GM_Foxy's 2nd Carrion Crown

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

"May Pharasma guide you." Father Grimburrow replies.

As the group is out of the door he sighs "I don't have enough stairs to sweep to get that off my mind."

The group walks back past the Lorrimor house and to the market place. There is the sheriff's office. Actually there is no sign at it. Only the iron bars in front of the windows give away the purpose of the building.

On a knock a young man opens the door and greets the strangers with a "Come in."

In a rather comfortable corner stands a large desk, a shelf with paperwork and a comfortable arm chair. On a wooden chair behind the desk sits a middle aged man.

"Wonderful. You save me some time. You're are the friends of Professor Lorrimor aren't you?" the man greets the group.

"Indeed we are. Darius Redgrave and these are my friends." He motions to the group.

"Mr. Redgrave, I'm Sheriff Caeller. And it is my responsibility that everything in this nice and calm town stays nice and calm."

"And this time you were lucky that Father Grimburrow was around to heal that farmer and they started it. But if I find you besides a dying farmer again you can have one of these cells until the Marshal comes from Lepidstadt and takes you there for a trial followed by their infamous burning man execution."

He looks every one into the eyes for a few seconds to see if they understood. "Now that that is out of the way, what leads you here?" he asks. Smiling doesn't seem to belong to his facial expressions.

Darius leans over and whispers to Brother Grergof. "I think you'd better handle this one. Because if I get started this probably won't go so well."

(Do you that you can write smaller if you're whispering?)

Spugnoir just sighs at the disappointing conclusion of the talk with the priest.

@Darius So I'm guessing I'm the good cop?

Brother Varsk steps up and meets the sheriff's eye and extends his hand.

Sheriff Caller, so very pleased to meet you. I am Brother Grergof Varsk, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that we understand you completely.

First The Professor dies in mysterious circumstances, then we and his daughter are attacked trying to burry his body. It makes us all wonder if perhaps the had we stumbled into the middle of a family feud or plot to cover up a murder!

"Are you suggesting that someone from Ravengro had something to do with the death of Professor Lorrimor?" the sheriff inquires. The expression on his face a mix of disbelief and determination.

Ahem, where was the professor's body found exactly? And how did he die? The condition of his body might give evidence of either accident or foul play.

"I ask a question, you give an answer! Are you suggesting that someone from Ravengro had something to do with the death of Professor Lorrimor?"

"Because if you start walking around annoying people with questions about where they have been in the night when the Professor died I'll put you in the cells too." The sheriff replies.

No, Sheriff, we are not suggesting that.

"Fine. Because it is my job to do such things. And the Professor was hit by a statue that fell off the roof of the Harrowstone. He shouldn't have been there. Much less in the middle of the night. And no sane person would have been."

"I'm not superstitious but everyone who gets close to that ruin gets the chills. This place wants to be left alone."

"In my experience Sheriff, when a place wants to be left alone, you should generally go find out why, because places don't typically have feelings," Lucy replies cooly.

"You're free to do so." Sheriff Caller replies with a cold smile looking into the woman's eyes.

"But we here in Ravengro leave such things alone as long as they leave us alone. That works pretty well. And you saw what good it did the Professor to break that custom."

Darius noticing the sheriffs strange look, steps between the Sheriff and Lucy and meets his gaze with a wicked grin. "In that case Sheriff, thanks for the non-help. I think we shall be on our way."
And thanks for the permission to check out Harrowstone. Much appreciated."
And turns to the group.
"Let's get out of here."

"Enjoy your stay in Ravengro. And don't make the people complain to me about you." Sheriff Caeller replies.

I wonder where the expectation to be entitled to get help from the average official comes from? Where to now?

Spugnoir just nods goodbye and shuffles after the others. Once they leave the sheriff's office, he speaks. I think we should wait for tempers to cool in town before having any more dealings. Tempers are rather raw. Let us at least examine the outside of Harrowstone so we can begin to form a plan.

As soon as the group are out of earshot of anyone from the town Darius talks to the group as they walk.
"Spugnoir is right about holding off any dealings with the locals right now. Clearly they have no love for the Professor or anyone connected with him.
But I disagree about heading near Harrowstone without being properly armed. The Professor was no fool and I trust his judgement. And if he needed weapons to combat anything in there then we should follow suit."
Darius turns and looks sincerely at Brother Grergof.
"Brother Grergof, I know you are opposed to going into the Restlands. And I respect your decision on this matter. But we have tried the other options to no avail. And surely if Harrowstone does have any kind of evil or even Necromancers as the Professor suspected. As men of the cloth we should outfit the group with the best chances of survival against such things yes? If you do not want to accompany us there I would understand completely. But in this case I'm sure Sarenrae would support this decision. If only to destroy any undead that might be lying in wait in these lands. Iomedae forbid these locals actually provide any help at all." he adds sarcastically.

"But I defer to the group on this matter. Thoughts?."

If we try to find that cache we need to be very cautious, plus we don't know how much the professor took if he found it. So, cache then Harrowstone?

I can see in the dark, so I could try to check the area around the cache to make sure there is no one lurking around, does anyone else have the ability to see in bad light?

"Of course. We must be very cautious and must pass through unseen. Perhaps our Elven friend here can help us with that?"
He says motioning to Aada.

"You mean go get killed by the waiting ghoul first kind of help," Aada retorts.

"Bwahaha! No no, not at all. All I mean to say is that you're rather light footed. Perhaps you can give us some pointers when avoiding prying eyes when we head for the cache in the Restlands is all. I meant no offence." Darius responds with a slight bow.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Great. The Sherrif is understandably watching us, and these fools are talking about robbing the church again right in front of him. What sort of group have I fallen in with?
No that is wrong, do not judge, meet them where they are and you need to lead by example. Show them the way, do not preach.

