She blinked at the man, who well winked at her. She honestly was taken aback and wasnt entirely sure what to do. "Mr. Muricar" She said politely before pratically fleeing to safety behind Sohar and Morgym. She hated feeling awkward.
Thankfully, the councilman called for attention and gave his brief words. It was all she could do to not tear up. She found herself stepping forward when he called for volunteers, she knew she was certainly strong enough to help bear him to his final rest. And it was the least she could do.
May the Lady have four to six volunteers to bear him thence? He pauses and looks around expectantly.Sohar steps forward.
Likewise.
Morgrym takes in the scene of the graveyard, then stumps forward to a corner of the casket, prepared to lift it with the others.
Hearthmount gives a satisfied nod, while Zokar looks around awkwardly as if he's not sure if he should step forward or not. After a brief moment, he shrugs and places his hands on his son's shoulders.
Hearthmount moves things along with his deep, commanding voice. Lady Kendra, the pallbearers are in place. As the next of kin, you will lead the way. The rest will please follow behind the casket. Let us begin.
The casket isn't heavy when spread between the four of you. Morgrym has the least comfortable lot with his arm extended to reach the height at which everyone else is resting the casket on their shoulders. Kendra leads the way with a ceremonial lantern and slowly makes her way up a neat, winding gravel path that circumvents the rise in the middle of the cemetery.
As the procession travels around the rise, a small mob of villagers comes into sight ahead, many of whom are armed with various farm implements. They look as if they've been there a few minutes. As they catch sight of you, they form up to block the pathway looking threatening and begin to walk toward the group.
As they reach Kendra, a rough-looking older man steps forward and growls, That's far enough. We've been talking and we don't want Lorrimor buried in the Restlands with our families. Take him upriver or out by Harrowstone, but he's not goin' in the ground here.
Kendra looks mortified. Hearthmount steps forward quickly and tries to outmatch the man with his own angry tone. Now see here, Mr. Gibbs. This is not a matter that requires your permission, nor are you within the law in impeding us this way. The Gray Lady will not stand for this, nor will the sheriff. Father Grimburrow awaits us at the site and I suggest you make way, AT ONCE!
You don't get it! Gibbs spits back. We won't have a necromancer buried among our kin. Take him elsewhere, or we will.
At this, Kendra's shock galvanizes into rage. Necromancer?! She shouts with so much emotion that her voice cracks. Are you truly so ignorant, you backwards old idiot?!
Chellian was quiet, having locked her emotions away as she neared the casket to heft it up and take the beloved professor to his final rest. The...village folk blocking the way at first mortified her. But that was quickly overtaken by rage. The professor was a good man. This could not stand.
"You will not besmirch the professors name with such base accusations, Take it back and stand aside, or instead of words we will share fists"
She said loudly and coldly fixing the fellow with her gaze.
"You will not besmirch the professors name with such base accusations, Take it back and stand aside, or instead of words we will share fists"She said loudly and coldly fixing the fellow with her gaze.
Follows Sohar's lead in lowering the casket and then aid's the fiery northern girl in staring down Gibbs and his mob.
Morgrym shifts his grip on the casket, readying a fist for punchin' if need be.
The wiry protester looks genuinely stunned at Chellian's words and Coiger's accompanying glare. He takes an inconspicuous step backward as he looks to his mob for support. Attempting to save some face, he turns back speaks, though much less confident now. Well... Regardless of what he... he looks at Chellian nervously might have been... I'd, uh, we'd rather not... uh... Dammit, girl! Ya win. You're a tough one, ya are. Ya know, I believe you'd go toe-to-toe and I don't think I'd get off easy! Ya see that, boys? A girl! Ha! The old coot is dead. Who cares where his bones rot? Let's go. And girl, I'll be buyin' ya a drink later. I must hear the story of a girl capable of shakin' me in my boots. Ha! Wait 'til this gets around, Lady save me.
The mob disperses, some laughing raucously and ribbing Gibbs for backing down and others casting hateful glances back at the procession. Hearthmount, Muricar, and Jominda immediately begin chattering, each taking a turn voicing their shock at the brazen assault. Hearthmount offers deepest apologies to Kendra for the affront and assures her the sheriff will be notified. Kendra accepts the assurance and then turns to you pallbearers and thanks you profusely for your actions. She then takes a deep breath, absentmindedly pats her hair, and nods to you before continuing on.
