"Well," Lym says as she moves over to stand next to Rhianni. "A bit of excitement, what? Let us hope this is the full extent of it."
"If only that were true, Lym. That's what I thought when we all entered Thistletop after the goblins, but it just seemed to get worse. We were lucky to escape with or lives, but we prevailed. I don't hold out much hope that that is all we shall discover here. But perhaps we should let the souls of these unfortunates return to Pharasma's court and rest once more. I think we should burn these corpses and not let them fester here ready to return and haunt the living. What do you say?"
Rhianni pokes at the corpses and gingerly searches for anything that they might have on them to help in their inquiries or be useful.
"I am all for burning these ghouls down to ashes," Lym replies, and she casts a look of disgust on the bodies. "As quickly as possible. I dare say that barn would make a jolly pyre, especially with what these ghouls left inside of it."
"I would advise against just summarily destroying property. There might be someone who would take umbrage at such actions without due cause. We can see to the disposal of the corpses without further damage to the buildings I think."
A leather cord with a key hanging from it sits around the neck of the elite ghoul. The key bears a heraldric symbol of a curious flower surrounded by thorns.
In the kitchen, you find a decayed, mutilated, and infested corpse of a man. The seven-pointed star you've become familiar with is carved on this corpse's chest. A scrap of parchment is attached to his tunic with the following words:
Lym Blackhand -
You, and you alone, have brought this fearful harvest. They are dead because of you, and more shall join them soon.
In one of the bedrooms, you uncover a loose floorboard. Under it is hidden a stout wooden coffer.
Lym staggers when she sees the baleful note and makes a horrified, mewling noise.
"I dearly wish to find the one responsible for this atrocity," she says to no one in particular. "Property be damned, I also wish to see this infested site burned to the ground."
She turns to the deputies. "You represent the Law in this place, gentlemen. How say you? Is there any objection to turning these buildings to kindling?"
Lucian checks for any hidden unwelcome surprises and then sits down in front of the porch, filling his pipe and puffing a few notes. He then looks at the group and says:"Well I have a few things to say. First of all, although this seems to be good farmland, I strongly advice collecting all the bodys and burn them. I don´t know if in the barn or somewhere else, but nevertheless, this is a house were unspeakable things have happened. I can just say, I wouldn´t want to live here. And I don´t know but we can´t ignore the fact that we might have overlooked something!
This is not only the site of a murder, but also a possible herd for more infections. Those that can be saved, should be saved, but we also have to think about the greater good! We have some deputies here who can verify that it was not wanton destruction. So lets gather the bodies, Tomaru, you should say the prayers and then we HAVE to move on! There is an alpha animal behind this, with a grudge and as long as we don´t kill it, this was just a stepstone!"
Rhianni's furrowed brow, shows that she is mildly distressed about something she found, "The key that I found, it seems to belong to the Foxglove family, at least that's what I think this crest is." she shows the group, especially Lym the key. "It is the only clue we have found here, among the raised dead." She looks at each and everyone of the group to see if this family or crest means anything to them. "Perhaps we can find out more in the library in town, I don't know, but we might make a visit there next."
With a loud sigh she asks, "Have you finished searching the house for any more clues, other than that damn note. Why you Lym? Why you? It makes no sense. Let us dispose of the bodies and leave the farm, there may be others who would lay claim to this land and bring out the good, removing the evil. Surely Tomaru your god would protect this place from further evil if you called upon his power?"
A thought seems to suddenly strike Lym, and she starts to tremble.
"I..." she stammers, "I c-called the retreat, did I not? What if... what if that filthy Barghest... somehow...? Because I called the retr-retreat instead of f-fighting on...?"
It is clear that the Wizard is deeply distressed by this notion.
Lucian takes Lyms right hand firmly but gently and looks her deep in her eye! With the same gentleness he says:"Stop. You don´t know who is the one behind this all! You do not! Do not walk a path because it is easy. Be logical! Half-orcs have a fire of fury in their heart. Kindle it, stroke it, find the enemy behind this all and burn him to ashes!"
