The Village of Ravengro
The next morning, tensions are still quite high after Yala's departure the previous evening. Everyone is well-rested, at least, and ready to uncover some information of real significance. Once Zooglub prepares his daily supply of alchemical concoctions, prayers are completed, and Yala has communed with her familiar (and through him, her elemental patrons), everyone heads out to perform their assigned duties. The witch still seems silent & dejected, but she agrees to stay at the manor house with Zooglub.
Valamir and Tatyanza visit the Unfurling Scroll where the proprietor, Alendru Ghoroven, is busy instructing some of the children from the town. The man tells his students to continue their studies while he speaks with "these strangers." Tatyanza introduces herself and Valamir. She asks if the libraries of the Unfurling Scroll are available for research. Alendru is annoyed and untrusting at first, but when Valamir presents a platinum coin, the man takes it and shows the companions where they may conduct their work. "Just do not disturb my pupils!" He then returns to his teaching.
Meanwhile, Kendra and Wilhem go once again to the Temple of Pharasma where council members Mirta Straelock and Shanda Faravan are already in conversation with the priests. Wilhem apologizes for interrupting, but then once again requests use of the temple's archives for research. "My friends and I only wish to protect this town from the same dark forces Professor Lorrimor spent his life combating." The priests remain skeptical, but with the councilors' help, they reluctantly allow use of the archives. One of the acolytes volunteers to lead the investigators to the records room.
Before leaving to perform their research, Wilhem asks if they may have permissoin to explore the rumored false crypt in The Restlands. To this, the priests answer with an emphatic "no!" One of them turns to Faraven and says, "you've been wrong before, Shanda... you had better be right about them!"
Meanwhile, back at the Lorrimor estate, Yala has already grown weary of waiting for the others. "Zooglub, how many times can you read these books? You've done nothing but pour over them since we arrived."
"Yala, my sweet, the Professor has an extensive library -- the volumes contained in the chest are particularly rare -- I may never get the chance to reference these works again." He looks up from the pages and stares at her. "What are you suggesting we do instead?"
"The Professor knew something of what we would face when we were invited here. He brought each of us to Ravengro for a reason."
The goblin puts down the book. "Go on."
"You were proven right about the chest. We were meant to open it. I don't think the Professor would have the two of us sit here being of no use while the others try in vain to convince these townsfolk to trust us."
"What avenue of investigation do you have in mind? Because I think going back to the prison would be..."
Yala interrupts him, "not the prison. The crypt. The priests will never permit us to dig up a sacred site. We need to go there undetected, and two can go unseen better than six."
The goblin ponders Yala's words for a few moments. He hops off his cahir and says, "what you're proposing is utterly foolhardy and dangerous! And not only that, but if the townsfolk learn of what we've done, they will chase us out of the village -- if we're lucky! Folk around these parts enjoy the aroma of burnt witch, I am made to understand."
Yala replies, "we're trying to help these people! They'll never understand that if we don't at least try to do what we can."
Zooglub grins, "I'm not saying 'no.' Let me gather my things."
Meanwhile, back at the Unfurling Scroll, Valamir was not much use in the research. He seemed too occupied with poking around and muttering things like, "can you imagine, instructing children in a place such as this?" or "look here -- magic potions and wands -- this place is a den of sorcery, not a schoolhouse!" Fortunately, Tatyanza was having excellent success with her researches. She found out a great deal more regarding Harrowstone.
Besides the information they already knew or suspected (the prison burned down in 4661 and the townspeople believe it is haunted), she learns that not only did warden Hawkran die in the fire, but his wife did, as well. All of the prisoners and most of the guards perished in the blaze, which collapsed one entire wing of the underground levels. Many criminals imprisoned at Harrowstone were not there for long because public executions were carried out there, as well. Tatyanza realizes that the warden and 23 of his guards sacrificed themselves to prevent all of the prisoners from escaping. Why Hawkran's wife was there is a mystery.
Kendra & Wilhem did not discover much more at the church about Harrowstone or the Whispering Way that the others did not already reveal or was not learned at the professor's private library. However, Kendra was confident that there was still more to learn. It would just take more time to go through such a dense collection. They agreed to continue their research the next morning. When the researchers returned to Lorrimor Manor that evening, they were all exhausted. While the work was not completely fruitless, they all had an itching feeling that there was still so much more to know. Hopefully more would be learned the next day so that the heroes could be better prepared to face the perils of the abandoned prison. After dinner, most of the companions were eager to go to sleep. Yala told everyone that she was going to the old oak tree to commune with the elements, while Zooglub curled up in a corner of the library wrapped in a blanket. With a candle nearby and a thick book cradled in his arms, he set to reading (as he has done every night).
But once the others had dozed off, the witch and the alchemist stole quietly away and made haste to the Restlands, heavy cloaks obscuring their features. Zooglub, being much more stealthy, scouted ahead, but Yala was not far behind him. When they reached the old cemetery, the goblin used his darkvision to lead Yala to the intersection of the Black Path and Eversleep. There they found a large granite mausoleum, complete with leering gargoyles. Now much deeper in the graveyard, the witch felt safer to summon a simple light cantrip.
Examination of the lock revealed that it had been broken (apparently by melting) and then disguised to make it look intact. Zooglub remarked, "hmm... acid," before opening the door. Within everything is dusty and there is a flight of stone steps leading below. Yala gently closes the door behind them, but not tightly (and Zooglub keeps the lock for now). The goblin notices footprints in the dust leading across the crypt and towards the stairs. They both notice that all the burial niches are empty. "It doesn't look like anyone had ever been buried here," Yala says. The goblin just nods as he descends the stairs. In the lower chamber, a stone sarcophagus is found. "I wonder if this is empty, too?" Zooglub ponders. The two of them manage to slide the lid aside (it was not sealed), and find a cache of items including some bottles, scrolls, several arrows, six strange, mist-filled vials, and a darkwood case. Before they can begin collecting the gear, two black centipedes (each over four feet long) scuttle forth from cracks in the walls and attack the visitors.
The goblin sees them with his night-eyes and yells to Yala, "get back!" He takes out one of his alchemical bombs quick as a blink, and hurls it at the advancing horrors. The bomb misses both creatures, but the flames that spread forth from the impact is enough to burn the critters and cause them to curl up squirming on the stone floor. "Thanks," says Yala, as she replaces her dagger in its sheath. "Let's grab this stuff and get out of here!"
Zooglub does his best to replace the lock, and the two adventurers sneak back through the sleepy village and towards Lorrimor Manor. Zooglub asks, "so... have you thought about how we're going to explain this to the others?"
DM Notes:
XP = 40 xp each for research at Unfurling Scroll. Wilhem got no credit for the research at the church since he did not participate in the successes (it was all Kendra's work).
Zooglub & Yala receive 200 xp each for their dispatching of the centipedes.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Around mid-day...
The Village of Ravengro
Kendra has been asked to visit with Councilor Hearthmount in an attempt to seek the support of the town authorities. Many of the common folk in the village seem suspicious of the newcomers, but the hope is to alleviate concerns among the council members and open up further avenues of investigation. Meanwhile, Wilhem will post his correspondence to the Order of the Dragon in Vigil letting them know of the possible dire circumstances in Ravengro.
Valamir heals himself (using inflict light wounds) and accompanies Tatyanza to the Temple of Pharasma. Their purpose is to make another attempt to access the archives and also gain permission to investigate the crypt mentioned in the Professor's journal. Zooglub and Yala remain at Lorrimor Manor to continue their research.
Tatyanza tries to gain the priests' trust while Valamir assists her (Diplomacy check = 16 with assist), but they still not permit access to the records within the temple. When she mentions the hidden cache, the priests are skeptical, but admit that it is possible that a previous hierarchy may have secreted away certain resources in an inconspicuous place. There is no record of such a cache, however. When Tatyanza requests permission to search for it, the priests forbid her (Diplomacy = 15). She and Valamir leave the Temple empty handed.
Kendra has much more luck in speaking with Hearthmount (Diplomacy = 20). The councilman is well-respected in the town and always had a positive opinion of the Professor. Though he offers Kendra his support to broaden their investigations, he warns her to tread carefully. His voice only can carry so much weight in Ravengro -- particularly in light if recent disturbing events. He advises her to gain the other council members support as well before proceeding too far. She meets with Wilhem after he has posted his letter to report her progress. The knight offers to accompany her as she visits with the other members of the town council.
Frustrated, but undeterred, Tatyanza suggests that she and Valamir try the town hall to see if they can get better results. Unfortunately, they meet with the same reaction (Diplomacy = 15). The villagers are clearly nervous about outsiders and have been made even more uncomfortable after the Harrowstone Memorial was desecrated.
Kendra & Wilhem visit Gharen Muricar next as he attended the Professor's funeral and has a good relationship with Kendra. Wilhem lets him know about the possible danger facing Ravengro, but that he and his companions need more information to confront it adequately. Much to Kendra's surprise, Councilman Muricar is polite, but ultimately unsupportive. "The people here are frightened, Kendra... the last thing they need are strangers coming here and stirring things up."
When they visit Mirta Straelock, however, she eagerly gives her full support (Diplomacy = 28 with assist). As a woman born in Ravengro and the most public face of the council, gaining her trust is a major victory. Wilhem gives her his thanks and asks if she can help them access the records within the Temple of Pharasma. Mirta assures him that she will do all she can. "I've lived here all my life, and the people here are good-hearted folk... they just remember stories of times when things were not so peaceful here. But to maintain peace, often one cannot sit and simply hope things stay the same... for they never will."
Afterwards, they visit Shanda Faravan, the last member of the village council. She also strongly commits her support (Diplomacy = 26). She has a sinking feeling that all is not right in Ravengro and that things will get worse before they get better. She is convinced that the bloody letter on Hawkran's statue is not the end of the strange occurrences. She hopes that the Wilhem and the other visitors can solve these problems before they grow out of control.
The companions meet at Lorrimor Manor as suppertime approaches. Tatyanza & Valamir express their disappointment, while Wilhem reports the success he & Kendra had with the council members. Kendra also suggests that the group attempt to research at The Unfurling Scroll, "though it may cost a coin or several." The place is a small academy and has a respectable library. Yala says that she & Zooglub found quite a bit of information on The Whispering Way in the Professor's collection, but they didn't learn anything that the group did not already suspect.
As Kendra begins to prepare that evening's repast, the others gather in the parlor around the Professor's chest to discuss what path to take next. Everyone agrees that they should pool their money and visit the academy on the morrow. Where diplomacy has failed elsewhere in town, perhaps gold would serve better. Zooglub and Yala believe that the false crypt should be investigated, and on this very night. The others vehemently disagree.
Wilhem says, "while that is something we need to pursue at some point, to risk being seen skulking in the Restlands after dark will undo all the progress we've made thus far. We need to gain the priests' trust first. We may find something useful at the academy, and then we must depend on the council members we've won to our cause. Knowledge is still our priority. Though I would feel better prepared to acquire whatever we can find there before returning to the prison."
Kendra prepares a simple but delicious meal, and the companions make final plans for the next day. Valamir & Tatyanza will attempt to gain use of the libraries at The Unfurling Scroll (and will have the coin on hand in case it is needed). Wilhem & Kendra will visit the temple armed with the enthusiastic support they gained from council members Straelock and Faravan. Hopefully, they can gain permission to access the archives and even visit the crypt. While Zooglub is content to continue his studies (it isn't often he has such interesting reading so readily available), Yala is upset with being "swept under the rug." Before any can stop her, she excuses herself graciously from the table, and leaves the house. Before slamming the door, she can be heard to say, "I'm going out for a drink."
