What is Past

The chantry stands on a hill just outside of town.  The walk to it is a quiet one, everyone lost in thought after days on the road.  An older woman greets you at the chantry gate, her robes marking her as the Revered Mother.  She smiles and welcomes you all inside.  "Visitors to Jader and not a one of you looks like a sailor or merchant!  I don't see that often.  Be welcome, young ones.  What have you come seeking?"  Her tone is warm, eyes compassionate.  

Adrienne is the first to speak.  "We are supposed to meet someone behind the Chantry.  A girl named Maya."  The Mother looks thoughtful for a moment.  George shifts uneasily from foot to foot.  He still doesn't know why she would be here, of all places.  Why Jader?  Why a chantry?  The Revered Mother shakes her head, "I don't know anyone by that name.  But . . . I wonder.  One of my acolytes might know her."  As she says this, a young red haired woman steps out of the shadows in a darkened doorway.  

George inhales sharply, taking a step forward before he realizes it is not her, not his sister.  "I know Maya," the redhead says stepping into the light.  "Do you Hazel?  Can you help them find their friend?"  The girl nods.  There is something odd about her, an empty quality.  She smiles, "I will take them to her now, Revered Mother.  Please excuse us."  

The Mother pats her gently.  "Thank you Hazel."  To Adrienne and the group she says quietly, "Please bring her back after you meet with this Maya.  Hazel has been a bit absent minded of late.  I would not want her to wander off."  Kyle nods, giving the old woman a wide smile, "Of course.  I will make sure she returns safely."  The Revered Mother nods in thanks and leaves you alone with Hazel.

"Maya should be waiting," Hazel says softly, and turns to lead you through the back of the Chantry.  Dusk is falling, and as she opens the door to the outside, you hear the crash of waves on stone.  A small, terraced garden sits behind the chantry, painted red by the setting sun.  Past the garden, the ground drops away to a sheer cliff side, the ocean churning below.  

In an odd, flat voice Hazel says, "Did you know the chevaliers took Jader during the war?  They came here, to the chantry after burning half the town."  She turns to look at you, face shrouded in shadow.  "They thought King Maric's men were hiding in the hills nearby and they began to summon men here to question them.  Two at a time . . ."  she laughs softly.  

"Two at a time, they would bring them here and ask them where the King's men were hiding.  If the men of Jader knew, they would not say.  The Captain of the chevaliers ordered the first of them tortured.  They tell me he was flayed alive right where I am standing now.  When the man could bear no more, he jumped into the sea.  In a rage, the Captain killed the other man and summoned two more.  He tortured them and then killed them, summoning more again and again . . . so much blood and pain and death."  

"What the hell does this have to do with my sister," George growls, impatient.  Hazel looks up, eyes gleaming.  "The Captain killed every man of Jader that day, and when the wives and daughters realized what was happening, they rose up and attacked the chevaliers.  They were slaughtered, of course."  

George reaches for her angrily, but Kyle stays his hand.  Haakan and Lauren look around nervously, sensing something very amiss.  Tegnar shifts from foot to foot, "This cannot be good," he mutters.  Mari whispers, "Maybe we should leave.  There is no one here but this crazy . . ."  

Hazel smiles at George.  "A little red haired girl came here late one night, just a few months ago.  She was with a templar, sweet old Ser Josef . . ."  "Where is she?" George demands, wondering how the templars found Maya and if his mother is alright.  "She is here," Hazel says, laughing.  She steps to the side and the red glow of the sun fills your eyes.  It is the last thing you see.