That stormy night...

Kendra's house, the Village of Ravengro

With raindrops pattering against the window panes and thunder rumbling in the distance, Wilhem and Kendra loom over Valamir as he rests. They have done all they can for his burns, but he still will not waken. The others are downstairs in the Professor's library, trying to make sense of the writings that were found along the foundations of Harrowstone.

After hours of work, Yala, Zooglub, and Tatyanza (who aids with putting the Varisian-derived characters in the proper order) are not able to make much sense of the inscriptions. Zooglub -- who is more alert at night -- will not relent, however, and he eventually theorizes that the notes they were able to transcribe are a part of a larger ritual.

"But what does the warden have to do with it?" asks Yala who is trying to stifle a yawn. Tatyanza is already asleep, curled up on a chair.
"It's interesting," replies the goblin, who grows more and more excited, "the Professor himself discussed some of these practices with me not a year ago... he greatly broadened my knowledge of such matters. I cannot be certain -- we may need to return to copy more of the writings -- but I would guess the ritual has to do with protecting something or keeping something contained."
"An abjuration ritual?"
"Ha-hah! You know your stuff, witch!" Zooglub says with a toothy grin. "But there is more. I'd say that these lines here -- provided our slumbering friend's translation was accurate -- has to do with the dead. Who do we think died at Harrowstone?"
"Hawkran... among many others," replies Yala.
"It's the only connection we have," the goblin continues. "Hawkran's name appears in this ritual, and then his statue is desecrated. Perhaps whoever carved the characters around the prison also defaced the memorial."
"It makes sense, but do you also believe that whoever this is, also..." Yala whispers suddenly, "murdered the Professor?"
"Humph! For all we know, the Professor carved the ritual himself!" The goblin scowls and grows angry. "We need to get into that chest! It may have some insight into what he was up to before he died. Something in there may tell us why he might've gone to the prison in the first place."
Yala tries to calm him, "I don't disagree with you, but it's not up to us. We cannot go against Kendra's wishes while we are guests in her home. It's how these civilized folk are."
"Bah! We're wasting our time!" says Zooglub as he throws up his hands. "We don't have enough information to learn anything more! The townsfolk have ostracized us, we're not permitted to access the archives at the town hall, and the only other place with possible answers -- the prison itself -- holds horrors that we can only guess at."
"Lower your voice!" Yala scolds him. Tatyanza stirs where she slumbers and starts to rub her eyes. The witch continues, "we may just need to return there, whether we like it or not. But you're probably right. The contents of the chest may just be the key to all of this. I will speak with Kendra in the morning, but I want you to keep quiet. For now, we all should try to get some sleep." She gently shakes Tatyanza and accompanies her up the steps.
"How can any of you sleep with so many interesting things going on?" Zooglub calls after them.

The goblin continues his research in the library for the rest of the night, while the others try to find some rest. Wilhem maintains his vigil over Valamir, wondering what secrets the mysterious young man is keeping. He does nod off a few times -- despite wearing a full suit of armor -- but does not leave the bedside of his comrade.

DM Notes:

Zooglub rolls a natural 20 on his Knowledge (religion) check.

The players role-played through the discovery of the purpose of the writings (even though they weren't capable of making the necessary Knowledge check to gain that information directly).

Wilhem will be fatigued (cannot run or charge, -2 Str/Dex) from sleeping in his armor.