"Well, Why don't we all head to the town hall and see what we can come up with about the prison. If we all go maybe those of us less trained in the study of history and fetch and carry for the experts." Grinning at the last Theodor stands and motions towards the door.
Searching through the town hall records was a more daunting task than expected but with the help of the others Zindelo seems to be making some progress on learning of the prisoners at Harrowstone.
Before everyone heads out Tomnus will eat a quick breakfast and then go up and get dressed in his armor and come out with his gaff strapped to his back. He leaves the rest of his weapons in his room.
As you offer to escort Kendra around town, Kendra demurs "That won't be necessary. Father taught me a smattering of arcane lore so I’m quite capable of protecting myself."
With a plan of action decided upon Kendra suggests talking to Councilor Hearthmount to gain access to the town hall. She explains that unless there is a council meeting or an emergency the hall is kept locked. Kendra offers to guide you to the Councilor’s house to speak with him. Leading you to the other side of town to a large house on a cul-de-sac overlooking the river that runs through the middle of town (Area M1)
Ringing the bell you stand outside waiting until a young maid opens the door with a look of surprise and curiosity on her face. Kendra takes the lead and tells the girl that she wishes to speak with the Councilman. Flustered and unsure, the maid leads you all to the sitting room while she goes and fetches him.
After a few minutes the Councilor enters the room and takes Kendra's hands into his. "Kendra, my dear. What brings you here?"
Kendra quickly explains the reason for the visit, leaving out any mention of the Whispering Way or your doubts about the cause of the Professor’s death.
”Hmmm, I see the Councilman says ”But I’m afraid that’s out of the question. It wouldn’t do to have all these stran…people traipsing around the town’s archives removing or destroying who knows what. It wouldn’t do at all.” Seeing Kendra’s obvious distress Vashian relents a little, but gives you all a stern, disapproving look ”Alright, my dear. I’ll allow you and two, and only two, of your companions to join you in your research with the proviso that nothing, and I mean nothing, is to be removed from the archives. I’ll go get my coat and keys and join you shortly.” with that he gives your party one last, long look before exiting the room and shouting for his maid.
"Thank you councilor, your generosity is appreciated."
Looking at Mathus Zindelo meekly asks, Mathus, if you would be kind enough to help me then we could leave at the councilor's discretion. If that is alright with everyone else of course"
Casting his glance about and trying to keep from looking frustrated Theodor brightens some, "Ok Zindelo and Mathus are heading to the Archives, so why don't Tomnus, Eloise, and I work on getting ourselves known in town and seeing what the locals think." With a sly grin Theodor continues, "Best place to get a lead on the emotions of the populace is to go where the truth will come out, the tavern."
With that Theodor motions toward the center of the village, "Come on you two, I'll even buy a round."
.
Tomnus will head to the tavern, though a little reluctantly. "isn't it a little early to start drinking..."
[ooc]I'll aid in Theodor's diplomacy.
Once Hearthmount is ready he leads you out of his residence and he then leads Kendra, Zindello, and Mathus to the town hall (Area D). On the way there many of the locals you give you all a curious glance while others whisper to there companions behind their hands as you pass.
Once you reach you destination the Councilman reaches into his pocket and produces a set of keys on an iron ring. Opening the doors onto a large single room with rows of movable benches lined up in the middle, individual wooden chairs line the outer walls. Along the far wall opposite the doors is a raised stage on which sit several chairs arranged in a semi-circle around a central podium. In one corner of the stage sit several cabinets each locked with a padlock while in the other corner are a table and bench. The Councilor unlocks each cabinet before heading to the table "I will be doing some paperwork, please let me know when you are finished."
Kendra's Aid Another (Harrowstone):
Kendra's Aid Another (Prisoner #1):
Kendra's Aid Another (Prisoner #2):
Kendra's Aid Another (Prisoner #3):
Kendra's Aid Another (Prisoner #4):
Kendra's Aid Another (Prisoner #5):
Originally, Harrowstone housed only local criminals, but as the prison’s fame spread, other counties and distant lands began paying to have more dangerous criminals housed within this prison’s walls.
At the time of the great Harrowstone Fire, the number of particularly violent or dangerous criminals imprisoned within the dungeons below was at an all-time high.
