13th - The party gathers at the gates of the Restlands in the town of Ravengro. They meet Professor Petros Lorrimor's daughter, Kendra, and offer their condolences. A few of the party members act as pallbearers, carrying the Professor's casket to his grave site.
The funeral procession is stopped by a group of angry townsfolk. Their ringleader, the elderly Gibs Hephenus, tells Kendra that they will not allow her to bury her father in the Restlands. Before things can take a turn for the worse, the party members are able to diplomatically end the conflict and the townsfolk leave, allowing the procession to continue.
During the funeral, Kendra and several of the party members speak about Petros; recounting heartwarming tales of his life and their relationships with him. After the funeral, Kendra asks for the group to join her at her father's home so that his last will and testament can be read. At the Lorrimor estate, the party has the opportunity to introduce themselves and get to know one another a little better while they wait for Councilman Vashian Hearthmount.
When the Councilman arrives, the will is read and the party learns that the Professor has bequeathed to them each a sum of 100 platinum. There is a condition, however, not only must the party agree to deliver certain secret tomes to some of the Professor's colleagues, but they must also stay in Ravengro for at least one month to help Kendra get back on her feet.
Kendra retrieves the chest containing the secret tomes, and the Councilman gives her the key. The group comes to the conclusion that they should wait until the next day to open the chest. Since Kendra has insisted that they stay with her in her recently inherited home as opposed to paying for an inn, the party spends some time talking around the fire before retiring for the night.
14th – The group awakens to the smell of ham frying. Each gets ready for the day in their own way, Gellius’ perhaps the most dangerous of them all as explosions are heard coming from his room. Kendra serves them all breakfast and sits to eat with them as they discuss their plans for the day. When Kendra refuses to simply hand the key to the chest over to Terrance, he agrees to her demands that the chest be opened while she is there so that she can take down a list of the book titles and the names of who they are meant to be delivered to.
After breakfast, the chest is opened and Kendra is able to make her list before heading out to run errands: At the top of the stack of books inside the chest is a newer looking tome with the words “Read Me Now!” scratched into the leather front. A brief peak inside the book reveals that it is the Professor’s personal journal. This was not mentioned in the will, and it does not contain a note for it to be sent away.
Beneath the journal is a book with a rich purple cover adorned with a brass scarab with a single eye in the center. The title reads Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye. The covers are rimmed in polished steel and there is a small, intricate lock keeping the book closed. The key is nowhere to be found amongst the contents of the chest, but it looking at the keyhole one can surmise that the key has a triangular shaft.
There is a note tucked into the Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye requesting that it be delivered to Embreth Daramid, a judge at the Lepidstadt Courthouse. It asks that this be handled discretely and includes Daramid’s home address.
The three remaining books have notes indicating that they be delivered to Montagine Crowl, a professor of antiquities at Lepidstadt University. They are called On Verified Madness, Serving Your Hunger, and The Umbral Leaves.
The others discuss the contents of the chest and read a few entries marked in Lorrimor’s journal. After what seems like the start of an argument over who will read the journal first, Ravel suggests that it simply be read aloud for all to hear. This seems agreeable to the group, and so Ravel reads the marked entries. It is made clear that the Professor was investigating some strange happenings around the old Harrowstone prison, and that he felt his life might be in danger. He mentions the occult group known as The Whispering Way.
The group shares with one another the bits and pieces of information that they know about the two topics and agree that perhaps more research will be necessary. The journal also mentions a hidden cache of weapons designed to fight the undead. The cache is reportedly hidden in a false crypt in The Restlands.
When Kendra returns with groceries in tow, the others invite her to sit with them to discuss some of what was written in the Professor’s journal. Kendra tells them what she knows of her father’s death, and confesses that she does not believe that it was in fact an accident even though it was classified as such. She isn’t able to tell them anything new about the prison but suggests to them a few places in town where they might be able to do some research, including the libraries there at the Lorrimor Estate.
