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I. The Stolen Lands : 1.2 And let the adventure begin

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In Restov : a secret meeting in the Temple of Erastil The Heroes were invited to a secret meeting in the temple of Erastil in the outskirts of Restov. It was dark, the sky was leaden black and a fine rain was cooling the damp atmosphere of the southern summer. When they each arrived once at a time, they entered the high carved wooden building were reigned an atmosphere of profond contemplation. Beeswax, resin, sage, cypress powerful scents invaded the air. Only a few candles illuminated the chapel and its carved alcoves where the Patriarch Russev  was celebrating a funeral ritual in the company of a handful of believers. Only muffled cryings could be heard in the silent dim light. Silhouettes stand out in the dark rows of oak benches. It was only when the bereaved faithfuls left the temple that the old man got rid of his robe and ceremonial headdress. He then went to the presbytery, beckoning the Heroes to follow him. Everyone settled in the small cramped room. The patriarch int...

I. The Stolen Lands : 1.1 The party concept & the specific context

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The cult of Erastil in Rostland Temple of Erastil in Restov's outskirts The cult of Erastil is poorly represented in the country of Rost (or Rostland) because it has been supplanted for a long time by that of Abadar. It is still present in the peasant population in the form of fertility rituals and popular festivals. These practices are considered retrograde, the "old ways" in opposition to the "new ones", supposedly more modern and more refined instituted by the clergy of Abadar with the support of the nobility and the trading guilds. Erastil remains an officially respected cult because it still has followers in some areas where the local nobility keeps the old one eyed god as the main deity, where elsewhere in the country it is confined to a role of secondary divinity, if not folkloric. "Erastilians" truly are considered as a religious minority and the authorities treat them with suspicion despite a fainted benevolence. It can be sai...