Or instructions not meant for the councilman's ears...
Iovanna takes the book from the case and opens the cover. The very first page reads The Journal of Petros Lorrimor, though the book is thicker than one might expect for such a thing. Flipping to the first entry, you find that it is dated in the year 4698. Professor Lorrimor has been periodically recording his thoughts in this particular journal for thirteen years.
Thumbing your way back to the opening pages, a few sentences written in red ink catch your eye. "Friends, I have little time to leave instruction. Throughout this journal, I have highlighted a select few entries with this same ink. If the worst has indeed befallen me, it is imperative that you understand their significance and follow-up where I am no longer able."
You notice that the professor has left a six red dots on the edges of the pages. They seem to mark the approximate location of the highlighted entries:
As you scan the entries, Kendra watches over your shoulder. Looking upon the last of them, she turns ghost-white.
Rosanna listens to the words, her eyes shut in concentration as she focuses on each passage. As Iovanna finishes the last entry Rosanna looks up,. "Excuse my question lady Kendra. But how did your father die?"
Hrolf looks as though he was about to ask a question, but closes his mouth and listens as Rosanna asks it before him.
Iovanna holds her questions until Kendra answers.
"I have said to myself, to fabricate some comfort in moments of my direst grief, that he died as he was destined to...curiously poking around places he should not. And so it was that a loose piece of masonry fell and struck him. You did not see his body, friends, but it was horrible. It crushed...it...I...I cannot speak of it." Kendra turns and takes a step away, staring for a moment at the countless spines of the books on the shelves. She breathes deeply. After a moment, she lets out a sudden, pained laugh. "They tell me it was a stone gargoyle. My father, felled by a gargoyle. He would be so thrilled...but...he...but his journal...the date...it-"
Kendra's body goes limp as she faints.
Iovanna gasps as Kendra feints and attempts to catch the young woman before she hits the floor. Iovanna will then pick her up and lay her on the nearby couch. Kendra? Poor thing, this is more than she can handle. Perhaps I shouldn't have read the book aloud in front of her? Iovanna clearly feels responsible for making Kendra feint and is currently kneeling beside the couch looking at her with concern written upon her face.
Iovanna takes a single, deft step, her arms taking swift but gentle hold of Kendra's slight frame and breaking her fall.
Kendra lies still upon the couch, but the look on her face is a content one, as if she has finally found a moment of rest.
Speaking quietly, She looks so peaceful, perhaps we should let her wake up on her own? And has anyone here know what this Whispering Way is? Standing up and then looking for a new place to sit now that the couch is occupied, Iovanna sighs and continues, And here I thought that while this trip was a sad one, that it would at least prove to be a restful break. It seems that I was sorely mistaken.
Rosanna, shocked at Kendra's sudden colapse, hurries to her side, "Perhaps i might do something for her? she says as she examines the girl.
Satisfied that the girl is OK Rosanna appeares to steel herself as she steps forward and speaks,..
Forgive me, but i think there are several questions that ar in need of answers. This "Whispering Way" as you say milady but also "Harrowstone". The ruins of a prison from the other entries, destroyed by fire? Perhaps more information might be found in this false crypt in the Restlands or even the library here? The last entry mentions the Whispering Way not being allowed to finish something - their "fountain of youth" possibly? Whatever it was must have been completed seventeen days ago. Perhaps some of the locals might have noticed something from that time? And these other books in the chest. Might they contain more information?
Hearing the Way being heavily involved is of no comfort to the monk. Knowing that if they are involved far fouler fiends will soon be a part of their lives than mere gargoyles.
"Friends, I believe it wise we seek the aide of the local bishops. I will venture to the monestary as I am one of its members and see what inormation they may provide us."
Expressing some surprise at Rosanna's sudden rush questions, Perhaps she is already getting over her shyness of us. She is certainly speaking up more. Iovanna will hand her the next top book in the chest. Perhaps we should all look through these books before we go about questioning people. We may find some answers in them or at the very least get more of an idea as to what questions we had best ask. Also we have no way of knowing if anyone we ask might be part of this Whispering Way and we certainly don't want to tip anyone off that we are investigating them.