After some discussion, the new friends decide it is best to split up and visit both The Unfurling Scroll and the Temple of Phrasma. Terrance, Ravel, Ake, and Orin will go to The Unfurling Scroll while Gellius and Ingrid will go to the Temple. Ioann decides to stay at the Estates and spend the day reading.
Ingrid and Gellius take a detour when they see a gathering of people fretting about a monument of some sort. They find that the monument is covered in blood, with a large ‘V’ painted in the blood. Gellius is able to determine that it was rat blood. After the locals become agitated at the strangers mucking about with the mess, one of them asks Gellius to leave it alone and so the two make their way to the Temple.
At the temple, Ingrid is greeting warmly by Father Grimburrow. Ingrid asks permission to search out the cache of weapons after explaining that some things have come to light about the Professor’s death. Father Grimburrow is skeptical that such a cache exists, but since Ingrid is a Sister of the cloth, he is willing to allow her to look so long as he is present as well. He also allows them to look through the church archives. While reading, it is uncovered that shortly before the fire at Harrowstone, several extremely dangerous criminals were transferred to Harrowstone.
Meanwhile, the group that went to The Unfurling Scroll isn’t having quite so much luck. Ravel pushes a little too hard to have the required fee dropped and the proprietor asks her to leave. The only saving grace is Ake, of all people, who remained polite. Ake and Terrance stay inside The Unfurling Scroll and research while Orin and Ravel wait outside.
While waiting outside, Ravel and Orin spot some young girls skipping rope out near the building. They are singing a rather disturbing song which draws Ravel’s attention. They approach the young girls and ask them about the origins of the song, but clearly the girls are uncomfortable with the strangers. Ravel offers them coins for what they know, but still the girls are not able to tell them much. So instead, Ravel asks them where the Harrowstone Memorial is located, having overheard rumors about something happening there today.
Terrance and Ake are able to reaffirm what the group recalled about Harrowstone before rejoining Orin and Ravel. On the way back to the estate, they detour to check out the Harrowstone Memorial. There are a couple of young men there cleaning up the blood when they arrive. In conversation, the young men ask if it’s true that Lorrimor was a necromancer. This upsets the group who are quick to defend his honor, although the boys don’t seem to understand why the group is so upset. No new information is gained and the group returns home.
When they arrive, Kendra has cooked a stew and is serving it up. Everyone discusses the days findings as they eat, and make plans to visit The Restlands the next day. That night, while everyone else rests soundly, Orin is plagued by a realistic nightmare. He finds himself no longer in his room, but in what seems to be a prison cell looking out over the town of Ravengro from a distance. Above the pile of molded straw that sits where his bed should be, Orin sees his name written in blood. No one comes to help him when he tries to call for help. He awakes back in his bed, everything is as it should be… until a drop of blood lands on his hand. He looks up in complete horror to find that the bloody name remains on the wall.
15th – As a new day dawns, the group gathers around the breakfast table. Kendra has made them porridge with tea and coffee. While everyone eats – or as in Ake’s case, sloshes their breakfast about, Orin sits in terror against his bedroom door, tapping and meekly calling for help. Meanwhile, the group discusses the potential meaning of the letter ‘V’ being written in blood on the memorial and make plans to retrieve the hidden cache of weapons that Professor Lorrimor mentioned in his journal.
When at last Kendra hears the sound of tapping she hushes the group. Following the sound, she finds herself at Orin’s door where she knocks quietly and inquires if he is alright. Some of the group decides to follow Kendra on her quest to uncover the sound that so far only she has heard. Upon hearing Kendra’s voice, some of the fear escapes Orin, enough that he is able to raise his voice with a yell for help!
Terrance tells Kendra to stay back as he rushes into Orin’s room. Finding Orin huddled against the wall, a look of pure terror on his face, Terrance looks around to determine the nature of the problem. It is then that he sees Orin’s name spelled out in dripping blood above Orin’s bed. Kendra enters the room having seen that there was no immediate thread and begins to comfort Orin. Terrance tries to get Kendra to take Orin and leave, so that the room can be sealed but Gellius and Ravel are too interested in what is going on to hear him. Gellius steps over Orin and goes straight to examining the blood. Ravel, however, is more thoughtful to her new friends needs and helps Kendra to get Orin out of the room.
