Jevalt looks at the rich purple cover inquisitively. He appears to be enraptured by it. He picks it up and stares at the unusually shaped key hole in the front. "Intriguing," he mutters to himself. He seems to be paying no attention whatsoever to the other goings on in in the room.
Xiuj frowns in concentration as he runs his hand over the books without actually touching them. Green smoke idles around him, making him look even more alien and sinister than he already does.
"Dangerous..." he mutters, almost beyond hearing.
He paces back and forth, his eyes staring at nothing now.
"The Whispering Way; they are a sinister organization of necromancers." He says clearly. "They have been active around the Inner Sea for thousands of years. Often they seek alliances with undead creatures, or are themselves undead."
"The Whispering Way’s most notorious member was Tar-Baphon, the Whispering Tyrant himself, although the society itself has existed much longer than even him."
He turns to look at you.
"I will stay." He bows gravely. Then he grins, revealing cracked and yellow teeth.
"I make lotus tea! With Yak's milk! Put hair on chest!" He bustles into the kitchen.
Merenso is startled by the sudden outburst of eloquency from Xuij and the abrupt return to his usual self. If I ever get enough time, I have to see Tian Xia for myself. I wonder if everyone there is like him.
"Anyone up for a stroll by the riverbank to see a statue?"
"I'd be up. I feel the air here is getting too stale for me. Do you think it's reasonable to get started right now, or should we do that first thing in the morning?"
Jevalt sets down the book without a word and begins to make his way up the stairs. As he walks down the hallway and the conversations of the others die down to a low murmur, he slows and lets the draft of the old home wash over him before turning into his temporary chamber. Thirty days shouldn't be so bad. Hells, the professor managed it for years. He shrugs. Best get what sleep I can. It'll be an early morning tomorrow.
Will save
If it is not too late, Morenso and I (and anyone else who wishes to tag along) will stroll to the riverbank to check out the statue and return.
Xiuj peruses a few of the books in the Library before heading to his designated bunk.
Will save:
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Kendra watches as the Tian abruptly enters the kitchen and starts to boil some water. Reaching into his pouch he removes what looks live long dried up herbs or something. She sniffs in the air as the tian ignores her and intently starts to concoct a a strange hot potion. Kendra leaves without a word, her eyes deep with anger at the man's rudeness. She gathers the jug of fruit cordial she has been preparing and a small pitcher of wine, taking them into the room with the others.
Putting the drinks down and in a cool voice disguising the annoyance she just felt she speaks to her father's friends. "Here are the drinks for your pleasure, please excuse my demeanor but your friend," as her head nods towards the kitchen direction from which she emerged, [b]"has a lot to learn about manners and society. I hope maybe you will have time to teach him. For myself, it has been an exhausting and strenuous day, I think I shall retire to bed early tonight and try and get a good nights sleep. If there's anything you want from me, please ask me now or I shall see you in the morning. The darkness of night will soon be cloaking the village, I suggest you might wait until the morning before you start wandering around Ravengro."
The light as you leave Kendra's won't last long, as the light fades and dusk begins to fall. Keeping yourselves to yourself, you notice that there are not many towns people out and about tonight. Those few men you do see pull their capes and hats around them as a quickening blackness approaches. Looking up, you see swiftly moving gray clouds bringing rain and a cold biting wind. Any color and detail you have seen in the day, seems to drain away as the drizzle and wet mists start to surround you. Walking along the river, as any lights from the town become just pin pricks of light in the gloom, you continue onwards to see the monument appear as a dark black ominous silhouette standing proudly on a small hill. It is too dark to make out any of the details carved into the square stone base, as you walk around the paved area surrounding the statue, looking up you make out the stone figure of someone holding a small club in one hand.
"Maybe we return when it is light to examine this more closely. Thanks for coming with me Morenso, I just can stay in that house for 30 days straight."
"Indeed, it seems we've done enough for tonight. Let's try to get up early and investigate while it's still not too crowded here. I know how you feel about staying in this place, it gives me a bad vibe too."
After returning and taking care of himself, Merenso is off to bed, thinking about ways to make the next month more bearable before finally falling to sleep.
Eilinica sits in the study for a good deal of time, her harrow deck simply resting on her knee. It was the Lady's way that She should send prophecy through the cards, to be interpreted, but the reader's responsibility to guide thereof. Eilinica taps the top card on the deck, anxious. She has told fortunes of love, of avarice, and even that of a family losing its matriarch, but she has never looked into her own future. The result of such a reading may significantly reduce the multitude of paths she was currently free to walk.