Knowledge (Arcana): Though you are unaware of what the actual process entails, you know that becoming a lich is usually considered the most "attractive" path to eternal life via necromantic magic. Few means of becoming undead actually preserve the conscious mind of the subject. There are numerous other ways for sentient beings to become lesser undead, but it is well understood that most such creatures are wracked with base instincts and tortured pain. Only the most depraved would actively seek this "blessing".
Jaxus stared off in the distance as he heared the journal being read. I think the professor was killed, he is not the type to get killed by falling rock. Jaxus was so involved with his own thoughts he didn't notice Kendra faint. When she was settled he turned to the group, "Think we should check out this old prison."
Tetsuo, when you venture to the monestary to talk to the bishops, do you think that you could get the list that Professor Lorrimor mentioned in this book of all those who died in Harrowstone? If he thought it important then surely we should look at it. Also, might they know the cause of the fire that burned Harrowstone down? Was it natural, arson, magical, do they know who set it? Looking thoughtful, Are there people still around here who were there the night of the fire I wonder?
On Verified Madness - A jet black book that strangely seems to weigh almost nothing.
Serving Your Hunger - This tome is bound in thin, stretched leather and bears an image of a grotesque fly with the visage of a skull where its abdomen should be.
The Umbral Leaves - A flattened, metal skull with chains hanging from the eye sockets is embedded in the front cover of this heavy, grey volume.
The last remaining book has no discernable title. Its rich purple cover contains a brass scarab set with a single eye in its center. The book’s covers are rimmed in polished steel and clasped with a small but intricate lock, the keyhole of which appears to be for a key with a strange, triangular shaft.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
"I will most certainly ask these questions and more. I would think it prudent if we seek out our information in pairs and for a pair to stay here with Kendra and the books. We have time to conduct these investigations and if the Way is involved we must be on our guard at all times. Trust no one.
Looking over to Jaxus, If you still wish to check out the prison, I will go with you. I think it best if we check it now while it is still daylight out. I hope he doesn't object to my presence, I would like the chance to talk to him more. I think I'd like to hear more of his story on how he met the Professor.
"Perhaps these other books might have some information about the prison? I don't think I would be very helpful at the prison but perhaps i might be able to find something out? I could look after Kendra also - I was raised with some knowledge of healing?"
Serving your Hunger Religion check
Umbral Leaves Religion Check
I would not advise investigating the prison alone- especially in light of the information that the Professor was found dead there. I agree, lets involve the locals as little as possible- after that display at the funeral and with our secret instructions there is cause to mention as little as possible to them.
It sounds as though the temple of Pharasma is our first stop- in all honesty I would follow the Professor's example and borrow from the church's cache without their knowledge; if they don't even know of its existence it will not be missed, and with all due respect to any Pharasmites here we cannot rule out that this cult has agents within the church. By revealing our knowledge of the cache, we already show our hands and the rumour mill will be working against us. We'll be 'Professor Lorrimor's Necromancer Apprentices' by the end of the week, mark my words.
The Whispering Way itself is a series of philosophies that can only be transferred via whispers— the philosophies are never written or spoken of loudly, making the exact goals and nature of the secretive philosophy difficult for outsiders to learn much about.
Though you are unsure about the significance of The Umbral Leaves, the other book, Serving Your Hunger, may have some correlation to the Whispering Way, as it is one of several unholy books sacred to the goddess of undeath, Urgathoa. Lorrimor’s notations liberally sprinkle its margins.
Two books to dangerous, evil deities. Serving Your Hunger is a sacred text of Urgathoa while The Umbral Leaves is the book of Zon-Kuthon. Perhaps we should look for references to this Way in his notations.
Iovanna appears conflicted about the suggestion to "borrow" the cache. I would not normally approve of taking anything with the permission of its owners, but you are right that we do not know where this cult has its agents planted. Sighing, I suppose if we do this it should be done at night to lessen the chance of us being seen.
"Yes, Hrolf, the Way is very dangerous and the members keep frightenly close ties to the undead. There are many of their members who are undead themselves. It makes me both apprehensive and happy to know I will have the chance to break any hold they have over this region. I suggest we stay close and not stray too far one another."
