Quiddling looks at the door with terror in his eyes. "Do we really have to go back there tomorrow?" he whimpers, painfully aware that he already knows the anwser to his question.
Sarrah walks over to Quiddling and kneels to look him in the eye, You are vital to our cause Quiddling, we need all of the help we can get. If you decide not to go back I would understand, but I would ask you to continue with us if you can?
Tomorrow will not be any easier, but maybe we will be better prepared this time.House to rest!!!
You make your way back to Kendra's house, walking through the streets of Ravengro at a very late hour. You don't see anybody else out in the streets of the small town as you walk- but just as you are almost at Kendra's home, some of you might make out a chilling sound...
Somewhere on the other side of town, you can faintly make out what sounds like a cat screaming in pain. It sounds like its to your north, possible in the town square?
Perception:
Quiddling follow close behind Stannis, doing his best to seek protection in the tall paladin's shadow. On more than one occation he gets startled by noises or movement, both imaginary and real one.
Outside Kendra's home the halfing stops dead in his tracks with his eyes peaked. "Quiet", he implors his companion as he listens. "Do you hear that? It sounds like a cat screaming in pain. From there", Quidding says and points to the north towards the town square. "Quickly, we must see what's going on. If it's another one of the ritualistic doings we might be able to stop it!" he concludes and sets off down the street towards the sound.
Perception
Stannis follows Quiddling but quickly falls behind in his armour and realises that probably isn't a bad thing given the noise.
Previously completely oblivious to the noise, Arianna follows along with the others after Quiddling points out the noise...
Follows of course...
Going across town swiftly, you nevertheless get to the scene too late. A mangled, ginger cat lies dead upon the ground, in the centre of the square, its stomach cut open and blood pouring over the grass. Stannislav is no slower in his armour than Quiddling is with his short legs so you arrive at the scene at the same time.
Stannis looks carefully around for any useful signs. Unfortunately he never really managed to work out how to track things like some of the villagers.
Quiddling starts to investigate the scene looking for tracks or clues that might lead him to the perpetrator.
Stannis and Quiddling begin to examine the area in utmost detail.
Arianna looks around the area, while trying to stay out of Quiddling's way...
Sarrah will examine the cat to see what might have killed it.
From a very quick glance, it seems obvious to Sarrah that the kill is fresh, and that it had its stomach cut open by some kind of small knife or blade.
If nothing else is discovered with our searches I assume we will rest up and then head back after we talk to a couple of folks in town...
Any chance to catch the culprit is likely lost as you meticulously examine the scene of the crime. Your thorough scrutiny reveals little more than noting the presence of very a footprint, pointing west towards the river.
Quiddling notes something else; its clear that the cat wasn't expecting an attack and was relaxed and calm as it was killed. It must have been someone the small feline trusted. He also has reason to believe from the blood splatter, that someone or something collected some of the cat's blood in a container.
Something else to tell the sherrif in the morning.
"Are we going to leave the square like this?" Quiddling protests. "Sarrah, can't you at least sanctify the ground? If this was some kind of ritual, we can't leave it to work its magic."
I don't know if there is anything I can do...Stannis is there some evil left over at this site?
Our best bet is try try and find the one doing these acts and end them!
"Some evil left? Can't you see the cat?!", Quiddling exclaims. "It must mean something! Normally i could consider it the act of some sick mind with no reprocussions, but not here. You opened the gates back at the prision. You must be able to do something!"
Stannis isn't accustomed to making insightful leaps but its all been laid out by others.
The spirit told us, Morven, Corrine. The letters on the statue. Weakening the spirits ... binding.
Stannis picks up the cat. I'll dig a grave for the little thing. Thats something I can do.
It's a dead cat Quiddling. It is part of some ritual most likely, not the evil itself. The thing doing the ritual is what we must find. If we encounter something like this again, we try to track it back to its source and destroy whatever is doing this. Drips of blood, footprints, something could lead us to who or what is doing this.
Survival
Having had the footprint pointed out to her, Arianna casts a spell of guidance on herself, and the attempts to follow the faint trail...
Survival: (guidance)
Quiddling tries his best to follow the tracks but he has to give it up after a few minutes.
Whether its your lack of any tracking experience or just the darkness, your getting absolutely nowhere trying to follow the trail. An hour passes and you have made no progress. The initial footprint itself has Stannislav's boot mark over it.
Fatigued beyond your usual stamina, you finally return to Kendra's house. Your hostess is asleep and has probably been so for quite some time, and it doesn't take any of you long to collapse into your respective beds.
Although sleep comes easy, it doesn't remain for long periods. Although all of you suffer from dreams clearly relating to your traumatising experience in Harrowstone, Stannislav suffers more than anyone; he dreams of being trapped, locked into his own body as Vesorianna slowly drains his life essence to keep the evil contained for longer. Paralysed flesh slowly withering away in the dark gloomy place, only to see Vesorianna ultimately fail even with your sacrifice, five sinister ghosts looming at the edges of the room as his vision fades.
