Megan's Carrion Crown
Game Master Megan Robertson

"We hope so, Father," Merian answers Grimburrow. After introducing herself, she continues, "We have some concerns about a Master Gibs - I believe you know him? I mean, of course, in a town this small... anyway. Though a series of events that are too long to get into just now, we have come to learn two things: first, that there are unquiet spirits moving at Harrowstone Prison, and second, that Master Gibs might have been touched by one of them - one of the most powerful, in fact. My friends and I plan to deal with the Prison directly to remove the root of the problem, but we had hoped you might be able to aid Master Gibs if our fears of possession are correct..."

Sorin listens as Merian fills in the details and adds, "Yes, the Harrowstone Monument was vandalized again last night.We and the sheriff found evidence strongly implicating Gibs. But, he has no memory of the night's events and seems to be telling the truth. We're hoping you might be able to help the sheriff get to the bottom of it and help the poor man if necessary."
Diplomacy 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Father Grimburrow listens impassively.

"Yes, yes, of course I know Gibs Hephenus, a good fellow as a whole although once he gets an idea in his head it is hard to shift it. Can be a bit grumpy too... I would not have thought him a likely candidate for possession, too ornery and self-willed. But he lives about the closest of anyone to Harrowstone, and once any spirit got in it would take main force to get it out of his thick skull. Of course I will see him and, with my Lady's grace, see if I can discern if anything is amiss. Is he with the Sheriff now?"

He turns to Gervaise.

"Gather up the others and your cleaning equipment. Go and purify the Monument. I shall be by later to lead you in prayer."

He turns back to you both.

"You are worthy souls, to take the task of purifying Harrowstone Gaol upon yourselves. I shall offer prayers for your success, but is there anything else that I can do to aid you?"

"Thank you father, we will do our best. Our visit was mostly to make sure someone could look after Gibs, but your acolyte Gervaise was kind enough to let us know that we can purchase aids to our task here. Right now, I think we are fairly well-equipped, but we will definitely come to see you for help if our supplies run low or to see about greater holy aid if necessary. I think we had best get back to the prison now while we still have a considerable amount of light."

Tre follows the old school master into his room, "The last time I was here, you said you had some wands for sale. My friends and I have earned a small amount of money and wondered if we could afford any magical aids?" he asks in a friendly manner. "If we can do sensible business, then perhaps I can help at the school one day, doing a few simple magical tricks for instance?"

"Ready to head back to the prison? This part of this city is boring." Barret asks as his friends come out of the temple.

"Ha, yes, let's go stir up some ghosts," says Sorin with a chuckle. "Hopefully Tre is just about done with Kendra and the schoolmaster."

"Yes. I owe those spirits something." Barret grins.

Merian nods. "We all do. Peace," she agrees.

"Not what I was thinking at all, Merian."

Merian shrugs, smiling. "Still true, though."

"Fair enough."

"All right, now that's settled, let's get Tre and get back to Harrowstone. If we don't get him, he'll probably spend the rest of the day talking about the color of auras with that schoolmaster he mentioned."

"Wands, you say, Master Braeguldae?" says Master Ghoroven. "I have one of cat's grace and one of slow at the moment, and an assortment of scrolls, low level stuff in the main."

"Ya know if you really think about all this. I mean really think about this." Dillan pauses, "We are willingly going after ghosts? Perhaps we have been possessed." The rogue laughs at his own poor humor.

"Yeah, you're right about that Dillan." His face turns dark for a moment. "But the ones that can possess...or take your soul...they are the worst. I hope we're up to this task."

"It's better than having them come after us. We'll be up to it. We have to be."

Tre nods towards the schoolmaster, "I must say both wands might help if I knew their strength and cost. But perhaps if you have a scroll or two of disrupt undead, or even hide from undead, it might be useful to us, for in these strange times spirits of the dead are agitated. Bloody letters appearing at the monument, none appear safe. But I go on before the deal is done, what price do you charge for these scrolls?"

If any of you think of any better scrolls we might use, just say.

Think I'd take him up on that 60 gp for both offer that he made you earlier. I think those scrolls are good suggestions.

Thanks, Sorin... saves me looking up what he wanted for them!

"I would take 60gp for both the wands. Each has about a dozen charges, as I recall. Scrolls, I can offer detect undead, hmm" he starts rummaging through an untidy box of scrolls. "I have a see invisible as well. AH! Here it is, command undead! Is that what you wanted?"

Anyone else want to get anything or make preparations before you head back to the gaol?

Nah, bring on the ghosties and ghoulies.

"Then I'll take the scrolls as well, for a good price." says a grateful Tre. "You aren't able to create any more are you?"

Just moving it on so everyone can get back to the spookies in the prison.

Let's DO IT...!

I concur

OK, with an armful of scrolls and two wands, Tre'duinne joins the others. Master Ghoroven says he can make some more scrolls but it will take several weeks, being schoolmaster occupies a lot of his time.

