Once the players are settled in to life in the rectory, the action can begin.
The next few days can be dedicated to identifying the 'Knowe and seeing what can be done about it. The Reverend has many local topographical maps and can show the party where the mound is and the extent of the glebe land owned by the parish. The weather will be typically Orcadian for the first few days, with blattering rain, fog and gales off the ocean. The group may well feel that a day or so poring over maps in the warmth of the rectory study might be a good way to start.
Glebe land is an area which is sometimes attached to a parish, the working of which allows some supplementary income to the priest in charge. In this case, the Reverend MacTavish doesn't work the land per se, although he does lease out the space for horse agistment, and sheep and cattle grazing. He explains that the block of land is long and narrow, running straight up and over the hills behind the church and rectory. he can show on a map how the shortest way to the Devil's Knowe is by walking the length of the glebe and then descending into the valley beyond.
At some point the party will be left to their own devices as the reverend and his wife Maeve leave to continue the effort to find the lost local child. If the party stays in the study alone for a length of time, they will notice some objects on the desk that might pique their interest (Spot Hidden Rolls): the first is a human skull, missing its lower jaw. It is very old but if examined closely, it can be seen to have been exhumed only fairly recently - traces of loose soil will be noticed inside it. The other object is a wedge-shaped stone with a hole bored through the centre of it, that has been broken in two: this lies on the middle of the desk blotter under a mounted magnifying glass with a small, fine brush lying next to it. It would seem that Reverend has been doing some digging recently.
Also in the study, it behoves the party to make a Library Use Roll. There are some interesting works here which may shed some light on the local activity.
FERGUSSON, James, Rude Stone Monuments in All Countries, 1872, John Murray Ltd., London.
James Fergusson was a Scottish architect with a particular fascination for Indian architecture. As well, he wrote this book which is a list of Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age constructions known throughout the world. The section on the Orkney Isles details many of the sites that were discovered up to the cataloguing performed by the Department of Works in 1866. It includes a short paragraph which touches upon the Devil's Knowe:
"The Isle of Hoy has fewer stone structures than the other Orcadian islands however they might well be said to be of a better quality overall. Prime among these is the Dwarven Stone, a massive block of Caledonian conglomerate into the side of which has been carved a small tomb comprising two connected chambers and with a tightly-fitting stone door. Not far from this is the ill-aspected Devil's Knowe and its watcher, which the local folk bestrew with dark stories of mischief on certain ill-starred nights of the year."
FRASER, David, Land and Society in Neolithic Orkney, 1983, Oxford University Press, Oxford UK.
HEDGES, John W. (Foreword by Colin Renfrew), Tomb of the Eagles: A Window on Stone-Age Tribal Britain, 2000, John and Erica Hedges Ltd., Guildford UK.
(There are earlier, and both UK and US editions of the Hedges book, if that suits your campaign timeline better. It was first printed in 1984 and re-printed pretty much every other year until 2000. It's now available as a print-on-demand volume.)
From these two works, the party can gain many insights into the nature of Neolithic Orcadian society and the features that can be expected to emerge during an archaeological dig on the Orkney Isles. If the party takes the time to peruse these books, the Keeper is justified in allowing the characters to make Idea Rolls when confronted by certain anomalous revelations during their investigations.
After these initial preparations, the party should feel themselves ready for action.
Out Into The Weather...
Orkney doesn't have climate; it has weather. When it's not raining, it's foggy; and when it's not foggy, it's blowing a gale. When it's not any of these, it's probably snowing. The party should be prepared for cold and wet. If they are lacking in wet weather gear, the Reverend's wife Maeve can lend various jackets, hats and scarves from a supply she keeps for emergencies.
Heading towards the 'Knowe, the party must first ascend the hills behind the rectory. There are a few fences to climb and, right at the base of the slope, a small bog might (Luck Roll) suck the boot off one of the party member's feet. The climb is steep and steady, but not arduous, although those with a low CON score might well find themselves exhausted by the time they reach the summit. The top of the rise is wide and flat and the views out to all sides of the Isle are starkly beautiful.
