Azuk'ai's move about franticly but he remains frozrn in place.
Azuk'ai's move about franticly but he remains frozrn in place.
"Danke, ...Run...?" Melk's tense body relaxes slightly as the healing magic repairs spurned flesh.
Marilwenn smiles at the friendly monk. She isn't exactly certain what 'Danke' means but figures something like 'thank you' is a pretty safe guess to make. "Yes. 'Run' is fine, Melk. And you're welcome. Tell me if you require more aid, I'll be glad to help."
"Ich... I will ask for a bit more, if you can spare -" guiltily Melk looks about the others. "- maybe someone else needs it more, ja? Aydan also has a big Wund."
"..mmmph mmphmph mph?"
A good thirty seconds pass before Azuk'ai can move again, the vigor returning to his body. There is no trace of where the hooded figure went, not even footsteps in the mud. Father Harking and Kendra stand together, his arms wrapped protectively around her. He sees the wounds of the group and offers, "I know a few healing conjurations, if anyone needs them." His voice is quite shaky and uncertain.
Melk nods at the Father's words, "Ja please. I think me and Aydan here would like a bit of healing." Melk, in his usual slow manner, finally takes stock of the situation: "What happened hier?"
Aydans vision clears only moments after the bodies ignite in a flash. He seems to slump all of a sudden, overcome with a wretched weariness. He shakes his head a few times, as if trying to clear it of a heavy fog.
'What? What happened where's the journa- Oh.' Memory fully reasserts itself as a tattered remnant of the notes flaps wetly across his boot. He slumps even further, terribly tired.
'Well thats a bust... Better than those f@@~ers getting it though, he pats Run on the arm gently. 'You did the right thing in the moment, I'll take some of the restorative magics going around. I'm badly hurt,' he winces at the wounds in his side, painting his clothing red with blood.
Run looks sadly at the journal fragment on Aydan's boot, and smiles ruefully. "Thanks. I just kind of acted in the moment. I, too, would not wish to have my friend's notes and private thoughts in the hands of...of something like that. One moment please." She retrieves her pack from the study they were in before and begins working quickly with chymicals and reagents, mixing and swirling strangely colored fluids and gooey gels. After a minute or so of work she has another concoction identical to the last one, which she drinks down immediately then claps Aydan on the shoulder, suffusing him with healing energy.
Father Harking mutters something in Celestial as healing waves of energy flow from his body. The wounds of the group begin to knit themselves closed by magic. He looks around, visibly drained. "Let me get something for the window." He slips away to the front of the house, presumably to look for some spare wood.
Kendra simply stares aghast at the state of the study, with blood and gore everywhere. The smell of burned flesh lingers, sticking to the books like tree sap. She rather dazedly asks, "What was that? How did he simply disappear? I was only a few feet away. He was there, then he flickered for a moment and vanished into the night. What did he mean about my father?"
The group begins to gather what remains of the Professor's journal. Only a few pages remain legible, and fewer still are wholly intact.
<illegible> Whispering Way seeks to restore Tar-Baphon, or at least replicate his path to <illegible>
<illegible> Hean Faramin died in the fire, but his malicious spirit must have clung to <illegible>
<illegible> Warden Hawkran, bless his soul, have predicted his role in the afterlife? I imagine he would have been pleased by <illegible>
<illegible> to my colleague Professor Adivion Afrissant, I would warn <illegible>
<illegible> cache rests in the crypt in the northeast corner of the Restlands, where it awaits its proper use in <illegible>
<illegible> to alert the other members of the Order at some point that I have uncovered evidence of <illegible>
<illegible> each of the six prisoners brought that fateful summer holds some degree of <illegible>
<illegible> believe that my time is short, for one of my allies plots to betray me. If I do not survive the encounter, I pray that the pupils and allies I have cultivated over the years might come to <illegible>
"Other than the common place names, the only thing I think I understand here is the reference to 'The Order.' On the box where this all came from..." "is a scarab, see it? That's a symbol of the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye, a secret society of some kind, an old one. I heard Petros mention them before, and always in a glowing manner, singling out their altruistic ways. Well." She stands back up and cricks her neck. "Now I know why. I mean, now I know why he spoke of them. I'd guess from that fragment that he was a member, or at least involved with them somehow."
Stepping away from the table, Run does her little head-nod that causes her glasses to slide down to the end of her nose. She looks over at Kendra. "Kendra, did the p-I mean, your father ever mention anything about the Order, or about being in an organization of that sort, some sort of secret society?"
