"No wonder he attacked us?" Ingrid repeats, her intensity shifting subtly. "At the towns people in the habit of brandishing straight razors when asked what they are doing? Is this something you'd consider an acceptable response?"
She shakes her head slightly. "Since he got violent taking him down required the same. He quite literally fought like a man possessed. Once he was put down we needed to take him to the temple first unless you'd rather he was brought in bleeding to death. Once he regained consciousness he claimed no memory of any of his actions, adamantly enough that even Father Grimburrow believes him. So here we are, rather than drag him through the streets to bring him to you, we came to let you know what is going on in the town you protect."
"Ma'am," The deputy says, his hand now resting next to his gun, "By your own words you acted aggressively towards an old man in the middle of the night. Now I'm not saying that Gibs was in the right to be defacing the memorial, but the fact is he does live in this town whereas you are a group of outsiders who approached him acting aggressively in the middle of the night. I think that would be quite enough for any of the townsfolk to think that they were in danger and needed to defend themselves. What I would have rathered, ma'am, is for you to have not approached him and instead noted his activities and then reported them to the authorities so that we could have looked into it ourselves--which by the way is our job, not yours--and performed a proper investigation. Now, if you can calm yourself enough to tell me exactly what it is that you saw, I would be much obliged. After, I will wake the sheriff and fetch Gibs from the temple."
"I'd be happy to tell you what you saw, but I should also let you know that while you protect your town from your jailhouse, dark forces are busy in more ways than one tonight. Someone has reanimated Professor Lorrimor's body. We foiled an attack on the Lorrimor house tonight. Kendra is beside herself, and as we speak representatives of the temple are retrieving the body for sanctification and interment.." Ingrid says, clearly angry though maintaining civility.
Right as he leaves the door, he sticks his head back in. Calling out to Ravel, he says "Trust me, if there is one thing I am not - it's a cat. I think."
"Ma'am, it's two o'clock in the morning. Someone stays with the jail at all times to look after anyone in the cells and to be here so that when people like you come in in the middle of the night to find a lawman, they find one here and ready to help them. I'm not the only deputy on duty tonight, just the only one in the actual jail so your snide comments really aren't needed. Deputy Vrodish is out on patrols. Now in case you haven't noticed, this isn't a very big place, but even if we had twenty men on they couldn't be everywhere at once. Until the the first incident of vandalism a few nights ago there hasn't been any crime to speak of in months aside from the occasional drunk getting rowdy and kids playing pranks out of boredom. Now as for someone raising the dead, well, ma'am unless you have a lead on who that might have been there isn't much I can do about that tonight other than take your report and pass it on to the sheriff."
Deputy Riff has a pen posed over paper prepared to take your statements on both events, when Ingrid has said everything she recalls he asks Orin and Ioann if they have anything to add.
Seeing the officer is not impressed with their story, Orin steps forward. "Sir, I apologize if we are a 'burden' this evening. But surely a man in your position should react a little more in the face of dark and cruel powers. At the very least, have someone accompany us to the temple to question Gibs and our companion Terrance. I believe that falls to the local authorities, yes?"
"Well, of course I'm going with you to interrogate Gibs and speak with the Father! I just needed to take the statements first. I'll go wake the Sheriff now so he can come to the jailhouse while I'm gone, unless he wants to go with you instead. There is a way that things have to be done! I am concerned, but I'm not sure what reaction you're expecting. Would you rather I panic and raise the alarms in the whole town? I'm no wizard, sir, I'm not equipped to ferret out nefarious magics. Without a lead on who might have done this, the only thing I can do is talk with the Father about it and see what he has to say. You said the body is being taken to the Temple, I'll of course have to take a look at it as well."
Deputy Riff leaves the jailhouse and returns a few minutes later, a sleepy eyed Sheriff Benjan Caeller in tow. "Evening folks. Deputy Caeller has caught me up on tonight's events. I'm going to accompany you back to the temple to speak with everyone and see if there is any evidence on the Professor's body that can help to explain what's happened."
