Alexei grunts as the dwarf's mighty fists slam into his body again. The blow leaves the oracle off balance, and he must spend all his effort to stay upright. The oracle bites out a word that doesn't seem to match the airy, bell-like tones of his cursed voice, before hefting his mace into the air. A blinding burst of light pours forth from the weapon, spreading to envelop the dwarf and everyone else.
HP: 20/31
Lucius expends the last of his divine energy to channel the power of the Lady.
Round Four:
Korvus keeps a worried eye on Bjorn, even as he fires another bolt of mystical force at the ghost dwarf.
Round Four
24 Lucius
12 Alexei
14 Enemies
11 Harold
10 Bjorn
03 Korvus
As Alexei staggers from the dwarf's attack, a spectral piece of bone separates from his head and flies across the room toward the other floating skull with the missing piece. The shard from Alexei's head moves as if to fit into the other skull - but it doesn't match... The Mosswater Marauder howls in anguish as the shard from Alexei's head dissipates...
Lucius and Alexei both channel their divine energy, affecting those around them.
The Mosswater Marauder attacks Alexei and Harold, hitting both!
Bjorn roars as he attacks the ghostly dwarf with his hammer, and the dwarf reacts from the blow, finally focusing on what the weapon the Ulfen wields...
As the dwarf's eyes go wide at the sight of the hammer, his body begins disappearing. With another sob, the dwarf turns back to the ghostly floating skull in the back of the room. Moving quickly, he reaches out for it, but his hands and the skull fade into nothing as they touch. The rest of his form fades quickly after that, leaving the prison in an eerie silence.
-----
The room is devoid of anything of value, but the alcove in the back of the room is some kind of secret armory. It holds:
- six suits of masterwork chainmail
- six suits of masterwork studded leather armor,
- four masterwork longswords
- four masterwork heavy maces
- two masterwork heavy crossbows
- 120 crossbow bolts
- a separate quiver of crossbow bolts
- a wand
- four potions
- a rope
- a wand (wand of hold person; 15 charges)
- four potions (potion of cure moderate wounds)
- a rope (rope of climbing)
-----
That was the last of the Five Prisoners, and if what you learned was true, the final opponent you needed to defeat inside Harrowstone prison.
What would you like to do now?
Alexei raises his weapon, causing light to spill over everyone once more.
He then stores his mace, before moving to check on the wellbeing of his comrades. "Finally, they are no more," he states to Bjorn, nodding deeply. "I agree, friend. I would rather never deal with another of these specters for the rest of my days."
Alexei frowns at the realization. "Da-," he pauses in the middle of the word, his eyes filling with uncertainty. He takes a long, deep breath, realizing that at some point he had almost forgotten why he'd come to this awful jail in the first place. "We... what did we expect to find here? This whole damned mess... Sarenrae shine on this place, and show us that which we seek," the oracle kneels and begins to pray, hands clasped in front of him.
"I'm gonna guess nothing good. So there's nothing else here? You've been everywhere?"
Harold stows his axe while watching Alexei kneel down and pray. He turns to Bjorn and the others, "Obviously, whatever they wan'ed 'ere they now 'ave. The Professor saw somethin' 'e wasn't supposed ter an' was offed befawer 'e could brin' da local authorities in'er da matter. Maybe some ov 'is work awer colleagues could shed a light in'er who dis cult is an' why they came ter Harrowstone since they did a good enuff job not leavin' any clues behind once they left."
Alexei kneels in the middle of the room and begins praying. The urgency in his voice, and the dedication he feels to Sarenrae, is clear for everyone to see and hear.
After several minutes, he stands up again, dismay on his face. Shaking his head, he indicates that he received no response to his pleas.
The group exits the guard room and moves back into the large chamber with the crumbled staircase. Surprisingly, there is a large dog sitting in the center of the room. His coat is the color of gold, and his green eyes sparkle with intelligence.
"Nice place," says the dog looking around the room. "Kind of musty though. But I like the 'abandoned evil prison' motif; definitely appropriate for a place like Ustalav."
He allows a small yawn to escape before looking back at the group, "So, I'm here," it continues, " what would you have of The Dawnflower?"