The five most notorious prisoners in Harrowstone at the time of the great fire were Father Charlatan, the Lopper, the Mosswater Marauder, the Piper of Illlmarsh, and the Splatter Man.
Prisoner #1:
Father Charlatan (aka Sefick Corvin): Of the five notorious prisoners, only Father Charlatan was not technically a murderer, yet his crimes were so blasphemous that several churches demanded he be punished to the full extent of Ustalavic law. Although he claimed to be an ordained priest of any number of faiths, Father Corvin was in fact a traveling con artist who used faith as a mask and a means to bilk the faithful out of money in payment for false miracles or cures. He became known as Father Charlatan after his scheme was exposed and his Sczarni accomplices murdered a half-dozen city guards in an attempt to make good the group’s escape.
Choking slightly on the dust, Mathus worked though what seems like endless admittance records, administrative files and even supply requisitions on occassion.
From time to time, he slid over some paperwork to Kendra and Zindelo or made some scrawled notes on a piece of paper he bought over from the house. As he did so he made conversation with Kendra.
I does occur to me that we are only here due to goodwill left from your Father, Kendra or from your own good graces... but there is the possibility that we may need it under sterner circumstances... Is there anything you know that the Councilman would appreciate or desire? Coin perhaps? Or something else we can help him with?
Looking over at Mathus and comparing notes he says, It seems there was more to this Harrowstone prison than we could have guessed. I think you are wise to suggest we ingratiate ourselves with the councilman, it would seem we have a lot of research before us." With that said Zindelo removes 15gp from his purse and hands it to Mathus and whispers"If you wouldn't mind speaking with the councilman and seeing to it that he understand how much we are indebted to him."
Zindelo History Check(Harrowstone)
Zindelo History Check(Prisoner #2)
Zindelo History Check(Prisoner #3)
Zindelo History Check(Prisoner #4)
Zindelo History Check(Prisoner #5)
Zindelo History Check(Harrowstone)
Zindelo History Check(Prisoner #2)
Zindelo History Check(Prisoner #3)
Zindelo History Check(Prisoner #4)
Zindelo History Check(Prisoner #5)
Harrowstone:
Harrowstone was built in 4594. Ravengro was founded at the same time as a place where guards and their families could live and that would produce food and other supplies used by the prison. The fire that killed all of the prisoners and most of the guards destroyed a large portion of the prison’s underground eastern wing, but left most of the stone structure above relatively intact.
The prison’s warden perished in the fire, along with his wife, although no one knows why she was in the prison when the fire occurred. A statue commemorating the warden and the guards who lost their lives was built in the months after the tragedy—that statue still stands on the riverbank just outside of town.
Most of the hardened criminals sent to Harrowstone spent only a few months imprisoned, for it was here that most of Ustalav’s executions during that era were carried out. The fire that caused the tragedy was, in fact, a blessing in disguise, for the prisoners had rioted and gained control of the prison’s dungeons immediately prior to the conflagration. It was only through the self sacrifice of Warden Hawkran and 23 of his guards that the prisoners were prevented from escaping. The guards gave their lives to save the town of Ravengro.
At the time Harrowstone burned, five particularly notorious criminals had recently arrived at the prison. While the commonly held belief is that the tragic fire began accidentally after the riot began, in fact the prisoners had already seized control of the dungeon and had been in command of the lower level for several hours before the fire. Warden Hawkran triggered a deadfall to seal the rioting prisoners in the lower level, but in so doing trapped himself and nearly two dozen guards. The prisoners were in the process of escaping when the panicked guards accidentally started the fire in a desperate attempt to end the riot.
The Five Prisoners:
Prisoner #2:
The Lopper (aka Vance Saetressle)
When the Lopper stalked prey, he would hide in the most unlikely of places, sometimes for days upon end with only a few supplies to keep him going while he waited for the exact right moment to strike. Once his target was alone, the Lopper would emerge to savagely behead his victim with a handaxe.