As Terrance tries to take charge of the situation again, encouraging Gellius to leave it be, Ingrid is now scanning the room. The fury of Phrasma in her eyes, she casts a spell to see what magic residue might remain. Ake remains to help her look for clues. Awhile later, while Orin recounts his terrible dream to Terrance and Ravel, Kendra returns to the room to stare at the bloody writing deep in thought. Between Ingrid and Ake, it is determined that there was a ghostly presence here, it used Mage Hand to write, but there is nothing at all magical about the very real – and as Gellius detected – very human blood.
Ioann, having jumped to his feet when he heard Orin scream encountered Orin as he left the room. A quick look to see what the fuss was about before returning to his breakfast, he now questions Orin about how it happened. Terrance inadvertently accuses Orin of murder and nearly starts a fight, but a swift apology and Ravel’s support of Orin puts it to a rest.
Kendra sets about cleaning up the mess, but Ravel stops her offering to do it instead. Kendra is quite grateful for this, and instead busies herself by preparing Orin his breakfast. Shortly after the group sets off to fetch Father Grimburrow and then head to the false crypt to find the cache.
In The Restlands the group recalls what was written in the Professor’s journal about the location, and after some searching find the crypt he described. Following footprints left in the dust by the last visitor, the group makes their way into the crypt. Father Grimburrow notes how odd it is that there niches are all empty, as records indicate that this crypt was one of the first filled. His words alarm the others, and they prepare for the possibility of fighting undead. However, when they finally come to the sarcophagus that holds the hidden cache it is not undead that they must fight but giant centipedes! The party swiftly beats the centipedes back and the attempt to flee, but not before Ake gets off a spell killing the last one before it can escape.
The threat removed, the group looks over what they have found in the sarcophagus and pack it away carefully into their bags. As they exit the cemetery, Terrance has quite a fright when he catches sight of a tombstone bearing Ioann’s name and the inscription “Come to my world, and be as I; as I am now, soon you will be; embrace your end and witness me: Died 4661 AR.” When he attempts to call it to the attention of the others, the inscription and name are gone, replaced by only a faded engraving that cannot be read. Thinking that Terrance has either gone mad or is being cruel, his new friends chastise him but he swears it is what he saw only a moment before. Infuriated, and more than a little afraid himself, Ioann drags Terrance towards the graves and demands that Terrance show him which tombstone it was and recount what it said. Ioann stares at the tombstone for some time, working out what is says bit by bit: “Suzette Jameson Loving Mother and Devoted Wife 4610-4656 AR”. Now merely annoyed, he lets go of Terrance. Ravel asks if the year 4661 is significant to Ravengro, and the Father tells her that indeed, it is the year Harrowstone burned.
On the way out of the cemetery, Grimburrow bids Ingrid good luck on her quest and departs from the group. The group continues on to examine the memorial at Terrance’s request. They find that there is little evidence left of the events that transpired at the memorial and so return to the Lorrimor Estate. They return to find Kendra going through some of her father’s possessions; tears in her eyes. Ioann fetches the book that matches the wooden box found in the crypt and softening his demeanor a bit he sits with Kendra. He asks her about the things that she has scattered across the table, and she tells him that they are indeed her father’s and that she has left something of his for Ioann in his room. She is visibly cheered by Ioann’s presence.
The group begins to go through the contents of the crypt to find several things of interest. While Ravel uses her magics to examine the items, Ake attempts to offer comfort to Kendra before examining the items as well.
See list of loot from the False Crypt for descriptions. After much discussion, it is decided that Ingrid and Ioann will return to the church to research the prisoners more indepthly. Ioann dons the chainmail that Kendra left in his room for him before they leave. The rest will stay and watch as Ravel attempts to use the spirit planchette and board.
