With a flurry of blades and magic the party defeats the last wraith child.
The master and remaining four wraith spawns continue in vain to attack each other. How will you command them, Aliseya? What are the rest of you doing?
Aleksander carefully watches the battling wraiths, eyes periodically flicking back to Aliseya and her strange emanations. What is she doing? More fundamentally, what is she? He stands ready should any of them turn on the party.
Weariness coming over her uncharacteristically gaunt visage, Aliseya commands the wraith and the ghosts in that horrific language of hers.
As she does so, her eyes begin to glaze over. She falls to her knees, the eerie red glow of her eyes fading away once more.
She goes limp and falls forward, apparently passing out.
Seeing the children and other wraiths disappear Caracotl plops onto the ground. "Well that was interesting. You'll have to explain that control you had over those spirits some time, Aliseya. OH?" He gets up and checks on Aliseya.
Govannon rushes to Aliseya, and props her up so she's at least not face first in the dirt. "Anyone have any water?" he says as he tries to revive her.
"I uh, don't have any sort of healing. Those blows looked very vicious. Are you folks going to be OK?"
" I think this is the type of wound that requires rest more than anything else. Unfortunately we have to find evidence here before we can do that."
The remaining wraiths heed Aliseya's command and disappear into the surrounding woods. It is now completely dark outside.
A preliminary search of the village reveals four areas of interest.
A small, whitewashed timber building stands in the center of the village, surrounded by gravestones.
A small cottage stands in the northern portion of town. This house appears to be in better condition than others in the village. Its door is shut and barred.
A tangle of willow trees grows by the shores of a small lake on the western edge of the town. Many of the willows are scarred by fire.
A rotting scarecrow leans on a scythe at the top of a hill on the southern edge of the town. Its pumpkin face is carved with a leer and a sheep’s jaw hangs flaccidly below.
When Ali comes to, she gratefully receives Gov's offered water and thanks Caracotl for the prayer... unfortunately, the amphibious priest's divinity seems to have no effect on the dark, festering wound left by the wraith.
Aliseya seems weakened and pale, but at least she understands the common tongue once more. And she is more characteristically kind and youthful, in personality if not in vigor.
She answers Caracotl, faltering and shrugging, "Well, Cary... mind if I call you Cary? I... I think I might know little more about it than you do."
She adds, looking at Aleks as well as Caracotl now as her intuitive sense picks up the paladin's interest in her story as well, "All I know is... that... well, it's going to sound like I'm really cray-cray but... I kinda have this, um, voice in my head? It's real creepy, really bad vibes. Seems to know what I'm thinking and all."
"It kinda started when this creepy stalker dude broke into Kendra's house at night, when we first got to Ravengro and slept over. He put some kind of small, dark object in me, and it's still in my thigh."
"Some kind of presence seems to take over my mind and body sometimes since around that time. I kinda go into a dreamy sleep state when it happens."
"Lately, it's been getting stronger. I think it has something to do with that hideous hag creature we met." At this, she motions to Zelda, Gov, and Naught, who seem to know what Ali's talking about. "I..." she falters again, her visage growing even paler, "I... I think it's... like, my mother?!"
Shuddering, she lets out an involuntary, "Ew!"
...
She then manages to stand and waves off further fussing over herself in order to help with the investigation. Ali opts to check out the barred-up cottage in the north of town first, "because we might, like, find something interesting in the one building still in good condition. Maybe someone actually, like, still lives here?" Her facial expression says hell no, but one must wonder why the home is not only barred but in relatively good shape compared with the rest of town.
...
"Part of me knows it's mother," she later confirms more resolutely to Caracotl and Aleks. Shaking her head negatively, "It doesn't make any sense at all. I mean my real mother wasn't anywhere near that hideous, she was actually very beautiful, my father used to tell me."
"But this, other part of me, this... dark presence, or whatever? I'm starting to see her mind more clearly now in turn. So like, maybe I'm getting stronger too," she adds, more resolutely. "But anyway, I'm not sure why but... she seems convinced that it is my mother."
"I can't, like, have two mothers though. Right?!" she shrugs and laughs off the whole idea of that hag creature being her mother, though not entirely convincingly.
"No, dearie. We cannot," says a haggard voice in the back of Ali's mind, a voice that only she can hear...
