As the others hurry to put out the flames Rosanna attends to the townsfolk, using her herbs on those who are less badly injured but resorting to her Healing Hex if necessary.
Sheriff Benjan Caeller ushers you outside. "You're heroes, every one of you. Now get into the night air before you choke. We'll clean up in there." A grateful smile is present on his rough face for a moment, before he turns and begins barking orders to his deputies.
As you emerge from the building, a few of the townsfolk begin applauding. The rest quickly join.
A voice calls from the crowd. "Our saviors!"
It is then that you see Kendra, standing amidst the crowd. Her worry melts away into relief as your eyes meet.
Hrolf will spend his remaining spells to cast Cure Light Wounds on a few townspeople.
An inspiring speech from someone a little less gruff than me could do wonders here, Iovanna.. he whispers to the Paladin.
Jaxus stands behind his companions looking at the cheering crowd feeling very uncomfortable with all the attention.
As he looks on a voice whispers in his head, "Do you think they would still be cheering if they knew the truth.
Jaxus shifts from foot to foot and looks down at the ground, Probably not.
As Oorin walks out of the building he's talking to, apparently, nobody. "Nice fire. Not the place I would have started it, though."
As the crowd begins to cheer he is taken aback. He begins looking around to see if the cheering involves him somehow. When he realizes that it does, he waves back to the crowd somewhat half-heartedly. As the cheering continues however, he warms up and begins waving back more energetically frequently bowing and blowing kisses to the crowd.
Nice people, I wonder what this was all about...
The townsfolk eye Oorin warily as he appears, but they do not shirk in their applause.
Father Grimburrow steps forward from the crowd, and the cheering dies down. His weathered face comes as close to smiling as you have seen. "Many of us have judged these strangers harshly, and yet they bravely risk themselves for our welfare. Come with me, friends. You shall be rewarded and given care."
"I have taken no damage, sir," Cathran answers almost immediately. "I mean no offense, but I would prefer to stay and offer my services to them who remain and discover the reason for the fires. I have some training which may assist with the investigation," Cathran looks to the sheriff for confirmation that her assistance will be accepted.
"Very well. I take no offense." Grimburrow turns and looks at the rest of you. "But perhaps some of your fellows are in need of some aid. Your strength was sapped against the winged beasts earlier today, and fighting the fire has surely been taxing. Pharasma grants us the gifts to relieve such exertion, and you are welcome to them. I intend to return to the temple. Will any of you join me?"
Jaxus looks at the priest and shakes his head. "I am fine father I will remain here to see what I can do."
Rosanna instinctivley drops her eyes as the sheriff's attenetion, however, at the crowd's applause, she glances up in amazement at the cheers. As the applause continues her cheecks blush pink and she again lowers her eyes, but from shyness rather than fear.
Assuming that the locals are all healed and no longer need care...
Rosanna looks up at Grimburrow's words but hesitates to speak.
"I thank you for your kind offer Father, but Iomedae watches over me and sees to my needs."
"No one?" Grimburrow looks surprised. "Stoic as any Pharasmin, you are. Well, the offer stands. If the restless dead really do encroach upon Ravengro and you intend to fight them, you will need all the help you can get."
"But they'll manage, I think." Kendra walks up beside the group. "You've saved the meeting hall from flames, friends. Perhaps the entire town." She looks over Cathran and Oorin with curiosity. "But, forgive me, I do not know these. Who are you?"
"I am Cathran, formerly of Mendev, and the Crusades," Cathran supplies and frowns. "Truth, like so many others, I traveled no further than Egede. I was dispatched with a message for Professor Lorrimor, but was forestalled along the journey."
"Mendev? The Crusades?" Kendra's surprise is apparent. "You have truly seen worse horrors than the haunting here. But what was this message? Was it for him early? I might I be able to assist with it?"
"My name is Oorincunathysin but just call me Oorin; it's the only part anyone ever pronounces correctly anyways," he says cheerfully. "Thanks for the offer but I am well accustomed to fire and flame and need no care."
"I'm from Qadira originally but have been travelling the last few years. I only recently learned of the Professor's death and, as he once did me a rather significant favor, I journeyed here to see what had happened to him. I didn't expect to arrive being greeted by a burning building and flaming skulls though." Oorin laughs as if he's just made a joke.
"Flaming skulls?" Kendra has greater knowledge of Golarion's abnormalities than many, but she does not hide her gasp at the mention of your latest foes. "Dreadful. Well, Oorincuna...I'm sorry, I may need to work on that. What was it again?"