Unfortunately, Ravel is not as prepared for the vicious reaction that some sprits have when being summoned through the board. She is overtaken for a moment, and in that moment, she turns on Ake, attacking Ake with her claws and hissing. Terrance acts quickly, restraining Ravel until she is able to regain control over herself. Ake, darts under the table, emerging on the other side thus safely out of harms reach. Ravel, now seeing the damage she has done to her knew friend begins to cry as she begs Ake for forgiveness and explains that she wasn’t herself. Orin, moves in to hold Ravel near and soothe away her tears. Upset, he asks that the board be taken away but Ravel insists that it’s not necessary and says she will try again the next day. Kendra rushes off to get antiseptic and bandages, warning Ake that it might sting a little, but as Kendra is cleaning Ake’s wounds Terrance steps in and uses the powers bestowed on him by Torag to heal the wounds. Still, some of the scratches remain so Kendra continues with her ministrations.
Deciding to move on to less hazardous methods of research, those who remained at the house move on to the library after a brief repast. Though the group at the house is able to find a few things on Harrowstone, Ingrid and Ioann working together are able to uncover far more information. Most useful is information on five particularly dangerous criminals that arrived at Harrowstone shortly before the fire.
See info on the five prisoners for details.
Returning back to the Lorrimor Estate, Ingrid and Ioann share the news of their findings with the others after warning Orin of the potential danger meant to him by having his name be written in blood. Ake goes to examine Orin’s room for any traps at Ioann’s suggestion, and although she is unable to find any sign of a trap, she decides to have a little fun. Closing the door to the room, Ake begins to scream out that something has her and that she is in agonizing pain. A moment later she opens the door and says, “It is safe.”
While Terrance chuckles at Ake’s antics, Kendra finds a way to seek revenge by suggesting to Ake that she thinks she has some dresses from her childhood that might fit Ake. Discussions about the five prisoners continue on for a while. Sometime late into the night, just as the group is about to disperse to their beds there is a slow knock at the door.
Ake and Terrance arrive at the door, and when Ake opens it they are stunned to find that it is none other than the reanimated corpse of Professor Petros Lorrimor. While Terrance stumbles back, Ake yells in fury and casts a spell to set the corpse on fire. The others come rushing to see what is happening, and are all terrified and wounded to their souls to see their dear friend being used in such a nefarious way. Ingrid rushes in, calling upon the gifts bestowed upon her by Pharasma and smites the undead corpse. Kendra, having been awoken by the noise, runs down the stairs in her night dress; screaming and sobbing she falls to her knees by her father’s corpse. After a moment she is joined on the floor by Ioann, who then rushes out of the house to scream at the night, threatening whatever person or force did this to the Professor. Ioann finally reveals what he’s been carrying around all bundled up, to be a large bastard sword, which he now brandishes ready to slay anything that might reveal itself. There is nothing to be seen, however. No monsters, and no men appear to lurk in the night.
Kendra flings herself into Ravel’s arms, and Ravel does her best to console the other woman. Ingrid, Terrance, Orin, and Ioann leave to fetch Father Grimburrow. Those at the house offer what support they can to Kendra and cover the Professors body as they wait and watch for any sign of more trouble.
Those headed to the temple, however, encounter a very peculiar sight along the way. Down by the memorial, they spot an old man moving rather oddly away from the monument. After a moment of bickering, they decide to go investigate the matter further. Upon nearing the memorial, they see that it has once again been marked in blood, this time with the letter ‘E’. Ingrid catches sight of the old man trying to slink away from shadow to shadow and gives chase. Orin readies his bow but awaits Ingrid’s word before firing.
When Ingrid gets near to the old man, he spins around revealing himself to be Gibs Hephenus – the man who attempted to stop the funeral procession. He yells at Ingrid while brandishing a bloody straight razor, “You shall not prevent our escape! The woman shall die again!” Gibs is wearing nothing but blood covered pajamas and seems completely crazed. A scuffle ensues as the group attempts to apprehend the old man without killing him, and the old man attempts to do as much damage to them with his razor as he can. Alas, he is far outnumbered and is soon knocked unconscious. The group bundles the old man up and takes him with them to the temple.
