To Wear the Carrion Crown (Inactive)
Game Master Haldhin

He walks into the room and disappears behind a large stack of boxes. A minute later, you can hear boxes being moved. The man reappears a minute later with a large wooden crate with a stylized carriage burned into the side.

"These are the records of the transportation company that used to bring criminals to Harrowstone. They had a transfer order for every criminal that contained information like their name, physical description, their crimes, punishment... things like that."

"The company closed down after the fire, and the box ended up here. If you have 20 gold, you get to take this box out of here, and we forget we ever saw that crate, and we forget we ever saw you. Sound like a good deal?"

By my count, TSP has an excess of 50gp.

He carries the crate back up to the main floor, then out the back door. A few minutes pass before he comes around the side of the building pushing the crate in a wooden wheelbarrow. "Lead the way."

She suddenly looks at you, a revelation clear in her eyes, "He was killed wasn't he, Roland? My father wasn't in an accident - he was killed! Who did it, Roland? Who killed my father?"

Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Oorin has also entered the foyer.

He gently takes your hand and leads you toward the back of the large sanctuary. "Please, I wish to offer a brief prayer for your friend. Do you mind?"

Assuming Shanoa doesn't mind...

Father Grimburrow voices a short prayer asking Pharasma to look after Michael's soul. Though brief, he makes it seem deeper, more solemn, and you are somehow sure that it was heard.

After finishing, he sits in a chair across from Shanoa, "Now, tell me what happened."

"Anyways, Michael was a holy man of Iomodae - if there's no priest in town, I would be willing to perform the rite, being familiar enough with his religion. Of course, that is unless you would prefer to do it yourself."

"He was killed wasn't he, Roland? My father wasn't in an accident - he was killed! Who did it, Roland? Who killed my father?"

The Professor asked us to protect her...

Roland opens his mouth to say something...

No. She's a grown woman. She deserves the truth.

...seems to think better of it, and closes his mouth.

He looks at Oorin, then sighs deeply and gestures for Kendra to sit down.

"Perhaps it is best if you know what we have learned to date. Miss Lorrimor... Kendra... what, ah, do you know of your father's work?"

He turns in his chair and grabs a small book off his desk, ”As for who should conduct the service…” He flips through a few pages before tapping one with his index finger, ”Ah, here it is. Desul Veranto, Holy Sword of Light, High Priestess of Iomedae, just down the road in Ardis. I will have her send somebody - while you or I could fill in, I’m old and she owes me a favor.” he says with a small smile.

He leans back in his chair and closes the book in his lap. ”Now, what else can I help you with?”

She looks at Roland, then Oorin, then back, ”What are you getting at, Roland?”

”What are you getting at, Roland?”

"Your father was indeed a scholar... but it seems he may have also been directing his research toward understanding and combating the forces of evil."

Roland wrings his hands a bit, and paces, uncomfortable with the line of conversation.

"We believe some of those forces... may have been responsible for his death. And, indeed, may now be responsible for Michael's as well."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

"I also came about the...the cultist. If your spell works, I think we should ask what they were doing at Harrowstone, if they killed Proffessor Lorrimar, and if they awakened the dead there."

Denial is plain to see on her face – either she doesn’t want to believe, or she is convincing herself that what you’re saying isn’t true.

Diplomacy checks, please

”I’m not familiar with the habits of stirges, but I have heard of them. Do you think it’s likely that they’ll return to the house again? Are they like other wild animals and carve out an area and claim it as their home? Do we need to warn the towspeople about this new scourge?”

Caeler appears genuinely concerned about Michael’s death, and how it might impact the rest of Ravengro if these stirges come back.

I rolled a Kn: nature check for you – result: 16. It is unlikely the stirges will intentionally seek out the house again, and they do not have a specific area that they claim as their domain.

”I can ask four questions, but I will begin with the ones you suggest: 1)What was the Whispering Way doing at Harrowstone, 2)Did a member of the Whispering Way kill Professor Petros Lorrimor, and 3)Did the Whispering Way awaken the undead inside Harrowstone? You can suggest a fourth question during the questioning if you prefer, we should have plenty of time to decide before the spell ends.”

Let me know if Shanoa is ready to start the questioning – Father Grimburrow is willing to wait, but he’s ready whenever you are.

The acolytes stand off to the side, while the old priest says, ”Shanoa, I do not know how familiar you are with this spell, but I must warn you it may not work. And even if it does, do not expect direct answers – the only solace we have is that it cannot lie. It will try to lead us astray, or perhaps speak in riddles, but if it succumbs to my spell, it cannot lie.”

Father Grimburrow appraoches and stands over him and casts a spell. Upon completion, the body shudders slightly as the magic courses through it. The mouth slowly opens and closes, and the head woodenly turns toward the priest.

Grimburrow nods at you, then asks in a loud voice, ”What were members of the Whispering Way doing at Harrowstone?”

