I graciously accept Falconer Icebane's sketch of me and after seeing he portrayed the Professor in the other drawing I remark, "Thank you very much for this picture. Though it has been a while since I have seen the Professor, you have captured his likeness efficiently. I am afraid I am curious, if it not much of a bother, how you learned to draw like this? You say you are a monk however, I am not sure how practicing the art of drawing fits into your training?"
Falconer turns to Savola at his question and then presents his sketchbook. Inside are various sketches and drawings of landscapes, animals, and various depictions of nature, Profession .
"My art is of my own accord, not part of my training. However, I find that by drawing the natural world I am able to come closer to it than by any other means."
And if I may make a request: Do. Not. Throw. My. Work. Into. The. Fire.
"I have authority over no image but of my own, and besides I would not be the one to destroy a portrait of the person whose memorial we are attending."
After taking a closer look at the sketch Zaroff comes to a realization. Talking to no one in general Zaroff says. "How time flies.... I met this man close to ten years ago while serving as a watchman for a Noble outside of Caliphas. The professor was performing services on the property when one of the nobles attack dogs slipped his leash and attacked him. It would have surely ripped his throat out if I had not intervened and saved his life."
And if I may make a request: Do. Not. Throw. My. Work. Into. The. Fire."I have authority over no image but of my own, and besides I would not be the one to destroy a portrait of the person whose memorial we are attending."
After taking a closer look at the sketch Zaroff comes to a realization. Talking to no one in general Zaroff says. "How time flies.... I met this man close to ten years ago while serving as a watchman for a Noble outside of Caliphas. The professor was performing services on the property when one of the nobles attack dogs slipped his leash and attacked him. It would have surely ripped his throat out if I had not intervened and saved his life."
Falconer bows his head to Zaroff and replies, "I understand your reasoning."
Looking at the drawing that he had drawn of his uncle, Falconer then asks, "When you speak of services that my uncle preformed, what did you mean?"
Turning slightly towards Falconer, Zaroff responds. "I believe the Professor was examining some artifacts my employer had recently procured."
Knowledge(Geography): I believe you can point out the capital of Ustalav and a few major cities such as Lepistadt.
Knowledge(Nobility): Although it is hard to tell anything of Zaroff's lineage from what little you know of him, you believe his last name is probably just a second name instead of a house name. Although it is a common second name for one of a few noble houses. The most likely, judging by Zaroff's actions concerning his reputation is probably the lesser known noble house known as the Von Strab family. The Von Strab house is a very secretive family, that for the most part is feared by others. The amount of influence the family has far outweighs the assets it posesses. The fact that the Von Strab family has fallen from grace in recent times gives Zaroff a motive to defend it's reputation.
Sense Motive: From what you can tell he is very serious that the next time he may not be so forgiving to angering insults. You could have easily imagined him throwing the fire iron into the inquisitrix, if given any more grief. Although for the time being he seems to be satisfied that he has made a point to the rooms occupants, and with the responses he has recieved.
Standing and stretching, working out a kink or two.
"Well gentlemen and m'Lady, I'm thinkin' that I'd like somethin' a bit stronger than our hostesses' excellent coffee. If you'll excuse me I'm going to get a little relief, some fresh air, and the mead stashed in my pack.
Lodwin, could you direct me to your character background? I've got one email that speaks a little, but think the other email is lost somewhere in the bazillion emails I need to go through and clean out.
Rava
Nearly a decade back, while investigating unexplained earth tremors in Clover's Crossing, you stopped in to visit with the Professor, hoping to ask him if they had felt anything so far away. You arrived at his home to find his door ajar, and he and his daughter missing. Looking about the home, you found some footprints larger than those of the Professor, which had tracked faints amount of dirt across the entry carpet. Immediately you went to find the local constabulary, though the investigation they conducted was hardly worth the name, and took barely longer than one would to say the word.
In the end, they decided that the professor had taken his daughter for a stroll outside of town, and likely returned for something forgotten, tracking the dirt in. Not satisfied with this, but not yet comfortable in your authority to confront the rightful law-enforcement about their inemptitude, you bid them good day, and conducted your own investigation.