As usual, the group is greeted by two acolytes, even this late into the night. Startled at the sudden arrival of a bloody group and an unconscious man, the boys spring into action one fetching the Father the other showing them to a room for them to place Gibs for healing. Ingrid calmly explains what happened, both to Gibs, and to the Professor to the boy and asks that someone go remove Petros’ body. They acolyte apologizes, stating that he cannot leave unless directed to do so by Father Grimburrow. Once the Father arrives, and hears the tale, he sends the boys to respectfully fetch the Professor’s body. He then heals Gibs, who awakens in a state of confusion with no memory of what happened. The group does not believe that he has no memory, however, and continues to press him for information and states their accusations. Gibs, in a panic, instead comes to the only conclusion he can find which is that the group must have kidnapped him from his own home.
Unsure of what to believe, the Father insists that he cannot simply allow Gibs to leave and that he must fetch the Sheriff when the acolytes return. Ioann offers to go instead, to save time. Meanwhile, the acolytes arrive at the Lorrimor Estate and with a little help they remove the Professor’s body while Ravel tucks Kendra back into bed.
Ingrid, Orin, and Ioann make their way to the jailhouse where they find Deputy Riff doing paperwork. As the three of them tell the deputy what has happened, they become quite frustrated with the deputy as he seems to be showing sympathy for Gibs. For a moment, things seem rather intense and it seems as if things might come to blows! Luckily, however, everyone is able to keep their cool long enough to give their statements to the deputy and then wait while he fetches the sheriff. Sheriff Benjan Caeller insists that he himself will accompany the group back to the temple instead of the deputy, who will remain behind to guard the jailhouse. The group seems to prefer this decision. Meanwhile, the acolytes have told those at the house about Gibs and so Ake and Gellius have chosen to return with the acolytes to the temple.
The Professor’s body is placed in a warded room, Gellius and Ake stand guard over his body. The others return and are greeted again by the acolytes who fill them in on the whereabouts of the Professor and their friends. Returning to where Gibs is being held, the Father fills the Sheriff in on Gibs’ statements of the night. Sheriff Caeller asks everyone but Grimburrow to leave the room while he questions Gibs, so that Gibs will be as calm as possible.
After some time, the door is opened again and the sheriff exits, Gibs has had his hands bound in ropes and left in the room. He asks for someone to watch Gibs while he looks at the Professor’s body. Terrance stays with Gibs and Ingrid takes him to the Professor. With Ingrid’s aid, Sheriff Caeller examines the corpse. No magic residue can be found, as too much time has passed, but the sheriff notes that it appears that the Professor dug his way out of the grave, leaving mud caked on his hands and beneath his torn nails. After the examination, Sheriff Caeller takes Gibs to the jail and the others return home.
Even though it is already quite late, and everyone is quite tired, the group rallied by their anger, sorrow, and alcohol decide to visit Harrowstone right away. An hour later, the group is geared up and headed out the door after Terrance scribbles out a note to leave for Kendra.
They arrive at the prison and scout around before Ingrid kicks in the door of the main building. They make their way into the eerie building, it seems quiet and utterly abandoned until they enter a small squared room. The disembodied and badly burned heads of those who have fallen here come flying through the room, passing around and even through the bodies of the group, shrieking their agony they exit the opened door. The door slams shut in their wake. The event is over too swiftly for anyone to take any actions against the floating heads, leaving the group startled but unharmed. Terrance attempts to open the door only to find it sealed tightly shut. Ioann attempts to hack his way through the door, only to feel as if he has stuck a stone wall. Unaware that all of the doors are likewise sealed in this area, the group pauses to discuss what to do next. It is decided that they will move forward, lucky for them the energy that kept them sealed in here has now passed and they are able to leave freely.
The make their way to a series of offices, where Ioann bursts through each door and Terrance gathers what scraps of paper remain. Ioann moves on to see a whole in the exterior wall, leading out to the main courtyard not far from where they entered the building. Two more doors at the far end of the hall reveal the Warden’s chambers and washroom. A safe is found in the warden’s chambers and smashed open with Ioann’s brute strength. Inside, among smashed vials of potions, is a bag of gold and some paperwork. Deciding that they all really do need to rest, and that Harrowstone is going to take more work than they originally though, the group decides to return home.