Wilhem sighs and rises to follow her. The others volunteer to help, but the knight says, "no, please, sit. Hearthmount asked that we all remain here until further notice. We've already stretched that edict much more than we should have during our investigations. The fewer of us wandering about after nightfall the better."
The knight follows Yala through town with her raven, Storm, visible flapping from rooftop to rooftop high above. The witch enters the local tavern -- cheerily named "The Laughing Demon" -- and she bellies up to the bar. It is not very busy. Since the disturbing events of the other night, most folk are content to stay home at night. But there are a handful of customers, and a small group of musicians playing a flute, fiddle, and mandolin near the fire. All of them give Yala a suspicious look. Used to such reactions, the witch ignores them and asks for a Liquid Ghost -- one of the tavern's specialty drinks. It is a sweet pale ale that seems to glow slightly green. She takes a sip, reaches into her purse, and pulls out a handful of gold coins which she stacks on the counter. She loudly sorts through them with her fingers so they make a pleasant sharp clinking that competes with the musicians. The barkeep (a warm, friendly fellow named Zokar, who was at the funeral) smiles and says, "is there anything else I can help you with, ma'am?"
Wilhem enters just as Yala turns to face the roomful of patrons gathered in the tavern. "Yes, you can help me... perhaps you all can." She briefly glances at Wilhem, but then continues with hardly a pause. "I am new to this town, and I am so interested in the great ruin on the hill to the south of here. Can anyone tell me something about it?"
One of the men seated by the window grumbles and says, "you're a friend of Petros Lorrimor. I saw you carrying his casket. He was interested in that old place, too. Best to leave such things alone, miss. Likely to end up like him."
"Is that a threat?" Yala replies coldly.
Wilhem interrupts, "no, of course not. It is simply a piece of friendly advice, isn't it, mister...?"
"My name ain't your business, sir knight, if you'll beg my pardon," the man snorts. "And neither is the old place up on the hill."
"A monument was defaced with blood not far from here," Yala says, as she turns back to her drink. "Finding who did it might be everyone's business, am I correct? I mean, unless that sort of thing is normal around here." The music stops suddenly. The man stands up from his chair.
"That is enough," Wilhem scolds her.
The barkeep chuckles and tries to calm everyone down, "ha-ha, mi'lady, there is no need for such a fuss. Surely you've heard stories about Harrowstone? It is an old prison that burned down many years ago. As you can certainly understand, tales about such a place can play on a person's mind over time, stir up their imagination. Well, over the years, lots of spooky things have been told about Harrowstone, and I guess the incident at the memorial just has the folk around here a bit nervous. It will pass, as all things do. But these days, most people don't enjoy speaking of things with such a grim reputation. That's all. Now, everyone, enjoy your drinks -- this round is on the house -- and please," he motions to the musicians by the crackling fire, "play on, play on!"
The tension dissipates somewhat, that is until the music starts up again. Suddenly, two large, black, flapping shapes fly out from the hearth and begin to dart about the room. They seem like moths or bats at first, though they are as big as housecats. A insectile buzzing accompanies them. One flies at the man by the window, while the other dives toward Zokar. Wilhem draws his sword and attacks the one nearest him, while Yala tries to protect the barkeep.
The knight thrusts at the buzzing horror and pins it to the wall with the point of his blade. The thing continues to flap about a bit, but soon dies. The other one attaches itself to Zokar like a flying leech, its many clawed legs gripping his flesh with terrible ferocity. The barkeep falls to the ground screaming and tries to swat at the creature. Yala leaps over the bar and then opens her mouth wide as if in a ear-piercing scream, but no sound seems to issue forth. The creature shudders as if in pain, but manages to hang on. It buries a long proboscis into Zokar's neck. As Wilhem races across the room to help, Yala reaches down and yanks the thing off impaled on the point of her dagger. It convulses on the floor for a bit, but is soon still.
The witch treats Zokar's wound, and except for the shock of the ordeal, he seems that he will pull through fine. Yala says that the creatures were stirges. "They sometimes dwell in dark woods or underground. Rarely to they enter civilized areas for feeding. Have you seen those things in town before?" People around the tavern shake their heads, horrified.
When things have calmed down a bit, and Zokar is back on his feet, the two adventurers take their leave (Yala leaves 5 gold coins for all the trouble). They soon return to Lorrimor Manor to report what they have encountered.
DM Notes:
XP = 200 each for Wilhem & Yala.
Wilhem rolls two consecutive natural 20's for Diplomacy. Yala got a 23 on Knowledge (Arcana).
Going directly to the council is beyond the scope of the written module, but since they weren't getting the rolls they needed to move the story forward, I figured the PC's needed to seek out methods to getting more rolls. This presented some excellent role-playing opportunities (and produced some much better rolls).
Kendra has been asked to visit with Councilor Hearthmount in an attempt to seek the support of the town authorities. Many of the common folk in the village seem suspicious of the newcomers, but the hope is to alleviate concerns among the council members and open up further avenues of investigation. Meanwhile, Wilhem will post his correspondence to the Order of the Dragon in Vigil letting them know of the possible dire circumstances in Ravengro.
Valamir heals himself (using inflict light wounds) and accompanies Tatyanza to the Temple of Pharasma. Their purpose is to make another attempt to access the archives and also gain permission to investigate the crypt mentioned in the Professor's journal. Zooglub and Yala remain at Lorrimor Manor to continue their research.
Tatyanza tries to gain the priests' trust while Valamir assists her (Diplomacy check = 16 with assist), but they still not permit access to the records within the temple. When she mentions the hidden cache, the priests are skeptical, but admit that it is possible that a previous hierarchy may have secreted away certain resources in an inconspicuous place. There is no record of such a cache, however. When Tatyanza requests permission to search for it, the priests forbid her (Diplomacy = 15). She and Valamir leave the Temple empty handed.
Kendra has much more luck in speaking with Hearthmount (Diplomacy = 20). The councilman is well-respected in the town and always had a positive opinion of the Professor. Though he offers Kendra his support to broaden their investigations, he warns her to tread carefully. His voice only can carry so much weight in Ravengro -- particularly in light if recent disturbing events. He advises her to gain the other council members support as well before proceeding too far. She meets with Wilhem after he has posted his letter to report her progress. The knight offers to accompany her as she visits with the other members of the town council.
Frustrated, but undeterred, Tatyanza suggests that she and Valamir try the town hall to see if they can get better results. Unfortunately, they meet with the same reaction (Diplomacy = 15). The villagers are clearly nervous about outsiders and have been made even more uncomfortable after the Harrowstone Memorial was desecrated.
Kendra & Wilhem visit Gharen Muricar next as he attended the Professor's funeral and has a good relationship with Kendra. Wilhem lets him know about the possible danger facing Ravengro, but that he and his companions need more information to confront it adequately. Much to Kendra's surprise, Councilman Muricar is polite, but ultimately unsupportive. "The people here are frightened, Kendra... the last thing they need are strangers coming here and stirring things up."
When they visit Mirta Straelock, however, she eagerly gives her full support (Diplomacy = 28 with assist). As a woman born in Ravengro and the most public face of the council, gaining her trust is a major victory. Wilhem gives her his thanks and asks if she can help them access the records within the Temple of Pharasma. Mirta assures him that she will do all she can. "I've lived here all my life, and the people here are good-hearted folk... they just remember stories of times when things were not so peaceful here. But to maintain peace, often one cannot sit and simply hope things stay the same... for they never will."
Afterwards, they visit Shanda Faravan, the last member of the village council. She also strongly commits her support (Diplomacy = 26). She has a sinking feeling that all is not right in Ravengro and that things will get worse before they get better. She is convinced that the bloody letter on Hawkran's statue is not the end of the strange occurrences. She hopes that the Wilhem and the other visitors can solve these problems before they grow out of control.
The companions meet at Lorrimor Manor as suppertime approaches. Tatyanza & Valamir express their disappointment, while Wilhem reports the success he & Kendra had with the council members. Kendra also suggests that the group attempt to research at The Unfurling Scroll, "though it may cost a coin or several." The place is a small academy and has a respectable library. Yala says that she & Zooglub found quite a bit of information on The Whispering Way in the Professor's collection, but they didn't learn anything that the group did not already suspect.
As Kendra begins to prepare that evening's repast, the others gather in the parlor around the Professor's chest to discuss what path to take next. Everyone agrees that they should pool their money and visit the academy on the morrow. Where diplomacy has failed elsewhere in town, perhaps gold would serve better. Zooglub and Yala believe that the false crypt should be investigated, and on this very night. The others vehemently disagree.
Wilhem says, "while that is something we need to pursue at some point, to risk being seen skulking in the Restlands after dark will undo all the progress we've made thus far. We need to gain the priests' trust first. We may find something useful at the academy, and then we must depend on the council members we've won to our cause. Knowledge is still our priority. Though I would feel better prepared to acquire whatever we can find there before returning to the prison."
Kendra prepares a simple but delicious meal, and the companions make final plans for the next day. Valamir & Tatyanza will attempt to gain use of the libraries at The Unfurling Scroll (and will have the coin on hand in case it is needed). Wilhem & Kendra will visit the temple armed with the enthusiastic support they gained from council members Straelock and Faravan. Hopefully, they can gain permission to access the archives and even visit the crypt. While Zooglub is content to continue his studies (it isn't often he has such interesting reading so readily available), Yala is upset with being "swept under the rug." Before any can stop her, she excuses herself graciously from the table, and leaves the house. Before slamming the door, she can be heard to say, "I'm going out for a drink."
Wilhem sighs and rises to follow her. The others volunteer to help, but the knight says, "no, please, sit. Hearthmount asked that we all remain here until further notice. We've already stretched that edict much more than we should have during our investigations. The fewer of us wandering about after nightfall the better."
The knight follows Yala through town with her raven, Storm, visible flapping from rooftop to rooftop high above. The witch enters the local tavern -- cheerily named "The Laughing Demon" -- and she bellies up to the bar. It is not very busy. Since the disturbing events of the other night, most folk are content to stay home at night. But there are a handful of customers, and a small group of musicians playing a flute, fiddle, and mandolin near the fire. All of them give Yala a suspicious look. Used to such reactions, the witch ignores them and asks for a Liquid Ghost -- one of the tavern's specialty drinks. It is a sweet pale ale that seems to glow slightly green. She takes a sip, reaches into her purse, and pulls out a handful of gold coins which she stacks on the counter. She loudly sorts through them with her fingers so they make a pleasant sharp clinking that competes with the musicians. The barkeep (a warm, friendly fellow named Zokar, who was at the funeral) smiles and says, "is there anything else I can help you with, ma'am?"
Wilhem enters just as Yala turns to face the roomful of patrons gathered in the tavern. "Yes, you can help me... perhaps you all can." She briefly glances at Wilhem, but then continues with hardly a pause. "I am new to this town, and I am so interested in the great ruin on the hill to the south of here. Can anyone tell me something about it?"
One of the men seated by the window grumbles and says, "you're a friend of Petros Lorrimor. I saw you carrying his casket. He was interested in that old place, too. Best to leave such things alone, miss. Likely to end up like him."
"Is that a threat?" Yala replies coldly.
Wilhem interrupts, "no, of course not. It is simply a piece of friendly advice, isn't it, mister...?"
"My name ain't your business, sir knight, if you'll beg my pardon," the man snorts. "And neither is the old place up on the hill."
