GM Foxy's Carrion Crown

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

"Of course." Tamara replies to Herm. "I have no further questions, thank you."

As the evening comes the people start flocking into the town hall. The marks of the fire are still there and make it clear what's the reason to celebrate. The council members are already there and they organized free beer to make sure the people come.

There are four chairs placed on the stage. It's like in most places, that the rows start to fill from the back and five minutes before the start three quarters of the seats are taken.

I'll give everyone a chance to come in themselves.

Tamara comes into the town hall silently. She wears a long shirt covering her arms and hands. Looking around she decides to go to the front. That would be close to Kendra and she doesn't have to sit in the thick of the locals.

Jominda comes in a dress with short puffy sleeves and a square neckline. The colour is that of a brimstone butterfly. And a hand bag. She greets some of the people on the way - also Tamara, and the council members. After confirming with them that the place on stage is for her she takes a seat there. As she puts her bag down a wooden handle looks out of it.

Jorfa comes in her working clothes and takes a seat at the third row. It takes the persuasion skill of Councilman Muricar and Councilman Hearthmount to get her to sit on the stage too. There she sits with her arms crossed. But despite her gruff demeanour it is not too hard to see that it is unpleasant for her to be the center of attention.

Kendra walks in, dressed in a rather common dress. She did not want to show off too much, even though it should be partly her evening. Seeing Jominda and Jorfa on the stage, she figures it is intended for her to be up there too, but first she looks to see if the owner of the grocery store is around.

Spotting her, she walks up to her. "Good evening, Mrs Avanaki. I need to be up there, I think, but I wanted to tell you I'll be selling my house as soon as I find a replacement in Lepidtstad and have my belongings moved over. I'd be happy to sell it to you for your daughter."

She smiles warmly, but excuses herself while Marta Avanaki begins to react. Seeing Jorfa uneasy on stage, she decides to go to the rescue there.

Reaching the stage, she tries to engage Jorfa in a conversation to distract her from the multitude of people in the rest of the town hall and hopefully put her a bit more at ease.

As Father Grimburrow also arrived and took his seat on the stage Councilman Gharen Muricar walks up to the lectern and waits for the crowd to calm down and become silent. "Welcome to our little celebration here in our beautiful Ravengro. As the historian of our town it fell to me to laudate our towns heros. I will make it short, but you won't get away without a summary of events." he starts out and then takes quite some time to recollect the events starting with the death of the Professor, covering all the undead appearances, and the climax of the events as the town hall was attacked and almost burned down. It becomes more vague as he comes to the deeds of the towns hero's simply because he has no clue. "That sums it up and I pass the stage on to Councilman Hearthmount."

"Thank you Councilman Muricar. We wanted to express our thanks to you for your selfless commitment to Ravengro's cause with a little something. This was on short notice so we were a bit limited in our possibilities but we hope we found something you'd appreciate."

"Miss Lorrimor" He starts and turns to Kendra. "Please accept this little gift as appreciation of your service to Ravengro." He hands Kendra a small box containing a smoky rose quarz. A beautiful stone.

"Miss Fallenbridge. Also for you a little appreciation." Hearthmount hands her a small box containing a pair of pearl earrings and a pearl necklace.

"Father Grimburrow, we had a few ideas what to get for you, but couldn't manage to get any of that yet. So please accept this monetary compensation to get you something you like." He hands over a pouch with 25pp

"And also for you, Mrs. Jorfa. We apologize, but we couldn't think of anything to get for you short from getting it directly from Janderhoff." he jokes and hand Jorfa also a pouch with coins. Then he steps back and gives the heroes an applause in which the crowd chimes in. As it dies down the councilman gestures that you can say a few words if you like.

"Thank you, Councilmen, for your praise." Kendra begins, as she tries to collect her thoughts.

"My father and I lived in Ravengro for quite some years. And though we did not quite fit in, you all did your best to make us feel welcome." She fudges the truth somewhat to not put a damper on the celebrations.

"It was therefore no less than my duty to try and protect the town by uncovering the undead threat from Harrowstone Prison, and defeat it there, though I certainly would have had no chance without these courageous volunteers." She gestures at her companions on stage. "Without them, I would certainly have perished, and I owe them my deepest respect and gratitude. I expect that you would grant them the same after this week's events."

"Myself, I will be leaving to Lepidtstad tomorrow, but I will return. I trust that this beautiful town will remain safe from harm with protecters such as you have." She once again smiles at Jorfa and Vauran.

"Now, please, let us celebrate that the town is once again safe, and we are all still alive, and that life is as tasty as the beer the councilmen have provided us!" she says with a wide grin.

Jominda looks into her box. "Wheee!" holding it to Kendra she tells "Look what I got!"

Jominda takes her turn after Kendra is finished with her speech. "That's a nice gift I really like it. And we totally showed that we people of Ravengro can kick ass! Yay!"

