Take a look at the symbol to discover what it is before moving on.
Look at the image, now that Gabriel is gone.
The two glance at the image but can find nothing else of note. They follow the rest of the party and board the hauler.
Part Four: The Black Cathedral
As darkness begins to fall, the foothills rise to either side of the road and the path snakes around the increasingly mountainous terrain until at last you see lights glimmer ahead, growing brighter until you can make out some sort of
settlement centred on a broad hill. You continue until your path is barred by a rough wall of crudely piled up stone and
black flint. Watch fires burn along the top of the wall and you see numerous guns jutting out, silhouetted against the firelight. As you get closer, a pair of heavy wire-mesh and steel gates set into the wall swing open and a tall figure walks forward, wrapped in dark cloak with a rifle slung over his back. In his hand he carries an axe held high. He waves for your vehicle to stop and for you to
dismount. Aristarchus orders you all to comply and adds that you should make no sudden moves.
Once you are on the ground the man walks closer and glares at each of you. He seems to consider for a time, then in a fluid movement he bows deeply saying, “Welcome Servants of the Emperor, you are free to enter.”
As the hauler moves through the gates you immediately the outline of a great domed building atop the hill. Doubtless, this is the cathedral. You can see from the back of the hauler that the area around the hill is covered in a mix of tents, lean-tos, shacks and the occasional flint-block building. Low illumination seeps from the curtained doors of the dwellings and from the night fires burning in old promethium drums dotted about the camp. The smell of smoke and cooking blends in the chill night air.
As you drive the hauler up what looks to be Stern Hope’s main street, a strong voice hails you from the side of the path. A smiling heavyset
man in the dark robes of a monk approaches the vehicle with a shuttered lamp in his hand. He takes a pointed look at the party’s weapons
before grinning up at the Acolytes and winking a bright blue eye, “Greetings pilgrims. Such faith and preparation is admirable to see. You are the help that the abbot has sent for, yes? Truly we are not forgotten. I’m Brother Lamark, one of the churchmen of this mission. Welcome to Stern Hope—the abbot awaits your pleasure at the priory in the morning after you are rested. Unfortunately he is currently occupied and apologises for not greeting you himself.”
He climbs onto the back of the hauler and greets those he can reach with a firm handshake and directs Argia to park the hauler so that he can lead you to your lodgings.