"He was abrasive, sure. But his hostility to us in the end I'm sure was due to his conversion to undeath. His family deserves to know if they can be found, if nothing else."
At this late hour the Rusty Dragon is full of patrons, you see many locals who give you the curtsy wave, nod, or smile and several travelers enjoying to food and entertainment. Ameiko is in the corner, singing a love ballad...it is not raunchy, but it is full of humorous innuendos and all the more hummers sung by a woman. Bethana brushes past a tray staked high with roasted mutton and stemmed vegetables, "Welcome friends, a table in the back just became free to use. Take a seat and I will come by and get your order."
Your insistent banging at the cathedral door summons the hunchbacked Gaffer Vosk, an acolyte who rings the church bells and keeps the graveyard meticulously trim and clean. He ushers you in and at your request goes to wake Father Zantus. A few moments later Zantus arrives, still dressed for the day. "Greetings friends, I am glad I had yet to retire this evening. How can I help you?
You check in at the garrison. Hemlock is off duty at this hour, but you find Sargent Blake whose face goes pale at the news that Belril and his patrol had been turned into minions of evil. "That is terrifying...undead stalking our community and country side. What are you going to do next?
Nuri will take Kern to the cathedral, along with the still-wrapped silver medallion, and urge Eponine to come with them as well, although if the elf insists on going somewhere else first, she'll tell her to meet them at the cathedral afterwards.
"Father, I'm sorry to disturb you so late," she apologizes to the priest, "but we met ghouls in the countryside. We destroyed them, but some of us were wounded by their claws and teeth. Is there any way to tell if ghoul fever has been contracted before symptoms appear? I don't think it's safe for Kern to go into battle unless we're sure he's in no danger of undeath."
Wren will head to the Rusty Dragon, having no use for religion and not knowing much about the jail. Once the opportunity to speak to Ameiko out of earshot of everyone else presents itself, Wren will tell her everything they have discovered, and inquire as to what Ameiko might have been hearing as far as rumors go in her establishment. "Anything pertaining to an increase in undead around town, darling. It's quite frightening!" She also tells her about Epi's strange admirer.
"Fine," Nuri says flatly. "When you're dead, we'll kick your corpse into a ravine and make no effort to inform anyone who might care about you what happened. If you want to go back out into the darkness looking for ghouls tonight, be my guest, but I want to get Kern's and Eponine's wounds checked by the priest and see if this medallion is cursed. If I can find out anything about your former companion's next of kin while I'm doing so, I'll seize the opportunity."
Victor looks to Nuri with a raised eyebrow and a sly grin. "I see. So you would actually take the time to get rid of my corpse, hm?" He leans in close to her, "I did not realize you still cared, Nuri." He winks, waggling his eyebrows. Leaning back out, "I shall be at the Rusty Dragon. I am famished. Let us know what you all find out." Victor takes his leave heading for said destination.
Victor nods, "Thank you, Bethana. And you are looking quite lovely this evening," he says with a grin as he moves to the table in the back.
Roakkad had said little since the brief fight with the Undead had transpired. Usually extremely talkative, he still realized that he was still something of a stranger and outsider to the band and thus curbed his tongue on several occasions. Victor's callousness about a former companion of his had roused him somewhat though, although he took care to speak in a neutral tone.
It is important that he be treated in death as his family, ancestors and the spirits would have wanted.
Roakkad went to the Rusty Dragon with Victor, greeting Bethana with a polite smile and seating himself. He sought to make conversation with Victor, a man he as yet knew very little about.
Your skill with the bow is impressive. Did you learn to hunt as a boy?
Victor looks to Roakkad with a raised eyebrow. "Hunt? Oh no, I do not hunt. The only hunting I have ever done is for women," he says with a mischievous grin. "Anyway, you would not say that if you had witnessed my 'impressiveness' when I first came back to Sandpoint and trouble immediately arose. I had a terrible tendency to shoot my own party more than the bad guys. Just ask Ms. Wren. And I did not grow up learning to shoot the bow, I learned on the job when I worked in the city. I needed work, they were looking for those trained in range combat, I applied even though I was not trained and got the job. But they were not aware I was not trained." He winks. "That is pretty much it."