As they make their way back out of the building, they are once again swarmed with the flying heads in the same room. The doors are all shut tight once more, but this time, Ingrid has figured out the key to ridding this place of at least this small nuisance. Using a flash of holy water found in the crypt, Ingrid says her prayers and sprinkles the room with the water, permanently banishing the wailing heads.
Heading back into town, they see the sun beginning to peak over the horizon and people going about their days. They return to the Lorrimor Estate to find Kendra asleep on a couch, holding Terrance’s letter. Ioann lifts Kendra from the couch and carries her to her room, on the way there, she wakes momentarily, saying Ioann’s name and smiling before falling fast asleep once more. In the kitchen, Ravel prepares food for the others as they discuss what needs to be done after they rest.
16th – After a few hours of rest, the group is up once more. It’s midday when they set out with Kendra to find better supplies for their return to Harrowstone. They stop first at the general store owned by the Avanaki family, including one of the little girls that Ravel and Orin spoke to about the skipping song. The little girl, Jamie, is the first to see the group as they enter the store and she greets Kendra with great enthusiasm before running off to tell her parents that they had customers. She points out Ravel and Orin to her mother, having received coins from Ravel previously. Her mother, Marta, makes sure that Jamie remembered to thank Ravel and Orin. It is not long before Jamie and her sisters have swarmed the group, asking them uncomfortable personal questions and helping them shop. Jamie manages to convince Ravel to skip rope with her outside if she teaches her the skipping song.
After they have made their purchases from the general store, the group moves across the way to the smith’s place. As they leave, two of the girls spot Ake and there is an incident with a jump rope slapping Jamie in the face. Kendra ushers the girls inside to their mother. Ioann attempts to hide Ake, but picking her up and holding her like a sleeping child. Ake does not make it easy on him, however, slapping him with the pickle she had in her hand and grumbling.
The smith is run by a dwarf woman named Jorfa. The group is greatly amused by Jorfa referring to Terrance as “child” and “boy” but it is with the innocence of an elder speaking to one much younger than her. When she is at a stopping point in her work, she goes to speak to the group to figure out what it is that they need. Several pry bars, pitons, and hammers later the group is ready to head back to the Lorrimor estate before heading back to the prison.
As they leave, however, there is the sudden sound of screaming coming from the tavern, The Laughing Demon, and people are seen running from the building in fear. The group wastes no time running towards the danger to find that there are stirges attacking the people inside the tavern. The group sets to attacking the critters, meanwhile, Uklod Oiglus, another friend of the Professors who arrived late to town is drawn to the commotion as well. He arrives on the scene to see two more stirges landing on the roof of the tavern.
As Uklod launches a dagger at one of the stirges, the other makes its way inside to torment the patrons. A bard, in fear of her life and not knowing what else to do begins playing her flute again. It gives the insects pause and they seem to leave her alone. Terrance takes out the final stirge, but still the woman continues to play the flute, shaking and sobbing the entire time.
She finally stops when Ingrid encourages her, assuring her that they are all dead and she is safe. While talking to Ingrid, she mentions that she thought that playing the flute might save her life because of all of the stories of how The Piper of Illmarsh controlled stirges with his music. Zokar, the owner, thanks the group profusely and offers them free drinks. Uklod enters to find that the battle has come to an end. Kendra soon enters behind him, blood covering her torn dress. She sets about trying to see who needs tended too, but learns that everyone else is uninjured. When asked about the state of her clothes, she explains that she was helping the injured people who ran from the tavern. Her eyes fall on Uklod, and she catches his attention. They greet each other and Kendra introduces the rest of the group.
Now short both Gellius and Orin.