Continuing on, the party comes to a tall standing stone, its base covered with loose scree, after which the land descends into a low, wide valley beyond; it can be seen to empty out into an even larger valley beyond this, with dimly-seen mountains in the distance. Looking down into the bottom of the smaller nearer valley, the party will catch its first glimpse of the Devil's Knowe.
The low mound rises up from the floor of the small valley and is obscured on the northern side by a heavy growth of hawthorn. From above, the party can see where the top of the small peat-covered hill has been dug up and they can see the marks left by the fire. Now the party can get down to business!
Also in the study, it behoves the party to make a Library Use Roll. There are some interesting works here which may shed some light on the local activity.
FERGUSSON, James, Rude Stone Monuments in All Countries, 1872, John Murray Ltd., London.
James Fergusson was a Scottish architect with a particular fascination for Indian architecture. As well, he wrote this book which is a list of Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age constructions known throughout the world. The section on the Orkney Isles details many of the sites that were discovered up to the cataloguing performed by the Department of Works in 1866. It includes a short paragraph which touches upon the Devil's Knowe:
"The Isle of Hoy has fewer stone structures than the other Orcadian islands however they might well be said to be of a better quality overall. Prime among these is the Dwarven Stone, a massive block of Caledonian conglomerate into the side of which has been carved a small tomb comprising two connected chambers and with a tightly-fitting stone door. Not far from this is the ill-aspected Devil's Knowe and its watcher, which the local folk bestrew with dark stories of mischief on certain ill-starred nights of the year."
FRASER, David, Land and Society in Neolithic Orkney, 1983, Oxford University Press, Oxford UK.
HEDGES, John W. (Foreword by Colin Renfrew), Tomb of the Eagles: A Window on Stone-Age Tribal Britain, 2000, John and Erica Hedges Ltd., Guildford UK.
(There are earlier, and both UK and US editions of the Hedges book, if that suits your campaign timeline better. It was first printed in 1984 and re-printed pretty much every other year until 2000. It's now available as a print-on-demand volume.)
From these two works, the party can gain many insights into the nature of Neolithic Orcadian society and the features that can be expected to emerge during an archaeological dig on the Orkney Isles. If the party takes the time to peruse these books, the Keeper is justified in allowing the characters to make Idea Rolls when confronted by certain anomalous revelations during their investigations.
After these initial preparations, the party should feel themselves ready for action.
Out Into The Weather...
Orkney doesn't have climate; it has weather. When it's not raining, it's foggy; and when it's not foggy, it's blowing a gale. When it's not any of these, it's probably snowing. The party should be prepared for cold and wet. If they are lacking in wet weather gear, the Reverend's wife Maeve can lend various jackets, hats and scarves from a supply she keeps for emergencies.
Heading towards the 'Knowe, the party must first ascend the hills behind the rectory. There are a few fences to climb and, right at the base of the slope, a small bog might (Luck Roll) suck the boot off one of the party member's feet. The climb is steep and steady, but not arduous, although those with a low CON score might well find themselves exhausted by the time they reach the summit. The top of the rise is wide and flat and the views out to all sides of the Isle are starkly beautiful.
Continuing on, the party comes to a tall standing stone, its base covered with loose scree, after which the land descends into a low, wide valley beyond; it can be seen to empty out into an even larger valley beyond this, with dimly-seen mountains in the distance. Looking down into the bottom of the smaller nearer valley, the party will catch its first glimpse of the Devil's Knowe.
The low mound rises up from the floor of the small valley and is obscured on the northern side by a heavy growth of hawthorn. From above, the party can see where the top of the small peat-covered hill has been dug up and they can see the marks left by the fire. Now the party can get down to business!
To Be Continued...
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