A pair of scholars arrived in Maplewood in April with unusual interests and excellent appetites. The two members of the Soaring Sparrow Society, a scholarly organization dedicated to the study of ancient artifacts and lost civilizations, have been asking questions around town about a gauntlet, prompting a range of responses from residents.
“Aren’t the diggerologists supposed to be checking the soil? Why are they looking for gauntlets?”
“I think the diggerologists are just yebs in disguise.”
“What is a gauntlet gauntlet? A gauntlet that goes on top of your gauntlet? Why would you need that?”
An employee of SIP found the scholars themselves over breakfast, where they provided more information between mouthfuls of sausage and coffee.
The Soaring Sparrow Society, they explained, is a multi-regional organization specializing in ancient artifacts and lost civilizations. Last year, one of their members discovered a remnant believed to be part of a Nalbendelian temple. The remnant was activated and a trial began, but the fragment was too far from a magical power source, and the magic faded before the trial could be completed.
The Sparrows have been studying the temple since. What they have established: the temple was a shrine to the sept that housed a magical item. To awaken this item, four trials must be run and successfully completed. Whether these trials are pre-planned or generated by the temple itself remains unknown. What the item is, and what it does, also remains unknown.
What the Sparrows do have is a new research grant that was given to them, which they used to locate another gauntlet in May. This gauntlet involved ringing labeled bells in a specific order, a task that required more thought than the more physical gauntlet that took place the month before. Town residents have been speculating on what the third could be.
“I asked one of them what the next trial would be and they said they didn’t know. I don’t think they’re allowed to say.”
“I’ve been practicing my interpretive dance just in case. You can never be too prepared.”
“First an obstacle course, then bells. At this rate, the fourth trial is going to be a bake-off. I’m not complaining.”
Two trials have now been completed. What the remaining two will look like, and what waits at the end of all four, the Sparrows cannot say with certainty. What can be said is that whatever comes next, Maplewood will have a front row seat.