Roakkad nodded slowly as Victor spoke.
Clearly you must have had a natural aptitude for it then, to have learnt so quickly. Skills and talents like shooting and hunting, they are far more appreciated among the Shoanti, than among the civilized nations of the world.
Roakkad ate sparingly as food was brought to the table.
The diseased man who was restrained... he is blighted in both body and mind. It is a greater kindness to a man to end his life when he is so wretched, do you not think?
"I think it is a far greater kindness; especially when one is so far gone as that one. His mind and body are no longer his own so I believe we would be doing him a favor...," he furrows his eyebrows, "as odd as that may sound." Victor lifts his mug to take a drink as his mind wanders to the sick man. "Sad. Truly."
Nuri ushers Kern off towards the church not waiting to see if Eponine follows along. Wren, Victor, and Roakkad instead head off to the rusty dragon.
Zantus smiles warmly, "Not to worry the saviors of our town are always welcome here, even if they only seem to darken our door at night when they are in trouble. Wait here, Kern come with me." The priest takes Kern out of the reception hall leaving Nuri to wait. A short time later he returns alone, "Kern is resting, I want him to spend the night with us so we can be certain that the taint of the undead has left him. I have cured him of his wounds, and I and hopeful that the ghoulish fever will pass him over. Just to be certain we will observe him until dawn. Was anyone else injured?"
You find your way back to a table and soon are supping on warm bread and spiced chicken over noodles. A short while later Ameiko joins you at the table, "Well met friends." She sips at some red wine as Wren pours out their troubles. She shudders saying, "I am glad you are on the case, a swarm of undead is no laughing matter. Sadly I can not help you. I have not heard any rumors, nor seen anyone suspicious hanging around, Do you have the notes?"
Rusty Dragon.
Eponine flushes a little as she takes out the notes. "I didn't want to discard them until we dealt with whoever wrote them."
Rusty Dragon
Likely another ghoul fever addled lunatic that should have been put down... Roakkad said flatly in response to Ameiko.
Ameiko nods, ”You are certainly right about that Roakkad. Wren I am surprised you have never heard of the ‘Misgivings’, the old Foxglove Manor was built over eighty years ago and been in the Foxglove family all that time. It is rumored to be haunted, hence the the misgivings moniker by the locals…though mostly Varisian’s are the ones who call it that. You should hear the stores people come in hear telling me about that place, strange lights in the attic they say in whispered voices. Some claim to have heard the muffled sounds of screams from above and below, though I doubt any of them have been within a mile of the old manor. One drunken farmer was in here just last month telling me a huge bat-winged devil lived in the caves below manor. Of course after what happened there twenty years ago, I suppose we can not be surprised that rumors like this would surface. The Foxglove family lived there until the fire. It burned down the servent’s quarters, and the eldest heir Traver Foxglove was found dead in his bed room. They say he took his own life that night, and to make things worse his wife Cyralie was found dead also, burnt and dashed on the rocks below the cliffs behind the manor house. Their children survived and were sent off to Korvosa to be raised by relations. You met the son, Aldern Foxglove from Magnimar stayed here last year for the Swallow Tail Festival…you saved his life the night of the goblin raid.
Rusty Dragon
"Aldern Foxglove? I wonder where he's been keeping himself? If he owns the Misgivings, he might have an idea who sent all those strange notes, and what happened to Belril!"
Victor perks up at the mention of Aldern Foxglove. Eyes narrowing, "Was he the one who had that butler fellow working for him?"
Nuri leaves the stared pendent in the care of Father Zantus, sees that Kern is going to be well cared for and then joins the others at the Rusty Dragon.
Amieko looks up as Nuri enters the Inn and mentions to those gathered with her, Your other companion is here, it seems Kern is being kept under lock and key. You will not be able to find Aldern around here. He returned to Magnimar after the festival last year, he took up residence there when he moved back from Korvosa. He ventured up this way about a month ago, stayed a few days with his valet and then returned south. The Misgivings...er Foxglove Manor is south as well, from what you say I suspect it is not far from where you encounter Belril in his altered state.