The dog raises his paw and indicates Alexei, "He called out for aid, and I was sent."
You could swear the canine actually smiles as it continues, "No, Bjorn Stonehand, I am not a spirit."
His eyes wide with the appearance of a talking dog, Harold turns to Bjorn and mouths, "Ruh roh!"
"Never seen that before. So what can you do besides talk? And since you seem to know ours, what's your name?"
Alexei's face breaks out in a wide smile, the first expression of complete happiness and comfort to come over the man's face in what feels like a very long time. "Everlight's grace, my prayers have been answered!" The bearded Chelaxian gets down on one knee, genuflecting before the servant of Sarenrae. "We came to this awful place to find any information on the Cult of the Whispering Way, and any connection they may have had to our mentor and friend, Professor Lorrimor's, death. We haven't found hide nor hair of them in this whole facility," the oracle pauses, taking a deep breath, "and I hoped Sarenrae might help us find something we may have missed.
"We have fought hard to cleanse this jail of the evil spirits within, giving them final rest from the horrors of undeath. We also seek to bring peace to the Warden's wife, finally ending the horrible saga of this place. We have brought sunlight to this world of eternal darkness. Would the Healing Flame's servant be willing to assist us in our original task?" Alexei asks, determination in his eyes.
Korvus' eyes widen in surprise at the unexpected appearance of the golden talking dog.
The half-orc wizard restrains himself from asking a multitude of questions and merely bows respectfully toward the talkative canine, content for the moment to follow Master Dawnreach's lead with respect to the party's interaction with the creature.
Keen eyes watch Harold and Bjorn... eyes which narrow slightly before turning to Lucius.
"Yes, Lucius Cassius of Ravengro, I know your name. My own I keep for a time, for reasons which may become clear."
Seeing Alexei genuflect, the dog bows its head low in response. "Greetings from the Dawn, brother. Your prayer was heard, and I have been sent to provide what aid I may, but understand, any help I give will come with a price." The final word 'price' seems ominous, coming from the canine's mouth.
"Not to bore everyone here... inside this paragon of happiness and virtue... but I need you to understand what my aid costs. You must weigh whether or not me giving you what you want is worth it."
"The heavens are aligned as and by competing forces. Most of the time, these forces are in balance. If one force gains an advantage, another increases its efforts to reinstate the balance. If one side was to gain too much of a foothold, either in the realm of the Gods, or here on Golarion, then the world as you know it would cease to exist. That is ultimately the goal of those you seek..."
"I explain that so that you understand - I am an agent of The Dawnflower, so whatever aid I provide to you must be offset somewhere else. This comes in the form of aid to your opponents. I do not know how or when their assistance manifests itself, but it will happen."
"So that is the price - I can give you assistance, but in return, you help those who are opposed to you in these events."
The dog seems to smile, "All that being said, I would not be here if She did not intend it. Since the other side has already gained some help from another Power, I can tell you two things that you may find useful."
"One: The Professor was cunning, and you were selected before you knew it for this battle. He watched you, affected your lives, and molded you, indirectly, for the conflict ahead. He had a plan, and I would recommend you follow it to the best of your ability."
"Two: Those who oppose you have also been interested in your lives, and they have made attempt after attempt to destroy you. Your families and friends have suffered at their hands. The Professor protected you as much as he could. But Those Who Whisper know you, and they fear you."
"Now, is there anything else I can tell you?"
Harold lifts his bowler hat off his head and scratches his head as he listens to the dog speak in flowery words. The half-orc muses to himself outloud, "Is i' a gift if i' is taken instead ov given? Or can one give wivaaaht giving?"
Alexei ponders the celestial servant's words for a moment. At Harold's words, he looks rather conflicted. He restrains himself from asking outright for the information, the news that it will assist their enemies, and of the fact that his family has been in danger, both weighing heavily on the Chelaxian. His left hand squeezes tightly around the handle of his shield. What should we do? he thinks to himself, frustration and worry clear on his face.
