WhtKnt |
The return to Ravengro is uneventful, and the afternoon finds you in Father Grimm's office.
"You've been where?!" he exclaims as you tell your story.
Lorant Endronil |
"Thank you, Vesorianna. And we'll return. We promise," Lorant says as they depart.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lorant winces a bit at Father Grimburrow's exclamation. For an old man, he could REALLY project his voice when he wanted to. Good for delivering sermons, like he had learned in the distant past.
"In Harrowstone, Father. The rumors of the prison being haunted are unfortunately all too true, and the cultists Professor Lorrimor tried to stop have roused the spirits there, like a child throwing a stone at a nest of hornets. And if we don't act in time, like hornets they will swarm over Ravengro."
Eleanora Olexina |
Ella nods. "And we've worse news as well. There's a chance one of the spirits they've roused might be...in the town. Interfering. Have any of the townsfolk been acting strange, lately?"
Judah Locke |
"We used those syphon things you sold us to trap the ghost of Father Charlatan, but there's four more dead psychopaths in there, and one of them has been recruiting help out here." Judah said. "If you don't believe us, we can show you."
Lorant Endronil |
Lorant tries not to look nervous at Judah's mention of the siphons. He hoped this wouldn't make Father Grimburrow suspicious enough to ask further questions about them, to avoid confessing to the theft and what to an outside observer would have looked like desecration of a tomb.
"The various haunts did injure us, some quite severely, such as an enormous stirge the Piper of Illmarsh directed to attack us. If it is not too much trouble, could please we ask of you or your acolytes for Pharama's grace to heal us?"
WhtKnt |
If the priest noticed Judah's slip, he makes no mention of it, though he does pause momentarily. "If what you say is true, how will we know who is the puppet? We cannot blindly accuse folk of committing atrocities."
Lorant Endronil |
Lorant nods.
"Exactly. Which means we need to catch them in the act. You remember that V written in blood on the message post the other day? We know who this V is now: Vesorianna Hawkran, the late wife of the late Warden Hawkran. With her husband's spirit abducted by the Whispering Way, her presence is the only thing left keeping the other spirits from leaving Harrowstone's walls, and the Splatter Man is re-enacting his old calling card to spiritually attack her. If her name is completely spelled out, she will be destroyed, but fortunately, she has a long name, and the Splatter Man can only go one letter at a time. We have to observe the town at night, and hopefully catch his catspaw in the process of writing the E. And to do that, we may need the help of others, like Sheriff Caeler or Councilor Hearthmount. We came to you first because, as Ravengro's spiritual leader, you'd best understand what's at stake, and you could help us convince them of our sincerity, and the gravity of the situation, since we naturally don't want the town to panic."
WhtKnt |
"And how are we to know that it is the presence of Mrs. Hawkran that keeps the ghosts in Harrowstone?" Grimburrow seems unconvinced.
Judah Locke |
"It isn't. It was the presence of her husband's spirit that kept the ghosts in Harrowstone. Now he's gone, and the ghosts are gaining strength and breaking free. Mirs. Hawkran doesn't seem to be able to do much about it aside from trying to warn people."
WhtKnt |
"N-no," the priest stammers, his eyes growing wide, "That won't be necessary. You are the professionals and your word is enough for me. What do you propose?"
WhtKnt |
"And," he adds, "If a townsperson is being possessed, what will prevent the ghost from possessing another? And another after that?"
Cassiel Hawke |
"It'll end when we find the ghost responsible and banishing it to Pharasma's judgement." Cassiel finally speaks up. "We haven't explored the entirety of Harrowstone yet--it's likely the being responsible is still inside."
Lorant Endronil |
Lorant nods.
"Not to mention only the Splatter Man has shown any initiative in attempting to break out. And we've seen the Piper of Ilmarsh's handiwork outside the prison already, luring stirges to the town to harass its people, so I don't think he has the same abilities the Splatter Man is using, and he'll only be able to truly escape if the Splatter Man's plan is successful. From what we've observed, it seems the Splatter Man is the ringleader, just as he may have been in life. We find and banish him, the danger to the town will stop, and we can locate the means to help Vesorianna end the haunting forever."
Eleanora Olexina |
At least that's the theory, Ella thinks wryly. She doesn't say anything, though. The others are doing a good job summing it up, and Lorant and Cas are men of faith.
WhtKnt |
"Very well," Father Grimburrow replies, looking concerned, "What is your recommendation? I would ask that the victim not be permanently harmed, if possible."
Lorant Endronil |
Lorant steeples his hands as he considers what they need to do.
"As I said, we need eyes in the town while we are cleansing Harrowstone. For that, I suggest we inform Sheriff Caeler of what's going on. He and his deputies would be the best equipped to fill that role. As relative strangers to the town, a skeptical man like him may not believe us. That's where you could best help us, Father. You are the shepherd of this town's faith, and could help us in convincing him what's going on is a real and serious threat. Similarly, we should involve Councilor Hearthmount. He could help us get the rest of the Town Council on our side. And if they trust us, then the rest of the town will be more willing to trust us and help us figure out who might be sneaking around at night and spelling out a dead woman's name in animal blood."
Judah Locke |
"How can we be sure it isn't the sheriff who's under Splatterman's influence? Father Grim is a priest of Pharasma. He's not a safe target for an evil spirit. The Sheriff though? If I were an evil possessing ghost, he'd be the top of my list. He has the authority and mobility to do just about anything."