May I suggest we walk and talk about protecting the professors body rather then standing here in the middle of the street?

He leads the group down the street a ways out of earshot of the market and sheriff.
When he thinks the are realitivly alone.
You do realize you just discussed stealing the cache from the church with the sheriff listening. Now he is going to be watching us even closer.
I still do not like the plan, but if the rest of you are set on doing this, I will accompany you to the Restlands to make my perusal prayers to the professor at his grave site. I would even be willing to give you warning if anyone comes.
But I honestly do not believe that stealing from the church, without more evidence of why it's needed is the right thing to do.

"I don't care what we do. The professor left those supplies for a reason. If you want me to go in and steal the damn things I'll do it." she says in a hushed tone, almost like she done this thing before.

"I agree with Aada. He put those supplies there. Not the church. And I'm not going to let her go alone either.
We should probably wait for nightfall before attempting the retrieval."

"Not only that, but I'm starting to get a weird feeling about this town," Lucy whispers. "We've got a sheriff who refuses to entertain the idea that a man people feared and distrusted wasn't murdered-as though falling masonry isn't a perfect way to arrange an "accident"-and a Pharasmin priest who hears 'ruins abandoned since a tragic accident causing numerous violent deaths and now gives everyone who goes near it a creepy feeling' and doesn't think ghosts. It stinks to high heaven to me."

Spugnoir winces and cringes. Then we forgoe the cache, or perhaps this is a wild goose chase and we are getting worked up over nothing.

Darius finished listening to Lucy and replies "I didn't even think of it that way But you're on to something.."

A group of five little Varisian girls dressed in shawls and dresses come running to the market place. An old dog that slept under the wooden gazebo in the middle of the place jumps up and greets the girls with jolly barking.

The girls have a rope with them and take positions to play a skipping rope game on the road. Each of the girls takes turns jumping in the rope while singing two lines of a song, then skips out of the rope to let the next girl take up the next two lines. The way in which the girls switch from skipping to passing the ends of the rope to each other to keep the whole thing going is strikingly well timed and well choreographed — and the verse itself, which the girls sing in Varisian, is rather disturbing.

Now that you say it, I think you are right Miss Arroway. The behavior you talk about does seem odd. Plus, townsfolk attacking people on the street and the Sherrif not arresting any of them. There is definitely something off here.
Maybe we should talk to Miss Lorrimor if there is anyone she trusts who can tell us the recent history or gossip in the town to see if things have changed recently?
Or we can go to Harrowstone and look around the outside. Everything seems to be pointing back to the ruins somehow.

Brother Varsk listens to the girls skipping for a moment then says with a small shutter.
Oh yes, something is definitely off here.

Darius see's the girls skipping and smiles. And as they sing their little song his smile fades away and a sombre look crosses over his face. And he mouthes the words "Tricksy father."

As it is afternoon now the first farmers come back from their fields. Some in groups some alone. One man carries some farm tools to the smith. Another one visits the General store.

A woman coming out of the general store stands there for a few minutes and watches the kids play before she continues. But what all have in common is that they walk on the other side of the road when they pass the group of strangers and keep an eye on them.

Who cares if these people like us or not, I'm still sayin' we should just go into the place where the dammed cache is and take it. If the priest man don't wanna cooperate and the sheriff not willing to help either, let's take it on our hands," she says with a nonchalant look, keeping her voice somewhat down as not to draw attention.

Darius whispers "Time is wasting. So let's put it to a vote. Who voted we get the cache first then head to Harrowstone say aye.

Aye." He says softly keeping an eye out making sure no one notices.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

A man walks to the middle of the market place and sits down watching the girls play.

Whoop I made a check! First one not the second one. Gah!

"We should move. I don't like the look of that fellow. Let's head to Lorrimar's place for now."

And with that Darius starts heading to Kendra Lorrimar's home.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"That man, he's been watching us. Same one from the sheriff's office." again in a nonchalant and silent way. She too, goes back to the house.

She'd have liked to do some research first. But you couldn't always put stuff off, and besides, if they kept waffling like this, coming up with new ideas, they'd never get anything done.

Yeah.

"Aye."

"If you object to that, we could always just go there and hope for the best," she stops following Darius, [/b]"We have good number among us to handle anything bad coming our way."[/b]

Leaning in Darius says. "Let's see if he'll follow us to Harrowstone?"
And starts off in that direction. Stomping off a little frustrated. But conceding.

Iomedae give me strength! he thinks exasperated.

The man gets up and follows a few steps but as the group leaves the town towards the ruin the deputy turns around and walks back into the town.

The Harrowstone is located on a barren hill south of the city of Ravengro, the stark, sagging roof of its central structure visible through a large gap in the surrounding wall. A partially overgrown track leads from the southern edge of town, winding around the base of the hill and then back up along its southern slope to the prison itself.

A sagging wood and metal gate set between a pair of stone guard towers once barred entrance into Harrowstone, but the gates now hang negligently open, creaking softly in what wind touches the ruined bars. The stone wall that surrounds most of the prison grounds is covered with creeping ivy, and the blocks beneath that growth are eroded.

"Well that is rather ominous," she says jokingly.

Darius steps in.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Aada halts her movement, "Is something wrong Darius?

Brother Vasrk stops just outside the gates and mutters a soft prayer to Sarenrae to guide his sight. He then opens his eyes to see what does not stand in Sarenrae's light.

Detect evil
He will scan on the area through the gates (Including Darius) and into the courtyard beyond. He is scanning for the presences of evil auras, not focusing on any one object or person yet.