Noticing the hushed tones and gestures, Cassandra begins to worry. When the direction and location of those gestures becomes apparent she urges the others "Come! Something seems to be wrong at the Professor's house!"
It is with enormous relief that when you come onto the street with the Professor's house you discover there is not a great commotion outside it. Indeed, away from the marketplace, the lane appears deserted.
Your hurried and somewhat desperate knocking on the door causes Kendra to come to the other side of it and, without opening it, ask -- with very little quaver in her voice, you're pleased to note -- who it might be that knocks so, and to state your business. Upon hearing that it is you, she wastes no time in opening the door, and says brightly, "Are you back already? That's good. Did you get what you were after?"
Nothing in her demeanour indicates there might be anything wrong.
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
"Lady Lorrimor, you have alleviated my consternation. It seems the local citizens caused some alarm. Their gesticulations and whispering led us to believe there was some trouble your home." Xavian waits for the other ladies to enter the house.
Alessa walks in the door with the rest. "It is good to see you again, Kendra. We were successful in finding the tools Professor Lorrimor mentioned in his message. Father Grimburrow should also be pleased that we left the crypt in good order."
After everyone gets settled in, she continues. "I suggest a final meeting with Grimburrow before we leave for the Harrowstone ruins. Petros seemed keen on getting information about it's history, it would be wise for us to look into this for our own investigation. It's better to have as much information as possible so we can be prepared to deal with anything that might arise.
I would also suggest that we leave for Harrowstone late at night. Most denizens of Ustalav fear the night and remain indoors. If we left during the day, some eyebrows might be raised as to why we are headed in the direction of Harrowstone when most believe the place to be haunted."
F Human Inquisitor 4 {HP32/32; AC16/12/14; F+5 R+4 W+8; Init+7; Perc+10}
Some of the the color perceptibly drains out of Shanoa's face at the suggestion of visiting Harrowstone at night, but she says nothing and simply nods affirmative.
With the crisis immediately passed, Cassandra will look aorund the neighborhood for anything out of the ordinary that may have caused the locals to react the way they did.
Perception check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
"I'm so glad you're all right. There was the most horrible hullabaloo a little while ago, and all sorts of people -- the great and the good included -- were rushing past outside. I was dying to know where they were all going, but remembered what you said about leaving the house. I thought you might have caused another... sorry... disturbance... but I couldn't work out why it would have been in the south of the town. Whatever it was, people seemed to have calmed down now -- I've seen one or two people coming back, but they didn't look happy."
Cassandra peers out the window to see if she can spot aught that's up... but all's quiet... at least in this neck of town.
"I agree with Shanoa. It couldn't hurt to look into it." Alessa puts her quiver on her back and grabs the rest of her weapons but leaves her backpack behind. "This shouldn't take long."
Cassandra agrees with the others that they should go investigate whatever had gotten the townsfolk so riled up. Tucking her sickle through her belt she forgoes donning any other weapons or her pack. "Alright, shall we go investigate."
Unable to withstand sating her curiosity, Kendra decides to accompany you. She tells you that she finds it very hard to imagine what everybody was off to do, for there is little to the south of her house, apart from the river, a councillor, Mirta Straelocks's rather grand house, and the prison itself, and she cannot conceive that everybody was heading up there. Indeed, in no time at all, you've reached the bridge over the river, and crossing over you soon come to a meeting of the ways, marked by a posting pole, which would normally have local news tacked on it, though it's empty at the moment.
However, it suddenly occurs to Kendra that there is something else nearby, she'd almost forgotten: a stone memorial which was erected after the Harrowstone fire in 4661. The town built it in honour of the guards who gave their lives preventing the prisoners from escaping and thus saving the village from a night of even worse violence. As there seems little else to head to, she sets off west and then realizes another thing she'd forgotten about -- a fairly ramshackle hut where the unpleasant retired farmer, Gibs Hephenus (the ringleader of the confrontation in the graveyard) lives out his days. You cross in front of the veranda, half expecting him to be sitting on it, glaring at you, but luckily for you, he isn't.
If you exclude the looming ruins of Harrowstone on the hill to the south, Ravengro’s most distinctive landmark has to be this 25-foot-tall, moss-covered stone statue that overlooks the river. The statue depicts a proud, muscular human man dressed in leathers and wielding a truncheon -- a depiction of Warden Hawkran. A total of 25 names -- the guards who died in the fire of 4661, as well as the warden’s wife, Vesorianna -- are chiselled into the statue’s stone base. Kendra tell you that the memorial is a popular meeting spot for late-night trysts among Ravengro’s young lovers, for it has just the right mix of tragic romance and spooky ambience without actually being on Harrowstone’s supposedly haunted grounds.