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For the last few minutes, Ioann has been quite silent, not uttering any insults or menace at deputy Riff. However, his feet have been shuffling and his fist have been getting tighter. When asked about his statement, he simply says: "Same as her.", pointing at Ingrid.
Upon the arrival of the sheriff and his statement that he, and not Riff, would follow them to the temple, Ioann exclaims himsefl: "Excellent!" before opening the door and leaving for the temple.
"I apologize about the rude wake-up, good sheriff, but foul things are stirring in your town. And I appreciate your assistance, as I'm sure the rest of my comrades are."
"No apologies necessary, son, it's my job." He says to Orin, nodding his head before following Ioann out the door.
You arrive back at the temple unimpeded where you are met by the two acolytes who inform you, "The Professor's body has been retrieved, two of your friends--Ake and Gellius, I believe they are called--accompanied him back and are standing guard over him. The Father is in with Gibs, I believe Terrance is in there as well."
Ioann head to where Gibs is. Once in the room, he goes to Terrance.
"Did the man talk? Does he know who's spell he was under?"
No, he still professes that he was not under possession.
The father can attest to that.
"Actually, he's never said he wasn't under possession. He's said only that he doesn't remember the events that led him here tonight. He says he last remembers going to bed, and then waking up here in pain surrounded by all of us. Otherwise, he's only offered guesses as to how that has happened. Likely his mind is trying to fill in the blanks for him, make sense of things. I do believe that he doesn't remember, and I do believe that he was not himself whether of sickness of the mind or possession. Either way, there is no way to assure that if he is released that it won't happen again." This final thing the Father says as he turns to look at the Sheriff.
The Sheriff nods his head and frowns. "I'm going to need all of you except for the Father to leave the room while I talk to Gibs. I need him as calm as possible while we talk."
Concerned for the Father's safety, Ingrid hesitates, looking at the elderly priest before agreeing.
Father Grimburrow nods his head at Ingrid. "I'm tougher than I look. I'll be fine."
With a brief smile she nods. "Ok boys let's give the sherrif a few moments alone shal we?" she says leading the others out of the room.
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Father, do you or your assistants know how to cook up a good cup of coffee? Terrance asks before following Ingrid out of the room.
Also, father, if you need anything at all, we will be just outside.
Ioann only acknowledges Ingrid's suggestion by leaving the room, he does not look look at anyone, staring at the ground, ruminating about the wizard who is still at large.
"Never took a liking to the stuff, sorry son," Father Grimburrow says as he closes the door behind you.
About twenty minutes later, the door is opened once more. The sheriff has bound Gibs hands with rope for the time being, but has left him in the room. "If one of you would be so kind as to keep an eye on him, I'll see to the Professor's body before I take Gibs back to the jail with me. I trust that I don't need to remind you folks that he is in my custody and is not to be harmed unless absolutely necessary?"
"Of course." Ingrid says with a nod, "I'll show you to the body."
Aye, I will keep an eye on him for now. Terrance then walks back into the room where the sheriff and Gibbs were.
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The Sheriff and the Father make their way through the church to the room that Grimburrow had the boys store Lorrimor's body. Father Grimburrow asks for Ingrid to help as needed, if her heart can handle doing so, as she might be able to help detect the magics that caused this.
"Never took a liking to the stuff, sorry son," Father Grimburrow says as he closes the door behind you.
About twenty minutes later, the door is opened once more. The sheriff has bound Gibs hands with rope for the time being, but has left him in the room. "If one of you would be so kind as to keep an eye on him, I'll see to the Professor's body before I take Gibs back to the jail with me. I trust that I don't need to remind you folks that he is in my custody and is not to be harmed unless absolutely necessary?"
Ake will step into the room to keep an eye on Gibbs.
Cuddles circles the man at a safe distance, claws open and tail poised to strike.
They make plain their disdain for the man who interrupted the funeral, but make no talk or threatening moves.
He doesn't look smart enough to be a caster, nor wise enough for the divine...please make a move so I can fry you anyways..
Seeing Ake a little worked up, and cuddles crawling around the outside of the room.