"The professor's been watching me? I'm sure that sounds creepier than it is. What do you mean by our families and friends have suffered? Did they hurt Kendra? Or my mom and dad?" For the first time that you've seen, Lucius' normally laid-back demeanor is replaced by one of concern.
Looking at Harold, the dog bobs its head, encouraging him to continue. "Interesting notion, Harold. You could try to take the information, but that won't work in this case. But are you asking me to do something other than just give you the information?"
The dog brings his paw to his chest and he opens his mouth in astonishment. "Why, that would be unethical and wrong! Just plain wrong - there are ancient laws that must be upheld, and pacts between Gods that must be respected! I could never ignore those sacred charges!"
Dropping his paw, he looks at Bjorn, then Lucius. "Are you asking me to give you the information you ask for, or are you simply speaking your minds?"
Alexei looks conflicted for a moment more, before a grin comes to his face. He looks to the others, nodding. "We may be on the right track, gentlemen."
"Well you were kind of vague with the information, so you didn't really tell us anything. So I think we are owed actual details at least."
The dog looks upward for a moment and closes his eyes.
A pall comes over the already eerie chamber, and the dog looks at you again, with eyes that have changed from a bright green to completely white. He looks at Bjorn and says, "Here is your answer."
He opens his mouth again, but this time, a white light issues forth and his voice has become a multitude of voices, speaking as a chorus, "Your coming has been known to Those Who Whisper for ages, centuries, or more, as it was to those brave people who oppose them, like Professor Lorrimor."
"Yes, what happened to your village was their doing. The Professor notified your father of the attack, and you were saved. But in saving your life, your father revealed his most terrible secret to the others of your clan, becoming an outcast and branded a traitor. His most terrible secret, but also his most powerful. Even now, you feel the strength of it flowing in your veins, and your friends can see its effects."
-----
Alarms! Someone is sounding the alarms!
Huge white trolls are raiding the village!
Warriors scream their battle cries as women and children flee from the onslaught. Man and monster engage in bloody combat in the streets and longhouses, neither asking nor giving quarter. The brutal fighting rages all around.
Your father grabs your arm, pushing you toward the rear door of your home, but two creatures emerge from the darkness, one of them pointing directly at you!
Your father pushes you back with a massive shove, then roars at the monsters - but it is no battle cry you hear, but an actual roar. As you watch in stunned silence, your father changes. His features melt and reform, and where the man once stood, now stands a massive white bear.
In a massive leap, the bear charges forward and tears into the monsters, literally ripping them apart. It turns and moves back toward you, gore and blood dripping from its claws and muzzle. Frozen at the sight, you recoil from this jadwiga that has possessed the man who raised you. But as the bear gets closer, you see its eyes, the human eyes of your father, staring back at you.
Looking past the bear, you spot a necklace that once hung around the neck of a troll. A humanoid skull carved from a piece of ivory with a black gag covering its mouth.
-----
The vision ends and you are once again in the present.
The dog once again has green eyes.
Looking at Lucius, the dog responds, "You think you are owed something? You think incorrectly. You are owed nothing because you have not given anything."
"Well you were the one being cryptic and vague. Excuse me for wanting useful information."
I was trying to be clever and get him to reveal more info by telling him that what information he gave was so vague, it was like he didn't say anything. Apparently it was either too clever or not clever at all. And he may be worried about his loved ones now, so there is some antagonistic.
No problem. Look forward to the update.
Harold rubs his chin next as he eyes up the dog, "Would da scales ov fate be tipped if we gave up somethin' first so there would be an imbalance ter be righted not a gift bestowed? Or I am barkin' up da wrong tree? No offense. Is there a means fer us ter come ter da infawmashun on aaahr own what yew can poin' us in da right direcshun wivaaaht comin' aaaht an' sayin' it? I confess, I'm not what good at deese word games."
Korvus' face has been in a slight frown during the entire exchange with the celestial canine as he considers all that the divine servant has said... and not said.
"Would da scales ov fate be tipped if we gave up somethin' first so there would be an imbalance ter be righted not a gift bestowed? Or I am barkin' up da wrong tree? No offense. Is there a means fer us ter come ter da infawmashun on aaahr own what yew can poin' us in da right direcshun wivaaaht comin' aaaht an' sayin' it? I confess, I'm not what good at deese word games."