It is definitely spookier today. The entire base of the statue is spattered in what appears to be blood. A giant red letter "V" is daubed on the pedestal, with descending trails indicating the blood was very fresh when it was painted on. Several groups of people are standing around, some of them with very suspicious, if not downright hostile looks on their faces as they cast gazes in your direction. You also spot the reason Gibs Hephenus was not at home -- he's standing in one of these faintly accusing groups, darkly muttering with other less than salubrious fellows. All the people round about you are clearly outraged at the desecration of their town's symbol.
Someone who Kendra quickly whispers to you is the local town sheriff, Benjan Caeller, strides over to you with someone you presume is a deputy in tow. "Rum business, this," he says, darkly. "People are mighty edgy in town at the moment, and this sort of thing certainly doesn't help any. Are you staying in town long?"
F Human Inquisitor 4 {HP32/32; AC16/12/14; F+5 R+4 W+8; Init+7; Perc+10}
Shanoa looks around the grounds with a growing pit in her stomach, then nods, "We'll likely be here for the better part of a month. As long as we're here, I'd be happy to help investigate this in any way I can. What can I do for you?"
Alessa lets the others talk to the Sheriff as she looks around the immediate vicinity. As she looks around she tries to overhear some of the townsfolk conversations.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Cassandra observes the crowd, looking for some tell tale sign from anyone within the mob.
Perception check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Sensing nothing untoward, Cassandra examines the blood on the statues base trying to determine wether the blood is Human or hopefully that of some animal.
Heal check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Cassandra can not sense whether blood is human or not, but there's not enough of it around for it to represent a person's death by exsanguination -- it's just splattered everywhere as those someone was painting with it. The locals are muttering darkly about "times being what they are" and "not like this in the old days", though Alessa does hear some comments from Gibs's group about "strangers in town".
Xavian's Knowledge:
Something about this situation nags at the back of Xavian's mind, and then suddenly he gets it -- it reminds him of a story connected with the old prison. His extensive local knowledge, and the research he was able to do at the professor's house last night, brings back some of the details from his encycloypaedic brain. It concerned a certain Professor Feramin, who 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. He was a prisoner at the time of the fire -- that this should be the memorial to that fire... Xavian's mind begins to whirl.
Shanoa charms the sheriff, it would appear. "That's very kind of you, young lady, but this is a local mattter -- best let the authorities deal with it. I hope you enjoy your stay in Ravengro, it's a good town when things aren't a bit mixed up like this. I trust we'll get to the bottom of this business soon, and life will go back to normal. Probably just kids messing around trying to scare each other. You know how it is."
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
Xavian asks, "Sheriff, This is an intriguing monument. I have read a bit about the fall of Harrowstone Prison. Books do not provide the same experience as seeing for yourself. I was wondering. Did any infamous prisoners escape Harrowstone Prison?"
Alessa eventually makes her way back to the others as they discuss the incident with Ravengro's sheriff. She listens intently but stays silent as she keeps watch for anyone behaving suspiciously.
I wonder if the Whispering Way might still be in Ravengro? Perhaps this was part of some dark ritual. We should find out more about this cult later if we are able to.
The sheriff replies "No, not ever. There was an attempt to stage a massive breakout fifth years ago, but it was thwarted by the self-sacrifice of the warder and his fellow workers who locked themselves in the prison until help could come. Unfortunately something triggered a fire, and that's what this monument is for: to commemorate their bravery and dedication to duty. It was a horrendous blaze that claimed the lives of many of the wardens and all the prisoners, though most of those were up for execution anyway, and the tales I hear, no great loss to society. The warder's wife also was lost in the tragedy, as it happens, though no-one quite knows why she was doing up there at the time. So, no, no one ever escaped Harrowstone -- at least, only through death."
And that would appear to be all the information he cares to offer on the subject, for with a polite "Excuse me", he's off to speak to another group of people.
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
"I fear, Shanoa, your bad feeling shall be confirmed when we return to Lady Lorrimor's to discuss the matter of the bloody letter." Xavian crosses his hands behind his back. He says quietly to Shanoa, "Did you happen to find any blood trails or evidence as to how the bloody letter came to be upon the monument?"
F Human Inquisitor 4 {HP32/32; AC16/12/14; F+5 R+4 W+8; Init+7; Perc+10}
Shaking her head, Shanoa responds, "No, if there were any tracks to be found they've been lost in the commotion of townspeople gathered here." She shivers visibly and clutches her arms. "Yes, let's retire to the house where we can speak openly."
