Wod:
I don't think anybody's Carrion Crown even remotely resembles this thing.
Epic. Lulz. I'm laughing my face off.
I don't think anybody's Carrion Crown even remotely resembles this thing.
Heh heh....the lady that smells of chymicals seems to be giving Castiel the good citation.
It really doesn’t occur to Castiel that he might appear to be talking himself up – he’s just reporting the facts.
<A large hound runs through the old bury patch.>
*ROOF*
“I have heard of such hounds,” mutters Castiel, making the sword sign of Iomedae over his chest. “They appear mysteriously in old graveyards, mist shrouded moors or before abandoned manors. Their coming foretells doom or ill omen.” He gazes after the retreating dog. “Although admittedly these Hounds of Ill Omen and Black Dogs are normally more forbidding and less likely to bark like that ...”
Heh heh....the lady that smells of chymicals seems to be giving Castiel the good citation.heh heh...we need Pip....
"You rang?"
Strums Lucille
"Dust in the wind,
All we are is dust in the wind ...."
Nigel, looking very weepy and emotional at graveside, barely notices the large goofy-looking dog run by, let alone anything else
Alinya looks to be on the verge of tears, and not up to saying anything at the graveside. She starts to speak but the words seem to stick in her throat. With a muffled sob it is all suddenly too much and she buries her face against, of all people, Nigel's shoulder.
Edwin silently offers a handkerchief to Alinya.
Larissa makes a hesitant step toward the distraught woman, but she sees the whip-bearer doing the gentlemanly thing and steps back by her guardian.
Alinya looks to be on the verge of tears, and not up to saying anything at the graveside. She starts to speak but the words seem to stick in her throat. With a muffled sob it is all suddenly too much and she buries her face against, of all people, Nigel's shoulder.
Nigel awkwardly comforts the sobbing woman
"There there, it will be all right."
For once the polysylabbic summoner is at a loss for words.
The funeral ceremony wraps up, and two gravediggers go to throwing dirt on the casket.
Father Grimburrow bids you all adieu.
Kendra departs, but first;
"Thankyou. Thankyou, one and all, for coming. I'll invite you over to the mansion, in a few hours.
You're welcome to stay there as well it might do the place well to see some modicum of habitation........but in a few hours we'll read my fathers' will. There was a reason, he invited you all here..."
She hands the paladin Castiel a small map of Ravengro, with her mansion clearly labeled; it shouldn't be too damn hard to find.
The other guests depart too, after a few niceties.
Hearthmount, a somewhat portly man, the other counselor Muricar, a slim elder dandy, both shake Edwin's hand and complement him on his prose.
Hearthmount also greets the two former military men, the paladin and the alchemist, and asks them about their service; "I was a Commander, don't you know.....Ustalav Winged Lancers. Probably when you two were suckling at your mothers' teat......" This he says with a wink and a smile though.
And the group is left standing, watching the gravediggers solemly do their part.
(re: Winged Lancers,......don't know what they are exactly; just made it up right now....thinking about those Polish Winged Cavalry of yore...)
“Ah ... the Lancers. A fine regiment.”
Hearthmount, a somewhat portly man, the other counselor Muricar, a slim elder dandy, both shake Edwin's hand and complement him on his prose.
"You are too kind gentlemen. Too kind. Merely my poor attempt to honor the passing of a brilliant mind." Edwin demurs. He shakes both of their hands firmly in turn while swiftly taking his measure of them.
DM
DM** spoiler omitted **
Wod:
Hearthmount, a somewhat portly man, the other counselor Muricar, a slim elder dandy, both shake Edwin's hand and complement him on his prose."You are too kind gentlemen. Too kind. Merely my poor attempt to honor the passing of a brilliant mind." Edwin demurs. He shakes both of their hands firmly in turn while swiftly taking his measure of them.
1d20+7
Giving the book a gander, so as to figure out what to let you know about the two town counselors present.
Hearthmount, though a bit stout, nonetheless seems to keep his military discipline about him. Though looking well worn in the mud and rain, his boots were at one point in the day impeccably polished.
He seems to pay particular attention to posture, bearing,.....he seems to command with his presence.