"I know not, Mistress, only that I was dispatched to deliver the message in person," Cathran apologizes with a hint of a frown. "Might I ask when... the Professor passed?"
"Not a month has yet gone by since he died." Kendra's voice wavers, but her face betrays nothing. "He met his end at Harrowstone. A statue fell."
"I... see," Cathran replies. "Beg forgive my tardiness, Mistress. When next my Lady graces us with Her presence, I should like to visit his resting place. I did not know him long, or very well, but his theories on faith strengthened mine." Cathran offers a faint smile, and looks to the others.
"A warrior of the Inheritor? Well met, Mistress," Cathran says and offers a salute.
"Do you mean to say that a statue fell on him?" Oorin asks with a puzzled expression. "I hope he didn't suffer at least, and please forgive my ignorance as I have never been to these lands before, but is falling statuary a common means of death around here?"
"I can only hope it was instant." Kendra says, her composure fleeting. "It was a thoroughly uncommon death, for a thoroughly uncommon man, we have decided." She looks away. "The two of you are welcome in my home, if you have nowhere else to stay."
Without another word, Kendra turns and walks away.
Jaxus snorts at Oorin's comment, "No I don't think so but there are a lot of uncommon things happening in this town. I am Jaxus, it is good to see some more people that the Professor knew."
Cathran stares after Kendra's retreat. "Is... the mistress well?" she inquires. "I have no wish to intrude on her hospitality if she is having... difficulties. I am certain I could find some manner of alternative arrangement."
"Kendra is as well as can be expected after the loss of her father. She is still grieving for him and there are some in town who have been less than sympathetic to her loss. I am sure that she does not mean to come off unwelcoming."
"As Jaxus has said, it is good to meet more of Professor Lorrimor's friends. I am Iovanna of Lastwall, servant of Iomedae."
"Nice to meet you all", Oorin says cheerfully. "My name is Oorincunathysin but no one ever pronounces anything after Oorin correctly, not even other gnomes, so just call me Oorin."
"I should say that I didn't know the Professor well. I studied magic at the colleges in Katheer but circumstances forced me to flee...er, leave Qadira rather quickly. The good Professor helped me out of a really tight spot and we talked about the nature of magic quite extensively. I only recently heard of his passing and since I was travelling anyways, I decided to head up here and see what happened and to pay my respects. Death by falling statue isn't exactly what I was expecting to hear."
Oorin looks around. "The tension around here is pretty thick. Even if I hadn't seen those flaming skulls I would've wondered that something unusual was going on around here. This isn't related to the Professor's death, is it?"
Jaxus looks at the little gnome, "From what I understand all of this started about the time he died. Some of the villagers think the Professor was a necromancer and he caused all of this. I think that he was the first victim of these strange events."
Cathran shakes her head. "The ignorant fear what they cannot understand," she says sadly. "Please thank the Mistress for her kind offer, but I will remain here and see if I can discover the cause of the fires. I am certain the locals can inform me of an appropriate place to rest for the evening."
Cathran will return to the town hall and investigate the origin of the fires. She will cast and use her amazing Elven senses to perceive if anything is out of place.
It takes some time for the smoke to clear from the hall, but you are able to enter before long. It appears that the fires themselves were started by the exploding lamps. What caused the lamps to explode is less apparent, but you guess that it was magical in nature.
Well met, Cathran. Hrolf says finally, a little drained by the day. I am Hrolf Steinolf.
With little further ado the Ulfen man retires to Kendra's for the evening too, the one townsperson killed in the fire weighing on his conscience.
Jaxus looks one last time at the burn wreckage and fallows the big Ulfen.
Oorin ponders what he's heard as he follows Kendra. "Hmmm...if these events started after the Professor's death then perhaps he was at work trying to prevent...well, whatever. And perhaps his means of keeping necrotic forces at bay has vanished with his passing...all just a theory of course."
Oorin ponders a few moments longer and the moves up to Kendra's side. "Excuse me, but did the Professor have a residence here? Is it still intact?"
Rosanna looks up shyly from the woman who's wounds she is tending. Glancing between the two newcomers.
Well she's a Half-elf like me Aranca, how is it though that she's so... confident with all these people around? I wonder, would she know of the elves? Maybe she'll join us and we'll find out more? As for the other, I think he's a gnome like the Professor told us about. He seems a bit... odd.
Responding to Oorin, "Miss Kendra lived with the Professor, it's his house that we are going to now."
Kendra greets you at the door. "Friends, I have cooked a stew and have just begun to prepare some tea for you. You must be exhausted from fighting the fire. Sit, breathe deeply, and be nourished."
