What an optimistic start, with volunteers and consensus aplenty! We'll see how long that lasts
Day One - ConclusionKarl and DarkRula electedDarkRula waits until the man is some distance away along the road, and then sets off in stealthy pursuit. Karl follows some distance again behind and walking in the open, his destination instead the church. Before long the man has turned off the road and disappeared into the surrounding country, and DarkRula with him, leaving Karl alone as instructed as he approaches the stone chapel.
A small building in the Norman style, the wooden doors swing freely open. Inside the church is empty bar one person sitting on the second row pew. Karl recognises him as the man from before.
"How did you-"
"Get here so quick?" ventures the man, rising to his feet. "The organisation I work for grants its representatives many useful abilities. It comes with the nature of our work. For example, I know you had me followed."
The man's eyes narrow and he points to the ceiling. Karl looks up to see DarkRula suspended from the rafters, frozen in some kind of blue crystal, eyes captured wide open in shock and surprise.
"I had hoped we might work together, your group and mine, but you have proven yourself untrusworthy. I was going to tell you about R.E.L.I.C, and our quest for the Holy GRail, and how our extensive research has narrowed down its location to the Kingdom of Grailtopia, far to the west of here. But I'm not going to tell you any of that. Instead I'm going to kill you."
From his cloak the man pulls a handgun and aims it directly at Karl.
"I'm sorry it had to end this way."
The man fires, the bullet piercing straight through Karl's heart, killing him instantly. At the same time the cross above the altar glows with an unearthly light and the man cries out in pain, dropping the handgun to the flagstone floor as it glows red hot.
"Ah, to kill in a Church, I had forgotten the rules..." he grimaces.
The man reaches into his pocket with his unburned hand and pulls out a small wax idol, muttering some words over it. With a crackle of electricity a shimmering portal appears in front of him. He steps through into the void, the portal closing shut behind him, leaving DarkRula suspended in crystal above Karl's stilled body.
Some time passes, and hearing nothing the rest of the group arrive at the church. After the initial shock of finding Karl's corpse pooled in blood, someone spots DarkRula suspended from the ceiling, and with careful effort he is lowered to the ground. The crystallisation appears to be wearing off, first around DarkRula's head, reviving him and allowing him to recount what happened in the church below. He probably won't be back to normal for a full day, but at least he's alive.
Now the group had a destination - Grailtopia. They couldn't have wished for a better start to their journey!