Having found tiny flakes of Muscovite in the dirt tracked into the Professors house, you began speaking with locals in the Laughing Demon about surface exposures of the flaky mineral. While there you encountered a man you knew of by reputation alone, the conman "Doctor" Emrer Evert. A quick tonged former cleric of Pharasma, turned snake-oil salesman. He was attempting to wow the locals with stories of a terrible beast in the woods near by, devouring travelers and abducting maids. He claimed to have been attacked by this beast, nearly ate himself. Just before the mortal swipe of clawed paw, a young girl who came from nowhere screamed out, and drew the beast away. Confronting the man, you commanded that he tell you about the girl, and he gave a perfect description of Lorrimor's daughter.
While the man spoke, you noticed a damp stain on his shirt, made by a thick saliva-like liquid. Likely this was drool from the beast which confronted him, giving the liars story further credence. Leaving the fool to be dealt with later, you sped off at great speed to the area he mentioned in his story.
You came upon a nightmare scene. A group of men and women wearing only mud and filth, chanting and cavorting about a pillar of stone with the battered form of Petros tied to it's base. His daughter was being tie next to him, though she fought like a demon, kicking scratching and shrieking at her captors. You were greatly relived not to find the man and his daughter in bloody piles of gore as you thought you would, but this was not looking to be the best of circumstances either.
As the savages finished securing Kendra, there was a great bellowing howl from off to the south. Knowing you had little time, you decided to gamble. Walking into sight of the group, you called out, keeping the group of cultists awed with grand claims of monster slaying prowess and stern reprimands for falling to the influence of a beast.
While you were commanding a pair of cultists to release their captives, the beast struck. It leapt into the group with another mighty howl, sending the dirt covered idiots scampering in all directions. You were confident in the type of beast you faced, though you had no silver amongst your weapons. Not willing to concede this fight, you hefted your crossbow, barely taking time to aim as you knew the beast was preparing to pounce again. It lept into the air, fanged maw wide and coming for you. Your shot was perfect, slipping between the teeth and entering the roof of the mouth. You knew it was not a mortal wound, though it was a hell of an inconvenience. Enough for you to grab the professor, and carry him with help of his daughter back to Ravengro.
After an hour or so of conversation, your hostess returns. Kendra Lorrimor is an attractive, if currently disheveled, human woman in her mid-twenties. She is dressed in a dark red dress, conservative in cut, and brings with her a glass of equally dark wine. Her eyes are red and puffy, but she carries herself with an stoic determination. [b]"Good evening. I'm sorry to have left you waiting so long. B-before we get too far into this, I have a favor to ask of you. There have been some...some troubles with the locals, and I'm not expecting much beyond us and the town officials required for the ceremony to be present at the funeral tommarow. W-what I mean to ask you...there is no one to act as pallbearers for my father."[b] She masters herself with visible effort before continuing. [b]"Would a few of you be so kind as to carry my father in the morning?"[b]
I turn towards Kendra and immediately stand as she enters the room and say, "Of course Kendra, I would gladly be a pallbearer in your father's funeral. Though honored by your request, I must say I am curious as to why the locals would give you such problems. Please tell us why this is and what we can do to help."
Falconer turns to his cousin and says, "I would be honored to be a pallbearer in the funeral."
Placing his hands behind his back and facing Kendra, Zaroff replies.
"I will do my part to relieve your sorrow by serving as a pallbearer for your father."
In the presence of several men, most of whom even with a casual glance are more heavily muscled than herself, she leaves the volunteering to the others. The concept of locals interfering, however, piques her interest in maintaining the peace. She turns in her seat to address Kendra.
"Indeed, what sorts of troubles would your neighbors be causing over the death of a man such as the professor? In the name of Abadar, justice of gods, I shall do all within my power to ensure your uncle's final journey is undisturbed."
Even with the vow to maintain order, the Inquisitrix maintains a firm skepticism of the girl and the information she has imparted, or rather, the information the inquisitrix suspects that for whatever reason Kendra has, as of yet, failed to impart.
"It is a sad state of affairs when the locals would cause problems at a time like this. The locals do tend to be a bit superstitious but I don't know what they might have a problem with in this case. And what about the professors other family, what of his siblings?"