You step once more into the tightly cramped home of the late professor. Navigating the bookshelves and eclectic mix of furniture, you find a place to sit.
Sheriff Benjan Caeller looks hard at you. "Can't thank you enough, miss. If it weren't for you and your fellows, this place would be ash, with many more dead. Can't figure on the cause though. Every lamp explodes at once? Can spirits really do that?"
Cathran sighs and shakes her head. "I would not know," she admits sadly. "It is said that evil spirits harbor a considerable amount of power. How they came here is a puzzle I am not privy to."
Cathran looks about, assessing the demeanor of the remainder of the contingent who are investigating the scene.
Aside to the Sheriff, Cathran speaks softly. "I do not wish to cause undue alarm, but if you've the resources as such, I would avoid using lanterns in densely populated areas, now. It seems," Cathran pauses and chooses her words, "elementary, but so many persons in one location, and afraid besides? Even a rumor of ill intent can drive them to distraction. With a unified front, a display of precaution may assuage many of their concerns."
"Wise words, perhaps." The sheriff studies you unsubtly. "I'll stamp out the lanterns in my home when we've got this mess sorted out, that's sure."
The deputies don't seem to be paying any attention to you. Whether this is because they are occupied or because they choose not to acknowledge you is far from apparent.
Cathran returns Sheriff Caeller's study for a time, uncertain what his intent is. She recognizes that she is the only outsider in the hall, however, and that she is being ignored by the deputies. The mention of home further reflects that she does not belong.
Cathran clears her throat and glances nervously to the side. "Considering the chaos of the evening, and... my general ignorance of this area and its pitfalls - evil spirits,undead and errant statuary not withstanding - where might a traveler be welcome?"
Based on the fact that he directs that same inquisitive stare at every corner of the room, you get the sense that Benjan Caeller is simply more focused on tonight's happenings than he is on any kind of social courtesy.
"The Outward Inn is right next door, in fact. Sarianna Vai runs a fine establishment." The sheriff's face softens, ever so slightly. "But if you stay there, it will be on my coin. You and the others are heroes." He thrusts a handful of silver pieces in your direction.
It is hard to have a restful night after the events of the past two days, but you are able to drift off to sleep eventually. You awake the next morning, unable to remember any dreams. The sound of the rain pelting the rooftop fills your ears.
Jaxus wakes up at the sound of rain and looks over at Iovanna's sleeping form. He silently gets up and leaves the room and goes down stairs.
Cathran wakes before the dawn, and true to her training, makes the bed with its sheets and blankets tucked so tight she can bounce a coin off the surface, then as light begins to spill over the horizon, kneels in front of the window and begins her morning meditations in the common tongue.
After a light breakfast, Cathran inquires where the Professor rests so that she can pay her respects to the man.
Waking up to the dreary day, Iovanna wanders downstairs to see if Kendra needs any help with breakfast.
Kendra is already downstairs, cutting some bread. She seems to sense your presence. "Good morning. I hope your rest was better than mine."
The woman at the front counter of the inn has tired eyes, but smiles when you approach. It quickly fades at your mention of the late Professor Lorrimor. "You'll find old Petros at the Restlands, north of town, miss."
Waking up early and diligently praying to his ancestors for their guidance in the Trials ahead, Hrolf joins the others for breakfast, a grim expression on his face. After bidding everyone good morning, he slams his fist onto the breakfast table for attention, looking at Kendra with a guilty expression for the gesture.
No more research. No more damn books! Today, we take the fight to Harrowstone Prison itself and if shes still willing, we'll take Cathran and er... Oorin? with us! It is high time we stopped reacting to these foul spirits and take the fight to them for the honour of Professor Lorrimor!
Oorin, having slept extremely well, came quietly down for breakfast. He's taken aback by Hrolf's outburst.
"Ah, a fight? A prison? What's all this about?" Oorin asks quizically. Then his eyes light up, "Books did you say? The Professor's? Where?" Oorin begins looking around eagerly as if expecting a pile of books to appear out of nowhere.
Cathran narrows her eyes at the woman's reaction, but in consideration of the terror of the previous evening, lowers them with her head in a gracious bow. "The blessings of the Dawnflower to you, Madame. May her light shine upon you and yours, and lead us each to the truth," she says.
Feeling more tension, Cathran excuses herself, and begins walking north on whatever path is available.
.
Jaxus smiles at Hrolfs outburst, "I agree I am tired of letting everything happen around us. Lets go see this prison and maybe we can figure out what is going on."