Once the party is on the road to Kendra's and out of earshot of anyone else, Alessa reveals her own suspicions. "What if the Whispering Way is still here? The letter written in blood seems ritualistic to me. The cultists also might have agents hidden among the townsfolk. Kendra, is there anyon else in Ravengro that might be able to tell us more about this cult? Perhaps a Sage or other learned scholar?"
After some more thought, she continues. "The sooner we investigate Harrowstone, the better. Whoever did that back there, defaced a monument to Harrowstone. All roads, so to speak, seem to lead to those ruins."
Once back at the house Cassandra will whirl on Xavian "Alright, spill it. you know more than you were willing to say back there at the monument. I checked the blood but was unable to tell if it was human or animal. From what I could tell there was enough of it scattered about to be from a human. We should ask the sheriff tomorrow if anyone from the village is missing."
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
"That would be a good question to ask, Cassandra." Xavian waits until all are gathered. "It seems the letter is associated with a man named Professor Feramin, a scholar in the field of anthroponomastics. The study of human names and their meaning and associations. Professor Feramin became rather obsessed with names. In particular what occurs to a name when a living person dies. This obsession led him to ruin and increasingly sinister paths of scholarship. After losing tenure at the University he was employed at, he entered a new profession: murderer. The Professor would choose a victim, all women from what I understand, and place a letter of their name written in blood where they could easily see it. His obvious intent to use the power of the victim's own name to incite fear, paranoia, and hopelessness. He was quite aware of the emotions he would inspire by associating the victim's name with blood. Once he had spelled out the victim's name, he would arrange a gruesome death. Perhaps a springing blade trap to decapitate or a runaway coach to trample. Each instance a carefully planned event that in his mind allowed him to take the power of the victim's name and increase the power of his own much like a vampire. A name vampire. But he could not be obvious, so he chose the sobriquet The Splatter Man."
"His name did for a time become synonymous with fear, growing in power as he had surmised. Yet eventually he was captured and the power of his name imprisoned in Harrowstone. The Sheriff is quite sure no prisoner ever escaped. Yet the coincidence of the bloody letter and the presence of The Whispering Way cannot be overlooked. They may have found a way to revive The Splatter Man or they may be using his modus operandi for a purpose we are not yet aware of. Either way, someone may be reviving the name of The Splatter Man. That means we should keep a careful eye on the monument and an ear about town so we are informed if another bloody letter should appear."
"We should determine how many women in and about Harrowstone have names that start with V. Forgetful as I am at times, I did not ask the Sheriff the first names of the warden or his wife. That should be rectified. A foray into Harrowstone should be on our agenda as Alessa has suggested. It seems our stay in Harrowstone has presented us with an interesting adventure." Xavian smiles. "Let us do our best to solve it as the Professor would have encouraged."
F Human Inquisitor 4 {HP32/32; AC16/12/14; F+5 R+4 W+8; Init+7; Perc+10}
Shanoa's mouth hangs open at horror. "Adventure? The Professor has likely been murdered, there's an evil cult on the loose, the dead walk the land, and people could be dying! How could you talk about adventure?"
She seethes and fumes visibly while she speaks, clearly on the edge of losing control of her emotions.
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
"I talk about adventure because that is exactly what this is. We are called upon to undertake an adventure to solve this mystery. We will not be able to solve it by discovery and trial. I apologize if I do not seem quite as perturbed as yourself. But I cannot help but smile at the thought The Professor has sent us on a bonafide adventure. I am quite sure The Professor knew the risks and dangers of such an undertaking, yet he still called upon us four to undertake it. Young and inexperienced as we are. I find it invigorating to be included in the type of adventure The Professor often involved himself in. I think he rather enjoyed himself, otherwise I believe he would have chosen a more stable and cautious profession. I am sorry if my viewpoint offends. I find this whole affair interesting and exhilirating."
"We will be pitting ourselves against an evil cult, a killer, the walking dead, and venturing into a possibly haunted prison, and rather than feel frightened, I am beginning to see the appeal of such activities to The Professor. Books and study make for a good student, but nothing teaches or informs like experience and conflict. But I do hope you found the information I conveyed more useful than the final words you seemed to have keyed upon. That was the important part of my previous statements."
"The Pharasman in me would not refer to our task as an adventure, Xavian. As other short lived races, Humans can often be brash and foolhardy in that manner, I suppose. By the Lady of Graves, I pray your "exciting adventure" doesn't become a harrowing or fatal one for us all. If the dead are indeed restless at Harrowstone, we must set things right, for the villagers as well as the Professor.
