Our fellowship of experienced adventurers found themselves enjoying a well-deserved respite in a tavern when their peace was abruptly shattered by the arrival of a desperate letter. The plea came from Lisa of Bloom, a Priestess from the Order of Passage in the nearby city of Bloom, a city now gripped by a terrifying mystery. Members of her order were vanishing, only to reappear a day later as grotesque, unholy figures. Fear permeated the city, and Lisa, fearing for her own safety and the fate of her order, implored the heroes to meet her at her manor and uncover the source of this dark evil.
Intrigued and moved by the Priestess's desperate call, the adventurers heeded her summons. Upon arriving at Lisa's Manor, they were immediately confronted with the horrors described in her letter. The scene was chaotic: the door was unlocked, and within they discovered the horrifying reality of zombified members of the Order of Passage. It was clear that a violent struggle had taken place, and tragically, Priestess Lisa was nowhere to be found, suggesting she had been abducted.
The arrival of the town guard complicated matters significantly. Instead of allies, the adventurers were met with suspicion and accusations. Overwhelmed by the scene and the presence of the heroes amidst the undead, the guardsmen assumed the worst, threatening arrest and demanding explanations. Despite the chaotic situation, the party managed to convey their purpose – they were there to help Lisa, not harm her or her order.
Seeking answers, the resourceful adventurers employed unconventional methods. They managed to question one of the reanimated Order members, a chilling encounter that yielded fragmented yet crucial information. They learned that the ceremonial daggers of the Order were merely symbolic, that the Order of Passage was dedicated to bringing light and aiding souls in the afterlife, and that there wasn't a known ritual involving sacrifice. However, the zombie's final moments revealed a key suspicion: it seemed someone within the Order had turned against them.
Their investigation of the manor continued, leading them to discover journal entries detailing a new initiate's excitement upon joining the Order. However, these writings offered no immediate clues to the present crisis. They also noted signs of a struggle in what appeared to be Lisa's bedroom and even a seemingly innocuous bathroom, meticulously observing for any hidden passages or unusual disturbances.
The adventurers' persistence paid off when they discovered a secret door, hinting at deeper mysteries within the manor. Their inquiries and deductions led them to focus on a figure named Tomas, whom they suspected was involved in the disappearances.
Further delving into the past, the party learned a long-hidden secret. Thirty years prior, a fiend had possessed a local mason named Joram West. A young and inexperienced Lisa Whitestar, then a neophyte of the Order, had attempted an exorcism that tragically resulted in Joram's death. To protect their reputation, the Order had covered up the true circumstances, claiming Joram died from the fiend's corruption. This revelation added a layer of complexity to the present situation, suggesting a possible motive for revenge.
Their suspicions about Tomas proved accurate. They confronted him, and a tense exchange ensued, though the details of this confrontation aren't fully elaborated. Ultimately, the immediate threat posed by Tomas was dealt with.
In the aftermath, the adventurers relayed the events to the mayor, who was relieved that the immediate danger had been neutralized, even if the Priestess remained missing. Despite the lingering questions and the unresolved fate of Lisa, the heroes had brought a measure of peace to the troubled city, their actions shedding light on a dark conspiracy within the seemingly benevolent Order of Passage. They left Bloom with the gratitude of the mayor and the weight of the mysteries they had begun to unravel.