He then puts a piece of cloth around his face, binds a few more rags around his hands and starts dragging corpses to the barn.
"Lym, I don't know, but it seems to me that this seems more personal than what should have come from your encounter with that creature. We will only unravel this mystery by continuing down this path. In time we will go to look in on the barghest, but now we have more people, these Foxgloves, to try and rescue." Do the guards know where the Foxglove home is?
"I just don't understand this," Lym whispers. "I do not. I can recall nothing I might have done to warrant such actions, neither as revenge nor as..." The next word comes out full of loathing: "... courtship."
The Wizard shakes herself and seems to regain some self-control. "Deputies," she says. "How say you? The killer promised to make the Misgivings my throne when he claimed me. Will the Law object if I burn it to the ground before such a thing can come to pass?"
Another thought seems to occur to Lym. "In any case, we should finish our business here quickly. I am starting to fear that we are being led around by the nose. Killers do not usually leave handy notes about their plans behind, unless they have some kind of plan for you -- and while we are here, Sandpoint's defences are weakened!
I vote we carefully crack open that coffer, light the fires and be on our way as quickly as we can -- making certain that the fire does not set all the crops ablaze as well, of course."
"I agree with Tomaru about you Lym, I guess we'll find out in time. As for the Foxgloves, we have a key that's all. They is nothing to suggest we have a rescue, in fact it could be the opposite. I think we need to find out more of the Foxgloves, before we just walk in on whatever is there." Rhianni's face frowns as her mind wonders on the key, Could it be that key is just to let these undead back to their base or are the family really in trouble. What could the key be for?
"Maybe the key fits the coffer?" Lym suggests, shrugging.
Lucian shrugs and between dragging the last corpses to the barn, stops for a moment and says:"We will know it, when we are there! To many open trails! So if anyone could please help me! And Tomaru, will you cast the prayers, please?"
Rhianni offers the key to Lym, "Here, try this."
Tomaru will pray over the remains to send their souls on their final journey to Pharasma.
Lym casts Detect Magic on the chest to look for traps, and asks for the men's help to look for more mundane threats before she tries the key on the coffer that was found in the farmhouse.
"That coffer could just be the good farmer's entire life savings also, and unrelated to this whole mess."
Still, he doesn't suggest that trying the key is in any way a bad idea.
The key doesn't fit the coffer. Luckily enough, you find another key, plain and rusted, this time on the infested corpse. It just so happens to fit the coffer's lock.
Inside are leather pouches, meticulously organized. Each pouch contains 100 silver pieces, and there are 4500 silver pieces in all.
The Foxglove crest key doesn't seem to fit anything. Who the hell knows why the ghoul had it?
"...heard the name before. I think that's a noble family of Magnimar. Not sure exactly where their home would be. Perhaps you should ask around town."
"I don't think you should be burning down the house." one of the guards tells you. "These ghoul's bodies have already look thoroughly destroyed, but you can incinerate their remains if you want."
Lucian starts incenerating the corpses and the leads the party back to sandpoint.
"Aldern Foxglove!" Lym says during the walk back to Sandpoint, and snaps her fingers. "The one who was gored by the boar! We saved... his... life..." Lym's voice trails away into uncomfortable speculation. "He did not seem like a great necromancer to me..."
Lucian shrugs and says: "Very often the most beautiful snake is the most poisinous! Tell me more about this man? And does anyone know any rumours about this family? In any case we did something good today!"
"Before we head back, we need to thoroughly search these fields for more ghouls and especially more sick folks."
"You know, in case we need more people to butcher," he adds under his breath out of earshot of the guards.
"I remember little of the man," Lym admits to Lucian. "I was one of the group that fought the invading Goblins. We saved Aldern Foxglove then, and he invited us to a boar hunt in thanks. The boar gored him, but we saved his life once more. He is a local nobleman; he was in Sandpoint on a trip away from his home. That is about the extent of my knowledge about the man, off the top of my head."
