You are all gathered here at the entrance of the graveyard, the Restlands, by Professor Ptero Lorrimor's daughter, Kendra Lorrimor. You can tell that she is no more than 25 years of age. She is elegantly dressed in dark clothing standing near her father's casket. Although she is not in tears at the moment, her eyes are red and puffy.
Two fairly well-dressed men, a father and son, and a young woman make up the few villagers that came to pay their respects.
I talk to the Professor's daughter about how I have saved her father once before but couldn't save him from death and hope the best of luck for her.
Vynlastian approaches Kendra and gently places a hand on her arm, smiling with warm consolation. "I am deeply sorry for your loss. He was a good, honorable man." He then steps to the side, hiding his surprise at seeing another aasimar for another time.
I stand at the entrance decorated in my officer wear. With me stands a women holding my hand at the right. To the left stands a human man. As we enter we, we take an index finger and form a spiral over our heart then we head to the ceremony and wait in respectful silence.
(See Background for names of traveling companions Last Paragraph)
P.S. If bringing friends to burial is not okay just ignore them. GM Decides.
Gulzin scurries in on all fours, but remembers it's a formal event so he process on his hind legs. He has a bigger hood on than usual as his appearance is ghastly to most. He nodes at most guests but stays silent through out the funeral.
Barely on time, Daveak hurries in last. He moves toward the casket, places his hand on it, and says "Too soon, old friend. There is still far too much left in the world to learn."
With a heavy sigh, he turns to Kendra, and expresses his condolences.
"He was a good man, a fine scholar, and a better friend. I'm sorry to see his passing."
"Which of you would like to have the honor of being pallbearers?" she asks scanning over her father's closest friends. She continues,"We need at least four volunteers."
Dorfen stands and replies,"I shall be one of the pallbearers, I have saved his life once before his demise and I shall be the one to help carry his body after."
"It would be an honor. I want to see him off properly."
Vynlastian says, " I will gladly take the Professor to his final rest."
To see if anyone else would volunteer Millard looks at the remaining people at the funeral. Realizing the small clocked figure is not an option do to his height he rules him out.
(Perception 6)
(Sense Motive 24)
If he senses no NPC will do it Millard stands up to voluteer.
I will walk with you to pay respects though I won't be much help carrying him.
As Kendra leads the procession along the Dreamwake; Dorfen, Daveak, Vynlastian, and Millard Horsley carry the casket behind her. The rest of the attendants follow loosely behind the casket.
After a while of walking, the procession turns onto Eversleep. About a dozen surly-looking locals block the procession around the corner.
The tallest of these, presumed to be the leader, speaks out, "That's far enough. We been talking, and we don't want Lorrimor buried in the Restlands. You can take him upriver and bury him there if you want, but he ain't goin' in the ground here!"
My eyes turn a slight blue shade. Studying the men in the crowd to see how much of a threat they are and to see if any weapons are on their person.
"Why is there hostility toward a man of letters? Is he not a man like you and me shouldn't a man find rest where his daughter can visit him. My friend please let us pass or maybe I should send someone to fetch the Sheriff or a religious practitioner to settle this?"
Eyes turn a slight shade of red.
"Or do you really think you can stop me from getting past you. A soldier of the king would hate to get into a messy legal conflict with towns folk or insult these holy grounds." Speaking calm and with a smile.
(Diplomacy 20)
(Intimidate 18)
(Perception 22)
(Sense Motive 23)
Vynlastian sees the potential conflict, and quickly speaks up, bringing up his halo. "Gentlemen, please, this is no time for threats, idle or otherwise. If you would hate to cause injury to these people or the Professor's memory, then don't bring it up." To the leader of the group, he says, "What is it that has you so upset? I can assure you this man has been nothing if not honorable. I would vouch for him, staking my honor as a knight-paladin of Lastwall."
"Go get the sheriff." to the two farmers present at the funeral. "Better safe then sorry." Looking over at Vynlastian.
You can tell that these men are farmers, and have their tools on hand.
He growls,"You don't get it, boys. We won't have a necromancer buried in the same place as our kin. I suggest you move out while you still can. Folks are pretty upset about this right now."
Kendra angrily exclaims,"Necromancy?! Are you really that ignorant?"