So, back up the hill towards Harrowstone. Where do you want to go?

Are we going back to our last position in the gaol?

That makes sense. I'm thinking maybe that door to the right of S11 in the unexplored area.

Sounds good to me! I mean the only other lead we have is the under-part and well honestly I don't think we are ready for what is possibly there.

Yeah, let's try to finish up top and then we can see what to do.

Here's the area as you have explored so far: Partial map of Harrowstone Gaol main building

You make your way in uneventfully. A few crows eye you balefully, but there doesn't seem to be anyone else around. The doors in S2 pull their stunt of banging shut, but you have the hang of that and soon get past.

So, standing in front of the door to the right of S11... what do you want to do?

Tre enters the room with the ghost of Vesorianna, he waits for her to appear. If she does, Tre will inform her of the goings on in town, that they may have bought her a little time and to aks for any further help she can give?

"Well Dillan, the next door round to the north there, is it safe to proceed. Or at least so we have a fighting chance with whatever lies within." Tre looks to the others for approval for Dillan to proceed, a smile on his face.

Dillan moves to the door and begins his examination...

Traps 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26 (Rogue Talent already added here)

Listening for sounds nearby (to include other side of the door) 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 +4= 34 vs hearing conversations, finding traps, concealed or secret objects

If there are traps to remove such...1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Sorin waits silently, watching Dillan work on the door and preparing in case there are more surprises within.

Barret will wait while looking around for any threats that may try to surprise them. He seems eager for another chance at the spirits.

Perception
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Tre'duinne enters S11 and Vesorianna duly materialises. When he's explained what has been taking place, she says, "I am afraid that there is little help that I can give you. Yet I believe that your assessment is correct, that one of the late convicts' spirits may have possessed your townsman. All I know is that if you can find objects of value belonging to those five powerful spirits I mentioned before, this should aid you in defeating them. Once you have done that and brought me a symbol of my husband's office - he had an official badge which he usually wore whilst working, it is probably with his mortal remains - I can rid this place of the other, lesser, haunts that currently plague it."

Meanwhile, Barret and Sorin watch Dillan as he examines the door to the next chamber. (Is Merian with them, or does she want to do something else?) All is silent even to Dillan's trained ear, and he cannot discern any traps.

Do you want to open the door (it does not appear to be locked) or wait for Tre' to stop gossiping with ghosts?

LOL, I think perhaps we can let Tre's conversation go on in parallel and just assume it took place prior to all of us entering the room.

Merian stands protectively near Tre, confident in Barret's ability to guard the others. When they seem ready to move on, she hefts her shield, draws her blade, and nods her readiness to the others.

Dillan nods to his companions; then cautiously opens the door...

Tre finishing his gossiping with the ghost, nods to Merian and follows her out of the room. "Merian, lets hope we can help Vesorianna, she is the strength to protect Ravengro against the spirits here. The force of your sinew, shall be required against the spirits to come." He smiles as they join the rest.

Dillan opens the door cautiously as everyone else stands ready.

Several rusty iron tubs sit in this room, along with washboards, metal buckets, and heaps of mouldy clothing. Rather to your surprise there is an obvious (from this side) door to S11 - no sign of it from in there at all. There's an opening in the north wall too, a tin chute pointing downwards.

Map update

Dillan cautiously moves into the room searching it for anything not so easily noticable...

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12+4= 16 vs hearing conversations, finding traps, concealed or secret objects

Sorin follows, nocking an arrow and watching for movement. He whispers, "Do you think that chute is one of the ways down to the lower level?"
Perception 1d20 ⇒ 8

"Laundry chute?" Merian whispers back, guessing. "Not planning on taking the trip either way..."

"Heh, maybe we can use it to drop something on the Splatter Man. I've got some holy water for him right here," he says patting his belt pouch with the hand carrying the bow.

"I say we drop me. He wouldn't be expecting that." Barret grins.

"Dropping you into the unknown is one way to loose you for good, so if its all the same to you, I'd prefer we stay together." Tre addresses Barret. "So, if there's nothing of interest in here, we may as well get on our way."

Perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

"I guess you're right, Tre. We should be moving."

On closer examination, this place seems to be a laundry room. The chute appears to be designed to allow dirty water to be flushed into the cesspit behind the prison... it is not big enought to drop Barret down even if he did want to go there!

Suddenly Tre shouts a warning to the group, "Away, something moves in that pile of clothes." Not sure if its a harmless animal or some other ungodly entity, Tre moves back towards the door and the safety of the corridor. As he does he speaks words of power, pointing at the clothes moving around.

Casts Disrupt Undead , Attack touch Ray 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22, damage 1d6 ⇒ 5

To everyone's horror, an animated straitjacket rises out of the heap of mouldy clothers, waving its sleeves and snapping its buckles as it advances on you!

Initiative rolls and actions, please...