"By the way, I'm leaving with Kendra tomorrow to Lepidstadt. So if you need something from the apothecary - tomorrow morning will be the last chance for about two weeks."

"They look beautiful, Jominda" Kendra smiles.

"Thank you all for being here." Vauran says, "I appreciate the donation to the church." with a nod to the councilmen. "However I would like to remind everyone that we were not the first to attempt to save this town from the undead. The friends of the professor investigated his death and were dealing with the threat. We should honor them as well this evening." He finishes before taking his seat once more

Father Grimburrow catches the councilman totally unprepared with that. After an awkward moment of silence Hearthmount braces himself, clears his throat and tells "Eh, yes - let's give the friends of Professor Lorrimor a hand for their attempt."

Starting to clap his hands, with some of the crowd starting too. But it is only a half hearted thing.

"But enough of the words, there is beer that needs drinking and some appetizers. Have fun."

Jominda claps enthusiastically. She nudges Father Grimburrow with her elbow. "That was a good one. You totally threw Hearthmount off the rails." she laughs.

"Thank you, Father" Kendra adresses Vauran "for stepping in where I so blithely forgot to mention them."

she giggles at Jominda's comment and mirth, before walking ovet o Jorfa.
"Now would be a good time to sneak out, if you so wish. We'll cover for you."

"I won't leave before drinking that free beer. Just off this stage." Jorfa replies going straight for the bar.

Herm will show up just after the talking has started.

"it took longer to make my self presentable and clean this armor."

Herm will clap when they present the Heroes with their gifts, nod thanks to Father Grimburrow when he mentions the friends of the professor and smile his thanks.

After the party has started Herm will gravitate towards Kendra and his other friends.

"I am glad the town came together in this time of need. Now they are safe and we can return these books and continue down our life paths." Herm will have a beer

"Yes". Kendra says. "Life returns to the ordinary" She does not take any beers.

Jominda takes a beer and an appetizer. "You should try these." Jominda suggests to Kendra. "Not as good as your sandwiches, but good anyway."

Marta comes over to talk to Kendra. But first she has to satisfy her curiosity. "Hello Jominda, hello again Miss Lorrimor. If you don't mind telling - what did you get from the council?"

"A beautiful gemstone" Kendra says, and shows the smokey rose quartz.

I come skipping in to town.
And look amased around me. After some time i walk to someone and ask
where can i find an inn to eat and sleep?
Mean while i try not to fall over because of my big back pack.

Would you do me a favour and write in third person perspective?

Dina runs into Zokar Elkarid. "I'd say come into my tavern. But we are closed this evening. But why don't you come along to the celebration in town hall. There you'd get at least a free beer."

"I got this nice perl necklace and ear studs." Jominda tells and shows the content of the box.

"They know how to do it in style." Marta acknowledges the gifts. "About the house. Have you thought about a price? Or shall we make an offer instead?" Marta proceeds to business.

Kendra starts discussing the price with Marta, indeed taking one of the appetizers Jominda suggested.

Jorfa drinks a few mugs of beer and throws in a few of those appetizers. Once she is full she leaves the party without further comment.

Vauran spends a short time sharing niceties before moving into the crowd in search of Harrold.

Finding him he greets him with a nod, and jumps straight to the point, "Harrold, I have a favor to ask. I do not feel comfortable leaving Ravengro without a priest, but I also feel I should accompany Kendra and her party to Liepstadt. They need some guidance from someone with experience of the world. You have a daughter in Liepstadt do you not? Could I ask you to please accompany them, and you could see your daughter, and have company for the journey. You have shown willingness before, which is the only reason I come to you for this." Vauran babbles a bit, not really used to asking someone for help like this

Harrold nods back to Vauran and nods as he listens. He smiles at the talk of his daughter but a small frown appears for a moment as he is unsure Vauran is going with it. It is quickly replaced with a fond smile as he watches Kendra and the others for a moment.
He stands like that for a moment before clasping Vaurans forearm, giving him a small smile and a nod, before making his way to Kendra's group.
"So when do we leave?" is all he says as he stands next to Jominda

Herm will refill his beverage, watching the crowd enjoying themselves, staying with his original companions.

"You're coming too?" Jominda asks surprised. "Tomorrow, but we didn't agree on a time yet." She looks at Kendra to suggest one.

"My daughter lives in Liepstadt. It has been a while since I visited and it is always better to travel with people." Harrold says with a faint smile. "That is of course if having an old man along won't get in your way too badly."

"Not at all," says Kendra. "You're always welcome to join. The more, the merrier."

It is a relaxed time the people of Ravengro have this evening. It wasn't cheap but the council is shure it was worth every copper of it. After all the death and undeath threatening the town gossip passes on to something new.