As half of the group begins surrounding the funeral procession, all the guests, except Kendra, cower near you. The leader is amongst the ones who stay back.
I spend a round carefully lowering the casket.
I spend a round lowering the casket as well.
As does Vynlastian, saying as he does so, "Please, good people, can we not come to a peaceful solution? I implore you, lower your weapons and let us discuss this so we can avoid any needless violence!"
Each one of the six thugs make their way to Gulzin, Dorfen, Vynlastian, Millard Horsley, one of the well-dressed men, and Millard Horsley's lady companion.
The six staying back yell encouragements to their allies.
I pull out my gun, if there is someone within 20 ft of me I shot him other wise I pull it out and stand at the ready. D20 13 att roll 19.
Damage 8. If they are point blank range it's an attack of opportunity but I get a +4 AC from flash against them
The farmer right in front of Gulzin takes a nasty gut shot, and falls backward into the mud. He is obviously dead. The young woman next to Gulzin shrieks in terror.
The crowd of shouting farmers get louder. They are now hurling insults at everyone in the procession, as well as egging on their allies. They do not even seem to hear Vynlastian's plead for peace.
In the confusion I rush the leader willing to take AoO. I grab him by the neck lift him up and slam him to the ground.
(Grapple 21)
"Call off your men!" Putting a dagger to his throat.
The casket slants down towards the ground where Millard left his end to carry, leaving the remaining pallbearers straining a little as they are trying to lower it.
Surprised, the farmer swings his hoe a few seconds too late as Millard rushes to the leader.
The leader looks frantic as Millard comes up on him. He makes a whimpy swing with his rake that catches onto the left shoulder of Millard's uniform, creating a small rip. As Millard grabs his neck, his rake falls into the mud. When thrown to the ground, he gasps for air and grunts, Let's go guys! We're done here!
They all leave towards town shooting venomous glances at the party and Kendra.
After the casket is wrangled to he ground, Vynlastian rushes to the side of Millard, and grabs his shoulder, spinning him around to face Vynlastian, whose face is contorted into a visage of divine fury. "What the Hells is wrong with you? A man is dead because you egged them on! All of this could have been avoided had you just held your tongue!" He points to the body of the man Gulzin killed. "His blood is on our hands! And you! He looks at Gulzin angrily. "I don't know where you got such a weapon, but he came at you with a farm tool! Why? Why would you respond with such force? What was the point of any of this senseless violence?" He walks slowly to Kendra. " I'm deeply sorry your father's funeral turned into this...catastrophe. If there is anything I can do to make up for this tragedy, let me know." He then takes off his cloak, lays it over the dead villager, and carries his body to the local temple of Pharasma, tears slowly rolling down his face. He hopes that maybe, just maybe, they can raise him from the dead. On his arrival, he offers to do anything in his power to pay for one, also explaining the circumstances of the man's death in full.
Looking over to Gulzin. "You gave me an opening. Thank you. Don't worry about the overly righteous Paladin. Maybe from Lastwall those guys alway have a problem with Ustalavic Military."
(Diplomacy 22)
"Besides I fought on the western border of Tamrivena. I helped save these men's lives so in a way they already belong to me." With a smile on my face I turn and walk away toward the casket.
The funeral attendants stare at the dispute between the strangers. They seem to be unsure as to whether the funeral is still on or if they should leave.
Kendra looks relieved and troubled at the same time. She says nothing to Vynlastian at first; it is obvious that she does not really know what to say about what took place here. After she is able to gather her thoughts, she asks that he meet them at the Lorrimor house for the will.
After Vynlastian leaves, she turns to the father with the son,"Zokar, can you please help the others with the casket? I would greatly appreciate it."
"N-no problem, Ma'am." Zokar awkwardly walks over to the casket to take Vynlastian's place. His son follows him to stay close.
I saw we where out numbered and wasn't about to lose any intelligent life to those that only follow. They probably never had a thought of their own. I was attacked and responded with the same force.
My weapon is unique yes, paladin. Very new and still in the works but powerful enough to protect me. I want to survive and will use any means necessary to keep myself alive. Sorry.
I go over to the dead body of the farmer and pray for his soul to make a safe passage to the other world and goes back to being pallbearer.
