The kitchen is hushed. Elias sits with the map spread under his hands, breathing shallowly, while Marla and Elizabeth keep still and let him speak.
Elias
There’s a church on the edge of the city. They meet there, the real circle. Not the front people, the ones who decide things.
He drags a finger across the paper to a collapsed building near the outskirts, its roofline broken and its parking lot half-swallowed by weeds.
Elias
They share their faith there. They pray, they plan, and they pass names through it like it’s holy business.
Marla Brewer
You’re saying the church is their hub, not just a meeting place.
Elias
Yes. If you want the people above Knight’s End, that’s where you start.
Elizabeth Bathory
And Trevor? Is he part of what they promise you there?
Elias goes quiet at that, his hand still pinned to the map, as the route to the cult’s inner circle suddenly feels close enough to touch.
✓ Quest Accepted
Go to the church on the city’s edge
✓ Quest Accepted
Find the Stars of Divinity inner circle
“Thadeus starts to plan out the team's next moves. Thadeus and Elizabeth would perform a stakeout of the church, observing the parishioners going in and out. Marla will install a small camera on Elizabeth's car that will give a live feed back to her and Elias in Thadeus's office, so Marla can help monitor the outside of the church. Before Thadeus and Elizabeth head out, Elias tells them he has something for Thadeus and has to find it. Elias runs out the door and into his truck, racing away. Thadeus looks at Marla and Elizabeth, "Okay, I guess we'll wait until he returns."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -2)
Thadeus nods once and starts turning the map into a plan. Church stakeout first, car camera second, then eyes on every doorway and face that comes and goes.
Marla is already moving, pulling tools from her bag and stepping toward Elizabeth’s car with the focused speed of someone who likes jobs with clear edges.
Elizabeth takes the church lead in stride, glancing between Thadeus and the map, her posture easing into readiness instead of argument.
Marla Brewer
Give me ten minutes, maybe less. I can hide a small camera where it will see the lot and still stay out of sight.
Elias
Before you go, I have something for you. I need to find it.
He pushes back from the table so fast his chair scrapes the floor, then hurries for the door and out into the cold without waiting for answers.
He is already in the truck by the time the front door shuts.
Thadeus looks from the empty doorway to Marla and Elizabeth, and the plan settles into a holding pattern. The house stays quiet, but the missing thing Elias went to fetch hangs over the room like a fresh question.
“Thadeus moves some supplies into Elizabeth's truck, knowing they will be staking out the church for some time. As he does, Elias pulls back into Thadeus's driveway. Elias gets out of the truck, and lifts out a box from the truck bed. The box itself looks old, with various shipping labels on it, as if the box has traveled around the world.”
SUCCESS (Superb Strength, rolled +2)
Thadeus hauls the supplies into Elizabeth's truck in two solid trips, packing them tight around the open bed. The church stakeout starts to feel real the moment the last bag settles.
Elizabeth watches the loading with a calm, ready look, one hand braced on the cab while the other checks the route on her phone. Marla finishes a camera mount and looks up just as tires crunch in the driveway.
Elias rolls back in and cuts the engine too fast, then climbs out with a weathered box from the truck bed. The shipping labels are old, layered, and stamped from too many places to read at a glance.
Marla Brewer
Elias... what is that?
He does not answer right away. He just stands there with the box in both hands, shoulders tight, as if the weight is in what he is bringing back, not the cardboard itself.
Elizabeth Bathory
Thadeus, looks like he came back with a reason. Let him say it.
Thadeus Jovanović
The box has traveled farther than it should have.
“Elias looks over to Thadeus, "There was one last gift Trevor left for me. According to him, it's passed down our family's bloodline for many generations. I think now is the appropriate time to open it." Elias sets the box on the hood of his truck, and carefully opens the box, revealing an ancient, large book, heavily covered in dust. Elias delicately lifts the book out and removes the dust from the cover, revealing the book's title, "Belmont Family Grimoire". Thadeus and the others look at the book with fascination. Elias speaks, "This book is a collection of my family's history, going back to the 11th century. I always the stories in here were fantastical, telling tales of my family fighting evil and slaying the undead. But now I'm starting to think these were more than mere stories."”
Elias sets the box on his hood and opens it with careful hands. Dust spills away, and a heavy old book emerges, its cracked cover marked Belmont Family Grimoire.