Weapon Equipped = Scimitar
Conditions = Ablative Barrier (1/4h)(0/20hp)
scimitar: Attack: BAB +3, Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack -1 Damage: Str +4, Magic +1, Power Attack +2
longbow (19 cold iron): Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1 Damage: Str +4
Arcane Pool (su/swift): 4/5
You may channel negative energy that deals an amount of damage equal to 1d6 × your character level (4) to a creature touched. This effect heals undead creatures as spells like inflict light wounds. 1/1
Spells (Caster Level 4, Concentration +7 (+4 defensively))
At Will (self only): Feather Fall; Once a Day: Levitate
Zero (13): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost
First (14): Color Spray, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Shocking Grasp
Second (15):
Govannon listens to Aliseya's story as they walk. "Fascinating. I can't say that I understand it all, but if there's anything I can do to help, please just let me know. But yeah, I think just the one mother." he tries to think of how you could have two mothers and wonders...
"To the cottage then."
On the walk over, he casts Ablative Barrier on himself to provide a little extra protection against future attacks for the evening. He wonders to himself if it's a useful spell, but decides it's worth trying out.
Aleks shudders a bit. The poor woman, living with a...presence like that within her. I wish I knew how to help. And yet... "Better two mothers, I suppose," the pale man says, a distant look on his face "than none at all."
"I supposed you can call me Cary." He lets her tell her story."
Two mothers? perhaps I don't know as much as I thought about humans or they lie to their children. Either way I'll have to inquire about this more later.
"I'm glad you were here and have such a power. Makes me wonder who else could though. Let's find out what happened to these children."
Keeping a hand on his holy symbol and mumbling a prayer to Desna to keep luck on their side, he follows the group to the cottage. Once there he takes a look around for signs of recent activity and anything that maybe used to identify what this sickness he has heard of was.
The find the cottage door securely boarded up and nailed shut. The exterior of the house appears clean and in good repair.
"Anybody have a crowbar?" Govannon asks. He walks around the house with Zelda to make sure there are no other easier entrances.
Assuming none are forthcoming, and if Zelda says it's safe, he takes out his dagger and uses it to help him pry the boards off. He takes his time so as not to damage his weapon.
Zelda finds a back door that is also boarded up. She finds no signs of traps. Caracotl notes that the house’s slatted timber walls are
difficult to climb and also show no marks.
Govannon is able to carefully pry off the board and open the front door. Within you find a meticulously maintained house. It is clear that the owner fully intended to return to the house.
A cursory search of the house finds the bedroom of a young girl. A diary on her night stand reveals that one of the missing girls lived here - Karin.
Govannon searches the house and shrugs as Zelda begins to read the diary. "Anything useful?" he asks, hoping for some clue as to what's happening here.
The diary tells the story of a typical small village girl whom had a good family and many close friends. Karin's best friend was a girl name Ellsa. The diary describes many happy memories that Karin shared with Ellsa.
Near the end of the diary, Karin describes how her friend Ellsa befriended a giant whom lived in the hermit’s tangle by the lake. The diary details with heart wrenching sadness Karin's grief when her friend was eventually found dead. Karin describes her fathers furious reaction when this giant brought the dead body of Ellsa into the town.
The last night of the diary describes Karin seeing ghostly eyes watching her through the window. The diary then ends abruptly.
"Well, that may help his case a bit. It does offer independent corroboration of his story that Ellsa was his friend." Aleksander says, once he's heard the diary's contents.
"Yes you're right, it does help, but only a little. It also shows he was at least in the vicinity when all this started. We need more I think."
He sheathes his weapon and heads back outside, "Where to now? Maybe head to the center of town - that whitewashed timber building, on our way to the docks?"
"The city is already convinced, I'm afraid we might have to find the true culprit. Perhaps they are controlling these ghosts we have been encountering. That would imply some magical talents, and we know they are a skilled surgeon." he follows the others
The white washed timber building is the village’s chapel of Desna. The chapel shows the signs of its abandonment. Within, the simple chapel is falling victim to rot, its pews are already overgrown, and some of its windows are smashed. Mice nest in the altar, the holy water in the font is turning green, and the once-beautiful frescoes depicting Desna and the heavens have begun to flake. There is a graveyard behind the chapel.
Aleksander walks right in, oblivious to anything unusual.
Sadness enters Aliseya's eyes as she looks upon her favorite goddess's chapel in such a fallen state of repair. She remarks to Cary, "Or maybe there were separate culprits for each crime. Either way, we do need more evidence."
