Lips pursed, brow arched, Ysmerelda contemplates the lord's words.
Huh.
Is he certain he a bard?..
I recall students at the academy whose prose was less...
purple.
"Well." She finally states after having regained sufficient self-control to be certain she wouldn't burst into inappropriate giggles at the young lord's tone, demeanor, and subject. "That is certainly something to consider. I must confess, in Pitax, there is little thought given to...
his...
continued threat, particularly considering all the other, more recent events of sobering import. After all," she temporizes, "it can be hard to remember to lock the cellar door when there is a host of bandits tearing down your front gate- er..." Ysmerelda trails off, her metaphor not quite as readily followed as she first intended.
Not an uncommon belief young miss, not uncommon at all, I am afraid.
Some...very few, look to the longer road.
My family has walked it for many years.
One bit of knowledge here, a line in an old tome there, sometimes information as small as the wear on an old staff or wand.
Petros was one of our most active and successful agents. It will be challenging to find another such as him.
Well. That goes a ways towards explaining .
"Will you be staying long?" Ysmerelda queries. "Now that you have payed your respects."
Not long now that our business here is concluded. Mother and I will leave at first light, on to Lepidstadt to finish previous affairs. What of you?
"In good conscience, I don't feel I should leave just yet. Losing her father and her husband so soon together seems a great blow for anyone. I thought I would stay a while & see what aid I might offer. If there is one thing Master Albus made certain I learned, it was patience. The Worldwound will still be there when I leave, more's the pity." Her smile turns rueful at the last.
Petros could not have chosen better friends. How selfless of you to stay and assist her in her time of need. What of the others I met? I see two of them there next to Gibbs. Do you think they will risk some coin and try to defeat him?
The hammer rises and falls. Its rythem steady as it reinforces the door fram and windows.
Sweat beads his brow but he doesn't let up as he methodically puts in the final nail into the frame ensuring that the entire structure is able to take more poudnign then a normal door.
Perhaps his task will be done before the others get back. Perhaps not.
It doesn't matter. Hasty work makes a poor finish.
He picks up yet another nail and examines it before placing it against the wood.
Recap, important info and events as follows:
The professor has been buried.
Brief altercation at the Restlands with the locals. Resolved without violence, but the hostility of the town seems clear.
Gibbs Hephenus is identified. Sirsi is aware that he is the Professor's brother in law and Juinor's other grandfather.
I do not believe she have told anyone one else yet.
Will has been read, you have been asked to stay for one month to assit Kendra as best you can in this troubled time.
Kendras son Junior and Great Aunt "Granny", introduced at her home.
Her late husband's absence is noted by his missing cloak and massive boots, as he died a few months ago, bring the Professor home from the university.
Hotrek is fortifying the house, and the three women are at the Laughing Demon (local largest tavern).
Ysmerelda is engaged with the Earl while watching Gibbs finish up a chess game with amiddle age women.
Sirsi and Seraphine have not yet made actions.
Gibbs has reset the board and is currently getting a fresh pint at the bar.
The mood in the tavern is dour, but not openly hostile. Everyone but the earl stares openly at the new comers, whether in awe of their presence in the room or suspicion you are unsure.
It is early evening, slightly after dark.
Balls in ya'lls court, when ever you are all ready.
Sera has been watching the chess game, almost mesmerized by it, constantly thinking of the moves and counter moves that each player good have played. When they are finished..
I call next!
Seraphina will sit opposite from Gibbs and put down some coin.
If he agrees, Sera will try to use the game to coax some information out of him, trying to get the backstory about why he led the mob.
Gibbs looks on calmly as Seraphine sits at the table. He matches your coin with a few of his own.
Well then young lass, ladies first, your move.
His voice is deep and rumbles quietly in the room. Sitting across from him, Seraphine can little help but notice, just how much taller than her he is. She can also clearly see a belt with a longsword and shortsword laying next to him.
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Assuming Gibbs agrees to the game, Sirsi watches with interest, as much to evaluate her companion as Gibbs.
Contemplating the young lord's question, Ysmerelda notes they already have an answer. "It seems the answer to your question is 'yes'." She replies, smiling lightly. "For myself, I should wish to speak with him, preferably privately, on the subject of our...
odd encounter, earlier this afternoon."
Contemplating the young lord's question, Ysmerelda notes they already have an answer. "It seems the answer to your question is 'yes'." She replies, smiling lightly. "For myself, I should wish to speak with him, preferably privately, on the subject of our...
odd encounter, earlier this afternoon."
As you please. We are to Lepidstadt in the morning, it could take us some time there. Please, should you and yours visit that way, look me up. We are all most welcome at my little estate there.
Assuming Gibbs agrees to the game, Sirsi watches with interest, as much to evaluate her companion as Gibbs.
Gibbs looks little changed from the the time you met him at juinors birth, his hair is still well trimmed and his height still great.
He certainly look more tired, with dark circles under his eyes.
"Thank you, lord Adrissant. You are most kind." Ysmerelda replies, smiling.
