The Church Crypt

The Church Crypt

Stone steps descend into an old crypt beneath the church. At its center, the air itself has split open. The veil-tear hangs like a jagged wound suspended in empty space, leaking a pale, ghostly light that never quite reaches the floor. Resting on the ancient altar below is a shard of black stone veined with silver, no larger than a clenched fist. Each slow pulse seems to draw the tear a little wider.

The shard can simply be destroyed, though doing so is dangerous. It has Hardness 8, HP 40, and BT 20. When reduced to 0 HP, it releases a surge of psychic energy; each creature within range must succeed at a DC 20 Will save or become stunned 1.

Sister Mirela believes there is another way. If the party is willing to spend the time, the shard can be purified instead of shattered. The ritual takes one hour and requires a successful Religion check (DC 22) or Occultism check (DC 24), with the character trained in the chosen skill. The ritual also consumes a 2nd-level spell slot or an equivalent amount of Focus Points. If Mirela assists, she grants a +2 circumstance bonus to the check.

Should the ritual succeed, the silver veins fade, the shard crumbles into dull gray stone, and the veil-tear quietly closes. The echoes throughout Thornwick simply disappear, leaving only silence behind. Mirela says nothing for a long while before quietly offering her thanks.

If the ritual fails, the shard answers with another pulse. The crypt grows suddenly cold as 1d4 echoes emerge from the surrounding darkness to defend it (moderate encounter).