"I will help in whatever capacity that I can. If you need pallbearers then that is what I will do."
Kendra enters before I can reach the door in search of my mead bearing pack to makes her request
"I'll be happy to be of any assistance you require. I would like to know about more about this local trouble though. Obvious non-locals such as most of us are likely to attract a certain amount of attention, in spite of, or perhaps because of, the way you father was known to travel widely."
"Thank you, thank you all so very much."
"As for the locals, I must say, they are simple folk, and mean no harm. My father was well respected by the townspeople of Ravengro, though it was difficult for them to accept us when we first arrived here. The locals are superstitious and unused to outsiders. But as I said, father was respected here...or so I thought. Sense his death, things have changed, people have changed. Friends of ours look at me sideways now, and whisper to eachother when I pass. Beyond you six no one has come to this house to pay respects." Kendra seems to be growing more upset by the word, though at first it seemed to be sadness over taking her, now it is closer to anger. "I don't know what is wrong with these people, but something is not right. We were part of this community, my father was a good man." With this Kendra takes a healthy drink of her wine in an attempt to quiet her rant.
I approach Kendra and put my hand on her shoulder to offer some comfort.
"Is there anything I can do to help you. Obviously there will be plenty to help with tomorrow at the funeral, but do you need help with anything tonight? Perhaps a real meal rather then snacks or maybe just a chance to rest for a while. Its been a long day and it doesn't seem like much more can be done tonight that can't wait until tomorrow."
"I agree with Lodwinn and offer any services I can. I do have one question that you may be able to address though, when did your father actually die? I have to admit to being surprised that his funeral hasn't already been conducted."
"Thank you Lodwinn, father always said you had a kind heart. I think what will help the most is sleep, and to be done with this all tomorrow. After the funeral we will return here to read my father's will, and then I will decide what to do with my life." She takes another drink of her wine, seeming to have composed herself.
"Please, help yourself to anything you like, the pantries are fairly well stocked at the moment. You are all welcome to stay here, though there aren't enough rooms for everyone to have their own. There are two bedrooms upstairs that could sleep two of you each, and I have made beds up in the living room as well."
Kendra doesn't have much else to say, unless directly asked anything, so unless people want to continue chatting/munching, there isn't much else to do but sleep right now.
"Well I think tomorrow is going to be a long day so I am going to get some sleep.
Someone else can have the bedrooms, I'll be fine sleeping on the floor, it will actually be a bit of an upgrade from where I've usually sleeping.
If you'll excuse me for a few minutes I'm going to get my horse unpacked and grab my bedroll."
Assuming no one else says anything to me I'll head out the front door and to the barn.
Fraust
Once outside I'll head to the barn, take my backpack and bedroll from my horse (I still have my morningstar on me), and remove the saddle and bags. I'll leave the spear, shield, and saddle/bags in the corner of the stall.
Once I'm done with that I'll take a look around the outside of the house, and assuming none of the magically inclined come outside I'll cast detect magic as I look around. I'm not looking for anything specific, just if anything seems out of place and I'll assume you make any necessary rolls that might be needed. I'm not being sneaky about the patrol.
And assuming I find nothing of note I'll head back inside when I'm done
"Ah! I will gladly take one of your bedrooms! I'm tired of sleeping outside and wish only to sleep in a comfy bed." I say as I begin to make my way to where the bedrooms are.
"Any port in a storm for me. I'll be fine down here in the living room."
I retrieve my pack from the entry way and dump it on a comfy looking couch
"Do you need any help Lodwinn? I'm going out for some air anyway before I settle in for the evening.Picking up my trident and checking my short sword and daggers before heading outside
If Lodwinn needs help, I help him out. Once thats done, I cast Detect Evil and circle the house, then continue scanning the associated property as long as the spell lasts, and depending on what, if anything I find. If I don't find anything, I'll cast Detect Undead and repeat the process. I don't bother to try and conceal any of what I'm doing from anyone.
After hearing all that is said, Falconer gives his cousin a reassuring hug and then moves to help anyone that might need it saying, "Does anyone need help bringing things in or other wise getting ready for the night?"