The dancer's eyes fall onto some of the graves. Her eyes widen as recognition dawns upon her. She instinctively places a hand on Aleks's shoulder to halt him.
Speaking to all, "Look. Those graves, they are for the dead children" She points at six of the headstones in particular.
Govannon listens to Aliseya's story as they walk. "Fascinating. I can't say that I understand it all, but if there's anything I can do to help, please just let me know. But yeah, I think just the one mother." he tries to think of how you could have two mothers and wonders...
Aliseya smiles half-heartedly at Gov. "Thanks... but I wish I knew what to even ask for, to help with this."
Aleks shudders a bit. The poor woman, living with a...presence like that within her. I wish I knew how to help. And yet... "Better two mothers, I suppose," the pale man says, a distant look on his face "than none at all."
Genuine sympathy comes into Ali's eyes as she realizes what Aleks is revealing about himself. She doesn't know what to say.
Seeing sadness reach Aliseya at the state of the chapel "My lady, don't be sadden by this, luck turns for us all. He does go up to the altar he shoos the mice away whispering to them "Please travel to a nice home elsewhere friends." then he takes his holy symbol places it on the altar he takes out some charcoal and paper. He quickly writes a small piece of wisdom "New adventures, bring new friends, trust that the Starsong brought them to travel with you." he rolls it up and places it on the altar.
Turning to the graves noted by Aliseya. "Six, six children." he checks the graves for any more recent disturbance.
Govannon says a quick silent prayer to the church. He keeps his eyes open for trouble while the others look for clues.
Aliseya smiles at Cary for his consolation, and perhaps for his kind treatment towards the mice. She wonders aloud about his writing, "Is that a prayer?" And she then aids in the investigation.
"A part of one. Just some wisdom from travels."
He squats near the graves of the children, thinking.
"Just an awful thought, but uh should we uh... check on uh... you know happened to ehem" unable to bring himself to say children he motions downward at on of the graves. "with the whole surgeon thing and uh uncaring of the townspeople. ehhhhhh, an up close check might uhhh"
You find nothing else of interest within the church.
In the grave yard, Zelda notices that four of the six graves are different from the other graves. In fact, the lack of any sign of the soil being turned indicates that these four graves were never actually dug. The graves for Ellsa and Karin appear to have been dug as normal.
"Shall we check those trees on the edge of the lake and see what there is to see? Then perhaps the scarecrow." he suggests, imagining that would put them at the edge of town closest to their arrival for a quick departure.
He hopes they find more than they have so far...
After sighing at the horrible fate of these poor children, Aliseya nods in agreement and heads to the lake as well.
A tangle of willow trees grows by the shores of this small lake, many of them scarred by fire. A clearing within the trees contains a rudimentary bed and chair constructed from branches and debris. Numerous spent torches litter the area.
You find the burnt remnants of a Taldan poetry book lying in the ruins. The poems explore the nature of consciousness and the meaning of life.
Kneeling down as they reach the trees, Aleksander picks up the fire-blackened remains of a book, and leafs through its pages, reading. "Taldan poetry. Interesting."
"I have a feeling they wont tell us much more. They seem to not care what truly happened."
A rotting scarecrow leans on a scythe at the top of this low hill. Its pumpkin face is carved with a leer and a sheep’s jaw hangs flaccidly below.
You find a concealed tunnel entrance near the scare crow. The tunnel descends into the hill.
"Yeah, I don't see our 'monster' reading Taldan Poetry, but this could have been a victims too. I wonder what caused the flames?" Govannon shrugs, unsure what it means if anything.
He approaches the scarecrow carefully, fully expecting it to climb down off it's perch and attack. His scimitar is out... just in case.
He pokes its foot with the tip of his blade.
Caracotl joins Gov in exploring the scarecrow, but as the magus explores the scarecrow itself Caracotl explores the surroundings and finds a concealed tunnel entrance.
"Anyone know why there would be a tunnel here?"
Govannon, ioun stone of light spinning around his head, moves over to the other two.
"Damn, I don't know how I missed it!" he mumbles. "This might be unpleasant."
He checks his spells, the grip on his scimitar, and his light. When the rest of the group is ready, he'll proceed down the tunnel.
The tunnel leads to a 10' diameter cave. Within the cave are the skeletal remains of four children.
The pale-skinned paladin looks around, to see if there's anything besides the skeletons.
Govannon looks around a little, but mostly he's standing guard, looking for possible trouble.
"I bet these are the missing children. Can anyone identify how they were killed?"