Conflicted, Eilinica prowls about the manor searching for a bath. The grit of travel is heavy upon her, and she does not wish to stain the sheets the mistress so kindly lent, whatever her inducements. Varisians were not a people to deny hospitality. Eilinica strips down to her short pants and washes thoroughly, humming a tune in Celestial, the language spoken amongst her Lady's spheres.
Contented with her performance, Eilinica continues as she washes travel dust from her hair, then pulls the tangled mess into a towel, and lets her Kapenia down over her breasts and steps into the hall. An experienced traveler, she has no particular desire to be confined to a narrow cell in a standing structure, rather she intends to pass the night in front of the fire, keeping it for the other occupants. Passing the huntsman she slows and smiles.
"How went your expedition?" she inquires.
Ereviss recounts in a dramatic tone---
"The light as you left Kendra's won't last long, as the light faded and dusk begins to fall. Keeping yourselves to yourself, you noticed that there are not many towns people out and about tonight. Those few men you did see pulled their capes and hats around them as a quickening blackness approaches. Looking up, you saw swiftly moving gray clouds bringing rain and a cold biting wind. Any color and detail you have seen in the day, seems to drain away as the drizzle and wet mists start to surround you. Walking along the river, as any lights from the town became just pin pricks of light in the gloom, you continued onwards to see the monument appear as a dark black ominous silhouette standing proudly on a small hill. It was too dark to make out any of the details carved into the square stone base, as you walked around the paved area surrounding the statue, looking up you made out the stone figure of someone holding a small club in one hand."
Ereviss then alters his tone to a higher pitch for comic effect--
"Then we got the heeby jeebies and hurried back content to wait for the next morning to survey the scene in the bright sunlight."
"The local lot are wiser than they look - I wouldn't advise anyone to stick their nose out in this weather. Its tip is going to be the farthest thing you see anyway." Merenso adds, shaking the water off his coat. "Maybe we will have more luck in the morning. Would you mind joining us on the morrow too much? Unless you had other plans of course."
"Plans?" Eilinica repeats, her large eyes glittering. "Goodness, no. Save maybe running. Has it occurred to either of you that this overlarge wagon lacks wheels?" she jests, and shivers. "I thought I would set up a camp beside the fire and pretend that I have elsewhere to be in when eve comes next."
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The next day dawns, it really does, the sounds of birds are heard outside in a chorus of joyful song. The clouds have lost their gray and patches of blue allow the yellow orb above to bring warmth to Ravengro. It's as though the world itself has finished its mourning for the late professor. A new day, with joyous possibilities has arrived, as you pull back the curtains to your rooms. You wonder is this the same dreadful town you entered yesterday?
Downstairs the smell of bacon and coffee sweep through the house, it is time to rise. You hear Kendra moving about below.
Ereviss hoped to spend the night in the professor's room, but would have offered that honor to Xiuj first. "Sir, would you like to have the professor's room?"
The new dawn excites Ereviss almost as much as the smell of bacon and coffee. He isn't feeling so melodramatic today.
At breakfast he will quickly try to get more people to sign his book and head off to the statue again. His curiousity over the statue is evident in his every mannerism.
While Merenso is used to getting up at dawn, the last day's events have sapped his will. In addition, the bed was the most comfortable one he had in months. The only thing which was finally able to get him upright was the sound of rumbling in his stomach as the delicious smell of bacon rose from the ground floor.
For a while, he pondered the feeling. Was that the reason people settled down and had families? As he thought about it, he could have sworn he heard a child's giggling. He abruptly shook his head.
What is it with me lately? Was I daydreaming? I must be getting old.
He washed his face with icy water and immediately felt like his good old self. He opened the curtains and was nearly blinded by the beams of morning sunlight which pierced the air. It has now become clear that he wasn't daydreaming and there were in fact several children tossing the ball around some 100 ft. away from the house.
Freshly reassured in his sanity, Merenso descended downstairs and greeted Kendra and Ereviss.
"Did you sleep well tonight, lady? I know I would, being watched over by a veritable squad", he jested.
After the breakfast was over, he prepared to go outside.
But let's wait for Eilinica first, yesterday she seemed eager to aid us in our investigation. I must say, it's amazing how different this place feels this morning, in the bright daylinght.
Eilinica is among the first to wake. Bleering at the shadows cast by the banked coals, she considers where it was that she slept that evening, finding it strange that there is carpet beneath her bedroll, and upholstered chairs near. And that smell... that musty smell... Her eyes gradually focus well enough to make out the letters on the spines of literally hundreds of books surrounding her.
