despite said folks being chased off by adventurers, the ice still remains."

Sir Gorrid ensured his companions had a seat before taking one himself.  He was happy enough to remain standing.  "The poster mentioned something about a scythe?"

Leila looks puzzled. "What problem does this black ice cause? Strange as it is, ice is still just ice. Is it not?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Wed 24 May 2023.

"Some of us have actually encountered this black ice before," Spriggy replied to Leula, but loud enough that the captain and the others could hear as well. "We helped the citizens of Tonnsborg too. Frost folk were trying to enslave them. The frost folk's shaman claimed that the black ice was a gift from their god, but I believe they were mistaken. At least in part. The ice felt... deeper. More... primal. It is difficult to explain."

---

Here are some old quotes of what Spriggy knows about black ice, for easy reference:

Buck nods thankfully at Spriggy's interjection. Having never been near Tonnsborg, Buck wonders if satisfying his curiosity is worth the discomfort of the cold environ. His eyes stray from the speakers as he sits back and thinks on what little he's heard of the frost folk.

"So you're the ones who fought the Frost folks?" Eberley nods in approval. "Well, when our patrol headed farther, they found an ancient temple. One built out of black ice. Our soldiers couldn't tell how long ago it was last used, and the cold was too severe for them to remain long. So they left after taking the only thing they could carry. A scythe made of ice that seemed to radiate dark energy."

The captain sighs. "We've been trying to break it, exorcising it, melting it... The cursed thing seems unbreakable. At this point, we're pretty much out of ideas. We considered asking the Mage's guild, but we're worried they'll be more interested in discovering how to replicate the damned thing instead of destroying it."

"Have you gained any insights into who made it or the temple or what deity the temple is likely associated with?  Does the scythe have any affect on those who carry it or those near it?"

It seemed likely that this particular task would involve more research than fighting, but that was ok.  There would undoubtedly be threats that he could defend his companions against.  And perhaps Gianam would offer him some insights...

Eberley shakes his head. "We think it may be linked to Sedna... but it's more of a guess, based on where it was found. Truth is, even the Ghostwalk says it's too old to identify. And the temple itself offer little information. We've sent other teams there, but they've been unable to locate it again.

As for side effects, we placed divine seals on the weapon. We can't tell if the seals ar working or if the scythe has no dangerous aura, but none of the guards have reported strange thoughts or acted in weird ways."

Spriggy listened with interest and was already brainstorming several avenues of exploration they might want to look into. However, first he asked, "I don't suppose we can have a look at the scythe, can we? Spells and magicks happen to be a specialty of mine, so I may be able to recognize a clue or two upon close examination."

Not really sure how she can contribute at this time, Leila sits in silence and listens. Takes a mental note: the scythe has been found. Looking f,or a way to destroy it. "if it does not DO anything why does it need to be destroyed? Perhaps it is when it is wielded, it does something?" she spoke out loud, but quietly, to herself.

"Of course. The Scythe is stored in a fort outside of the city. It will take a few hours to reach it. As for why we want to destroy it... I'll let you judge for yourself."

Eberley leads you to one of the churches rafts. It follows the northern branches of the river, leading to a small fort on the flanks of the Sunrise Reach. The Captain leads you inside, down into a series of secure vaults. Many of the doors have multiple locks, magical seals, and various sigils on them.

You're stopped at a door with two guards, who salute Eberley before opening the door. Inside, standing in the center of a protective circle, is the scythe you've seen on the poster, complete with the threatening fog surrounding it. The weapon seems made entirely of black ice, that seems to suck up the light surrounding it. Despite being the right size to be wielded by a man, something about it feels... big. Like the space it takes in front of you was merely the tip of a threatening iceberg, who's true depths you can't phantom.

"Has anyone actually touched it?  Has it caused any effects other than looking ominous?"

Buck hangs back at the door of the vault, eyes trained on the peculiar item. Thankfully Gorrid has already open both lines of inquiry Buck is most curious to know so Buck doesn't have to interact with strangers.