Feeling somewhat sheepish after his spider efforts, Vrilli attempts to redeem himself by identifying the new items:
Zazaria joins the others in their inspections.
Not wanting to feel left out, Anyi looks at the new items
Among everyone, you're able to identify the items from the cabinet. The vials seem to be merely holy water - no small thing given the current locale, but nonmagical. The wand is a wand of cure light wounds with 15 charges, and the scroll is a scroll of lesser restoration.
Ah these are useful, considering what we face here...although—not sure why there was need of such when the prison was in operation...perhaps it is as they say, a benevolence of fates
Leeoli stands and moves over to the doorway of the small room and points There appears to be another room there in this hall. Should we look in it next?
Leeoli reflects for a moment and then inspects his companions, who appear somewhat weary and weakened from poison.
-- I wonder how long this poisoning will last, and will it get worse? Leeoli ponders.
Friends. Matters are urgent, but I am not so sure that they are so urgent as to risk another encounter without first resting. Besides, amidst that fight, several revelations occurred to me concerning my craft. I'd like to spend some time this evening contemplating their implications over a mug of beer near a fire, and not here with spiders for companions. What shall we do then?
After this encounter, I find myself painfully weakened by the venom...yours is a good idea, Mr. Maleye. it may be that those of us who have been so afflicted can find help in Ravengro, also: although I believe I have reached a certain understanding of Pharasma's will that may enable me to attend to those matters myself.
From what Leeoli understands, this poison should only last a few more minutes, though at the moment it is resurging as it courses through the veins of its victims, attempting to bring them down, even though the poisoners are no longer in any shape to take advantage of their affected victims.
The room across the hall shows only palpable darkness behind it's sagging, but still open door. The room within is dark but appears large. The screeching of the initial portals has finally ceased, even the unholy force that gave it life seeming to tire.
Having said her piece, Zazaria doubles in renewed pain. despite her face showing its usual determination, her skin has a grey cast and sweat beads upon her forehead. Best we leave...sooner rather than later.
Zazaria, I'm not sure you can even hold your pack, let alone walk with it. Ask you prayer, then we can travel back and rest.
Leeoli's eyes scan the doors for trouble and listens.
And you Brilliant? How fare you?
I think it might be worth heading back to town to rest up before continuing our explorations.
Vrilli and Anyi both shake off the ill effects of the spiders' bites, though Zazaria seems to be getting even worse. The return back to the town is decidedly uneventful, a welcome boon given the trials encountered within the prison. Upon arrival at the Lorrimor home, Kendra greets the group with obvious relief. She ushers them into the study, insisting upon blankets and warm tea for Zazaria.
So, the whispers are true indeed...it gives me the shivers just thinking about it - having a place of such vileness overlooking my home...the whole town, for so long! She shivers visibly then, and then shakes away the feeling. Is there anything you'd like me to look at that you've brought back? I'm quite adept at determining the properties of items both magical and mysterious.
Our thanks Kendra...We may have uncovered their uses already, but perhaps we missed something. We found these in the prison/ Leeoli points to a small pile of vials scrolls and a small pile of gold.
Coin:
500 gp -found in safe
Potions:
4 CMW -found in safe
5 CLW -found before I joined game
5 Lesser Restoration -3 found in safe, 2 found prior to my joining game
2 Remove Disease -found in safe
10 Holy Water -found in cabinet and provided by town
scrolls:
1 x detect undead - found prior to my joining game
2 x hid from undead -found prior to my joining game
1 x protection from evil -found prior to my joining game
1 x Lesser Restoration
wand:
1 x CLW (15 charges)
equipment and devices:
10 arrows +1
5 arrows +1 ghost touch
2 arrow +1 undead bane
four sun rods
1 spirit planchette
??? haunt siphons left
Kendra nods at each, her eyes glittering with excitement at even the thought of treasure - more for the mystery than the promise of wealth. With that, she was so much like her father.
I fear that there are more letters scrawled at the base of the statue of Hawkran; though it's cleaned daily, the letters continue to show. It now reads "VESO."
She looks through the treasure as she speaks, and nods again. Looks like you've got it all...it seems that between my father's finds and what you found in the prison, you're far better equipped now that you were a few days ago.
What are your plans? I know that it's just past midday, but there's no way Zazaria is going anywhere today, right?
I presume that our ultimate doom will befall us when her whole name gets written out in blood?
Leeoli snorts. How droll.
Turning serious. What cannot be healed with a day and night of rest will be healed with prayers and magic. I think we plan to leave to the prison again in the morning.
I'm not sure there is anything of use I can buy for less than 100 gold. I considered distilling some alchemical weapons, but those could take a week to finish.
Zazaria grumbles wearily. We don't have a week, Mr. Maleye. We return on the morrow, well or ill.
She hunkers down under a blanket by Kendra's fire, murmuring agitatedly: those who attend her mutters recognise the words of a prayer to Pharasma. After a while, Zazaria issues a huge sigh, raises her Pharasmin symbol before her face and assumes a look of hard-won calm. Pale blue light bathes her face and vapors of a similar hue curl into her nostrils as she breathes deeply.
MrApollinax butting in and speaking for Zazaria...
Leeoli laughs, and moves closer to his friend. Sometimes I get the notion Zaz that upon your shoulder sits a philisophical yet irritable hommonculus..suggesting to you a few choice grumpy words. Is that not a strange thought to have?
Zazaria, looking somewhat restored by her prayerful exertions gazes curiously at Leeoli. What curious fancies you do spin, Mr. Maleye. I assure you, there is no such thing upon my shoulder...I am quite grumpy enough in my own right. And this illness makes me fractious.