"Ah," she sighs and rubs the back of her neck. She had fallen asleep with the towel around her head and it had done her already poor sleeping posture no favors.
Eilinica remains sitting on her bedroll for a time before crawling forward to drop another log on the fire, then with a large breath incites the coals there to life. The wood pops and showers of sparks momentarily illuminate the dark room as it catches. When there is enough light to read by, she pulls a random book from the shelf and drags it into her lap and does so. She does not stir until the sounds and smells of cooking become apparent, only then rising, and with her Kapenia wrapped about her waist like a skirt, dragging her sleeping leg slightly behind her while her circulation rushes to compensate for its numb state.
"Waiting for me?" she says, wiping at her eyes when Marenso mentions her name. "With fresh coffee? Oh, that this priestess was so disposed to marry," she jests and looks to Everiss. "See now, your pen has stolen my will!"
Eilinica pours herself a mug of coffee and settles at the table. "So, we are investigating a statue of a man with a club," she recalls. "Have we any reason to suspect that this statue relocated itself overnight? I had considered finding where the local authorities congregate and getting some answers about the men who attacked us yesterday."
As the sun slowly filters in through the window, Jevalt jolts awake. Squinting his eyes against the rays and hissing in a somewhat cat-like manner, he stumbles blindly to the window and pulls the draperies forcefully closed. With the sun's rays suitably blocked for the moment, Jevalt begins to dress himself. He curses inwardly as he grabs his wide-brimmed hat.
Now fully dressed, Jevalt makes his way downstairs. Out of the corner of his eye he spies Ereviss, Merenso, and Eilinica sitting in the kitchen with Kendra. Paying them no mind, he heads for the front door. Sighing just as he reaches for the knob, Jevalt braces himself. Sure enough, the shock of the bright early-morning sun causes him to wince as though in pain. He pulls the brim of his hat low, ensuring that his eyes remain well-shaded and heads out into the town. He has a job to do.
Xiuj politely refuses the late Professor's room in favor of a rug somewhere warm.
In the morning he rises and does a series of strange stretching exercises in slow motion.
Accepting only a cup of hot water, Xiuj proceeds to open his case. Pulling out bottles, flasks, and sundry glassware, he proceeds to set up a miniature alchemy lab.
"Well, anyone want to see the statue? I also am still casting parts in this drama. Any new entries?"
Ereviss opens his book again. Then he readies his gear for the short hike to the statue by the river.
"Thanks for the amazing breakfast Kendra. Be back shortly.'
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Kendra, smiles as her guests rise and start to awaken. In the light of day and not wearing her mourning clothes she looks a quite attractive young woman.
Kendra replies to Eilenica's words, "Amongst these skeptics and frightened children, not even in jest." and a laugh escapes her slightly reddened lips. However, return after you morning walk, and I'll point you in the direction of the town hall and sheriff." They should be able to answer your questions." and she moves to the sink to place a dirty cup there.
As Xuij clears a space on the table to 'create' his chemistry lab, she looks on with a shocked expression. "What in Pharesma's name are you doing? I let you prepare your potion last night, but now this! Clear it away, please, such activities are not welcome in my house, it'll make such a mess."
After finishing their, breakfast and helping Kendra clear their things, Evriss, Morenso and Eilinca head out towards the statue
Xiuj gasps in outrage.
"No, no, no!" He takes the dirty dishes from Kendra.
"You think Professor Lorrimor make you our maid for a month? I say no!"
He escorts her to a comfy chair and fluffs the pillows.
"You great lady of the house! It is WE who serve YOU!" He hands her a cup of delicious tea that smells of summer flowers.
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Kendra accepts Xuij's offer of help and happily works with the man.
Perception Rolls are always useful.
Knowlefdge checks if you have questions
Leaving the rest of the company at Kendra's you venture out, the vestiges of a beautiful red sky cling to the horizen, yet despite the anticipation of a warm day and blue skies, the wind blows chill and cold. The birds make the most of this break from the normal gloomy day, sing cheerful songs in glory to the gods and their mates as they flit from branch to branch, tree to tree, building to building. Jevalt stops momentarily to survey the scene. As he turns right at the T-junction across the river, he stops and notices a tall dark pole. He remembers from the journey yesterday a shadow grey and mysterious in the fog, today he seeit it clearly, the pole is wooden with several pieces of paper attached to the face flapping in the wind as he passes. He continues on over the bridge and onto the temple.