The other, Muricar, though older seems to be a preening poppinjay of a man; perhaps even vain. His hair is dyed a harsh black, though it looks more stylish than garish, by at least a hair.
These two seem like bosom buddies.
DM
Wod:
Wod:
Castiel stands in the rain (appropriately, it has begun to drizzle lightly again) watching the two gravediggers continue their work as, one by one, the other guests turn and depart, until it is only those who stood up to the local louts left.
“Goodbye professor,” he says quietly, then addresses his companions. “Well gentlemen and lady; let’s head back to the inn and get our gear, clean the mud off, then wander over the manor. I’m ... not sure what happened to Darias, but he’s a paladin of Iomedae! And with such a pedigree! I’m certain he can handle himself. As for Wod ... well, he might head back to the inn too I suppose. If nothing else, I’m sure he won’t leave this behind,” he hefts the half orc’s heavy axe.
He nods to the two newcomers, not certain if they have been invited to the reading of the will also.
Larissa answers the unasked question, "As we had only recently visited the Professor, we went to the manor when we arrived to inquire about lodging in town. Miss Kendra bade us stay with her, and so we are." Looking at her companion, she adds, "It would appear that we will see you again there."
Alinya, calmer now, promises to return Castiel's hankerchief when laundered. She takes a deep breath, looks around, smiles wanly at Nigel in thanks for his supporting shoulder.
"Well, we'd best be off then, hadn't we? Kendra, we will see you in a very few hours. I would be happy to accept your hospitality. Larissa, Rholf, please don't think me rude. I am sure I will better make your acquaintance in better surrounds. Until then."
Exit Alinya stage left, for inn, bath, and new clothes.
Myron nods at Castiel. "Good idea. One thing's for certain - I'm not leaving my weapon behind again, not in this town."
"Actually, I think it wise if we accompany these fine folk back to the inn, Miss Brightfoot. Strength in numbers and all. As it stands, the dolts that you all ran off will not deal with such rebuffing well, and may attempt something even more unwise."
With the funeral over and done with, Rholf pulls his hood off, revealing his flaming hair, which he shakes vigorously.
"Hoods... I can hardly stand them."
DM
Sally forth!
On the way to the manor, you guys see Wod coming up to you......
and fast forward. A couple hours.
Assembled in the office of the Professor's manor....a huge building, even with your prodigious numbers you don't feel the least bit cramped.
She looks at Wod concernedly, then Vashian Hearthmount, seated at the desk, begins to read the will...
“I, Petros Lorrimor, being of sound mind, do hereby commit to this parchment my last will and testament. Let it be known that, with the exception of the specific details below, I leave my home and personal belongings entirely to my daughter Kendra. Use them or sell them as you see fit, my child. Yet beyond the bequeathing of my personal effects, this document must serve other needs. I have arranged for the reading of this document to be delayed until all principals can be in attendance, for I have more than mere inheritance to apportion." He then names the gathered partymembers, except for Wod, and Hearthmount pauses on Darias' name, leaving it unsaid..... "I have two final favors to ask. “To my old friends, I hate to impose upon you all, but there are few others who are capable of appreciating the true significance of what it is I have to ask. As some of you know, I have devoted many of my studies to all manner of evil, that I might know the enemy and inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge of one's enemy is the surest path to victory over its plans. And so, over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire a significant collection of valuable but dangerous tomes, any one of which in the wrong place and/or circumstances could have led to an awkward legal situation. Hearthmount clears his throat uncomfortably at this, then continues reading. While the majority of these.....tomes remain safe under lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few I have borrowed remain in a trunk in my Ravengro home. While invaluable for my work in life, in death, I would prefer not to burden my daughter with the darker side of my profession, or worse still, the danger of possessing these tomes herself. As such, I am entrusting my chest of tomes to you, posthumously. I ask that you please deliver the collection to my colleagues at the University of Lepidstadt, who will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause. Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt, there is the matter of another favor—please delay your journey one month and spend that period of time here in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is safe and sound. She has no one to count on now that I am gone, and if you would aid her in setting things in order for whatever she desires over the course of this month, you would have my eternal gratitude. From my savings, I have also willed to each of you an item I stumbled upon in my last year and that reminded me of you as well as a sum of one hundred platinum coins. For safekeeping, I have left these funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in Lepidstadt—she has been instructed to issue this payment upon the safe delivery of the borrowed tomes no sooner than one month after the date of the reading of this will. “I, Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this first day of Calistril, in the year 4711"
and Hearthmount sighs.
