Cerements Summary

After listening to the seeker's story, Brant rejoins Charlene in the common room. Brant asks Charlene to tell a story but she sadly states she has nothing to offer. A cadaverous-looking man named Petrefex begins to tell the next story. Petrefex is Klaproth's journeyman, and the men come from a place called Litharge, which is a necropolis wholly devoted to the respectful and proper disposal of the dead. Petrefex then begins a tale with multiple levels of narration. He recalls his first days as Klaproth's pupil when he recited the five main methodologies of corpse disposal and was then assigned to attend an air disposal and report on the proceedings. Petrefex joined a burial party led by Master Hermas and observed the ceremony—the corpse of the deceased was processed fully and fed to birds, leaving only a bloody stain on a...