Kendra shakes her head. "He was away most of my life as I grew up. He always said that he hoped to make the world a safer place, and that I shouldn't have to worry about such terrible things. I wish he'd taught me some of the things that he knew. I felt so scared and helpless when they came into the house..." She begins to cry softly. "He always said that he would be there to protect me, no matter what. But he's gone now, and he needs me. What if his soul is trapped? What if that's why the resurrection didn't work?"
Melk picks up on the references to the prison. "Warden, six prisoners, Hean Faramin? Who is Hean Faramin, who are the six prisoners?"
'And rather importantly, who is this mysterious Professor Adivion Afrissant. Perhaps he is from the University at Lepistadt. He might have more information on these happenings. Might even know who the betrayer was.' Aydan strides back and forth, his legs seeming to recover their bounce as he talks. The gears clikcing in his mind are nearly audible.
'Has anyone heard any of these names? We will be in Lepistadt in a month so we could follow our leads once we have Kendra assured in her safety,' he smiles at the shaken woman reassuringly.
'And don't worry. All mysteries aside, your safety is our first concern. Its the least I could do for Petros.'
"Es ist unfortunate, but we don't know how the fragments relate. It is possible that Afrissant, or Avantara, are the traitor."
"It might be a bit of a leap, especially given their overall demeanor and inclination to good or evil is not explicitly spelled out in the text, but I wonder if our intruders of this evening were associated with this 'Whispering Way.' That name resonates with evil, for some reason, there's some connection in my mind..."
Run stands still for a moment, her chin resting on her hand. Then she pushes her glasses back up and crosses her arms. Slowly, she is shrinking back down to her normal size.
"There is much here to consider, and we should keep these fragments safe. Do you all mind if I hang on to them, at least for the immediate future? I should like to stay up and consider the words present." She looks at Azuk'ai and gives him a rueful sideways smile. "I promise to keep any scientific depredations to a minimum."
Rubbibg the numbness out of his arms Azuk'ai nods in thanks to the priest for the healing. Making his way over to Kendra he lays a hand on her shoulder and leans down to look her in the eye. "Hey. Their gone now, we drove them off. Your gona be fine Kendra, just fine. We're here to take care of you, the professor asked us and I for one aim to make good on it. Ok?"
Azuk'ai shrugs when Run comments on the journal, "If you can make any sence out of it then by all means."
"The whispering way? That does sound ominous. But why would they want his journal? I'd think they'd be after the books from the box, but the journal? I don't understand. Maybee we should investigate this, go up to the prison and see whats up."
** spoiler omitted **
"The whispering way? That does sound ominous. But why would they want his journal? I'd think they'd be after the books from the box, but the journal? I don't understand. Maybee we should investigate this, go up to the prison and see whats up."
"If they are who I think they are, then I imagine they would already have any book that could be gained by traditional or...mundane means. Of far greater interest would be the original research and notes of a great mind such as Petros'." Something seems to occur to the tall alchemist suddenly. Gathering up the paper fragments of the journal, she places them in an inside pocket of her vest for the nonce, and begins to more carefully examine the books around her.
"I am all for going to Harrowstone, but I would also like to spend some time researching this, first; forearming myself, and the rest of us, with as much knowledge as possible. There are many names in here and what I cannot find in books I may have to ask for assistance in learning or procuring information about from knowledgeable locals."
"For now I'm going to search the Professor's collection for anything I might be able to use, then I am going to retire for the evening to get a head start on my studies, get some rest, and re-brew some new extracts for the coming days. If none of you mind, shall we meet tomorrow for lunch? That gives me ample time to prepare, plus I shall be able to do a little more research in that time. If I'm lucky, we can visit the prison tomorrow, in daylight. If not, then the next day at the latest. But either way--" She looks at the smoldering corpse remains and scorch marks around her. "--I'd be more comfortable going during the day, unless it proves necessary to do otherwise."
Father Harking returns to the study, carrying several pieces of wood. "This will have to do. I suppose we can check in town for some replacement glass in the morning." He pauses for a moment. "Did I hear you suggest that you go to the prison? I would advise against that. I tried to convince the Professor not to go, but he wouldn't listen and it cost him his life. If you must, at least go prepared."