Lorant Endronil |
"Think about it, Judah. If you were an evil possessing ghost, specifically trying to operate in secret, you'd want to pick an unobtrusive person, someone nobody in town would pay attention to, and weak-willed enough that you can easily use them regularly. I suspect you'd agree, Father, that the Sheriff is a strong-willed individual?"
Eleanora Olexina |
Ella frowns. "I don't like it either, Judah, but I think Lorant has a point. And at some point we must trust someone. Let's inform the sheriff."
WhtKnt |
Moving things along...
The sheriff is, if anything, even more sceptical than Father Grimburrow, but the priest emphasizes that you have been there and they have not. The sheriff grumpily agrees to post a guard at the statue. "I will not have them killing the person responsible, especially if, as you say, that person may not be under their own control. They will be told to capture the individual only, using lethal attacks only in defence of their own lives."
Lorant Endronil |
Lorant nods.
"We'd ask nothing less. After all, it's not their fault the ghost of an evil serial-killer picked them to be his puppet."
He turns to Father Grimburrow.
"Thank you, Father. The more people know what's going on, the better prepared the town can be should Harrowstone kill us."
Judah Locke |
"Since we have both of you here, we should probably tell you that Professor Lorrimer's death wasn't an accident. He was murdered by the same cult that set these ghosts loose."
Lorant Endronil |
"It's not something we can really do anything about at this point, as the murderers have since left the town, having gotten what they came for at the prison. The protection of the town and our obligations to Kendra come first," Lorant adds. "Do not worry Sheriff, Father, we have no intention of chasing these cultists before we're no longer needed here in Ravengro."
WhtKnt |
"What was it that they came for, exactly? We appreciate that you will not be leaving until you have secured Harrowstone, as we have not the manpower nor the mindset to do this ourselves."
Father Grimburrow clears his throat. "For my part, I will inform those whom I believe could handle the news, asking them to remain vigilant. I"ve no wish to start a panic, so the list will be small."
Lorant Endronil |
"This is going to sound insane, but then that's the case with this entire affair: the Whispering Way came to Harrowstone to conduct a ghostnapping. The spirit of the late Warden Hawkran was acting as a seal on the other malevolent ghosts infesting the prison. Whatever ritual they conducted there, the ritual Professor Lorrimor was trying to prevent them from completing, it somehow allowed them to capture his essence. And given that we've only encountered the abandoned remains of their handiwork, it's safe to assume they got what they came for, and then left. The danger Harrowstone poses now, I don't think they necessarily planned for it. They just didn't care. What we're doing now is basically cleaning up the spiritual mess they've made."
Cassiel Hawke |
"I'm looking forward to kicking this Whispering Way's collective asses for their heinous acts. I didn't sign up with the Knights of Ozem to spend my career as a glorified janitor for grave-robbers."
"...anyway, I'll make the effort to take our quarry in alive."
Lorant Endronil |
"You probably won't be able to take them alive, Cassiel. For the Way, becoming undead is the ultimate state of being, the final stage of enlightenment."
Then he gives Judah a toothy smirk.
"Why do you think Ustalav is home to some of Avistan's most famous sanitariums?"
Cassiel Hawke |
"Because every one of you is nuts. It's all just a question of degree around here." Judah deadpanned.
"Eh, at least it's the kind of crazy that inspires me to get out there and do the right thing instead of sitting around all day."
Cassiel Hawke |
"Cas, are you even Ustalavic by birth? I thought you were a Lastwaller born-and-bred."
"I am. My CO was fond of saying that you needed a certain kind of crazy to go adventuring anyway."
Eleanora Olexina |
"Perhaps we could spend less time on casting aspersions on each others' sanity, and more time on exterminating this cult?" Ella asks tartly.
The fragility of Ustalavic sanity is a...sore spot. :P
Lorant Endronil |
"I'm sorry, Eleanora. Unfortunately, we can't really move to wipe out the Whispering Way until our work here is done."
Lorant frowns a bit.
"Is anyone else hungry? After what we've fought through, I think each of us could use a steadying meal and a stiff drink."
WhtKnt |
Father Grimburrow nods sagely. The sheriff, not fully understanding what has transpired, merely stares mutely, trying to process the information.
Judah Locke |
"Your local bar is called the Laughing Demon?" Judah blinked. "Who am I kidding, of course it is. What else would it be called in a place like this? Sure, let's leave the haunted prison and go out for a fun night of carousing at the Laughing Demon."
"F%~$ing Ustalav..." he muttered, shaking his head.
WhtKnt |
The Laughing Demon is crowded tonight, many of the locals have come in to escape the cold drizzle that plagues the town. The barkeep is his usual smiling self. "Good eve, friends! What will you have this night?"
Lorant Endronil |
"Wait till you see the menu. Zokar's really dedicated to his gimmick!" Lorant replies. When they arrive, he waves to the barkeep.
"Good eve, Zokar! I'm thinking I'll try the Corpse Chowder tonight."
Judah Locke |
All Judah could do was shake his head, his eyes closed in silent pain. He wasn't sure if he believed in fate, but this place definitely seemed to be tempting it. He really needed a drink. He'd never been here, but with a theme this obvious, he took a guess. "Hellfire. A double."