The villagers loop coarse rope around Elias Vane’s chest and legs while Beetz still holds him aloft. Together they drag a crude judgment post into the square, its wood blackened by marsh water.
Elias Vane
You cannot do this. The bell is not a court, and it does not judge fairly.
The plague doctor plants their black medicine case beside the post. Behind the mask, their attention moves from Elias Vane to the reliquary and the brass token in Beetz’s possession.
The Plague Doctor
The drowned bell must be rung once. Elias will answer before the survivors decide his fate. No more bargains, no more concealed prices.
Mara Vane stands near Beetz, watching Elias Vane’s face instead of the ropes. Her claws remain hidden beneath torn sleeves, but her posture tightens at every word he speaks.
Mara Vane
He is afraid of the answer, not the punishment. Whatever the bell remembers, Elias has spent years keeping it buried.
The child listens safely behind the plague doctor, wrapped in the gray blanket. Around them, the survivors lift the post and begin carrying Elias Vane toward the chapel road.
“"Truly makes you question what that damned fool thought he was doing. He clearly wasn't trying to cure you, nor help the village. Was it related to the figure in white, or is this some strange cult sacrifice deal where he traded all those lives for something?"”
SUCCESS (Superb Psychology, rolled -2)
Beetz
Truly makes you question what that damned fool thought he was doing. He was not curing Mara or helping the village. Was this tied to the figure in white, or some cult sacrifice where he traded all those lives for something?
The villagers slow beneath the rain. Elias’s face drains of color, and the ropes creak as Beetz’s grip tightens. The brass token burns cold against their armor.
Elias Vane
The figure in white was the chapel’s witness, not my master. I brought the bell water to feed it names. Each life weakened the seal, and I was promised Mara would be restored.
Mara Vane
You knew the village would suffer. You knew the bell was consuming them, and still you carried the water here.
Elias Vane
It was a sacrifice, yes, but not to a cult. The old shore congregation died out generations ago. I continued their rite alone because the figure promised me one life returned for every name given.
A sharp crack travels through the brass token, splitting its engraved seal. The sound draws every survivor’s attention, and a thin line of bloodless cold spreads through Beetz’s gauntlet.
The Plague Doctor
Then the token was an oath-mark. Elias has confessed the bargain, and the bell has heard him. Carry him to the chapel. It will show the names he paid.
✓ Quest Accepted
Bind Elias to the villagers' judgment
“"What a fool. What have the villagers decided to do with him?"”
SUCCESS (Mediocre Reasoning, rolled +0)
Beetz
What a fool. What have the villagers decided to do with him?
The survivors halt beneath the rain, surrounding Elias and the judgment post. Their fear has hardened into a common decision, spoken without anyone needing to lead.
The Plague Doctor
They will bind Elias to the chapel road and carry him before the drowned bell. It will reveal every name he fed into the rite.
Mara Vane
After that, they decide whether he lives under guard or dies for what he knowingly did. No bargain will speak for him again.
Elias Vane
You cannot condemn me to that place. The bell will tear open every soul it remembers, including yours.
The villagers resume carrying him toward the chapel road. The cracked token bites cold into Beetz’s gauntlet, numbing two armored fingers, while Elias’s confession follows them through the rain.
The Plague Doctor
Their decision is made. The bell will judge the truth, and the survivors will judge Elias.
“"Oh please, my soul has already suffered both the reaper and being torn asunder. I am no stranger to such things. You, however, you vile wretched fool are. You should pray they show you even a droplet of mercy, for I will now."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +3)
Beetz
Oh, please. My soul has already suffered the reaper and being torn asunder. I know such things. You, vile fool, do not. Pray they show you mercy, because I will now.
Beetz lowers Elias toward the judgment post without releasing him. Their armored head bows, and the cracked oath-token answers with a low note beneath the rain.
Elias Vane
No. Do not pray there. The bell hears prayers as offerings, and it will take whatever you place before it.
Beetz’s prayer passes into the token. The cold line spreading through their gauntlet reverses, and the brass seal unfolds into a clear map of the chapel road, marking every hidden name Elias fed to the rite.
Mara Vane
It answered you. The names are exposed now. Elias cannot hide behind a missing page or a false confession.
The Plague Doctor
Carry him onward. The bell will have no room for denial when its own oath-mark has revealed the ledger.
The survivors lift the post again. Elias stares at the revealed markings while the chapel road opens before them through the rain, and his bargaining silence becomes its first confession.
“I help carry Elias before the drowned bell”
SUCCESS (Great Strength, rolled +1)
Beetz takes hold of the judgment post beside the survivors, armored strength steadying its wet weight as they carry Elias along the chapel road.
Rain streams over the procession. The revealed oath-mark guides them through flooded ruts, each pale name shining briefly before sinking back into the mud.
Elias Vane
You think carrying me there makes you righteous? The bell will show what I did, but it will also show what you are.
Mara Vane
Enough. You chose the rite, Elias. Beetz is choosing to see it answered.
The chapel emerges beyond the reeds, its drowned stones black beneath the storm. The suspended bell hangs over the flooded threshold, motionless and waiting.
Together, Beetz and the survivors set the judgment post before the bell. Elias’s ropes hold, and the cracked token gives one clear note that silences the rain.
The Plague Doctor
He is before the drowned bell. Now it will speak every name, and the survivors will decide what mercy remains.
Quest Complete
Bind Elias to the villagers' judgment
Attribute Upgrade: Reasoning Mediocre→Fair