Posts from ⚔️Serberia Auto-translated

Never happened before, and here we go again 🙄

don't worry, it was just another Inquisitor.

We inspect the cave and the prisoner. Luckily, there is a source of light, in the form of Air.

Added 1 minute ago

don't worry, this was definitely another inquisitor

He looks similar in terms of parameters, by the way. If so, then you did the right thing...

Nothing recognizable remained of the captive, but inside the cave, the group discovered a spider altar, with six eyes, each containing a concavity for a right human hand.

/Clearly a hint at the Discipline skill, since normal spiders have 8 eyes.)/

After a difficult and unsettling day, the prisoner, accidentally burned by their goblin-like companion, evoked a range of negative emotions in the girl, but not as strong as it might have in another situation. Today had been too terrible for such a tragedy to become its central event – merely a cherry on top. It seemed that their squad couldn't complete any of their assignments properly, without some kind of "but."
— I don't think any of us are familiar with this, so I think it would be fair to turn to our new four-legged friend, — the Argalian carefully examined the altar, then turned to Kashe, — have you ever encountered anything like this? Do you have any ideas?

“I hope that wasn’t our Alessia…” Ren commented, looking at the charred remains of the prisoner.

—I don't think any of us are familiar with this, so I think it would be fair to turn to our new four-legged friend, — the argalian carefully examined the altar, then turned to Kashe, — have you ever encountered anything like this? Do you have any ideas?

— There have been many such altars since the Artherian War. People have lost faith in their goddess and have begun to seek alternatives... Some have even worshiped various monsters. In this case, probably some kind of spider. Usually, if you offer a sacrifice or fulfill certain conditions, — she points with her eyes to the hand holes, — then "something" might happen. I can't say exactly what, and whether it's good or bad depends on the specific person.

Added 1 minute later

—I hope it wasn't our Alessia... — Ren commented on the charred remains of the prisoner.

— Don't worry, — the cat tried to reassure Renold, — it's not her. Most likely, it's just another scout.

— Don't whine, — the cat tried to comfort Renold.

Added 3 minutes later

Usually, if you present an offering or fulfill certain conditions, — he points with his eyes to the openings for the hands, — then "something" might happen. I can't say exactly what, and whether it's good or bad depends on the specific person.

In short, you gather eight right hands and bring them — they'll either give you additional limbs, turn you into an arachnid, or just a spider. Don't fall for it, guys.

Yes, you need to add your own.

It was too late; Kalentia had already begun to cut off the inquisitor's arm.

Well, after attacking the traveler, you could still be called mere bandits, but after that, you'll have to be bandit-cultists.

How Gungnir recruits new members:

Not so long ago, Gulveig stood on the square with a blank stare, listening to the countess's order to execute the inquisitors, and silently praying for the repose of their souls. And why was she so sure that the local ruler was more merciful and would prefer imprisonment for the offenders? Was it because she seemed like a good person after the incident in the Bors Palace? Was it because her husband was a friend of the teacher? Was it because the girl intuitively felt that pardoning the inquisitors was a good opportunity to improve the fragile relations between Serberia and Reginleif almost out of nowhere (although, considering all the circumstances and the death of their fourth comrade, this might not be true)?
Of course, it was clear that there was no peace in the world, and this was evident even in the conflicts between the Artherians themselves. But even the Valkyries, after arguing and brandishing their weapons at each other, eventually gave up and yielded to the stronger side, without resorting to murder. Here, however, neither the inquisitors nor Gulveig's homeland, which had fought against them, including Vegi herself, were willing to show even a drop of mercy.
And then, just when it seemed that the chapter was closed, they were in for another surprise. Contrary to all expectations of their group, the spiders had a prisoner who had survived mummification, and this was now clear from the trickle of warm, fresh blood flowing from the charred body. It was clear that, thanks to some Goddess, he had lived longer than he should have, but now... now it was all over.
Gulveig was not interested in the strange altar at the end of the cave; she could only look at the corpse, barely suppressing the rising nausea.
"Undoubtedly, this man was a criminal. And undoubtedly, he would have died soon anyway, and in that sense, a shameful death by hanging in the square is worse than a quick death from the intense heat of our new comrade... But Mother, how wrong it all is! Deeply wrong, wrong from the very beginning! There is no true piety left in the world, none at all. And I, alas, am part of all this.
The only thing I can do is try to guide things in a more righteous direction next time, preserving at least a drop of piety within myself. The worse the world becomes, the better, more righteous, and stronger I must be. By passing on my way of thinking to those close to me, I will already make at least the most important part of my world better.
Moreover, I myself am the keeper of the way of thinking of one important person, who has now left us for unknown lands. For his sake, I will persevere."
She prays for the inquisitor.

— Don't jump to conclusions, — the cat tried to reassure Renold, — it's not her. Most likely, it's just another scout.

Added 32 minutes later
I assume that none of the others are planning to experiment with the altar (except maybe Alex), so let's go to the manor.