The Wizard gives Praxim a dirty look, but then shakes her sleeve. The bat Limmeric goes flying off, chittering at the top of his voice. "Limmeric shall check for more scarecrows in the area," she says, "but he will not approach them. Wait. Here."
Lucian grabs his pipe, prepares it and lights it. Then, after a few puffs he replys:"A nobleman? Well, one never knows. In any case, thats our only and therefor our best lead. Also... I think our prey "wants" to be found!"
There are scarecrows scattered all over the farm. After several more run-ins with "living" scarecrows, you find your way off the farmland and back onto the Lost Coast Road, then go north until you reach Sandpoint. To your surprise, or not, you are met at the edge of town by a group of several city guards, hands on hilts, and Sheriff Hemlock. One particularly familiar guard sneers at Praxim. "You need to come with us," Hemlock says sternly.
You end up in the barracks in a room with Hemlock and Mayor Deverin. After a long, tedious reprimand about being belligerent with his guards, and some threats of criminal prosecution, he lets you go free. The mayor, in contrast, thanks you for your efforts, and from her own wealth rewards each of you with a hefty sum of coins.
The next morning, Rhianni gathers some information about the Foxglove family. It seems "Misgivings" is a nickname given to the Foxglove manor, and attached to that name are rumors of it being haunted. Furthermore, the house lies near the edge of a cliff, about halfway between Sandpoint and Magnimar.
Meeting Father Zantus that morning, he gifts you with the holy water he promised...six vials in all.
As the companions gather, Rhianni stops everyone short and abruptly says, "I had a visitor this morning! It's strange really but you remember Cyrdak Drokkus, from the theatre here in Sandpoint. Well he came in with some exotic speech to say we should be aware of a rune, the rune is either some sort of star or is a like a star shape, I'm afraid he wasn't very clear. But in the end he gave me a name, Brodert Quink who lives near the Old Light. So our plans, does this alter them or are we on a course to discover more of Foxglove Manor?"
"An interesting system of justice you have here, my good Mayor, where guilt is assumed and one is convicted in abstentia from a single biased witness' testimony. Very interesting indeed."
But he doesn't press the issue.
The next morning, he says that all leads should be tracked down, and ones that are three blocks away instead of a day's journey should be investigated first.
Lucian would also say, if something is close by, they should visit that .. first!
Tomaru thanks the Good Father for his aid. "I'm sure that these will come in useful all to soon."
In the shadow of the Old Light is a single house. Outisde, an aged balding man in scholar's clothes greets you.
"Yes, yes! Come over here! I am Brodert Quink, scholar of Varisian history. I moved here to study this relic of Thassilon," he gestures toward the Old Light. "The sheer size of monuments like these, and their unnatural resistance to erosion is truly a testament to the Thassilonian empire's skill with magic. Other so-called experts think the empire was at the height of power 7000 to 8000 years ago, but I think it collapsed no sooner than 10000 years ago." He talks excitedly, seemingly out of both eagerness and frustration.
"This structure here, I'm sure you know, is called the Old Light. I believe that's a misnomer, though. You see, my theory is that this monstrosity wasn't a lighthouse. It was a war machine, capable of spitting fire from its peak, but the others don't take me seriously." Brodert frowns. "This relic isn't why I requested your audience, though. Instead, it's because of another remnant of the Thassilon that you've already encountered...the seven-pointed star."
"That star is known as the Sihedron Rune, and it may have been one of the important runes in Thassilon, possibly even a symbol of the empire itself. Each point on the star represented one of the virtues of rule: wealth, fertility, honest pride, abundance, eager striving, righteous anger, and rest. The leaders of the empire, however," Brodert smirks, "were probably far from being virtuous, and I believe that the seven mortal sins originated from corruption of those virtues. Moreso, each point on the star also represented one of seven schools of magic."
"Now, that the murderer carved this rune into the bodies of the victims suggest he was some sort of scholar," Brodert pauses and waves his hands dismissively. "It wasn't me though!" he chuckles sheepishly. "Anyway, that's all I have to tell you. Hopefully, this information helps in your investigation."