"Did you say ... 'Foxglove?'" Nuri asks, as she joins the group for the tail end of Ameiko's words. She looks startled. "Not ... not Aldern Foxglove?"
Victor looks at Nuri curiously. "Yes the very same. Why? Do you also have suspicions about his servant as well?" He asks through narrowed eyes. "I do not like that one."
Wren nods at Victor's explanation to Nuri. "Yes, we met him last year. Bit of a fop, but a decent enough sort in the grand scheme of things I suppose."
Victor looks at Nuri curiously. "Yes the very same. Why? Do you also have suspicions about his servant as well?"
"You mean Celdis?" she asks quizzically. "I didn't realize... I knew he had a country estate... I didn't realize it was here."
"Who? Who is this Celdis?"
Amieko gives Victor a quizzical look suggesting she wonders how he gets his pants on in the morning. To Nuri she says, "The manor is not out here exactly, probably a three or four mile hike south towards Magnimar, and out to the coast."
"If the estate is abandoned, then it could be anyone squatting out there. Just because he owns it, doesn't mean he's behind this. We need proof! We should go out there, now. We can put an end to this for once and for all!"
"Epi is right. No matter who is there, they might be able to tell us more about what has been going on in this town recently. I'd suggest we set out to the Misgivings."
"If the estate is abandoned, then it could be anyone squatting out there. Just because he owns it, doesn't mean he's behind this. We need proof! We should go out there, now. We can put an end to this for once and for all!"
"Oh he is behind this alright! I do not doubt if for a single moment." His eyes narrow a moment before a curious look forms. "We are talking about the servant of his, correct? Does he even possess a name? If he were to introduce himself it would probably be something like: 'Hello. My name is the evil servant of Foxglove and I am rude to everyone because I am evil.' Yes. That is it. I am on to you evil servant of Foxglove!" His eyes narrow again. "I do not like that one."
"Celdis is his manservant, Victor!" Nuri snaps impatiently. "Yes, if the necromancer has taken up residence in his country home, we have to remove him and his experiments as quickly as possible. Aldern and his household could be in grave danger. Can you imagine showing up for a weekend party all unsuspecting and finding yourself under attack?" She shudders. "But we should still wait for sunrise. Perhaps we could leave just before dawn so it's daylight when we arrive at the house? We don't know how long it will take to clear it. Oh!" she turns to Eponine. "I forgot. You need to go see the priest. He suspects Belril might have been a ghast. Your elven blood will protect you from a ghoul but not from a ghast. You need to get checked out before you walk into danger; if you should die while infected...."
Looking to Nuri with raised eyebrows, "Oh. Well why did you not say so?" he asks rhetorically, shrugging.
Eponine pales when Nuri reveals Belril's nature.
"I-I guess you're right. The, uh, the raid on the manor can wait a little."
With that, Eponine excuses herself. She makes her way to the exit, clearly preoccupied as she goes.
Once outside, she pauses for a minute, taking a few deep, slow breathes before making her way to the cathedral. Once there, she takes another moment to steel herself before going in to see the priest.
Eponine excuses herself from the table and heads out the door presumably to see the priest. Amieko groans at Nuri's revelation, "And to think I once thought that Belril was a bit handsome." The innkeeper shudders. "You should probalby wait till daylight to approach the Misgivings...they may be only rumors, but most rumors find their birth in fact."
The door opens an instant after Eponine knocks. Father Zantus himself greets her. "Eponine, my dear friend, how are you feeling. Come inside so we can be certain nothing nefarious is happening to you. We must pray. Did Belril bite you or claw you..show me your wounds."
Victor nods in assent. "I am all for the daylight."
Then almost belated, she asks "Will Kern be alright?"
As the sun starts to break over the horizon the Heroes of Sandpoint gather at the south edge of town on the coastal road with only the sheriff and Father Zantus to see you off. Belor Hemock speaks, "Do us proud deputies, bring back the perpetrator of these heinous crimes."