A long minute later, the casket is lowered onto the display supports and the shriveled and severe looking Father Grimburrow stands to begin the rite.
The ceremony is predictable. Father Grimburrow offers a brief sermon on the justice of Pharasma's judgment. Kendra tearfully recounts a few of her favorite memories with her father. Jominda Fallenbridge offers a surprisingly heartfelt good-bye. Zokar makes a weak attempt at a joke as he mutters his farewell. And then Adrissant steps forward with a harassed look on his face, as if to say "If I must..." He gives a long flowery speech - which mostly highlights his own brilliance - while offering a couple of backhanded compliments to the professor. He then steps down with a smug look of self-satisfaction on his face. Finally, Father Grimburrow asks if anyone else cares to say anything before the interment.
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Sohar steps up and says, "The Professor was a scholar, a historian, a seeker, and a teacher. Many shall remember him as such. But I will remember that, better'n all that, Petros Lorrimor was my friend." Sohar goes quiet for a moment.
"Efallai y byddwch yn ei gofio yn dda ac yn dod o hyd i'r golau, fy ffrind annwyl," he finishes before stepping away and taking his place again.
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Morgrym stumps forward to the graveside. "I didn' know the professer too well, meself, but th' short time I did he showed hisself t' be a man o' real gumption an' style. Not many men get that praise from dwarves. Anyways, he was a good'un. Sorry tha' he's gone. That's all." Heading back to his place, Morgrym tucks his thumbs into his belt and watches the proceedings.
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Coiger steps forward calling the small congregation to prayer:
In his time, Professor Lorrimor has touched the lives of more people than any living person can count, through his wisdom, his kindness and his warmth. Oh that we could have him longer, but now his soul lights Pharasma's realm. His was the torch of inspiration that lit the way for so many others, that gave solace and hope to those adrift, and courage to those lost and alone in the darkness. It falls to us who remain to continue. Candles though we are, we have a shared spark lit within us by Professor Lorrimor. It falls to us to sally forth from here to bear our shared light against the dark, to go forth and continue his mission to serve as a beacon of hope and through our actions and words to kindle that hope in those around us, and through them to those farther out still, and outward, and outward until the world is filled with this light, this faith, this hope--light, faith and hope that all originated with the Professor's one small candle, a flame that is never truly extinguished in the world, until Pharasma claim us all.
Head bowed, he steps back.
Morgrym grunts in approval.
She colored at the... well strange mans praise. She gave him and the others a slight nod before taking a deep breath to continue on with the procession. AS the father gave his words a few tears slid from her eyes and she hastily rubbed them away. She was quiet looking at the ground everytime her eyes strayed up to the casket She would clench up and freeze for a moment before hurriedly gazing back to the ground. It was easy to tell this wasnt easy for the large maiden.
When Coiger finished his words she stood swallowing, woodenly moving to take his place.
How easy it was for him, She thought, taking a moment to try and collect herself. Well Duh, Chel, he is a man of the cloth! She answered herself mentally shaking her head for a moment.
"He uh... I mean, the professor...He was nice to me. A friend. Thats not much to some of you probably, but it was, is, ....
Her breath caught and hastily rubbed at her eyes again trying hard not to break into sobbing.
He will be missed. She hastily finished marching back to the others doing her best to not be any sort of center of attention.
Sohar gets a couple of curious looks when he speaks in elven. The councilmen exchange a glance and a shrug when Morgrym speaks so directly and succinctly. Jominda appears particularly moved by Coiger's speech and Grimburrow nods approvingly at the younger acolyte. Zokar puts a friendly hand on Chellian's shoulder as she passes him by on her way back to her place.
When no one else steps forward, Grimburrow directs the groundsmen to lower the casket. Kendra (and anyone else wishing to) tosses a handful of damp earth onto the casket and whispers Good bye, papa., then turns away.
The councilmen, Jominda, and Zokar move in to offer their final condolences before taking one more moment of silence and moving off. () Muricar casts Chellian one final wink. Hearthmount stops among you and speaks softly and solemnly, Kendra was lucky to have friends here today. Keep an eye on her. Adrissant approaches Kendra purposefully and declares, I shall be by after dawn tomorrow to inquire again about those books. I trust you shall have them ready for me that I may be on my way. Good afternoon. Then he struts back toward Ravengro. Jominda gives Kendra a warm hug and a sad smile. Then she approaches you four. You've done Petros a great service standing up for him and his girl today. You're good folk. If I can be of service while you're visiting, come see me in my shop. With that she bustles off.