Prisoner #3:
The Mosswater Marauder (aka Ispin Onyxcudgel)
Only 5 years before his hometown of Mosswater was destined to be overrun and ruined by monsters from the nearby river, Ispin Onyxcudgel was a well-liked artisan and a doting husband. When he discovered his wife’s infidelity, he flew into a jealous rage and struck her dead with his hammer, shattering her skull and his sanity with one murderous blow. Wracked with shame and guilt, Ispin became convinced that if he could rebuild his wife’s skull she would come back to life, but unfortunately, he could not find the last blade-shaped fragment from the murder site. So instead, Ispin became the Mosswater Marauder. Over the course of several weeks, the cunning dwarf stalked and murdered nearly 20 people while searching for just the right skull fragment. He was captured just before murdering the daughter of a visiting nobleman from Varno, and was carted off to Harrowstone that same night.
Prisoner #4:
The Piper of Illmarsh (aka real name unknown)
Before he snatched his victims, the Piper taunted his targets with a mournful dirge on his flute. He preferred to paralyze lone victims by dosing their meals with lich dust and then allowed his pet stirges to drink the victims dry of blood.
Prisoner #5:
The Splatter Man (aka Hean Feramin)
Professor Feramin was a celebrated scholar of Anthroponomastics (the study of personal names and their origins) at the Quartrefaux Archives in Caliphas. Yet an accidental association with a succubus twisted and warped his study, turning it into an obsession. Feramin became obsessed with the power of a name and how he could use it to terrify and control. Soon enough, his reputation was ruined, he’d lost his tenure, and he’d developed an uncontrollable obsession with an imaginary link between a person’s name and what happens to that name when the person dies. Every few days, he would secretly arrange for his victim to find a letter from her name written in blood, perhaps smeared on a wall or spelled out with carefully arranged entrails. Once he had spelled his victim’s name, he would at last come for her, killing her in a gory mess using a complex trap or series of rigged events meant to look like an accident.
Putting down his quill and paper Zindelo looks up at Mathus and Kendra with a absent stare. "I can not believe the atrocities committed by these five prisoners. Although the question now is, why would the professor be interested in them?"
Mathus takes Zindelo's coins and adds 5 of his own to it, but waits until Kendra gives any insight into the Councilman.
A few hours passed as they sorted through town records and such records that existed from the prison until Zindelo hit a gold mine of paperwork - the Prisoner Records of the Five... ALL stacked together, no doubt either salvaged from the prison itself or duplicates kept for the town. It took a bit of work reading through the records but it was quite the read.
Putting down his quill and paper Zindelo looks up at Mathus and Kendra with a absent stare. "I can not believe the atrocities committed by these five prisoners. Although the question now is, why would the professor be interested in them?"
I am more interested in the insanities and delusions of these men - with the exception of Father Charlatan and perhaps the Piper, the others were clearly mad.
I suspect that the interest in the Whispering Way in the prison and that these five prisoners were all present during the fire that destroyed the prison, even to the point they may have been part of the riots... maybe even leading it, drove the Professors interest as well.
"Yes, perhaps you are right. We need to tell the others what we have found. I wonder if they have had similar luck?"
"Yes, perhaps you are right. We need to tell the others what we have found. I wonder if they have had similar luck?"
Mathus & Zindello:
Sensing what you are about to do, Kendra shakes her head at you "I believe that would only insult him. That is just his, everybody's, way with strangers. They were all that way toward us when we first moved here but they learned to trust us eventually. Give them time and the townsfolk may actually begin to like you."
Meanwhile at the bar...
Eloise, Theodor, and Tomnus accompany the others as far as the town square where they part ways. Kendra, Mathus and Zindello follow Councilor Hearthmount to the town hall while they turn down the dead end street towards Ravengro's only tavern, The Laughing Demon.
Making their way down the street the group passes by some local children, five in all, playing a skip rope game. As each girl takes her turn jumping the twirling rope she begins to sing a verse to a song. As she finishes her section of the song the girl switches places with one of the girls holding the rope as another takes her place jumping and singing until the whole game begins anew with the first girl taking her place in the spinning ropes again. You pause a moment to take in the well executed display of choreography and listen to the song in it's entirety.
Pune corpul ei pe pat.
Ia un cuţit şi lop capul.
Uita-te la sânge ieşi conducta.
Hrăneşte stirge, atât de frumos şi coapte.