Lepidstadt a center of learning, but it oddly convenient that they will be travelling where we have already promised to return Professor Lorrimor's books...
Seraphina plays her first move, Better warn you, the Professor and I often played chess. I'm very good.
Hotrek's movements are slow but sure, with typical dwarven attention to the very strength of the wood and stone of the home he's staying.
Every inch of the door and windows including their hinges are fortified, once done, he begins to prepare fire wood...enough to last for a week before he allows himself to rest..
While doing so, he makes small talk with anyone who strikes up a conversation with him.
Seraphina plays her first move, Better warn you, the Professor and I often played chess. I'm very good.
So was Petros, but I won against him on occasion. I recon' you may have some questions about this afternoons unpleasantness and my part there.
Moves a knight out.
Hotrek's movements are slow but sure, with typical dwarven attention to the very strength of the wood and stone of the home he's staying.
Every inch of the door and windows including their hinges are fortified, once done, he begins to prepare fire wood...enough to last for a week before he allows himself to rest..
While doing so, he makes small talk with anyone who strikes up a conversation with him.
Junior: What are you doing Hotrek? Are expecting a storm? Papa helped make the house, so i think it can weather some water and wind.
Rocking in her chair by the fire, stroking a large cat.
Granny: Expecting trouble, dearie?
Kendra is mostly silent, but she stands near you, handing you boards and nails as needed. She looks grateful for your presence, smiling each time you meet her eyes.
A little taken aback Well. Yes I do. Why did you want him buried in the old cemetery?
She makes her next move, moving a bishop out.
A little taken aback Well. Yes I do. Why did you want him buried in the old cemetery?She makes her next move, moving a bishop out.
Gibbs The Lady of Graves prefers the dead to be interred in the earth, that lot wanted to burn the body and dump it in the river.
Fools...
Petroes was family, but he was also a practical man.
I don't think he would have minded be buried at the old cemetery, if his other choice was to be burned.
I gave them that option.
I couldn't talk common sense into their heads, I lack the gift of words and beating that many in the head wouldn't work either.
There is an ill wind lately, young miss,some people believe the town cursed, what with my boy gone, crops been poor, and now Petroes dies from a statue falling on his head.
They believed to rid us of this "curse" by burning his body and there for the curse.
Some days, my dear, I can't believe I'm related to this lot.
Moves another piece on the board as he openly glares at a group of men sitting in the corner.
dumbasses....I should have stayed on the Wall..
Though not ignoring Earl Adrissant outright, Ysmerelda's attention is obviously focused primarily upon the conversation between miss Jacobs and master Gibbs.
So, if the other believed him to be the source of the "curse", what are your reasons of wanting him not buried in that graveyard?
Gibbs
I had hoped to have a proper burial for my brother in law.
If he was put in the Restlands, the fools in this place may have dug him up to rid themselves of this curse.
In the old yard, they might have left him in peace, only the church visits there regularly.
And Granny, she talks to some of the people there from time to time, gossiping about the town.
The Earl also appears to have an ear to the conversation.
Gibbs
Your petite friend has quite an interest in our conversation. She reminds me of my last Captain before she died...
He chuckles quietly at Ysmerelda's gaze.
"Ei nu au încredere în propria lor preot?" Ysmerelda responds a trifle incredulously, having obviously attracted Gibbs attention.
The Father is older than dirt, he came here to retire.
The acolytes are little more than children, most can not cast spells, they serve for a better learning.
The best of them will go abroad to another temple if they are truly talented.
Even so, most here even the them in the temple...this village is home, the people family.
Do believe they would choose a man from outside the village, one who leaves for weeks or months at a time and then returns, never speaking of where he has gone or what he has done over the people they have known from birth?
Better to put Petroes in the old yard, than burn him or have such a disturbance in the town. Families fighting in such a small town can be quite bad, you know.
Many folks would be annoyed at him being in the Restlands, but, it will pass in time I hope.
Moves next piece.
Hotrek smiles even as he works.
"The grain of the wood and strata of the stone speaks of the love this house was built on. I'm not just expecting trouble being that we are new but it never hurts to be prepared. Better to have preparations done and not need it then to need it and not have it prepared."
Enforcing the door's hinges and its frame takes slow work but Hotrek knows that given time, this work like all the others will be done.
"Once I'm done, this house will weather more than mere bad weather. it'll be a symbol that no matter what happens, the spirit of its occupants do not waver."
"Alright, that makes sense I suppose. But what about this curse. Any truth to it? "
Gibbs No, not that I believe any way. Just some bad crops, bad weather, and several deaths right quick after one another. Unless you believe in ghost stories about the Harrowstone, nothing scarier than an occasional dire wolf out this way. And Zokar's cooking!
Hotrek smiles even as he works.
"The grain of the wood and strata of the stone speaks of the love this house was built on. I'm not just expecting trouble being that we are new but it never hurts to be prepared. Better to have preparations done and not need it then to need it and not have it prepared."
Enforcing the door's hinges and its frame takes slow work but Hotrek knows that given time, this work like all the others will be done.
