Your food arrives after a short wait, of a consistent quality with your last meal here.
The other table, sat with three local men remains silent.
Kendra too remains quiet, sipping absently at her beer.
Even Zokar seems affected, he remains silently cleaning mugs.
Peredur orders corpse chowder and eats it quietly, pausing at one point to wave Zolkar over. "Has aught like this ever happened here? Th' strange goings-on, th' unquiet dead, such things as that?"
After a moment's thought, Zokar shakes his head.
"Not in all my years. Born four years after the prison burned down, and we've been quiet for the most part. We've had some problems, true, but nothing like restless dead or the like." he claps Peredur on the back and laughs. "This is no reason for us to act as if we already are in the ground and having dirt tossed on us! If Pharasma comes for us, let her find us living life and smiling! More beer, Alya, for all our guests!"
The beers arrive, and Zokar returns to his mugs, singing in his bold, deep voice, and not unpleasantly at that. An old drinking song about what drinking songs are usually about; memories of better times, beautiful women, plentiful wine.
The ranger joins in, singing inexpertly but enthusiastically (and probably different words to the same tune).
Talia listens intently to the song, and adds her voice to the refrain.
When the song ends, she mutters under her breath about the smoke from the recent fire affecting her voice, and again sips her beer.
Iesha, too joins the song.
Zokar laughs as the song ends. The other table and Kendra too joined in for most of the song.
For just a little while, the tavern seemed a much more lively place. Worries of the world faded away in warm, familiar refrains.
"Zokar, you have, as always, been more than kind." Kendra statesas she stands. "But there is much to do tomorrow. We should retire."
The trip back to Kendra's is uneventful. Deputies and citizens alike patrol the town.
The party finds their beds, but sleep remains elusive for most of the night.
The party awakens at dawn to now familiar cooking smells. finding Kendra in the kitchen preparing a bundle of food for each.
"This is the least I can do for you." she says. "I will be at the church praying for your safe return."
She sighs.
"Aleksandr wanted me to tell you that he would return as soon as he is able. He felt that he must inform the church of what has happened here, especially the Whispering Way's apparent involvement... He left as soon as he awoke for Tamrivena."
Alzano remains silent through the rest of the evening, but grins slightly at the lyrics of the drinking song.
The next morning he does his best to clean his face of the dust and grime from the evening before. He takes a bundle of food with a word of thanks to Kendra. Before leaving he makes sure his hidden daggers are easily within reach and fastens his rapier and short sword to his sides. "Well... ready as I'll ever be."
"Let's go. Before more of it comes to us."
"To th' temple, first--Father Grimburrow has promised us holy water and a blessing."
Talia awakes in the morning, calls for Kieli, and spends some time communing with her favorite bird, before the smells wafting from the kitchen entice her downstairs to break her fast. While eating, she pulls from her pocket a fortune-teller's deck and lays out cards in a seeming pattern, before peering at them, sighing, and putting them away with a huff.
"Thank you, Kendra. You have been a most courteous hostess. And thanks, too, for relaying the message. I hope Aleksandr stays safe."
Turning to her companions, she says, "Yes, let us be off to the temple. Given what our day might bring, a blessing from the Father and some holy water may not go amiss."
Kendra walks with the party to the church, silent and contemplative during the short walk. Upon your arrival, the front door opens and Father Grimburrow emerges, flanked by two acolytes. He is wearing a fine ceremonial robe.
With a nod to Peredur, he beckons you into the church.
Rows of unremarkable wooden benches face an altar with the spiral symbol of Pharasma etched into it.
Behind the altar a statue of Pharasma, in her aspect as the judge of the dead stands, holding aloft a scale.
In Ustaalav, a belief that the suffering of life is weighted with proportional reward in the afterlife has risen to prominence in the last century or so
Grimburrow takes a spot before the altar and turns.
"Before we proceed, Peredur has brought an... issue to my attention. He feels that one of you may have become party to the spiritual disruptions assailing this town... whether it be willing or no, I intend to find out." Here he beckons to Peredur. "Peredur, please voice your concerns again, as you had to me last night. If there is truth to this, it must be dealt with before you go back to the prison."
The ranger nods and turns to Kendra and the other three. "Just before th' fire began at th' meeting, I heard Talia here whisper, 'Burn as we burned.' Just then, flames came from th' lanterns on th' walls, and...well, we all know th' rest. But then she fought th' fire as valiantly as anyone, and far more so than all th' townsfolk together, so it's thinking I am that th' ghosts of Harrowstone are working through her without her consent or knowledge. So I asked th' good Father what must be done to free her. And here we are."