The councilmen, Jominda, and Zokar move in to offer their final condolences before taking one more moment of silence and moving off. ()
Kendra takes Sohar's arm and replies, The councilman actually informed me that he had an affair to attend first. He said to expect him at the house in an hour. That should give us time to have a drink, unless you'd prefer to pass through Ravengro and see the town?
The councilmen have known the Lorrimors since the family moved to Ravengro 15 years ago. It must have been about 3 weeks now since they saw Lorrimor (about a week before he died) - he was in the archives at the town hall. He was discovered at the Harrowstone ruin when Kendra asked the sheriff to go looking for him 10 days ago. He was found at the base of an exterior wall where a large stone had crushed him. Both councilmen seem quite perplexed about what Lorrimor would have been seeking there. It's just an old prison that burned over 50 years ago. No one goes there - in fact, it is illegal to go there! As you saw earlier, many people in the town held superstitions about the Professor, but the Lorrimors kept to themselves so much that it was never truly an issue. Gibbs Hephenus is an old, retired soldier. Mostly he just drinks and gossips anymore. He's pretty popular among the working class though. Kind of a de facto leader. He's loud, but harmless.
Zokar wasn't really a friend of the Professor's, but he always liked the old man. He was very kind. He was in for a drink the night before he disappeared. He seemed like he had a lot on his mind, so I left him to his thoughts.
Jominda was a friend of the Lorrimor family, possibly the only one in Ravengro to actually hold that title. She saw him the day before he disappeared and notes that he seemed skittish, jumping at shadows. Jominda has a much less generous and more colorful description of Gibbs.
"There is something wrong with that fellows eye."
The tall blonde muttered a tint to her cheeks purposely not looking Muricar's way. Her heart still ached at the thought of the professor in the ground, especially in these circumstances. She loosely motioned towards Muricar asking Kendra.
"Who is that? He keeps making eyes at me. This is not an appropriate time nor place for such things."
She said darkly a bit flustered by the attention. She certainly didnt want a drink either... at least not like a drink drink. Perhaps later but for now, she wished to her what the councilman had to say. She watched Coiger too, from the side.
"That one there is a suspicious one. Father always said to keep an eye on those that pry on others. They have much to hide usually."
She repeated his words of wisdom mentally again. It seemed she was doing a lot of that recently.
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Sohar shakes his head. "Naw, Miss Kendra, I've no mind to wander into town after dem boys tried to stop the Professor from being buried. No sense in lookin' for trouble, I reckon. A drink at your place'd be welcome, though." He smiles reassuringly at Chellian. "Try not to fret. Some men just got no manners. He's gone now, but if we see him again and he steps out of line, speak up and we'll take care of him." Lyra trills her agreement with Sohar's slightly menacing threat. He turns his smile toward the thrush. "Of course, of course," he says to her for no apparent reason. Then to the group, "Shall we?"
"I be sure the good professor had a wee dram o' good whiskey somewhere in the house, yes? Be good to take th' chill off o' th' bones." Morgrym shudders at the graveyard, then tramps along back to Kendra's house for a drink.
Kendra leads the other three back to her home where a respectable wine cellar produces a fine bottle of wine. Kendra also offers a bottle of whisky to those who prefer that.
Two fingers of whiskey later, Morgrym is settled into a comfortable chair by the fire to listen to the will - with another two fingers in his cup for the listening.
About 10 minutes after Coiger arrives at the Lorrimor home, a firm knock at the door announces Hearthmount at the door. He is precisely on time. As Kendra lets him in, he eyes each of you with a small amount of disapproval evident on his face, but he keeps his mouth closed in a tight line. He nods to Kendra and gets right to business.
Miss Lorrimor, I have here the last will and testament of Professor Petros Algernon Lorrimor, your father, as witnessed and sealed in my presence in the county of Canterwall, township of Ravengro, according to the law and order of the Immortal Principality of Ustalav. As his next of kin, you preside over this meeting. Hearthmount provides a plain, leather scrollcase sealed with bloodred wax. He holds the scrollcase out to Kendra to allow her to confirm that the seal remains unbroken. When she nods, he also makes a cursory wave of the scrollcase in your directions before breaking the seal and removing the cap. As he tips it down to remove the will inside, a small iron key drops noisily onto the tabletop. The councilman hardly blinks as he pulls the document, scribed on rolled parchment, from the scrollcase. He assumes a very important posture and clears his throat ceremoniously before reading in his characteristically deep, even voice.