Before he walks to the temple, Vynlastian nods grimly to Dorfen in thanks.
"What I want to know, is why they'd accuse the Professor of being a necromancer. Once this is over, Kendra, I would ask you about that."
"Necromancers? Seems ridiculous that the professor would study such tricks." Looking at Daveak. "Do you know the practice in anyway?" 'Whispering' "Or maybe Kendra? Maybe she doesn't want her father to remain dead?"
"That would be fi-" Kendra's eyes widen before she finishes her response to Daveak, "Father Grimburrow!"
You see an older gentleman walk towards the procession.
"I heard fighting," Grimburrow slowly scans everyone with one bushy eyebrow raised, "Is everything okay? What happened?"
One of the well-dressed men responds angrily,"Gibbs Hephenus came by with his... his band of farmers to scare us into holding the ceremony upriver!"
The other man adds,"Yes, they surrounded us with their farming tools. They were all, obviously, of very low character."
"I will see to it that Sheriff Benjan hears about this!" The first man continues.
Kendra makes her way into the conversation,"One of them died in the fight. He is being taken to the Temple to see if they could do anything..."
"Outrageous! What has come over those men?! Grimburrow shakes his head, sighs, and continues,"At any rate, let us get back to what we are here for."
As you walk closer, you see a cleric sweeping outside. Once she notices you and the bloody body in your hands, she tries to hide her panic with a serious expression. She attempts to just simply lean the broom on the temple wall, but fumbles with it before she can get it to stay. She hurriedly walks toward you.
"Please help him," Vynlastian says as he walks up. "He was killed in a fight that broke out at the funeral of Petros Lorrimor. There was nothing I could do, please, I'll do whatever it takes to give this man his life back."
"We do not have that kind of power...", she begins with tears rolling down her cheeks, "The only place I know of nearest here that would have clerics experienced enough is Lepidstadt, but even that is a journey itself..."
She waves another cleric over that was listening in on the conversation from inside the temple anyway. She turns to him and asks with a raspy voice, "About how much would a resurrection cost over there?"
"The service itself would be around 1,000 gold pieces... then there is the spell component... which is diamond...", he thinks out loud while staring at the dead body, "All in all, it would be about 11,000 gold pieces." He does not make eye contact with you. He is obviously upset.
You can tell that both of them knew this farmer. You get the feeling that this town must be small enough where everyone knows each other.
Vynlastian looks crestfallen, and falling to his knees, he weeps for the man still in his arms. After a few moments, he rises to his feet, a look of resolution on his face, his eyes burning with divine light. "Then I will go to Lepipstadt. I will find a priest capable of returning this man to life. I will bring him back here to do so. I promise you this. In the meantime, however, where should I lay him down?"
"You're really going bring him back?" he asks in disbelief.
He lays the man down, and bows slightly, bringing his closed fist to his chest, over his heart, in a sort of salute."I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to help this man. I will exhaust every avenue. I will leave tonight, as soon as Petros Lorrimor's will is read. My presence was requested there, I will not dishonor his memory further." He turns to leave, but pauses. "The man. What is his name?"
Before you leave, he speaks up with a friendlier tone,"You know, if you hurry, you can get 'em to do a raise dead spell. It'll cost half the price, but you'll need to get there within days."
"We'll let his family know," he nods.
Gulzin follows the procession if it continues, still silent and hooded. An arm in his cloak. For now he's stays quiet. He just wats to see what he has from the professor.
Vynlastian nods, and smiles. "I'll be back soon." And then he walks briskly out of the temple to attend the reading of the professor's will.
"Can we move this along," Waiting in the will reading and holding Rosalina Martens. The Girl who came with me to the funeral. "Rosalina is still a little shaken."
Father Grimburrow begins the service:
The Lady of Graves,
She watches us from life to death.
And only she knows when we will perish.
The whippoorwill will guide this spirit.
Once there, he shall be judged,
And sent to his final reward.
He draws a spiral with his finger on the casket. He looks up at Kendra, and motions her up to take his spot.
As Kendra walks up, Father Grimburrow steps to the side. She briefly recounts a few of her father's courageous and selfless moments, while fighting back tears. Again, she thanks everyone for coming.
"Would anyone like to say a few words or share any stories?" she invites.