"Hmmmm..." Korvus muses, considering his companion's words. "You may be onto something there, Master Grimsley. According to Master Dawnreach's associate here," Korvus nods respectfully to the talking dog, "we are part of the Professor's plan to thwart the Whispering Way. In his will, the Professor requested that we remain with the Lady Kendra for a period of one month, and then deliver certain books to certain personages in the city of Lepidstadt. Therefore, one may surmise that the information we seek may be found in the course of fulfilling those specific tasks that the Professor set before us."
Alexei nods at Korvus' words. "That sounds... entirely plausible." He ponders them for a moment, then speaks again, "That leaves the distinct posibility that we came here for nothing, though... but I suppose assisting Miss Vesorianna might have been plenty. Allowing the spirits of this place to rest may be all the reason we ever needed, even if what we seek wasn't even here to begin with..."
"Exactly. We did not come here for nothing, Master Dawnreach. The Whispering Way, in stealing Warden Hawkran's spirit, unleashed a great evil upon Ravengro that - if left unchecked - likely would have completely devastated the town. And who is to say that that wasn't also part of the Whispering Way's plan that we are suposed to thwart? Remember how Masters Tyon and Gibs were possessed by the spirits of one or more of the Five Notorious Prisoners? Think of all the horror that may have transpirered if we had not been here to put an end to it."
"Exactly. The less evil malignant spirits running around, the better."
Alexei nods deeply. "I can certainly agree with that..." The oracle turns to the celestial hound, bowing politely to it once again. "Thank you. But I must know," his eyes fill with a bit of desperation, "my family... are they okay? I have been gone for quite a long time. If the Whispering Way has laid one single wicked finger on my mother or sister, I fear that they will have far more reason to fear me than they could ever expect."
The dog continues to stare at Lucius, then grins, "I like you. Are you sure you don't want to come work for us? I mean, Pharasma is great and all, but so... gray, and boring, and death, and blah."
He indicates Alexei with a paw, "You should go with him to one of our festivals. We always have cookies, and let me tell you, those Dawnflower Dervishes... they can sure shake their 'dawnflowers' if you catch my drift!"
Serious again, he looks toward Alexei, "Your families are well. I believe Lucius can vouch for the health and safety of his loved ones?"
"The Professor had many friends, and once he found what he was looking for," the dog pauses to indicate all of you, "He was able to take steps to blunt the schemes of Those Who Whisper. This isn't anything you can't easily verify yourselves, so I can reveal this bit of information without recourse."
The dog actually gets up and walks toward Korvus, "A moment ago, you asked an interesting question, Master Korvus. You said, 'And who is to say that that wasn't also part of the Whispering Way's plan that we are supposed to thwart?'. Hypothetically speaking, I would say that they it wasn't part of their plan, because they weren't here to guide it. After all, groups like them, who plan out every move decades in advance, who have ranks of diviners scrying out possible avenues to achieve their goals, they have a pretty good idea what they're doing. But if I may turn your question around. What did they come here for, and why do you think they did it - what specifically they gain from their actions?"
Alexei smiles at the dog's suggestion. "I just might," he says, though he doesn't look to calm down until the dog mentions his family is safe.
"That is fantastic. I only just sent them a letter half a month ago, I would not know what to do with myself if they never replied... but enough of that. The Whispering Way's foolish minions must have had some reason to come to this place, but what? Surely not just to take Hawkran's soul?" He strokes his beard with his free hand, brow furrowed in deep thought.
The dog looks thoughtful for a second before glancing at Alexei, "I guess so. I mean, it's not like the Warden's soul was serving any purpose here, right?"
Alexei's brow furrows even more at the remark. If the dog was saying what the Chelaxian thinks it is saying, then there didn't seem much they could do to solve the problem. "I... I don't suppose you could at least accompany us to return the Warden's sign of authority to his wife, could you?", the bearded oracle asks, before turning to the rest of the group to gauge their reactions to his suggestion. "Her spirit deserves the peace of oblivion, rather than to be chained to this place for eternity."