The sheriff gives Catherine a nod, and bids Grimburrow a farewell. Walking away from the temple, heading north, he waits only a moment as he beckons Catherine with a wave of his hand.
"Nothin' but trouble, with that Lorrimor. Even dead, he's causing me problems," Grimburrow says, as he wrings his hands together. Realizing that the party hasn't left, he turns his attention to everyone. "Come to spare a few coins for Pharasma? Maybe stay for the evening sermon?"
The sheriff plods along at a steady pace, his eyes taking in the woman beside him. "Caeller. Benjan Caeller," he says as he holds out his hand. "Couldn't help but notice your finger's got an itch to it."
Reaching the top of the stairs, you can see that all the doors are closed. Unsure which door to use, you pick one at random, and wind up in a small room . It is just as packed with books and nick nacks as the rest of the house.
From the other side of the west wall, you can hear a low moaning.
"That's coming from one of the bedrooms. Come on." He waves Echo to follow and rushes into the upstairs hall. He stops at the first door on the left before the drawing room. Quickly composing himself, he raps a bony knuckle loudly on that door several times.
"Ms. Lorrimor! Do you need assistance? Are you decent?"
he raps a bony knuckle loudly on that door several times.
From the other side of the door, there is only more moaning. As you stand before the door, you feel a rush of cold air, which passes as quickly as it starts.
"See to her!" Vitaliy rasps at Echo. It's hard to tell in the confusion, but you think you see his eyes flash green. His head whips around, as if looking for something.
You can sense a lone, weak aura--a swirling red mist--moving towards a mirror in the hallway. Frost grows on the flowers nearby, freezing, then shattering the delicate petals. As it envelops the mirror, the mist fades into nothingness.
Dawn looks ready to join the sheriff to speak with the crazy man, but is too slow to respond as Catherine speaks up and walks off with the sheriff. "Yes, that is good. Someone must speak with him to clear up this confuză."
She turns to Father Grimburrow and frowns as he speaks up concerning the Professor, "I am sure we can spare some silver for Pharasma, yes. You have problem with Professor, yes? Maybe you can tell us? We have recently come to understanding that we need to look into his past affairs. Something you know might help, yes?"
"We were also hoping to ask that we might look at an unused crypt in the Restlands. The Professor, he wrote that he used it for storage, and we were hoping to know what he stored there and why he used this specific tomb. With your permission, we would look, yes?"
Using his cudgel to prop himself up, Grimburrow sighs heavily. "It's not so much a problem with the professor. It's the folks here in town. Lorrimor was always traipsing about in the night, spending his time locked in the library here or at his home, so the townsfolk grew suspicious."
He steps in closer to the party, lowering his voice. "After those black robes up and left town, and then Lorrimor was found dead, the townsfolk came to their own conclusions. Black magic they say." He shakes his head violently and steps back. "I just can't bring myself to believe it."
"An unused crypt in the Restlands? I can assure you, dear, that they're all being used." He scratches his chin, his eyes darting between all of the party members. "I'm afraid I can't just let you go breaking into crypts, and causing who knows what other mischief in the Restlands. I'll send a couple of the acolytes over to have a look in...err... Which crypt was it?"
Dawn watches the Father's face, unsure of what to make of that last remark, "I am not sure of the name of the crypt. I only know that there is one in the Restlands that the Professor thought might hold items of some use to him. I was hoping you would know, yes?"
"Another thing. We were hoping the temple had a library or lists of those who died in the Harrowstone fire. You would not mind if we were to look through them, find out what we can of Harrowstone, no? It would help us determine why the Professor was so interested in the burned out prison himself, I think," she finishes, hoping he'll give them his consent.
The sheriff plods along at a steady pace, his eyes taking in the woman beside him. "Caeller. Benjan Caeller," he says as he holds out his hand. "Couldn't help but notice your finger's got an itch to it."
"Catherine Black, of Les Betes. I'll cop to an itchy finger. I come from up Shudderwood-way. Sometimes your neighbors there walk on two legs during the day, four at night. Sometimes the neighbor you trusted yesterday will go for your throat tomorrow."
Catherine nods her head in a weary way, pulls out a cheroot and lights it.
"I'm no more fond of killing innocent villagers than they are of getting killed. My finger may itch but I save it for the Lost. I will also say that I don't thump men on the head and leave them alive. Those not truly damned have nothing to fear from me. Those that are shouldn't expect to live."
Echo rushes up the stairs behind Vitaliy, and hears moaning from the far side of a door. We cannot waste time. I have to get in there.
She tries to enter the room, lifting the latch/turning the knob while pushing hard against the door.
"Harrowstone, eh?" He steps up close to Dawn, lifting his cudgel up onto his shoulder. You can smell the garlic on his breath from lunch as he talks. "Best to just stay away dear. A lot of bad history up on the hill." His face grows long as he finishes his sentence. He gently grabs Dawn's arm, "Please, child. I beg of you not to dig up the past. Petros did, and now he's dead..." He lets her go, and turns back to his temple.
"The resources of the church are yours to use. There's an office in the back which Petros was using. I'll see to it that you have access to the room, but only during non-service hours." He looks up to the sky, and then glances down the road. "And I'm afraid that won't be until tomorrow morning. The flock is coming home."
"Luvick!" Grimburrow shouts, and within moments, a young man dressed in simple black robes comes out the front doors. "These visitors need some help with the Restlands. You've recently mapped it out, so I'd like you to assist them with identifying a crypt. Renei will take over your duties today."
"Good luck, and I'll assume I'll see you in the morning." Using his cudgel as a walking stick, Grimburrow makes his way into the church.
"The bestial wolves. I shudder to think what would happen if one found it's way into Ravengro." Benjan is quiet for awhile, letting Catherine talk, nodding to townsfolk heading south.
As you exit the covered bridge which leads into the town square, Benjan stops. "I asked one of your party to come along to bear witness for your defense against Gibs. I'll ask that you do as little talking as possible, except when asked. He's likely drunk, and looking for a fight, and we don't need to give it to him."
Benjan starts again, moving his blunderbuss to a more accessible position on his hip. As he repositions the gun, you notice that it hasn't been fired in a long time. You quickly find yourselves in the town square, which Benjan leads you around counter-clockwise. He points out Jominda's shop.
Passing by the apothecary that Jominda runs, you see that he slows down, and seems to be trying to see into the windows--he's giving the place more than his undivided attention.
He leads you down the roadway between H and I, stopping at a building sitting along the river. Handing above the door is a wooden sign, with an outline of a demon. "The Laughing Demon," Benjan says as he hides his weapon inside his coat.
Echo rattles the door handle, but the deadbolt keeps the door from swinging inward. Shouldering the wooden door, Echo manages to crack the wood around the deadbolt, but she's unable to gain entry into the room.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Momentarily distracted by the fleeing spectre, Vitaliy is slow to react. He throws his shoulder into the door frame.
As you exit the covered bridge which leads into the town square, Benjan stops. "I asked one of your party to come along to bear witness for your defense against Gibs. I'll ask that you do as little talking as possible, except when asked. He's likely drunk, and looking for a fight, and we don't need to give it to him."
"I don't mind letting him talk himself out, as long as I'm given an opportunity to counter what he says. As long as everything is on the up-and-up I don't think we'll have a problem."
Passing by the apothecary that Jominda runs, you see that he slows down, and seems to be trying to see into the windows--he's giving the place more than his undivided attention.
"Is there a reason you find the apothecary suspicious? I must say that while she seemed reasonable, there is something about her that makes me a mite unsettled. Whether it be for good or ill, I cannot say, yet she immediately stands out in my mind. This always makes me nervous."
Hanging above the door is a wooden sign, with an outline of a demon. "The Laughing Demon," Benjan says as he hides his weapon inside his coat.
"I was under the impression we were going to your office. What type of establishment is this and why are we going here? If the gentleman you speak of is drunk, are you sure you want him loose? And if he is looking for a fight, why do I want to step inside a place where he likely has many friends and supporters? Once I step through this door, what assurances do I have that I will step back out?
Catherine is very hesitant to step inside this building, alone and without the others knowing where she has gone. She is going to need some convincing before she will blindly follow this man.
As Grimbarrow makes his exits, Ulam lets out a sigh of relief, flavored with more than a touch of bitterness. "Hmpf… stupid Gibs human, makes trouble for us. Good job Dawn. I was thinking that good father maybe not give us what we need. Too bad… must wait till morning for list of dead men. Can go to ruh-Restlands now, take a look at tomb… maybe is better to wait for others, to go inside. More safe if there is trouble, no? I think they want to see. What you think?" He looks to Dawn and Viktoria, arms crossed, awaiting their replies. He speaks to them exclusively, ignoring the presence of the Acolyte Luvick.
"We're most fortunate he did, yes. It is a shame that we must wait for the list, though. We will look for this crypt with the others, I think. That would be best, yes? I do not think there is trouble, but nothing in Ravengro seems... how do you say... on the up and up? No, no. As it seems, yes? As it seems. Many secrets here, I think. Many, many secrets."
She crosses her arms and taps a hand against her elbow in thought, looking down at the ground, "The journal, it was quite difficult for me to read. I did not grow up speaking the Taldane, no. Luvick, would you know of any crypts along certain paths within the Restlands? I believe the names were..."
She waits for an answer then nods, "Thank you, Luvick. You have been very helpful. Now, if you would find our companion Catherine and inform her that we will meet her back at Miss Kendra's house, we would be grateful. Go along, now. There you go," she says as she shoos him off in the direction Catherine and the sheriff went.
"What say you, miss Viktoria? Shall we head back to the manor and discuss this further with Echo and Vitaliy? They might have learned more from their books, no?"
Luvick pulls out a scroll case, and unfurls a map of the cemetary. He quickly finds the crypt that Dawn explains. "One of the first crypts used by the residents of Ravengro. A lot of local families interred there.
He looks at each of the remaining party members, and seems irritated that he's been dismissed. "I don't believe that the good Father intended that I should find your lost friends." He folds up his map, turns around, and heads back inside the church.
As he reaches the door, you start to see townsfolk approaching the church.
as long as I'm given an opportunity to counter what he says
"I'll be with the both of you, so I'll make sure you get your chance. I want to be sure I get both sides."
Is there a reason you find the apothecary suspicious?
"S..Suspicious? N..No." He stammers a moment. "No. Just making sure everything's alright. She attended Lorrimor's funeral, and there were words exchanged. Making sure she's okay."
What type of establishment is this and why are we going here?
Standing outside the Laughing Demon, Sheriff Caeller raises an eyebrow. "That's right, you only just arrived. It's a pub, owned and operated by one Zokar Elkarid. I know Gibs will be in here, because he told me this is where he'd be when I was ready to lock him up."
Once I step through this door, what assurances do I have that I will step back out?
He scratches his skin, and pulls out a metal badge. "Probably shouldn't be doing this without the approval of the council." He hands the badge over to Catherine. "You'll be in town for awhile, and I DO need the help. No one's going to raise a weapon to the law." He seems to grow taller as he straightens his back. "I've been sheriff here for almost ten years, and I've never lost a deputy. We deal with drunks and vandals for the most part. If it puts you more at ease, you can stand guard at the door while I escort Gibs outside."
Vitaliy gives the door the final push it needs, after which both Echo and Vitaliy stumble into the room. Kendra is laying on the floor, face down, a hairbrush in her right hand. Dressed in a simple shift, her legs are splayed out behind her. Her head is towards the door, and you can see a long, bloody gash across her forehead. It is still oozing blood which is pooling up beneath her cheek which lays on the floor. She appears to be passed out, and is moaning in her sleep.
Behind Kendra, you see an ornate floor mirror, broken into a thousand shards. Around the edges, the glass is still in place, but shattered, reflecting Kendra's prone body a hundred times over.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I have a very hard time reading the font in the journal, unfortunately
I'll copy/paste the text.
Circled Entries in the Professor’s Journal
Ten Years Ago:
The Whispering Way is more than just a cabal of necromancers. I see that now. Undeath is their fountain of youth. Uncovering their motivation does not place me at ease as I thought it might. Their desire to be eternal simply makes them more dangerous.
Two Months Ago:
It is as I had feared. The Way is interested in something here in Ravengro. But what could it be?
One Month Ago:
Whatever the Way seeks, I am now convinced their goal is connected to Harrowstone. In retrospect, I suppose it all makes sense—the stories they tell about the ruins in town are certainly chilling enough. It may be time to investigate the ruins, but with everyone in town already being so worked up about them, I’d rather not let the others know about my curiosity—there’s plenty of folks hereabouts who already think I’m a demonologist or a witch or something. Ignorant fools.
Twenty Days Ago:
It is confirmed. The Way seems quite interested in something—no, strike that—someone who was held in Harrowstone. But who, specifically, is the Way after? I need a list of everyone who died the night of the fire. Everyone. The Temple of Pharasma must have such a list.
Eighteen Days Ago:
I see now just how ill prepared I was when I last set out for the Harrowstone. I am lucky to have returned at all. The ghosts, if indeed they were ghosts (for I did not find it prudent to investigate further) prevented me from transcribing the strange symbols I found etched along the foundation—hopefully on my next visit I will be more prepared. Thankfully, the necessary tools to defend against spirits are already here in Ravengro. I know that the church of Pharasma used to store them in a false crypt in the Restlands at the intersection between Eversleep and the Black Path. I am not certain if the current clergy even know of what their predecessors have hidden down below. If my luck holds, I should be able to slip in and out with a few borrowed items.
Seventeen Days Ago:
Tomorrow evening I return to the prison. It is imperative the Way does not finish. My caution has already cost me too much time. I am not sure what will happen if I am too late, but if my theory is right, the entire town could be at risk. I don’t have time to update my will, so I’ll
leave this in the chest where it’ll be sure to be found, should the worst come to pass.
Hmmm, he wasn't prepared for me to question my safety so I'm probably safe here. Does he think I was worried about the men in the tavern? Better not to tell him I was more worried about him then. I don't like walking into ambushes. Well, this has turned out better. The badge may come in handy and as he said, it should provide for me safety as well. This may be beneficial I'm thinking.
"Thank you Sheriff. I'll help you with Gibs and we'll see what else we run up against. I hope I won't need silver bullets for any of the villagers?"
Vitaliy wastes no time. His hands trace circles in the air as he chants "By power imbued. By pact sealed, be healed!" His bony hands, now encircled by pale green energy descend onto Kendra's bloody form.
Before he turns to leave for the church, Dawn places her hand on his arm, "I mean no offending. I was hoping to talk with the rest of our companions before making a decision, yes? You can show us this crypt, yes? On the Paths of Eversleep and Black? I will get our friends if so."
When she sees the crowd approaching, she mutters under her breath, "Acest nu este bun..."
She'll clutch her holy symbol tightly and call upon Desna to guide her words.
Luvick pauses when he reaches the door, and looks back to Dawn. "I'll be here, when your friends are ready."
The townsfolk gather on the temple grounds, making side glances in the party's direction. They stay in small groups, no more than 6 people to each little cluster. None of them approaches you...except a young boy.
He's the same boy who was at the funeral this morning. "Afternoon folks," he says, his voice cracking as he pulls out a piece of parchment. "Need anything posted on the boards? Only one copper, and I'll ensure that it's up for a week."
Father Grimburrow comes outside, talking with each of the small groups gathered. As he leaves each group, they move inside the temple, and Grimburrow moves onto the next. It takes him about ten minutes to get everyone inside.
The sheriff gets a blank look on his face at Catherine's question of the silver bullets, then smiles, shaking his head. "No, we shouldn't need anything of the sort."
He moves to the door, directing Catherine to join him, and pushes it open. Inside, it is surprisingly well-lit. There is a young serving girl buzzing from table to table, a tray of drinks threatening to spill over.
At the back of the room, Catherine sees the overweight man who was at the funeral, the one who kept wiping his neck and face with the handkerchief. He has a large serving of food in front of him, and has paused mid-bite when he sees the sheriff.
Two tables away, Gibs is nursing a glass of ale. His head is bandages, with red all over it. Even from the door, Catherine can see that it's some sort of paint or stain.
The sheriff takes in the crowd, and strides over to Gibs' table. "Alright Gibs, you've had your fill. How about we finish our talk outside?"
Gibs glares up at the sheriff, his fist clenched around the handle of the glass. "I told you, I ain't spending another night in that cell of yours. Last time some thief walked right into my house and took my razor. Still waiting on you to find it, too."
Sheriff Caeller stands perfectly still, puffing on his cigar (there's about a quarter of it left). "You don't want me to drag you outside do you?"
Looking around, Gibs asks, "Who's gonna help you? All your deputies are out working the fields."
Caellar points a thumb in Catherine's direction without looking at her. "She's gonna make sure you play nice today."
Vitaliy lays his hands on Kendra, and her moans cease almost instantly. Her eyes flutter open, and she eases herself into a sitting position. "H...How did he get in here? The door was locked." She gasps, and a hand covers her mouth. "What if he's been waiting in the wardrobe...?" Her eyes flicker between a large wardrobe in the corner and Echo and Vitaliy.
"Calm yourself Miss Lorrimor. The shade has departed. Via the mirror in the hall, which we will deal with presently." Vitaliy appears as if he's about to give her a pat on the back, but stops when he thinks better of it. On guard, he approaches the offending wardrobe and throws it open. "Though perhaps you should share it's identity as it sounds like you know it."
"I...I've never seen him before. He...he looked like he'd crawled out of the lake. He was holding a hammer...his hair was hanging in his face. He looked so old..."
Inside the wardrobe, Vitaliy sees an assortment of clothes all neatly folded and arranged. There is no one inside of it.
Sheriff Caeller stands perfectly still, puffing on his cigar (there's about a quarter of it left). "You don't want me to drag you outside do you?"
Looking around, Gibs asks, "Who's gonna help you? All your deputies are out working the fields."
Caellar points a thumb in Catherine's direction without looking at her. "She's gonna make sure you play nice today."
"Here now Gibs, how about we take it outside to save this poor girl the cleanup. You bring whatever friends you have here that you need to and we'll talk it over. This way the same people get hurt either way, but nothing gets broken. Way I see it, you thought ahead and brought all the bandages you'll need so you should be good to go."
Maybe I should have tried a more threatening approach because I don't think I was very convincing there. Can the sheriff control him? I'm thinking not. Can I threaten him? If he doesn't draw over this, maybe I should try that next.
Catherine tries her best smile, realizing it's too late but determined to make the effort.
I wonder what's up with the fat man. Fat men aren't really to be trusted. Everyone thinks they're 'jolly' but I've found they almost can't help growing up to be bullies. Kind of like bulls in china shops, only with a lot less crockery but the same amount of pain.
Gibs slaps his knee and guffaws. "I don't need no friends to deal with you two." he says, ushering a couple of beefy characters at the bar to sit down.
Standing up, Gibs finishes his drink in one pull, and stands with the sheriff toe to toe. "How 'bout we show the girl here just how dirty you fight, eh sheriff?"
The serving girl has stopped her rounds, and everyone else in The Laughing Demon has gone quiet as a mouse.
Caeller stifles a scowl, and covers it up by blowing smoke in Gibs' face. "Let's take it outside Gibs, we have some jawing to settle." He gently steers Gibs towards Catherine and the door.
Gibs stumbles around the tables, while the even, measured steps of Caeller's boots follows.
"Mr. Luvick, if I may ask, how long have you served the congregation here in Ravengro?"
After getting an answer, Viktoria turns to Dawn and answers her earlier question.
"Yes, I feel as though we should confer with Vitaliy and the young girl...what was her name...Anyways, we should meet up with them before investigating the crypt."
Dawn nods, "Echo. Her name is Echo, yes. Thank you very much, Luvick. Is acolyte Luvick, or is father Luvick? I hope to return soon with them. Again, I am very sorry for perceived slights, yes?"
She turns to the boy as he offers to put things on the board for them, and crouches down to his eye level, "I wonder what need we would have of these boards. What do these boards contain that makes you think we would have interest in them, young master Pevrin?" she asks, pulling a couple of coppers from a pouch within her robes.
Vitaliy shuts the wardrobe and steeples his fingers. He waits about a minute for Kendra to regain her wits before curiosity overcomes him.
"No one you recognize..." Another associate of her father's I would hazard to guess. "Pray tell, is there any history to the mirror in the hall? Or to the house in general for that matter?"
He turns to Echo. "The river is but a stone's throw from here. If this shade was once a drowned man, that is yet another Pharasmal death record would should seek to read."
Echo nods at Vitaliy's deduction. "I'm sure you're right, the question is if it would be the best idea for us to meet everyone at the temple or if we should wait here."
She looks down at Kendra, and speaks to her in a gentle tone. "Kendra, besides looking through your Father's books, we were staying here keep you safe. I'm sorry that we couldn't keep the shade from you, but we would keep you as safe as possible if you stay with us. Would you be willing to accompany us to the temple now?"
Luvick responds to Viktoria, "I've been here in Ravengro for nine years." He tilts his head to the townsfolk. "Still an outsider after all this time." He finishes with a sigh. "You may address me as Acolyte Luvick, although that feels a tad too officious. Just Luvick will do nicely."
Pevrin's eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets when he sees the two shiniest copper pieces ever. "W..Well...there's always something that someone wants to share. People selling livestock, birthday wishes, missing items, newcomers to town. We even have a weekly news posting. Nothing like what they have over in Lepidstadt, but we're proud of it."
He reaches out for the coppers, "W...What would you like to have posted?"
Kendra looks at Vitaliy with confusion. "M...Mirror? Hallway?" She recovers quickly. "History...? It's just a mirror which father inherited. I don't believe there's anything special about it."
Looking at Echo, Kendra shivers, and doesn't seem to notice. "Perhaps it's better that I stay here. If it is some sort of shade, I could contact it and find out what it wants."
Catherine does not interfere and stays well clear of Gibs, not wishing to set him off inside. She has no desire to bring this to a physical confrontation, which is why she tried diplomacy before trying intimidate.
"It seemed intent on causing you harm. Could you perhaps delay a summoning until the others return from the temple." replies Vitaliy. "If you must do this, strength in numbers would be wise."
"Ah, that is good news, I think. For we are newcomers here. Would you post that we are newcomers here, young Pevrin? And deliver a copy of the news posting to us, yes? That could be helpful, as well," she says as she pulls another copper out. "But do it after services, yes? You must see to that first, and if there is time afterwards, you then bring us copy of news at Lorrimar's manor."
She then hands the child three coppers and stands back up, brushing at her robes, "Very well, just Luvick it is. Where from come you, Luvick, that you are still new, then? A big city, yes?"
Pevrin makes the coins disappear before Dawn can reconsider. "Certainly miss, I'll make sure EVERYONE knows. I've got connections here in town, and can see to it that all the townsfolk know your names." He's literally vibrating, scratching out some notes on a paper.
He walks distractedly towards the church when Grimburrow beckons him inside.
Standing slightly apart from the party, Luvick answers Dawn's question. "A festering wart on the landscape: Carrion Hill."
Gibs makes it to the door, and he leers at Catherine, giving her a lecherous look. "Oh hey, deputy. Want to escort me back to my shack, where we can keep this little party going?"
Without a word, Caeller gives Gibs a nudge out the door. Gibs stumbles, loses his footing, and falls to a heap on the dusty ground. "Hey now," Gibs says. "I was only trying to get some company on this so sad day. What with the funeral and all...she must be a bundle of nerves."
He smiles up at Kendra, "She could use some calming down."
Standing up, Kendra shies away from the wardrobe, even after Vitaliy confirmed there was no one in it.
"Numbers, yes. The temple. Grimburrow will know what to do." Kendra nods her agreement, and sits on the bed, twisting her hands around each other. She looks at Vitaliy, her eyes pleading, scared. "Why is all this happening now? When Father is gone..."
[
Gibs makes it to the door, and he leers at Catherine, giving her a lecherous look. "Oh hey, deputy. Want to escort me back to my shack, where we can keep this little party going?"
Without a word, Caeller gives Gibs a nudge out the door. Gibs stumbles, loses his footing, and falls to a heap on the dusty ground. "Hey now," Gibs says. "I was only trying to get some company on this so sad day. What with the funeral and all...she must be a bundle of nerves."
He smiles up at Kendra, "She could use some calming down."
"Are you saddened by funerals Gibs? I always find they have this kind of droll inevitability about them. It seems that people are always trying to get one up on everyone else and invariably, they fail. Those who take their failure with grace usually learn from their mistakes while those who don't usually don't. Which are you Gibs? The painted bloodstains on your head seem to indicate that you are the latter."
"It is precisely because your father is gone that this is happening. He was a good man who did important work to keep the forces of darkness in check." Vitaliy consoles her. "Come hell or high water, we will get to the bottom of this and complete his legacy, that I vow. Now gather your wits and your effects and we will rejoin the others."
Vitaliy then leaves the room, so Kendra can change clothes for travel.
Ulam raises an eyebrow in concern when Dawn asks the boy to announce their presence in the town. Usually don't go about making myself known everywhere I go … we've already drawn enough attention to ourselves. This Dawn woman has a quite a way with other humans though… I'll follow here lead on this.
He the forces a crooked smile, highlighting a scar across his upper lip and several missing teeth, and announces loud and clear: "Thank you human youngling Pev-uh-rin! You do a good job for us!" He reaches into his belt pouch and pulls another copper piece from within, extending it in one of his large, dirty hands.
Pevrin is wary of Ulam at first, then swipes the coin out of the orc's hand in a blink. Making it disapear into one of his many pockets, he replies to the orc. "I'll make sure you get a fresh copy of the Wealday Parchment."
Gibs pulls the towel from his head, looking at it confused. "Wh...Where..?" He looks up to the afternoon sky, and starts muttering to himself. "Wood for...the stove...pitchfork...out back."
He turns his attention to Catherine. "Learn from their mistakes?" He stands up, using a hitching post for support. "The only mistake I made was letting you all carry that coffin to the gravesite!" You notice that his eyes were blue, and they flickered black and gray while he was yelling. Once his outburst was over, his eyes went back to blue.
Sheriff Caeller takes a step forward. "Now Gibs, you agreed that we'd talk about this morning, and let Catherine here tell their side of the story."
Vitaliy leaves Echo and Kendra in the bedroom. Standing in the upstairs hallway, the mirror catches his attention once more. From the bedroom door, it looks innocent enough.
-------------------------------------
Gibs pulls the towel from his head, looking at it confused. "Wh...Where..?" He looks up to the afternoon sky, and starts muttering to himself. "Wood for...the stove...pitchfork...out back."
He turns his attention to Catherine. "Learn from their mistakes?" He stands up, using a hitching post for support. "The only mistake I made was letting you all carry that coffin to the gravesite!" You notice that his eyes were blue, and they flickered black and gray while he was yelling. Once his outburst was over, his eyes went back to blue.
Sheriff Caeller takes a step forward. "Now Gibs, you agreed that we'd talk about this morning, and let Catherine here tell their side of the story."
Catherine reaches out quickly, grabbing the Sheriff's arm.
"Careful Sheriff," she begins, then quietly, "Ware the eyes."
I don't know who exactly wears this skinsuit, but I need to bring them out again so the sheriff can witness it. Seems unlikely, after that response, that he noticed it the first time. Is it a mage I'm dealing with, or a ghost? Who knew I was coming down here - the two women and the orc. This is too subtle for the orc yet the women seem equally unlikely. Motive seems wrong for the daughter, what about the elf? Or could it be the thief girl or the soulless?
Turning back to Gibs, Catherine speaks mockingly, trying once again to make him lose his temper.
"Here now Gibs, you know we only carried that coffin because you didn't have what it takes to stop us. You're a big one when you've got your friends behind you but one look at the chit in the red dress and your courage flies out the window."
Feels like I'm stabbing in the dark here. Who's eyes am I looking at and how am I supposed to piss them off if I don't know who they are?
Gibs continues leaning against the hitching post, and starts muttering again. "Red dress...The red paint...make him believe...send them away."
He shakes his head a few times, and sits down hard in the dirt. He seems to deflate, leaning his head against a pole. "My friends don't need to help me with you...whoever..." He spots the newly adorned badge pinned to Catherine's chest, stands, and shuffles over to her.
"Don't know who you are girly," he starts, the alcohol strong on his breath. "But if'n you're wearing that badge, I reckon we's got business." He looks over to the sheriff and snorts. "What is it Benjan? Did I have one of my lapses again? The post-war thingy what makes me all crazy?"
Sheriff Caeller puts a hand on Gibs' shoulder. "It seems you might have. Tried to put a stop to old man Lorrimor's funeral this morning. Then came around my office talking about strangers jumping you in the Restlands."
Gibs pulls his hair back from his forehead, revealing a fresh cut. "Well someone gave me this," he says, scowling at Catherine.
Catherine notes that his eyes haven't flickered again.
Gibs pulls his hair back from his forehead, revealing a fresh cut. "Well someone gave me this," he says, scowling at Catherine.
Catherine notes that his eyes haven't flickered again.[/ooc]
"I'll tell ye what I told the Sheriff here, Gibs. I don't hit people on the head, I shoot them. I save my bullets for those men what have a beast inside them and then I don't let them live. Do you have a beast inside you, Gibs?
"Weren't the people I was with neither. Two women, a girl and a sick man. You afraid of any of them, Gibs? Only one what could have done it was the orc and he was at the house with the daughter and the rest of us, jes go on up and ask her. I'm not thinking he's the type to stop with a lump on the head either though. Orcs aren't known for leaving people they don't like alive."
"How'd you get a cut like that and not know it anyway? You maybe wake up under a short door frame or maybe ask a woman to dance who already got a partner there Gibs? Maybe it were a woman put that cut on you Gibs, jes not one of the ones with me."
"Which war was you in anyway Gibs. Not many wars around here lately, not that I know of. You drink a lot, Gibs? Maybe have a few too many and think you're back at war against the Tyrant?"
Looking up at Ulam, Dawn asks gently, "Shall we head back to the professor's home, then? I think we should gather everyone up if we are to look into this whole crypt business."
Ulam nods, matter-of-factly. "Yes. Good. Back to the house now." And with that, he throws up the hood of his cloak and begins to make his way.
As Kendra prepares for the road, Vitaliy approaches the the suspicious piece of furniture. He circles the mirror, moving it back from the wall if necessary. He then places his palm on the surface of the glass to feel if it is still cold.
Viktoria falls in stride behind Dawn and Ulam, her head on a swivel taking in all of her surroundings.
This place is so much like home, and yet...something feels so different...
The small group starts on their way back to Kendra's home. Before entering the covered bridge, Viktoria spots something glinting in the water on the west side of the river, along the bank.
"Not that you'd know anything about it," Gibs snarls, "but I've seen plenty of fighting. Kept those werewolves at bay, before one of them clawed my leg up. Was sent packing in case I was infected." Catherine now notices his limp.
"Sure wish they'd outright killed me, instead of leaving me to suffer..."
He turns on the sheriff. "What is it you brought her out here for? To make a liar out of me?!"
Sheriff Caeller responds to Gibs shouting by staying calm. "The young girl here has already stated her side of the story. Perhaps it's best if you walk yourself home and sleep it off before you make a bigger scene, and I'm forced to lock you up."
Caeller moves over to Gibs, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'll have her escort you home." He looks at Catherine while speaking. "She's the law now, so she'll make no moves against you."
He gives Gibs some space, and Caeller gives you directions to his shack.
There appears to be nothing distinct about the mirror. The glass isn't warped in any way, the wood is plain. Feeling the glass, it isn't warm or cold.
Pulling the mirror away from the wall, Vitaliy spots an engraving. There is a jack-o'-lantern face carved into the upper right corner, with the words
Beware the faces of evil.
-Cilas Graydon
"Oh! You fought the beasts that walk eh? Well now, I'll take back what I said. I'm Catherine Black. Good to meet a man with balls, eh?"
Catherine offers a handshake to Gibs, her entire demeanor changed. She'll swing toward his shack if he follows, offering him a spot to walk on her right, the opposite side from her gun.
What is the truth here. Did he really fight the beasts or did he simply hear my name. I know the eyes changed, there is no getting around that. Let's play a different game now, as buddies. See where that leads.
Gibs warily takes the offered hand, smiles weakly at the comment about men with balls, and walks south with Catherine.
"For a short time, I hunted with Rogeif Yharloc. We were stationed around Ascanor Lodge, when a pack of those two-legged wolves came out of the trees like shadows." He slows his pace, watching Catherine for any reaction.
"In the heat of battle, Rogeif was dragged off into the woods, never to be heard from again. One of the fleeing bastards lunged for me, knocked me down, and gnawed on my leg for a few seconds before bounding off after it comrades."
He stops for a minute, pulling up his pant leg. His calf is criss-crossed with scar tissue and poorly executed stitches. "Estovion Lozarov--the warden of the lodge--had me examined and sent away. Said my scent would keep drawing the wolves back. I made my way through the woods, and wound up here."
"I lived in Morcei but spent most of my time on the edge of the wood. I joined Les Betes after the Purging of Shadow Glen outside Courtaud. There was a small enclave there, about ten men, loggers all, with their wives and a few of us children. It started with Master Hobbes but I don't know how he was turned. He turned another five, including my father. By the time Les Betes arrived, it was impossible to tell who was turned or if there were any humans left at all. Thank Pharasma that they took me with them when they left.
I didn't know Rogeif but I am familiar with Ascanor Lodge. Dangerous place, without a doubt. You are very fortunate my friend, that you didn't turn. How long ago was this? The scars look old, so I assume you have faced more than just a moon?"