It truely is a magnificent and elaborate building, unlike many of the local buildings it is made of gray stone, cold as Pharesma herself. Yet in the eastern facade, facing the road Jevalt travels, is displayed an intricate stained-glass mural, depicting a woman wearing black, with ashen skin apparently emotionless as she appears to be judging a well dressed wealthy man. The entrance is approached by ascending gray sandstone steps leading up to a large oaken door. The sun glints on the coloured glass, flashing bright shards of light into the day. From within, blown on the breeze Jevalt hears the chanting of several voices. Trying the heavy reinforce wooden dooor, the temple appears shut to villagers and strangers alike.
The three travellers leave Kendra's house, turning south on the road out of town. To the north the town is beginning to stir, as men and women begin to make their way to work, children inside getting ready for schooling. Despite the sun beginning to rise and letting its wramth caress the streets, a chill cold wind blows. The birds make the most of this break from the normal gloomy day, sing cheerful songs in glory to the gods and their mates as they flit from branch to branch, tree to tree, building to building. As you reach the T-junction and turn right towards the river, you pass a tall dark wooden pole with several pieces of paper attached to the face flapping in the wind.
Continuing on, you reach the bridge, with a path leading down beside the river on the east bank. The river, about 100ft wide, seems a slow moving snake journeying through the tidy farmlands on the outskirts of the town. You walk past opaque black waters, on the lush green bank. You see a tall stone monument perched at the top of a small grassy rise. A couple of young school boys seem to have left home early and begun to fish the river. As you pass they look up, before bowing their heads not wanting to be seen, as they pack their bags and head back home.
Wallking to the 25ft high monument, you find it covered with green and brown moss, even clinging to a plaque with the names of the fallen prison staff, and the warden, making it hard to distinguish the individual names. The statue on top of the monument dipicts a proud, muscular human man, dressed in leathers and weilding a truncheon, underneath you find chipped into the stone the name 'Warden Hawkran'. Picking out the moss from the names you can most easily reached, you find names of the local townsfolk and most importantly the names of their families. As you continue to move around the base of the monument , you are suddenly shocked by something totally out of place, painted in fresh red, yet cloying drying red blood is a large 'V'.
Merenso stops by the wooden pole to check out what's written on the papers (classifieds?)
As they begin inspecting the monument, Merenso nudges Ereviss:
"It could be useful to copy the names from the monument into that book of yours, don't you think?"
Upon seeing the bloody letter, Merenso instinctively grabs the hilt of his blade. When the initial shock passes, he lets it go and begins inspecting the nearby grass for any tracks or a bloody trail. He also tries to determine how long ago the letter could be drawn and whether the blood was human.
"What can a bloody 'V' mean?"
"Verily, vernacular vocabulary? Maybe we could track the one who wrote it and ask him."
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Merenso stops by the wooden pole to check out what's written on the papers (classifieds?)
As they begin inspecting the monument, Merenso nudges Ereviss:
"It could be useful to copy the names from the monument into that book of yours, don't you think?"
Upon seeing the bloody letter, Merenso instinctively grabs the hilt of his blade. When the initial shock passes, he lets it go and begins inspecting the nearby grass for any tracks or a bloody trail. He also tries to determine how long ago the letter could be drawn and whether the blood was human.
Ereviss nods and gives a speech about the puzzle before them and the importance of solving it as he copies the names from the monument into his book as well as a diagram showing the position of every inscription on the monument including the bloody one.
"What can a bloody 'V' mean?"
Merenso says "Verily, vernacular vocabulary? Maybe we could track the one who wrote it and ask him."
Merenso is seen feeling the ground, and finds what might be some prints around the monument, which seem to head off in a roundabout way, before disappearing altogether. He returns to look at the blood and quickly determines that it must have been painted onto the statue during the night, or at least after the heavy drizzle had passed in the night. With the wind and the sun, the blood must have dried quite quickly to be left there, with only few runs of blood that were streaking down from letter shape.
Under the inscription and dedication, which reads: In memory of Lyvar Hawkran, warden of Harrowstone Prison and all those who lost their lives in the great fire, protecting the citizens of Ravengro. is a list of names in alphabetical order.
Brestian Goodchine
Byrin H'thright
Derk Nathit
Dorkim Criwath
Draivd Korth
Farir Tyremin
Gardholt Frathsson
Harrint Lollins
Jarfur Riwain
Jermain Hendforsson
Kushti Pirionne
Lyvar Hawkran
Ogtomin Prathus
Robain Nathcud
Roostni Tyremin
Stanis H'thright
Tawyr Frathsson
Tershain Gerberholt
Tomac Tyberne
Vander Bilderbost
Vesorianna Hawkran,
Welby Tomaic
Wilckron Yvisk
Wyvric Tomal
Xavier Speartak
Weird, the footprints seem to just disappear there... Looks like we'll have to start up some of our own research. Do you think we should mention this finding to the town officials or Kendra?