The Lorrimor house will be sold. Seems like the daughter is wiser than her father and realized she doesn't fit here.
Father Grimburrow seems to get senile on his old days. Giving up his precaution towards strangers.
Jominda will be away. She surely does some of her fishy business out of town.
These strangers are finally gone. Lucky us, who knows what would have happened if that angry necromancer would have stayed.
Harrold is gone too for now. Where will I get my incontinence remedy?
And someone binds a young beagle to the gazebo on town square. The dog isn't too happy about that. But the kids love it.
Finally Gibs is released from his prison cell. He gets shunned by most people and lives a secluded life in his shack.

But all those who meet on this new morning are not aware of that as it lies in a future where they will have left town already. They meet about two hours after sunrise in front of Kendra's house. Everything is packed and all are ready to leave.

Dina found a bed at the Outward Inn. As she gets up for breakfast a group of four people just finishes and leaves. Once she is ready too and back on the street she stumbles into these four and three more that leave in the same direction towards Lepidstadt.

Herm will greet Kendra and Jominda at Kendra's house, noticing the new comer.

"Friend of yours Miss Lorrimor? Are you all packed and ready to go?" Herm's pack is done up well, nothing is out of place, his armor is cleaned and his Great Hammer in a sling along his back.

"I don't think so. I saw her at the inn." Amira replies to Herm while looking at Dina.

Greetings, miss." Kendra begins. "Can we help you with anything?"

Dina walks to the group and asks:
"I heard from the innkeeper you are going to Lepidtstad. May I join you?"
While she is jumping from one foot to the other and an expectant expression although a bit shy.

"Of course ..." Jominda starts out with a wide smile. But then turns to Kendra "... Kendra will tell you if that's an option."

"The more the merrier, I suppose." Kendra says with a smile. "I see no reason you couldn't join us."

With everyone ready, all homes locked and a double check that the hearth is out the travel can begin. No journey in Ustalav is without risk, but the old Mountain Road is generally regarded as the best route. This road follows the southeastern foothills of the Tusk Mountains, passing through the towns of Tamrivena and Courtaud before following the Lesser Moutray River up to Lepidstadt.

Through good planning you manage to end up in towns most of the time, just once you have to make camp in the wild. But the sheer number of people travelling together seems to keep trouble away. After that night in the wild you wake to the noise of horses and carts passing your camp on the 'road'. A caravan of nine covered Varisian Wagons that are gaudily painted and depict the show’s performers beneath the legend, "The Crooked Kin—Ustalav’s Greatest Traveling Cabinet of Curiosities!"

You pack up your camp and continue to travel the road towards Lepidstadt. After a while you close up to this caravan again. It is parked at the side of the road. The various members of the troupe are milling aimlessly around the stopped caravan. Two girls with tiny heads - like half the size they should be - are crying and distraught, which in turn is causing a child that has fur everywhere howling like a Wolf inconsolably. A four armed woman and a huge woman with a long beard are trying to comfort the girls. While the others argue over the best course of action to take. A 8foot tall ugly man and a man without arms and legs argue with three other men who have an extra limb each. Two have an extra arm while te other has an extra leg.

As you are about to pass them a man comes out of one of the wagons and approaches you. "Excuse me Madams and Sirs. We are in a desperate situation and in dire need of help. One of our members the pinhead girl Poppy went into the fens after she heard something and hasn't come back for an hour already. We fear for the worst, but we are simple performers and are ill equipped if there is really a danger there. Would you be so kind to go look for her? We don't have much but I offer you a magic dagger as a compensation if you would do so." His eyes resting hopefully on Herm as the one standing out as the martial type.

Kendra, who seems to have become a bit less worried during the trip as the thought of her father's death was pushed to the background due to the landscapes the groups travelled through, jokes to Jominda.
"After Harrowstone, how bad can it be, eh?"
She pokes her elbow into jominda's side, grinning over her own joke.

"Is that rhetorical, or a challenge to fate?" Jominda replies grinning only on the inside, to see how Kendra reacts.

"Well," Kendra replies, looking at Jominda, "I didn't throw down a glove so it certainly can't be the latter!"

She hardly keeps an ear out for Herm's reply to the troupe leader, expecting him to offer aide.

Herm steps forward, "We will look for your missing girl, do you know which way she went?"

Upon receiving more concrete directions Herm will lead the group off in that way.

Harrold will hang back, "Did anyone else hear what the lass did? Did she say what she heard to anyone else? Is she the flighty type to wonder off?" He asks

"No, only she heard it." Kaleb replies.

Aleece’s tracks are fresh, and can be easily found. The tracks run for about half a mile as they head down into a boggy river valley, and then into a densely vegetated, midge-infested marsh. High reeds between 6 and 8 feet high tall grow there. There Aleece’s tracks soon all but vanish under water.

Survival someone?

"Thank you." Harrold says walking off at a brisk pace to catch the others.
Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14