Thinking for moment, he adds,"I am a monk of their patron diety and will likely set some of the locals minds at ease. I have been to this country many times and while the people are suspicious and brash in their attitudes, they also appreciate those who help them. I am a hunter of the undead and this country keeps me very busy. I suggest Iovanna and Rosanna come with me to the temple and Jaxus and Hrolf stay here with the books and Kendra. How do you all feel about this?
That is ok with me. But we should get going soon so that we can be back before dark.
"Agreed.",he says with a nod and heads for the door.
I suggest Iovanna and Rosanna come with me to the temple and Jaxus and Hrolf stay here with the books and Kendra. How do you all feel about this?
Rosanna goes slightly white at Tetsuo's proposition. "I really don't know what good i'd be sir." she says breathlessly, "I'd really rather stay and help go through the books. - and look after Kendra of course."
Hayashi and I shall go then and ask our questions. Hopefully no one will try to come by and harass Kendra. I worry those men we ran into earlier may hold ill will for her. Perhaps it is just as well Rosanna stay here, not everyone was comfortable with her appearance and it would be hard to get information from people if we end up defending her again. Ignorant people and their superstitions.
Hayashi and I shall go then and ask our questions. Hopefully no one will try to come by and harass Kendra. I worry those men we ran into earlier may hold ill will for her. Perhaps it is just as well Rosanna stay here, not everyone was comfortable with her appearance and it would be hard to get information from people if we end up defending her again. Ignorant people and their superstitions.
Plenty of us are staying behind so do not worry for her safety. Besides, she is a local. I doubt they will trouble her again. I still believe not reporting the cache is our wisest course of action- and that Lorrimor had good reasons for not involving the church, but it is your temple- so I respect your decision.
I have no intention of reporting the cache, we are simply going to see if they have any knowledge of what the Professor was up to and about his interest in Harrowstone. After nightfall I still think that a group of us should go and retrieve the cache.
Pausing by the door for a moment, Hayashi turns and replies to Iovanna,"I will happily go after night fall to retireve the items we are seeking, but I must warn you that night time in Ustalav is not the safest of times. "Things" tend to prowl the darkness of this country."
Nodding at Hayashi's comment, True enough, but it will decrease our chances being seen digging around and who knows how that would be taken by the villagers? We wouldn't want to tell them the truth without knowing where their loyalties lay.
Hayashi gives a slow nod again and heads out the door.
"Perhaps there's something in one of these books about The Harrowstone?" mutters Rosanna, approaching the bookcase and scanning it. Glancing back at the others she nervously asks"Do you think that Kendra would mind if I had a look?"
,
As you shut the door behind you, you notice that the sun has disappeared once more into the darkening clouds, casting a grey pall across the quiet town. You retrace your path to the Temple of Pharasma, and as before, Ravengro's residents are nowhere to be seen. It is cold. Much colder than this morning. Much colder than a temporary waning of the sun's rays should cause. A chilling wind blows.
You cross the bridge spanning the creek once again. Your footfalls sound on the wooden planks, the soft cadence providing accompaniment to your errand.
Wait.
You listen closely. For a moment...just a moment, it sounded as if more than the two of you walked upon the bridge. Turning, you see nobody else. You continue, but can catch not the slightest hint of what you thought you might have heard before.
You come at last to the temple. The massive steeple looms over you as you approach the hard, stone steps. A biting gust of wind blows hard from behind you, and the heavy, iron-shod door sways ever so slightly, creaking audibly. It appears to be ajar.
The door shuts. Kendra mumbles something unintelligible in her sleep, shifting her position and resting her cheek on her hand. She wears a smile on her face. Perhaps she has come upon pleasant dreams.
Rosanna scans the shelves, looking carefully for something relevant to Harrowstone, but a thorough look at the exposed book spines yields no leads. The front room seems somehow darker. The meager sunlight present before seems to have faded. Rosanna's eyes fall upon the jet black book, sitting on the table. She walks to it and takes it in her hands, looking over it cautiously. The room is nearly silent, save Kendra's occasional muttering and the crack of the fireplace.
