Moonday, Rova the 4th, 4711 A.R.

The Village of Ravengro, Ustalav

Five complete strangers have come to this sleepy village near the southern shores of Lake Lias in Canterwall. They each received a letter from Kendra Lorrimor, the daughter of Professor Petros Lorrimor who was an old friend to each of them. The professor had died unexpectedly, and the five were asked to attend the funeral and bear witness to the reading of the will. Each of the strangers arrived in time for the burial (if not a day or two in advance), and have gathered with Kendra and other townsfolk who have come to pay their respects at The Restlands, just north of the village. Kendra had been kind enough to provide introductions, as well as lodging for each of the visitors.

Wilhem Felmarch - A new member of the Order of the Dragon who has come from Lastwall to honor the professor. He, along with the rest of his company of knights, patrol the Hungry Mountains for any sign of evil incursions. Wilhem served the professor well as an escort while traveling in some very dangerous territory. He has been given a leave of absence from his order so he may travel to Ravengro. His steed, Sunbolt, carried him a very long way at remarkable speed.

Valamir Surengi - A mysterious, pale-faced man with a hungry look in his eyes. The professor and he had some relationship in years past which he refuses to speak of. Even Kendra does not understand the nature of it. But clearly, Valamir feel indebted to the professor in some profound way. He has traveled a long way on foot -- without stopping to rest or eat -- just to attend the funeral. He seems very suspicious of most of the other visitors.

Tatyanza Irenze - A young woman who until recently traveled with the nefarious Sczarni. She has left her clan and her family to find her own path after meeting with the professor and being inspired by his words. She seems to have powers that are only now beginning to be grasped. But those same abilities cause her to become a magnet for restless spirits of her ancestors.

Zooglub - He appears to be a wiry, bent gnome in a hooded cloak. Kendra is aware that in truth, he is a goblin alchemist who over the years has developed a academic relationship with her father. She does not fully trust him -- as he acts quite mad most of the time -- but the professor saw much promise in the scrawny goblinoid. He must tread very carefully for most folk do not care much for his kind.

Yala Ravenlocke - She did not need to travel far, as she wanders the wilds of northern Canterwall (though she was difficult to contact). The feral-seeming Yala is in equal parts mistrusted by the townsfolk of Ustalav and valued for her skills as a healer and midwife. She is of Kellid birth and is widely rumored to practice witchcraft... neither of which she denies. She recently performed a service for the professor and he has not forgotten her -- even in death.

Father Grimburrow and two gravediggers are already waiting at the site of the burial. Councilman Vashian Hearthmount, Councilman Gharen Muricar, Jominda Fallenbridge (the town apothecary), Zokar Elkarid (a tavernkeeper) and his son, Pevrin also attend. For such a beloved man, very few have come to mourn him. Wilhem, Valamir, Gharen, Zokar, and Pevrin act as pallbearers. Zooglub says with a nervous titter that he would've volunteered, but wasn't "up to the task" (a reference to his height). In the end, Yala puts her shoulder beneath the casket, which elicits a few uncomfortable grumbles from the assembly (she seems not to care).

A teary-eyed Kendra leads the procession along the Dreamwake. As they round the bend onto a path known as the Eversleep, a group of about a dozen surly-looking locals led by a retired soldier named Gibs Hephanus are seen blocking the way. They tell Kendra that they don't want a "necromancer" buried with their kin, to which her grief is overcome by anger.

Tatyanza steps forth (not being burdened by the coffin) and uses calming words to back the villagers down. She is of common stock as they are and insists that the professor was a good man who taught her the true preciousness of life. "Such a man would not dabble in necromancy." The mob slowly disperses without any further incident.

The ceremony continues somberly, but uninterrupted. Kendra says a few words after the body is interred and Wilhem also does his best to express his respect for the man. When the funeral is done, Kendra invites the visitors to her home to hear the reading of the will. As people go their separate ways, a cold rain begins to fall. Wilhem thanks Tatyanza for her help earlier, but then mentions to the others that he is deeply troubled by talk of necromancy regarding the professor.

DM Notes: Tatyanza scored a 27 on her Diplomacy check (she didn't even need Wilhem's assist roll of 21).

XP = 120 each for preventing violence at the funeral.
Trust +1 (21 total).