While this may be an adventure, I do not share your excitement for what is to come."
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
"Understandable. Though odd to me that both you and Shanoa have taken greater interest in attacking my position of this as an adventure rather than focusing on the revealed information concerning The Splatter Man. Both of your objections to my terming this an adventure are noted, as is Cassandra's, if she should share them. No matter how abundantly your objections are voiced, I shall not take on your grim view of the matters at hand. So it is pointless to discuss it. I am neither brash nor foolhardy, which should be obvious. And you need not worry about my dedication to the task, I shall do my best no matter how we term it. So let us get back to the task. Shall we?" Xavian speaks with the same analytical surety as always with no apparent irritation in his voice or expression. He moves about observing the room attempting to note any minute changes that may have occurred since he last was here.
Cassandra shakes her head, as if trying to draw herself away from her thoughts, at Xavians mention of her name "No, not an adventure certainly. But a neccesity all the same." "I was just mulling something over that Xavian and Kendra had said in my mind. Xavian, you had said that the Professor Feramin's victims were all women, correct? And Kendra you had mentioned that the warden's wife Vesorianna had perished in the fire along with everyone else? Now we find the Splatter Man's signature clue painted on the very memorial to her and the other heroic men who died that night." "My only question is, that unless this is just some sick joke someone is playing, what power Vesorianna has that the spirit of a dead butcher would be after?"
F Human Inquisitor 4 {HP32/32; AC16/12/14; F+5 R+4 W+8; Init+7; Perc+10}
Shanoa sulks for a moment more before stirring herself out of her gloom. "It's clear we need to investigate, and that will include a trip to the old prison grounds. Is there any preparations or research we need to do here first before such an adventure?"
"I did not attack anything, Xavian. I even agreed to your "adventure terminology". I merely found your excitement to be foolhardy. So let us leave it at that. As for your Splatter Man lore, it could indeed be his spirit, but I disagree with Cassandra about Vesorianna. If the Splatter Man were to begin anew, this letter would be the first in spelling out the name of a live victim to be murdered. Why spell out the name of someone already dead? Perhaps someone in town has a name beginning with the same letter."
F Human Inquisitor 4 {HP32/32; AC16/12/14; F+5 R+4 W+8; Init+7; Perc+10}
Shanoa considers that. "Well, if it is Vesorianna, it's likely some local who knows the legend and is playing a tasteless, if at least harmless prank to stir up the old fears. But if it's a copycat who's targeted a living resident, she is indeed in danger. Can we risk talking to the sheriff about this? Where else might we find out if there's any other women with a name starting with a V?"
"Forgive me, but does not one of your names begin with a 'V', Alessa?" Kendra looks worried at the prospect. "And then there's Father Grimburrow. His first name is Vauran, though, of course, he's not a woman. Nor is Vashian Hearthmount, who was the chap you met who read Dad's will -- what if you're wrong about the women thing, Xavian. Ooh, and then, what about Vrodish -- she's that deputy we saw with Benjamin, just now. She was near the monument, and a woman. And Sarianna Vai - she runs the Outward Inn on the east side of the square, though I saw her with others at the monument, just now. Her name's nearly the name as Vesorianna! This all seems very strange to me."
"My last name begins with the same letter, Kendra. If we go by the assumption it was meant for Vesorianna, that would be her first name, would it not? Do we know if the Splatter Man used initials of the first or last name? I would also like to know how long after leaving the initial of the victim behind, did he commit the murder."
After a few moments of thought, "We should not wait much longer to investigate Harrowstone. I would suggest we leave tonight even."
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
"Thank you for the information, Lady Lorrimor. Very helpful. If you could possibly collect the V names for us and be our eyes and ears about town while we are in the prison, that would be extraordinarily helpful." Xavian smiles at Kendra.
"As to the continuation of our discussion of Professor Ferman, all that I know for certain is that he spelled his victim's name out completely before taking his prey. I believe he focused on the first name. There is the possibility of a male victim, we cannot rule that out, especially if it is The Cult. So every name with V and what is occurring with such persons should be monitored as closely as possible. Unless we find information to the contrary, we must conclude Vesorianna is dead and look for other victims."
"I think it would be wiser to venture into Harrowstone during the day. That would allow us to avoid encountering undead with an aversion to sunlight or at the very least allow us to flee to sunlight should we need to. Tomorrow at sunrise would be an ideal time to visit Harrowstone. Give us all day to thoroughly search the place with adequate light, at least for searching the exterior."