I, Petros Lorrimor, being of sound mind, do hereby commit to this parchment my last will and testament. Let it be known that, with the exception of the specific details listed below, I leave my home and personal belongings entire to my daughter, Kendra. Use them or sell them as you see, my darling.
Yet, beyond the bequeathing of my personal effects, this document must serve other needs. I have arranged for the reading of this document to be delayed until all principals can be in attendance, for I have more than mere inheritance to apportion. I have two final favors to ask.
To my old friends, I hate to impose upon you all but there are few who are capable of appreciating the true significance of what it is I have to ask. As some of you know, I have devoted many of my studies to all manner of evil, that I might know my enemy and inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge of one's enemy is the surest path to victory of his plans.
And so, over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire a significant collection of valuable but dangerous tomes, any one of which in the wrong circumstances could have led to an awkward legal situation. Hearthmount sniffs haughtily. While the majority of these tomes remain safe under lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few that I have borrowed remain in a trunk in my Ravengro home. While invaluable for my work in life, in death, I would prefer not to burden my daughter with the darker side of my profession, or worse still, the danger of possessing these tomes herself. As such, I am entrusting my chest of tomes to you, posthumously. I ask that you please deliver the collection to my colleagues at the Lepidstadt University who will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause.
Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt, there is the matter of the other favor - please delay your journey a few weeks and stay in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is safe and sound and that her affairs are arranged to her pleasing. She has no one to count on now that I am gone, and if you would aid her in making her future arrangements, you would have my eternal gratitude. From my savings, I have willed to each of you a sum of one hundred platinum coins. For safe keeping, I have left the funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in Lepidstadt - she has been instructed to issue this payment upon successful delivery of the borrowed tomes.
I, Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this first day of Calistril, in the year 4711.
Upon finishing, Hearthmount rolls the scroll up tight, inserts it back into the scrollcase, and hands it to Kendra. The law has been fulfilled on the matter. I shall see that the transfer of ownership is recorded with the township's records. Do you require anything else of me this afternoon, Miss Lorrimor? No? Then I take my leave. Good day. He nods once toward the rest of you and exits.
Morgrym snorts a bit at the mention of dangerous books, and shifts uncomfortably at the idea of remaining in this town for more than another day, but has to catch himself from choking on his drink at the offer of the platinum coins.
"Well, tha'd be a kingly gifts for an ol' friend ah've not seen in hears. T' th' pr'fesser's mem'ry, then, and yer hospitality, Miss Kendra." Morgrym stands to toast with his cup of whiskey, finishing it in a pull.
"Where are these dangerous books? A few that I borrowed? What did he mean by that? From the University or from someone else?"
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"Sounds like the university.That's where he wants 'em to go, after all." Sohar pauses briefly, the tendril of a thought nagging at him.What is it? Something seemed odd about that last bit. Lyra trills something in his ear that kind of sounds like "date, date." Sohar looks at her in surprise. "Wait, lookyhere, that's mighty odd timing, don't ya think? Two days before he died he updates his will?" Sohar looks to the others to see their reaction.
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Oh how the whiskey had made her eyes water. She had well, she had never had anything stronger than a few glasses of wine before, and she didnt really like it so she thought she would try. She was quiet during the reading of the will, and it was a good thing she wasnt drinking anything when the councilman mentioned the amount left in the will. That... was a lot of coin. It could really help her family.
What sort of books are...dangerous?
She asked shuddering a bit. Magic was a force she understood, well she got its existence... the first thing about the art of magic was beyond her. When Sohar mentioned the strange timing she frowned. That did seem a bit... too close.
"What was he looking for at those ruins? Did he mention anything to you at all miss Kendra?"
She asked the woman still frowning trying to think.
"Sounds like the university.That's where he wants 'em to go, after all."
"Maybe, but still, well need to check. Kendra, where would he have kept these books? They maybe someplace he forbade you and others from."