"A monument was defaced with blood not far from here," Yala says, as she turns back to her drink. "Finding who did it might be everyone's business, am I correct? I mean, unless that sort of thing is normal around here." The music stops suddenly. The man stands up from his chair.
"That is enough," Wilhem scolds her.
The barkeep chuckles and tries to calm everyone down, "ha-ha, mi'lady, there is no need for such a fuss. Surely you've heard stories about Harrowstone? It is an old prison that burned down many years ago. As you can certainly understand, tales about such a place can play on a person's mind over time, stir up their imagination. Well, over the years, lots of spooky things have been told about Harrowstone, and I guess the incident at the memorial just has the folk around here a bit nervous. It will pass, as all things do. But these days, most people don't enjoy speaking of things with such a grim reputation. That's all. Now, everyone, enjoy your drinks -- this round is on the house -- and please," he motions to the musicians by the crackling fire, "play on, play on!"
The tension dissipates somewhat, that is until the music starts up again. Suddenly, two large, black, flapping shapes fly out from the hearth and begin to dart about the room. They seem like moths or bats at first, though they are as big as housecats. A insectile buzzing accompanies them. One flies at the man by the window, while the other dives toward Zokar. Wilhem draws his sword and attacks the one nearest him, while Yala tries to protect the barkeep.
The knight thrusts at the buzzing horror and pins it to the wall with the point of his blade. The thing continues to flap about a bit, but soon dies. The other one attaches itself to Zokar like a flying leech, its many clawed legs gripping his flesh with terrible ferocity. The barkeep falls to the ground screaming and tries to swat at the creature. Yala leaps over the bar and then opens her mouth wide as if in a ear-piercing scream, but no sound seems to issue forth. The creature shudders as if in pain, but manages to hang on. It buries a long proboscis into Zokar's neck. As Wilhem races across the room to help, Yala reaches down and yanks the thing off impaled on the point of her dagger. It convulses on the floor for a bit, but is soon still.
The witch treats Zokar's wound, and except for the shock of the ordeal, he seems that he will pull through fine. Yala says that the creatures were stirges. "They sometimes dwell in dark woods or underground. Rarely to they enter civilized areas for feeding. Have you seen those things in town before?" People around the tavern shake their heads, horrified.
When things have calmed down a bit, and Zokar is back on his feet, the two adventurers take their leave (Yala leaves 5 gold coins for all the trouble). They soon return to Lorrimor Manor to report what they have encountered.
DM Notes:
XP = 200 each for Wilhem & Yala.
Wilhem rolls two consecutive natural 20's for Diplomacy. Yala got a 23 on Knowledge (Arcana).
Going directly to the council is beyond the scope of the written module, but since they weren't getting the rolls they needed to move the story forward, I figured the PC's needed to seek out methods to getting more rolls. This presented some excellent role-playing opportunities (and produced some much better rolls).
Friday, January 17, 2014
Wealday, Rova the 6th, 4711 A.R.
Kendra's house, the Village of Ravengro
It is still early morning when Valamir wakes Wilhem who is slumbering in a chair. The knight is given a start when he sees the pale young man standing over him. He stands up and pain shoots through his muscles. When he is able to collect his wits, Wilhem asks, "how do you feel?"
"The same as you, I would guess," Valamir replies. "Like I've been run over by a turnip cart, but alive." He slowly walks over to the endtable and drinks from a cup of water Kendra had placed there for him. "What happened... after..." His voice trails off awkwardly.
Wilhem does his best to stretch out his aching limbs. "You fell -- we know not why -- and then we brought you back here. You rested through the night, but we did not know how to help you. Tatyanza's healing, it... she..." Wilhem stumbles now, not knowing how to adequately express himself.
"I know..."
"You know?" Wilhem repeats. "Can you please help me understand, because there are lots of people in this house -- including the woman we have vowed to protect -- who need some answers."
Valamir slowly sits on the side of his bed. Without looking up, he begins to speak. Wilhem stands nearby, listening intently.
"I was born sixteen years ago at a monastery of Iomedae. I am told my mother died shortly after my birth, and I never knew my father. The paladins at the monastery raised me, cared for me, kept me fed and clothed. But I always thought they treated me... strangely. Though I was but a child, it seemed as though they feared me. As I grew older, I began to notice that I was different from them, though I did not understand why. I could see in the dark and divine healing caused me pain. A few years ago, I became so frustrated with not having any answers, I fled the monastery. I learned how to survive on my own and found I could sometimes get people to do what I wanted. Eventually, I happened to meet a man who noticed my gifts -- that's what he called them -- but he did not seem to fear me because of them. I spent some time with him and we got to know each other."
"The Professor?" asks Wilhem.
"Yes. He told me one day that I was a dhampir... a half-breed born of a human mother and a... a..."
"Something else?" Wilhem offered, trying to ease Valamir's discomfort.
"Yes... something else not alive."
Wilhem's eyes grow wide, though he tries not to react. Valamir tries to continue, his normally pale face growing red.
"When the Professor told me, I... I went mad. At first I wanted to end my life. It's what Iomedae herself would have done. But the Professor taught me that while my father made me, he was not me. I no longer wanted to die, but instead I vowed to root out and destroy the undead wherever I could find them! I left the university where the Professor had been instructing me, and have been hunting the walking dead ever since."
Valamir stands and seems to want to run from the room. But he simply looks the knight in the eyes (with great difficulty), and says, "I am not a monster."
Wilhem breathes deeply and replies, "your birth was not of your making. Who -- or what -- you are will be determined by what you do with your life, not how it came to be."
Valamir manages a smile. The first Wilhem has seen from him.
"What is it?" asks the knight.
"That's just what the Professor told me."
"He was a good man, and he had a profound affect on everyone in this house. We all owe it to him to find out what happened and continue his good work, if we are able. To do that we'll all need to learn to accept each other. Blemishes and all."
"You may be right. But Wilhem... please, don't tell the goblin."
"He needs to know. He cannot hide what he is, and he does not try. I admit, I find it hard to trust him, too. But the Professor found a way. Perhaps we need to, as well."
Suddenly, there is a knock upon the door. Wilhem opens it and Tatyanza is standing there. She seems about to speak, but then she notices Valamir across the room.
"Are you alright?" she asks with genuine concern.
"Yes. Thank you." Valamir walks up to her and says, "I am different than most people, Tatyanza. I have learned how to treat my own wounds, but you cannot use your healing powers on me. I know you only wish to help, but... do this one small thing for me."
She seems confused, but says, "of course."
Wilhem asks her, "is there something you needed, or have you just come to check on our patient?"
She turns to the knight with a very serious look and says, "Kendra's opening the chest."
Valamir nearly knocks her down and races down the steps shouting, "no! We don't know what might be in there!" But he is much too late. When he reaches the base of the stairs, he sees Kendra pulling old, dusty tomes out of the chest and placing them on a table in the parlor.
Zooglub says casually, "well, we do now. And the house is still standing."
Kendra says, "Valamir, I know your concerns, but we need to know more about what my father has been researching. This is the only avenue of investigation left to us."
"And look at this!" says Zooglub while holding up a leather-bound journal. Scrawled on the cover are the words, READ ME NOW!
Kendra takes the journal and says, "this is my father's writing. We're doing the right thing, Valamir."
The pale young man sighs uncomfortably, but stands by as Kendra, Zooglub, and Yala examine the contents of the chest. Kendra begins to flip through the journal, but then finds she cannot.
"Could one of you, please?" she asks.
By this time Wilhem and Tatyanza have made their way down to the parlor. Tatyanza comforts Kendra and Wilhem takes the journal. After a few moments of glancing at it, he says, "there are some entries circled in here. Including the one from the day before he died."
He begins to read while the other tomes are appraised: Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye, On Verified Madness, Serving Your Hunger, and The Umbral Leaves are among them. Each has been well read and annotated in the margins. Despite their apparent age, they are in good condition.
"This is a treasure!" Zooblub exclaims. "The Professor certainly has been brushing up on certain... shall we say, unpopular subjects. It's no wonder he wanted to keep these safe and out of the view of all but the most trusted -- and educated -- circles."
Kendra becomes emotional, "he devoted his life to using this knowledge for good and protecting the same people who now condemn him!"
"Nobody here condemns him, Kendra," Tatyanza says gently. "We know he was a good man."
"It will take quite some time to go through all of this," says Yala.
"We may not need to go through all of it," Wilhem says from across the room where he has been skimming the circled passages in the journal. "Listen to these entries that the Professor marked in here... the first one is from about ten years ago..."
Zooglub says solemnly, "well, the worst has come to pass, it seems."
Kendra has tears running down her face. "So... my father was murdered."
"We don't know that for sure, Kendra," says Wilhem, "but he certainly felt as though he had something to fear from this Whispering Way."
"Do they have anything to do with The Whispering Tyrant?" asks Valamir, referring to Tar-Baphon, an arch-lich of frightening power who ruled Ustalav long ago.
"Absolutely," replies Zooglub. "They are a cabal of necromancers who have existed for thousands of years. Their organization is older than Tar-Baphon himself."
"Their primary goal is to awaken him, however," offers Tatyanza.
"Yes," continues the goblin, "since The Tyrant's fall they have been occupied with little else."
"My order is dedicated to guarding against his return," says Wilhem. "I must notify my superiors of all we have discovered. They will be very interested in the activities of a cult who seeks pave the way for the return of the lich."
"But what could they have wanted in Harrowstone?" asks Kendra. "My father is dead because of them, and I want to know why they came here!"
"We will find that out, Kendra," replies the knight. "The first step is to access those lists at the Temple of Pharasma. Then we need to try finding the cache in the false crypt the Professor referred to. We'll need all the help we can get."
"Nobody would permit us to look at the records at the temple," says Tatyanza.
"Then we must try again," says Wilhem. "We have an idea of what we're up against now, but we still need more information. We cannot let anything deter us."
DM Notes:
400 xp for researching The Whispering Way. Knowledge (arcana) checks = Zooglub 27, Yala 23, Knowledge (religion) checks = Tatyanza 25, Valamir 19.
It is still early morning when Valamir wakes Wilhem who is slumbering in a chair. The knight is given a start when he sees the pale young man standing over him. He stands up and pain shoots through his muscles. When he is able to collect his wits, Wilhem asks, "how do you feel?"
"The same as you, I would guess," Valamir replies. "Like I've been run over by a turnip cart, but alive." He slowly walks over to the endtable and drinks from a cup of water Kendra had placed there for him. "What happened... after..." His voice trails off awkwardly.
Wilhem does his best to stretch out his aching limbs. "You fell -- we know not why -- and then we brought you back here. You rested through the night, but we did not know how to help you. Tatyanza's healing, it... she..." Wilhem stumbles now, not knowing how to adequately express himself.
"I know..."
"You know?" Wilhem repeats. "Can you please help me understand, because there are lots of people in this house -- including the woman we have vowed to protect -- who need some answers."
Valamir slowly sits on the side of his bed. Without looking up, he begins to speak. Wilhem stands nearby, listening intently.
"I was born sixteen years ago at a monastery of Iomedae. I am told my mother died shortly after my birth, and I never knew my father. The paladins at the monastery raised me, cared for me, kept me fed and clothed. But I always thought they treated me... strangely. Though I was but a child, it seemed as though they feared me. As I grew older, I began to notice that I was different from them, though I did not understand why. I could see in the dark and divine healing caused me pain. A few years ago, I became so frustrated with not having any answers, I fled the monastery. I learned how to survive on my own and found I could sometimes get people to do what I wanted. Eventually, I happened to meet a man who noticed my gifts -- that's what he called them -- but he did not seem to fear me because of them. I spent some time with him and we got to know each other."