Back at the Lorrimor estate, Kendra makes tea for everyone while the others tell Uklod about the events that have been transpiring, as well as her father’s will. Uklod is unsurprisingly upset to hear about the treatment that the Professor received at his funeral, and more so that he was raised from the grave. He agrees to abide by Lorrimor’s will and pledges himself to the cause of seeking out those who caused harm to Petros. With that out of the way, the group decides to return to Harrowstone.
They make their way deeper into the prison, Ioann tearing down doors as he comes to them. Ravel and Ake enter a room by themselves only to be attacked by possessed branding irons. When others try to aid them, they too are attacked by the branding irons. When the branding irons are made inactive through force and magic, Terrance and Ake are still left with painful sores. Even though the pain soon fades, a shiny scar remains even after Terrance channels divine energy to heal the wounds.
Before entering the next room, they think to have Ingrid use her magic to detect the presence of undead. Indeed, Ingrid finds a very strong presence, one strong enough that to even look upon it she is stunned. When they do enter the room, expecting the fight of their lives, they are instead confronted by the ghost of a woman who seems to believe that they are guards that have come to help take back control of the prison. Uklod, thinking swiftly, decides to attempt to engage the ghost in conversation since the ghost did not greet them with hostility. Through his compassion and patience, he is able to learn the details of what happened the night of the fire and that this woman, Vesorianna Hawkram, is all that stands between the malevolent spirts and Ravengro – and she is growing weak under their attacks. Seeing that Vesorianna isn’t an immediate threat, the others begin to engage her in conversation as well asking questions and assuring her that they will do everything that they can to defeat the evil spirits roaming this place so that she and her husband, the warden Lyvar Hawkram, can be put to proper rest. Vesorianna seems fixated on the idea that they are guards, however, and continues to call them as such even as she explains to them everything that she can including where she feels her husband’s remains are located, how bringing them to her would increase her control over the malevolent spirits, where weapons can be found that could be used against the worst of the spirits, and where the five prisoners themselves are located inside the prison. Vesorianna also tells them what she witnessed through her small window, the people who came to the prison grounds and were carving things into the structure. The man who they caught spying on them, how they killed that man, and then staged it to look like an accident. Thus the truth of Petros’ death is discovered.
With renewed zeal, Ioann carves them a path through the prison smashing down doors in his quest to find the property room which, according to Vesorianna, holds now cursed items that belonged to the prisoners and can be used against their owners. They come to what was once an infirmary and are immediately set upon by the frightening effects of a poltergeist. Ingrid, Uklod, and Ake are overwhelmed by the influence of the poltergeist and run away in fear. The others are able to steal their souls and face down the poltergeist as it pummels them with sharp objects left behind in the debris of the room.
In the next room, the party must face a fiery spirit inhabiting a furnace dubbed “Old Ember Maw”. Together, Uklod, Ingrid, and Ravel are able to disrupt the haunt for the time being. The bones are collected by Uklod and placed out in the lake water that has partially flooded this part of the building. The water bubbles and hisses, a sigh of relief can be heard as the spirit is released.
Ioann smashes down more doors as they try to find the property room that Vesorianna spoke of. They find themselves in a small auditorium, when the temperature suddenly drops. Nothing manifests itself visibly, and there is nothing to strike out at, but the cold is sucking the heat from their bodies. Ake sets the pews on fire to help stave off the cold and it seems to be helping, the others attempt to batter down the next door to escape the cold spot and put out the flames, Ake seems intent on causing more fire, though and casts again. It does the trick, however, and the cold disappears leaving them in a very hot room. They are able to extinguish the flames and heal some of their injuries.
After a brief discussion, they decide to see what is behind the metal door that is in this room before leaving Harrowstone. Ioann vents his frustrations on the door, taking numerous swings at the metal door until he is finally able to batter it down; leaving himself exhausted and the others staring in awe. Inside the room are wooden shelves with various personal affects, some of them still useful and valuable. A hidden door is discovered, and with a couple of good shoves Ioann is able to push it open. In the hidden room they find the items of which Vesorianna spoke. A bloodstained handaxe labeled: Vance Saetressle ID#RD769. A dozen holy symbols on fine silver chains labeled: Sefick Corvin ID#HR331. A moldy spellbook labeled: Hean Feramin ID#RH998. A smith's hammer labeled: Ispin Onyxcudgel ID#HT487. A tarnished silver flute labeled: Name Unkown aka The Piper of Illmarsh ID#DF425.