Falconer then moves to sleep wherever there is room left(probably in the living room),letting the others take the places they want, only taking with him his drawing supplies.
Replying to Kendra, Zaroff says. "I again thank you for your hospitality." Before making his way to the pantry in search of something similar to what Kendra was drinking (or stronger).
Perception
Zaroff has his breastplate, his shaving kit, his pistol(unloaded for now), and his sabre nearby where ever he sleeps (and hopefully a bottle of something).
Upon returning Zaroff finds a room to sleep in (avoiding the Inquisitrix if at all possible). After which he drinks himself to a near excessive state before going to sleep.
"Do you need any help Lodwinn? I'm going out for some air anyway before I settle in for the evening.Picking up my trident and checking my short sword and daggers before heading outside
As I'm heading out the door
"I don't need any help, just doing a quick check on my stuff, but you are more then welcome to get some fresh, but wet, air with me."Kjartan:
Once outside I head to the barn, take my backpack and bedroll from my horse and remove the saddle and bags. I'll leave the spear, shield, and saddle/bags in the corner of the stall.
"So what do you think of the professors other acquiescences? His nephew seems mostly oblivious to everything else going on. Rava seems competent, if not a bit stiff, she might be hard to work with. Zaroff seems similar."
Once I'm done with that I'll take a look around the outside of the house. I'm not looking for anything specific, just if anything seems out of place. I'm not being sneaky about the patrol.
I'd have to agree with you, we're an odd bunch and we've been gathered together in an odd way. I don't know how they can have gathered us all here like this in any reasonable time frame, but still haven't had the funeral or the burial. I certainly didn't expect that. When you answer a summons to Ustalev from Jalmaray, you kind of figure everything is done but the paperwork, especially when the summons only mentioned a will. Having Savola and Icebane here certainly makes sense, they're family, or practically family, but you, I and Zaroff appear to be pretty minor acquaintances really. Zaroff met him once, literally for minutes and I only traveled with him as an assistant to the expeditions cleric for a short time.
I don't like the idea of an unburied body hanging about in this country. I'm going to run some checks around the house and grounds before I head back in. You're welcome to join me.
A little company is always welcome in a land with a reputation of having the dead not stay where they're put. Especially in a town where the townspeople changed their tune so quickly and negatively following the professors death."
Running my Detect Evil and Detect Undead scans around the house and grounds with Lodwinn's company if he wishes.
With the issues of the night addressed, the inquisitrix stands and curtsies. With everyone standing, it becomes apparent that she is the tallest one in the room, even if her boots weren't giving her a few extra inches.
"Gentlemen, I shall see you in the morning."
She collects her pack, coat, and hat from the pegs by the door and heads for the stairs, feeling it not even need be spoken that she will be claiming the second bedroom upstairs for herself. She stops in passing Kendra and places a hand upon her shoulder in an attempt to be reassuring.
"The dawn shall bring with it a transition to a new life. We shall all see this through."
As for the detect stuff patrol, tonight you don't notice anything out of the ordinary, though this is definitely a good idea.
More for my own sanity than anything, I'm going to put up occasional "PC checks" that are basically just me writing down where I think everyone is at, and if you think your character is somewhere different, then you need to let me know. So...
Savola is in an upstairs bedroom asleep.
Falconer is in the living room asleep.
Zaroff is in an upstairs bedroom passed out.
Lodwin is outside doing a round-about the house.
Kjartan is outside doing a mystical around-about the house.
Rava is in the other upstairs bedroom.
Now, assuming that is accurate...
As you all drift off to sleep in your respective ways and locations you are exposed to some most troubling dreams. By the time morning comes around most of the details have burned away like mist before the morning sun, though there is an overwhelming sense of inferiority and claustrophobia.
In the morning you all awake, though you feel decidedly unrested. Kendra is in the kitchen with a fresh percolator of coffee percolating, and some breakfast cooking. She looks to have slept about as well as you have, though she's putting on an impressive show of civility and calm.
Looking around(Perception ), Falconer sees how disheveled everyone is after the night.
"It seems we've all had a rather unsettling night."
After doing a check around the house I would have went inside to sleep in the living room.