The fireplace...
It had died down to embers; of that you are sure. And yet now, the flame has regained some strength. Kendra mumbles. The fire burns more intensely. Kendra writhes and twists where she lies, and the sounds she makes hint at displeasure. The fire is very hot. Kendra begins calling out.
"They come...they come!"
The curtains slide shut on their own, cutting off what little natural light still illuminated the room. In the flashing firelight, four shadows are cast. One for each of you, and a fourth with no apparent origin.
Looking over to Hayashi and saying quietly, I wonder why they would leave the door open? Perhaps someone entered right before we got here? Iovanna will cautiously step up to the door and slowly push it open. I swear the hairs on the back of my neck have been standing at attention since we left the house. Why is this village so creepy? It doesn't look different than any other.
Rosanna, fetch water and put that fire out! Hrolf barks, pulling his axe from its shoulder sheath and hastily strapping his shield to his arm. Armed, Hrolf nevertheless looks troubled as he whirls around, seeking to keep an eye on every direction as though surrounded by foes.
Stepping to the side of the door as Iovanna eases it open, Hayashi steadies himself in a defensive stance. "Something is out of place here,Iovanna. The priest of Pharasma are not in the way of abandoning their duties on the worst of days."
As the door swings open, you make a quick survey of the chamber. The cavernous interior of the temple is reasonably well lit, both by rows of torches and by light filtered through the impressive array of stained glass windows.
Sliding just inside the door Hayashi looks for any sign of the priest and monks that should be going about their mid-day activities.
Iovanna stays right beside Hayashi and ask, Should it be this deserted here?
Absorbed in her reading Rosanna fails to notice anything odd until Kendra begins to speak more loudly. As the woman calls out Rosanna bustles quickly over to her, checking her temperature and peering carefully into her eyes. Suddenly the curtains slide closed and the girl stands upright looking around herself to see what's happening. At Hrolf's words she comes back to herself and rushes towards the kitchen to fetch water, Aranca curled around her shoulders, hissing at the shadowy forms.
Smokey incense greets your nostrils as you step into the temple. Large pillars stand in rows of four on either side of the chamber. Both of you see shapes moving slowly beyond them. As your eyes begin to adjust to the dim interior, you mark them as robed figures. There are more than a few of them.
A voice calls meekly: "Who comes?"
As Hrolf draws his axe and steadies his shield, the mysterious fourth shadow seems to somehow stare at him; you feel unseen eyes upon you. After a brief moment, it moves, as if the being that should cast it were walking slowly away. You hear no footfalls as it disappears from view.
Rosanna reaches the kitchen to find the shades similarly drawn over the single window. A single candle flickers, and the shadows of two figures appear on the wall opposite it, framed in the dancing light. One of these belongs to Rosanna. The other seems without source, but it is nevertheless present, hovering menacingly over the filled water basin.
There are two more in here. Hrolf?, Jaxus? Rosanna calls out, her voice shaking. What are they?
Steeling herself the young girl slowley edges forward towards the candle, carefully watching the shadows. Once their she nervously wets her fingers in her mouth and squeezes the wick to extinguish the small flame.
As Rosanna's fingers close around the candle's flame, the curtains masking every window fly open. The fireplace too is extinguished. Kendra snaps awake and sits up straight, gasping, her eyes darting about the room feverishly. The unsettling feeling of being watched has passed. The shadows, whatever they were, would seem to be gone.
Jaxus quickly takes in the all the shadows and cast detect undead to see if they are real shadows.
"Tetsuo Hayashi, monk of Lord Pharasma, and who might you be, sir. Where are the brothers who should be going about their daily duties?"
"Welcome, fellow servant to the Lady of Graves." A grey-robed figure steps into the light. The youth in his face is not hidden by his hood. "We were in quiet meditation. Why do you enter unannounced?"
Perception: Though you take ample time to scan the bindings of the books on the shelves, you find nothing within Professor Lorrimor's collection directly referencing Harrowstone or its prisoners.
Knowledge (Dungeoneering)*: This book is about aberrant creatures, though you recognize none of them. It is unsettling to look through the pages.
*untrained