"The Professor?" asks Wilhem.
"Yes. He told me one day that I was a dhampir... a half-breed born of a human mother and a... a..."
"Something else?" Wilhem offered, trying to ease Valamir's discomfort.
"Yes... something else not alive."
Wilhem's eyes grow wide, though he tries not to react. Valamir tries to continue, his normally pale face growing red.
"When the Professor told me, I... I went mad. At first I wanted to end my life. It's what Iomedae herself would have done. But the Professor taught me that while my father made me, he was not me. I no longer wanted to die, but instead I vowed to root out and destroy the undead wherever I could find them! I left the university where the Professor had been instructing me, and have been hunting the walking dead ever since."
Valamir stands and seems to want to run from the room. But he simply looks the knight in the eyes (with great difficulty), and says, "I am not a monster."
Wilhem breathes deeply and replies, "your birth was not of your making. Who -- or what -- you are will be determined by what you do with your life, not how it came to be."
Valamir manages a smile. The first Wilhem has seen from him.
"What is it?" asks the knight.
"That's just what the Professor told me."
"He was a good man, and he had a profound affect on everyone in this house. We all owe it to him to find out what happened and continue his good work, if we are able. To do that we'll all need to learn to accept each other. Blemishes and all."
"You may be right. But Wilhem... please, don't tell the goblin."
"He needs to know. He cannot hide what he is, and he does not try. I admit, I find it hard to trust him, too. But the Professor found a way. Perhaps we need to, as well."
Suddenly, there is a knock upon the door. Wilhem opens it and Tatyanza is standing there. She seems about to speak, but then she notices Valamir across the room.
"Are you alright?" she asks with genuine concern.
"Yes. Thank you." Valamir walks up to her and says, "I am different than most people, Tatyanza. I have learned how to treat my own wounds, but you cannot use your healing powers on me. I know you only wish to help, but... do this one small thing for me."
She seems confused, but says, "of course."
Wilhem asks her, "is there something you needed, or have you just come to check on our patient?"
She turns to the knight with a very serious look and says, "Kendra's opening the chest."
Valamir nearly knocks her down and races down the steps shouting, "no! We don't know what might be in there!" But he is much too late. When he reaches the base of the stairs, he sees Kendra pulling old, dusty tomes out of the chest and placing them on a table in the parlor.
Zooglub says casually, "well, we do now. And the house is still standing."
Kendra says, "Valamir, I know your concerns, but we need to know more about what my father has been researching. This is the only avenue of investigation left to us."
"And look at this!" says Zooglub while holding up a leather-bound journal. Scrawled on the cover are the words, READ ME NOW!
Kendra takes the journal and says, "this is my father's writing. We're doing the right thing, Valamir."
The pale young man sighs uncomfortably, but stands by as Kendra, Zooglub, and Yala examine the contents of the chest. Kendra begins to flip through the journal, but then finds she cannot.
"Could one of you, please?" she asks.
By this time Wilhem and Tatyanza have made their way down to the parlor. Tatyanza comforts Kendra and Wilhem takes the journal. After a few moments of glancing at it, he says, "there are some entries circled in here. Including the one from the day before he died."
He begins to read while the other tomes are appraised: Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye, On Verified Madness, Serving Your Hunger, and The Umbral Leaves are among them. Each has been well read and annotated in the margins. Despite their apparent age, they are in good condition.
Kendra becomes emotional, "he devoted his life to using this knowledge for good and protecting the same people who now condemn him!"
"Nobody here condemns him, Kendra," Tatyanza says gently. "We know he was a good man."
"It will take quite some time to go through all of this," says Yala.
"We may not need to go through all of it," Wilhem says from across the room where he has been skimming the circled passages in the journal. "Listen to these entries that the Professor marked in here... the first one is from about ten years ago..."
Zooglub says solemnly, "well, the worst has come to pass, it seems."
Kendra has tears running down her face. "So... my father was murdered."
"We don't know that for sure, Kendra," says Wilhem, "but he certainly felt as though he had something to fear from this Whispering Way."
"Do they have anything to do with The Whispering Tyrant?" asks Valamir, referring to Tar-Baphon, an arch-lich of frightening power who ruled Ustalav long ago.
"Absolutely," replies Zooglub. "They are a cabal of necromancers who have existed for thousands of years. Their organization is older than Tar-Baphon himself."
"Their primary goal is to awaken him, however," offers Tatyanza.
"Yes," continues the goblin, "since The Tyrant's fall they have been occupied with little else."
"My order is dedicated to guarding against his return," says Wilhem. "I must notify my superiors of all we have discovered. They will be very interested in the activities of a cult who seeks pave the way for the return of the lich."
"But what could they have wanted in Harrowstone?" asks Kendra. "My father is dead because of them, and I want to know why they came here!"
"We will find that out, Kendra," replies the knight. "The first step is to access those lists at the Temple of Pharasma. Then we need to try finding the cache in the false crypt the Professor referred to. We'll need all the help we can get."
"Nobody would permit us to look at the records at the temple," says Tatyanza.
"Then we must try again," says Wilhem. "We have an idea of what we're up against now, but we still need more information. We cannot let anything deter us."
DM Notes:
400 xp for researching The Whispering Way. Knowledge (arcana) checks = Zooglub 27, Yala 23, Knowledge (religion) checks = Tatyanza 25, Valamir 19.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
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.
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.
Monday, January 6, 2014
In the middle of the afternoon...
South of Ravengro, approaching the ruins atop the hill
Wilhem leads the way down the overgrown road leading out of the village and up the slope over which the forlorn edifice of Harrowstone looms. Tittering & excitable Zooglub is right on his heels, while the others -- Tatyanza, Yala, and Valamir -- are shortly behind. Kendra was left behind to explore other avenues of investigation and Sunbolt was returned to the stables. Storm circles overhead as the gray clouds gather.
The knight has his shield -- emblazoned with the golden dragon sigil of his order -- strapped to his arm, but his sword remains in its sheath. Tatyanza holds her quarterstaff, and Valamir loads his crossbow and keeps it at the ready. As the path winds upwards, the huge gatehouse flanks the entrance. The sagging wood and metal gates that once barred ingress now hang negligently open. They creak softly in the breeze. Everything appears abandoned.
Wilhem tells Zooglub and Valamir to have their ranged attacks ready and to stand behind him about ten feet and spread out to his left and right. "If there are enemies here, I will parley with them first. We may be able to gain some valuable information. But if we are attacked, I will draw them to me. You two try to hit them as best you can before they close in."
"And what are we poor, helpless females to do, sir knight?" asks Yala.
"This is no game, Yala," warns Wilhem. "I would prefer you both stay here. Tatyanza's healing will be critical to us if we must fall back, and none of us should be alone. If you must come, you are free folk, and I will not stop you... but stay well behind me."
The witch approaches him, crouches down, and gathers some mud on her fingertips. She rises and makes a mark on Wilhem's forehead. "You protect all of us... and this will help protect you. My kind do not just turn people into toads, you know." (Wilhem is warded - +2 deflection bonus to AC, and +2 resistance bonus to saves, lasts until hit or a save is failed)
The group moves into formation and move closer to the open gates. Through the opening, the group can see the enormous gray prison building past crooked, claw-like trees. A dilapidated house with a sagging roof sits on the prison grounds in the shadow of Harrowstone's walls. Creeping ivy covers almost everything.
As soon as Wilhem puts his gauntleted hand on the swaying gate and pushes his way through, he cries out and stumbles back. Yala tries to catch him, but the armored knight is too heavy and he falls on the ground. His eyes are filled with shock and terror (failed DC 12 Will save, shaken for 2 minutes). He manages to get back to his feet and tries to collect himself. "I felt, I felt -- just for a moment -- like my skin was on fire..." He puts his face into his palm and takes a deep breath. "Lady's Light! It felt so real! I felt trapped, like in a coffin, and I was burning..."
"Well... this place certainly is haunted," says Zooglub.
"Many died here horribly," replies Tatyanza as she comforts the knight. "Are any of you truly surprised?"
"How can we investigate if the spirits here won't allow us to enter?" asks Valamir, who suddenly feels less comforted by his crossbow.
"The Professor was able to come here, as were the folk who found him," says Yala. "Perhaps what happened to Wilhem was an isolated occurrence..." The witch slowly walks towards the gateway and steps through. Once across the threshold, she turns to face the others. "Whatever it was, it is gone. Are you fit to continue, Wilhem?"
He nods and dusts himself off (-2 attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks).
Zooglub adds, "I noticed he touched the gate when he stepped through... perhaps the spiritual residue -- if you will -- is concentrated in the structures of this place. We should be careful what we touch."
The party cautiously continues on, exploring the inner grounds of the prison. The entire western section of the area (to their right) is flooded, though a few bent, weathered gravestones poke up above the edges of the water. A huge section of wall nearby has been completely reduced to rubble. To the left is the old, dilapidated house. Along the outer wall are watchtowers, in equally bad repair. Straight ahead is the gray hulk of the prison itself. The roof appears about to fall in and is blackened here and there from fire. Parts of the wall have fallen in to piles of debris. Valamir mentions how it certainly appears as if the Professor could've been crushed by falling masonry. "The entire place seems ready to fall apart."
Zooglub can see the tower to the east is riddled with holes where dozens of glittering, little eyes watch. "We're not completely alone. Rats. Quite tasty if prepared correctly."
The group moves to the house which is overgrown with gray-green ivy. They briefly explore the fire-gutted interior, but Valamir warns, "it is not safe to be in here. It could collapse on us at any moment. There is nothing here anyway." (Perception = 23) The party quickly departs except for Zooglub. "But this might have been the warden's house. If the Professor was looking for something when he died, it might be in here somewhere." He starts tapping the floor to check for hollow spaces. A moment later, a section of blackened ceiling crashes down, and the goblin is not able to roll out of the way in time. He emerges from the house coughing. He is slightly injured (5/10 hp), but alive. "Well, if whatever-it-is is in there, it's staying in there!" Tatyanza lays a hand gently upon his shoulder and causes a soft, golden light to radiate through him (1/4 1st-level spells used, cure light wounds for 9 hp).
Moving closer to the massive ruin, the group gets a better look at the two-story building that looms over them. Ivy and moss cling to the walls, leering stone gargoyles are perched on the eaves, and the narrow windows in the facade are blocked by rusty iron grillwork. Piles of rubble are strewn across the soggy ground where stone has fallen from the walls. Stone pillars support a balcony over the front doors. The latter hang askew on their hinges permitting a dim view of the chambers within. Valamir again warns of the unsound construction of the entryway (Perception = 26). Wilhem suggests performing a circle around the whole structure before plumbing the inner darkness.
The party begins a slow, counterclockwise circumnavigation of the building, slogging over the muddy, weed-choked ground. Valamir keeps his eyes (and crossbow) raised towards the black windows that gaze down upon them. Zooglub directs his attention downward (since, as he would say, he's down there already). He makes his way around a fallen gargoyle statue and happens to notice something strange around the foundations: a series of sinuous runes carved into the stonework. Some of the lettering is still stained with a dark, reddish-brown substance that has escaped the recent rains.
He points them out to the others, "well, now, here's something... smeared with blood, I'm guessing, though there's not much left, thanks to last night's rain."
Tatyanza approaches and says that the symbols are actually written in Varisian. Not much of it makes much sense to her, except...