There are many, many books in the study. Their topics range from The Art of Cooking in Absalom to The Inner Meaning of the Harrow Reading to On the Rise and Fall of Aroden, and the Promise of Return. The collection is vast and varied, as befitting a man such as Professor Lorrimor. There are a number of collected books that might shed light on the Whispering Way, such as Marching on Gallowspire: A History of the Shining Crusade and Cults and Lesser Gods of Avistan. Several of the Professor's own works are present, including the difficult-to-find Treatise on Alchemical Reactions, complete with the Professor's handwritten mathematical proofs in the margins.
The books in the chest take a darker turn. The first book has the same symbol as the chest, and is locked with an intricate clasp. The next three are not locked, but their content is surely quite questionable. On Verified Madness appears to be about creatures from the Dark Tapestry that would test a man's sanity. Serving Your Hunger is close to a cookbook for Urgathoa, a book of ritual cannibalism in the quest for undeath. The Umbral Leaves is a book dedicated to the spread of Zon-Kuthon. All of them have notes and comments attached to them, the professor's disapproving hand writing ways to counter and deter the books' suggestions.
Kendra stands up straight, shaking the fear off herself. "This is my house now, and I refuse to live in fear. After the windows are sealed, we will have a feast in honor of my father! We will show this Whispering Way that they do not rule us."
Run eagerly collects Petros' treatise on alchemy, a tome she has coveted for some years now, and puts it in her pack. She adds the histories on the Shining Crusade and related topics after it, then after thinking for a moment and eying Aydan's Harrow Deck, she puts the guide to that arcane tool's workings in her pack as well. When she sees the annotated copies in the chest, she cannot restrain a tremendous gasp of joy. She takes the books out reverently, like one in a trance, and plunks down cross-legged on the floor to start thumbing through them.
"This...these...these are a gift. Are gifts. Gifts..." she says breathlessly.
Duron silently ponders the meaning of the journal fragments as the others discuss their possible meanings. Something about the scraps of the Professor's writings gives the mage the same chill he felt upon hearing the cultist leader's ancient chants...
Looking up from his thoughts as the conversation turns to the study of the Professor's books, Duron speaks up, "I would join you in your studies Marilwenn. We must discover why these madmen attacked us and just what secrets the Professor had unearthed that they would give their lives to recover."
Duron sits to read one of the books, drawn to Marching on Gallowspire almost compulsively. Most of the history within he has gleaned from various sources, though none of them are as exhaustive or well-written as this tome. Looking at the author explains why: Professor Petros Lorrimor.
While most of the figures of the Crusade are well-known, the tome has several chapters devoted to lesser-known figures who fought as well, including the elven contingent. The leader of the elven expedition, Archmage Avantara, died in the battle that claimed Arazni when the lich's elite vampiric guard overran their position. A handwritten note in the margin, however, casts some doubt: "Bodies never recovered. Unknown final fate."
The language spoken by the cultist seemed familiar, though its meaning is unclear. It is a dialect created by Tar-Baphon in an attempt to make a native tongue for the undead. Its linguistic base is the Dark Speech of time immemorial. The robed figure's mastery of the language seemed incomplete, however. What is even less clear is why you know this, seeing as you have never studied the language.
Marilwenn looks up gratefully when Duron offers his assistance. "But of course! The more of us we have looking into all possible clues, the better." To Father Harking she says "Your warning is appreciated, father, but I believe we are set on this. We would know what happened to the professor, for if his soul is trapped, then I would see it rescued, for a variety reasons. If a visit to Harrowstone will hasten this desirable result, then more's the better."
At Kendra's suggestion, Run smiles. "I know I'm certainly peckish. Food would be most welcome."
'I'm not sure we should barrel into Harrowstone Run. The fragments mentioned a cache in the Restlands did they not? Finding that should be our first goal. That and getting established in town. We have a month, a few days to a week of getting ready can't hurt too much.'
Aydan notices Run looking at his deck, then smiles. 'I could do a Harrow reading. I mostly keep the deck for good luck, but my grandmother, Pharasma preserve her, taught me how to read a spread. Would anyone be interested? I can do it after our feast.'
*smiles up at Aydan*
"Oh that's excellent! I actually want to take longer but was afraid to suggest it. You're right, though, that the longer Duron and I...well, all of us can spend getting our facts as straight as possible, the better equipped we'll be to handle things."
"As for the reading, I...you know I find myself suddenly sort of superstitious and afraid about it, like I don't want it because I'm scared what the deck would say. Isn't that silly? A rational girl like me..."