Waking up in the morning and feeling a bit unsettled, I comment to no one in particular "It seems all this indoors doesn't agree with me. I should have been out sleeping under the stars"
With that I take a piece of bread from the kitchen and head outside for a walk. Barring anything unusual happening I'll walk a bit around the neighborhood, to no where in particular, eat my bread, and head back to the house. Not a real long walk, probably only 15 minutes. Check on my horse and gear in the barn for a minute then head back inside. Hopefully feeling a bit better.
Waking up groggy and a tad cross, maybe I should have helped Zaroff with that bottle of wine, or actually found my mead instead of getting distracted.
"How can anyone sleep in a little room like this when it doesn't move properly? Next time its outside or the barn for me. How were your dreams everyone?"
Rooting around in the kitchen, helping Kendra with breakfast where eer I can.
Never being one to say no to a cup of coffee, I definitely need one this morning. I immediately get my coffee when I get to the kitchen. I give everyone a grumble that barely resembles a greeting and get something to eat.
I turn to Kjartan and say, "It is strange that you should mention dreams, mine were slightly unsettling. Nothing a good cup of coffee can't fix. Other than that the bed was quite comfortable, I mean I can sleep outside if I have to but I dont understand how you can prefer it to sleeping inside."
I then slap my forehead and realize that I don't have suitable clothes for attending a funeral. How I could be so forgetful is beyond me. "I am going into town to do some shopping, I'll be around if I'm needed. Anyone care to join me?"
After a light breakfast I head outside for my morning devotions. Rejoining the conversation as I come back in
Replying to Savola: "I suppose its all in what you are used to. Our temples are mostly open, but I'm used to the cramped areas of crews quarters on ships, but those are generally well ventilated and the ship rocks you to sleep. I might head into town with you, I need to pick up my trunk and send off a message. Where can one send off a message around here?"
Zaroff wakes to the rising sun, but remains lying down for a lot longer staring at the ceiling. Finally he rises when he decides his dreams must have been brought on by a bad bottle of dust covered brandy. After getting dressed and spending a good time grooming himself he makes his way towards the bedroom door. Before departing downstairs he catches a glimpse of the old brandy bottle he had drank the night before. Annoyed that his host would keep something that was clearly an inferior product he clenches the bottle in his massive fist, and with his other he opens the door. He then marches down the stairs and out the front door and off to the side of the house without a word. Then he places the bottle on the nearest fencepost/stump he sees and proceeds to step back 15 paces while drawing his dueling pistol. While facing away from his target he loads his weapon and with a flourish he turns back and fires at the bottle.
Ranged Attack:
Damage
Awoken by a gunshot, She bolts up in bed, instinctively grabbing her repeating crossbow and running to the window in only strophium and subligar. She pulls the loading lever, driving a bolt into place and pushes the window open, taking aim down into the courtyard and searching for any perceived threat through the crosshairs.
Her alarm is met only with the haze of the morning and the sight of Zaroff holding a smoking pistol in the yard. Her sights linger as she assesses the situation, eventually pulling away from the window with a snort. She closes the window and safely releases the tension on her crossbow, replacing the bolt back in the magazine. Somewhat exasperated, she rubs her eyes, figuring that there's no further benefit to be had trying to make up for quality of sleep with quantity.
She takes a fair time to compose herself, remembering the potential for officiating today, her propriety implores her to wear her courtier's outfit. In short order, her belongings are repacked and she heads downstairs to join the others. If there are any lingering effects from the restless night, she does her best to keep them private.
"Good morning, gentlemen, Kendra..." She says with a curtsy, setting her pack down near the doorway.
Coming back inside I take a bit of the breakfast that Kendra has made, sit down with it at the kitchen table and eat. "A nice warm meal always makes a morning seem better, thank you Kendra."
After I'm done I clean up my dishes.
"Well so far the weather seems _______* then it was last night"
And addressing Kendra I ask "What needs to be done this morning to get things ready for the funeral? How long do we have to get ready?"
Poking around town, looking for a place to a) send a message to the temple to let them know I arrived safely, b) rent a mule or donkey and c) pick up my sea chest and haul it to Kendra's house.
In the process of moving and figuring out internet options in Idaho, so might be a while before get this moving again.