Picături de roşu aprins atat de stralucitoare.
Splatters scrie numele ei doar dreapta.
Cu un ciocan a ucis soţia.
Acum, el vrea sa revendice viaţa ta.
Tatăl poznaş spune o minciună.
Ascultă aproape sau va muri.
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.
As you enter the Laughing Demon the conversation level drops considerably as all eyes turn towards you. The young boy, Pevrin, who you met at the funeral runs up to greet you at the door and walks you to an empty table. Zokar Elkarid, the tavern owner, who you also met yesterday walks up to you and greets you warmly "Welcome, welcome, my friends. What can I get for you today?" so saying he turns to his son and says to him "Pevrin get these fine folks some menus, please"
As you look over the fare you notice some oddly named dishes sprinkled in among the more normal meals. Items such as Vampire steaks, Corpse chowder, and Wolfballs all catch your attention as does a drink called Liquid ghost.
After spending the rest of the morning and the afternoon amongst the townsfolk you manage to learn some of the local gossip and spread some goodwill amongst the populace.
Eloise Aid Another:
As you are eating lunch one of the patrons approaches you and tells you conspiratorially that the food at the Laughing Demon isn’t all fun and games—and it’s no coincidence that Zokar serves more corpse chowder after unpopular merchants “leave town,” never to be seen again. If Zokar invites you into the Demon’s back room for a complimentary taste of that evening’s chowder, watch out!
After awhile one of the older locals approaches you as you mention something about the prison and whispers quietly to you as if not be overheard "They say that Harrowstone’s executioner still guards the execution balcony on the western side of the prison, and that on some nights, his scythe can be seen patrolling the balcony on its own, as if carried by an invisible spirit."
Mathus returns the coins to Zindelo.
Very well Fraulein Lorrimor, we'll be guided by your judgement.
Zindelo takes the coins back and places them in his pouch. Looking at Kendra he asks,"Is there nothing we can do to show our appreciation, or perhaps earn his trust?"
Theodor, motioning for Tomnus and Eloise to join him, approaches Zokar when Zokar seems to be away from other ears. "Master Elkraid, I was wondering if you could help me understand what happened yesterday? I feel awful if we've caused some people to feel uncomfortable. I think we were all so taken aback that a man we called a dear friend wasn't as well regarded by everyone. So apologies." Theodor extends his hand to offer it in a conciliatory shake with Zokar.
"I feel I probably made things worse by my... defensive response," Eloise says, and gives Zokar a shamefaced grin. "Well, I don't like it when funerals get interrupted. The dead have enough trouble without the living adding to it."
Thanks to Zindello's lucky find the group is able to amass all the information they can find about Harrowstone and it's occupants in short order. Their luck also holds out for they find the origianl blueprints for the prison tucked away in a drawer and forgotten for all this time.
Harrowstone level 1
Harrowstone level 2
Harrowstone Basement level
At the bar the rest of the party spends the remainder of the morning and part of the afternoon learning what interesting "facts" they can from the locals until one by one the villagers leave the tavern to go about their business until all that remain are themselves, the tavern owner, and his son.
Master Elkraid, I'm afraid my friends and I are somewhat new to town and are unaware of many local customs. Anything you would care to share with us so we avoid stepping on toes?
Tomnus will turn to the patron that approaches him and will ask to speak with him privately and then try to get as much information about the executioner as well as anything else this particular person knows about the prison its self or the prisoners housed there. I'll also bring up the song that the children were singing and see what he knows about that.
Diplomacy(gather information):
"Don't pay Gibbs no never mind. He's just a superstitious old fool. A lot of people in town have been on edge recently. A friend of mine just the other day said he's been having the same nightmare over and over again. Hasn't got a decent nights sleep in three days."
"What with Petros' body being found up at Harrowstone some of the local idiots believe that he was trying to summon up some of the spirits there for Gods know what nefarious purpose. As far as the others, don't worry. This is a small town and your arrival has caused quite a stir. Most people don't know what to make of you and your friends. They're as curious as a cat about the lot of you but too wary to talk to you openly. Just give them time and I'm sure they'll come around."
