Encounter

The Cultist Shrine

Combat

Area O3 — The Cultist Shrine

A natural cavern converted into a chapel of despair. The walls are painted with frescoes of souls escaping skulls, flying upward into a featureless gray sky. At the center, Brother Alms (LE male human cleric 5) preaches to two dozen ragged villagers from Thornwick and neighboring hamlets.

Brother Alms was once a Pharasmin priest. He lost his family to plague and concluded that Pharasma's judgment is cruelty. The Veilbreaker spoke to him in dreams, offering "freedom from the cycle." He now leads the Flock of the Open Grave.

Social Path: The party can attempt to debate Brother Alms. He is Fanatical (hostile) but genuinely believes he is saving people. Arguments that resonate:

  • The Veilbreaker is destroying souls, not freeing them (Religion DC 22, or DC 20 with evidence from Act 1).
  • The Flock's "converts" are being fed to the Soul-Hunger (Diplomacy DC 24 with proof).
  • Pharasma's judgment is hard but just — the alternative is oblivion, not paradise (Religion DC 26).

Combat Path: If combat breaks out, Brother Alms fights with harm spells and a +1 striking scythe. He has 6 cultist guards (level 2) and will sacrifice them to escape if reduced below 20 HP. He knows the location of the third tear and will reveal it if captured (Intimidation DC 20, or freely if his faith is shaken in debate).