Lodwinn...your jot around town doesn't reveal anything unusual, least more so than what you've seen in town sofar. People around town seem to have slept as poorly as you and your companions, and you hear some mention bad dreams continuing as you walk by.
Kjartan...sending a letter will cost 1 silver. There's no where to rent a pack animal, though you can buy one for 1 gold from a local farmer without much hassle. Not a problem getting the chest, everything is where you left it, in the condition you left it in.
As for people purchasing clothes, go by normal prices as listed in the book. You don't think you'll likely need anything too special.
Weather is best described as "building up" in that it's not raining at the moment (though the occasional trickle will pick up for a minute or two) though the sky is dark and thick with clouds.
People will be expected to leave for the funeral soonish, so you probably don't want to get too involved in a trip to town just yet.
I will help with any minor things that need done around the house then I will change to get ready for the funeral. Its a nice outfit, some silks, nice trim along with some jewelry. It is not an outfit a normal traveler would be wearing.
The bottle shattering with a load crack, and the resulting cloud of smoke brought about by his pistol nearly brings a smile to his stony face. Removing a hankerchief from a pocket of his tight fitting vest Zaroff proceeds to polish his pistol back to a gleaming finish before replacing it to its holster. After which he walks from the yard to the stable where he maintains his well bred black heavy warhorse and checks his saddlebags to make sure no one has taken anything from them. Looking down on the other miserable looking animals in the stable with a look of utter disgust he wonders how the others can stand living in such squallor. He does this for a few minutes before returning to the house and seats himself at the breakfast table, adjusting his sabre as he sits down. Seeing Lodwinn wearing a ridiculous outfit while performing minor household tasks makes Zaroff silently laugh inside. After finishing his breakfast he leans back in his chair and says to Kendra,
"I thank you for breakfast, but I understand that you never did answer Kjartan's question last night when he asked when the Professor actually died. I understand that it is hard to talk about him, but I am curious about the circumstances surrounding his death."
Diplomacy(untrained)
I send messages off to the temples in Jalmaray and Linorm. I buy a sturdy mule and get it loaded up. When I return to the house I put the mule in the stable and spend some time cleaning up and cleaning my robes and such.
Falconer after greeting everyone as they walk in, cleans himself up to prepare for the funeral. After his preparations and helping to clean up after breakfast he moves outside and starts going through various martial exercises. When complete he starts to draw the view the house has overlooking the town.
I’m going to do a little bit of narration here and there to get things moving, partially due to the long gaps we had, and partially due to my personal belief that this part of the adventure can easily drag a bit. As a heads up, at the funeral you’ll be given an opportunity to say a few words, recount an experience you had with Lorrimor, that sort of thing. This isn’t required, so if you can’t think of anything, it’s no biggy. If you can come up with a cool story though, make a diplomacy or performance check when you recant it.
Here is a recap of what you’ve learned so far.
You have all travel to Ravengro to attend the funeral of Professor Petros Lorrimor, a man who has had vary degrees of presence in each of your pasts. He was found dead just inside the ruins of Harrowstone Prison, formerly an institute of no small importance locally, that burned fifty years ago. The Professor appears to have died when a stone gargoyle he was examining in the ruins fell on him, crushing his face/head, though this explanation sounds weak. Lorrimor has mentioned each of you in his will, though this makes less sense for some of you than others.
The people of Ravengro are a close-knit, if very gosspy, community, which has apparently taken a disliking to the Professor and His daughter sense his death.
First day of Rova, 4711
The Gollarion calendar works like ours, just the names for everything is different. Rova is the 9th month, so our September.
Either being familiar with Ustalavic burial customs, or having been briefed by those who are, you are all prepared for the events of the day. Kendra, being the closest living relative of the deceased will lead the procession from the entrance of the Restlands to the grave site. There you will be met by Father Grimburrow, those few townsfolk who have come to mourn, and the gravediggers.
Those acting as pallbearers are considered to have both hands full, and all those holding the casket must take a full round action to set it down.
As the procession reaches the halfway point along the Dreamwake, rounding a corner onto a path called the Eversleep, you see the way ahead is blocked by a group of a dozen surly looking locals. The tallest of the group steps forward, saying ”That’s far enough. We been talking, and we don’t want Lorrimor buried in the Restlands. You can take him upriver and bury him there if you want, but he ain’t goin’ in the ground here!”