F Human Inquisitor 4 {HP32/32; AC16/12/14; F+5 R+4 W+8; Init+7; Perc+10}
"There is another thing to consider - we may not want the townfolk knowing we're going to Harrowstone. Something about the conversation with the Sheriff tells me they don't entirely trust us and may even think we're allied with the Whispering Way if we're seen going there. As much as it pains me to consider it, going under the cover of darkness may be more wise."
Adding to Shanoa's statement, "I have also overheard similar sentiments from Gibs, the instigator from the funeral, when we were talking to the sheriff. If the townsfolk see us heading to Harrowstone, it will only add to their distrust of us."
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
"Given the circumstances, I would say the townsfolk are the least of our worries. I would prefer to enter the prison while we have daylight. The only one amongst us that can see quite clearly night or day is Cassandra. Even with preparation the lack of light will work against us should we choose to venture into a possibly haunted prison under cover of darkness. If I recall my lessons correctly, darkness does not impede the undead at all. In fact, it empowers and emboldens them as well as gives them an advantage. My preference is to venture it during the day, where we will at least stand as equals on one term. Tactically speaking, venturing the prison during the day is much wiser than at night. The townsfolk may grumble a bit if they see us. But if there is no law preventing us from entering the prison, then grumble is all they will do. If we find some evidence to suggest nightly activity, then necessity may drive us to venture prison at night. For now, I think day is best." Xavian relaxes into a chair.
"Perhaps you could visit the prison by a roundabout route?" muses Kendra. "No one really heads up to the prison anymore, but some might wonder about your leaving the town in that direction, especially as you'd go past the desecration of the memorial again, as it's really the only thing up there. But if you left town on the east side, you could head back round once you're further away."
"So be it, Kendra, a good solution." Alessa relaxes into a chair after removing her weapons. She spares a quick glance at Cassandra after realizing that she hasn't stated an opinion on the matter.
Male Human (Half-Sczarni/Half-Kellid) Wizard (Diviner) 1/Xp 625
"East side it will be. You have been very helpful, Lady Lorrimor. I thank you", says Xavian. "A bit of supper, study, and sleep will have me ready to enter Harrowstone tomorrow." He will assist Kendra with supper, study some of The Professor's tomes on the local history, sleep, and be ready to venture the prison at sunrise.
A consensus appears to have been reached, and though tempers may have been a little frayed during the discussion -- you can't help but wonder whether, in truth, whether Xavian even realized there was a disagreement -- you soon all retire, having spent a pleasant evening recuperating from the exertions of the day. After idle conversation has died away, you then completed whatever preparations appeared to suit you best for the challenges of the new morn, and slept easy.
Fortunately, Kendra, too, appears to have a much better night of it, and only appears belatedly in her nightdress, to wave you all off with a yawn after you have broken your own fasts at first light. You stick to the plan, and it's as well you did, for although you think yourselves up scandalously early, in a farming community like this, there are surprising numbers of people similarly up with the lark. You head out of town to the east, but it doesn't take long before you've left the environs of the town behind.
Following the side of a hill and slowly arcing round to the south, it's not so terribly long before you see the stark outline of the collapsed prison ahead and above you. Its stone walls are bathed in wash of yellow from the rising sun, the rays of which have not yet made it over the lip of the valley to illuminate your surroundings nearly so well. In this light, the prison looks positively welcoming compared to the darker lowlands you traverse, but the closer you get, the more that impression dwindles.
Harrowstone is located on a barren hill south of the city of Ravengro, the stark, sagging roof of its central structure visible through a large gap in the surrounding wall. A partially overgrown track leads from the southern edge of town, winding around the base of the hill and then back up along its southern slope to the prison itself. But because of your subterfuge, you join this very high up, and the level of vegetation makes your passage much easier, as it happens.
A sagging wood and metal gate set between a pair of stone guard towers once barred entrance into Harrowstone, but the gates now hang negligently open, creaking softly in what wind touches the ruined bars.
F Human Inquisitor 4 {HP32/32; AC16/12/14; F+5 R+4 W+8; Init+7; Perc+10}
Before turning in for the night, Shanoa sets out two empty flasks and kneels before them. In a silent ritual, she calls on Milani to fill and bless the water as a ward against the undead they'd likely be facing on the morrow.
Casts Create Water, followed by Bless Water x2
She tries her best to hide her growing fear at having to approach the old prison, but her emotions betray her and it's not hard to sense her uneasiness. Steeling herself against her fears, she comes to the ajar gate and peers inside.
Shanoa