Surprise shows on Talia's face, not unmixed with fear, as she listens to Peredur's words.
Haltingly, she begins to speak. "I... I'm afraid I do not remember saying anything before the fire started. It is possible, given the haunted nature currently surrounding this town, that malign spirits could have spoken through me, though it was certainly without my knowledge or consent.
However, I dearly wish to help end this threat that hangs over Rovengro, and find out what happened to the Professor, and why."
Talia looks pleadingly at Father Grimburrow. Please, Father," she begs. "If there is anything you can do, any blessing you can offer, that might allow me to help these good people in their task... I would sorely hate to have to leave, and I believe I might be of use yet..."
Grimburrow levels his eyes at the young woman.
"Talia, child, I do believe you. Your actions during the fire were most certainly commendable and brave..." He sighs.
"Where does your power come from? Do you know?"
Biting her lower lip, Talia looks down, seeming embarrassed.
"Well," she says, "I don't know; at least, not for certain. I've had nightmares since I was a child. When I got a little older, Kieli--that's my bird--showed up one day and befriended me. He started teaching me about magic, and he told me that spirits had sent him to guide me. Not the undead kind, you understand, but the mystical kind. At least, that's what Kieli said, though he has been known to talk out his wing from time to time. Through his guidance I learned I could heal wounds with a touch, and he taught me the rudiments of magic spells. And my nightmares, while not departing entirely, diminished.
So, I don't know for certain, though I think I'd like to find out, but I've been thankful for my gifts. And for Kieli's help and teachings..." Talia's voice trails off uncertainly, her eyes moving from the floor to Father Grimburrow, then to Peredur and Alzano, before settling on Iesha, knowing her to be a fellow follower of Shelyn.
"Is it possible that your Patron is Shelyn herself?"
"The gods do work in mysterious ways. More likely, I feel that Talia has a strong connection to the dead, and clearly the undead. Perhaps that connection makes her a conduit for their emotions. This may leave her easily manipulated or an unwitting possession at worst. At best, it may prove a useful tool, if she learns to use it to her advantage."
Here he pauses.
"I will pray on this and hope the Lady of Graves provides some guidance. Now kneel and I will bless you."
"We beseech thee, Oh Lady of Graves, for your guidance and aid. These heroes would plumb the depths of ruined Harrowstone to purge it of baleful influence. Guide their hands and their hearts in this undertaking, and know that they would see your will completed, and eternal rest brought at last to the restless. They have hidden from your judgement for too long. They must depart this world and face the Lady." Grimburrow traces the spiral symbol of Pharasma on his chest, and upon the foreheads of any who kneel to receive it. He hands each of the heroes a vial of holy water.
"We do not have much to give, but for your service, take this blessed water and use it well. If you have need of anything, please do not hesitate to ask. Do not avail yourself to hopelessness and dread, we are nearby and ready to aid you."
He nods to Iesha. "Pharasma does not impugn upon the worship of any. If you wish to make an offering or prayer here to the Eternal Rose, we would welcome it. You are here out of love of Petros Lorrimor, and are surely blessed by her."
"Eternal Rose, aid us as we go to cleanse and redeem those souls lost so long ago. Help us to guide them to their final rest, so that even from this, beauty may grow."
Peredur willingly kneels for the priest's blessing, and stays kneeling until Iesha is done.
Alzano stays silent throughout the ordeal, kneeling as well to receive Grimburrow's blessing. More out of fear than respect, though. Gotta be careful with this gods stuff... wouldn't want to anger the one in charge of what happens to me after I die.
"Thank you, Father," Talia says before kneeling to receive the blessing of Pharasma. She stays kneeling while Iesha speaks, offering her own silent prayer to the goddess Shelyn.
"And thank you, too, for your kind words and aid. What you say is possible, and I will forever strive to disavow any evil spirits that may wish to use me for their vile purposes."
She accepts the vial with a bow, and mentally prepares for the trials that await.
"Go now. Your path is clear, your purpose true and just."
The ranger bows. "It's in your debt we are, Father. Iesha, have you th' items--th' siphons and th' planchette? It were time to talk with what's there 'fore we go it, I'm thinking." He pauses, struck by a thought. "And were we not going to look into th' warden's history? Mayhap we best get to that of the evening, after we return."
