Tibideau giggles childishly at the word "taste." "A locus for horror, indeed. There must be something terrible afoot." I wish I shared his admiration for Hawkran, but I've found that most heroic men aren't as heroic as they seem on the outside.
Drosil, given the opportunity, will discuss the book's contents with Kendra and the magic users in the group, at the very least to determine why these mundane pages needed to be under lock and key.
Janos reviews the journal notes with the others while they wait for those at the library to return. "So the Professor was on the trail of a group of Necromancers. And they may have killed him? This is beyond random corpses rising. We'll need Father Grimburrow's help again. Not only at the town meeting, but with this hidden cache too."
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The day after their discovery of the translated journal entries and their burst of library fed research, Janos approaches Father Grimburrow to ask about the chache.
Dantrian nods in greeting to Father Grimburrow, but remains silent, letting Janos take the lead in this line of inquiry.
Antons mood grows darker the more the journal is recited.
After all is said and done he accompanies Janos to meet the priest. He takes off his hat as he is ushered in and shakes the hand of the older man.
Father, how did it go with the councilmen? The more we discover about the situation here in Ravengro the more I think addressing the town is a fine idea.
Tibideau is thrilled to have avoided any more conversations with the priests. Nose-deep in books, he also nods briefly to the Father.
"We're to have a meeting in two days in the afternoon, at the town hall. Since you all have offered to help, we'd like everyone to be there."
"Father, we found some interesting entries in the Professor's journal. One in particular may concern you. Petros wrote of a hidden cache which could help his investigation of the Whispering Way. He believed it was stored in a crypt, but that even you may not know that your predecessors hid it there. He also spoke of coming to you for a list of those who died in the prison fire. Do you know anything about this cache of supplies or did the Professor come speak with you about Harrowstone?"
Janos shows Father Grimburrow the entries in question.
"I did show him the list. It's in the library, same as you all've seen I'm sure." "As for some hidden cache of weapons, I suppose it's plausible, though we have no records of such. If you're going to investigate, I will send two acolytes with you to supervise, make sure nothing sacrilegious occurs."
We wouldn't dream of desecrating the crypts in any way Father. I'll ensure we log everything. At some point we are going to have to go into that prison and if its as dangerous as the Professor believed, we may need any help we can get from what we find in the cache. With your permission of course.
Other than research, B'yelka would like to see if there is a decent seamstress in town.
B'yelka seems distracted during most of the tedious days in the library, as if her mind is elsehwere. When Dantrian catches her daydreaming, she snaps to and pores over the tomes with vigor. Until his attention is elsewhere. No one I know would ever think to find me here. In Ravengro, in a church's library. During her research she also takes many notes, scratches them out and throws the pages into the fire. It has to come out, but it has to come out...right.
After the conversation with Father Grimburrow , Janos sets himself to helping Tibideau and Dantrian locate the facts they need.
Over the next day, it's apparent why Janos' mentor may have become frustrated at him. While he seemed practiced in the details of serious study, such as finding books and organizing the myriad of different tomes for quick reference, he was woefully inadequate in the actual digestion of information, unable to connect parallel references, and lost when identifying similar facts from multiple sources. On top of it all, the man seemed to find the library constricting and often needed breaks to step outside for a walk. In the end, Janos was helpful, but much more as a runner for different books than any ability for him to actually aid in the research. At least this isn't potion-making. Gods, what a bore that is!
Grimburrow, et all
"I'm sorry, but I'll still have to send a couple acolytes with you. They will stay out of your way, and simply ascertain the value of said weapons. If they are non-unique I will likely have no issue with you using them in service Ravengro."
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Knowledge Results
Father Charlatan (Sefick Corvin; 400 XP): Of the five notorious prisoners, only Father Charlatan was not technically a murderer, yet his crimes were so blasphemous that several churches demanded he be punished to the full extent of Ustalavic law. Although he claimed to be an ordained priest of any number of faiths, Father Corvin was in fact a traveling con artist who used faith as a mask and a means to bilk the faithful out of money in payment for false miracles or cures. He became known as Father Charlatan after his scheme was exposed and his Sczarni accomplices murdered a half-dozen city guards in an attempt to make good the group’s escape.
The Lopper (Vance Saetressle; 400 XP): When the Lopper stalked prey, he would hide in the most unlikely of places, sometimes for days upon end with only a few supplies to keep him going while he waited for the exact right moment to strike. Once his target was alone, the Lopper would emerge to savagely behead his victim with a handaxe.
Anton has never been much for sitting still. He recognises the value of research and indeed knows the information his companions are providing is likely invaluable - it's just that his feet were made for walking.
He gratefully receives Father Grimburrows offer of accompaniment by the acolytes, they know more about the Restlands than anyone so why not take them along? Then, after Janos returns to help the others, Anton takes a lazy walk around town.
He did his best thinking when walking, Desna was in the trees and the sky and road beneath his feet, not dusty tomes read by candle light.
He waves to several citizens as he makes his way, avoids the Restlands for the moment and continues passed the shack of the rabble rouser. He once walked the coast road from Magnimar to Riddleport for no better reason than he felt he should. That journey took weeks but this one only hours.
In the end he stopped before the statue, again seeing it plastered in blood.
VE... what is the significance of this? Didn't Tibideau say something about that Splattering Man writing victims name's in blood? Bah, these are riddles I don't have the answer to. But I will.