Behind the Funebrial is a large stretch of moorland reserved for interring Ravengro’s dead. Thanks to the Pharasmin church’s influence in town, Ravengro’s graveyard is large and well-tended. Tradition dictates that whenever one passes by (or through) the Restlands, one must always first draw a spiral on her heart as a sign of respect. The sign wards against the risk that the traveler’s passage will disturb the sleep of the departed.
Kendra Lorrimor (female human), is present with you, facing off against a dozen or so rough looking towns folk, all human, about two thirds male, one third female. Most look to be simple farm hands and laborers. About half look like they’ve got their blood up, so to speak. The other half look to be there more out of a herd mentality, more people who came along because there was already a crowd. They are all armed with various farm implements, though most look like they wouldn’t know how to swing what they have as a weapon if they had to.
One man in particular stands out, the one doing the talking. He’s a fair bit older than most of the rest, but looks like he could still handle himself in a fight. Probably a retired soldier. He is the only one not armed.
If needed, here are the initiative rolls
Falconer
Kjartan
Zaroff
Lodwinn
Rava
Savola
I'll put up a tactical map if it comes to that.
Addressing the groups spokesman
Diplomacy:
Please, tell me my good man, why do you wish to deny this honored soul burial in the hallowed ground of his home?
Falconer looks at the group scanning for the faces of anyone he might know from the days of his youth in Ravengro. .
If he does see some one he recognized he with address them saying, "(Insert Name), why are you doing this? You've had no problems with my uncle in the past, why not let a fellow Ravengro citizen be buried where the dead should be?"
Having elected to not be one of the pallbearers, the inquisitrix stands between the rabble and the party. She looks over the crowd, judging their combat potential.
Cautious, but unimpressed, she stands defiantly, allowing her outfit and effects to bespeak her authority. She cradles her large crossbow in one hand, and idly begins playing with the key around her neck as she makes eye contact with each of the citizens, staring them down in silence, giving them a chance to answer the questions asked of them by the others.
Everyone begins talking at once, some speaking words of diplomacy, others speaking words of passion...
"What are you talking about!" Kendra cries out about the time Falconer begins speaking. "I aranged things with Father Grimburrow-"
While she's sputtering the crowd's spokes man is responding to Kjartan. "The soul of that man you got in'a box there is black as pitch. We don't want a necromancer in the earth with our kin."
When spoken to by Falconer the man turns very cold, "Uncle eh? I thought you looked familiar. Put some muscle on ya' hey boy. All the same, this towns cursed, and Petros' burying petros here ain't gonna do nothin' but make things worse!" He looks around, expecting the crowd to back his statements, but the words of Kjartan and glare from Rava seem to be taking some of the fight from the mob.
Diplomacy
Necromancy!? Where do you people get these ideas? The man I knew and honored wouldn't go near the stuff. And even if it were true, the most important and safest thing to do is to get the body properly buried on hallow ground to insure that the body STAYS properly and securely buried. I've had to take care of far too many of the undead in my time, and I will tell you now, that the best way to keep anyone buried is to see that they are properly buried the first and only time.
Watching the events unfold through his never altering facial expression, Zaroff starts to feel anger building up inside. The muscles in his free hand flex and unflex, as if preparing for a fight. Thinking to himself he counts how many people look like they would actually put up a fight
The unarmed man looks around at his disheartened would-be lynch mob in disgust. "If you lot ain't got the spine to see the battle through to the end, that's fine. Didn't 'spect much outa you anyways." He turns back to Kjartan, his eyes smoldering with hatred. "Petros worked magic and dealt with for'ners, neither's worth much good to my mind. Things in this town's gotten worse an' worse sense that fool went and stired up trouble in Harrowstone. Who else would willin'ly tramp 'round in a prison full o' ghosts but a slimy corpse lover?"
His words are spoken to Kjartan, but they have their greatest effect on Kendra. Up until now she has been holding her tongue and letting cooler heads do the talking, but with this last statement she flies into a rage and begins casting.