The priest then takes a moment to address all of you. "Friends, I am sad to say Kern developed a fever over the night, I do not think is safe for him to travel with you. We will keep him at the cathedral and watch over him. Should he recover, we will send him along after you unless you all return here first." He retrieves from a satchel the seven pointed star medallion and careful gives it back to Nuri. "I do not detect any evil curses on this relic. It appears to be powered by necromantic magic, and will protect the wearer of it in a few ways. It will make you more resistant to threat on your mind and body, Once each day it can extend your life, and should you die it can be placed on the neck of a dead body, and preserve it indefinitely. As far as I can tell it is simply a coincidence that the last few owners of this fell victim to evil. I would say that was based on their life choices, not this medallion."
After the farewells you travel south, following the directions Ameiko provided at the inn last night. The route leading out to Foxglove Manor is a three mile hike along a narrow path that follows the Foxglove River from the covered bridge where it flows under the Lost Coast Road to the dark sea cliffs overlooking the Varisian Gulf. Here, wild sea birds call out to a roaring ocean that churns hundreds of feet below. As you get closer to your destination it almost seems as if nature herself has become sick and twisted. Nettles and thorns grow more prominent, trees are leafless and bent. The path slowly rises bending around a steep corner in the cliffs and then Foxglove Manor looms at the edge of the world.
Everything at the manor is still in the early afternoon, birds chirp somewhere unseen. The deputies from Sandpoint watch discerning what to do next.
Wren starts walking forward toward the front gate. "I don't think we need to be seen skulking about. We are on a mission for the town. If Aldern is still here, I'm sure he will be happy to see us and help us in any way possible. Still," she adds, and casts an Extended Mage Armor on herself, just to be safe.
As we approach, are their any signs of habitation? Smoke from chimneys, lights or movement coming from windows, etc.?
Are their signs of abandonment or neglect? Broken windows, overgrowth around the building, missing pieces of roofing?
Eponine surveys the building. -- The roof sags in many places, and mold and mildew cake the crumbling walls. Vines of diseased-looking gray wisteria strangle the structure in several places, hanging down over the precipitous cliff edge almost like tangled braids of hair. The house is crooked, its gables angling sharply and breached in at least three places, hastily repaired by planks of sodden wood. Chimneys rise from various points among the rooftops, leaning like old men in a storm, and grinning gargoyle faces leer from under the eaves.
As you approach you pass what was once an outbuilding, probably servants quarters or a guest house. It's impossible to tell the number of floors this building might of had because all that remains are the sooty, scorched stones of its foundation. To the east, a four-foot-wide stone well sits, partially collapsed, in the corner of the ruins. A had full of crows sit on the stone runs. They caw in displeasure towards you, then clumsy take to the air and fly away.
Taking in the scene of the rundown building, "Well this is horrible. There is no way that fellow could have lived in this trash heap. Did he not look rich to you all? He look rich to me. Plus, he had that evil servant person working with him. I do not like that one," he repeats again, his eyes narrowed at the thought of the demonic servant. "What was his name again? Oh wait, I remember; Basil was his name. Yes that is it. Victor Montoya does not forget a name, Mister Basil, oh no he does not," he says out loud to himself as he loses himself in thoughts of revenge.
"Celdis, Victor," Nuri corrects him distractedly, frowning as she surveys the state of the estate. "This can't be right. Why would he stay in a house in such a condition? Unless he came out to oversee renovations." Her dubious tone indicates she doesn't think Aldern is the DIY type.
"I agree that Aldern would never have stayed in a manor in this state of disrepair. He was much too uppity for such a thing."
Nuri shoots Wren a less-than-friendly sidelong glance. "I would have said 'urbane.'"
"Unless he's trying to foster an air of abandonment to throw people off." The wrinkle of her nose as she says doubts that's the case. "Let's just go in. I think the case could be made that we had reason to think the place is completely abandoned."
After the journey to get here, Roakkad clearly didn't see the need for such speculation.
Eponine is right. It costs us little time to investigate when its right here in front of us.
In the absence of Kern, Roakkad took the front; one hand kept unarmed while the other held his lizard-skull-crafted Klar at the ready, obviously expecting another ambush.