"Yes, I have them. and I think you're right about the time to do the research. Besides, we may find more information there."
Before they leave Iesha says to Father Grimburrow "Would it be possible to obtain some holy water? I was so busy last night I didn't create any and we may very well need some.".
"Thank you, Father. Your gifts and wisdom are most appreciated."
Talia lifts herself up, ready to face the day.
As the party makes its way back to Harrowstone, Peredur makes a point of walking next to Talia for a while. "It's hoping I am that you'll not hold my bringing this up to Father Grimburrow against me. I were worried that whatever spoke through you at th' meeting might appear again, and I hadn't waited 'til we were in th' presence of a priest. And you hadn't stayed to fight th' fire with th' rest of us, I'd been more worried still."
"Not to worry, Peredur. I hold no ill will against you. Were I in your position, I'd likely have done the same. In truth, I feel some trepidation that whatever spirits spoke through me might well do so again, or have some other plans of which I know not."
Talia is silent for a moment, before saying quietly, "While I am loath to relinquish my life, still I would ask that you watch for such signs. Speaking is one thing, but if my actions are not my own, I would ask that you knock me unconscious or otherwise prevent me from harming the innocent. My conscience is of more importance than my love of self."
From a distance, the prison seems inert, innefectual. the idea that such problems manifest from a collapsing collection of stone and rotting wood seems almost laughable.
When the party arrives,t hey find it much as they left it. The one gate hangs on the hinge, the other collapsed on the ground. The ruin of the warden's house slumps before the two story prison.
Under a bright blue sky, on the first warm day since winter came barreling down from the north, the task ahead, then nature of this place is cast in stark relief.
But the task remains, and the prison beckons.
Iesha takes a deep breath and steps through the gate.
Talia sighs, rolls her shoulders, and says, "Into the breach, then," before stepping through the gate with Iesha.
"Any interest in checking the rest of the grounds or Warden's house, before making our way inside?"
Peredur follows, watching and listening for anything out of the ordinary. "Th' Warden's house, I'm thinking. Perhaps try our luck with th' planchette there?"
"Sounds good to me. Start out small."
[b'"Let's go, then."[/b]
Iesha walks up to the entry of the manor house and examines it.
The Warden's house remains the same, more a crumbling pile of rotting wood than a house itself.
It is a colletion of small rooms, and almost completely inaccessible to all but the most daring... or foolish.
There is no evidence of a basement, the party can see through the floor in a few spots, plants have sprouted thgouht in others.
"Let's to it, then." Peredur attempts to force the door.
This house is very unstable and on the verge of collapsing.
The rotting wood groans and cracks as the ranger pushes his way into the main room of the small house. The sky peeks through the remains of the collapsed roof. What would have been other rooms at one time are more or less ruined piles of timber and vegetation.
A chunk of ceiling breaks free and crashes next to Peredur's feet.
There is nothing of particular interest or value that is visible. If ever there were, it was clearly picked clean by opportunistic types after the prison burned down.
"Not a place to stay overlong, I'm thinking. Best we adjourn to th' porch for our spirit call." He backs carefully out of the main room.
"Um, yea..."
Iesha gets out the planchette and spirit board and sets them up.
"What should we ask?"
"It's thinking I am to start simple--'What's your name?'--and try to find th' Warden or his wife. Thence, to matters such as why she was in th' prison when things went bad, and why th' Warden's of such interest to our foes."
"I've not used a planchette and board before. What are they designed to do? And how does one go about their use?"
"I'm not that familar with them myself. I've seen it demonstrated. You place the planchette on a board, rest your fingers lightly on it, clear your mind, and allow the planchette to atune to any spirits in the area. Once is does attune, the planchette will start to move randomly. Then ask it a question...which the spirit will answer, usually either yes, no or maybe or by spelling out a single word. contact can be dangerous, the oracle doing the demonstration warned us that spirits contacted like that can sometimes posess the questioner. Who wants to try?"
Peredur sighs. "It's not overly pleased I am about this, but I should be th' one. For, look you, Iesha must needs stand ready to do spiritual battle with any haunts that hark to our calling, Talia is already too open to such things, and I've inherited my father's resistance to enchantments. Unless you'd prefer th' task, Alzano?"
Just like the Harrow readers... The board brings back memories of the fortune-tellers in the Varisian caravan of Alzano's childhood. Stealing money for parlor tricks.
"You go ahead. I think if ghosties wanted to tell us something, they wouldn't need a trick board. But knock yourself out."