"Desna..." she whispers, horrified. "Here... and here... and again right here!"
"What is it?" asks Yala.
"A name is repeated over and over in these carvings... Lyvar Hawkran, the warden!"
"I think this is what we're looking for," says Wilhem.
"Well," says Zooglub while fishing a few things from his bags, "it's all we've found of interest so far. Miss, would it be possible for you to translate all of the carvings for me onto a piece of parchment? Goblin would be best, but Taldane will suffice." He hands Tatyanza a small book opened to a blank page and a quill. He holds a small bottle of ink for her.
She nods and sets to work, "I don't know where to begin."
"Just get it all down," says Zooglub, "we'll figure out how to make sense of it later."
The explorers slowly make their way around the structure as Tatyanza scribbles away with the goblin's aid. The others keep a close eye out for danger. Valamir grows nervous.
"I don't like lingering here so long... it will grow dark soon, and rain is coming."
Yala breathes in deeply and looks to the sky. "Nightfall is still hours away, but you're right that it will rain soon (Knowledge - nature = 27). In an hour, perhaps less."
"I'm going as quickly as I can," says Tatyanza. She finds that the runes stop when she reaches a part of the wall that has crumbled and is partially submerged beneath the pool. Some suggest that she continue transcribing going the clockwise from where she started. Zooglub splashes into the pool and says, "the writings may continue just around the corner. It looks dryer a little further ahead." He peers through the breach in the wall. "The water isn't deep, even for me. Look!"
Suddenly ripples appear out from the edge of the water. Slowly three slime-covered skeletons arise from the depths and stagger towards the adventurers. Wilhem draws his horseman's flail and shouts, "everyone behind me! Use blunt weapons of you can!" Valamir shoulders his crossbow and pulls forth his morning star. Tatyanza & Zooglub put away their writing materials and prepare for battle. Yala places a ward on the knight once again before the undead horrors close.
Two of the skeletons fall shortly after the battle begins -- their dripping bones clattering into a heap into the mud -- but then suddenly the last one standing bursts into flame. Its unearthly screams echo across the grounds. It continues its attack and burns Wilhem and Valamir quite badly. Tatyanza calls upon her divine connection to the mysteries of life and sends waves of golden radiance emanating out of her. The energy rejuvenates Wilhem's strength, but both the skeleton and Valamir fall to the ground after it washes over them.
With the gaunt undead adversaries defeated, Tatyanza runs to Valamir's side to aid him. Yala intercedes, however, and says, "you cannot help him! Didn't you see that it was your healing energy that hurt him?"
"How interesting..." says Zooglub. "It would appear that our self-righteous friend here is one of the undead."
Tatyanza refuses to believe it, but Yala tells her to gather what translations she has gotten so far, and get back to town. She asks Wilhem to carry their comrade's limp body. Soon, the companions are fleeing the prison and trying to get back to Kendra's house before the rain catches them.
DM Notes:
XP = 81 each for defeating skeletons.
Wilhem leads the way down the overgrown road leading out of the village and up the slope over which the forlorn edifice of Harrowstone looms. Tittering & excitable Zooglub is right on his heels, while the others -- Tatyanza, Yala, and Valamir -- are shortly behind. Kendra was left behind to explore other avenues of investigation and Sunbolt was returned to the stables. Storm circles overhead as the gray clouds gather.
The knight has his shield -- emblazoned with the golden dragon sigil of his order -- strapped to his arm, but his sword remains in its sheath. Tatyanza holds her quarterstaff, and Valamir loads his crossbow and keeps it at the ready. As the path winds upwards, the huge gatehouse flanks the entrance. The sagging wood and metal gates that once barred ingress now hang negligently open. They creak softly in the breeze. Everything appears abandoned.
Wilhem tells Zooglub and Valamir to have their ranged attacks ready and to stand behind him about ten feet and spread out to his left and right. "If there are enemies here, I will parley with them first. We may be able to gain some valuable information. But if we are attacked, I will draw them to me. You two try to hit them as best you can before they close in."
"And what are we poor, helpless females to do, sir knight?" asks Yala.
"This is no game, Yala," warns Wilhem. "I would prefer you both stay here. Tatyanza's healing will be critical to us if we must fall back, and none of us should be alone. If you must come, you are free folk, and I will not stop you... but stay well behind me."
The witch approaches him, crouches down, and gathers some mud on her fingertips. She rises and makes a mark on Wilhem's forehead. "You protect all of us... and this will help protect you. My kind do not just turn people into toads, you know." (Wilhem is warded - +2 deflection bonus to AC, and +2 resistance bonus to saves, lasts until hit or a save is failed)
The group moves into formation and move closer to the open gates. Through the opening, the group can see the enormous gray prison building past crooked, claw-like trees. A dilapidated house with a sagging roof sits on the prison grounds in the shadow of Harrowstone's walls. Creeping ivy covers almost everything.
As soon as Wilhem puts his gauntleted hand on the swaying gate and pushes his way through, he cries out and stumbles back. Yala tries to catch him, but the armored knight is too heavy and he falls on the ground. His eyes are filled with shock and terror (failed DC 12 Will save, shaken for 2 minutes). He manages to get back to his feet and tries to collect himself. "I felt, I felt -- just for a moment -- like my skin was on fire..." He puts his face into his palm and takes a deep breath. "Lady's Light! It felt so real! I felt trapped, like in a coffin, and I was burning..."
"Well... this place certainly is haunted," says Zooglub.
"Many died here horribly," replies Tatyanza as she comforts the knight. "Are any of you truly surprised?"
"How can we investigate if the spirits here won't allow us to enter?" asks Valamir, who suddenly feels less comforted by his crossbow.
"The Professor was able to come here, as were the folk who found him," says Yala. "Perhaps what happened to Wilhem was an isolated occurrence..." The witch slowly walks towards the gateway and steps through. Once across the threshold, she turns to face the others. "Whatever it was, it is gone. Are you fit to continue, Wilhem?"
He nods and dusts himself off (-2 attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks).
Zooglub adds, "I noticed he touched the gate when he stepped through... perhaps the spiritual residue -- if you will -- is concentrated in the structures of this place. We should be careful what we touch."
The party cautiously continues on, exploring the inner grounds of the prison. The entire western section of the area (to their right) is flooded, though a few bent, weathered gravestones poke up above the edges of the water. A huge section of wall nearby has been completely reduced to rubble. To the left is the old, dilapidated house. Along the outer wall are watchtowers, in equally bad repair. Straight ahead is the gray hulk of the prison itself. The roof appears about to fall in and is blackened here and there from fire. Parts of the wall have fallen in to piles of debris. Valamir mentions how it certainly appears as if the Professor could've been crushed by falling masonry. "The entire place seems ready to fall apart."
Zooglub can see the tower to the east is riddled with holes where dozens of glittering, little eyes watch. "We're not completely alone. Rats. Quite tasty if prepared correctly."
The group moves to the house which is overgrown with gray-green ivy. They briefly explore the fire-gutted interior, but Valamir warns, "it is not safe to be in here. It could collapse on us at any moment. There is nothing here anyway." (Perception = 23) The party quickly departs except for Zooglub. "But this might have been the warden's house. If the Professor was looking for something when he died, it might be in here somewhere." He starts tapping the floor to check for hollow spaces. A moment later, a section of blackened ceiling crashes down, and the goblin is not able to roll out of the way in time. He emerges from the house coughing. He is slightly injured (5/10 hp), but alive. "Well, if whatever-it-is is in there, it's staying in there!" Tatyanza lays a hand gently upon his shoulder and causes a soft, golden light to radiate through him (1/4 1st-level spells used, cure light wounds for 9 hp).
Moving closer to the massive ruin, the group gets a better look at the two-story building that looms over them. Ivy and moss cling to the walls, leering stone gargoyles are perched on the eaves, and the narrow windows in the facade are blocked by rusty iron grillwork. Piles of rubble are strewn across the soggy ground where stone has fallen from the walls. Stone pillars support a balcony over the front doors. The latter hang askew on their hinges permitting a dim view of the chambers within. Valamir again warns of the unsound construction of the entryway (Perception = 26). Wilhem suggests performing a circle around the whole structure before plumbing the inner darkness.
The party begins a slow, counterclockwise circumnavigation of the building, slogging over the muddy, weed-choked ground. Valamir keeps his eyes (and crossbow) raised towards the black windows that gaze down upon them. Zooglub directs his attention downward (since, as he would say, he's down there already). He makes his way around a fallen gargoyle statue and happens to notice something strange around the foundations: a series of sinuous runes carved into the stonework. Some of the lettering is still stained with a dark, reddish-brown substance that has escaped the recent rains.
He points them out to the others, "well, now, here's something... smeared with blood, I'm guessing, though there's not much left, thanks to last night's rain."
Tatyanza approaches and says that the symbols are actually written in Varisian. Not much of it makes much sense to her, except...
"Desna..." she whispers, horrified. "Here... and here... and again right here!"
"What is it?" asks Yala.
"A name is repeated over and over in these carvings... Lyvar Hawkran, the warden!"
"I think this is what we're looking for," says Wilhem.
"Well," says Zooglub while fishing a few things from his bags, "it's all we've found of interest so far. Miss, would it be possible for you to translate all of the carvings for me onto a piece of parchment? Goblin would be best, but Taldane will suffice." He hands Tatyanza a small book opened to a blank page and a quill. He holds a small bottle of ink for her.
She nods and sets to work, "I don't know where to begin."
"Just get it all down," says Zooglub, "we'll figure out how to make sense of it later."
The explorers slowly make their way around the structure as Tatyanza scribbles away with the goblin's aid. The others keep a close eye out for danger. Valamir grows nervous.
"I don't like lingering here so long... it will grow dark soon, and rain is coming."
Yala breathes in deeply and looks to the sky. "Nightfall is still hours away, but you're right that it will rain soon (Knowledge - nature = 27). In an hour, perhaps less."
"I'm going as quickly as I can," says Tatyanza. She finds that the runes stop when she reaches a part of the wall that has crumbled and is partially submerged beneath the pool. Some suggest that she continue transcribing going the clockwise from where she started. Zooglub splashes into the pool and says, "the writings may continue just around the corner. It looks dryer a little further ahead." He peers through the breach in the wall. "The water isn't deep, even for me. Look!"
Suddenly ripples appear out from the edge of the water. Slowly three slime-covered skeletons arise from the depths and stagger towards the adventurers. Wilhem draws his horseman's flail and shouts, "everyone behind me! Use blunt weapons of you can!" Valamir shoulders his crossbow and pulls forth his morning star. Tatyanza & Zooglub put away their writing materials and prepare for battle. Yala places a ward on the knight once again before the undead horrors close.
Two of the skeletons fall shortly after the battle begins -- their dripping bones clattering into a heap into the mud -- but then suddenly the last one standing bursts into flame. Its unearthly screams echo across the grounds. It continues its attack and burns Wilhem and Valamir quite badly. Tatyanza calls upon her divine connection to the mysteries of life and sends waves of golden radiance emanating out of her. The energy rejuvenates Wilhem's strength, but both the skeleton and Valamir fall to the ground after it washes over them.
With the gaunt undead adversaries defeated, Tatyanza runs to Valamir's side to aid him. Yala intercedes, however, and says, "you cannot help him! Didn't you see that it was your healing energy that hurt him?"
"How interesting..." says Zooglub. "It would appear that our self-righteous friend here is one of the undead."