The mouth moves before a hoarse whisper escapes, ”We trapped the trapper. Governed the governor. Jailed the jailor.”

The priest continues, ”Did a member of the Whispering Way kill Petros Lorrimor?”

The body’s head turns from side to side before the same whisper answers, ”He killed himself. The horror wasn't real, but he didn't know that.”

Grimburrow asks, ”Did the Whispering Way awaken undead inside Harrowstone?”

The arms of the body twitch slightly, and the mouth moves several times before responding, ”No, they were always awake. But we did release them.”

The old priest turns to you, ”We have a few more minutes, do you have another question?”

He is startled by a hoarse laugh coming from the corpse, ”I have a question. Do you expect to make it out of here alive?” The head of the body is raised up from the table to look right at Father Grimburrow with glowing yellow eyes.

Roll initiative please. I assume Shanoa grabbed her typical adventuring gear before leaving the house.

Shanoa lets out a small shriek as the corpse turns into something far more sinister.

One acolyte reaches behind him and hefts a large candleabra in both hands. He then moves holds it like a spear and moves toward the creature.

The other acolyte attempts to cast a spell, only to see similar failure.

The creature twists itself forward with a grotesque sound of cracking bone until its legs and feet are splayed outward behind and beneath it and its hands are on the table, causing it to resemble something like a crab. ”What’s wrong? Magic not working quite right?” it asks in a mocking voice before leaping at Father Grimburrow.

The elder priest manages to dodge the creature and it lands on all fours, quickly scuttling around to face the four of you.

What would Shanoa like to do?

Thanks!

Swift action - activate Justice Judgement
ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 1 = 22
damage vs undead: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Grimburrow pulls forth his holy symbol, and bows his head in prayer, but he looks up a moment later, surprise on his face.

The acolyte with the candelabra approaches and attempts to stab the creature, but the weight of the make-shift weapon causes the attack to go wide.

The other acolyte takes after his friend and grabs a heavy candlestick off the table, turning it over and moving toward the undead monster.

Still fixing you with its burning yellow eyes, "You die next!" before turning toward Father Grimburrow and tackling the priest, slamming his head into the floor with its hands around his throat. Grinning madly, the monster leans down and bites into the priest's neck.

Shanoa, you're up

Kendra looks at Oorin, then turns toward the others. "Sheriff Caeler! Upstairs! My father..." She puts her face into her hands and begins crying again.

Sheriff Caeler walks over and places his arm around here, "It's okay Kendra, I'm here now. We'll figure this out together."

He sits down beside Kendra, who seems to calm down a bit, and looks at Karl, "Now, what did you want to tell me? Given what I'm seeing here, it's probably best if we both hear everything"

ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7
damage vs undead (1pt splash if I miss): 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Despite the blood flowing from his neck, the priest is still alive and conscious. Grimburrow screams as he struggles against the iron grip of the monster, but he is unable to break free.

The acolyte with the candleabra spear yells, ”Father!” before attempting to stab the creature. Failing yet again, he tosses the candleabra aside and moves out the door toward the Temple screaming ”Help, help!”

The other acolyte drops his candlestick and attempts to grab the undead creature, only for the monster to kick him away. With a choking sound, the acolyte grabs his midsection where he was struck and begins writing around on the floor.

The creature looks at Shanoa with a wide grin, ”I shall enjoy making you suffer! But first…” It opens its mouth wide and again rips into Father Grimburrow. The priest’s screams are cut off as the monster jams its hand into the man’s mouth, twisting his head violently to the side causing blood to fountain high into the air.

Shanoa’s turn

"And this man that attacked you, where did he go after he appeared?"

ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7
dmg vs undead (1 if miss): 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

Arrg! If I ever really needed a decent roll! Also, I have a question. My trait gives a +1 damage bonus vs undead, but I'm not sure when I get to use it. If it applies with splash weapons like holy water, the creature should have an additional -3 hp. Other than that, do I add it to spell damage as well or only melee?

Despite the growl from the monster as the water splashes him, it does not release the priest and continues to bite him.

Father Grimburow continues to struggle despite his massive loss of blood. But his strength seems to be fading as he fails to break out of the creature's grip.

The first acolyte can still be heard shouting for help as he moves closer to the temple.

The other acolyte continues to thrash around on the floor, and you clearly see blood on his clothing beneath his hands (on his midsection).

The creature opens its mouth wide and sits up to look at the priest with a horrible grin upon it's face. Keeping one hand on his head, it pulls its other hand back, forming its fingers into a single point. "Now little man, I want your heart!" The undead creature punches down faster than your eyes can follow. But in an instant, instead of being killed by the blow, Father Grimburrow has somehow managed to reach up and catch the monster's hand before it impales his chest!

Shanoa, you're up!

I'll take the additional hp off its total. And let's hear it for the natural "1" I rolled on that last attack, eh?