Calmly now Ake, calmly. I think the sheriff might want him in one piece
I doubt it was he who brought the professor back, but whoever it was will pay.
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I can assure you, my good dwarf, though my temper is great, my control of it is greater.
What you should fear, is when I FIND WHO DID THAT.
"Yes Father I would be glad to assist albeit with a heavy heart." Ingrid says as she accompanies both men.
Orin stands outside, looking at Ake. "Agreed, my goblin friend. The fury of a thousand orc hordes will by my wrath as well. But with all that has been occurring, we should see to it that we not disturb the locals until we know for certain. We already are not well liked, and I would rather not be ran out of town by pitchforks by innocent but close-minded fools. Much like Gibs!"
The corpse has little to offer aside from heartache and the stench of death. No magic residue remains to be detected, and no sign of who would have done this can be found. The Sheriff, however, does note that it appears that Lorrimor dug his way out of the ground as is indicated by the excessive amount of dirt caked on his hands and several nails that have been badly broken, one even to the point of being torn completely loose.
Meanwhile, Gibs watches those who have gathered to watch him with wariness in his eyes. He glares at the conversation, especially when Orin uses his own name as an example of a fool. After a moment he speaks in a sad, defeated voice and says, "I had family that died in that fire, in Harrowstone. Most all of us in this town did. Not a one of us would do something so disgusting to the memorial. Not a one."
Then why did we see you painting another letter on the monument. I am sure the sheriff will take you there to show you.
Gibs sighs and looks down at his hands bound before him, mumbling, "You couldn't have. It couldn't have been me..."
Soon after, the Sheriff returns to where Gibs is, and after thanking everyone for their cooperation, he takes Gibs and leaves.
Well, let us return to the manor, and look into Harrowstone in the morning.
"Yes, that would be the best thing to do at this point. Thank you for all your help Father, I sincerely hope not to interrupt your night's sleep again." Igrid says giving the old man a warm hug.
Father Grimburrow returns Ingrid's hug, patting her affectionately on the back. "Yet if you have need, do not hesitate."
Ake shoots daggers from her eyes at Gibbs the entire he is in her presence.
Cuddles likewise makes her disdain known to the man.
Returning to the Lorrimor residence, Orin goes searching for Ravel. "Ravel? Where are you?"
As the door opens, Ravel is sitting at the desk reading by candle light. "Shh, will you? Kendra is sleeping. What has happened?" She places the book down on the table.
"On the way to the temple we encountered one of the locals, Gibbs, painting another letter in blood. When we confronted him, which is apparently frowned upon around here, he tried to kill us. We took him down, took him to the temple to be healed and then let the sherriff know." Ingrid whispers, taking off her cloak.
Upon returning to the Lorrimor house, Ioann makes his way to the liquor cabinet from which he fetches some strong alcohol. Only then does he join Ravel, Ingrid and the others. After quaffing from the bottle, he hands the bottle to whoever is interested.
The man stays silent for a moment before muttering to himself.
"Whoever did this will pay!"
Terrance takes the bottle when it is offered, My thanks and then takes a deep draught, and then offers it up for anyone else.
I agree, whomever did this will pay. I suggest that we start looking at harrowstone in the morning.
"If the person desecrating the monument is indisposed, if the sheriff and father are also indisposed, why don't we check this evening? We have a few hours of night left, and if there are things to go bump in it, they are more likely to come out under cover of darkness. Every day we tarry and wait for an opportunity, more slip by us. Our hostess is asleep, and I feel the urge to find out something rather than waiting for another dawn. We are grasping at straws here, it has been days now and all we have is more suffering to show for it. If we want them to pay, why do we continue to give them allowances of time to cause more grief? We should look into it now." Ravel rises from the table, holding her hand up and willing Narcissa to return.
Ioann hits the desk with his fist and takes his eyes off the ground to look at the others.
"Yes... Yes! You are right Ravel. Let's slay those you would hurt the Lorrimor, enough with them. Suffering shall be their fate!"
Says the man, roused to action by the changeling's will to investigate the matter.