Tatyanza refuses to believe it, but Yala tells her to gather what translations she has gotten so far, and get back to town. She asks Wilhem to carry their comrade's limp body. Soon, the companions are fleeing the prison and trying to get back to Kendra's house before the rain catches them.
DM Notes:
XP = 81 each for defeating skeletons.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
The Village of Ravengro
A. Town Square; B. The Posting Poles; C. The Laughing Demon; D. Town Hall; E. Temple of Pharasma; F. General Store; G. Forge; H. Jominda's Apothecary; I. Jail; J. The Silk Purse; K. The Outward Inn; L. The Unfurling Scroll; M.1. Vashian Hearthmount's House; M.4. Gharen Muricar's House; N. Lorrimor Manor; O. Harrowstone Memorial; P. The Restlands; R. Harrowstone Prison Ruins
Toilday, Rova the 5th, 4711 A.R.
The Village of Ravengro, Ustalav
When morning arrives, Wilhem is up at dawn to see to his horse and also post a letter to his knightly order in Lastwall. He must request an extension to his leave of absence so that he may stay in Ravengro to carry out the last of the Professor's wishes. He comes down the stairs in full armor -- as is tradition amongst his compatriots near the Hungry Mountains where danger is expected at any time -- and heads towards the front door. He passes the entryway of the parlor where he can see the Professor's old trunk. Wilhem senses that it contains something that could change things in Ravengro and beyond forever. He feels the changes have already begun. The scene in the cemetery from yesterday still weighs heavily on his mind.
He is shaken from his thoughts when he hears Zooglub snoring from where the goblin is slumped in one corner with a book opened across his face. Night is just beginning for that one. Wilhem reaches for the doorknob, but it opens before he can grasp it. Yala is there, a black cloak wrapped about her which just barely conceals her nakedness beneath. Wilhem steps out of her way and tries to avert his eyes. He ends up staring at the chandelier hanging in the front hall as she walks by. She says, "good morning, Sir Wilhem!" before sauntering up the steps.
Wilhem pays the stablehand double (1 gp) for tending to Sunbolt, but then mounts the animal to stretch his steed's legs out. He trots around the town square, posts his letter to Lastwall, then decides to go for a morning ride about the village. As he comes clopping across the covered bridge to the south of town, Wilhem notices quite a few people gathered near the riverside. There is a large stone monument built there, and whatever is causing the stir, it seems to have something to do with that. Curious, the knight rides to investigate.
As he approaches, people give him strange, suspicious glances, but do not impede him or speak to him. He sees Councilman Hearthmont on horseback and the town sheriff, Benjan Caeller with two of his deputies. The former must've just arrived himself as his nightclothes are still visible beneath his heavy coat. The leader of the rabble at The Restlands is there -- Gibs Hephanus -- and he gives Wilhem a suspicious sneer. The constables are trying to keep people away from the large statue without much success. The monument depicts a proud, muscular man wielding a truncheon. The base of it bears a plaque which is splattered with red -- Wilhem assumes blood -- and a large crimson letter "V." The deputies are not helpful when Wilhem attempts to question them, but when he speaks to Hearthmont, the man replies, "can you vouch for the whereabouts of your companions last night?"
Wilhem says that while the other guests staying at Lorrimor Manor are practically strangers, he assumes they were all asleep all night just like he was. Of course, immediately after saying this, he recalls the goblin in the parlor and the witch who came in from outside just after dawn. Valamir, while sharing his room, was not in bed when Wilhem retired, nor was he when the knight awoke. Hearthmont advises Wilhem and the other visitors to remain at Lorrimor Manor until further notice. The knight readily agrees and rides up to the monument to get a closer look. The plaque has carved in it many names -- more than twenty. As he brings Sunbolt around to return to Kendra's house, Gibs points at him and shouts, "this one and his co-conspirators, they have brought this obscenity upon our town! They are friends of the necromancer and foul sorcerer Lorrimor! They are his instruments from beyond the grave!"
Wilhem assures the people gathered around that the professor was a good man who used his knowledge to combat evil, but his words seem to fall on deaf ears (Diplomacy = 8). The knight quickly rides back to Kendra's house and ties up Sunbolt outside. Soon after, he is able to gather his hostess and the other guests into the parlor. He fills everyone in about what he found on his morning ride. Kendra tells them that the statue is the Harrowstone Memorial. "Many townspeople died when the old prison burned... the monument honors them. The statue is of Warden Hawkran. Apparently he sacrificed himself to prevent the inmates from escaping."
"He sounds like quite a hero," says Wilhem, "I wonder why anyone would desecrate his likeness."
"And what is the significance of the letter 'V?'" adds Tatyanza.
"Well... vengeance is a popular choice, I would think," theorizes Zooglub. "For those who write in blood anyway."
"You seem to know a lot about it," replies Valamir accusingly.
"Oh, come, come now, Valamir -- Valamir with a 'V' -- I'm simply making a logical guess. You know very well I was reading here in the parlor all night long. Which reminds me, I should be retiring for the day. Wake me up when the mystery is solved. Or lunchtime."
"This is not a jest, Zooglub," says Wilhem. "The townsfolk were suspicious of us already, and now after this, that fellow from the cemetery last night..."
"Gibs," Kendra throws in, her face reddening.
"Yes. He has much of the village stirred up about all of us and our connection to the Professor. Not only that, but Hearthmont sounded like he considers us suspects. I was asleep all last night. Where were the rest of you?" Wilhem turns to Yala.
"I could've done it," she says with a casual tone. "The fact is, I was up before dawn to commune with my elemental patrons. I was just behind the house under the old oak. Of course, nobody can vouch for that. Except Storm."
"Storm?" asks the knight.
"My familiar. He is never far from me. I doubt Hearthmont would accept the testimony of a bird, however. Even if he can talk."
Accusations and suspicions fly back and forth until it is decided that nobody's guilt or innocence can be completely proven. It is agreed that the real culprit must be found before the villagers get bold enough to seek justice themselves. Kendra lets her guests know that they have her support.
"I don't know any of you, but if my father trusted you, then so do I. He never let me down before. You all can remain here as my guests. All I ask is that you do what you can to remove this shadow from my father's reputation. He was no necromancer. He was a good man." Tears begin to roll down her cheek.
"All of us here know that, milady," Wilhem reassures her. "I will do as you ask, if it is within my power to do so."
Zooglub speaks up. "Does anyone else but me get the distinct impression that what happened last night is part of the reason why the Professor asked us to remain here for a month?"
"What do you mean?" asks Kendra.
"The thought had crossed my mind," says Yala. "It seems that he knew something was going to happen. His instructions, and our participation, was very specific."
"He knew someone was going to deface a statue?" asks Valamir skeptically.
"Well, not just any statue." Yala turns to Kendra. "What significance might the monument have had to the Professor?"
Kendra pauses for a moment, and then suddenly she gasps and her eyes widen. She places her hands over her mouth.
"What is it?" asks Wilhem.
"M-my father's body... it was found at the ruins of the old prison." Her face grows pale.
"Harrowstone," Tatyanza whispers. Her hand swats at the air near her face as if she were shooing away a bug.
"But his death was an accident," says Valamir. "Was it not?"
The question lingers, unanswered. The six people gathered in the parlor all glance at one another in silence. Then slowly, all their eyes move towards the old locked trunk of the Professor.
Wilhem breaks the silence, "Kendra... until we deliver that trunk to the university in Leipidstadt, it, and all it contains, is by rights yours."
Zooglub can barely contain his excitement, "how can you not open it? If the Professor knew something like this might happen, then it is reasonable to assume that more of what he knew is in that chest!"
"But he charged us with delivering it, goblin," replies Valamir. "Not to rifle through it at a whim."
"The Professor wrote in the will that he thought the tomes might be dangerous to you," adds Tatyanza.
"True," says Yala, very calmly. "But he also wrote that his colleagues would put the books to good use. If this desecration is but the beginning of something far darker, he may have intended we put them to good use, as well."
"Yes, yes!" titters the goblin, hopping up and down. "Listen to the witch! Hee-hee, I like this one, I do! She's nearly as smart as me!"
Kendra ponders the issue for a long minute, running her slender fingers along the groves of the key all the while. She circles the trunk a few times and then sighs deeply. "As I said, my father has never let me down. I trust him still as I always have. The need has not yet become dire enough to warrant going against his wishes. I will not open it. Not yet. My hope is that things may yet be put right without needing to." Zooglub looks crestfallen, but Kendra continues. "I would ask that you investigate the ruins just south of town. Perhaps you may find some clue as to what my father was doing there or what he may have been seeking. All of us here in Ravengro had assumed he was accidentally struck by a fallen piece of masonry... but if this is not true, I would know the truth of what took him from me."
"I will do what I can, milady," says Wilhem. "But it might not be easy. Hearthmont asked that the five of us remain here until further notice. If any of us are found poking around where we don't belong, it will arouse even greater suspicion."
"Perhaps we can do some exploring without leaving town," suggests Yala. "Did your father have any books in his library regarding the prison? Or any notes about it?"
"No. He doesn't," interrupts Zooglub. "Trust me. I spent all last night going through his collection. Quite extensive indeed, but nothing on Harrowstone."
Kendra says, "I'm certain that the Town Hall records will have some information about it. The prison was the reason the town was built. It's a part of Ravengro's history. The Temple of Pharasma also has extensive histories in their archives. Gaining access to either of these sources might not be easy, but I will offer what assistance I can."
"Well, as long as Gibs isn't the curator of either of these archives, we'll have a chance," says Wilhem.
It is decided that Zooglub and Yala remain at Lorrimor Manor to avoid creating too much of a scene. Valamir insists on staying behind to keep an eye on them. Meanwhile, Wilhem, Kendra, and Tatyanza embark to the Town Hall where they hope to learn more about Harrowstone Prison.
On the way there, they happen to encounter a group of children gathered in the street. The five young girls are playing a skipping rope game and singing a tune in Varisian. Wilhem does not understand what they're singing, but Kendra (who is a skilled linguist) and Tatyanza (whose native tongue is Varisian) can make out the lyrics all too well:
Put her body on the bed,
take a knife and lop her head!
Watch the blood come out the pipe,
feeds the stirge, so nice and ripe!
Drops of red, so sparkly bright,
splatters spell her name just right!
With a hammer killed his wife,
now he wants to claim your life!
Tricksy father tells a lie,
listen close or you will die!
Kendra is chilled by what she hears, and Wilhem asks her what is wrong. As she explains it to him, Tatyanza slowly approaches the children and crouches down to ask their names. Of course, they are shy of this strange woman, but her warm smile and bright-colored sash endear her to them (Diplomacy = 24). Tatyanza compliments them on their rope skipping and even attempts it herself (Perform - dance = 8). She stumbles and falls clumsily which causes the girls to giggle. Once again she tells the girls how nimble they are, and asks them about the little tune they were singing.
"Aw, it's just nothin'," one of the girls says bashfully. "We've been singing that song around here forever."
Afterwards, the three companions bid farewell to the children, and continue to the Town Hall. Typically, visitors are not permitted on the premises, but Kendra is hoping her presence will help put the attendant at ease. Since word of the bloody markings have spread throughout the village, however, everyone seems cautious. Tatyanza asks for permission to view some town histories while Wilhem and Kendra lend their assistance (Diplomacy = 15 total, with Wilhem's assist). With no luck, they attempt the same thing at the Temple of Pharasma (Diplomacy = 19 total, with Kendra's assist), but with the same result.