Kendra appears taken aback by the stream of questions. Well, certainly. Father was always borrowing books from just about anyone who would lend them. I hardly remember seeing him at all without a book in his hand. If he wants the books returned to the University then I would assume that's where they came from. I am quite curious now. I know the chest he spoke of. I'll be right ba-
Odd timing? You don't... Do you think it wasn't an accident?! Why?! Who would want to hurt him?! He never said what he was looking for. Not even a clue. She suddenly looks ready to have a panic attack.
Alas Lorrimor did not know a sensitive smooth-tongued bard, or better yet, Coiger himself be some fool, sanguine-tempered evangelist, Coiger thinks to himself, fighting the nigh-overpowering temptation to roll his eyes and shout. Fists tighten and jaw muscles clench, but he knows anything more would only serve to slow the investigation.
"Yes." He says it emphatically. "That's what we suspect. And I suspect that we each received a version of this note-" "shortly before we received notice of his passing, informing us of the threat he feared. Drawing us here to help."
Deep breath, looking back at Kendra and taking a slightly milder tone, he says: "Your father was afraid for his life, and yours as well, Kendra. He hoped to keep you safely in the dark as a final parting gift no doubt. Alas seem to have spoiled the peace of mind he had hoped to impart upon you. But now that the truth is revealed, I for one do believe your life to be in grave danger. Now, where are the books?"
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"Hidin' behind deception for peace of mind, well, that don't do anybody no favors. The subject had to be introduced." Sohar glares at the letter that Coiger holds. "Suspicions don't make it true. Nor does he say that you're in danger, Miss Kendra. Try'n take some deep breaths. We are here to help and to find out what happened." He looks to Chellian for help in calming Kendra.
"Plenty o' oddities 'bout this, skinny," Morgrym chuckles up towards Sohar. "But yer right all the same - we be here t' help." With this, Morgrym digs in a pocket for a pipe and pipeweed, and prepares it for consumption.
Kendra is beginning to take on a deer-in-the-headlights appearance as she looks wide-eyed at each of you, ashen-faced and barely hearing you. After a moment where she appears dangerously close to swooning, she blinks purposefully and begins mumbling softly, Books... Yes, in the chest... Breaths... She tries a deep breath. Yes, that helped... Too kind, Morgrym... Chest... Right... Father's study...
Chellian too had a deer in the headlight look for a moment, a slight frown for Coiger. He struck her as... almost too curious. She ignored that for the moment moving closer to kendra and hugging the woman. She didnt know what Coiger's letters contained but she certainly didnt know the man well enough to go into any details really.
Do we believe foul play was involved?
She asked sounding not entirely sure of herself. She bit her lip and sighed.
The man who keeps asking about those books? are they the same books? How bad did he want them? Bad enough to... She swallowed uncomfortable with speaking more.
Kendra starts a bit when Chellian touches her, but softens quickly and gives her a smile. Forgive me. I'll fetch the chest. She leaves the room and returns a moment later with a small chest in her arms. She says it on the table next to the scrollcase and the iron key.
The chest is a common, simple one of oak and iron. The key slips in perfectly and the lock clicks open smoothly. Inside are four very old, battered tomes and one small one that appears much newer.
The small, new book has a few words scratched into the leather cover, "Read me now".
The first of the old books has a jet black cover like ink with a very strange, tentacled monstrous face imprinted on it.
Next is a large, thin book bound in pale leather with the title Serving Your Hunger written in bloodred ink.
Then is a grey leather tome with silver embossed lettering announcing the title, The Umbral Leaves
Finally, a rich purple colored book bears a brass scarab with an open eye on its back. The cover is rimmed in steel and bears a small but intricate lock with a strange triangular keyhole.
The chest is a common, simple one of oak and iron. The key slips in perfectly and the lock clicks open smoothly. Inside are four very old, battered tomes and one small one that appears much newer.
The small, new book has a few words scratched into the leather cover, "Read me now".
The first of the old books has a jet black cover like ink with a very strange, tentacled monstrous face imprinted on it.
Next is a large, thin book bound in pale leather with the title Serving Your Hunger written in bloodred ink. ** spoiler omitted **
Then is a grey leather tome with silver embossed lettering announcing the title, The Umbral Leaves ** spoiler omitted **
Finally, a rich purple colored book bears a brass scarab with an open eye on its back. The cover is rimmed in steel and bears a small but intricate lock with a strange triangular keyhole.
Coiger inspects each of the books in turn, starting with "Read me now."
As for the others: