"What would drive the men who attempted to hold up the Professors funeral, to do such a thing?" Orin asked out of thin air, his eyes snapping in to focus as he stepped close to the table.
"Surely the Professor is not counted as an outsider here? You all seem to look after your own and take community very seriously so... what set the man apart? Who would want to see his family suffer such an indignation?"
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"People a scared of what they don't understand and Professor Lorrimor was an outsider to many as he had only moved into town 15 years ago. Just remember you are guests here in town. Keep you noses clean and stay out of trouble. Understand?"
He waits a few moments for you all to confirm that you understand his point before continuing.
"Is there anything else you need?"
"Oh Kendra, what can you tell us about the prison and it's fire?" Mihaela asks, happy to be away from the books for any conversation.
Kendra ponders a moment as she mulls over your question.
"Harrowstone is a ruined prison—partially destroyed by a fire in 4661, the building hasstood vacant ever since. The locals suspect that it’shaunted, and don’t enjoy speaking of the place."
"Harrowstone was built in 4594. Ravengro was founded at the same time as a place where guards and their families could live and that would produce food and other supplies used by the prison. The fire that killed all of the prisoners and most of the guards destroyed a large portion of the prison’s underground eastern wing, but left most of the stone structure above relatively intact. The prison’s warden perished in the fire, along with his wife, although no one knows why she was in the prison when the fire occurred. A statue commemorating the warden and the guards who lost their lives was built in the months after the tragedy—that statue still stands on the riverbank just outside of town."
"Most of the hardened criminals sent to Harrowstone spent only a few months imprisoned, for it was here that most of Ustalav’s executions during that era were carried out. The fire that caused the tragedy was, in fact, a blessing in disguise, for the prisoners had rioted and gained control of the prison’s dungeons immediately prior to the conflagration. It was only through the self sacrifice of Warden Hawkran and 23 of his guards that the prisoners were prevented from escaping—the guards gave their lives to save the town of Ravengro."
"At the time Harrowstone burned, five particularly notorious criminals had recently arrived at the prison. While the commonly held belief is that the tragic fire began accidentally after the riot began, in fact the prisoners had already seized control of the dungeon and had been in command of the lower level for several hours before the fire. Warden Hawkran triggered a deadfall to seal the rioting prisoners in the lower level, but in so doing trapped himself and nearly two dozen guards. The prisoners were in the process of escaping when the panicked guards accidentally started the fire in a desperate attempt to end the riot."
That is tragic. she says. "Do people still explore or wander the ruins? People say it is haunted, is it the spirits of the prisoners and guards they say that haunt the place?" she says thoughtfully. she turns to Delixia, "It almost sounds we should investigate that place when the others return. We should notify of this information when they return." she turns to Kendra, "Thank you Kendra for this information. Do you have any idea why your father would be interested in that place?"
"The local populace tends to avoid the old prison. Whether that is due to the rumors that surround it, its decayed state, or some other reason I am not sure."
"Rumor has it that Harrowstone is haunted by those that died there and possibly not just those that died in the fire. As you now know it was also the site of many executions."
"I am not sure why father was interested in Haarrowstone. Perhaps his journal may hold clues to what he was involved in there."
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Kessa, Kisasi, and Orin return to the Lorrimor home to check up on their companions. You arrive in time to hear Kendra's rendition of the history of Harrowstone.
She tarries a moment to answer any questions posed to her before heading to the kitchen to start preparing dinner. This leaves you free to discuss your findings and interactions with the locals.
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Delixia and Mihaela finish their research into the history of Harrowstone in the late afternoon and bring Kessa, Kisasi and Orin up to date on their findings. Thanks to Kendra's memories of the lessons taught her by her father she was able to recall a great deal about the history of Harrowstone that everyone was able to hear and learn from.
Supper is served by Kendra and the meal consists of roast rabbit and what you can assume to be the "whats left over at the end of winter" stored vegetables that have been roast in the fat drippings of the rabbit. This is served along with fresh baked bread and chilled wine and chilled water.
While you are eating supper Kendra poses the following to you all. "So what was happening at the memorial site this morning that got everyone up in arms?"
"Could what happened at the memorial site be related to what my what was father was doing at Harrowstone when he died?" She tears up as she finishes the question but manages to maintain her composure enough to await an answer.
"So what was desecrating the memorial accomplish?"
"How was it vandalized and with what?"
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"It appeared to be blood, which of course raised the other villagers' hackles. But in my opinion, it was a small animal's remains. I don't know why it would be related to your father, but who knows?"
After the third question, Kisasi takes a moment to ponder. "A fair question? I don't think it was very clear, other than it made some people nervous. Perhaps that was the reason?"
"Dinner is excellent. You should let us pay you something for putting us up and feeding us so well! I think tomorrow, we will go take a look at the prison and see if we can tell what your father was doing there. Maybe it will answer some of our questions."