Elias
Trevor said it was the last gift he left me. It goes back generations. I think this is the right time to open it.
Elias
My family kept this history for centuries, stories about fighting evil and killing the undead. I used to think they were just stories. Now I am not so sure.
“Elias continues discussing the Grimoire, "What makes this book even more astonishing, though, is who wrote the book." Thadeus looks perplexed at Elias, "What do you mean? Who is the author?" Elias responds, "That's just it, there is no author. According to family legend, the book fills its pages in with the adventures of the Belmonts and their allies. These pages are filled with the images of heroes through the century. For example, look at this," Elias open the book to a random page, and the party sees the image of an ancient hero, named Richter Belmont, who lived during the 18th century. Thadeus eyes light up, "This is extraordinary."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -2)
Elias
What makes this book stranger is who did not write it.
Thadeus Jovanović
What do you mean? Who is the author?
Elias
There is no author. Family legend says it fills itself with the Belmonts, and the people who stand with them.
Elias
Look here.
Elias turns to a random page and spreads it flat. A painted figure in old clothes stares back from the paper, labeled Richter Belmont, with another costumed ally beside him.
Thadeus Jovanović
This is extraordinary.
The page shift sends a dry crack through the spine, and a puff of dust smears across Elias’s thumb. Marla flinches at the brittle sound while Elizabeth leans in, eyes fixed on the illustration.
“Thadeus ask Elias, "Thank you for sharing this with us. Now do you believe me about your brother?" Elias smiles slightly, and nods affirmatively, "If our family really did battle against for the forces of evil, I have to see what SoD is doing for what it is. I'm so sorry for the trouble I've caused." Thadeus extends his hand out towards Elias, "Love can make people do crazy things." Elias meets Thadeus's hand in a warm and strong handshake. Elizabeth blushes and quietly giggles, realizing Thadeus said the same thing to her before.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Thadeus Jovanović
Thank you for sharing this with us. Now do you believe me about your brother?
Elias
Yeah. If the Belmonts really fought evil, then I have to see Stars of Divinity for what it is. I am sorry for the trouble I have caused.
Elias closes the grimoire partway and reaches across the truck hood. Thadeus meets him there, and their handshake lands firm and steady over the open book.
Thadeus Jovanović
Love can make people do crazy things.
Elias lets out a breath that sounds almost like relief. Elizabeth’s mouth quirks, then she gives a small, shy giggle, recognizing the line before she looks away with a blush.
“With the revelations from Elias shared, Thadeus and Elizabeth hop into Elizabeth's dark red truck, Elizabeth at the wheel. Marla runs around the side of the truck to Thadeus, "I've got the camera set up on the passenger side here," she points to the passenger side mirror. Marla turns toward Elizabeth, telling her that when they are near the church, she will have to park the truck with the passenger side door facing the church directly. Elizabeth responds, "Got it." Thadeus does one more check of the truck, ensuring they have what they need, then turns to Elias, "Thank you again, friend. Make sure you keep an eye on Marla." Elias, smiling fully for the first time in what feels like an eternity, responds, "We'll keep an eye out for each other. Good luck, Thadeus." Thadeus nods. And with that Elizabeth starts her truck. Thadeus and Elizabeth begin driving the log road towards the church of SoD.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -3)
Thadeus gives Elias one last nod, then climbs into Elizabeth’s truck with the rest of the gear. The hood is still crowded with the grimoire, the box, and Marla’s camera kit, but the mood is lighter now, almost careful.
Marla Brewer
I’ve got the camera set up on the passenger side here.
She jogs around the truck and points at the mirror mount, tapping the angle with two quick fingers.
Marla Brewer
When we get near the church, park it so that side faces the building.
Elizabeth Bathory
Got it.
Thadeus checks the cab, the hood, and the bed, making sure the holy water, the note, and Peacebringer are where they should be. Then he turns back to Elias.
Thadeus Jovanović
Thank you again, friend. Make sure you keep an eye on Marla.
Elias
We’ll keep an eye out for each other. Good luck, Thadeus.
His smile lands fully this time, open and tired and real. The truck engine catches, then settles into a low rumble as Elizabeth pulls away toward the log road and the church at the city’s edge.