"Any questions, gentlemen?"
"No, sir." Larissa will step over to the grieving daughter and give her a hug. Holding her at arms' length, she will lift her veil and look the other woman in the eye, "You may always count on me - on us, Kendra." And she gives her another hug.
Castiel nods along thoughtfully as the will is read, stroking his chin. “I assume that the document is sound legally, and truly represents the late professor’s will?” he asks Hearthmount as a matter of course. “Good. Well, I for one intend to fully honour these terms. Apart from a desire to see the professor’s last wishes carried out, and see gentle Kendra here settled and cared for, if I can do my small part to continue his work in standing against evil, I will.”
The paladin turns to Hearthmount and Kendra. “Commander Hearthmount, Miss Lorrimer, I assume that the trunk mentioned in the will is here and accessible. I suggest that we take it into our custody immediately – I have heard that some books of a dark nature can have an undue influence on people, and it may be that some of the agents of evil that the professor was studying may yet be enroute to recover such tomes. I will see the books safe until they can be returned to the University in Lepidstadt.”
At some point before or after the proceedings, Castiel approaches Wod and looks into his hideously disgusting face, trying to gauge his mental state and intent. .
With some slight misgivings, he returns the half-orc his axe. “I have no right to keep your weapon Wod,” he says. “Those louts in the graveyard probably deserved no better than you gave them, but this is a civilised land – barely – and we must act in a civilised manner. Please do not make me regret giving you back your axe," he adds sternly. "Use it wisely.”
“Yes Miss Lorrimer,” Castiel agrees with a bow. “Please call on us for anything we may be able to help you with at this difficult time. And many thanks for your kind offer of hospitality – are you certain that it would be no intrusion?”
At some point (out of earshot of Hearhtmount and Kendra) Castiel comments to his companions, “Does the professor’s will seem rather ... specific to any of the rest of you? Recently amended perhaps, to take into account the tomes that he currently has in his possession ... as if he knew his life might be in danger of ending. And yet by all accounts a tragic accident caused his passing ...”
Nodding, "I actually thought the same thing. I wonder how often he updated that document."
Castiel nods along thoughtfully as the will is read, stroking his chin. “I assume that the document is sound legally, and truly represents the late professor’s will?” he asks Hearthmount as a matter of course.
"Indubitably, Sir."
The paladin turns to Hearthmount and Kendra. “Commander Hearthmount, Miss Lorrimer, I assume that the trunk mentioned in the will is here and accessible. I suggest that we take it into our custody immediately – I have heard that some books of a dark nature can have an undue influence on people, and it may be that some of the agents of evil that the professor was studying may yet be enroute to recover such tomes. I will see the books safe until they can be returned to the University in Lepidstadt.”
"That is affirmative." says Kendra; "I'll show them to you, later on if you like."
“Yes Miss Lorrimer,” Castiel agrees with a bow. “Please call on us for anything we may be able to help you with at this difficult time. And many thanks for your kind offer of hospitality – are you certain that it would be no intrusion?”
"I would actually be grateful for the company."
With that roll,....she's just sad; her dad just died......
Nodding, "I actually thought the same thing. I wonder how often he updated that document."
The 21st.
Sitting silently throughout the reading of the will, and voicing no question when asked, Rholf finally moves from his chair after the official proceedings are done, approaching Kendra, he takes her hand, and bows slightly. "Miss Lorimor, you have Sarenrae's blessing, and my sword, at the expense of my life if needs be. I do agree with Castiel, we should take possession, and therefore guard, of aforementioned tomes with all due haste. I pray that we are a blessing to you while here, and you have my eternal gratitude for your hospitality, Miss."
With that, Rholf moves to stand calmly near the door.