Upon returning to the Lorrimor Estate, Yala is found trying to separate Zooglub and Valamir, who are engaged in a heated argument. When they see Kendra enter, however, they return to their best behavior. "Please stop this!" Kendra scolds. "I will not have my father's house turned into a battlefield! Aren't things already bad enough?"
Valamir is apologetic, "my deepest regrets, lady... but surely we cannot keep this goblin in your father's house. He would gladly burn it to the ground and all of us with it. No goblin can be trusted. Each one has been born to kill our kind."
"If you speak of your kind, Vallie, you can only mean the ignorant. In which case, you are quite right. I find this world can do without ignorance. Toss the whole pile of you into a bonfire and be rid of you. The world would be a better place." He turns to Kendra and says, "I assure you, ma'am, I mean harm to no one -- even our ignorant friend here -- I only wish to pursue knowledge. Like your father did."
Valamir replies, "one thing I am not ignorant of, vermin, is your true nature. Just because you have learned to speak like a man does not mean you have stopped being a goblin. I will be watching you."
"Please do. You may learn something," finishes the goblin.
"Enough!" Kendra shouts. "Whether it was my father's wishes to invite you here or not, if the both of you do not put all of your energies towards clearing his name, then you might as well leave. I have no use of your fighting with each other."
Zooglub and Valamir nod and the tension in the room slowly dissipates.
Wilhem continues, "if the two of you are done, we have important business to address. The townsfolk do not trust any of us and will not permit us to access the archives. We have run into a dead end. Kendra, what do you know about Harrowstone? Has your father ever spoken of it?"
She replies, "I have lived here for fifteen years. All I know is that it is a ruined prison that burned fifty years ago and has been vacant ever since. I suspect that the townsfolk believe it to be haunted, so nobody ever mentions it."
"I have heard of Harrowstone," Tatyanza offers. "Most of the structure was destroyed. All of the prisoners along with most of the guards perished in the fire. The man from the memorial, Warden Hawkran, and his wife died there, as well."
"Kendra..." says Zooglub, "if you will not allow us to examine the contents of the chest, then we must investigate the ruins, the villagers' suspicions be damned. No other avenue is left to us."
Kendra nods slowly, and the five companions make themselves ready for a journey to the ruins of Harrowstone.
DM Notes:
XP = 20 each for research on Harrowstone.
Trust +1 (22 total).
When morning arrives, Wilhem is up at dawn to see to his horse and also post a letter to his knightly order in Lastwall. He must request an extension to his leave of absence so that he may stay in Ravengro to carry out the last of the Professor's wishes. He comes down the stairs in full armor -- as is tradition amongst his compatriots near the Hungry Mountains where danger is expected at any time -- and heads towards the front door. He passes the entryway of the parlor where he can see the Professor's old trunk. Wilhem senses that it contains something that could change things in Ravengro and beyond forever. He feels the changes have already begun. The scene in the cemetery from yesterday still weighs heavily on his mind.
He is shaken from his thoughts when he hears Zooglub snoring from where the goblin is slumped in one corner with a book opened across his face. Night is just beginning for that one. Wilhem reaches for the doorknob, but it opens before he can grasp it. Yala is there, a black cloak wrapped about her which just barely conceals her nakedness beneath. Wilhem steps out of her way and tries to avert his eyes. He ends up staring at the chandelier hanging in the front hall as she walks by. She says, "good morning, Sir Wilhem!" before sauntering up the steps.
Wilhem pays the stablehand double (1 gp) for tending to Sunbolt, but then mounts the animal to stretch his steed's legs out. He trots around the town square, posts his letter to Lastwall, then decides to go for a morning ride about the village. As he comes clopping across the covered bridge to the south of town, Wilhem notices quite a few people gathered near the riverside. There is a large stone monument built there, and whatever is causing the stir, it seems to have something to do with that. Curious, the knight rides to investigate.
As he approaches, people give him strange, suspicious glances, but do not impede him or speak to him. He sees Councilman Hearthmont on horseback and the town sheriff, Benjan Caeller with two of his deputies. The former must've just arrived himself as his nightclothes are still visible beneath his heavy coat. The leader of the rabble at The Restlands is there -- Gibs Hephanus -- and he gives Wilhem a suspicious sneer. The constables are trying to keep people away from the large statue without much success. The monument depicts a proud, muscular man wielding a truncheon. The base of it bears a plaque which is splattered with red -- Wilhem assumes blood -- and a large crimson letter "V." The deputies are not helpful when Wilhem attempts to question them, but when he speaks to Hearthmont, the man replies, "can you vouch for the whereabouts of your companions last night?"
Wilhem says that while the other guests staying at Lorrimor Manor are practically strangers, he assumes they were all asleep all night just like he was. Of course, immediately after saying this, he recalls the goblin in the parlor and the witch who came in from outside just after dawn. Valamir, while sharing his room, was not in bed when Wilhem retired, nor was he when the knight awoke. Hearthmont advises Wilhem and the other visitors to remain at Lorrimor Manor until further notice. The knight readily agrees and rides up to the monument to get a closer look. The plaque has carved in it many names -- more than twenty. As he brings Sunbolt around to return to Kendra's house, Gibs points at him and shouts, "this one and his co-conspirators, they have brought this obscenity upon our town! They are friends of the necromancer and foul sorcerer Lorrimor! They are his instruments from beyond the grave!"
Wilhem assures the people gathered around that the professor was a good man who used his knowledge to combat evil, but his words seem to fall on deaf ears (Diplomacy = 8). The knight quickly rides back to Kendra's house and ties up Sunbolt outside. Soon after, he is able to gather his hostess and the other guests into the parlor. He fills everyone in about what he found on his morning ride. Kendra tells them that the statue is the Harrowstone Memorial. "Many townspeople died when the old prison burned... the monument honors them. The statue is of Warden Hawkran. Apparently he sacrificed himself to prevent the inmates from escaping."
"He sounds like quite a hero," says Wilhem, "I wonder why anyone would desecrate his likeness."
"And what is the significance of the letter 'V?'" adds Tatyanza.
"Well... vengeance is a popular choice, I would think," theorizes Zooglub. "For those who write in blood anyway."
"You seem to know a lot about it," replies Valamir accusingly.
"Oh, come, come now, Valamir -- Valamir with a 'V' -- I'm simply making a logical guess. You know very well I was reading here in the parlor all night long. Which reminds me, I should be retiring for the day. Wake me up when the mystery is solved. Or lunchtime."
"This is not a jest, Zooglub," says Wilhem. "The townsfolk were suspicious of us already, and now after this, that fellow from the cemetery last night..."
"Gibs," Kendra throws in, her face reddening.
"Yes. He has much of the village stirred up about all of us and our connection to the Professor. Not only that, but Hearthmont sounded like he considers us suspects. I was asleep all last night. Where were the rest of you?" Wilhem turns to Yala.
"I could've done it," she says with a casual tone. "The fact is, I was up before dawn to commune with my elemental patrons. I was just behind the house under the old oak. Of course, nobody can vouch for that. Except Storm."
"Storm?" asks the knight.
"My familiar. He is never far from me. I doubt Hearthmont would accept the testimony of a bird, however. Even if he can talk."
Accusations and suspicions fly back and forth until it is decided that nobody's guilt or innocence can be completely proven. It is agreed that the real culprit must be found before the villagers get bold enough to seek justice themselves. Kendra lets her guests know that they have her support.
"I don't know any of you, but if my father trusted you, then so do I. He never let me down before. You all can remain here as my guests. All I ask is that you do what you can to remove this shadow from my father's reputation. He was no necromancer. He was a good man." Tears begin to roll down her cheek.
"All of us here know that, milady," Wilhem reassures her. "I will do as you ask, if it is within my power to do so."
Zooglub speaks up. "Does anyone else but me get the distinct impression that what happened last night is part of the reason why the Professor asked us to remain here for a month?"
"What do you mean?" asks Kendra.
"The thought had crossed my mind," says Yala. "It seems that he knew something was going to happen. His instructions, and our participation, was very specific."
"He knew someone was going to deface a statue?" asks Valamir skeptically.
"Well, not just any statue." Yala turns to Kendra. "What significance might the monument have had to the Professor?"
Kendra pauses for a moment, and then suddenly she gasps and her eyes widen. She places her hands over her mouth.
"What is it?" asks Wilhem.
"M-my father's body... it was found at the ruins of the old prison." Her face grows pale.
"Harrowstone," Tatyanza whispers. Her hand swats at the air near her face as if she were shooing away a bug.
"But his death was an accident," says Valamir. "Was it not?"
The question lingers, unanswered. The six people gathered in the parlor all glance at one another in silence. Then slowly, all their eyes move towards the old locked trunk of the Professor.
Wilhem breaks the silence, "Kendra... until we deliver that trunk to the university in Leipidstadt, it, and all it contains, is by rights yours."
Zooglub can barely contain his excitement, "how can you not open it? If the Professor knew something like this might happen, then it is reasonable to assume that more of what he knew is in that chest!"
"But he charged us with delivering it, goblin," replies Valamir. "Not to rifle through it at a whim."
"The Professor wrote in the will that he thought the tomes might be dangerous to you," adds Tatyanza.
"True," says Yala, very calmly. "But he also wrote that his colleagues would put the books to good use. If this desecration is but the beginning of something far darker, he may have intended we put them to good use, as well."
"Yes, yes!" titters the goblin, hopping up and down. "Listen to the witch! Hee-hee, I like this one, I do! She's nearly as smart as me!"
Kendra ponders the issue for a long minute, running her slender fingers along the groves of the key all the while. She circles the trunk a few times and then sighs deeply. "As I said, my father has never let me down. I trust him still as I always have. The need has not yet become dire enough to warrant going against his wishes. I will not open it. Not yet. My hope is that things may yet be put right without needing to." Zooglub looks crestfallen, but Kendra continues. "I would ask that you investigate the ruins just south of town. Perhaps you may find some clue as to what my father was doing there or what he may have been seeking. All of us here in Ravengro had assumed he was accidentally struck by a fallen piece of masonry... but if this is not true, I would know the truth of what took him from me."
"I will do what I can, milady," says Wilhem. "But it might not be easy. Hearthmont asked that the five of us remain here until further notice. If any of us are found poking around where we don't belong, it will arouse even greater suspicion."
"Perhaps we can do some exploring without leaving town," suggests Yala. "Did your father have any books in his library regarding the prison? Or any notes about it?"
"No. He doesn't," interrupts Zooglub. "Trust me. I spent all last night going through his collection. Quite extensive indeed, but nothing on Harrowstone."
Kendra says, "I'm certain that the Town Hall records will have some information about it. The prison was the reason the town was built. It's a part of Ravengro's history. The Temple of Pharasma also has extensive histories in their archives. Gaining access to either of these sources might not be easy, but I will offer what assistance I can."
"Well, as long as Gibs isn't the curator of either of these archives, we'll have a chance," says Wilhem.
It is decided that Zooglub and Yala remain at Lorrimor Manor to avoid creating too much of a scene. Valamir insists on staying behind to keep an eye on them. Meanwhile, Wilhem, Kendra, and Tatyanza embark to the Town Hall where they hope to learn more about Harrowstone Prison.
On the way there, they happen to encounter a group of children gathered in the street. The five young girls are playing a skipping rope game and singing a tune in Varisian. Wilhem does not understand what they're singing, but Kendra (who is a skilled linguist) and Tatyanza (whose native tongue is Varisian) can make out the lyrics all too well:
Put her body on the bed,
take a knife and lop her head!