You all sleep in later than you intend to, most probably because restful sleep only came with the dawn. By the time you are up and dressed its past midday. Kendra has evidently been into the town itself shopping for food, and as you each emerge you are greeted with a veritable feast of cold meats, sandwiches, fruits and fish. Kendra herself immediately makes a pot of tea but says little to you beyond a morning greeting initially, perhaps sensing that last nights escape from Harrowstone may have left some scars...
We should speak with the town quickly and head back to Harrowstone. I would rather go back into the prison during the day.
Kendra looks particularly concerned at Sarrah's words.
Theres talk in the town that the four of you were... well, disturbing the peace after dark. Gebs has even been going as far as to say that your the ones scribing letters upon the memorial; a fresh letter, written in blood, was added last night and as you were seen coming back from Harrowstone...
She leaves the implication unsaid as she pours tea.
Now, the people of this town are mostly used to ignoring Gebs and the other naysayers but... perhaps it wouldn't hurt your cause to spend some time in the town today, help your relations with the folk here?
We don't have time to wetnurse some people's foolish notions, this town's existence is threatened by the spirits in that prison. The town leaders must know what is going on and we must face the spirits and send them on to Pharasma's justice! Realizing she may have come across a little gruff...
Kendra, we need your help though...do you have any thoughts on who might be the most sympathetic to our cause in the town's leadership? Someone who might listen to reason?
Quiddling brightens as Kendra suggests that the party spend some time in the village, but it diminishes as quickly as Sarrah dismisses the notion. "Maybe we can find someone to make more of those Haunt Siphons? To equip us for dealing with the prision. They proved quite useful yesterday. Or perhaps talk to the town marshall about the cat killing yesterday... Never hurts to be prepared", the halfing tries and gives the room as brave of a smile as he can muster.
"Sarrah, perhaps Kendra is right, the people of Ustlav are suspicious and untrusting of outsiders, and in many cases for good reason. You never know what the townsfolk may be able to offer in terms of aid or information. If we are to be successful in Harrowstone, we need every bit of help we can get."
...and gamble that we have enough time to break the curse before Stannis is turned into a human siphon?
Do any of you believe we can spend an entire day here and accomplish more towards our goal than we can in Harrowstone? I am not sure we should take that risk...but I will leave that choice to Stannis.
Stannis wakes looking tired and haggard although he seems determined not to let it slow him down.
It takes a while for Stannis to process Kendra's statement and its implications and he blushes a little at being asked to choose. He speaks slowly but with surety.
The people here ... my people. They fear, they dis.. distrust but often it is for good reason. Terrible things lurk in the night and they just want to feel safe.
Why this Gebs is lying about us I do not know but I do not feel it would take much to turn the people against us. Hatred is no real sub..substitute for courage, but it is easier and it is something to hold to against the fear.
I have seen it before. People will be hurt, innocent people, perhaps Kendra for keeping us.
I feel our quest can wait for a day. If we can convince the Sheriff of our need he can have the men of the town guard the statue at night while we finish in this prison. The priests could help too.
I feel we should speak to the Father first and then Councilman Hearthmount. He seemed like a good man and a friend to the Professor. He also seemed to have say sway over Sheriff Caeller. With or without their help I feel we should tell the townspeople what is going on as well. Some may want to leave. What do you think?
Quiddling shrinks visibly in his chair as Sarrah pits his words against Stannis well being. The feeling of shame still lingers after the paladin has spoken. "Speaking with father Grimburrow and councilman Hearthmount sounds like good idea. Perhaps the good father can get us more haunt sihpons?" Quiddling says, then quickly adds to Stannis: "If you don't mind, of course"
No. Any help will be welcome.
We should take the Professor's book. It may help to convince them.
Stannis turns to Kendra. There is something else Kendra. I know what has happened with your father makes things difficult but I feel like you deserve to know. From what the spirit of the warden's wife told us, your father did not die by accident and wasn't killed by the spirits of the prison. He was killed by others, people whose plan was to trap the warden's spirit.
I am so very sorry.
Kendra remains very quiet, and a little pale. When she eventually speaks, tears are rolling freely down her cheeks and her voice is grief-stricken but with a fire in it nonetheless.
Do you know who is responsible?
The spirit of the warden's wife said that it was the ones who spoke only in whispers. After they killed your father they took away the warden's spirit somehow.
The big paladin takes the woman's hand very gently. Kendra, I did not know your father but he was surely a good man. I will not allow his killers to escape justice. We must stop the evil in the prison to protect the town but if I live I will find them if it takes the rest of my days. I swear this as a Raven Knight. It will not bring him back but may help his spirit find some peace.
I am sorry but we must leave to talk to the Father. Unless you wish to join us?
no, Sarrah is in agreement with this approach...
Whispers? A reference to The Whispering Way? I... I believe I will stay here. Please, could you do something a... about...
Kendra gestures tearfully to the stairs leading down to the basement; and Professor Lorrimor's earthly remains.
Quiddling's eyes dart between Stannis, Sarrah and Kendra hoping that either the paladin or the oracle knows some way of putting the professor to rest. The only way he could think of right now is to tie the limbs tight and nail the coffin shut but doubts that the suggestion would be a popular one. Or that it would be sufficient.