Kendra looks at Zazaria, concern etched upon her face. I doubt that you're in such a shape to return tomorrow, Zazaria, given your pallor. Shall I send for someone from the church to come? Perhaps they have some magic that may help.
She eyes Leeoli and shrugs. One can only assume that whomever is scrawling the letters had ill intent. I'd rather not know what it is that they spell out, even if that would just indicate completion of the goal they'd set upon. Somehow though, I think it's something more.
Councilman Hearthmount was by this morning, to check on your progress. I told him that you'd only just begun to investigate, but he's stricken with worry for the town. He's a pain, to be sure, but he does care about Ravengro and it's people. I'll report to him that you're safe and what you've found, if you like. That will keep him from interrupting your rest, if nothing else.
Zazaria still looks deeply weary, and weak. She nods her head slightly in Kendra's direction. Perhaps Father Grimburrow can stop the poison from finishing its work.
Leeoli looks worried. I'd have thought that her spell and one of the potions would have been sufficient. Leeoli looks to his other companions And Vrilli, how is he?
Zazaria gets up awkwardly and takes up one of the Potions of Lesser Restoration. I'm hoping that this will finish the healing, but until I can throw off the poison itself, I will remain in peril. She quaffs it slowly, then straightens, its effects immediate.
Leeoli looks over, and again wonders in amazement how a natural universe allows for such mysterious energies and knowledgeable workings.
Leeoli smiles as his friend seems to recover her strength. We can nevertheless take a day of rest, if you feel we should. An alternative plan is to camp ourselves out at the statue to try to catch our graffiti ghost in the act.
Zazaria purses her lips a little. Let us see if Father Grimburrow can help before we make any such decisions, Mr. Maleye. Thanks to the potions and the grace of Pharasma I feel almost myself again...but the poison remains in my veins, I fear. If he comes tonight, and can help, I see no reason why we cannot return to Harrowstone again tomorrow morning.
I'll be ready to tackle the prison again after a sleep and some breakfast
As will I
Father Grimburrow does, indeed, come to the Kendra home and offers his services to any who still need it. Though quite old and seemingly f[rail, Grimburrow's divine magic is powerful to behold. He sits with the group for a while after utilizing his prayers, and speaks of the prison and its vile nature.
While you're strangers to this town, and I fear I've treated you as such, each of you is proving to be quite the champion for the good of Ravengro. I feel that our dear late professor - may our Lady guide him on his path - would be quite proud.
He mentions, also, that he plans to station one of his acolytes, along with one of the Sheriff's young deputies at the monument tonight, to see if there's anything odd going on there.
The evening passes uneventfully, with the group attempting to recover from the day in the prison. An early morning start puts the group out on the road in a cold, dreary mist that soon enough turns into a drizzle. By the time they reach the prison, each of the adventurers is soaked through.
I am glad to have met you Father Grimburrow Leeoli smiles wanly, his prior doubts about the man fading.
You sense no ill will from the Professor, only an eagerness to protect those he sees as his flock.
The prison is dreary and sorrowful as it was yesterday. Though nothing seems to be out of place based upon the prior visit, the sense and feel of the place is nearly overwhelming upon entry into the grounds. Filthy black birds watch from the walls, their hungry black eyes tracking every move.
Silvery cobwebs along the ceilings are a painful reminder to the group of the skittering arachnids and their piercing mandibles. The group passes that carcass filled room and moves on to the room adjacent. After a quick search at the door, Leeoli pushes the door open to offer a view of the interior.
This chamber is in a shambles - old wooden benches lie in ruins along the walls, while rusty chains and bits of rotten rope lie scattered on the floor.
Zazaria squares her shoulders and mutters a quick prayer. Blue light swirls briefly around her.
Leeoli produces a small bright purple vial he had prepared in the morning and quietly ingests it.
This will heighten my awareness for the next 20 minutes or so
Anyi watches Leeoli and Zazaria as they look around the room.
Do you sense anything? It just looks like a lot of dirt and detritus to me.
From what the keen eyes of both Leeoli and Zazaria can tell, this room seems to have been a holding pen that guards used for new arrivals to Harrowstone. They no doubt searched prisoners here for hidden items and dressed them in their new clothes while a guard sergeant carefully explained the rules of the prison to the new "guests."
Hopelessness and despair...such is the mark of this place, everywhere. That, and anger...a vast anger.
Zazaria halts in the doorway. There is something amiss in this room. Have one of the Haunt Siphons ready if we are going to enter here.
Leeoli reaches into his pack and arms himself with a siphon, and holds another out for one of his companions. Best to have more than one ready
Zazaria takes the other siphon. I will use mine first, Leeoli...you're more useful in a fight. Somewhat incongruously, she grins at the Investigator.
My blade might be of no use against a phantom...if I wgt a chance to to move first, I'll take my chances.
Anyi watches the exchange between Leeoli and Zazaria with a slight frown on her face, then silently readies an arrow in her bow.
She nods at them both. Just in case we come up against something more corporeal, Anyi says quietly to them all.
Zazaria smiles quietly. There are...steps...I can take to render weapons potent against those poor souls normal weapons do not touch. A gift of the Goddess, Mr. Maleye. One of her many.
So I've heard. Leeoli says darkly, thinking about the gods long estrangement with the Maleye lineage.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, Mr. Maleye. Or so I have heard. Zazaria seems a little perturbed by Leeoli's attitude, but does not press him further. Let us be about our work, shall we? Do we think it worthwhile to enter here? Anyi? Vrilli?