"Once I'm done, this house will weather more than mere bad weather. it'll be a symbol that no matter what happens, the spirit of its occupants do not waver."
Juniors eyes open wide as his young mind tries to digest your meaning.
Granny nods her head in agreement, huffing an approving grunt as she rocks in her chair, petting the cat.
Kendra quietly whispers thank you under her breath as she continues to help.
Seraphina's eyes shift. The last thing Petros mentioned in his journal was returning to Harrowstone...and he mentioned the probability of spirits
"What's the Harrowstone?
Gibbs The Harrowstone was a prison built up the road many years ago. It was a place to house the worst of the worst. Criminals, lunatics and murderers where carted here from across the land, some from as far away as Absolom. It burned some time ago, with only a few guards making it out alive, all within perished in the flames. Legend has it it, the place is haunted by vengeful spirits. Horse manure, I say!!
Well played young miss.
Unless there are additional question, The Earl and Gibbs will finish up their drinks and bid everyone a good evening.
The Earl intends to depart early in the morning and Gibbs will be setting up his barbers shop at the gazebo tomorrow, where everyone gathers for the morning market and gossip.
Upon your return to Kendra house, you can clearly see the additional reinforcement applied by Hotrek.
Kendra has also prepared her spare bedrooms, one for the women and one for Hotrek.
"You've been busy" Sirsi nods to Hotrek as she arrives back.
looking towards Kendra [/b]"Thank you for hospitality."[/b]
"Idle hands make little sense." Hotrek winks as he sits back to enjoy a drink after a hard day of labour in acknowledgement to Sirsi.
If anyone one wishes to interact at the house, please feel free to do so.
Once everyone has done so, if they wish, check out the spoiler below.
In the early hours of the morning, your sleep is interrupted by a child's scream!
Rushing to Kendra's room, you see her holding her sobbing child, rocking him back and forth, rubbing his back in an attempt to calm him.
A man, mommy, a wicked man he promised to kill me and you and and everyone and he laughed and laughed and he was covered in red letters and he was bad!I was so scared, but a lady came a blue lady with curly hair and she made him go away, but I'm scared mommy!
Granny comes up in the middle, a meat cleaver in her hand, looking about squinting in the darkness.
Ysmerelda is among those who rush to the sounds of terrified wails. Upon discovering it was the fear of a child at a nightmare, rather than someone being physically assaulted, a tension drains from her. Kneeling before him, she asks. "Have you often had dreams in the night like this one?"
I was just a dream, sweetie. But how about we check your room anyways, alright?
With all this talk of spirits, I wouldn't be too surprised if there were spirits in his room...
Sirsi considers Junior's story, does it ring any bells on the descriptions... the Red Letters does sound to be fairly odd and specific.
Regardless she will make a great show of looking around his room, initially casting Light on some convenient item to illuminate the room.
"Let's take a look, shall we."
Sirsi, You can not currently recall any one specific to that, but with more time to think or a library to research in, it may be possible to match it up.
Junior sleeps in a small bed at the foot of Kendra's bed. A through investigation of the room reveals no spirits or dangers.
Junior No, I don't get dreams like that. The blue lady I remember though. She shows up in my dreams sometimes when they get really scary! I told Papa Petroes about her, 'cause I was a scared of her, but he said she was a friend and she was good! Some of the other kids have seen her also. They say she plays with them or makes bad dreams go away. Papa believed me and mommy, but most of the grown ups don't. Exept, Father Grim Face, he told Gancy she was a helpful spirit, sent by Pharasma or Desna to guard children's dreams.
Kendra is profusely apologetic at waking everyone up.
At Kendra's apologies, Ysmerelda shakes her head. "It's been my experience that circumstances such as you all have experienced recently tend to spawn such terrors, but that is no reason to discount them out of hand." Turning once more to 'Junior', she rests her hand on his shoulder. "Do you think you could go back to sleep, as this 'blue lady' seems to be watching over you now?"
Yesmerelda, you are quite certain that Desna hold sway over the realm of dream, is is her biggest portfolio after all!
You do recall in your lessons however, that Pharasma is known to be a guardian of children where she can.
You also recall that the spirits of the dead, those having moved on in the afterlife and those bound still to the mortal realm, can often reach out to the living in dreams and nightmares.
Spirits bound to the mortal realm typical can only influence those close to them in distance or blood.
However, you can not recall a specific instance of a blue lady. She may be a local phenomena, one you may not have heard of yet.
It may be should be possible to gather more precise information from other sources or persons locally. There must be several avenues to check out.
Junior Yes. maybe, in a little bit. The blue lady said she would keep him away. She had such pretty hair, like you all. Very really curly.
Hotrek seeing nothing else pats Junior on the head.
"Get yer sleep lad, I'll thump yon spirits on 'tha heads if they disturb ye once more. Yer blue Lady is yer guardian and she won't be letting tha' bad spirits come near ye."
Just to be safe...
Seraphina mutters a few words under her breath and with a slight of her hand, whatever magical auras in the room come into view