"Ain't never seen him meself. But I knows someone who did. No one goes to Harrowstone itself as it's haunted by the ghosts of those who died in the fire. What a terrible way to go." He shudders to himself "Kids dare each other to go up the hill but none ever do."
He pauses to take a sip of his 'breakfast' before continuing, "That song, Oh I don't know. kids have been singing it for ages now. I think my sister used to sing it when she would play back when we were kids."
"Thanks for the advice, we plan on being in town for the coming time, so if there is anything we can do, please let us know." Theodor nods politely at the berkeep. "I suppose it is time to get back to the others and see how Kendra fares." Looking to his companions Theodor will head to the door and return to the Lorrimor home unless stopped or something interesting catches his eye.
Zindelo takes the coins back and places them in his pouch. Looking at Kendra he asks,"Is there nothing we can do to show our appreciation, or perhaps earn his trust?"
Taking Kendra's words to heart Zindelo nods in agreement and then looks to Mathus. "Perhaps we should escort Ms. Kendra back to her home and see how the others have fared?"
"Please, do not put yourself out on my account." Kendra demures "Besides I have some shopping to do in town anyway. I assure you I will be just fine on my own. I am quite capable of defending myself if it should become necessary. If not" she chuckles "I will scream like the girl I am"
"I would be happy to go shopping with you and help, if you would allow it Ms. Kendra. There is not much else for me to do today anyway." With a genuine smile on his face he adds, "Perhaps you can tell me more of Ravengro and the people. They seems very...shy."
Zindelo looks at Mathus and raises an eyebrow. "What do you think Mathus?"
Kendra smiles kindly at Zindelo "Zindelo, my dear. I see exactly what you're playing at and it won't be necessary. I've been shopping on my own for some time now and am completely capable of doing so now. Please go join your friends and tell them what we've found and I will meet the lot of you at the house this afternoon, I promise."
Mathus watches the interplay without expression until Kendra 'wins' the engagement.
As you will Fraulein Lorrimor, I believe we would be best to seek our companions
"As you wish miss Kendra.
Looking at Mathus, "Best go meet up with the others and let them know what we learned."
With Kendra off running her errands, Mathus and Zindello make their way to the Laughing Demon tavern. Councillor Hearthmount wishes them a good day as he locks the doors to the town hall and makes his way back toward his house.
As the two of them enter the tavern they see Tomnus sitting at a table talking to an old man while Eloise and Theodor are chatting up the tavern owner at their table while the owner's young son rushes up to greet them and escort them to a table of their own.
"Greetings Mathus, Zindelo. Let us join you at your table." Moving closer and lowering his voice, "I'd be selective about what you order, although it may be ok...."
Taking a seat, Theodor looks between the two newcomers, "What did you learn? I'll let Eloise fill you in on our 'developments'."
Seeing the others enter Tomnus will excuse himself from the very brief conversation he was having with the elderly man and rejoin his compainons.
"Yes did you have any luck getting any information? I myself was able to find out from the older gentleman I was talking to that the locals believe the prison is haunted and avoid it. Apparently they believe that the prisons executioner still guards the grounds as some sort of spirit."
Eloise bows over the table to whisper to Mathus and Zindelo: "A lot of hearsay and ugly rumours. I heard the owner of this establishment cooks people - unpopular ones, anyway. The advice that came with the rumour was not to accept invitations to join him alone."
In soft tones Zindelo addresses the group "Mathus and I had considerable success. Would it be best to discuss our finding at miss Kendra's home? Prying ears and all..."
"Agreed," Eloise says. "Besides, I will feel better once we have Ms. Lorrimor under our eye and the protection of our blades again. This place is... tense."
"I don't see an issue discussing in front of the barkeep, but if we feel the need for greater privacy. Is Miss Kendra at home?" Theodor looks around for a side room to use in the inn, "Maybe the innkeep can provide us a place more private."
"She is taking care of some errands. Mathus and I tried to accompany her, but we were..... dismissed." Looking around he adds, "Mathus and I uncovered quite a bit on the prison and five of its worst prisoners. I would feel better if we discussed it somewhere more private, but I will abide by the groups decision."
Mathus catches the Barkeeps eye by waving at him and indicating he'd like a drink.