“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 below, I leave my home and personal belongings entire to my daughter Kendra. Use them or sell them as you see fit, my child.
“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 others 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 the enemy and inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge of one’s enemy is the surest path to victory over its 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. While the majority of these tomes remain safe under lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few 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 University of Lepidstadt, who will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause.
“Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt, there is the matter of another favor—please delay your journey one month and spend that period of time here in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is safe and sound. She has no one to count on now that I am gone, and if you would aid her in setting things in order for whatever she desires over the course of this month, you would have my eternal gratitude. From my savings, I have also willed to each of you a sum of one hundred platinum coins. For safekeeping, I have left these funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in Lepidstadt—she has been instructed to issue this payment upon the safe delivery of the borrowed tomes no sooner than one month after the date of the reading of this will.
“I, Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this
first day of Calistril, in the year 4711.”
Again, Kendra dabs at her eyes, clearing the tears that still haven't stopped.
"Councilman Vashian, I thank you for your time. I shall visit you if I have any futher need."
The heavy councilman nods and moves towards the door. Kendra shows him out and then comes back and settles into the now vacant chair. Putting on a brave face, she once again addresses you all.
"Thank you again, each of you, for coming today. It is good to see the legacy my father left behind. I will need at least a few weeks to decide what I shall do with the home. I'm not sure I'm ready to sell it, but I haven't decided if I will stay in Ravengro now that all this business is over with."
Kendra stands again, and says"I ask that you do stay for the month, as Father's will requested. I have rooms here, and the house is quite spacious. Your room and board will be free of course. Now, if I may excuse myself, I will go fetch the chest that was mentioned, I believe I know the one."
With a smirk, Valeris glances over to Sly. "Well Sly, does that answer the "necromancer" question for you?"
He takes a seat next to Kendra's chair and furrows his brow. "I knew of his involvement in these types of practices but to take physical possession of tomes this powerful? I heard fear in his description of them. As if the very proximity these tomes would cause Kendra harm."
Valeris steeples his fingers in front of his chin and continues. "I feel we should not burden Kendra with these matters and, perhaps, review the contents of the chest in another location. The contents might shed some light as to why the townsfolk distrust the professor so."
With an approving nod. Sly looks bat at Valeris.
"That indeed answers the question. However I myself know a little about the dangers of his practices. I agree that we should trouble Kendra as little as possible with the contents of the chest. I however do not remember this town to well. Where would you suggest we examine the chest and whatever fresh hell may be inside?"
"Note we should keep this as quiet as possible as well. I care not to kill any townsfolk simply because they are afraid of what they know nothing of."
Not knowing quite what to do next Sly slowly and begrudgingly packs his belongings. After a mindless jaunt through the dusty and all too quiet manor, Sly hesitates at the front door, turns his head, and surveys his new found 'friends'.
"Well, I don't have the faintest idea of where to go, or what to do, but I have to do something. Sitting around this creepy old house has made me irritable and impatient. So....who's coming with me?
Valeris peers quizzically at Sly as he makes his way to the door and begins, with a smirk. "You leave rather abruptly, friend. Based upon my experiences, the longer it takes someone to carry a chest of loot, the greater the spoils. Given the fact that she's been gone for so long, we should all begin planning our retirement."
Valeris's chuckles quietly and continues. "However, if you do intent to begin, mayhaps we all discuss where to start our journey? I believe that if we do not know the contents of the chest, our first stop should be the town hall for research."
Maybe the witch is on to something. That smirk...I bet he knows something I do not about this 'chest'. Well he did know the professor for quite a bit longer than I.
Addressing Valeris "You bring up a good point. This place creeps me out though." Turning to the others in the room, "Any other ideas on where our first stop should be? I think the witch here has a good point in visiting the hall of research."