Watch the blood come out the pipe,
feeds the stirge, so nice and ripe!
Drops of red, so sparkly bright,
splatters spell her name just right!
With a hammer killed his wife,
now he wants to claim your life!
Tricksy father tells a lie,
listen close or you will die!
Kendra is chilled by what she hears, and Wilhem asks her what is wrong. As she explains it to him, Tatyanza slowly approaches the children and crouches down to ask their names. Of course, they are shy of this strange woman, but her warm smile and bright-colored sash endear her to them (Diplomacy = 24). Tatyanza compliments them on their rope skipping and even attempts it herself (Perform - dance = 8). She stumbles and falls clumsily which causes the girls to giggle. Once again she tells the girls how nimble they are, and asks them about the little tune they were singing.
"Aw, it's just nothin'," one of the girls says bashfully. "We've been singing that song around here forever."
Afterwards, the three companions bid farewell to the children, and continue to the Town Hall. Typically, visitors are not permitted on the premises, but Kendra is hoping her presence will help put the attendant at ease. Since word of the bloody markings have spread throughout the village, however, everyone seems cautious. Tatyanza asks for permission to view some town histories while Wilhem and Kendra lend their assistance (Diplomacy = 15 total, with Wilhem's assist). With no luck, they attempt the same thing at the Temple of Pharasma (Diplomacy = 19 total, with Kendra's assist), but with the same result.
Upon returning to the Lorrimor Estate, Yala is found trying to separate Zooglub and Valamir, who are engaged in a heated argument. When they see Kendra enter, however, they return to their best behavior. "Please stop this!" Kendra scolds. "I will not have my father's house turned into a battlefield! Aren't things already bad enough?"
Valamir is apologetic, "my deepest regrets, lady... but surely we cannot keep this goblin in your father's house. He would gladly burn it to the ground and all of us with it. No goblin can be trusted. Each one has been born to kill our kind."
"If you speak of your kind, Vallie, you can only mean the ignorant. In which case, you are quite right. I find this world can do without ignorance. Toss the whole pile of you into a bonfire and be rid of you. The world would be a better place." He turns to Kendra and says, "I assure you, ma'am, I mean harm to no one -- even our ignorant friend here -- I only wish to pursue knowledge. Like your father did."
Valamir replies, "one thing I am not ignorant of, vermin, is your true nature. Just because you have learned to speak like a man does not mean you have stopped being a goblin. I will be watching you."
"Please do. You may learn something," finishes the goblin.
"Enough!" Kendra shouts. "Whether it was my father's wishes to invite you here or not, if the both of you do not put all of your energies towards clearing his name, then you might as well leave. I have no use of your fighting with each other."
Zooglub and Valamir nod and the tension in the room slowly dissipates.
Wilhem continues, "if the two of you are done, we have important business to address. The townsfolk do not trust any of us and will not permit us to access the archives. We have run into a dead end. Kendra, what do you know about Harrowstone? Has your father ever spoken of it?"
She replies, "I have lived here for fifteen years. All I know is that it is a ruined prison that burned fifty years ago and has been vacant ever since. I suspect that the townsfolk believe it to be haunted, so nobody ever mentions it."
"I have heard of Harrowstone," Tatyanza offers. "Most of the structure was destroyed. All of the prisoners along with most of the guards perished in the fire. The man from the memorial, Warden Hawkran, and his wife died there, as well."
"Kendra..." says Zooglub, "if you will not allow us to examine the contents of the chest, then we must investigate the ruins, the villagers' suspicions be damned. No other avenue is left to us."
Kendra nods slowly, and the five companions make themselves ready for a journey to the ruins of Harrowstone.
DM Notes:
XP = 20 each for research on Harrowstone.
Trust +1 (22 total).
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Later that same night...
At Kendra Lorrimor's house in Ravengro
Many of the guests return with Kendra to her home. One exception is Councilman Hearthmont who has other business to attend to. He will arrive some time later, however, for he is the acting solicitor for the town and is expected to disclose the contents of the will. Besides the five strangers to the town (who are lodging at the house during their stay in Ravengro), the other guests do not stay long. They partake of a drink or share a few pleasant memories of the professor before departing.
When everyone else has left, and Kendra waits for Hearthmont to arrive, the five outsiders gather in the den to remember the professor and wonder to themselves why they have been invited to be a part of the will. Truly, Petros Lorrimor has played some significant role in each of their lives over the past few years, but they were hardly close.
Zooblub does not engage in conversation with the others... he simply pulls a book from off the professor's shelf and sits in a corner of the room reading. He has let his hood fall back, revealing his wriggling ears, blue skin, and the yellow slits that are his eyes. Valamir stands with his arms crossed in the opposite corner of the chamber gazing out the window into the rainy night. He appears very uncomfortable, and does not speak. The only ones he has spoken to if at all are Kendra and the knight, Wilhem.
The others are gathered in the center of the room while awaiting Hearthmont. Yala and Tatyanza share some good memories of the professor, some of which elicit a smile from Kendra. Wilhem, however, seems troubled by the incident at the cemetery. When there is a pause in the conversation, the knight says, "shouldn't the councilman have arrived by now? It is getting quite late." In the very next moment, there is a pounding at the door.
Kendra answers it and soon Hearthmont steps in shaking raindrops off his cloak. As he cleans off his boots, he gazes suspiciously at the five strangers gathered in the next room. "This is everyone?" he asks. Kendra nods and invites the councilman in.
Many of the guests return with Kendra to her home. One exception is Councilman Hearthmont who has other business to attend to. He will arrive some time later, however, for he is the acting solicitor for the town and is expected to disclose the contents of the will. Besides the five strangers to the town (who are lodging at the house during their stay in Ravengro), the other guests do not stay long. They partake of a drink or share a few pleasant memories of the professor before departing.
When everyone else has left, and Kendra waits for Hearthmont to arrive, the five outsiders gather in the den to remember the professor and wonder to themselves why they have been invited to be a part of the will. Truly, Petros Lorrimor has played some significant role in each of their lives over the past few years, but they were hardly close.
Zooblub does not engage in conversation with the others... he simply pulls a book from off the professor's shelf and sits in a corner of the room reading. He has let his hood fall back, revealing his wriggling ears, blue skin, and the yellow slits that are his eyes. Valamir stands with his arms crossed in the opposite corner of the chamber gazing out the window into the rainy night. He appears very uncomfortable, and does not speak. The only ones he has spoken to if at all are Kendra and the knight, Wilhem.
The others are gathered in the center of the room while awaiting Hearthmont. Yala and Tatyanza share some good memories of the professor, some of which elicit a smile from Kendra. Wilhem, however, seems troubled by the incident at the cemetery. When there is a pause in the conversation, the knight says, "shouldn't the councilman have arrived by now? It is getting quite late." In the very next moment, there is a pounding at the door.
Kendra answers it and soon Hearthmont steps in shaking raindrops off his cloak. As he cleans off his boots, he gazes suspiciously at the five strangers gathered in the next room. "This is everyone?" he asks. Kendra nods and invites the councilman in.
From beneath his cloak, Hearthmont produces a scroll case. Upon opening it, a heavy iron key falls out and tumbles noisily to the floor. Zooglub, who has set his book aside, scurries forward and scoops it up. "You dropped something, your honorableness, hee-hee!" The councilman ignores him and pulls forth the sealed scroll from within the case. He breaks the seal and begins to read. Most of it is simply legal terminology and deals with the professor's estate and property being bequeathed to Kendra. But towards the end, the others gathered around become involved...
"As some of you know, I have devoted many of my studies to all manner of -- " Hearthmont clears his throat before continuing, "-- evil, that I might know the enemy and inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge of one's adversary is the surest path over victory over its nefarious plans.
"Over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire a significant collection of dangerous tomes, any of which could have led to some unfavorable complications -- legal and otherwise -- in the wrong hands. While in life, they served me well, in death I do not wish to burden my daughter with the darker aspects of my profession. As such, I am entrusting my collection of tomes to my friends: Wilhem, Tatyanza, Valamir, Yala, and sharp-tongued Zooglub. It is my wish that the five of you deliver my trunk and its contents to the university in Lepidstadt and my trusted colleagues there.
"Yet, before you leave for Lepidstadt, there is one other favor I ask of you. Please delay your journey for one month so that you may stay here in Ravengro to aid my daughter in putting the matters of the estate in proper order. With my passing, I fear she no longer has anyone left to count on. For this service, you will have my eternal gratitude. In return, I bequeath to each of you one-hundred platinum crowns which are payable upon your arrival in Lepidstadt with the tomes safely delivered no sooner than one month from the reading of this will. I have entrusted Embreth Daramid with these funds for safekeeping."
With that, the reading was done. Councilman Hearthmont takes his leave, and Kendra has the men bring the small, iron-bound oaken chest brought in. Zooglub, who still has the key, moves to open it. Valamir expresses his disapproval. "The professor said these books are dangerous. I will not permit you to open the chest out of curiosity. We ought to do what the professor should have done long ago and burn them all." While Kendra vehemently dismisses any notion of destroying the valuable objects, she agrees that nothing in the will stipulated opening the chest. Grumbling, the goblin hands over the key, and all of the guests retire for the evening.
Upstairs, Kendra has the master bedroom at the end of the carpeted hallway. Yala and Tatyanza share a room just down the hall from her. On the opposite end of the house, Wilhem and Valamir share a guestroom (though the latter sleeps not at all, it seems). Zooglub, already being traditionally nocturnal, cannot rest with so much great reading in the professor's extensive libraries. He stays up all night and gets a visit from Valamir in the predawn hours.
Without looking up from his reading material, Zooglub says with a sigh, "come to keep an eye on me, eh? Fear not... I'm not opening the trunk. Kendra took the key from me."
"I don't trust you, goblin," is the hunter's disgusted reply.
"Well, I don't expect you to -- Valamir, is it? The professor did trust me, of course, otherwise I wouldn't be here. And, no offense, but I regard his opinion much more highly than yours."
"Perhaps with the sorts of things he was reading, the professor was not of sound mind when he included you in the will. How do you know the professor, might I ask?"
Finally the goblin looks up. "You might."
"Well?"
"We shared various academic interests. He also didn't immediately mistrust me because of who my parents were. I respect that. After all, I was one of his only colleagues with the intelligence to keep up with him. He didn't just see a goblin, he saw a mind."
"Were any of these interests evil in nature?"
"Oh, most definitely!" Zooglub giggles. "Folk like the professor and myself do not descriminate... all knowledge is valuable."
Valamir gazes down at the goblin with narrow eyes, "it seems to me then, that you are just as dangerous as the books in that chest. Perhaps you already know what is hidden within."
"No, I do not. Though, I admit, I wish I did. Books are not dangerous, Valamir, unless you fear paper cuts. Books are like minds... what matters is what you do with them."
The discussion is interrupted as Yala -- clothed only in a black cloak -- comes down the steps and moves to exit the house. Zooglub says, "don't any of you humans sleep at night?" She walks out to a grove of trees behind the house and disrobes in the falling rain. Then she calls her familiar, a raven she has named Storm, who comes circling down out of the trees. Yala kneels and raises her arms towards the sky, appealing to her elemental patrons.
Valamir and Zooglub watch briefly from a window. The goblin titters to himself.
"Something amusing, goblin?"
"It seems that the professor had some rather interesting friends! Be glad you have two eyes, Valamir. You'll have to keep one on me, and the other on the witch." He cackles gleefully.
Valamir clenches his jaw and returns to his room.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
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).
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).
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