Merenso cocks his head, looking at Ereviss' list.
"Is there anyone whose name starts with V? Let's see... Vander Bilderbost... sounds like a halfling. Vesorianna Hawkran... something eerily familiar about this name...He looks at the statue again."Hawkran! Do you think she might she be related to the Warden himself? I think we should check if the Professor's library has anything on those two."
"Smoking good idea Merenso."
Ereviss does a grave tracing of the names and remembers to check in with Kendra to get directions to the sheriff. "Morenso, maybe we bring back a tracker? We have to report to the others and head to the local constables. Thanks for coming Morenso, even in daylight I am on edge here."
Nice idea, Ereviss. I propose that after speaking to Kendra and the constables we do a stroll around town and gather some information from the locals about their attitude to the monument and the Warden himself. We should also peruse the library to find information about the Hawkran family, but I feel like it's best to leave this kind of research to you.
"I will ask Xiuj too for help, but we aren't exactly bonding yet. Probably thinks I'm a spoiled fop."
Why would the temple be closed? Calmly, yet with ever increasing suspicion about the potential foul deeds being perpetrated in this town,
Jevalt raps his fist upon the temple's heavy door.
"Father Grimburrow?" he calls. "My name is Jevalt Ardain, and I wish to speak with you about matters of some import regarding Professor Lorrimor and the events of yesterday afternoon."
Meanwhile, back at the house, Xiuj is giving Kendra a massage and bragging about the superior customs of Tian at every opportunity.
He thinks to himself;
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Jevalt
It takes all Jevalt's patience to wait, until the sounds of scraping of the bolts, announce the opening of the large wooden and metal reinforced door. Jevalt hears the sounds of plainsong from the within the temple, as the door is opened slightly and a rather distressed young man in priests robes pokes his head round. In a quiet, yet authoritative voice speaks in a voice that hasn't quite broken properly yet. "Excuse me Sir, if this is not an emergency would you mind waiting until we've finished our private reflection and praise. If it is a birth, go back home and write down the address and someone will be along later. If you need me to write it, then just tell me where you live." His head disappears back around the door, before popping back round again, this time holding a slate and chalk.
The rest of the party
The group who went to the monument come back to the Professor's home, asking Kendra about Vesorianna Hawkran.
It takes you all, all day searching the shelves for the books with the history of Ravengro. You find out that Vesorianna Hawkran was the wife of warden Lyvar Hawkran the warden.
Sifting through the books quickly makes Merenso feel exhausted and dizzy. He wishes Ereviss luck in his search and goes downstairs to ask Kendra and Xiuj for some refreshing beverages.
"How did your morning go, master Xuij? How do you find Ustalav? Have you been here for a long time?"
Know (Hist)
"What a day, but I finally found that Vesorriana Hawkran was the warden's wife. What was she doing as a victim?"
After making a delicious tea fragrent with Jasmine for the afternoon, for those who partake, Xiux listens to the reports of those who ventured out that morning.
Int:
Impelled to try to top Ereviss by Tian pride, Xiuj attempts to research the same information, but fails to come up with anything more than what was already found. Pride smarting, he simply carries on without mentioning it.
Jevalt's eyes flash a bright crimson for only a moment before returning to normal as he inhales deeply to avoid snapping on the young neophyte.
Jevalt grits his teeth and slowly and with great force of will calmly states, "I require an audience with your high priest of death. I assume this to be Father Grimburrow. You will take me to him." It is not a request. He'll be damned if he'll take this lip from a neophyte of all people, and in a town this corrupt! Can't this boy tell an agent of the Lady when he sees one?
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@Jevalt
The acolyte is taken aback by the man's aggressive demeanor and his insistence to see Father Grimburrow. He retreats behind the door, fearful, watching the pale skinned man, peering around the portal just his eyes visible, "We're having our private morning contemplation and prayer, if you wait here I'll see when Father is free." With that the small gap between the door and building closes, the muffled sound of a bolt sliding can be heard, then it is quiet. Through the colored window of the temple, lights can be seen to flicker inside.
I am having tea with Kendra and Xiuj. Somewhat shaken by events, the unflappable and puffed up Ereviss is in deep contemplation.
If I was writing this drama, how would I complete Act I. What is the motivation of this Whispering Way?