Mihaela shudders, "That's disgusting... have they no respect." nodding at Kessa and Kisasi "I agree, lets visit tomorrow. I'm... beat. Reading all those books is tiring!"
"My hands are more used to working a forge than cleanin but my Mamma would turn in her grave if I dinnae offer to dry and put away the dishes after Kessa!" Orin stands and follows Kessa and Kendra.
"Thank you for your assistance. You really don't have to help. You all are guests after all."
For those of you helping with the after supper clean up you find that you are able to quickly and easily finish the dishes in a very short amount of time due to so many of you helping.
Following the finishing of the chores Kendra gathers you all in her Father's study. "With the vandalism last night I was wondering if it would be prudent to have someone on watch tonight to prevent any problems here at my home. After the way some of the townsfolk acted at my father's funeral and now with this mischief occurring I am worried that someone may choose to target me because of my father's work." She looks at each of you individually for assurance as she speaks. Gaining confidence in her words and speech as she goes.
"I am willing to stay up a few hours later than normal if it means we can keep things safe here at my house."
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You all spend an hour or so sitting up after dinner discussing Kendra's happy memories of times with her father in Lepidstadt when she was a child. She seems to be trying to relieve her grief over her fathers loss by remembering happier times.
Kendra advises Orin that she will pass off the evening watch in a couple of hours. With that she gets up and moves through the home checking each of the doors and windows to be sure that they are latched tight for the night.
She returns to the sitting room and pulls a book from a nearby shelf to read while she is on watch.
Your time on watch passes uneventfully and you are able to get a good nights rest.
You all awake from your nights slumber to the smell of frying bacon and purculating coffee wafting through the home. Kendra is found to be preparing breakfast in the kitchen as you make your way out of your rooms.
The village itself is coming awake as goodwives push their sleepy-eyed children out the door to begin the day’s chores. The usual sounds of cock’s crow and the occasional dog bark are joined this morning by something unexpected. Floating lightly upon the morning breeze is the sound of a hauntingly beautiful melody as if the world’s saddest fiddler were out this morning plying his bow to catgut in a dirge for the day to come. Who the mysterious player might be is unguessed but the music, though mournful, is not unpleasant.
"Mmm that smells delicious. But does anyone else hear that music?"
Perception:
"Thank you Mihaela and no the music is not a normal thing in this town. At most you will hear some in either in of the inns during the evening if a traveling minstrel happens to be in town or one of our more talented locals gets goaded into entertaining his friends or family while they are out."
Mihaela tilts her head to listen to the unusual music. "Should we investigate?" she asks turning to the party. "Perhaps the source is close if we can hear it this clearly.... maybe after some breakfast.. she says, following her nose. "This does indeed smell delicious Kendra, thank you so much for your hospitality."
" I to would like to know where the music is coming from and would like to accompany you if you will allow me to. As far as I am aware no traveling minstrels or storytellers have come into town. When they do it is normally as part of one of the caravans that comes to sell their wares and goods to the locals."
"Oh, and no thanks is needed. This is part of being a gracious host or so my father told me."
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Having stepped outside you can still hear the music drifting through the air. The music remains hauntingly mournful to your ears yet beautiful in its composition.
You notice that where before the village seemed to be readying to start the day now it has become punctuated with intermittent screams of terror and shouts. You also see a farm hand running towards the village center with pitchfork in hand.
Orin is up and out the door before Kisasi can finish speaking, weapon clutched tightly in one hand.
"Guide me!" He growled, stepping up beside his two companions. "What fresh hell is this now?" This is the loudest and clearest anyone has heard Orin speak before this.
"Is the village under attack?!" Mihaela says, pulling her hand her dagger. She follows Orin out the door, "Wait for us! Come Delixia!" she motions to Delixia as she runs out the door on Orin's heels.
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The mysterious fiddle plays on, barely audible above the ruckus that has arisen in the town square. Townsfolk flee everywhere with lurching undead horrors shambling along after them. Most people seem to be managing to lock themselves within their homes and businesses causing the walking dead to wander elsewhere in search of prey, but in the center of the square, where stands the old gazebo, a different scene unfolds. A number of disembodied, clawlike hands clamber across the ground towards the structure and up its rails. Within stands the town’s mangy stray dog that has been adopted by the children. As the crawling hands approach menacingly the dog stands its ground growling at them and blocking the way towards a small group of children behind who it who at the same time appear to be trying to get past the dog with their sticks and play swords in order to bravely defend it from the approaching horrors. None of the townsfolk seem to have noticed this yet, and it is only a matter of time before the dog and children find themselves in trouble.
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Kisasi leaps into the gazebo placing himself between the children and those that would do them harm. He fires off a crossbow bolt as he does so towards the closest hand. and surprising even himself manages to wing the menace with a crossbow bolt.
Combat Round 1
Mihaela
Delixia
Orin
Hand Red
Hand Orange
Dog
Hand Blue
Kessa
Hand Green, 3 damage
Kisasi