They decide that it might be best to return to Vesorianna to see if there is anything else that she can tell them about the cursed items before they take them back to the Lorrimor estate - Lady Kendra’s home. Vesorianna seems confused at first, asking them the same questions that she did the first time before her mind clears and she recalls that she has already spoken with the group. Ioann lays the items on a table for Vesorianna to examine, but she is simply unable to get very close to them as they seem to have some sort of negative affect on her. She wails and flickers, rattling the minds of those in the room. When they clear their heads once more, they find her cowering in the corner, crying. She explains that she cannot be near the items, and can’t tell them much about them except that the items have spirits inside of them and that it might be possible to communicate with those spirits to learn more, but she urges caution in doing so.
The group makes their way back to the Lorrimor estate to find that Kendra has left a note explaining that she is visiting with Gibs in the jail. She mentions that Jorfa has requested to speak with Terrance and that a package was brought to the house for Uklod, which is now in her bedroom. She encourages the group to do something relaxing for the evening. Surprisingly, they all seem to agree that it isn’t such a bad idea. Everyone except for Uklod decides to go to The Laughing Demon for dinner and drinks. Uklod decides at first to stay at the manor and do some reading, but soon decides that she should go check on Kendra.
At the tavern, they find that Zokar has decided that their heroism in fighting off the stirges has warranted them free food and drinks. They sit and discuss what their next moves should be while they enjoy their meal and the night seems peaceful until the cards that are being played at the next table over suddenly catch fire. The fire temporarily blinds some of the group, but as quickly as it appears it is gone again leaving the cards behind unscorched. Ioann accuses the men at that table of playing tricks, but they swear it wasn’t them and think that maybe Ioann or one of his group could have done something. The others are able to diffuse a fight before it breaks out and Ioann collects the cards leaving money for the men to buy new ones. Ingrid is able to detect the lingering presence of undead about the cards, and Ravel is able to explain to them the meaning of the Harrow card – The Uprising – that triggered the flame.
Meanwhile, Uklod has left the estate and is on his way to the jail when he notices the spooky appearance of tracks in the dirt when there is nothing present to be making them. He is able to determine that the tracks are that of a cart being pulled by horses, and he follows them back towards Harrowstone until they come to the small bridge. The tracks do not reappear on the other side after a moment of thought, he resumes his walk towards the jail to see Kendra. Along the way, he sees a man and a woman walking towards him. It isn’t long before he realizes that it is Kendra, and the man is introduced to him as Deputy Riff. Uklod tells them of the strange tracks he just saw, and although the Deputy is skeptical he suggests that they talk to Father Grimburrow about the event because it doesn’t seem like the sort of thing a deputy could do much about. With that, the three of them walk to the temple where Uklod is introduced to Father Grimburrow. Uklod and Father Grimburrow speak for a while about the strange events that have been happening around Ravengro and Father Grimburrow confides in Uklod that he believes that the presence of Uklod and his new companions might be the answer to his prayers for help in dealing with the hauntings of Harrowstone, as he had not received aid from the church. He agrees to take a look at the items that were recovered from the prison to see if he might be able to shed some light on how they might be used against the prisoners and what curses they bear. Uklod says that he will return with them the next day. Uklod then walks Kendra back to her house.
The others had already finished up their evening and had returned to the estate by the time Kendra and Uklod returned. The group filled each other in on what had happened since they split paths for the evening, while Ioann goes about looking for a shovel so that he can bury the items in the basement. Kendra follows Ioann around confused about exactly why he is burring cursed items in her basement, but decides that if he thinks it is the best thing to do she won’t stop him.
Kendra then fetches Uklod’s package from her own room and then shows him to Gellius’ old room where she has laid fresh linens on the couch and aired the room out for him. Soon, everyone is sound asleep.