"Your right. We must have patience. It is unwise to stalk prey you have no knowledge off the professor once told me. I will wait for you to finish." he says nodding to Run and Duron. "Eating sounds good right now though." he adds with a smile to Kendra.
Melk's smile sits uneasily about his face, as he worries about suggesting something unpopular: "Maybe we have the cat by the tail, yes? Perhaps exploring the Harrowstone is how we gain knowledge of our prey. Good Father, could you perhaps explain more? You maybe know of the six prisoners and the Warden that the Professor speaks of in his fragments? Or even the name Hean Faramin?"
Looking up from the heavy tome, Duron moves to Runyon and shows her the passage on the Elven Archmage. "This must be the Avantara that the Professor's notes spoke of. Have you ever heard of an Elf by this name? Lorrimor said "His experience will be vital;" I wonder if perhaps this Avantara may have survived the crusade and written of a way to put an end to this Whispering Way?"
Looking to Aydan, he eyes the level-headed barbarian's Harrow deck, "I have heard of these Harrow readings, but have never seen one. Is some sort of Divination spell involved?"
Aydan sits down at the table and clears a space, smiling at Duron. 'There are other kinds of magic, and divination.'
He takes the deck out and begins to shuffle it rapidly whispering in Varisian as he does so. Then with his eyes half-close he lays out 9 cards in a 3 by 3 grid pattern.
HARROWS PAST PRESENT FUTURE
POSITIVE Snakebite (CE INT) Wanderer (NG INT)* Hidden Truth (LG INT)
UNCLEAR Cyclone (CE STR) Owl (N WIS)* Dance (LG DEX)
NEGATIVE Rakshasa (LE INT)* Idiot (NE INT)* Twin (N CHA)
*Very important.
'A very strong spread for the past. Snakebite is the weakest influence, it represents betrayal and the death of ideas. Cyclone represents great disasters, but not natural one, ones made with purpose. Finally we have the Rakshasa, who is a true match to his position, ans thus very important in the negative past. He represents dominance and control, being enslaved both literally or by an idea, or concept.' He flips over the net three cards and his eyes widen dramatically.
'All three cards here are true matches, I've never seen this before. The wanderer symbolises finding value where others see none, and is important to our current situation finding a postive outcome. The owl is the natural order and the harsh realities of the wild. It will be important in an uncertain way. Finally, our great obstacle, another true match, the idiot. This is the card of greed and cruelty, often heralded by blackmail and betrayal. A very strong spread indeed,' he then flips over the last three cards and frowns.
'Outlook here is more murky, the future isn't as strongly guided. The strongest card, the guide to our postive future is the hidden truth, meaning that seeing the truth of a situation will lead us to success. The dance advises following patterns, though it is unclear and weakly matched. Our great danger will be divided loyalties, and dual purpose. Or perhaps, an imposter among us.'
Run reads the passage Duron points out, and shakes her head. "mmm...I don't know the name, I'm afraid, but as I said earlier, my History is weak, all the more reason your knowledge will be invaluable. Perhaps with a day or two we could research this person, but I'm...not overly confident that our current location holds much in the way of facilities. I wouldn't doubt if this house contains more valuable research material than any library short of heading back to Caliphas or Lepistadt."
"Also, one thing we could perhaps do pretty quickly during daylight hours as part of our information gathering is check the Restlands, the cemetery, the...umm..." The alchemist re-checks the relevant fragment from the destroyed journal. "...the northeast corner. Kendra? Father Harking? Do either of you know offhand anything significant about that particular crypt?"
"Restlands? That's a funny name for a graveyard."
Azuk'ai watches intently as Aydan gives the Harrowing shivering at his predictions.
"If ther's undead to be found there then daylight is a better time to scout, though we might see more activity during the night."
Duron studies the Harrow cards as Aydan draws them out and nods along with the Pathfinder's reading. Once talk turns to the crypt in the Restlands, the Elf looks up, "I would prefer the daylight myself. Though I have spent little magical ability thus far, I suspect we could all do with a bit of rest before undertaking a foray into the cemetary."
"I agree with you both. Heartily. While some part of me would be interested in what sort of...creatures will be active there at night, that is not the kind of research I need to be doing right now. Finding the 'cache' is our task there at the moment."
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Wesh kicks the wall angrily, "S#+% on it! How could he just disappear, that ain't bloody right... It ain't right."