Lym moves closer to Brodert Quink and stares him in the eye. "And the ancient Thassilonians were the only ones to ever use this rune?" she asks in a dangerously soft voice. "The only ones ever?"
It may surprise the other party members to see that Lym has changed clothes. The veil is still there, but it is now one made of black lace. Her leather gloves seem more suited to a Chilaxian opera than laboratory work, and the rest of her wardrobe is... stylish. Her hooded cloak seems to have small sparkles woven into its black fabric. Purple satin and black silk actually manage to make the Wizard look aesthetic, while still shrouding her racial identity.
"Eh? What are you getting at?" Quink looks curiously at Lym.
"Has no one else adopted this rune since?" Lym clarifies. "Such as, say, a noble house or an alliance of people?"
Rhianni draws the rune on her skin, "Pretty magic that!" she says appreciating the design and its innate magic. "A scholar, then it is worse than just some obsessed lunatic, because they will have intelligence on their side too. Oh, I'm not liking this. We might be dealing with a wizard with power over the dead, not nice at all."
She wanders up and down, worry lines across her brow, "The cards, I must consult the cards. Surely the gods of magic must know about the ancient magics of the Thessilons. Who would know and be studying these old ways?" She takes out her cards and starts shuffling, but before she starts to deal she asks, "Brodert, if as you say this is some sort of machine, who has been visiting you recently. Surely, they must want to study this Old Light?"
"Draw not too lightly the runes of the ancients!" Lym warns, her voice low and baleful. "You heard here just now how the seven-pointed star was corrupted from the seven virtues of the ruler into seven sins! Write not the star unless you have mastered it enough to ensure only the virtues are invoked."
Brodert shrugs. "Imitators exist in every aspect of life. Though, other than these mystery murders, I am not aware of this rune's usage outside of the time of ancient Thassilon."
"You shouldn't fret. The secrets of Thassilonian magic are long lost, and unless this gypsy somehow knows the rituals for activating the rune, there isn't anything to fear from simply scribing it."
Lucian scratches his neck and is lost in thought for a moment. Then he says:"We from the shoanti tribe know there is power in runes. We ask for protection from the spirits. Maybe he asks for power from some other source. Nevertheless, we have to find that thing and take care he doesn´t kill more people. And we can´t do it here. Let´s go to this foxstove house!"
Praxim raises an eyebrow at Lym. "Now that's creepy. Do you know something specific to Thassilonian runes that makes you think they're so dangerous?"
"I majored in Thassilonian studies in Nex," Lym admits after a moment of contemplation. "I even spent a semester away in Riddleport, doing on-site studies as part of the exchange program with the Cypherlords. Thassilonian magic was... potent. And its traces are still with us, in more way than one."
Lucian thinks they should now go on to check the Foxden. No more time to waste, time for action!
In a quite moment Lucian will mix coal ash and some fat to make a little tin of black face paint. He will give it to Lym saying: [b] If your change of clothing means you are on the warpath, let me offer you some black paint for your skin. Maybe its time that you paint your own symbols on your skin, as a symbol of your willingness to find this ,,, monster
Before leaving Brodert, Rhianni asks if he can provide them with pictures of other ancient Thassilon runes, of which they should be aware and what he knows of their meaning. Especially those with a relationship to the star?
Leaving, she makes her way into the markets and stores on the lookout for magical items and scrolls she can use.
Lym takes Lucian aside and whispers some words in his ear before hurrying to catch up with Rhianni.
"The new wardrobe is a feint. Let the bastard think I am flattered. Let him think I am responding well to his thrice-cursed 'courtship'. Let him come close, and..." The way Lym clenched one gloved hand into a fist spoke volumes about her intentions.
Praxim has spent the past day or so, refitting his quiver with a host of new arrows, and picking his new armour and buckler up from the local armourer.
Once they've dealt with Brodert and gotten all the information they're going to get from him, he's quite content to head for Misgivings sooner rather than later, muttering something about being glad to, "show this town his backside."