During the evening, Janos questions Dantrian on his ability to make healing potions. After getting a list of supplies from the alchemist, he sits down to sharpen his axe with a whetstone . The next day, during a short break from the library, he seeks out the healer in town to obtain the right ingredients for the potion. It didn't take long as the Ranger was familiar with most of the items. That night, Dantrian stinks up his room brewing a foul mixture, but in a couple hours (and with the windows open), the smell is gone and Janos accepts a vial of honey-colored liquid from Dantrian.
Waking up very early on the third day, thrilled to have a break from his research, Tibideau strolls around town by himself, watching the town wake up. His eyes and shoulders ache after two long days of leaning over desks and staring at books. I wonder if this town possesses some of those massage parlors like the ones we have back home. Though I'm sure the attendants won't be nearly as handsome in this neck of the woods! He nears the statue, doing a double take and stopping dead in his tracks as he spies the letters in blood. More vandals about! How rude! He smirks when he sees that the letters are "Ve." Perhaps they are referring to my mother after all! Or maybe that dreadful Splatter Man has returned from the grave! What was the warden's wife named again? He promptly heads to the to find the others.
Anton will head over to the library crew
The morning of the third day, everyone eats breakfast and gets ready to go and investigate the cache of hidden weapons. They head to the temple where they are met by two acolytes. One is an athletic-looking brunette girl with short hair named Jaine, while the other is a ginger-haired freckled boy by the name of Yusef. Neither could be older than 18, and Yusef has a horrible looking orange 'beard' covering his whole face and neck. They smile and wave timidly at the group of well-armed strangers. "We're ready when you are." Jaine says.
Tibideau yawns and looks slightly bored. He does all he can to stop himself from nudging B'yelka in the side and laughing at the orange man. Goodness, don't they sell shaving implements up here? Maybe it's a priest thing. He smiles to calm the nerves of the timid acolytes. "Ready, too! Thank you for guiding us!"
As they approach the temple, Janos asks Anton, "They haven't cleared the blood off the statue? I would have thought that would be the first thing done. If this is something evil, maybe that will delay the whole word from being written."
Janos nods at the two acolytes as they introduce themselves, noting how different the two were. "Good to meet you. I hate to cut to the quick, but while we don't expect any trouble there, we got a surprise last time we were in the Restlands. If anything happens, you stay behind us and keep your eyes open. If we tell you to run, you run no matter what. Run back here and get Father Grimburrow." He glances over to Tibideau and rolls his eyes at the man's amusement.
"H'ok mister!" says Yusef. His voice sounds like a Canadian goose honking. Jaine just looks at him like he's an insect and says, "Don't worry. We've been trained. We'll stay out of the way, but you don't need to babysit us."
Drosil straps on his weapons and follows the others to the temple and from there, on to the crypt.
Janos smiles at Yusef and nods at Jaine. "Good to know the Father sent us capable acolytes. Let's hope this is just a boring trip, though. Shall we be off?" The Half-Elf checks his longaxe and his smaller hand and throwing axes, then pulls his cloak around himself and raises his hood.
The paladin smiles at the acolytes.
Yusef, Jaine. Good to meet you. he says, shaking their hands. That's a strong grip you both have! I'm sure you have the makings of fine priests. But Janos is right, the Restlands have been dangerous lately, best you stick at the back with me.(And keep me safe with those clubs of yours!) he addswith a whisper, trying to alleviate theyor tension with some humour.
Yusef, seemingly a bit daft, smiles and nods to Anton. Jaine on the other hand, just rolls her eyes and takes up a position near the center of the group.
B'yelka holds her mouth in a firm line, though the ridiculous boy's beard would have her laughing under normal circumstances. Everytime we come to the 'Restlands' we are attacked. If there is anything in this place that signals danger, it is this cemetery.
Walking with the group in silence B'yelka's mind is preparing for what will most likely be another fight. Mayhaps a choral piece from a Shining Crusader's songbook would fit. As they cross the threshold into the cemetery she says, "Prepare yourselves. Danger is afoot." As she speaks she readies her scourge and moves to stand next to Tibideau. She leans close to him and in a stage whisper says, "Worry not beautiful boy, your guardian angel is here to keep you."
"Thank you both for meeting us. Kindly extend our gratitude to Father Grimburrow as well when you are able. I presume one of you was given the means to open the crypt door?"
Despite their previous experiences in the Restlands, Dantrian seems at ease - much more so than he did at breakfast earlier in the morning. I am glad the others agreed to perform this task beneath the light of day. If they knew how the moon's pool has been quickening - that it even pulled at me at all... best not to think on it. Focus on the task at hand.
Jaine replies, "Uhm, the church didn't even know it was there. How would we have a means of opening it? Come on, the journal entry you showed the Father said it was at the intersection of the Eversleep and the Black Path. It's this way." She walks briskly to the front and takes the lead, one hand resting on her club. Within five minutes you've reached the place indicated in the journal entry. The crypt itself is a freestanding granite mausoleum, the roof of which is decorated with a pair of leering gargoyle statues. A single stone door with a rusty- looking lock sits in the mausoleum’s south facade.
"Well here we are." Jaine says, "Do your thing." Yusef does a little dance. "Oooh, I'm so excited!"
Drosil steps up to the door and examines it intently . Once he's satisfied that there are no traps on the door, he will pick the lock and open the door.