While the others collect and examine the journal fragments the young druid stalks backwards and forwards stomping and muttering darkly, and shooting Harrowstone wary glances.
"Ah, damn it I'm fetching Ramon. I ain't going to feel right without him, he may be a lazy good for nothing most of the time, but he's handy in a pinch. I'll be back soon, I ain't abandoning you, he's holed up a mile or so away..."
He breaks into an easy lope and is soon disappearing from sight into the countryside. It does not take him long to reach the little cave where Ramon sleeps contentedly.
"Oi, get up you lazy lump of a lion. I've got to stay with these bookish buggers so that means you gotta to. Had a scrap that you missed." Wesh says plonking himself down next to the cougar and tugging his ear.
Ramon cracks his eyelids and gives an inquiringly wrowl.
"Oh I ain't speaking lion? Fine hold on." Wesh chants and waves his hand impatiently as he feels his vocal cords shifting.
Growl, purrr, arrrr, grrr, urr, hff, arrrarraggar.... He begins explaining the situation as he sees it to Ramon, who consents to sit up and pay something approaching attention.
Just under half an hour after Wesh creeps back into town carefully avoiding the sight of any villagers and draping his cloak over Ramon as they arrive on Kendra's doorstep. He raps on the door and as soon as it is opened barges in with a grunt of greeting followed by Ramon - who looks rather apologetic as he slinks in.
Melk studies the big cat with obvious interest. He reaches out a hand, then draws it back guiltily - watching the reaction of other people. When he feels slightly more at ease he gives a little wave at Ramon, from the hip, as he tries not to draw attention to himself from everybody else.
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Ramon stalks over to the fire sniffing as he goes and after looking to Wesh questioningly, and receiving a nod in return, he lies down in front of the fire and stretches luxuriously.
Ramon blinks at Melk and glances at his hand the up at his face wearing an expression that somehow clearly conveys his disappointment at the proffered hands lack of content.
Wesh snorts and sits down resting his back on the lion.
Azuk'ai only raises an eyebrow as the lion enters the room and looks questioningly at Wesh. "Nice cat." he drawls as he keeps a vary eye on the feline.
Aydan carefully replaces the deck at his belt, and taps it for luck. Seeing Wesh return with his 'pet' Aydan smiles around at the gathered friends and confidantes of Professor Lorrimor.
'Now that we have our menagerie assembled, shall we eat and have a look in the Restlands?,' Aydan looks out at the dark storm and its torrential rain. 'Should be interesting.'
Please let there be no more walking dead. I'm just glad I didn't see the last one, never been glad to be lost in battle fugue before.
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"He ain't he's a lazy good for nothing." Wesh responds to Azuk'ai, punching Ramon playfully in the side, only for the lion to take hold of his arm and growl warningly. "Ha, sure you will fuzzball, if I had one arm you might actually have to pull your weight in this partnership. And don't drool on me."
Looking up at Azuk'ai he asks, "Didn't you say you were somekind of undead hunter or somethin'? Does that mean you know how to fight'em? Because I ain't sure how much good my scimitar is going toi do against a skeleton, or somethin' that can vanish into thin air. How do you hurt 'em?"
Azuk'ai folds his arms and a darker expression, if possible, creases his brow. "Well, if you hit somthing hard enough it'll break in the end but versus a skeleton you'd do better with a club than a scimitar. Somthing bludgeoning would do much better than somthing with an edge or point." taking a breath he sighs as he adopts a faraway look as he remembers the professors lessons. "umm.. Also they are imune to cold effects and undead in general don't really have a mind to affect with magic and the like. Trying to subdue them is useless as is poisoning them and they react positively to negative energy and negatively to positive. With zombies on the other hand, like we faced earlyer, your scimitar would have been perfect. They can shrug off heavy blows from clubs and the like and only the most well placed arrows have much of an effect on them."
Coming back to the present Azuk'ai looks Wesh in the eye, "These are the sort of studyes the professor was helping me with. One of those things, a ghoul, nearly got me when I was young so I hate those f*@~ing things more than anything. Mindless monsters looking for a meal. Thats all they are. Provling the streets of civilized cityes, preying on helpless people. The professor heard about it, came to see me and has been helping... Sorry, had been helping me, getting to know my enemies."
"Ah... Mr Aydan. I think we will perhaps only go tomorrow, it's late and thundering. And we'll draw the ire of the Sheriff if we poke around in his cemetery at night not burying someone."